6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

In February, Flushing-based developer Chris Jiashu Xu of United Construction & Development Group filed plans for a 79-story, 964-foot residential tower in Long Island City, giving it the title of would-be tallest tower in Queens. Dubbed Court Square City View Tower, it's located just north of One Court Square (the borough's current tallest building at 658 feet), but new information reveals that it will now steal the title by even more of a landslide. The developer put in a request with the Federal Aviation Administration for a 984-foot-tall tower, sending it into supertall territory. And with its mechanical bulkhead, the structure will rise 1,000 feet.
The rest of the details

April 28, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week – 4/28-5/4

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! Spring has finally arrived and with it comes another dose of stimulating art events, starting with an eye-opening photo exhibit of artists along the U.S.-Mexican Border, as well as the much-anticipated spring edition of Greenpoint Open Studios. If you're looking for a more interactive experience, check out the Mad Hatters Ball at the McKittrick Hotel on Saturday or the Art into Action later on in the week. From the gallery side of things, Jenn Singer Gallery will be exhibiting an unconventional body of work from Brooklyn-based artist Emily Weiskopf, and the Booth Gallery will be debuting several works from the controversial Norwegian painter Odd Nerdrum. In addition to these thought-provoking solo shows, Brooklyn's Center for Performance Research will host a group show entitled Beaver, challenging the role of female sexuality in mainstream media.
More on all the best events this way

Events & Things To Do

April 28, 2016

JDS and SHoP Architects Unveil Plan for 900-Foot Lower East Side Tower

There's a new tallest tower taking over the Lower East Side, and unsurprisingly it comes to us via the supertall super-team of JDS Development and SHoP Architects, the same duo responsible for the 1,438-foot-tall 111 West 57th Street and 9 DeKalb Avenue, Brooklyn's first 1,000+ foot tower. Their latest record-setter is a 900-foot, 77-story rental building planned for 247 Cherry Street, reports The Lo-Down. It will rise directly next to Extell's One Manhattan Square, which made waves for its 850-foot height in the low-scale Two Bridges area. The newest tallest tower between Midtown and Downtown will have a 10,000-square-foot retail base with 600 rental apartments above, about 150 of which will be made permanently affordable. Though the design isn't finalized, SHoP says it will likely be terracotta brick and glass and feature outdoor terraces in the middle. There will also be a top-floor amenity space for all residents, and SCAPE Landscape Architecture has been tapped to create a publicly accessible plaza surrounding the structure.
More details this way

April 28, 2016

First Look at COOKFOX’s Affordable Housing Development in East Tremont

By Julian Friedman

Here's a first look at a new two-building development in the Bronx's East Tremont section designed by COOKFOX. Developed by nonprofit Breaking Ground, the project will include housing for low-income families and formerly homeless individuals, in addition to on-site social services and a community room. The structure will be encased in brick, which will have alternating rows protruding and receding by a half inch, giving it an appearance meant to reference "ocean sand or tree bark patterns." It will also boast many eco-efficient features and will qualify for Zone Green benefits, allowing extra floor area for affordable homes, according to the architects.
More on the project

April 28, 2016

Former Home of Alexander Hamilton Jr. on St. Mark’s Place Sells for $10M

Tickets to Broadway's Hamilton just keep going up and up, but the famous surname didn't seem to help Alexander Hamilton Jr.'s former East Village home in the price department. The founding father's son was the first owner of the Federal-style townhouse at 4 St. Mark's Place, which hit the market back in November for $12 million. But the Commercial Observer reports that the landmarked property (and recent home of famous punk store Trash and Vaudeville) sold for only $10 million to Castellan Real Estate Partners.
The history and future of Hamilton's former home

April 28, 2016

Live in a Lofty Triplex Apartment at a Former 1880s Firehouse for $4,500/Month

Before 735 Dean Street was anybody's home, it was the post of Engine Company 219, who moved in when the firehouse was built in 1880. The historic structure in Prospect Heights has since been converted to apartments, one of which is this 1,400-square-foot triplex being offered for rent. From the inside, though, you wouldn't guess this was in an old fire station; it looks like your typical Brooklyn loft.
See more

April 28, 2016

Meet the Man Behind Google’s Doodles; Movers for the One Percent

As Google’s chief doodler, 35-year-old Ryan Germick shows how creative types are integral to the tech sector. [BBC] An artist is suing Big Gay Ice Cream over their unicorn logo. [NYP] “White glove” moving services can cost luxury homeowners tens of thousands of dollars. [WSJ] The Textalyzer could help curb distracted driving in New York. […]

Uncategorized

April 28, 2016

A-Rod Spotted Checking Out 15 CPW Rentals Despite Being Banned for Bad Behavior

Yankee Alex Rodriguez was recently spotted checking out apartments at 15 Central Park West, according to the Post. A-Rod had formerly rented a $30,000 a month, two-bedroom apartment at the Upper West Side building and was allegedly banned from returning due to his propensity for hosting (many, many) hookers back in his Cameron Diaz era.
Read more

Celebrities

Distinctive Homes

Asking $2.8M, this two-family Bed-Stuy townhouse looks like a good place to spend a sunny afternoon

For $2.25M, a historic timber and stone cottage in Southampton

Park Slope 'pink house,' now in a more muted hue, asks $5M

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

Color, drama, and detail define this $12.5M Upper East Side co-op

This $4.5M Lenox Hill duplex combines pre-war elegance with architectural drama

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

Steve Madden's former Trump Palace pad lists for $11.5M

Ricky Martin sells Upper East Side apartment for $6.15M

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

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Stuff You Should Know: How NYC School Zones and Districts Work

Photo by Mary Frost of the Brooklyn Eagle

April 28, 2016

Stuff You Should Know: How NYC School Zones and Districts Work

By Cait Etherington

It’s a longstanding New York City tradition—families relocating to live in a desirable school district or zone. Currently, all five of the city’s boroughs are divided into districts and zones and both come with their own currency. Districts, which usually cover large swaths of a borough, impact students’ middle school and in some cases, high school choices. Zones, by contrast, can run just a few blocks and are usually the sole criteria for assigning students to schools at the elementary level. Like many things in New York City, however, a block can make a world of difference.
more on School Zones and Districts here

April 28, 2016

New Williamsburg Condos Tout Parisian Style and Industrial Craftsmanship

Near the corner of Union Avenue and Conselyea Street in East Williamsburg, a modestly sized six-floor condominium is underway. Addressed 476 Union Avenue, the project is designed and developed by the Meshberg Group, who purchased a four-story, walk-up building formerly at the lot for $2.4 million. Rising from the structural bones of the prior building, the 8,650-square-foot development will offer nine condos that the team proclaims are where "Parisian style meets industrial craftsmanship."
More details ahead

April 27, 2016

It’s Official! Construction on Barry Diller’s Futuristic Offshore Park to Begin This Summer

Earlier this month, Barry Diller's futuristic offshore park got closer to reality when the Manhattan Supreme Court dismissed a case against the development that claimed it could have a negative environmental impact. And now the $130 million project known as Pier 55 has cleared its final hurdle, gaining regulatory approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. According to Crain's, the Hudson River Park Trust revealed today that construction will commence this summer.
More ahead

Architecture And Design

Transit Think Tank Says MSG Move Could Be a $5B Example of ‘Architects Run Wild’

Rendering for a proposed new MSG by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates

April 27, 2016

Transit Think Tank Says MSG Move Could Be a $5B Example of ‘Architects Run Wild’

Moving MSG to make room for a bigger, better Penn Station train hub would be really expensive and probably not a good idea, according to a new report by transit think tank Rudin Center for Transportation Policy. Commercial Observer reports that the just-released study outlines the concern that moving the arena would come with a price tag of over $5 billion, take, like, forever, and would generally "become an urban planner’s worst nightmare." The study refers to the proposed overhaul of Pennsylvania Station and the idea of extending it to the post office off Eighth Avenue as well as suggestions by urban planners for relocating MSG.
So what's going to cost so much?

April 27, 2016

Exclusive Photos: Tour the Lavish South Wing of the Gilded Age Villard Houses

The Gilded Age mansions that once stood along 5th Avenue -- nicknamed Millionaire's Row -- have mostly met the wrecking ball. But the Villard Houses remain remarkably preserved since their construction in 1884. The famed architecture firm McKim, Mead and White designed this visionary six-house complex for Henry Villard, a railroad magnate whose empire began to crumble as construction wrapped. Today -- after many changes in ownership and a landmark designation -- the buildings stand as the entrance to the Lotte Palace Hotel. The hotel has just offered several rooms inside the south wing of the property, the former home of Villard himself, up for lease, offering a rare look into the lavish interior that's hardly changed since it was designed over 100 years ago.
More history and lots of interior photos this way

April 27, 2016

Tips for First-Time Renters and Students Leaving the Dorm

By Diane Pham

Rents across the city may be climbing, but that’s not keeping college students from wanting to flex their newfound autonomy even further by leaving their dorm for digs off campus. Unfortunately for many of these young scholars—and many first-time renters like them—searches typically start off with head-in-the-clouds expectations (“I had this fantasy about scoring a place with a fireplace and […]

Lottery Launches for 181 Affordable Units in Pacific Park’s Modular Tower

Photo of the construction progress at 461 Dean Street in January, via Field Condition

April 27, 2016

Lottery Launches for 181 Affordable Units in Pacific Park’s Modular Tower

After suffering delays, lawsuits, leaks and alignment issues, Pacific Park's 461 Dean Street (aka the B2 Tower) is finally wrapping up construction and has just launched its affordable housing lottery. The 32-story structure from SHoP Architects will be the world's tallest prefab tower, and of its 363 units, 181 will be available to low- and middle-income households. This will range from $559/month studios to $3,012 two-bedrooms and from individuals earning $20,675 annually to families of four earning $144,960.
Get a look at the apartments and find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

April 27, 2016

Subway-Style Poster Uses Infographics to Celebrate the History of the Yankees

Baseball's history in the Big Apple is as rich and turbulent as that of the city itself, and this super-sized canvas tells the story of the iconic New York Yankees. The stylish infographic from Pop Chart Lab plots out the player positions from 1975-2015, tracking the careers of long-standing baseball legends like Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, as well as short-lived superstars like Jack Clark and Cecil Fielder. Fittingly, its design is similar in style to the graphics of the NYC subway system and also includes stats, scorecards, and all of the sluggers from East 161st Street.
Find out where to get your own print

April 27, 2016

Cheery Two-Bedroom in Boerum Hill Asks Less Than a Million

Though not by much -- this pretty second-floor, two-bedroom co-op on a prime Boerum Hill street comes in at $925,000, to be exact. Friendly and quaint yet urban and diverse, this neighborhood was pricey and sought-after long before Brooklyn nabes were vying for “coolest in the world” status. The apartment for sale at 368 State Street has plenty going for it in the looks department. Pre-war details like decorative moldings, high ceilings and hardwood floors complement interiors that have been updated for modern comfort. It’s only one flight upstairs, and a common roof deck even puts outdoor space into the equation.
Get a closer look

Distinctive Homes

POLL: Would You Rather Live in the Bronx or Staten Island?

It’s really no secret that the Bronx and Staten Island have been the boroughs slowest to gentrify and bring in New Yorkers looking for that hip factor. But apparently their affordable prices are starting to outweigh their longer commutes and less urban makeups. The latest report from the Real Estate Board of New York says that […]

Real Estate Trends

April 27, 2016

NYC Manufacturing Campaign Goes Artisinal; A Houseplant That Charges Your Phone

The new campaign for Made in NYC, a group that promotes local manufacturing, looks to capitalize on “artisanal and handcrafted goods.” [NYT] A facetious, side-by-side comparison of similarly priced listings in New York City and less costly parts of the world. [New Yorker] This houseplant harnesses energy from photosynthesis to charge your phone. [Design Taxi] The latest […]

Uncategorized

April 27, 2016

Greenpoint’s 533 Leonard Condos Hit the Market Asking Above Neighborhood Average

Along the southern border of Greenpoint, near Williamsburg's McCarren Park, a once charming 19th-century school building at 533 Leonard Street is completing its adaptive reuse into 13 condominiums. Three two-bedroom units were just listed on the market this week asking an average price per square foot of $1,411, a bit above Greenpoint's current average condo asking price of $1,152 per square foot. The 21,000-square-foot development is a synthesis of the Italianate-style Horace Greeley School married with a modern addition and gut-renovated interiors handled by local architects MDIM.
Check out the available units

April 27, 2016

Rent the Opulent Upper East Side Mansion Once Home to Versace for $120,000/Month

By Annie Doge

Now's your chance to live like fashion royalty, as the opulent Upper East Side townhouse once owned by Gianni Versace is on the rental market for the first time, asking a whopping $120,000. The Italian designer bought the house at 5 East 64th Street for $7.5 million in 1995, just two years before he was murdered in Miami. It sold again for $30 million in 2005 to Swedish hedge fund manager Thomas Sandell, but it still retains many of the details left over from Versace's renovation, including marble floors, massive chandeliers, and the painted living room ceiling.
See the whole place

April 26, 2016

Trump’s Flubs: The Donald’s Failed Attempts to Erect the World’s Tallest Building in NYC

Presidential candidate Donald Trump's aggressive tone and occasional outlandish statements have dominated the conversation in the Republican primaries, and today is sure to be no different. Though his supporters feel that he's a shoo-in, his real estate track record hasn't always resulted in success. Take for example his fraught attempt to own the Empire State Building, which ended in lawsuits and public shaming, or his $80 million loss on the Plaza Hotel, which resulted from his near bankruptcy in the '90s. In addition to these public debacles, the developer-turned-showman-turned-politician has envisioned at least three of the world's tallest buildings in New York over the years, which makes sense for a man who glories in superlatives and for whom every project is a flamboyant gesture. In honor of the Donald's never-ending presence, 6sqft decided to take a look at these never-realized, sky-high proposals, which include the New York Stock Exchange Tower, Television City Tower, and 10 Columbus Circle.
Get the story behind all these failed attempts

April 26, 2016

Another Stubby Shotgun House Hits the Market in Brooklyn, This One Asking $999K

This shotgun house in East Bed Stuy (asking $775K last December) needs to move over: there's another stubby property in town. And by town, we mean the neighborhood of Greenwood Heights, Brooklyn, located just south of Park Slope. The two-story home comes with two bedrooms, one-and-a-half bathroom and the opportunity to expand. The question is, would you pay just under $1 million for it?
Take a look

Distinctive Homes

April 26, 2016

What Are Top NFL Players’ Salaries Worth in Real Estate?

By Diane Pham

It's no secret that the NFL's top draft picks command starting salaries well into the eight-figure range, but to really put into perspective just how crazy-big their paychecks are, CityRealty's latest infographic takes a look at what the last five #1 picks could buy in Manhattan with their money. And on top of that, how these hypothetical one-off property purchases translate into real estate portfolios in their hometowns. (Teaser: Quarterback Jameis Winston could either buy a $24.95M pad at The Eldorado or 107 homes in his native Tampa, FL!)
Check out the full-size infographic here

April 26, 2016

Lottery Launches for $822/Month Studios in Brand New East Harlem Building

As the Upper East Side continues to extend itself northward, the southern portions of East Harlem are becoming increasingly trendy, yet still relatively affordable compared to other on-the-cusp 'hoods. And if you're looking to get in on the action, three $822/month studios have just come up through the city's affordable housing lottery at 1674 Park Avenue, a newly constructed rental building at 118th Street. They're available for single persons earning between $28,183 and $36,300 annually.
Get a look at the apartments

Affordable Housing

April 26, 2016

NYC Millennials Earn 20 Percent Less, Have More Debt Than Previous Generations

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

If you were born between 1985 and 1996 and live in New York City, there's a good chance you're struggling. The Wall Street Journal looked at a report from city Comptroller Scott Stringer that examined the effects of the recession on millennials, which found they earn about 20 percent less than previous generations of their counterparts. Furthermore, the report says the economy has left this group with "greater debt than their parents" and "fewer high-wage job opportunities even as the cost of housing in the city has risen."
More good news ahead

City Living

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

April 26, 2016

Fōz Design’s Mid-Century Modern Home Boasts Rustic Charm in the Hudson Valley

This beautiful home situated on the banks of the Hudson River in Saugerties, New York is a perfect example of how elegant rustic can be. The home comes from Fōz Design, a multi-disciplinary architecture and design studio in New York City, as a weekend family escape and a modern interpretation of the traditional woodsy cabin.
Tour the entire property

Architecture And Design

April 26, 2016

$5K/Month Carroll Gardens Duplex in a Former Wine Cellar Has Plenty of Personality

In a rented apartment, visitors and friends won't necessarily hold you responsible for any infrastructure eccentricity–that's part of the ease of signing a lease. The problem is, it's often difficult to find a rental with any personailty. There's no floor plan available for this quirky Carroll Gardens garden duplex at 78 Douglass Street, but it certainly looks like there's a fair amount of space, and even if not, you've got two floors to call home. As is often the case with pre-war row house apartments, there do seem to be "plenty of unique features," as the listing says.
Check out the party-ready yard and the former wine cellar basement

Distinctive Homes

April 26, 2016

Brooklyn-Queens Streetcar Gets Closer to Reality; Nathan’s Hot Dogs Documentary

A city-commissioned study on the proposed Brooklyn-Queen streetcar says the plan is feasible. [Politico] The Four Seasons will move to 280 Park Avenue, and the restauranteurs are looking for an architect. [NYP] Peak cherry blossom season has officially arrived in Brooklyn! [DNAinfo] A new documentary, “Famous Nathan,” is about the Coney Island hot dog chain’s founder. […]

Uncategorized

April 26, 2016

Skyline Wars: As Queens Begins to Catch Up, A Look at the Towers Defining Its Silhouette

By Carter B. Horsley

Carter Uncut brings New York City’s latest development news under the critical eye of resident architecture critic Carter B. Horsley. Here, Carter brings us his sixth installment of “Skyline Wars,” a series that examines the explosive and unprecedented supertall phenomenon that is transforming the city’s silhouette. In this post Carter looks at the new towers defining the Queens skyline. For a long time, the glass tower erected by Citibank was the lone skyscraper of note in Queens. Known initially as Citicorp at Court Square, it was built in 1989 and designed by Raul de Armas of SOM as a blue-green metal-panel-and-glass office tower with just a few setbacks at its 633-foot-high top—an extremely clean-cut, modern obelisk of fine proportions. In a 1988 article in The New York Times, Anthony DePalma wrote that the tower “dominates the Queens skyline like a sequoia in the desert” and Paul Goldberger, then the newspaper’s architecture critic, wrote the tower was “rapidly becoming one of the most conspicuous structures in the entire city.” He added, “It is a very unlikely thing, this building—no other skyscraper in New York is remotely like the Citicorp tower, not so much for its design as for the fact that it stands free, alone in this landscape of gas stations, warehouses and row houses,” The bank tower transformed “the landscape of New York” and “no longer does Manhattan virtually by itself control the skyline,” Mr. Goldberger continued. “Skyscrapers built at random all over New York would be devastating, but an occasional exclamation point, well designed and carefully placed, will do the skyline no grievous harm,” he concluded. This is a very important but also very controversial point as currently evidenced in Manhattan where traditional precincts are being pin-pricked to exhaustion and confusion by supertalls.
more on the queens skyline

Architecture And Design

April 25, 2016

A Photographer’s Eye Makes This $3.25M Carroll Gardens Townhouse Pretty as a Picture

When a photographer who's worked for Martha Stewart Living puts her creative skills to work crafting a home in a classic Carroll Gardens townhouse, the results tend to photograph well. That's certainly the case with this gorgeous three-story brick house at 189 Huntington Street. Lifestyle, food, fashion and interiors photographer Dana Gallagher has clearly trained her editorial and design eye on every detail. Comprised of an upstairs owners' duplex and a beautifully outfitted one-bedroom garden apartment below–each with an outdoor oasis–this 20-foot-wide two-family property could also be transformed easily into a single-family dream house.
Get a closer look

Distinctive Homes

April 25, 2016

Chetrit to Sell Sony Building, Abandons Plans for Robert A.M. Stern-Designed Condos

In a very unexpected twist, The Real Deal has learned that the Chetrit Group is selling the Sony Building, scrapping its flashy plans to convert the office building's upper floors to luxury condos designed by none other than Robert A.M. Stern. Olayan America, a division of the Saudi conglomerate Olayan Group, is in contract to purchase 550 Madison Avenue, partnering with European and Asian asset manager Chelsfield. According to the Post, they'll pay between $1.4 and $1.5 billion, a profit of at least $300 million for Chetrit. In a statement, Olayan said they'll lease space to "high-quality commercial tenants."
Find out more

New Developments

April 25, 2016

Innovative 1931 Long Island ‘Skyscraper House’ Was Built by the Father of Palm Springs Modern

By Ondel Hylton and Julian Friedman

In a 1932 article in Modern Mechanix magazine, the design of this three-story Long Island “skyscraper house” was touted as the “latest in homes,” with an all-metal frame and glass walls. What the story doesn’t mention is that this little house in the ‘burbs was designed as a case study home by noted architects Albert Frey (who spent his early years in Le Corbusier's studio) and A. Lawrence Kocher. Known as the Aluminaire House, this diminutive dwelling is among the earliest examples of European-inspired modern architecture in the eastern U.S.. It was included by Philip Johnson in a MoMA exhibit in 1931 that later became the manifesto for the International Style of architecture–one of only six American buildings in the show to exemplify the style. With the Coachella music festival in the recent spotlight, visions of Palm Springs-style desert homes have been popping up at every turn, and though this little skyscraper house couldn't be further away geographically, its co-creator Albert Frey is known for establishing the "desert modernism" style exemplified in those iconic Palm Springs homes. And as with many ideas in the ultra-creative 1930s, the construction of this Modernist gem in 1931 was well ahead of its time.
Find out more about the story and future of Aluminaire House

Architecture And Design

April 25, 2016

First Look StudiosC’s Bed Stuy Rental Underway at 1875 Atlantic Avenue

Over the next decade, Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue will likely continue its transformation from high-speed deathtrap to high-density residential boulevard. With more than a dozen projects already taking shape near its western extents, such as the 16-tower Pacific Park project, Cobble Hill's LICH redevelopment, and a pair of towers at Brooklyn Bridge Park, it's not difficult to imagine infill developments progressing eastward, rising from the acres of underutilized land along the ten-mile artery. And in East New York, the City Council just approved a rezoning of the neighborhood that allows for 10- to 14-story apartment blocks to rise along Atlantic Avenue. In Bedford-Stuyvesant, in between the two much-discussed areas, StudiosC Architects has crafted an eight-story apartment block at 1875 Atlantic Avenue, which will contain 118 rental units.
Get all the details on the building

April 25, 2016

Tricked Out Reno by DB Studio Features Six-Story Staircase, Basketball Court and Home Theater

Renovated by Studio DB, this single-family Manhattan dwelling is a modern design modeled after the needs of a young family where a massive section of the house is dedicated to entertainment and recreation—perfect for keeping three young boys out of trouble. The building dates back to 1888, and its rich history creates a contrasting backdrop for the home's contemporary and functional design. The structure was once a grocery distribution center and has been transformed into an opulent living space designed around a continuous stair atrium that visually and physically connects the home's six above- ground levels. The layout also maximizes daylight within, and the effect is amplified by two large skylights and the upper level's glass flooring.
Check it all out

April 25, 2016

Award-Winning Contemporary Townhouse on the Columbia Street Waterfront Asks $3M

The Columbia Street Waterfront is a quiet and historic waterfront enclave, just west of Cobble Hill, that's filled with small businesses and lined with cobblestone streets. Despite it's old-time Brooklyn vibe, it's home to at least one very contemporary townhouse at 48 Tiffany Place. The single-family, three-story home underwent a reno in 2013 and recently won the Remodelista Considered Design Award for its unique and dramatic interior.
See more

Distinctive Homes

April 25, 2016

An Architect’s Guide to ‘Game of Thrones;’ Biking in NYC for Nervous Nellies

Go on an architectural tour through “Game of Thrones” Seven Kingdoms and beyond. [Architizer] A nervous biker’s guide to cycling in NYC. [NYT] Here’s the first renderings of Rafael Viñoly’s new office building/car dealership in Hell’s Kitchen. [Curbed] Say goodbye to taxi cab partitions. [NYP] Gowanus’ Whole Foods-adjacent Coignet Building has finally shed its sidewalk shed and construction […]

Uncategorized

April 25, 2016

VIDEO: Visit ’93 New York City in High-Tech HD

Ancient history doesn't look like it used to. Instead of grainy footage or shaky home video, we can enjoy this pretty early demo HD video to reminisce about streets filled with people who weren't looking at little tiny screens. Remember those days? This 1993 video takes a wander through a few of the city's favorite photo ops (Times Square, Central Park, the East Village and the East Third Street Hell's Angels' back yard).
Watch the video

History

April 25, 2016

FiDi Residents Get the Largest Tax Returns in the City, According to the IRS

It's time for Uncle Sam to start writing tax refund checks, and according to the IRS he'll be shelling out the most in the Financial District. As the Post reports, "One-percenters living in the Financial District have the highest taxable income, the biggest tax bills and get the largest refunds in New York City." Though zip codes 10012 and 10013 (which make up parts of the West Village, Soho, Tribeca and the Lower East Side) are the most expensive in terms of real estate, it's FiDi's 10005 that is the richest in terms of earnings. The average annual taxable income for residents here is $948,979, and they pay $254,835 in taxes and get refunded $74,079.
Which other neighborhoods topped the list?

City Living

Live Near the Newly Opened High Bridge for $975/Month

Photo by Shinya Suzuki / Flickr

April 25, 2016

Live Near the Newly Opened High Bridge for $975/Month

The latest in a wave of recent affordable housing lotteries includes six buildings in the Bronx -- three in High Bridge, right near the newly opened and much-hyped overpass, and three farther east in Soundview. All together there are 20 newly constructed units up for grabs (though it's not clear how many are at each address), ranging from $975/month studios to $1,709/month three-bedrooms.
More details ahead

Affordable Housing

April 24, 2016

CCS Architecture’s Watermill Residence Is a Modernist Starter Home in the Hamptons

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

If you think the Hamptons is only for Hollywood stars who can afford the glitz and glamour of life, you might want to look at the summertime playground's hidden gems like CCS Architecture's Watermill Residence. The modest retreat was designed for a developer who wanted to sell property to new buyers at a moderate price level. A perfect starter home, it offers a down-to-earth vibe thanks to the architects' simplicity and casual modernist taste.
Learn more about this casual retreat

Architecture And Design

April 23, 2016

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks From the 6sqft Staff

LPC Approves Brooklyn’s First 1,000+ Foot Tower; New Renderings and Details Donald Trump’s Failed and Fraught Attempt to Own the Empire State Building SHoP’s East River Towers Named American Copper Buildings; Go Inside Their Skybridge Live Across the Street From Michelle Williams in Ditmas Park for $679K How Long Should You Wait For the Subway […]

Uncategorized

April 22, 2016

Marc Jacobs President Lists Fashion-Forward Village Townhouse for $17M

One of several fabulous and fancy Greenwich Village townhouses owned by Marc Jacobs' friend and business partner Robert Duffy is back on the market. Duffy purchased the 3,800-square-foot, four-story 1839 brick home at 62 West 12th Street for $10.25 million in 2013. The brick beauty has been thoroughly modernized with attention paid to the aesthetics and function of every detail, from the massive steel-framed glass wall separating the ground floor from the rear garden to the fact that there’s an elevator to get you there from upstairs. Despite having all the comforts of home, the house has retained much of its architectural integrity and pre-war charm.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

April 22, 2016

Artist Hopes to Raise $25K to Build a Pedestrian Bridge from Red Hook to Governors Island

From her back window on Columbia Street in Brooklyn, artist Nancy Nowacek could see Governors Island and Buttermilk Channel (the strait connecting Brooklyn to the island), and it seemed incredibly close. In fact, it's the equivalent of only about four city blocks away. So since 2012, Nowacek has been working on her vision of building Citizen Bridge over New York Harbor, a floating modular pedestrian bridge over the 1,400-foot span from Red Hook to Governor's Island. In what is currently planned as a one-day-only event, she sees Citizen Bridge as a completely new way to experience New York City harbor, rather than seeing it from the shore, from a bridge above, or from a boat. As noted by Mental Floss, Nowacek has turned to Kickstarter to raise money for a pilot phase. The project's goal of $25,000 would fund a proof-of-concept, which is the final phase before launching for real. So far, they've prototyped seven bridge designs in full-scale sections.
Find out more about this plan to walk on water

Architecture And Design

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April 22, 2016

Live in a Swanky Former East Village Synagogue for $30K a Month

Just in time for Passover, this historic East Village synagogue turned residence has reappeared on the rental market. Known as the 8th Street Shul, there was a long battle to keep the building preserved as a synagogue after it was damaged by a fire in 1982. Ultimately, the building, at 317 East 8th Street, was turned over to real estate interests and converted into a single-family luxury home. It's been on the rental market before, asking $25,000 a month, and now it's back at a higher price.
Some of the synagogue details remain

April 22, 2016

Construction Update: Perch Harlem, NYC’s First Market-Rate Passive House, Shows Some Skin

Work on the city's first market-rate Passive House, Perch Harlem, is moving apace, and just in time for Earth Day, a bit of construction netting was taken down, giving passersby a glimpse of its super-insulated white exterior (good for heat deflection) and seamless rectangular windows. The seven-story structure rises midblock at 542 West 153rd Street and recently topped out in January. When finished later this year, its 34 units will boast superior workmanship, low energy bills and exceptional indoor air quality. The project's developers, the Synapse Development Group with Taurus Investment Holdings, purchased the 10,000-square-foot former parking lot back in 2013 and have been growing their Perch brand of buildings that strive to provide environmentally low-impact living and community-oriented design.
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April 22, 2016

Karim Rashid’s Bump Is an All-In-One Charging Device That Can’t Get Tangled

By Ondel Hylton and Julian Friedman

Being away from a power cord or charger has become a source of great anxiety, and colorful product designer/architect Karim Rashid has a new device to solve some of the problems associated with our cord-ridden lives. He and partners Richard Smiedt and Phil King recently created a new company called Push and Shove. Their first product is called Bump, a wall charger and power bank that includes a one-meter cable housed perfectly in a compact frame, eliminating the tangled mess of power cords. It's bulbous shape is reflective of Rashid's longline of "blobjects," a term he coined to describe his effort to soften our physical landscape.
More on Bump

April 22, 2016

First Look at StudiosC’s Boutique Condominium Underway at 187 Bridge Street

Within Downtown Brooklyn's detached island of urbanity between the Manhattan Bridge on-ramp and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, local architecture firm StudiosC has designed a modestly scaled, ground-up condominium at the corner of Bridge and Nassau Streets. Re-approved plans filed by the architect of record Karl Fischer detail an eight-story building with 12,000 square feet of gross floor area.
More details ahead

April 22, 2016

The Met Struggles While MoMA Gets $100M; Illustrated Bodega Cats