6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

Just yesterday, 6sqft took a look at the available market-rate units at Carmel Place, the city's first micro-housing development. If you're debating submitting an application for one of these apartments--which at less than half the size of traditional studios are still asking from $2,570 to $3,200 per month--this video from the Times may help firm your decision. In it, reporter Penelope Green spends a night in a 302-square-foot unit that rents for $2,670 a month and features the building's host of space-saving furniture like a sofa-wall bed combo (which, though surprisingly comfortable, will give you your daily upper body workout) and a 17-inch deep desk that extends to a 10-person dining table.
Watch the full video here

New Developments

June 10, 2016

KPF’s William Pedersen Designs an Ultra-Modern Doghouse With Green Roof

By Annie Doge

KPF is best known for transforming cities with supertall towers, but for the firm's founding Design Partner and Principal, William Pedersen, there's no scale that should be left unchallenged. Pedersen teamed up with fellow KPF architect Trent Tesch to create the One Jackson Square (OJS) Doghouse, a pint-sized structure for pets that boasts a striking curved form. According to the KPF pair, the OJS is "designed for the city dog, the country dog, and the spoiled dog."
more on the design here

June 10, 2016

Apply for 20 Affordable Apartments on East 165th Street, Starting at $690/Month

Applications are now being accepted for 20 brand new affordable homes at 491 East 165th Street in the Morrisania section of the Bronx. The 10-story building will house eight studio apartments priced at $690 per month for qualified applicants earning between $24,995 and $38,100 annually. Six one-bedroom units are priced at $775/month and are available to one- or two-family households earning between $27,943 and $43,500 per year, and six two-bedroom units will go for $950/month for two- to four-person households earning between $33,943 and $54,360 per year.
Get more info right here

June 10, 2016

Diane von Furstenberg Will Help Fund New Statue of Liberty Museum

Fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg and husband Barry Diller are well known in the philanthropic circuit as supporters of cultural public spaces. They were early funders of the High Line, and construction is soon to commence on Diller's $150 million+ futuristic offshore park known as Pier 55. Their latest endeavor will be backing a new Statue of Liberty museum, as the Wall Street Journal reports that von Furstenberg has joined the board of the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation and agreed to assist with fundraising. The announcement for a new, free-standing museum designed by FXFOWLE comes as the Statue of Liberty nears its 130th anniversary in October. Currently, the exhibition space is housed in the statue's pedestal, but because of its size and security concerns only about 20 percent of the 4.3 million annual visitors can access this museum. The National Park Service, in an environmental review put out last month, said the 15,000-square-foot project is "intended to increase public access to exhibits on the history, construction and legacy of the statue, and provide additional shelter during inclement weather."
More details on the building

June 10, 2016

NYC Gets Its First Official Iconography; Can Empty Restaurants Double as Co-Working Spaces?

Amidst a very public divorce, Johnny Depp is auctioning off nine of his personal Jean-Michel Basquiat paintings. [Page Six] Believe it or not, the city has never had official iconography. But now NYC & Company has launched 250 pictograms, as well as a redesigned website and two new typefaces. [Fast Co. Design] There are 2,000 empty restaurants during the […]

Uncategorized

June 10, 2016

The Historic Henry F. Spaulding Estate in Riverdale Looks Like it Belongs Upstate

Riverdale is a neighborhood known for its incredible mansion properties. But this one at 4970 Independence Avenue--now on the market asking $3.69 million--really stands out among them all. First there's the architecture -- the home is a fine example of the Stick-Eastlake style, rarely seen in New York City. Then there's its "utterly fascinating history," as reported by Cured. Known as the Henry F. Spaulding Estate, it was constructed in 1880 in Riverdale when the area was a private community of country estates. To make way for the development of Wave Hill, the sprawling property was picked up and moved to its current location in 1909. If all that sounds interesting, just wait until you see the interior.
Take a tour

June 9, 2016

VIDEO: Frank Lloyd Wright on His Arrogance and the ‘Greed’ That Built NYC

"Fellow architects have called him everything from a great poet to an insupportable windbag," begins Mike Wallace in a 1957 interview with Frank Lloyd Wright. This is the setup for a talk with the famous architect in which he asserts he could rebuild the entire country if he had 15 more years and that the New York City skyline is nothing more than a "race for rent," a monument to "the power of money and greed," and completely lacking any ideas. In this animated video from PBS Digital Studio (h/t Reddit), set to the historic interview, we learn why Wright thinks centuries of architecture failed, what he feels is wrong with St. Patrick's Cathedral, and how he believes he received the title of "arrogant."
Watch the full video here

Architecture And Design

June 9, 2016

$2.8M Condo at Former Greenwich Village Horse Stable Boasts Great Windows and Exposed Brick

49 Downing Street is a building of note in Greenwich Village for a number of reasons. The late 1800s horse stable is on the National Register of Historic Places. And as a 10-unit co-op, it has housed Yoko Ono, who bought an apartment in 1995 for her son Sean Lennon and sold in 2014 for $8.3 million. The latest apartment to hit the market here is this two-bedroom unit, asking $2.8 million, which boasts stunning windows that decorate the stable's historic facade.
See more of the interior

Distinctive Homes

This $6.75M Gothic Revival townhouse in Park Slope was once a church rectory

This $16.7M Cobble Hill home is like having your own private club in a Brooklyn brownstone

This $4M Flatbush townhouse stays true to its Victorian roots

An artist's mural in this $1.4M Hit Factory condo will remind you of its colorful past

For $5.65M, a ballet legend's former UWS studio is now a three-bedroom home

An elevator makes this $4.2M Greenpoint townhouse a timeless forever home

For $10.5M, a sunny yellow Mediterranean villa on the Upper East Side

For $6.25M, a stately 1847 Boerum Hill townhouse has historic charm and a dramatic glass solarium

This landmarked $3M Flatbush townhouse is architecturally significant and expansively livable, garage included

Drew Barrymore finds buyer for gut-renovated Westchester estate

VIEW ALL

June 9, 2016

MAP: Visualizing Urban Development from 3700 B.C. to 2000 A.D.

Previously, 6sqft featured an interactive map from Esri that showed how the world's population boomed over the course of 2,000 years. Now comes a new paper and visualization (h/t CityLab) from Scientific Data that takes population and archeological records from as far back as 2250 B.C. and transforms them into a fascinating map that reveals the world's first recorded urban centers, and how they've distributed themselves over 6,000 years.
the complete map here

City Living

June 9, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week – 6/9-6/15

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! Warm weather is here and there are plenty of fun, outdoorsy art activities to keep you busy and inspired. Grab a drink and chill outside for Saya Woolfalk's trippy film, which enlivens Times Square each night this month. The Van Alen Institute presents four days of design events for their annual Spring Festival, while the Welling Court Mural Project returns with a chance to see artists in action during a fun block party. Artist Peter Gronquist presents a departure from his taxidermy works and a foray into painting at Joseph Gross Gallery, and Miya Ando shows off two new bodies of work inspired by her Japanese heritage at Sundaram Tagore. Drew Conrad's beautifully brash dystopian installations take residence at Kustera Projects in Red Hook. Head to Brookfield Place with the family to test out The Swings, a kinetic installation that plays music when you swing on it. Finally, the event I look forward to all year, the Philip Johnson Glass House Summer Party which invites guests to picnic amidst the mid -century modern gem.
More on all the best events this way

June 9, 2016

Micro-Apartments at Carmel Place Starting from $2,570 and Offering a Month Free

For you minimalist gurus who also relish on-site amenities, there is a now a building for you. Earlier this spring, leasing kicked off for the city's first micro-housing development, Carmel Place (formerly known as My Micro NY) at 335 East 27th Street. Developed by Monadnock Development and designed by nARCHITECTS, the newly finished no-fee building is a prototype meant to test compact and efficient living arrangements within the city's tight housing market, as well as accommodate the city’s growing population of one- and two-person households. Thee leasing team led by Citi-Habitats is offering one month free on all 12- and 24-month leases. According to CityRealty, there are seven micro-studios available ranging from 265 to 360 square feet. Though the units are nearly half the size of typical studio apartments, monthly rents are not analogously micro with current asking prices ranging from $2,570 to $2,920 per month. That's an average of $110 per square foot, significantly more than $83 per square foot median studio price in Murray Hill and $60 per square foot in Gramercy.
Find out more this way

June 9, 2016

A Rare Historic Townhouse in Long Island City Asks $2.4M

Long Island City is a neighborhood better known for its warehouses and new waterfront development than it is historic townhouses. But there are a few blocks of the neighborhood that look more Brooklyn than Queens, with 19th century townhouses along tree-lined streets. It's not everyday that one of these gems hits the market--here's a charming home that was listed this spring--but this one at 45-10 11th Street is now asking $2.395 million. It's been in the same family for 34 years and still has lovely interior details from when the home was constructed in 1911.
Take a tour

Distinctive Homes

June 9, 2016

Zen Out in Your Apartment With the Meditation Tipi

Even the most cynical, high-strung New Yorkers need a little "namaste" time. If committing to a yoga membership seems like too much, why not get one of these Meditation Tipis, which allow you to "create your own sacred space for meditation, connection, writing, reading and more." Made in Bozeman, Montana by Little Turtle's Tipi, these handmade canvas teepees come with an imitation fur rug and a salt crystal aroma lamp for your favorite essential oils. And with a diameter of only six feet and height of seven, they're perfect for even the smallest apartments.
Find out how to get your own

June 9, 2016

Work Begins on Times Square ‘Activity Areas’ to Confine Characters and Performers

Mayor de Blasio first started pushing to corral the costumed characters and topless performers in Times Square last August, and now almost a year later work has begun on a reconfiguration of the area, reports the Daily News. A preliminary map that divided the plazas into three zones was released in September, but a new, final version was issued on Wednesday. Called "TSq Plaza Rules Cheat Sheet," it splits the tourist mecca into Chill Zones (places to "sit, nosh, meditate, take in the sites"), De$ignated Activity Zones ("commercial activities, street entertainment, posing for photos, vendors of expressive matter... in exchange for compensation, donation, or tips"), and Express Lanes ("pedestrian through lanes, NYC style"). After the City Council passed legislation eight weeks ago that gave the Department of Transportation the power to relocate the performers and ticket sellers, workers began painting the colored lines to delineate the zones on Wednesday night.
See the full map

Policy

June 9, 2016

Time Warner Actually Is the Worst; Can ‘Hamilton’ Beat the Robots?

We’ve been right all along; Time Warner Cable has the worst customer satisfaction in the country. [Gothamist] To prevent Zika, a Long Island town is installing homemade wooden boxes to attract bats that can eat 1,000 mosquitoes an hour. [Inhabitat] West 103rd Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue has officially been renamed Norman Rockwell Place. [NYT] Anthony […]

Uncategorized

June 8, 2016

Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick Pay $34.5M for Two West Village Townhouses

By Annie Doge

It looks like Sarah Jessica Parker and husband Matthew Broderick have just closed on two West Village townhouses for $34.5 million, according to The Real Deal. It was rumored in February that the actress was combining a pair of brick homes to create her own mega-mansion, working with power-broker Dolly Lenz to make a deal happen. The buy comes just over a year after the couple sold off their Greenwich Village townhouse for a hefty $18.25 million—although at a discount and a loss (they originally paid $18.995 million in 2011, and then asked $20 million) after letting it linger on the market for nearly three years. The two homes snagged the "Sex and The City" star are located at 273 and 275 West 11th Street, which together combine into a 50-foot-wide residence with 13,900 square feet of interior space, plus a massive yard measuring 2,100 square feet.
let the renovations begin!

‘Muhammad Ali Way’ Street Sign Appears Outside Madison Square Garden

Via DOT

June 8, 2016

‘Muhammad Ali Way’ Street Sign Appears Outside Madison Square Garden

If you walk by Madison Square Garden today, you'll likely notice a group of people snapping photos of the street sign at the southwest corner of 33rd Street and 7th Avenue. That's because yesterday a temporary honorary street name was added in memoriam of Muhammad Ali (h/t Untapped). The sign that reads "Muhammad Ali Way" is positioned in front of a digital billboard that features another tribute.
See more photos here

Celebrities

Video: Watch 400 Years of Change Play Out Along Just One Block of Soho

Before Soho was home to an Apple Store, Dior and a slew of other luxury retailers and multi-million dollar apartments, it was considered "land so unvaluable that the Dutch gave it to the slaves," says NYU economist William Easterly. In a new video project called "Greene Street," Easterly traces the history of just one block of Greene Street (between Houston and Prince Street) and distills 400 years of history into a fascinating and informative 1.5-minute film. In seconds you can see the incredible transformations that occurred along the tiny 486-foot stretch of the neighborhood, which includes reincarnations as the biggest red light district in NYC, the center of garment manufacturing in the U.S., a shantytown, an artists' hub, and finally the high-end retail corridor we know it as today.
Watch the short film here

History

June 8, 2016

Last Apartment Left at Gothic Revival Church in Fort Greene Asks $8,200/Month

Gothic Revival church turned luxury rental apartment: only in New York. That's the story behind 232 Adelphi Street, a majestic Fort Greene church built in 1888. It fell into disrepair before being converted into 12 apartments in recent years. This is the last apartment left empty and it's a pricy one. It's also big: an 1,800-square-foot duplex with two bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths, all accessed via a private entrance.
Check out the church details that remain

Distinctive Homes

6 Products to Make the Most Out of Your Fire Escape This Summer

6sqft’s 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’ve found products that can help turn your fire escape into a mini warm weather oasis.

June 8, 2016

6 Products to Make the Most Out of Your Fire Escape This Summer

By Annie Doge

If your fire escape is the closest you'll get to a backyard this summer, fear not--6sqft has dug up some products that will turn this tiny space into much more than a place to set up some potted herbs. From grills to desks, we've found six clever items that require nothing more than the railing of your fire escape. Of course, consult your lease and talk to your landlord before installing them (technically putting objects on the fire escape is illegal, however they're becoming a thing of the past due to safety concerns), but once you get the go-ahead these designs are sure to maximize your outdoor enjoyment.
See them all this way

June 8, 2016

MoMA Announces Major Frank Lloyd Wright Retrospective in 2017 to Mark His 150th Birthday

Today is the 149th anniversary of prolific architect Frank Lloyd Wright's birth, and with next year being the big 150, the Museum of Modern Art has announced a major exhibition in 2017 that will feature roughly 450 works that he created from the 1890s through the 1950s. "Frank Lloyd Wright at 150: Unpacking the Archive" will include architectural drawings, models, building fragments, films, television broadcasts, print media furniture, tableware, textiles, paintings, photographs, and scrapbooks, some of which have rarely or never been exhibited.
Find out more

June 8, 2016

First Look at Tres Puentes Affordable Housing Development Planned For Mott Haven

By Dejah Mcgibbon

The West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing is moving ahead with plans to expand their recently finished Borinquen Court senior housing complex at 285 East 138th Street in Mott Haven. Two new mixed-use buildings will be constructed on either side of the existing 145-unit building, and once complete the entire complex will be home to more than 300 affordable apartments and will be known as Tres Puentes (Three Bridges) due to its views of the Willis Avenue, Madison Avenue, and Third Avenue bridges. All housing will be reserved for the elderly or physically disabled.
More on the buildings

June 8, 2016

POLL: Will Solar Canopies Be the New Wave of Solar Power in NYC?

Installing solar systems in NYC can be tricky due to strict regulations and the complexity of buildings sites. But yesterday, 6sqft shared Brooklyn Solar Works' and Situ Studio's clever Solar Canopy, which "not only adheres to the city’s strict building codes, but has been developed specifically for the characteristically flat rooftops of NYC." The A-frame structures' columns bolt to rails attached to a building and are oriented at a 33-degree pitch to maximize panel efficiency when pointed south. And since they have a head clearance of ten feet, they don't eat up roof space. They've already been installed atop homes in Brooklyn, but at a price point of around $30,000 (though tax incentives bring that down to about $7,000) and a pretty obvious visual presence, can Solar Canopies replace traditional solar panel systems in the city?
Tell us what you think!

Local Governments Say State Law Gives MTA Too Much Zoning Freedom

Construction at Hudson Yards, where the MTA says it worked with local elected officials

June 8, 2016

Local Governments Say State Law Gives MTA Too Much Zoning Freedom

New Yorkers know all too well that the debt-ridden MTA is constantly on the hunt for ways to raise funds, most of which, like fare hikes and toll increases, come straight out of our pockets. But the Wall Street Journal brings to light another, less direct way the agency may be looking to boost revenue. Under a provision in the state budget, the MTA would be exempt from local laws and zoning regulations when developing property. For example, a new apartment building on MTA-owned and -leased land "could be exempt from local property taxes and not contribute to the cost of services for the new residents." Local governments are concerned that this stipulation would lead to build-happy developers seeking out MTA property to bypass typical local reviews.
READ MORE

June 8, 2016

$19.75M for the Former Gramercy Home of the Catholic Sisters of the Immaculate Heart

Yet another religious property has hit the market, although this is no typical church. These two townhouses, at 238 East 15th Street in Gramercy, have long served as the home for the Catholic Sisters of the Immaculate Heart. The sisters bought the first townhouse in 1948 and the second in 1952, combining them with a doorway on each floor. In the years that followed, according to the NY Times, hundreds of the sisters of the Immaculati Cordis Mariae (which began in Belgian) have passed through, decorating the townhouse interiors with souvenirs from missions around the world. Only one sister now lives in the 15,600-square-foot property, which has just hit the market for nearly $20 million.
See the interior

June 8, 2016

Petition Wants to Change Spelling of Verrazano Bridge; Ikea Redesigns Iconic Blue Bags

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

The Department of Transportation will repave more than 1,000 miles of roadway, a $1 billion+ commitment over the next 10 years. [CBS NY] A restaurant that only serves its food in jars is opening near NYU. [Eater] There’s a petition aimed at the MTA to add another Z to the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge so it matches the spelling […]

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THE 6SQFT SHOP

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15 quintessential NYC gifts for the New Yorker in your life

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

50 places to shop locally in NYC for that perfect gift

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

10 best plants for apartment dwellers

VIEW ALL

June 7, 2016

One Vanderbilt Will Cost a Whopping $3.14 Billion

Another supertall tower will join the $3 billion+ club. The Real Deal reports that SL Green Realty has pegged the cost of One Vanderbilt, Midtown's future tallest tower, at $3.14 billion. The city's largest office landlord also said it hopes to close on a $1.5 billion construction loan by the end of the summer, leaving $1.64 in equity needed to complete the 1,401-foot tower designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox. As TRD notes, One World Trade Center became the world's most expensive office tower in 2014 when it opened with a final cost of around $3.8 billion. Bjarke Ingels' planned High Line tower known as the Spiral is also expected to run over $3 billion.
More details this way

June 7, 2016

New ‘Solar Canopy’ Can Be Installed Atop Any NYC Building to Provide Solar Power

Brooklyn SolarWorks and Situ Studio have devised a clever and flexible solar panel system that not only adheres to the city's strict building codes, but has been developed specifically for the characteristically flat rooftops of NYC. The "Solar Canopy," as it has been named, is designed as a tent-like structure with a coverage of 2.5-feet by five-feet and a head clearance of ten feet above its pathway—plenty more than the nine feet required by the city. SolarWorks and Situ have already installed their Solar Canopy at several properties in Brooklyn, including atop homes in Bed-Stuy, Park Slope and Crown Heights.
find out more here

June 7, 2016

Another Luxury Development May Rise on Billionaires’ Row

Crain's reports that another prime piece of property will soon be changing hands, putting 126,000 square feet of development rights in play. The Steinberg family last month made an agreement with commercial developers Thor Equities and General Growth Properties to sell neighborhood fixture Lee's Art Shop's four-story structure at 220 West 57th Street for $85 million, a deal that is expected to close this month. It is not yet clear what the developers plan to do with the landmarked building, but what is known is that the property comes with the right to build atop the historic structure—itself boasting 21,837 square feet on a sizable 8,400-square-foot lot.
find out more here

New Developments

June 7, 2016

Long Island House Where ‘Amityville Horror’ Murders Occurred Asks $850,000

When 6sqft looked at data regarding how murders affect home values, we learned that "prices fall about 4.4 percent when a home is located within 0.2 miles of a murder that occurred in the past year." The gruesome killings that inspired the "Amityville Horror" book and movies took place all the way back in 1974, but it looks like they're still a bit of a deterrent to prospective buyers. The Long Island house where then-23-year-old Ronald DeFeo Jr. shot his parents and four younger sisters while they slept has come back on the market for $850,000, less than the $950,000 the current owners paid in 2010, according to amNY.
Learn more this way

Distinctive Homes

June 7, 2016

Brooklyn Design Firm Creates Dramatic Living Spaces Inside a Williamsburg Loft

Loft apartments have naturally good bones for dramatic living spaces, with those big windows and high ceilings, but the renovation of this 1,300-square-foot Williamsburg pad truly resulted in some breathtaking spaces. The work is by Greenpoint-based design and architecture firm Space Exploration and general contractor Tristan Warner Studios Inc. According to Brownstoner, Space Exploration was initially hired to create a wall-length book shelf for the living room, where the ceiling surpasses 18 feet. The success of the bookshelf -- which was built by a high-end millwork firm in Brooklyn -- inspired the owner to “go forward with the full monte,” said founder of Space Exploration Kevin Greenberg. His full reno enlarged the lofty mezzanine space, while decked out the interior with truly unique custom design touches.
Take a look

June 7, 2016

Shhhh… A Look at New York’s Ongoing Battle With Noise

By Cait Etherington

New Yorkers may be surprised to learn that they do not live in the world’s loudest city. That dubious honor goes to Mumbai where noise levels have been known to reach close to 124dB. To put this figure into perspective, 124dB is somewhere between the sound levels typically reached by chain saws (120dB) and the […]

June 7, 2016

A True Loft at Brooklyn’s Former Ex-Lax Factory Asks $875K

There are a lot of New York apartments trying to sell themselves as lofts that just aren't. That makes it especially refreshing to see this loftier-than-thou apartment, from the former Ex-Lax factory at 423 Atlantic Avenue in Boerum Hill, hit the market. The factory was constructed in the 1920s and was eventually combined with adjacent buildings that were being used as a bottling plant. In 1981, the complex went co-op -- and as a residence it still retains some of the Ex-Lax advertising memorabilia. This apartment was designed by an architect to maximize all available space. They especially took advantage of the 15-foot ceilings, building out not one but two lofted living spaces.
Check out the sleeping loft

Distinctive Homes

June 7, 2016

Rendering Revealed of Midtown’s $20,000/Month Assisted Living Facility

It's being called the "One57 of Assisted Living," and though the location near Billionaires' Row and the exorbitant price points (rooms are expected to start at $20,000 a month, not covered by insurance) back up that claim, the team behind the project describes the building's design as being inspired "by classic Park Avenue apartment houses." The Wall Street Journal brings the first official rendering of the 15-story structure that will rise at the northeast corner of East 56th Street and Lexington Avenue, replacing a T.G.I. Friday’s restaurant to offer assisted-living and memory-care services to wealthy Manhattanites. Designed by SLCE Architects, it will feature private apartments, some of which will have terraces. "This is a place where these people can be reminded of things in their past, potentially by the design of the building and by the location of the building and have a significantly better quality of life," said Thomas DeRosa of co-developer Welltower Inc., clearly referring to nearby Park Avenue dwellers.
Find out more here

New Developments

June 7, 2016

The Real Lives of Subway Performers; Inside Brooklyn’s Underground Cheese Caves

A new short film takes a humanizing look at “showtime” subway dancers. [CityLab] The last known 9/11 search and rescue dog dies at 16. [Mashable] AeroFarms in Newark, the world’s biggest indoor vertical farm, will use 95 percent less water than traditional field farms. [Web Urbanist] Go inside the cheese caves 30 feet below Crown […]

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June 6, 2016

Interview: Engineer Joseph Gulden Discusses Wooden Skyscrapers Surpassing 1,000 Feet

Could wood one day again be the material of choice for buildings? In response to rising construction costs and climate change, there's been a resurgence of interest in wood construction, with some even saying that we're in the beginnings of a "timber age." Many architects, engineers and builders have started to embrace the material, having erected, or making plans to construct, high-rises that reach several hundred feet in the air. In fact, in April, one architecture firm proposed bringing a 1,000-foot timber tower to London's Barbican. But is wood really a reliable alternative to concrete and steel? What about fire safety? And how tall can we really go at this point in time without compromising a building's structural integrity? To answer these questions and many more, 6sqft decided to pick the brain of DeSimone Project Manager Joseph Gulden. DeSimone is one of the world's leading engineering firms with a roster of top NYC projects that include Zaha Hadid's High Line project, 220 Central Park South and 45 East 22nd Street; Joseph himself is a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) as well as a licensed Structural Engineer (SE) with extensive experience constructing in regions with high seismic risk. He's also worked on numerous high-rises and tall wood structures both in the U.S. and abroad. Ahead Joseph discusses some of the challenges and advantages of building with wood, engineered timber, deforestation concerns, and if a wooden supertall will ever be in reach.
read the interview here

June 6, 2016

To Increase Affordable Housing, De Blasio Pushes Bill to Lift Development Caps

In a continued quest to push ahead with his goal of adding/preserving 200,000 units of affordable housing over the next decade, Mayor de Blasio is backing a bill that will end state-imposed FAR (floor-area-ratio) caps to promote the construction of affordable housing. By lifting the size limits for residential buildings, and thereby increasing the number of units, neighborhoods currently affected by the cap, such as the Financial District, Midtown, and Hudson Yards, "could see both market-rate and affordable-housing stock soar," reports the Post. However, opponents of the bill feel that there's an underlying motive, catering to developers who have recently been called out for making hefty contributions to de Blasio.
READ MORE

June 6, 2016

Condo/Cultural Building Designed by the Late Zaha Hadid Will Rise in West Chelsea

When the architecture community learned of the passing of Zaha Hadid in late March, it came as a bit of consolation that her first and only building in New York, 520 West 28th Street, had already begun to take shape along the High Line, ensuring that her legacy would last in our skyline. In much welcome news, 6sqft learns today that yet another design of hers will rise just three blocks away in Chelsea. A press release from The Moinian Group reveals that more than a year ago they worked with Hadid and her team to explore possibilities for 220 Eleventh Avenue, one of her final creations. 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."
More details this way

June 6, 2016

Apply Now For 63 Affordable Units Next to Woodlawn Cemetery, Starting at $865/Month

If the thought of residing next to the interred doesn't bother you, here's a chance to live just steps away from one of the city's most beautiful and historic cemeteries. A housing lottery has opened today for 63 brand-new units at Webster Commons, a large affordable development along Webster Avenue in the Bronx, just next to Woodlawn Cemetery and not far from the New York Botanical Garden and Fordham. The apartments, which are reserved for those earning 60 percent of the AMI, include $865/month studios, $929/month one-bedrooms, and $1,121/month two-bedrooms.
More on the project

Affordable Housing

June 6, 2016

$1.5M 10th Floor Co-Op Comes With Fantastic Views of Upper West Side Landmarks

Views are king at this one-bedroom apartment from the Sexton co-op, located at 530 West End Avenue on the Upper West Side. From its 10th floor perch, this corner apartment looks out to the north and west with views of a historic church, the Hudson River and fellow apartment buildings along West End Avenue and Riverside Drive. The interior is charming, too, with high beamed ceilings and a decorative fireplace.
Take a tour

Distinctive Homes

June 6, 2016

Explore Over 10,000 Acres of NYC Parkland With This Interactive Map

Did you know that New York City has more ecological diversity than Yellowstone National Park? Take Central Park, for example, which is home to "more than 30 species of warbler, vireo, sparrow, thrush, and other songbirds" alone. Or Pelham Bay Park's eight species of owls. Then there's the 12 species of ferns at Queens' Cunningham Park. These tidbits come from a new interactive map by the Natural Areas Conservancy (h/t Untapped), who studied over 10,000 acres in 51 parklands across all five boroughs (an additional 10,800 acres are managed by the state and federal government and weren't included in the project). The organization created the map as a way to encourage people to explore the city's natural areas by showing them what they'll find -- "the types of plant and animal species, including those that are rare or threatened – and what activities are most commonly found."
Learn more

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June 6, 2016

A Giant Musical Swing Set Is Coming to Brookfield Place This Friday!

If you work downtown or are just looking for a break from the weekday hustle, head to Brookfield Place starting this Friday and channel your inner-child by hopping on one of the many swings of "The Swings: An Exercise in Musical Cooperation" installation. The traveling public artwork is debuting in Manhattan for the first time ever and will be on display for a month for New Yorkers to play on. Designed by studio Daily tous les jours, this interactive work consists of 21 swings, each representing a musical instrument (a harp, vibraphone, guitar or piano) and different notes. The cooperative element of the work requires that participants adjust their movements with respect to one another in order to unlock the perfect melody—a musical work that has been pre-composed by Radwan Ghazi Moumneh.
more on the swings here

June 6, 2016

Flexible Floor Plan at This Bright Greenwich Village Apartment, Asking $4,500/Month

This Greenwich Village rental apartment at 101 West 11th Street can wear several hats. One on hand, this could be a one bedroom with a living room and a separate dining room. On the other, it could be used as a two-bedroom apartment. Either way, it's a nice bright apartment with all the New York essentials: big windows, high ceilings, wood floors and a fireplace.
See the space

June 6, 2016

PATH Train Sees Overcrowding Due to NJ Building Boom; Google’s New Solar Panel Tool

With more new developments rising in Jersey City and nearby locations, the PATH trains are seeing unprecedented crowding. But who should pay for improvements and expansions of the system? [WSJ] This robot folds your laundry is less than one minute… but it costs $850. [Bored Panda] Google’s Project Sunroof is an online tool that will […]

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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

Learn More

June 5, 2016

Art-Deco Masterpiece 70 Pine Street Opens, Offering Two Months Free Rent

It's not everyday that one has the chance to live in one of the world's finest skyscrapers. Details of The Pinnacle at The Woolworth Tower Residences have yet to be revealed, but for those of us still saving to buy a piece of history, the rentals at 70 Pine Street await. Soaring to a cloud-popping height of 66 stories and 952 feet, the building is essentially downtown's Empire State Building and was the world's third tallest building upon completion in 1932. Designed by Clinton & Russell, Holton & George for the utilities conglomerate Cities Service company (later known as CITGO), the tower was sold to the American International Group (AIG) in 1976, where they held their offices until the last recession. Breathing new life into the landmarked building, Rose Associates is re-conceiving the commercial icon into 644 rental apartments, a 137-room extended stay hotel, and 35,000 square feet of retail space. And for a limited time, Rose is offering two months free rent or one month free rent and paid broker's fee for newly-signed leases. The homes are divided into the city, tower, and penthouse collections and as we await construction to fully wrap up, 17 apartments are currently available throughout its mid-level city collection floors.
Find out more this way

June 4, 2016

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks From the 6sqft Staff

Lottery Opens for 36 Middle-Income Apartments Across Harlem, Starting at $1,156/Month Bruce Springsteen’s Former NJ Farmhouse and Rehearsal Space Asks $3.2M Norman Foster’s First Brooklyn Project Revealed, A 7.7-Acre Red Hook Office Development The NYC Subway Accounts for 100-Percent of the Nation’s Transit Growth, Says New Study Spend July in Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s Decked-Out Former […]

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June 3, 2016

Live Off Columbus Circle for $1,146/Month, Lottery Launching for 17 Affordable Units

Two years ago, work began on a seven-story, 17-unit building at 424 West 55th Street, on the fringes of Hell's Kitchen and just south of Columbus Circle. The red brick structure known as West of Ninth was designed by Aufgang Architects and replaced a white brick church with a 3,000-square-foot theater that Arker Companies purchased in 2012 for $8.16 million. Initial reports thought the development would be only partly affordable, but a new posting on the city's affordable housing list shows that all 17 of the units will be reserved for low- to middle-income tenants. The apartments will range from $1,146/month studios to $1,709/month three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

June 3, 2016

45 East 22nd Street Tops Out, Officially Tallest Skyscraper Between Midtown and Downtown