6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

Does it get anymore Brooklyn than this? A new development condo designed to look like a loft, outfitted with bookshelves, deer heads, and reclaimed wood furniture. The apartment in question comes from The Pencil Factory lofts, a former pencil factory turned condo development at 122 West Street in Greenpoint. Cool location, cool building, cool apartment—it's going to cost you a cool $800,000 for this one-bedroom unit.
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September 18, 2015

A NYC Brewery Map to Usher in Oktoberfest; Take a Nap at Work With This Clever Desk

This weekend, head to Photoville, a pop-up photography fair inside shipping containers on the Brooklyn Heights waterfront. [NYO] Find your closest Oktoberfest celebration on DNAinfo’s brewery map. [DNAinfo] How many adult ball pits does one city need? A second one is opening downtown. [Gothamist] Go inside the Tribeca loft of creative director and co-founder of online design marketplace Bezar. […]

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September 18, 2015

SHoP Architects Are Bringing a Wooden Condo Building to Chelsea

In March, an Austrian architecture firm announced plans to build the world's tallest wooden skyscraper in Vienna. They noted that by using wood as opposed to concrete they'd save 3,086 tons of CO2 emissions. Then, a study showed that timber buildings actually cost less to build. These benefits really must have stuck with SHoP Architects, who are developing plans for a ten-story residential building in Chelsea, overlooking the High Line at 475 West 18th Street, that will be made entirely of wood, according to the Wall Street Journal. SHoP's project came via a competition hosted by the United States Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the Softwood Lumber Board and the Binational Softwood Lumber Council, that asked architecture firms to design buildings at least 80 feet tall that employed wood construction technologies. SHoP's design, dubbed 475 West, won the competition along with a 12-story building in Portland. The firms will split a $3 million prize to "embark on the exploratory phase of their projects, including the research and development necessary to utilize engineered wood products in high-rise construction."
More on the project here

September 18, 2015

Five-Story Brooklyn Townhouse Makes the Best-Dressed List in Pretty Pastels and Contemporary Flair

If you've got a big family and you want to live within city limits, it's said that you'd better be able to afford it; this Brooklyn Heights house helps make the case. This whopping 5,000-square-feet of townhouse goodness at 281 Henry Street is missing very little as far as house-in-the-city perfection. There's a stylishly appointed room ready for everyone and their guests—and an opportunity for rental income with a freshly renovated garden apartment to help offset costs. It almost makes the $7.2 million price tag seem like a deal. The current owner has decorated the five-story, six-bedroom brownstone to the nines with a cake-frosting-pastel palette and contemporary design elements, while retaining the home's lovely historic details; the basic infrastructure is as modern as can be with central a/c, alarm and intercom systems and every appliance, fixture and finish freshly and stylishly updated. Besides the fact that the home is actually a bit narrow at 15.5 feet (though over 54 feet deep) there's only one thing we can think of that would improve this impressive townhome: An elevator.
Five floors of eye candy, this way...

Distinctive Homes

September 17, 2015

This Nomad Loft Was Created With Curbside Finds, Elbow Grease and an Eye for Beauty

There was a time in NYC when there wasn't an expectation that an apartment or loft come with a full set of shiny new appliances and amenities; you could carve out a space for yourself over time, and end up with a beautiful, unique and comfortable home. That's about the time–1977, to be exact–when the owners of this cool and crafty Nomad loft, then a recent co-op conversion, bought it for $50,000 and moved in. Now this large two-bedroom 12th floor loft with a private terrace is on the rental market for $8,000 a month. The owners–she was an art historian who passed away about a year ago, he's a retired biophysicist–and their daughter had always been fond of the excitement of scavenging what others left behind–like a six-burner restaurant stove and what is now a veritable jungle of plants. The building had been used for light manufacturing, and the couple had to design the entire 1,620-square-foot space to make it a home. Since the space was completely raw, they could configure it any way they pleased. The loft was featured in a 2006 article in the Times, in which the home's late owner and main design force is described as having "a gimlet eye for the gorgeous."
Take a look around, this way...

September 17, 2015

New Details of Tribeca’s Mysterious Skybridge House Emerge, Including Floorplan

Details were scarce when it was announced last week that one of Manhattan's last sky bridges was coming to the market. As it turns out, the property, which spans 9 Jay Street and 67 Hudson #3AB, is a pocket listing being marketed by brokers Ryan Serhant and Kaptan Unugur of Nestseekers. Tribeca Citizen, however, was able to score the floor plan of the massive home, and a pretty nifty rendering offering color-coded a street view of what you'd be buying—if you were to snap up the home, which is going for a reported $30 million.
See more here

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 9/17-9/22

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!

September 17, 2015

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 9/17-9/22

By Lori Zimmer

The time has come again for me to flex my curatorial muscle and shamelessly self-promote your next favorite exhibition. This Friday and Saturday, join me in celebrating the work of Tim Okamura and Chris Marshall at our two day pop-up show. But if you can't make that, there is of course other art to be had this week; revisit the beautiful sculpture in Madison Square Park with a live poetry accompaniment, brave the crowds for Shepard Fairey's new show in Chelsea, or check out a curated night of performance, art and socializing at The Happening. For something ENTIRELY different, help support testicular cancer (while taking a look at some extraordinary dick pics) at Soraya Doolbaz's Dicture Gallery. The incredible world of night life maven Susanne Bartsch will take over the Museum at FIT, and the Met Opera welcomes all to its opening night performance, which will be transmitted live to screens in Times Square.
All the best events to check out here

Events & Things To Do

September 17, 2015

Sleek Tribeca Loft Redesign Features Undulating Walls and Inspiring Idea Lab

This Tribeca loft is situated on the sixth floor of an eight-story building in Manhattan. The space measures 3,500 square feet and in 2014 it underwent a complete interior renovation led by the design team at Voorsanger Architects. The exterior of the existing building was also recently updated but its renovation was meant to replicate the historic character of the former industrial neighborhood. What we see on the inside of this loft is a far different approach.
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Distinctive Homes

Distinctive Homes

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

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

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

Amy Schumer paid $6.25M for Central Park West condo

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

10 listings 6sqft readers loved in 2025

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

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

Amy Schumer sells Brooklyn Heights townhouse at $1.25M loss

Trump's childhood home in Queens back on the market for $2.3M after gut renovation

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September 17, 2015

New York Public Library Hires Dutch Architecture Firm Mecanoo to Lead Renovation

On Tuesday, news surfaced that eight architecture firms were being considered for the redesign of the New York Public Library's main branch, the landmarked Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on 42nd Street, one of whom was starchitect Bjarke Ingels. The list also included Ennead Architects, Studio Gang Architects, and Robert A.M. Stern Architects. One name that wasn't mentioned, however, was the Dutch firm Mecanoo, but the New York Times is reporting that the architects from the Netherlands have been selected by the library to lead the $300 million renovation, which also includes a complete overhaul of the Mid-Manhattan branch at Fifth Avenue and 40th Street.
More details ahead

Architecture And Design

September 17, 2015

How Two Women Live Comfortably in 350 Square Feet; NYC’s Leaning Tower of Pisa?

Residents of Chinatown and Little Italy want Historical District signs. The area received designation from the National Register of Historic Places nearly six years ago, yet no street signs have been updated to reflect such. [BB] Help get the 42nd Street theaters landmarked. [DNA Info] SHoP Architects First Avenue project is also taking shape. The building’s subtle […]

Real Estate Trends

September 17, 2015

Luna Globe Lights Will Illuminate Your Living Space Just Like the Moon

At night, the New York City skyline is illuminated with the artificial glow of its towering skyscrapers and bridges. While this sight is breathtaking and often reminds us of why we love the city so, we can't help but long for an occasional glimpse of the stars and moon. This was Acorn Studio's sentiment and inspiration for the design of Luna, an artificial globe light that looks just like the moon!
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September 17, 2015

This $17.5 Million Co-Op at the Dakota Has Gone Totally Mod!

While many of the apartments at The Dakota, the historic co-op building at 1 West 72nd Street on the Upper West Side, are dripping with historic detail, this one is an anomaly. The four-bedroom unit does retain many of the classic details of these famed apartments—12-foot ceilings, wood-burning fireplaces, floor-to-ceiling windows and grand, well-sized rooms. But it's been significantly renovated with bold, modern design in the kitchen and bedrooms. To have a touch of modernism in one of the most iconic and historic apartment buildings of New York is going to cost you $17.5 million. The unit last sold in 2010, for $11.5 million.
See it all

Distinctive Homes

September 17, 2015

First Renderings of Moshe Safdie’s 800-Foot Bancroft Building Replacement Revealed

Plans for the Bancroft Building have been ultra-hush with much speculation swirling around the design that would ultimately replace the recently demolished, and much beloved, landmark building. But now, the NY Post has the first official rendering of the luxury condo tower that could rise in place of the historic structure located on a block-through site between West 29th and West 30th streets. Though 6sqft was previously told by reps of the development that the rendering seen here was in no way an affiliated project, the two designs do remain visually similar.
more details here

September 17, 2015

Mats Zuccarello Is Second NY Rangers Player This Week to Scoop Up a Downtown Condo

By Annie Doge

We're not sure how "the Rags" are going to do on the ice this year, but they sure will have some nice digs to come home to. Just yesterday, we learned that New York Rangers center Derick Brassard scored a $4.1 million condo at One York Street in Tribeca. And today, the Observer reports that the team's right wing, and perhaps THE fan favorite, Mats Zuccarello has picked up a $3.15 million pad at 345 West 14th Street in the Meatpacking District. Zucc's new condo is spread out over 1,228 square feet and offers two bedrooms, views of Gansevoort Square, and high-end finishes.
Have a look around

September 17, 2015

Inside Mast Brothers’ Williamsburg Chocolate Shop Revamp; Brooklyn Jumps on the Cat Cafe Train

Of course Brooklyn is getting a cat cafe. The Cat’s Meow will be in Fort Greene starting this Saturday and until October 24th. [Gothamist] The top ten hidden restaurants in NYC. [Untapped] With their upcoming move to the Barclays Center, the Islanders have gotten new Brooklyn-esque Jerseys. [BK Paper] On September 24th, the National Academy Museum […]

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September 17, 2015

Long Island Equestrian Estate Featured in ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ Hits the Market for $4M

If you secretly envied the life of Jordan Belfort in "The Wolf of Wall Street," you can now own a slice of his luxurious lifestyle. The sprawling Long Island estate that served as the backdrop for a scene where Belfort (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) is advised by Manny Riskin (Jon Favreau) and Max Belfort (Rob Reiner) to make a deal with the SEC and quit Wall Street. The Post reports that the seven-acre compound is on the market for $3.98 million. The Olympic-sized equine estate is called Mill Hill Farm and features a 5,000-square-foot, five-bedroom mansion, a 16-stall mahogany horse barn, four-stall quarantine shed, a giant fenced-in jumping space, and plenty of outdoor areas for spectating.
Take a tour around the stunning property

September 16, 2015

Where I Work: Inside Made in Americana’s Bed-Stuy workshop and collaborative

6sqft’s series “Where I Work” takes us into the studios, offices, and off-beat workspaces of New Yorkers across the city. In this installment, we meet the founders of Brooklyn's Made in Americana. Want to see your business featured here? Get in touch! Many of us come to New York with certain goals in mind, but more often than not we're at the whim of the city which has plans of its own. But this is not always a bad thing. Case in point: When college friends Jordan Johnson and Joey Grimm moved to NYC a few years ago, they wanted to be performance artists; now they're running a burgeoning furniture business called Made in Americana. Today, the pair work out of a massive industrial studio at the border of Hasidic Bed-Stuy and Bed-Stuy Bedford, designing custom interiors and building modern pieces meant to last for generations. But that's not all, they've opened their very large and very well-equipped space to other newbie BK designers to create a collaborative environment that gives others the opportunity to not just get their works made, but refine them with top-of-the-line sustainable materials to get them showroom-ready—with their help, of course. Jump ahead to learn more about what Jordan and Joey are doing, exactly how they got to where they're at, and of course to tour of their quirky, and quite cool, DIY studio space.
Go inside their awesome studio here

Lang Architecture Updates a Carroll Gardens Brownstone With a Two-Story Wall of Windows

Prior to renovation, this Carroll Gardens brownstone came complete with tattered wall-to-wall carpeting and three separate apartment units. Plus, it was just 14 feet wide. The arduous task of transforming the four-story Italianate home into an attractive one-family residence was awarded to Drew Lang of Lang Architecture (the same firm responsible for Hudson Woods, the Catskills eco-community). When first approached, Lang's clients said they wanted to restore the historic elements of the house, but also make it feel airy, light, and modern.
See how Drew Lang rose to the challenge

September 16, 2015

Back in ’68 an East Village Hippy Ran for President Against Nixon

Before there was the wild presidential run of Donald Trump, there was another absurd (albeit much more endearing) campaign by an East Village hippy looking for political greatness. A fun and fascinating recollection by Ephemeral NY tells the tale of Louis Albolafia, a 27-year-old abstract expressionist artist, nudist, and the first person to establish a runaway shelter and hotline in New York, who ran on the "Love" party ticket. Though Albolafia was obviously not the term winner (that title goes to Richard Nixon), he did get a considerable number of write-ins during the race.
Find out more about his campaign here

History

September 16, 2015

POLL: Is Brooklyn Heading Into a Housing Glut?

Over the last year, building permits have risen by 156 percent, hitting levels not seen since 1963. And this percentage rises to 749 when compared with the 2010 post-slump low. This building boom is particularly rampant in Brooklyn, where, according to a report put out last month by CityRealty, northern Brooklyn alone will get 22,000 new […]

Real Estate Trends

September 16, 2015

NY Rangers Star Derick Brassard Scores a $4M Tribeca Condo

By Annie Doge

The Real Deal reports that New York Rangers center Derick Brassard has scored a $4.1 million condo at One York Street in Tribeca. The French-Canadian hockey star signed a $25 million, five-year contract extension with the Blueshirts last year, so it looks like this sprawling downtown pad is a celebratory gift to himself. The 1,670-square-foot, two-bedroom apartment boasts 14-foot ceilings, wide oak wood floors, motorized shades, and 200 square feet of outdoor space. The seller is interior designer Sterling McDavid, who bought the sixth-floor unit for $3.4 million in 2011.
Take a look around

September 16, 2015

Trader Joe’s to Open in Downtown Brooklyn’s City Point; REBNY Landmarking Report Flawed Says Data Source

Trader Joe’s has officially inked a 13,700-square-foot lease at the 1.9-million-square-foot site at City Point. It’s scheduled to open in 2016. [City Point; 6sqft inbox] Here are the before and afters of the numerous towers going up in Queens. [Rent Cafe] Red Hook’s upcoming massive waterfront tech campus has gotten an updated design. [Curbed] Airbnb […]

Real Estate Trends

September 16, 2015

Actress Kathleen Turner Sells Trump Place Condo for $3.8M

By Annie Doge

You know you're a star when you have a neon sign of your name hanging above your desk. The great actress, activist, and stage director Kathleen Turner has parted ways with her 200 Riverside Boulevard condo, selling it for $3.8 million according to city records released today. Turner bought the Trump Place pad in 2003 for $2.3 million. The three-bedroom, 2,086-square-foot Upper West Side home offers incredible views of Central Park, the Hudson River, and Manhattan skyline. A special feature is the custom solid cherry wood doors and cherry wood built-ins throughout. And while we love Ms. Turner on the stage and in film, we must admit we're not quite as impressed with her design aesthetic.
Look around here

September 16, 2015

Bright, Modern Clinton Hill Three-Bedroom on Biggie’s Old Block Offers Lots of Options for $950K

It's not often that a three-bedroom apartment in prime Brooklyn rings in at under a million; if it does, it's likely to be a co-op with a steep monthly fee, and/or badly in need of an update. This pre-war condo in the heart of Clinton Hill is the rare exception: tastefully renovated, it offers pretty pre-war details, three bedrooms, and a location that's hard to beat. 207 Saint James Place is on one of this historic neighborhood's most beautiful streets, lined with 150-year-old brownstones and wood-frames, carriage houses and churches. There's plenty of colorful local history as well: The childhood home of Biggie Smalls is in a similar building just across the street at number 226–the late rapper's former apartment sold for $725k in 2013. Having survived the ravages of the late 20th century, these ornate 1930s limestone apartment buildings can be a great place to find lovely and livable–and somewhat rare–apartments like this one.
Take a look, this way...

Distinctive Homes

September 16, 2015

Liven Up Your Walls With Bike Art Inspired by the New York City Streets

Original art is a great way to adorn the walls in your home, but for some of us, it can also be outside of our budget. One excellent solution to this conundrum is to purchase original prints from local artists like Massimo Mongiardo. Mongiardo recieved his BFA in Illustration from the Massachusetts College of Art, and he now lives and works in New York City. His playful collection of bike prints were inspired by the bike culture he observed around his studio.
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September 16, 2015

Watch a Pro BMX Rider Tear Through the City; Elvis Presley’s Ode to NYU

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

7-11 created a coffee just for the city called “New York Bold.” [Grub Street] Did you know Elvis recorded a song about NYU? [NYU Local] In this self-shot video, pro BMX rider and Queens native Nigel Sylvester terrifies New Yorkers as he tears through the city. [DNAinfo] This $30 lightweight water bottle doubles as a bike […]

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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

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September 16, 2015

West Village Condo, Asking $2.4 Million, Calls Itself a Bibliotheque

If you're a reader, prepare to fall in love. This West Village condo apartment at 302 West 12th Street is essentially one big book shelf, and beautifully designed at that. It's also located in a pre-war apartment building right in the heart of the West Village and just a short walk away from the Hudson River Greenway, the Chelsea art galleries and the Meatpacking District. For bookshelves galore and such a charming location: $2.4 million.
Check it out

September 15, 2015

Fort Greene Townhouse, Up for Rent at $8,500 a Month, Has Its Very Own Treehouse

If a New York townhouse is only as good as its outdoor space, this place in Fort Greene is one of the best. Located at 283 Adelphi Street, the historic brick house boasts a beautiful interior with both modern and historic touches, and then a downright awesome exterior. A fire pit, an outdoor dining area, and yes, there's a treehouse. (It looks just large enough to fit a grownup, too!) Simply put: this house has us sold, inside and out. It's up for rent during a six-month period–January 2016 to June 2016–asking $8,500 a month.
See it all

September 15, 2015

The Best Places to Buy Cheap Vintage and Antique Furniture in NYC

Finding the time and money to properly adorn your living space is challenging in any capacity, and living in a city as expensive as New York makes it that much more difficult. However, this bustling metropolis is not only filled with people, it's also home to all of their furniture! As the saying goes, one man's trash is another man's treasure, and New York is the perfect town to hunt for good deals on vintage pieces that are often better in quality and better looking than what you'd buy new from IKEA (minus the ferry ride). To save you time, we've put together this list of some of our favorite NYC spots to hunt for cheap vintage furniture and accessories. We also included a few new and not so new websites that also offer excellent deals.
The best shops to find great deals here

September 15, 2015

Is Bjarke Ingels Redesigning the New York Public Library Flagship?

Bjarke Ingels is most certainly on his way to New York architectural greatness, and scattered on the path behind him are the remains of Norman Foster's abandoned designs. Curbed has caught wind that the baby-faced starchitect is currently being considered for the redesign of the New York Public Library's landmarked Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on 42nd Street. Yesterday afternoon, Theodore Grunewald, Vice President of the Committee to Save the New York Public Library, tweeted that both Bjarke Ingels and Ennead Architects were among the eight finalists being considered for the project—a list that also includes Studio Gang Architects and Robert A.M. Stern Architects.
Find out more here

Architecture And Design

September 15, 2015

Never-Built Coney Island Globe Tower Would Have Been a Massive Boardwalk in the Air

In 1906, architect Samuel Friede announced his plans to build the Coney Island Globe Tower, a 700-foot-tall, 11-story structure that would have contained the Brooklyn neighborhood's attractions in one giant globe in the air. A New York Tribune cover revealing the project said investors were being offered "a ground floor chance to share profits in the largest steel structure ever erected...the greatest amusement enterprise in the whole world...the best real estate venture." Had the $1,500,000 plan gone through, the whimsical structure (part Unisphere, part Eiffel Tower) would have contained restaurants (one of which would rotate), an observatory, the United States Weather Observation Bureau and Wireless Telegraph Station, a vaudeville theater, the world's largest ballroom, bowling alley, roller skating rink, casinos, 50,000-room hotel, 5,000-seat hippodrome, and a four large circus rings.
Read the rest of the history

History

September 15, 2015

Obama No Longer Staying at the Waldorf Astoria; 32nd Street Plaza to be Cleared of Homeless for Pope

Obama is no longer staying at the Waldorf Astoria, purportedly because of China’s Anbang Insurance Group’s takeover of the hotel. [Guardian] The city’s office building boom still isn’t enough to meet demand. [Crain’s] The homeless will be cleared from an area near the 32nd Street plaza between Penn Station and Herald Square in anticipation of the Pope’s arrival. [NYP] Brokerage […]

Real Estate Trends

September 15, 2015

There’s a Secret Bathhouse Modeled After Ancient Greco-Roman and Ottoman Traditions in Tribeca

We don't always have enough free time to escape NYC as often as we'd like (or need). However, when we find ourselves desperate for some immediate R and R there are a few gems of tranquility hidden inside the walls of this concrete jungle. One breathtaking example is AIRE's Ancient Bath House located right in Tribeca behind a very unassuming cast iron storefront (we didn't know it existed either!). This sexy newcomer offers guests access to a suite of amenities including pools of hot, warm, cold and ice water; jet and salt baths; and a steamy hammam.
Have a look inside the incredible space ahead

September 15, 2015

Gorgeous Roof Garden Atop This $3M Flatiron Loft Has an Outdoor Cinema and Cinematic Views

As much as we love lofts, they're sometimes better in theory than reality; they're either too slick and highly customized as someone's dream palace, or they're a little too raw and lack privacy and separation of space. And their rooftops, while huge, are often gritty urban spaces. In the penthouse loft at 22 East 18th Street asking $2.995 million, you can have your cake in a custom kitchen worthy of a newly-minted luxury apartment and eat it in a verdant enchanted roof garden high above the Flatiron district. This one- (convertible to two-) bedroom co-op has authentic 1900 cast-iron loft bones, details and all, state-of-the-art interiors and mechanical systems (central air and sound and a private elevator to name just a few), plus tons of light and, perhaps best of all, a magical common roof garden with self-irrigated plantings, benches and a custom outdoor cinema–and movie-worthy views of the city.
Have a look around, this way...

Distinctive Homes

September 15, 2015

Convivial Production’s Structured Hanging Planters Are Perfect for Crawling Greens and Succulents

In a recent edition of 6sqft's Apartment Living 101 we featured the best plants for apartment dwellers, which put us on the lookout for cool planters to house all your leafy greens. This Structured Hanging Planter from designer Chentell Stiritz of Convivial Production Inc. was created specifically for crawling plants and succulents. The planters are made to order and constructed in porcelain and stoneware.
More on the planters here

September 15, 2015

Brooklyn Brownstone by McGrath II Shines With Subtle Color Palettes and Curated Accessories

The mother-daughter design team that makes up McGrath II recently renovated this beautiful Brooklyn brownstone. Their eclectic but elegant aesthetic combines traditional furnishings with contemporary style, resulting in a whole that's definitely greater than its parts. Not only is their ability to curate refined yet surprising design accessories apparent in all of their projects, their talent for selecting subtle colors outlined by bold, bright accents is also always worth another look.
Explore the space in greater detail

$20M Allocated to New Technology That Will Let NYC Vehicles ‘Talk’ to Each Other

Traffic jam photo via joiseyshowaa/flickr

September 15, 2015

$20M Allocated to New Technology That Will Let NYC Vehicles ‘Talk’ to Each Other

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that $42 million will be allocated to new technology in New York City, Tampa, and the state of Wyoming that allows vehicles to "talk" to one another and their surroundings "in order to reduce congestion, prevent accidents, and cut emissions," according to Daily Intelligencer. The city is receiving $20 million of the funds, with which it will create "connected vehicles" that can hopefully reduce traffic accidents by up to 80 percent. By gaining access to real-time traffic data, both drivers and pedestrians will be alerted (or do the alerting) of potential hazards.
Learn about the specifics of what this technology entails

September 15, 2015

Emoji Designed for New Yorkers; Go-To Navigation App HopStop Closes After 10 Years

HopStop, the life-saving navigation app used by everyone new to the city, will be no more. [NYDN] Historic photos of Rosh Hashanah through the years on the Lower East Side. [Bowery Boogie] Wouldn’t it be great if there was a Metrocard emoji? Or how about a black & white cookie? [Village Voice] Map shows the most […]

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New Report Says Landmarked Districts Don’t Protect Affordable Housing

Historic brownstones in Brooklyn Heights via City Realty

September 15, 2015

New Report Says Landmarked Districts Don’t Protect Affordable Housing

The war wages on between the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) and citywide preservationists. Many thought the contention between the groups over whether or not historic districts lessen affordable housing was a personal sentiment of former REBNY president Steven Spinola. But his successor John Banks has released a new report that claims landmarking doesn't protect affordable housing. The report looks at the number of rent-stabilized units in landmarked and non-landmarked districts between 2007 and 2014, finding that "citywide, landmarked properties lost rent stabilized units (-22.5%) at a much higher rate (-5.1%) than non-landmarked properties." Of course preservationists quickly fired back. Andrew Berman, executive director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP) calls the study "bogus" and says it does nothing to address how many units would have been lost had these areas not been landmarked.
More on the report

September 14, 2015

Russian Castle on Long Island With 35 Bathrooms Asks a Whopping $100M

Find out about her very eventful move downtown

Imagine stepping into an overly opulent palace in St. Petersburg where you find an indoor lazy river, myriad fountains, a two-story built-in dollhouse, a private shooting range, 13 bedrooms and 35 bathrooms. You'd probably guess you had stumbled upon the estate of a former czar. But then imagine you weren't actually in Russia, but on Long Island, New York, and the property's owner had no royal lineage, but rather made his fortune in the NYC real estate market. This is the Estate at Kings Point, an over-the-top estate designed to resemble the Peterhof Grand Palace in St. Petersburg, built in 1928 by the late Soviet Union billionaire Tamir Sapir as a display of his wealth (and possibly his ego). An unknown buyer (shielded by an LLC) bought the palace from Sapir in 2013 for $15.85 million, and they're now looking to make an unfathomable profit, re-listing the home for $100 million, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Check out the unbelievable estate

Our series “New York in the ’60s” is a memoir by a longtime New Yorker who moved to the city after college in 1960. Each installment will take us through her journey during a pivotal decade. From $90/month apartments to working in the real “Mad Men” world, we’ll explore the city through the eyes of a spunky, driven female. In our first two installments we visited her first apartment on the Upper East Side and saw how different and similar house hunting was 50 years ago. Then, we learned about her career at an advertising magazine… looking in on the Donald Drapers of the time. In our fourth installment, we accompanied her to Fire Island during the warm summer months. Now, our main character decides to make the big move downtown, but it’s not quite what she expected.

September 14, 2015

New York in the ’60s: Moving Downtown Comes With Colorful Characters and Sex Parties

By Penelope Bareau

History

September 14, 2015

Historic Soho Townhouse With Massive Rec Room and Skylights Galore Asks $16.3M

We'd figure that a large and lovely townhouse on a prime Soho block would have a hefty price tag just by virtue of its location; this four-story, 20-foot-wide-by-100-foot-deep home is no exception. But for your $16.3 million, you're getting an 1832 house that, after a three-year gut renovation, achieves a rare level of near-perfection. The couple who purchased the house at at 27 Vandam Street from revered choreographer Paul Taylor in 2009 for a (relatively) mere 3.3 million reconfigured what was at the time four apartments into one grand single-family residence while retaining its historic character. The result: Every detail–and there are many–in this home is state-of-the-art and every inch has been custom-designed for maximum comfort, convenience and peerless good looks.
Tour the interior of this beautiful house

September 14, 2015

VIDEO: Take a Sweeping Drone Tour of Bjarke Ingels’ West Side Pyramid

Few NYC projects are as architecturally exciting as the massive tetrahedron on the rise along West 57th Street. The design, which is the creation of starchitect-of-the-moment Bjarke Ingels, will soar 460-feet from its site (fun fact: the Great Pyramid of Giza stands 455 feet tall) and is slated for completion later this year. While the final form can already be appreciated by passersby from street level at this point—the architect has by now led camera crews through what he calls the "courtscraper" ("the lovechild of a courtyard building and a skyscraper," to be exact)—here's a spectacular, and quite poetic we might add, new video produced by Dark Horse that gives us expansive ariel views of the whole thing through the eye of a drone.
watch the drone tour here

September 14, 2015

Will Brooklyn Soon See a Slowdown?; Smorgasburg and BK Flea Are Moving to Sunset Park

New NY rulings say that your apartment might be rent-stabilized after all. Brick Underground has the details. [BU] Office rents being paid at 425 Park Avenue could be the highest in history at $300 per square foot. [Crain’s] Real estate experts are warning about a possible housing glut in Brooklyn. [WSJ] Here are some places where you […]

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September 14, 2015

Studio Cheha’s Awesome BULBING LED Lamps Are Actually 2D Cutouts

Talk about space-saving design. We're all for products and furniture that help us use space efficiently, but we like these 2-dimensional LED desk lamps either way. At first glance it's difficult to understand how this lamp is flat, but at closer inspection you'll see the 3D illusion is achieved with a flat laser-carved acrylic surface. The clever desk accessory comes from Studio Cheha, a design firm located in Tel Aviv, and can be pre-ordered through their Kickstarter project.
More on the lamps

September 14, 2015

Pile: Transforming, Space-Saving Furniture for Life on the Ground

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

German designer Karl Frederik Scholz joined Israeli Michal Blutrich to create Pile, a stackable space-saving furniture system for relaxation and conversation right on the floor. Perfect for small apartments, the collection features different shaped and colored items that can be arranged into various horizontal, vertical or compact combinations. Pile also has seat cushions, a table, and a lamp that adapt to different needs and put a multi-hued, sculptural twist on traditional Japanese tatami mats.
Learn more about this multifunctional furniture system

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September 14, 2015

Resolution: 4 Architecture’s Romantic Brooklyn Townhouse Renovation Is a Bevy of Soft Textures

This beautiful four-bedroom Brooklyn townhouse was renovated by the New York architecture firm and 6sqft favorite Resolution: 4 Architecture. The project added a significant addition to a traditional single family row house, bringing with it a new roof deck and sleek media room. The interior palette consists mostly of white and neutral wood tones enhanced with poppy adornments like large floral wall art or boldly colored accent walls. Expansive windows dominate the communal areas, making each space feel open and airy regardless of the square footage.
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September 14, 2015

Explore the Met From Your Desktop With This Interactive Hand-Illustrated Map

Now that adult coloring books are sweeping the nation, we don't have to hide our love for youthful illustrations and activities--like this new hand-drawn map of the Metropolitan Museum of Art called MetKids Map. The fun interactive platform is dotted with yellow and red circles for which children search and click, opening a separate window full of information about a gallery or work of art.
See more of the fun illustration and learn how it works

Events & Things To Do

September 14, 2015

You Can Be Carnegie Deli’s Pickle Mascot; Opening Day of the New 7 Train Extension