6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

Built in 1929 and designed by architecture firm Schwartz & Gross, the landmarked 16-story building at 44 Gramercy Park North is "distinguished and eclectic," according to architecture critic Carter Horsley. Those adjectives certainly describe this out-of-the-ordinary home currently listed at $6.25 million, which 6sqft covered previously, marveling at the co-op's elaborate "Downton Abbey"-esque Tudor stylings. The sprawling 12th floor apartment was the residence of the building's owner/developer, so no expense was spared in its creation, which explains Neo-Gothic details like a limestone arch and casement windows, terra-cotta panels and brickwork. The home's current owners have lived here nearly 50 years. In its newest incarnation the apartment's listing offers a combination of units 12A and 12D, turning the size of this Gramercy aerie from grand to palatial at 2,500 square feet, claiming the largest amount of frontage (88 feet) facing south onto Gramercy Park through 14 enormous handcrafted stained glass windows. And the two-in-one situation looks like quite a find for the buyer who likes options.
Check out the amazing original details

June 27, 2016

Is the City’s New Ferry System Expansion Plan Full of Holes?

The new city-wide ferry system, scheduled to launch in summer 2017, has been lauded for creating 150 new jobs and spurring development in places like Astoria where it will shuttle the neighborhood’s transit-challenged residents to Manhattan for the cost of a MetroCard swipe. But will an unrealistic time frame and poor management choices and planning cause the Mayor's ambitious ferry plan to run aground? Maritime industry insider Tom Fox explains his concerns in an op-ed for Crain's.
What could possibly go wrong?

June 27, 2016

Interview: COOKFOX Partner Brandon Specketer on Biophilia’s Role in Building Design

You’ve certainly heard of LEED and Passive House in architecture, but what about biophilia? For COOKFOX, adding nature to a building and all the elements that surround it is a no-brainer. They strongly believe that humans have a deep, innate connection and love of nature, and in an urbanscape, they only way we can live fulfilled lives […]

June 27, 2016

New Renderings Show Supertall Status for Rafael Viñoly’s 125 Greenwich Street

The new mixed-use tower to rise at 125 Greenwich Street will indeed be adding another supertall to the Financial District’s skyline. New renderings confirm a final height exceeding 1,000 feet, inching the tower above the the 977-foot 4 World Trade Center nearby at 150 Greenwich Street, according to YIMBY. 6sqft previously reported on the progress of the slender tower-to-be, designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects and developed by a joint venture comprised of Michael Shvo, Bizzi + Partners Development, and Howard Lorber’s Vector Group that will offer a limited collection of condominium residences with unparalleled views of the lower Manhattan skyline and beyond.
Check out the new renderings

New Developments

June 27, 2016

Will Staten Island Pull Its Own Brexit?; On-Demand Babysitting Comes to Manhattan

A Staten Island Councilman, inspired by Brexit, calls for borough secession. [Gothamist] Want to live rent-free in the Village? Consider a van. [NYP] Check if your local grocery stores and bodegas have violations with this handy map. [amNY] Hello Sitter is a new on-demand babysitter service in NYC that fully vets sitters. [Quartz] Though San Francisco […]

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June 27, 2016

New Owners May Close Waldorf Astoria for Three Years for 1,100-Room Condo Conversion

Hilton Worldwide Holdings, who had owned the landmarked Waldorf Astoria since 1972, agreed in October 2014 to sell the 1,413-room hotel to Beijing-based financial and insurance company Anbang Insurance Group for $1.95 billion. The deal closed the following February, along with plans from the new owners to convert part of the Art Deco building into luxury condos, and now the Wall Street Journal brings additional details on the conversion. The overhaul, which could close the property for up to three years and cost upwards of $1 billion, would convert as many as 1,100 hotel rooms to condos, with the hotel portion featuring between 300 and 500 luxury guest rooms. Currently, the hotel employs about 1,500 people, but this major decline in hotel rooms will eliminate hundreds of jobs. Sources say Anbang and Hilton have already reached severance agreements totaling at least $100 million.
More details ahead

June 27, 2016

Matt Lauer Paid $36M for Richard Gere’s Hamptons Estate

Richard Gere has been trying to sell his 6.3-acre North Haven compound since 2013, when it was first listed for $65 million. Last week, reports of a $36.5 million sale came through, and the Post has revealed that Matt Lauer is the buyer. The "Today" news anchor will be getting a waterfront pool and pond, basketball court, 240-foot-long deep-water dock, island-inspired tea house, and a private beach, along with the 12-bedroom main house. Lauer, who's notorious for taking a private helicopter back and forth from the city to the Hamptons, also owns a 40-acre farm in Water Mill (where he recently had some beef with his neighbors) and is selling another Sag Harbor home.
Check out his latest acquisition

June 27, 2016

Financial District Loft Rental Comes With Its Own 800-Square-Foot Patio

Located in the Financial District, just one block from the South Street Seaport, is this 1,800-square-foot pre-war duplex with a very cool private patio. The building at 324 Pearl Street was built in 1888 as a warehouse, so the apartment now boasts 14-foot ceilings, exposed brick and lots of open space. Even the patio has a lofty vibe, surrounded by greenery against more brick. Although this is a condo, you can now rent it for $6,495 a month.
See the entire pad

Distinctive Homes

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

This $3.5M Noho co-op remembers the origins of loft living

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

For $2.2M, this two-family Bed-Stuy townhouse has three levels of outdoor space

Once a parking garage, this $85M Village penthouse is now in line to break neighborhood sales records

10 listings 6sqft readers loved in 2025

For $6.75M, everything you'd want in a Park Slope brownstone

Amy Schumer sells Brooklyn Heights townhouse at $1.25M loss

Doors of steel and glass make this $3M Soho loft feel like a box of light

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

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June 26, 2016

Boaz Gilad’s Bed-Stuy Rental Marcí Begins Leasing With $1,846/Month Studios

By Ondel Hylton

Another one of Boaz Gilad's reported 40+ Brooklyn projects has met the finish line with leasing kicking off at the Marcí in Bedford-Stuyvestant. Rising eight floors from the corner of Marcy Avenue and Kosciusko Street, the 35,000-square-foot project presents an inoffensive Rubik's Cube design hashed up by Franklyn Estrella Architects. Inside are 41 studio, one- and two-bedroom no-fee apartments. Pricing of the building's seven active units are rather affordable for new construction, with available units ranging from $1,846/month studios, $2,862/month one-bedrooms, and $2,723/month two-bedrooms.
More on the building

June 25, 2016

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks From the 6sqft Staff

Donald Trump’s Secret ‘Public’ Gardens Gave Him Extra Height at Trump Tower Buy Christie Brinkley’s 21-Acre Hamptons Estate for $30M Sleep in a Cozy, Converted Taxi in Long Island City for Just $39 a Night Take in the Views From Extell’s 850-Foot-Tall One Manhattan Square Massive Maya Lin-Designed Tribeca Townhouse Gets Thumbs Up From Landmarks […]

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June 24, 2016

Will the Brexit Vote Drive Up NYC Real Estate?

The vote by Britain to leave the European Union has shocked and confused the world to say the least. In addition to the political ramifications (Prime Minister David Cameron announced he will step down in October), the financial outcomes are staggering. The pound has already plummeted to its lowest level since 1985, with investors turning to the dollar and the yen and the entire European stock market dropping, according to reports from the Times. Though the Bank of England has earmarked roughly $344 million for potential stability measures, the world seems unsure of how the Brexit decision will affect international markets long term. London is currently one of the top locations for foreign real estate investment, but in the face of an uncertain future, Crain's presents the assertion that the vote could drive up real estate in New York City as "investors look for safe havens against the threat of a global recession."
More here

Real Estate Trends

June 24, 2016

One of Only Three East Coast Joseph Eichler Homes Is Selling for $490K

The listing says this undeniably out-of-the-ordinary home at 130 Grotke Road in a wooded Rockland County, NY community is "Not for everyone except you!" Which means Eichler fans and modern house lovers will want to take note: This could be your chance to scoop up a modern classic for half the price of its California counterparts. 6sqft previously featured the rare trio of East Coast Eichlers and the story of their rise to popularity during the dawn of the American suburban heyday—and plans to expand to the East Coast starting with three homes in the quiet community of Chestnut Ridge. Inevitably weather conditions and other factors led to a decision to return the focus to the West, but those three homes have not only endured—they have encouraged a community of modern architecture lovers to grow around them. One of those three homes—a four-plus-bedroom, 2,000-square-foot 1962 slate grey beauty—is now on the market for $489,900.
Tour this unique modernist gem

June 24, 2016

Spotlight: Kristin Heckler Delivers Bouquets on Wheels at Uprooted Flower Truck

By Susan Cohen

In a city where ever-rising rents often hamper potential small business owners from opening a storefront, mobile retail has become a popular alternative. Food trucks certainly led the way over the last few years, but the business model has spread beyond the culinary world and now includes a flower shop on wheels. A year ago, Ashley Custer and Kristin Heckler introduced New York to Uprooted Flower Truck. The business parks in neighborhoods around Manhattan to sell their New York-inspired, hand-tied bouquets available in three sizes: studio, loft, and penthouse. The driving force behind Uprooted is to not only bring flowers directly to New Yorkers, but to help people engage with and hopefully gain a deeper appreciation for them. 6sqft recently spoke with Kristin to learn more about this budding business and how it’s developing a unique identity in the city.
Read our interview with Kristin

June 24, 2016

New Renderings Show Rooftop and Courtyards at ODA’s Massive Rheingold Brewery Project

In March of 2015, the cube-happy architects at ODA revealed their design for 10 Montieth Street, part of Bushwick's 10-block Bushwick's Rheingold Brewery site. The 400,000-square-foot, 400-unit rental building from the Rabsky Group has a bow-tie shape with a sloping zig-zagging green roof and amenity-laden courtyard. Last week, renderings were released for a second project from ODA at the Rheingold site, this one with developer All Year Management. Inspired by a "European Village" and dubbed Bushwick II, this rental one ups 10 Montieth; it will encompass one million square feet over two city blocks and have 800-900 units, as well as an entire system of interconnecting courtyards and common spaces that break from the street grid, an 18,000-square-foot central park, and a 60,000-square-foot rooftop with an urban farm and recreational spaces including a pool. Dezeen has uncovered additional renderings of Bushwick II that showcase these outdoor spaces, and they do not disappoint.
More details and renderings ahead

June 24, 2016

For Just $30, the AeroPress Coffee Maker Might Be the Next Big Thing in Brewing

Espresso machines can cost thousands, and traditional drip coffee pots (we're looking at you Mr. Coffee), while inexpensive, can often yield a subpar cup of Joe. But a $30 coffee maker is well on its way to providing a happy medium for caffeine aficionados. Business Insider took a look at the AeroPress coffee maker from Aerobie, which uses an airtight plunger to push coffee or espresso through the filter. The company claims its success is in the product's ability to brew under "ideal conditions"--proper temperature, total immersion, and rapid filtering.
Find out more

Policy
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June 24, 2016

$1M Murray Hill Co-op Features 15-Foot Barrel Ceiling With Terracotta Tiles

Having high ceilings is a common feature of many New York apartments, but this is something different: the 15-foot-tall, barrel ceiling that's lined with terra cotta tiles in this co-op for sale at 372 5th Avenue, in Murray Hill. It's a stunning feature of the one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment, and a lofted bedroom means you get to enjoy the ceiling from up close. The apartment comes from an 11-story co-op that was built for clothing store Best & Co back in 1910.
See the ceiling up close

Distinctive Homes

June 24, 2016

Giant Green Wall at Tadao Ando’s Nolita Condo; A Way to Determine Tone in Texts

Donald Trump was fined $10,000 for skipping a hearing about the removal of a bench in the public atrium of Trump Tower to replace it with a kiosk selling “Make America Great Again” merchandise. [DNAinfo] Eero Saarinen, famed architect of JFK’s TWA terminal, also designed weapons and “devices” for the CIA. [Paleofuture] Here are new images of […]

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Ride the Coney Island Cyclone for Free This Weekend!

If visiting Coney Island has long been on your list of NYC to-dos, this weekend might be the best weekend to head down to the famed beach and boardwalk. On top of what will be gorgeous weather, per the Coney Island Blog, the amusement park’s iconic wooden roller coaster will be offering FREE rides to 89 thrill-seekers. The roller […]

History

2247 Walton Avenue (L); 280 East Burnside Avenue (R)

June 24, 2016

Affordable Housing Lottery Begins for Two Brand-New Bronx Buildings, Starting at $833/Month

By Ondel Hylton

In the Mount Hope section of the Bronx, two under-construction buildings have kicked off a combined housing lottery granting qualified renters the chance to snag nine $833/month studios, 12 $895/month one-bedrooms, and 34 $945/month two-bedrooms. The two buildings are located a half mile apart on opposite sides of the Grand Concourse and are being developed by the Walison Group under the alias 280 East Burnside Associates L.P. Newman Design Group (NDG Architects) are the designers of the two 11-story buildings, penning the mundane blocky masses with exteriors finished in red brick and stucco. The 2247 Walton Avenue building is situated midblock between East 182nd and East 183rd streets contains a total of 50 apartments, while the 280 East Burnside building rises between Ryer and Anthony Avenues and houses 40 apartments.
Find out if you qualify here

June 23, 2016

Take in the Views From Extell’s 823-Foot-Tall One Manhattan Square

Two Bridges, the area on the border of the Lower East Side and Chinatown, is seeing a wave of new, sky-high development, including a 900-foot tower from supertall team JDS and SHoP Architects and perhaps two 50-story buildings from L+M Partners. But the controversial surge in construction started with One Manhattan Square, an 823-foot tower from Extell. In anticipation of the 80-story condo building hitting the market this September, the developer has released a flashy new video that shows the sparkling Adamson Associates Architects-designed exterior, as well as the sweeping views from the upper floors. But as Curbed, who first spotted the video, notes, it ignores its potential supertall neighbors to make a point of just how much much it towers over its surroundings.
Watch the full video here

June 23, 2016

Buy Christie Brinkley’s 21-Acre Hamptons Estate for $30M

Newsday reports that Christie Brinkley is looking to unload her massive, 20-acre Bridgehampton estate for $29.5 million. Known as Tower Hill for its 50-foot turret, the home was built in 1891 and was scooped up by the supermodel in 1998. Her ex-husband, architect Peter Cook, restored the home, but it's been on and off the market with no luck since 2002. It was originally listed for $25 million, but after the couple's split in 2007, Brinkley re-listed it for $30 million. The main gambrel-style house, which was built with "475 tons of local rock," has 11 bedrooms, and there's also an art studio, gym, pool, tennis court, greenhouse conservatory, four-car heated garage, and four-bedroom guesthouse.
More on the sale here

June 23, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week – 6/23-6/29

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! Celebrate Pride Month with a Rubin Museum tour, by dressing as the Wizard of Oz at the McKittrick Hotel, or by joining Luke Neocamp at TransPecos for his video trilogy release. If you're Hamptons-bound, take in some international art at the annual Art Hamptons Art Fair. Free French Films continue in Greenpoint with Luc Besson's Subway this Friday, and adult storytellers share a little show and tell at Roger Smith Hotel. Finally, come meet me and enjoy Peter Gronquist's work at Joseph Gross Gallery!
More on all the best events this way

Events & Things To Do

June 23, 2016

Live in Tennessee Williams’ Former East Side Townhouse for $1.85M

This three-bedroom duplex at 151 East 37th Street with three fireplaces, skyline views and exclusive roof rights, listed at $1.849 million, has the added cachet of being in the townhouse where famed playwright Tennessee Williams lived in the 1940s (h/t New York Post) before the debut of "The Glass Menagerie" on Broadway. More historic firepower: The house was built in 1860 by President Martin Van Buren as a home for his daughter. A 1940 postcard from the scribe to his father describes the well-known strategy of living with roommates to defer steep housing costs in NYC: "Settled in lovely new apt., 151 E. 37 St. 3 big rooms and other a roof with skyline & view of river for $18.50 (3 of us) each (per month)..."
Have a look at the apartment

June 23, 2016

Protecting Your Rights As a LGBT Renter or Buyer in NYC

By Cait Etherington

Following the 2013 Supreme Court ruling that struck down the Defense of Marriage Act and the 2015 ruling that upheld the decision, gay and lesbian couples across the United States have had a lot to celebrate. After years of struggle, gays and lesbians now have the right to marry and along with it, the right […]

June 23, 2016

$2M Upper East Side Co-Op Boasts a Marble Mantle from the Plaza Hotel

When your home boasts a marble mantlepiece that originally belonged to the Plaza Hotel, you know you've got something special. Such an item can be found at this prewar co-op, on the market for $1.995 million at the Lenox Hill building 333 East 68th Street. The owner, a former Saks Fifth Avenue executive, took on the designer Lindsay Coral Harper to gut renovate it. She transformed a traditional two-bedroom co-op was into a luxurious bachelorette pad that melds new luxury finishes with restored historic details.
See more

Distinctive Homes

June 23, 2016

Joan Rivers’ Dog Bowl Sells for $14K; Rent the WTC Oculus for Your Next Event

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

The silver bowl of Joan Rivers’ dog Spike has sold at auction for $14,000. It was expected to go for $800. [Page Six] Looking at the architecture in video game Grand Theft Auto. [Architizer] The World Trade Center Oculus will be available for public event rentals (no weddings or bar mitzvahs) beginning in 2017. [NYP] […]

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THE 6SQFT SHOP

The 6 best furniture rental companies in NYC

8 best places in NYC to thrift for home goods

The best websites for buying and selling used furniture in NYC

Everything you need to know about using a guarantor in NYC

15 quintessential NYC gifts for the New Yorker in your life

Raising chickens in NYC: Laws, tips, and everything else you need to know

Everything you need to know about affordable housing: applying, getting in, and staying put

10 best plants for apartment dwellers

New York City's best holiday markets of 2023

VIEW ALL

June 23, 2016

New Renderings of South Street Seaport’s Fulton Market Revamp From SHoP Architects

Though they didn't have much luck with their controversial tower at the Seaport, SHoP Architects and the Howard Hughes Corporation have gotten approvals for their revamp of the historic, 1983 Fulton Market Building. Yimby reports that on Tuesday, the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved the revised design for the building's exterior, which alters the signage from the original 2014 proposal. To show how the signs will look, SHoP prepared several new renderings of the site.
See them all here

June 23, 2016

$2.25M Carroll Gardens Carriage House Has Three Floors, Two Terraces and One Parking Spot

This unassuming brick carriage house at 164 West 9th Street is tucked into the gentrified-industrial corner of south Brooklyn where Carroll Gardens meets Gowanus. The 2,100-square-foot townhouse has been thoroughly renovated and infused with enough charm to make it a nice turnkey option for a buyer who's looking for a condo alternative–for $2.25 million. Interiors have been given modern upgrades like central AC, all new mechanicals, and attractive finishes, and a curb cut makes parking easy, a rare gift in busy Brooklyn.
See the whole house

Distinctive Homes

June 22, 2016

Massive Maya Lin-Designed Tribeca Townhouse Gets Thumbs Up From Landmarks

By Ondel Hylton

While better known for its manufacturing buildings converted to retreats of discreet loft living, Tribeca is ushering in a mini-Gilded Age of mega-modern townhouses that are rising from the neighborhood's modicum of narrow lots. Yesterday, the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved Maya Lin Studio's design of a five-story, 20,000-square-foot single-family mansion at 11 Hubert Street that will use the structural bones of an existing three-floor commercial building and add more than 6,000 square feet of floor area throughout. The nondescript commercial structure is a vestige of a never-finished 1980's residential project that Lin, in collaboration with architects Bialosky + Partners, hope to rectify.
More details this way

June 22, 2016

City Will Allow Landlords to Convert Lower Manhattan Public Spaces to Retail

6sqft recently covered the controversial proposal by the Alliance for Downtown New York (ADNY), the Department of City Planning (DCP), and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC), to change zoning laws to allow property owners in the Water Street Subdistrict of lower Manhattan–at One New York Plaza, for example–to bring in retail tenants like restaurants and clothing stores in exchange for making improvements and upgrades to the public plazas and arcades adjacent to their buildings. Crains reports that the City Council passed a bill Tuesday that would allow the Financial District landlords to convert the public corridors in front of 20 buildings in the Water Street corridor to retail shops. The public corridors, which cover ten blocks, were created when the Water Street buildings that abut them were built. Building developers agreed to create the public arcades and walkways in exchange for more buildable square footage.
Read more

‘Violently’ Ringing Door Bell Served As Home Security in the Early 1900s

Image via Paleofuture

June 22, 2016

‘Violently’ Ringing Door Bell Served As Home Security in the Early 1900s

Image via Paleofuture Long before there was technology like Ring with its motion detecting sensors and live streaming videos, New Yorkers and other folks took to keeping their homes safe with much more rudimentary measures like the nickel-plated door alarm seen above. Paleofuture spotted an ad for the nifty little battery- and wire-free device in a 1906 issue of "Literary Digest." Set off by "the slightest bit of pressure," the door stop alarm claims to provide "Absolute protection from burglars and sneak thieves." What more could you ask for for just $1?
more here

June 22, 2016

Parlor-Floor Apartment With Four Palladian Windows Asks $1.2 Million Off Central Park

If you're going to live on any floor of a New York City townhouse, it may as well be the parlor floor as it's usually considered the crown jewel of the home. This $1.2 million co-op occupies 1,000 square feet of an historic brownstone building at 61 West 68th Street. The exposed brick interior takes full advantage of the massive Palladian windows that line the apartment. The location, right off Central Park West, is nothing to scoff about either.
Check out the interior

Distinctive Homes

June 22, 2016

Poll: Will Phase One of the Second Avenue Subway Open on Time?

New Yorkers have learned to take deadlines and budgets from the MTA with a grain of salt, and the Second Avenue Subway may be the worst offender since it was first proposed all the way back in the 1920s. But the past couple years have restored some hope; in April 2015, it was announced that Phase I of the project was 82 percent complete and on track for its December 2016 opening, and last summer the MTA even went so far as to say the entire line could open sooner than originally planned. But yesterday the Post reported that there's a good chance the Second Avenue Subway won't be finished on time, blaming construction crews not showing up for work. This has put inspections behind schedule, and therefore "the agency has only completed 67 percent of the testing and needs to do another 1,100 checks by October."
What do you think this means for the deadline?

Transit

June 22, 2016

A Day in the Life of Bill Nye the Science Guy; A Giant Dachshund Tours Brooklyn

Spend a Sunday on the Upper West Side with Bill Nye the Science Guy. [NYT] Tidal House is a solar-powered, floating residence that uses retractable legs to defy climate change. [Inhabitat] If you hate furniture shopping this all-in-one living room may be for you. [Fast Co. Design] Photographer Mitch Boyer Photoshopped his dachshund in giant […]

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June 22, 2016

Britney Spears’ Former Noho Penthouse Returns As a $24K/Month Rental

Britney Spears' old Noho penthouse at 14 East 4th Street (the Silk Building) is making a go on the market "one more time." The Observer noticed that the 4,400-square-foot apartment, which hit the market for $7.6 million at the beginning of the year, has returned as a $24,000 a month rental. Though the four-floor spread is large and lovely, it's had quite a "toxic" sales history.
Take a look around

June 22, 2016

Dapper Duplex Loft in an Iconic Noho Cast Iron Building Asks $6.2M

The Robbins & Appleton Building at 1 Bond Street in Noho is considered by some to be among the most attractive cast-iron buildings in the city and definitely one of the neighborhood's handsomest. Built in 1877 and designed by architect Stephen Decatur Hatch in the Second Empire style, the iconic structure with the tall, slanted blue mansard roof was first used to manufacture watch cases. Designated a city landmark in 1979 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, the building was converted to residential loft condominiums in 1988. A while back, 6sqft offered a peek inside one of those covetable lofts, an eclectic collaboration between James Dixon Architect and interior designer Carolina George that combines a chic, modern look with luxurious touches and quirky highlights. That top-floor duplex is now on the market asking $6.2 million. The interiors of this two-bedroom, 2,500-square-foot condo aren't what you might expect to see in an historic Noho loft. Though there are 17-foot ceilings, big loft widows and a massive skylight, the renovation filled the space with bold and colorful decorative highlights along with modern conveniences. Though not pictured, this sixth-floor penthouse also comes with unconnected private roof space.
More bold and colorful interiors this way

Distinctive Homes

My 1200sqft: Inside Summer Rayne Oakes’ Williamsburg Oasis Filled With 500+ Plants

Our ongoing series “My sqft” checks out the homes of 6sqft’s friends, family and fellow New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to Summer Rayne Oakes’ plant-filled Williamsburg loft. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch!

June 21, 2016

My 1200sqft: Inside Summer Rayne Oakes’ Williamsburg Oasis Filled With 500+ Plants

As far as multi-hyphenate models go, Summer Rayne Oakes may be the most impressive we've come across. More than being a cover beauty, Summer is also a writer, businesswoman, activist, chef (she's working on her first cookbook), and an ecologist by training (she graduated from Cornell with degrees in Environmental Science and Entomology). Unsurprisingly, this overachiever's multifaceted talents touch ever corner of her life, including the space she's called home for the past 11 years. On the top floor of an unassuming Williamsburg building is a 1200-square-foot loft that's been transformed into a veritable jungle with over 500 plants (and 150 species) and a handful of exotic insects, including African millipedes and Madagascar hissing cockroaches (they're confined to a terrarium, if you're wondering). While her home at first glance appears to be dominated by plants, Summer's space is also decorated with dreamy touches, carefully curated vignettes, and furniture she's built with her father using wood found on the street. Ahead Summer takes us through her unique loft and gives us some insight into the work she's done, her perspective on her changing neighborhood, as well as some tips for raising plants in the city.
Inside Summer's unbelievable home this way

‘House of Cards’ Star Robin Wright Snags a West Village Penthouse for $3.025M

Update 6/23: 6sqft incorrectly reported that actress Robin Wright purchased this co-op. The actual buyer is a homonymous (and similarly wealthy) woman. An insider tells us that the actress owns a home in the Soho/Nolita area

June 21, 2016

‘House of Cards’ Star Robin Wright Snags a West Village Penthouse for $3.025M

In addition to being able to boast about her leading role on the hit Netflix series "House of Cards," actress Robin Wright may soon be bragging about her latest real estate purchase, a five-room penthouse stunner located at 171 West 12th Street. According to city records released today, it appears that Wright has paid $3.025 million for a newly renovated pad inside a classic prewar in the heart of the West Village. Listing records show that the co-op was last priced at $2.495 million in March, which is considerably lower than the closing price. So is this penthouse really worth its premium? You be the judge...
Have a closer look inside here

June 21, 2016

Sleep in a Cozy, Converted Taxi in Long Island City for Just $39 a Night

Here's your chance to sleep in a yellow cab without worrying about the meter. A listing has popped up on Airbnb for a "cozy one-of-a-kind NYC taxi van" that's been "renovated into swanky living quarters." This renovation outfitted the vehicle with a full-size bed that comes with soft pillows and bright yellow sheets (how fitting), a portable wireless air conditioner, and, according to the reviews, a couple bottles of Fiji Water. The $39/night price tag also covers the Long Island City location with views of the Manhattan skyline that's walking distance to a bathroom and cafes with WiFi.
Find out more about these unusual accommodations

21 Elephants Walked Across the Newly-Opened Brooklyn Bridge to Prove Its Safety

Photo via Wiki Commons

June 21, 2016

21 Elephants Walked Across the Newly-Opened Brooklyn Bridge to Prove Its Safety

In May of 1883, the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge was big international news. The bridge had been under construction for 13 years, and its unveiling was a highly anticipated event. Showman P.T. Barnum, never one to turn down a PR opportunity, offered authorities a novel way to show–and show off–the safety of the new bridge: He’d walk his troupe of elephants across it. At first, his proposal was rejected. But in 1884, after a woman fell on the side stairs on the Manhattan side, causing a stampede that killed 12 people and making others wary that the bridge would collapse, Barnum’s “elephant walk” (the subject of a June, 2004 New Yorker cover) happened. It was to the amazement of New Yorkers who happened to catch the sight of 21 elephants, 7 camels, and 10 dromedaries (basically furry camels) trekking from the bottom of Cortlandt Street across the illuminated arches of the bridge, with Barnum’s celebrated seven-ton African elephant Jumbo bringing up the rear.
Read more

History

June 21, 2016

The King of FiDi: Developer Nathan Berman Talks Transforming Downtown and 443 Greenwich

He’s been called the King of FiDi with over 2200 apartments under his management. The founder and principal of Metro Loft Management, Nathan Berman specializes in transforming landmark office buildings into luxury rentals. He recently acquired the leasehold for 20 Broad Street, the former New York Stock Exchange building, and plans to convert it to white-glove rental […]

June 21, 2016

Booken Transforms Your Reading Material Into a Useful Table

By now, everyone has jumped on the bandwagon of organizing bookshelves by spine color. And while we love the look, it's refreshing to see a new, inventive way to display one's reading material. Booken was designed by Yael Mer & Shay Alkalay of Raw Edges as a way to exhibit the book "as an object that becomes material." It's the horizontal version of the traditional bookcase, and with the books hanging by their spines, they create a visually interesting and purposeful console table that doubles as a library.
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June 21, 2016

Pretty Top-Floor Co-Op With its Own Roof Deck Asks $1.2M in Park Slope

Park Slope is known for its pretty real estate, and this top-floor co-op at 656 Carroll Street is no exception. Decked out with a wood-burning fireplace, arched doorways, exposed brick and stained glass, this is a one-of-a-kind interior that matches the historic vibe in the rest of the neighborhood. And it's all topped by a private roof deck offering 360-degree views of Brooklyn and the Manhattan skyline.
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Distinctive Homes

June 21, 2016

Great Pyramid of Giza Is Asymmetrical; Apple Will Now ‘Emojifi’ Your Texts

Take a deep breath, perfectionists. It’s just been discovered that the Great Pyramid of Giza is longer by 14.1 centimters on its west side. [National Geographic] Millennials rank their dream city, and New York is number one. [Reddit] Apple released a new feature that will “highlight all the emojifiable words” in a text. [NYT] Surprise, surprise. The Second […]

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One Domino Square

8 South 4th Street

Williamsburg

Spectacular living on the Williamsburg waterfront

1 beds starting at $1,925,000
2 beds starting at $2,055,000
3 beds starting at $3,030,000

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June 21, 2016

Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent Sell Greenwich Village Penthouse for $9.8M

Interior design couple Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent listed their pristine Greenwich Village penthouse in November of last year for $10.5 million. Though they undertook a beautiful update (which was featured as the cover story in last September's issue of Architectural Digest), this was a steep increase, so it's not a total surprise that the selling price came in slightly lower at $9.8 million. According to the Observer, the buyer is "financier-slash-jewelry designer" Charles de Viel Castel.
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June 21, 2016

Tribeca Triplex Penthouse With Rooftop Hot Tub Swaps Astroturf for Ipe Wood and Asks $8M

When the tricked-out three-bedroom triplex atop 16 Warren Street sold in 2014 for $5.1 million after languishing on the market with a price that had unceremoniously tumbled from the then-brand-new condo's original 2008 ask of $9.175 million, “Million Dollar Listing New York” star Fredrik Eklund did the deal and shouted it from the (internet) rooftops. Fast forward a mere two years: The home's current owners have slid the sleek penthouse back onto the market for $7.995 million. That doesn’t seem out of line for a Tribeca penthouse, and it’s still lower than the 2008 ask, so perhaps the sellers want to be sure they don’t repeat the home’s last held-over performance. With 3,381 square feet of interior space (which looks like it's had a modernizing update), a terrace with views of the neighborhood's twinkling lights around every turn and a big hot tub a-bubbling on the fully-loaded rooftop deck (now with less astroturf, more ipe wood than in the earlier listing) we doubt they'll have to wait six years to make a sale.
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Distinctive Homes

June 20, 2016

Donald Trump’s Secret ‘Public’ Gardens Gave Him Extra Height at Trump Tower

In light of his media-circus presidential campaign, there seems to be endless exposes about Donald Trump's past real estate drama. From his failed attempt to own the Empire State Building to a lost battle with China over two bi-coastal skyscrapers, the Donald's development empire has very often skirted the rules. The latest saga dates back to 1979, when, as Crain's uncovers, Trump struck a deal with the city for a zoning variance to build an extra 200,000 square feet, or 20 stories, at Trump Tower. In return, he agreed to create a public atrium, as well as 15,000 square feet of public gardens. But these gardens, which yielded almost all of the 244,000 square feet of office and residential space that Trump still owns in the tower (worth roughly $530 million), are hidden, hard to access, and not maintained.
The full story, right this way

June 20, 2016

Ben Stiller Buys a $15M West Village Pad at Celeb-Favorite 150 Charles Street

Ben Stiller and wife Christine Taylor are the latest A-listers to pick up a pad at the West Village's luxury condominium 150 Charles Street. As the Observer reports, the couple paid $15.31 million for a 3,395-square-foot, full-floor spread with gorgeous Hudson River views. They'll be joining other big names at the address, including supermodel Irina Shayk, who bought a $6 million apartment in February, Jon Bon Jovi, who paid $12.88 million for a 10-room spread in September, and famed fashion photographer Steven Klein, who dropped $12.5 million on a unit in March.
More on their new digs

June 20, 2016

Nine L Train-Adjacent Affordable Apartments Up for Grabs in Williamsburg, From $882