6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

A 1971 issue of the New Yorker described Evel Knievel as "a thirty-two-year-old native of Butte, Montana, who makes his living by riding a motorcycle at high speed up a wood-and-steel ramp, off the top, and into the air, with the intention of landing it on another ramp some distance away." Today, we're all familiar with the images of videos of the famed daredevil jumping over things on his Harley, but 45 years ago, Knievel was making his first trip to NYC. Madison Square Garden was hosting an event called the Auto Thrill Show, and as part of it, Knievel jumped over 10 vehicles, nine cars and one van--the max that could fit in the space--to a crowd "worked up to a point of high tension, apprehension, and excitement." These feelings weren't based on the length of the jump (he had set a world record earlier that year when he made it over 19 cars in Ontario, California), but rather the mere 75 feet of concrete between the end of the takeoff ramp and the beginning of the landing.
So what happened?

History

July 20, 2016

Eight-Story Sculpture Revealed at Via 57 West; Inside the Washington Square Arch

The entrance to Bjarke Ingels’ Via 57 West tetrahedron will feature an eight-story, site-specific sculpture by Stephen Glassman Studio. “Flows Two Ways” represents the coming together of the city and the Hudson River. [6sqft inbox] Go inside the world’s first airport potato farm at JFK. [Inhabitat] Now that the Four Seasons is closed, could one of these […]

Uncategorized

July 20, 2016

POLL: Are You Happy With Governor Cuomo’s Planned Subway Changes?

On Monday, as 6sqft reported, Governor Cuomo unveiled the MTA's "plans to build 1,025 new subway cars, and to modernize 31 of the city’s more than 400 stations." Most of the new fleet will be of the open-gangway format, and they'll boast wider doors, Wi-fi, USB ports, better lighting, cell service, security cameras, full color digital information displays, and a new blue and gold color palette that represents New York's state colors. Since the upgrades are part of the $27 billion capital plan that was approved in May, some critics are questioning whether the changes are more cosmetic and brag-worthy, rather than functional. But the city explains that the design of the new cars will help alleviate overcrowding, thereby reducing delays. What do you think--can the MTA do better?
Cast your vote here

Transit

July 19, 2016

Pricing Revealed for Essex Crossing’s SHoP-Designed Condo Tower

Though Essex Crossing will bring 1.65 million square feet of residential, community, and commercial space to the Lower East Side, only one of the 10 sites will offer condos--242 Broome Street. Located at Site One, the SHoP Architects-designed tower is currently getting its foundation poured, and along with this groundbreaking comes a sales website with new details on the project, reports CityRealty.com. The 14-story building will have a five-story base to house retail and commercial tenants and a bowling alley from Splitsville Luxury Lanes. On the fifth floor will be a cultural space (the Andy Warhol Museum previously planned to open an outpost here) and rooftop sculpture garden. Above will be 55 one- to three-bedroom condos, 11 of which will be affordable. Tentative pricing for the market-rate units ranges from $1,275,000 to $7,000,000, according to the latest edition of Elliman Magazine (the brokerage will be handling sales).
More details this way

July 19, 2016

$4.5M Industrial Tribeca Loft Is Both Cavernous and Airy

The adjectives "cavernous" and "airy" don't usually go together, but a gut renovation at this Tribeca loft created an industrial-chic space that manages to feel bright and open while retaining its dark, underground moodiness. Located at the 19th century building 55 North Moore Street, the two-bedroom home boasts historic details like exposed wood ceilings, brick walls, and steel columns, along with more modern touches such as the amazing skylight made of frosted glass blocks. The loft last sold in 2004 for $1.78 million, and after the reno, the owners thought they could pick up a cool $10.6 million last year. The price has now dropped significantly to $4.5 million, however.
Take a look around this incredible home

Distinctive Homes

July 19, 2016

Court Says Work Can Proceed at Barry Diller’s Futuristic Offshore Park

At the end of last month, an appellate court issued an injunction that said work must temporarily stop at Barry Diller's Pier 55 until at least September when opponents of the futuristic offshore park (who claimed it had gone through inadequate environmental impact evaluations) could present their case again. But The Real Deal reports today that work has resumed much sooner than expected, as an appeals court lifted the stop work order yesterday.
Find out more

Delivering a New Future to Bronx General Post Office While Honoring Its Past

Image courtesy of Studio V Architecture

July 19, 2016

Delivering a New Future to Bronx General Post Office While Honoring Its Past

By Stephanie Hoina

Blocks away from the Harlem River waterfront and the 15-acre Mill Pond Park, with easy access to public transportation and serving a vibrant community of college students, office and medical workers, and working-class families, sits the nearly 80-year old landmarked Bronx General Post Office. Acquired in 2014 by developer Young Woo & Associates and the Bristol Group as part of the postal service’s plan to pare down its real estate holdings, the building’s bold yet tasteful transformation promises to be a showcase for the borough’s long awaited rebirth. Though its glory years as the primary sorting, storage and processing hub for the majority of mail coming to and from the Bronx have long gone, the government was careful to ensure that its new life would be worthy of its storied history—and its neighborhood inhabitants. After a thoughtful and lengthy RFP process, developer Young Woo was selected to bring his vision—what he's described as "a crossroads for community, commerce and culture"—to the 175,00-square-foot facility, and he hired STUDIO V Architecture, a firm with extensive experience in adaptive reuse, to help achieve it.
Read more on their approach to this unique project here

July 19, 2016

New Self-Driving Bus in Amsterdam Makes the MTA’s Transit Plan Look Dated

While New York City is patting itself on the back for pushing through a subway design that offers eight more inches of door space and an open-gangway format, over in the Netherlands, folks are celebrating the Future Bus, a self-driving bus created by Mercedes-Benz. Per The Verge, the Future Bus has just completed a 20 kilometer (roughly 12.5 miles) drive that took it from Amsterdam's Schipol Airport to the town of Haarlem (fun side note: Harlem the nabe takes its name from this municipality) along a route that included a number of tight bends, tunnels, and traffic lights.
more on this technology here

Distinctive Homes

Amy Schumer paid $6.25M for Central Park West condo

Tribeca's iconic skybridge property is back on the market for $30M

For $949K, this Village co-op has a Gold Coast address, prewar charm and a splash of color

From the pool to the pergola, this $1.1M Hudson Valley home blends Colonial with contemporary

For $8M, a proper Park Avenue penthouse with an artistic pedigree

Filmmaker John Sayles' former Hoboken townhouse lists for $2.5M

'Secret' live-work compound on Tribeca's skybridge street lists for $30M

Ricky Martin sells Upper East Side apartment for $6.15M

This $3M Williamsburg home is the rare condo with all of its loft charm intact

Greenwich Village townhouse at the center of NBA gambling scandal listed for $22.5M

VIEW ALL

July 19, 2016

This Montauk Beach House by Ghislaine Viñas Could Be in Malibu or Miami

It's definitely beach season, and it's refreshing to get a peek at homes filled with ocean breezes. The playful and colorful interiors created by Ghislaine Viñas Interior Design have transformed city lofts and townhouses–but her paintbox palette works just as well, it turns out, by the sea. From the outside, this Montauk getaway for a New York City family is a classic East End beach house, but Ghislaine's irreverent way of mixing color and mid-20th-century modern and eclectic styles gives this laid-back home a vibe that's also part Malibu hideaway, part Miami chic.
See how well color works with sand and surf

July 19, 2016

432 Park Gets Residents-Only Restaurant; Don’t Be Skeeved Out By City Pools

Michelin-starred chef Shaun Hergatt is opening a restaurant on the 40th floor of 432 Park Avenue, but only residents and their guests can dine there. [Grub Street] Funky Rockaway houseboat dubbed Ziggy Stardust was sunk by unruly Airbnb guests over the weekend. [Gothamist] The Mayor is running the city from his gym in Park Slope. […]

Uncategorized

July 19, 2016

Controversial Toronto Politician Appointed Director of Brooklyn-Queens Streetcar

The Post is calling him the "Canadian Anthony Weiner," and it's just been announced that he's the new Director of the Brooklyn-Queens Streetcar. Adam Giambrone ran for mayor of Toronto in 2010, but had to drop out after leaked text messages ousted him in an affair with a 19-year-old college student. Sex scandal aside, the 39-year-old is a former Toronto city councilor, a position that allowed him to chair the Toronto Transit Commission from 2006 to 2010. During that time, he advocated for a network of suburban streetcars called Transit City. It was shot down by Mayor Rob Ford, but construction has since begun on portions of it. According to NY Mag, Giambrone then went on to serve as a traveling light-rail expert in Montreal and Milwaukee.
What will he be doing here in NYC?

July 19, 2016

This $4,750/Month Park Slope Townhouse Duplex Feels Like a Home

We're not sure what it is about this two-bedroom duplex occupying the top two floors of a lovely South Slope townhouse at 215 13th Street; like the neighborhood, it's laid-back rather than fancy, but the 1,200-square-foot rental looks like it has everything you'd need to move right in and make yourself at home. Asking $4,750 a month, the duplex includes a big, bright kitchen for gathering and cooking, a charming rear deck for outdoor chilling, a bath and a half for not having to climb stairs to use the baño, office space, big closets and a washer-dryer.
Take a look around

Distinctive Homes

July 18, 2016

New High-Tech Subway Station and Car Designs Unveiled by Governor Cuomo

Straphangers rejoice! As unveiled by Governor Cuomo at the NYC Transit Museum in Brooklyn today, the MTA has announced plans to build 1,025 new subway cars, and to modernize 31 of the city's more than 400 stations. In addition to the majority of these cars taking on the globally-favored "open car end" format, they will also boast wider doors, Wi-fi, USB ports, improved lighting, cell service, full color digital information displays, security cameras for passenger safety, and interestingly, a new color palette—yes, Cuomo has also taken to branding the cars in New York's state colors, blue and gold.
Welcome to the 21st Century, new york city

Transit

July 18, 2016

Where I Work: Inside prop stylist Courtney Dawley’s quirky, colorful Greenpoint workspace

By Rebecca Paul

For some New Yorkers, bargain hunting is a fun weekend hobby, but stylist, designer and creator of Found By a Prop Stylist Courtney Dawley has taken the casual pastime and transformed it into her career. Courtney's keen eye for a deal and her ability to curate the unlikely into cohesive collections of modern nostalgia were the seeds for her thriving online shop and style website. Courtney also transforms many of her vintage finds into stylish and functional pieces for the home, ranging from antique painted planters to vintage mugs up-cycled into stylish candles. 6sqft recently visited Courtney at her Greenpoint studio and home, and, in addition to photographing the fun and eclectic space, we learned about how she got into collecting vintage objects, her personal design aesthetic and new collection, and the best spots nearby for vintage finds.
Get it all right here

Huge Tax Disparities Along Central Park Become Visuals in Architectural Art Installation

“Section 581” by SITU Studio, Photograph by Patrick Mandeville

July 18, 2016

Huge Tax Disparities Along Central Park Become Visuals in Architectural Art Installation

"Section 581" by SITU Studio, Photograph by Patrick Mandeville Billionaires get off nearly tax-free and billions go uncollected due to flaws in the way the city assesses property value. As part of a new exhibit at the Storefront for Art and Architecture in Soho, interdisciplinary architecture firm SITU Studio created visual representations of these inequities in one of their most glaring examples: the buildings along Central Park. New York City's property tax structure assigns higher real property taxes to renters than it does to the infamous absentee owners of the trophy condos on Billionaires’ Row, short-changing the city of millions in annual revenue, according to CityLab. The acrylic bands in the SITU models show the disparity between the taxed value of these properties and the sky-high amounts they’d actually sell for.
Find out how the state law is giving billionaires a free lunch

July 18, 2016

Beyond the Four Seasons: Aby Rosen Talks Maintenance and Costs at the Seagram Building

On Saturday night, after what seems like an eternity of speculation followed by lamentation, the iconic Four Seasons hosted its last dinner. Last summer, Seagram Building owner Aby Rosen of RFR Realty chose not to renew the iconic restuarant's lease, and even before this, he faced criticism when he removed Picasso's largest ever work, Le Tricorne, from the space. But despite the constant contention, the developer is speaking out, hoping to get a little credit for the work and money he has put into the office building. "I see myself as a custodian," he told the Times, referring to the fact that it costs RFR an estimated 20 percent more to maintain the landmarked structure than it would a typical tower of the same size and age. But experts say this is par for the course when one willingly purchases a designated building, which Rosen did in 2000 for $379 million.
Rosen breaks down the specifics

Architecture And Design

July 18, 2016

Shipping Crates Inspired These Simple Wooden Wardrobes By Sigurd Larsen

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

Living efficiently in a studio apartment has many challenges, but one of the biggest gripes, especially for women, is where to stock all those clothes. If your home lacks a Carrie Bradshaw-esque walk-in closet, these custom-made pieces by architect Sigurd Larsen may work wonders. They take inspiration from the wooden shipping crates typically used to transport or store large, heavy or awkward items, and can also double as attractive room dividers.
Learn more about this wooden wardrobe

Should You Use FaceTime to Rent a NYC Apartment?

In New York City, scoring an apartment ahead of a move usually involves a bit of insider information (eg. you have a friend of a friend of a friend) or jumping into corporate or short-term living situations for a premium. While these options are great in a pinch, they more often than not fall short of ideal. But now, […]

July 18, 2016

Abandoned Rockaways Building Gets Spray Painted; The Rise of the Inflatable Swan

Artist Katharina Grosse spray painted the abandoned aquatics building in Rockaway as an art installation that looks at the recovery since Hurricane Sandy. [designboom] As phone books stop being printed, recycling companies see more tonnage disappear from their waste stream. [Crain’s] See how much your first NYC apartment would cost today. [DNAinfo] The inflatable swan […]

Uncategorized

July 18, 2016

Plans Filed for Condo/Cultural Building in West Chelsea by the Late Zaha Hadid

At the beginning of June, 6sqft reported that the Moinian Group would be moving ahead with a project at 220 Eleventh Avenue in Chelsea that they had collaborated on over a year ago with the late Zaha Hadid. This is located just three blocks away from the starchitect's only other New York Commission at 520 West 28th Street along the High Line. At the time, the developer announced that the new building will be "a collection of signature loft-like condominium residences, a collection of penthouses and a cultural institution to establish itself as the hub of the world renowned art district that is West Chelsea." Yimby has now revealed that Moinian filed official permits for the 11-story structure, which will boast 40 large condos, a museum, and a restaurant.
More details right this way

July 18, 2016

$4M UES Limestone Mansion Duplex Wows With Tiffany Windows, a Fireplace and an Elevator

The elegant carved limestone mansion at 35 East 68th Street on the Upper East Side is quite a standout, even in a neighborhood filled with historic architecture. 6sqft previously featured another duplex in the 13,000-square-foot Beaux Arts beauty that was built as a private residence for physician Dr. Edward Kellogg and grain fortune heiress Mary Dows by Carrere & Hastings, the architecture firm who designed the Frick Collection and the New York Public Library. The landmarked mansion was converted into an eight-unit co-op apartment building, seven of which appeared on the market together last year for $34 million; but it looks like a sale never happened. Now another three-bedroom duplex is for sale, asking $3.95 million. Unlike the other listing, the home's grand historic details are very much in evidence, from the gorgeous oak paneled living room with 14-foot ceilings to Tiffany stained glass windows and a wood-burning fireplace–complemented by a modern custom kitchen and accessible by an elevator.
Tour this grand historic home

Starting Today, 20 Affordable Units Up For Grabs Throughout the Bronx

100 West 174th Street in University Heights (L); Locations of all three buildings (R)

July 18, 2016

Starting Today, 20 Affordable Units Up For Grabs Throughout the Bronx

Beginning today, New Yorkers earning 60 percent of the AMI can apply for 20 brand new, affordable units in University Heights (at 100 West 174th Street and 1636-1640 University Avenue) and the East Bronx (at 1167 Stratford Avenue). The apartments are one-bedrooms for $980/month, two-bedrooms for $1,183/month, and three-bedrooms for $1,359/month. The buildings have on-site supers, and units feature energy efficient appliances, sleek modern kitchens and baths, and hardwood floors.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

July 17, 2016

Stay in a Funky 1930s Catskills Farmhouse (Yoga Room Included) for $125/Night

Just in case a tiny cabin with an outdoor kitchen, a geodesic dome, or a 1950s trailer aren't your thing, you can still enjoy an unconventional country getaway at a Woodbridge, NY farmhouse where a suite of colorful upstairs rooms awaits. Part of a fascinating property 90 miles from New York City known as the Outlier Inn, the farmhouse, available on Airbnb, includes three bedrooms (available by room for $125 per night, or you can rent the entire apartment) and a yoga room. You'll also find sheep, goats, alpaca, bunnies and other sweater-bearing critters whose furry coats (with no harm done besides a haircut) get spun into winter accessories in an on-site fiber-arts workshop space, a full-service recording studio, a greenhouse with seasonal produce for sale and a pond on the 12-acre property, plus a nearby lake, hiking trails and park.
Check out the rooms in this just-right farmhouse

Getting Away

July 16, 2016

First Look at Williamsburg’s Tallest Building Not Planned Along the Waterfront

By Ondel Hylton

"Avid church and factory convertor" Yoel Werzberger and Watermark Capital Group are building a 19-story, 230-foot residential building in the heart of Williamsburg at 321 Wythe Avenue, reports CityRealty.com, and it'll be the tallest tower in the neighborhood not along its waterfront. The site was formerly a parking lot and single-story church owned by the Parish of Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, who also owns an acre of property on the block between Wythe and Berry Streets. The struggling church entered a long-term lease deal with Watermark last year that will allow them to erect a residential tower while making payments to the Parish that begin at $2.1 annually.
More info this way

July 16, 2016

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks From the 6sqft Staff

Get a Peek at the Modernist Treasures Headed for the Four Seasons Restaurant Auction Lottery Opens Tomorrow for 300 Affordable Rentals at Pacific Park Brooklyn Mark Cuban Opening Upscale Movie Theater at Bjarke Ingels’ Via 57 West VIDEO: Drone Footage Shows Rare Views of North Brother Island’s Abandoned Buildings 151 Affordable Apartments Up For Grabs […]

Uncategorized

July 15, 2016

Jamaica Estates Home Where Donald Trump Grew Up Asks $1.65M

Snag the Greenest Seat in Town: Gufram's 1972 Pratone Chair is Shaped Like a Patch of Grass

A common question about Donald Trump is "Where did he come from?" and this new listing for his childhood home in Queens may be one piece of the puzzle. Newsday reports that the Jamaica Estates home in which the presidential hopeful lived as a young boy has hit the market for $1.65 million. The six-bedroom tudor home at 85-15 Wareham Place is listed as his address on his 1946 birth certificate (he was born at nearby Jamaica Hospital) and is located in an affluent enclave where the average sales price is around $2 million according to DNAinfo.
More on Trump's beginnings

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July 15, 2016

Waitlist Opens For Studios at Upper West Side’s Trinity House, Starting at $432/Month

Trinity House is a 199-unit rental building at 100 West 92nd Street on the Upper West Side, just a block away from Central Park. It was built in 1968 by the Trinity School, which occupies the first three floors, as a Mitchell-Lama development. As 6sqft previously explained, this affordable housing program "was created in 1955 to provide affordable rental and cooperative housing to moderate- and middle-income families. These buildings are privately owned, but are under contract with New York state to keep prices affordable. Owners of these buildings receive tax abatements and low-interest mortgages." Back in 2013, Trinity House made headlines when the school received approvals from the city for a rent hike of up to 13 percent, more than three times the standard increase for rent-stabilized units that year. However, units have still remained affordable, and a 750-name waitlist has just opened for studio apartments that range from $432 to $503 a month for one- and two-person households earning between $17,263 and $90,625 a year.
Find out more this way

Affordable Housing

July 15, 2016

The World’s First Escalator Was Installed in Coney Island 120 Years Ago

When you think of Coney Island, cutting edge technology probably doesn't come to mind. But more than a century ago, this little enclave of amusement and thrills was where the world's very first working escalator was installed. In 1896, engineer Jesse W. Reno brought his patented "Endless Conveyor Elevator" (though he called it the "inclined elevator") to the Old Iron Pier at Coney Island. Reno's invention stretched a mere seven feet angled at 25-degrees, and instead of steps, the escalator used a conveyor-like belt fashioned with cast-iron cleats for traction. The Coney Island installation is said to have carried over 75,000 patrons over its two-week residency.
FInd out more here

History

July 15, 2016

Parker Posey Unloads Her $1.45M Greenwich Village Co-op in Less Than Two Months

Parker Posey caught people's attention when she posed in the listing photos for her Greenwich Village co-op at 30 Fifth Avenue. Take a look at the indie actress, who is currently celebrating the release of her new film "Café Society," lounging in her bedroom, reading Mary Louise Parker’s “Dear Mr. You” along with her Bichon Frise Gracie. Though unusual, the tactic must've worked, because the Observer reports that in less than two months the $1.45 million pad has gone into contract.
See the rest of the apartment

Friday Five: 5 Upscale Manhattan Buildings Offering Free Rent and Gift Cards

Every Friday 6sqft is rounding up five of the best rental deals showcased on CityRealty’s newly launched no-fee rentals page, a space where house hunters can find the best concessions being offered by landlords across the city.

July 15, 2016

Friday Five: 5 Upscale Manhattan Buildings Offering Free Rent and Gift Cards

A new week means a slew of new rental deals being offered across the city. Today we're focusing on upscale rentals in Manhattan, scanning the island from top to bottom, from the Upper East Side to FiDi, for the most generous of rental concessions. Standouts ahead include one month’s free rent and a $1,000 MasterCard gift card at a Robert A.M. Stern-designed Tribeca tower, and two months of free rent on beautiful new rentals in Yorkville.
5 of the Best deals here

Uncategorized

The New York Wheel Gets Its First Shipment of Crane Parts

Work at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, via Scott Ettin for DNAinfo

July 15, 2016

The New York Wheel Gets Its First Shipment of Crane Parts

Sunset Park was recently named one of the 15 coolest neighborhoods in the country, due in large part to the burgeoning success of Industry City and the Bush Terminal Park. And in addition to its booming creative sector, the 'hood can now include a revival of its shipping industry on its growing list of assets. As DNAinfo reports, on June 28th a cargo ship from Denmark carrying large crane parts for construction of Staten Island's New York Wheel arrived at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT), where it was docked for five days with around 30 union longshoreman moving the cargo. This was the first shipment to the site in more than 10 years, revitalizing it as "a working maritime port facility" that will hopefully create hundreds of jobs.
Find out more

Transit

July 15, 2016

MetroCard Creators Look to Tap-and-Go Tech; Basquiat’s Former Noho Home Gets a Plaque

The creator of the MetroCard, who’s also responsible for Chicago’s Ventra Card and London’s Oyster Card, hopes to create a new payment system for the NYC subway. [WNYC] Keith Olberman sold his Trump Place condo in just three months. He listed it in opposition to the presidential candidate. [Curbed] The Noho loft building where painter and sculptor Jean-Michel Basquiat […]

Uncategorized

July 15, 2016

Spotlight: HRCS’ Robert Burke on Teaching City Kids to Sail the Hudson River

By Susan Cohen

Sailing is an expensive sport and often requires a formal introduction at a young age. For many young New Yorkers, particularly those in underserved communities, the chances of getting this exposure are very limited, which is where Hudson River Community Sailing (HRCS) steps in. The eight-year-old organization’s Sail Academy in Chelsea teaches sailing to 150 students from nine public high schools in the neighborhood. The students enroll in a four-year program during which they earn math and science credit as they learn how to sail, study the marine environment, and build boats. In addition to its work with high school students, HRCS offers Community Sailing, where New Yorkers of all ages can come out and learn to sail. 6sqft recently spoke with HRCS’s Executive Director Robert Burke to find out more about this unique program and what students are learning on the Hudson, and more importantly, beyond it.
Read the interview here

July 15, 2016

Looming L Train Shutdown Already Causing Williamsburg Condo Prices to Dip, Says Expert

Since word broke that the L Train would be shutting down for upwards of a year, many have been wondering just how this would affect real estate prices in the immediate term. Well it looks we may finally be getting a taste. As DNA Info first reports, The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) released their quarterly findings this week, and REBNY found that although the number of condos sales were up in Williamsburg by 43 percent this last quarter over the same time last year, the average sales price dropped a considerable 13 percent to $937,000. To put this further into perspective, for Brooklyn as a whole, REBNY recorded a nine percent rise to $923,000 over the same period; Manhattan condos by comparison grew by 21 percent to an average $2.843M.
is there anything really to this?

Real Estate Trends

July 15, 2016

Rent Designer Erin Fetherston’s Fashionably Furnished Tribeca Loft for $23K/Month

A recent Observer article describing designer Erin Fetherston's Tribeca loft uses adjectives like "dreamy," "delicate," and "airy," all of which also describe the ethereal apparel collections she has designed both under her own label and in collaboration with big names like Target and Cosabella. It's fitting that this apartment, with its pale hues and spun-sugar decor, is located in Tribeca's Sugar Warehouse condominium building at 79 Laight Street. Ms. Fetherston has owned the unit since 2007, when she paid $4.33 million for the loft. She has been living with her husband and new baby in Los Angeles, so it's up to another fashionable New Yorker to enjoy the 3,555-square-foot home, furnished with “rare antiques” and “stylish furniture,” including couches from ABC Home and Bergère-style chairs. The three-bedroom loft has graced the pages of Vogue (also featured here on the designer's blog); it's now seeking a new tenant, asking $22,995 a month.
Tour the designer's photogenic and feminine loft

July 14, 2016

Lottery Opens Tomorrow for 300 Affordable Rentals at Pacific Park Brooklyn

It's been almost two years since architects COOKFOX were selected by developer Greenland Forest City Partners to design two residential buildings at their Pacific Park Brooklyn project, the 22-acre site anchored by the Barclays Center and containing eight million square feet of mixed-use development. COOKFOX took the helm for 550 Vanderbilt Avenue, a 275-unit condo, and 535 Carlton Avenue, a 298-unit affordable rental. A housing lottery for the latter will open tomorrow, according to a press release, offering low, moderate and middle-income residents the chance to apply for apartments ranging from $548/month studios to $3,716/month three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

City Gives First Approval for the Lowline, Must Raise $10M Over the Next Year

Lowline Lab via 6sqft

July 14, 2016

City Gives First Approval for the Lowline, Must Raise $10M Over the Next Year

The world's first underground park just got one step closer to reality thanks to approvals from the NYC Economic Development Corporation. The Lowline, which will occupy a 40,000-square-foot abandoned trolley terminal below Delancey Street on the Lower East Side, received the thumbs up after an eight-month bidding process during which no one else submitted a proposal. City hall granted co-creators James Ramsey and Dan Barasch control of the space provided they can reach a $10 million fundraising goal over the next 12 months, complete a schematic design, and host five to 10 public design sessions and quarterly community engagement meetings.
What's next and who's paying for this?

July 14, 2016

FXFOWLE’s The Ashland Kicks Off Leasing With New Renderings of Apartments and Food Hall

By Ondel Hylton

At the crossroads of Fort Greene, Downtown Brooklyn, and the BAM Cultural District, The Ashland rises. Next Tuesday, July 19, the 53-story, 586-unit tower will open its leasing office to prospective renters interested in its one-, two- and three-bedroom no-fee apartments, priced from $2,600/month for studios to $7,500/month for three-bedrooms. Previously, 282 apartments went online through the city's affordable housing lottery. To coincide with the grand opening, the Gotham Organization-developed and managed building has also launched its full website, providing us a bundle of new renderings of the exterior, the apartments, and the 17,000-square-foot marketplace that will open along its ground floor.
More details ahead

July 14, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week- 7/14-7/20

By Lori Zimmer

In a city where hundreds of interesting happenings occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Art Nerd‘s philosophy is a combination of observation, participation, education and of course a party to create the ultimate well-rounded week. Jump ahead for Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer’s top picks for 6sqft readers! This week, Joseph Gross Gallery's Lynzy Blair presents a two-faced show featuring transformative works that light up at night. The Quin Hotel continues their artist series with Berlin-based ABOVE, and LES's LMAK Gallery offers three floors of art experiences for an afternoon of arty fun. The Rubin Museum's annual block party shuts down 17th street and celebrates the monsoon this year, while the Museum of the Native American explores the variety of native dance with multi-talented performer Ty Defoe. Causey Contemporary's summer show explores the notion of "copy and pasting" in art, and Pippa Zornoza explores the horror of the voice at Grace Exhibition space. Finally, kick off your shoes and frolic in the grass for Bryant Park's Barefoot Ball with Questlove.
More on all the best events this way

Events & Things To Do

July 14, 2016

Buy Old Subway Seats, Signs, Tokens and More From the MTA

We know that thing where they were dumping old subway cars into the ocean for fish to live in was pretty cool, but there are only so many the briny deep can handle, and as cars get upgraded, items from the various good old days of NYC transit increasingly become collectibles. To that end, the MTA holds monthly online sales featuring retired and vintage subway cars (yes, you can apparently buy one of those), buses and their various parts and other ephemera, with items regularly added to the trove. All items are sold with a certificate of authenticity (don't laugh, there's actually a company that makes "vintage" subway signs). The current haul includes vintage subway and bus seats, roll signs and metal hanging straps (so you can feel like a commuter without leaving your living room).
Find out how you can recreate the subway experience at home

Transit

July 14, 2016

Get $1 Magnolia Cupcakes Today; Matt Lauer Sells Hamptons Cottage in Two Weeks

Using data from the Department of Transportation’s Vision Zero program, this app reminds New Yorkers to look up as they’re walking. [Fast Co. Design] Matt Lauer’s $4 million Hamptons beach cottage finds a buyer in just two weeks. [NYP] To mark its 20th birthday, Magnolia is offering its famous cupcakes for their original price of $1.25. [NYO] […]

Uncategorized

July 14, 2016

Tracing the Disappearance of New York City’s Live/Work Artists’ Lofts

By Cait Etherington

The New York City artist’s loft is arguably among the most romanticized and coveted living spaces in the world. It has been used as a backdrop for avant-garde films by Andy Warhol, the central scene of a musical (yes, we’re talking about Rent), and more recently, as the focus of several museum shows (for example, the […]

July 14, 2016

Suffering From Decay, Central Park Seeks $300M for Repairs and Restoration

If you've walked through Central Park on a recent weekend, you've likely noticed lush grass, blooming flowers, and hordes of tourists and locals alike enjoying the city's unofficial backyard. But a closer look reveals "the debilitating effects of time and modern use," according to the Times, which is why the Central Park Conservancy is embarking a 10-year, $300 million campaign to fund repairs and restorations in the 843-acre open space. "Forever Green: Ensuring the Future of Central Park" will address issues such as a leaking roof at the 144-year-old Belvedere Castle, plumbing issues and cracked pavement at the Conservatory Garden, and insufficient infrastructure at the Naumburg Bandshell. It will also restore arches, bridges, gazebos, and waterways to Olmsted and Vaux's original Adirondack- and Catskills-inspired vision.
But where will the money come from?

Architecture And Design

July 14, 2016

Sweet Hell’s Kitchen Duplex Has Pre-War Charm, a Smart Layout and Outdoor Space for $990K

It's almost as if this unique little duplex at 461 West 44th Street can't take a bad picture. There isn't a room unblessed by charm–including two good-sized bedrooms, a huge closet/dressing room and an amazing amount of (shared but directly accessible) well-tended outdoor space, all for a surprising-for-Manhattan $990,000. Situated near the corner of a tree-lined block in Hell's Kitchen, the co-op's 990 square feet seem more spacious than that number would suggest, as is often the case when two units are combined. The fixtures, finishes and overall design have been carefully curated with an eye for both beauty and function, and there are more than a few surprises, including a 1951 Chambers stove and a back door just off the kitchen that opens onto an almost-private planted patio.
Tour this one-of-a-kind west side home

Distinctive Homes

720 West End Avenue

Upper West Side

Serene Upper West Side homes near Riverside Park

1 beds starting at $1,005,000
2 beds starting at $2,495,000
3 beds starting at $3,495,000
4 beds starting at $5,850,000

Learn More

July 13, 2016

Get a Peek at the Modernist Treasures Headed for the Four Seasons Restaurant Auction

The Wright auction house is gearing up for the July 26 auction of kitchen and dining room items from the iconic Four Seasons restaurant. As 6sqft previously reported, news that the restaurant would decamp from the building surfaced last summer, when Seagram Building owner Aby Rosen did not renew the lease for what has been seen as the quintessential Midtown “power lunch” spot for the last decades of the 20th century since it opened in 1959. The restaurant’s interiors feature custom designs by Pritzker Prize-winner Philip Johnson and furniture, tableware and other modernist treasures by the likes of by Seagram Building designer Mies Van der Rohe, Hans J. Wegner and others and custom-made Knoll furniture. With an emotional forward by Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter, the auction catalog offers a preview of items up for auction with estimates. Included will be banquettes designed for the space by Philip Johnson Associates, Eero Saarinen Tulip stools, chairs and tables from the bar of the Grill Room, pans, flatware and dishes created for the restaurant by Ada Louise and L. Garth Huxtable and more.
Take a look at the items in the Four Seasons auction

July 13, 2016

Matt Lauer Lists Another Hamptons Home, This One a 25-Acre Estate for $18M

Matt Lauer is a man on a mission. After scooping up Richard Gere's North Haven compound for $36 million last month, he listed his Southampton beach cottage just a few days later for $4 million. Now, Curbed reports that he's also trying to unload his Sag Harbor estate for $18 million. The home at 2301 Deerfield Road serves as the main house for him and wife Annette. It encompasses 25 acres on two lots, including the super-stylish 8,000-square-foot home, a huge 70' x 20' gunite pool and pool house, tennis court, and gorgeous landscaped grounds.
Check it out

Get Your Grill On: Rules, Tips, and Products for Indoor and Outdoor Barbecuing in NYC

6sqft’s ongoing series Apartment Living 101 is aimed at helping New Yorkers navigate the challenges of creating a happy home in the big city. This week, we provide a comprehensive guide to indoor and outdoor grilling in NYC.

July 13, 2016

Get Your Grill On: Rules, Tips, and Products for Indoor and Outdoor Barbecuing in NYC

Nothing says summer like a perfectly charred burger or buttery ear of corn, but for many New Yorkers these warm-weather goodies are reserved for weekend jaunts to the suburbs or sub-par restaurant versions. If you want to get in on the grilling action without leaving the boroughs, there are plenty of options to barbecue both outside and in. It'll just require a little insider knowledge of the city's rules and regulations, so to help in the process, 6sqft has done the research, as well as put together handy tips and some of the best products.
Things are heating up right this way

July 13, 2016

127-Square-Foot Tiny House in the Catskills Fits Three for $125/Night

Jump on the tiny house bandwagon for few nights with this teensy 7' x 18' cabin up in the Catskills. In addition to boasting that cool reclaimed/rustic/cabin porn aesthetic, this little guy is also located on a charming 12-acre farm that comes complete with goats, bunnies, sheep, chickens, a fire pit, and a swimming pond. On top of all of that, at just $125/night, you could invite another two guests to get cozy with you—yes, believe it or not, there is more than one bed sardined into this home!
See more here

Getting Away

July 13, 2016

Interactive Map Shows Massive ‘Subway Deserts’ in Underserved ‘Hoods