6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

A short walk from Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza is a row of four neo-classical townhouses that have been presiding over Plaza Street West in Park Slope since the late 1800s. Anyone strolling past will be instantly charmed by the intricately carved cornices, striking wrought iron doors, and relief-cast designs gracing the limestone façades. As beautiful as they are on the outside, one can only imagine what treasures can be found inside. And the residence at #5 does not disappoint.
Check out this home's spectacular interior

Distinctive Homes

February 12, 2015

New Yorkers Love a Good Ferry Ride; The High Line Looked a Lot Different in 2003

The city will receive $480 million in FEMA funds to repair the Rockaway boardwalk damaged during Hurricane Sandy. [NYDN] Ferry ridership along the East and Hudson rivers is up seven percent, and on the Staten Island ferry ridership is up by one million. [NYP] Now that Fashion Week won’t be welcomed back to Lincoln Center, here are five alternative […]

Uncategorized

The MTA Has More Debt Than Cuba, Iceland and at Least 28 Other Nations

Image via nycsubway.org

February 12, 2015

The MTA Has More Debt Than Cuba, Iceland and at Least 28 Other Nations

The MTA's $15 billion 2015-2019 Capital Plan funding gap may sound like a staggering amount, but the current debt that the agency carries ($34.1 billion to be exact) is apparently bigger than that of Cuba, Syria and Jamaica's total debt. In fact, according to a new Straphangers campaign, more than 30 nations have less debt than the MTA.
READ MORE

February 12, 2015

Carmelo and LaLa Anthony Score an $11 Million Pad Overlooking the High Line

New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony and wife LaLa have been on the hunt for a Chelsea home since last fall, and after touring countless multi-million dollar homes (like this one and this one) it looks like the pair have settled on a High Line-adjacent condo at Cary Tamarkin’s new 10-story, 15-unit complex at 508 West 24th Street. The Post reports that the hoopster is putting down $11 million for a massive full-floor home.
Check it out here

February 12, 2015

Pier 55 Floating Park Moves Forward with a Lease Deal

Last we heard about Pier55–the 2.4-acre futuristic floating park and performance space proposed by billionaire media mogul Barry Diller that would jut 186 feet into the Hudson at 13th Street–Community Board 2 had mixed feelings about the project. They liked Thomas Heatherwick's design, but cited concern over the lack of transparency from Diller and the Hudson River Park Trust. Despite these feelings, though, we've learned today from the Times that the Trust approved a lease agreement with Pier 55 Inc., a nonprofit group controlled by Diller, to help develop the $130 million public space. Diller has already pledged $113 million toward the project through the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation (his wife is fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg). So, what's next?
What's to come for Pier 55

Architecture And Design

HBO’s Robert Durst Crime Documentary Series Premieres, Is Creepy but Fascinating

Photo: HBO

February 12, 2015

HBO’s Robert Durst Crime Documentary Series Premieres, Is Creepy but Fascinating

“The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst,” the six-part HBO documentary series about the black-sheep older brother of commercial developer Douglas Durst of the multibillion dollar Durst Organization (developers of One World Trade Center), premiered on February 8th. Andrew Jirecki, the director of the series, has a long-held fascination with the program's subject, first directing a feature film, “All Good Things,” in 2010, starring Ryan Gosling in the Durst role. Robert Durst sat for over 20 hours of interviews with the filmmaker–the basis of the controversial series, the draw of which is that it “stars” Robert Durst (now 71) as himself.
more on the series here

The New Broadway Plan Could Bring 3,000 Housing Units to West Harlem, 50 Percent Will Be Affordable

Broadway and 146th Street, a typical stretch in West Harlem

February 11, 2015

The New Broadway Plan Could Bring 3,000 Housing Units to West Harlem, 50 Percent Will Be Affordable

You may remember the Harlem Promenade project, which proposed transferring air rights over the Amtrak rail lines in West Harlem to create affordable housing and using the sale of the air rights to pay for $170 million in community improvements in Hamilton Heights, including a High Line-esque park. We've now learned that the project has taken on a new life as the New Broadway Plan, which may be smaller in scope than the original plan, but would be the largest creation of affordable housing in Manhattan since 1959 if fully realized. It would also make a huge dent in Mayor De Blasio's goal of creating or preserving 200,000 affordable units over ten years. The Plan proposes a rezoning of portions of Broadway from 125th to 155th Streets in order to build 3,000 new units of housing, 50 percent of which will be permanently affordable, and to equalize the amount of new affordable to market rate housing stock, which is currently at a disproportionate ratio of 20 percent to 80 percent, respectively.
Get the scoop here

February 11, 2015

A New Bjarke Ingels or Rem Koolhaas-Designed Development Could Be Coming to the High Line

The High Line is continuing its trajectory as the destination for the city's most exciting new architecture, and it looks like another starchitect could soon join the already impressive roster of designers making their mark on the area. The New York Post reports that HFZ Capital Group is currently in the works to bring a "monumental" new structure to a lot located next to the elevated park at 76 11th Avenue—a site that spans from 17th to 18th and across 10th to 11th Avenues. Although the parcel is still in contract (expected to close in April), HFZ has reportedly already tapped Bjarke Ingels (BIG) and Rem Koolhaas for initial drawings, which were revealed by the company's head, Ziel Feldman, yesterday at the Young Men’s/Women’s Real Estate Association luncheon. The renderings are said to show "triangular structures that won't block views".
Find out more here

Architecture And Design

Distinctive Homes

$14M penthouse atop landmarked Astor building has pre-war details and palatial private terrace

This new $14.75M Cobble Hill townhouse looks like it's been standing for a century

Prospect Heights pre-war co-op seen in 'Black Swan' lists for $1.7M

$8.2M Soho penthouse loft feels like an airy beach house surrounded by terraces

19th-century townhouse in Hudson, NY has three units, retail space, and a three-bay garage for $2M

Theater director David Saint lists his East Village penthouse with huge terrace for $5M

Landmarked Boerum Hill townhouse owned by 90s designer Daryl K asks $6M

Asking $800K, this notable modern Princeton home once belonged to Joyce Carol Oates

For $665K, this little upstate home is the answer to your log cabin fantasies

Live like royalty on the Upper East Side for $5.8M

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February 11, 2015

Experience the City’s Skyscrapers in Cartoons with The New Yorker’s Bob Mankoff

Condé Nast's move into One World Trade Center means more than just the offices of Vogue settling in downtown, but also some other 3,000-odd editors, writers and advertising folks that make up the publishing giant's empire. Amongst these magazines is, of course, The New Yorker. In this week's installment of the magazine's "Cartoon Lounge," cartoon editor and cartoonist Bob Mankoff takes a moment to commemorate the magazine's move into the supertall icon by musing over the skyscrapers that have appeared in The New Yorker since the city's 1920s building boom. From his office on the 38th floor of One World Trade, watch as he shares his favorite cartoons and his own experience of seeing the New York City skyline as a kid in Queens. This video is sure to make you smile!
Watch the video here

February 11, 2015

11 Beach Penthouse Asks $22.5M; How a Broker Knows a Couple Will Break Up

11 Beach in Tribeca is now 50% sold. The building’s Penthouse B has also just hit the market for $22.5 million. [6sqft inbox] Six ways a broker knows that you’re in a doomed relationship. [DNA Info] Why would anyone buy a $100 million apartment and let it sit empty? It’s art. [NYT] Former Yankees pitcher David Cone has sold […]

Real Estate Trends

February 11, 2015

CWB Architects’ Bug Acres Uses a Screened Porch to Bring the Outdoors In

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

Standing among an idyllic garden with centenarian trees, a stream and granite rocks, this beautiful Woodstock retreat is perfect for a relaxing weekend away. Dubbed "Bug Acres," it was built to replace an old property that used to stand on the same site, and it was exclusively designed for "amplifying the owner’s visual and auditory experience of the landscape from the interior spaces," according to CWB Architects. Our favorite part of the house is the screened cedar porch, which comes complete with minimal decoration and a sweet wood-burning stove, letting you be one with nature from the comfort of a warm home.
Learn more about this woodland retreat with a stream

February 11, 2015

Snøhetta Transforms a Gowanus Warehouse into a Mural Studio for Cuban Artist José Parlá

You've probably seen the murals of Cuban-American artist José Parlá in the lobbies of One World Trade Center and the Barclays Center. With such high-profile clients, it's no wonder he worked with starchitecture firm Snøhetta, who completed the 9/11 Memorial Museum Pavilion, to create his personal artist's studio. Collaborating together, Parlá and Snøhetta transformed a Gowanus warehouse into a double-height workspace that retains industrial characteristics of the building like beamed ceilings, exposed piping and electrical fixtures, and concrete floors. To tailor the studio to their client's needs, the firm re-opened old skylights to let natural light in to the middle of the work space, and they painted all the walls neutral grey tones so Parlá's bright paintings really stand out.
More on the project

February 11, 2015

Is This the Ultimate Mobile Home?; Select Bus Service to Get a $295M Expansion

If you’re into glamping, the “markies” camper (or should we say glamper) might be the perfect way to enjoy the great outdoors. [Architizer] A new event series, West Side Storytellers, will feature stories about the Upper West Side as told by Upper West Siders. [West Side Rag] Watch a home movie of what it was like […]

Uncategorized

February 11, 2015

A Rich (and Potentially Famous) Buyer Snags the Penthouse at 250 West for $29.5 Million

After yoyo-ing on and off the market over the last two years, the penthouse at 250 West has finally found a buyer. City records filed this afternoon reveal that the unit traded hands for $29.5 million, way down from its original $42 million asking price back in 2013. The buyer was shielded under an LLC, but it was previously reported that the penthouse was being marketed to high-profile individuals, celebs amongst them, given its private entrance separate from the door used by the rest of the residents. Leonardo DiCaprio was rumored to be one of the names to have checked out the space—though he eventually purchased a pad at the Delos. With that in mind, we wonder who nabbed this Tribeca deal.
Check out the interiors here

Real Estate Trends

February 11, 2015

Former Greenpoint Night Club Turned Spectacular Live/Work Loft Wants $11M

By Aisha Carter

You wouldn’t exactly know it from the exterior, but inside this two-story brick and steel warehouse is a renovated loft with all the size and flexibility anyone could ask for to create a dream home. In 2010, artist Matthew Day Jackson bought the former Studio B nightclub for $2 million. He gave it a serious makeover, creating a 15,000-square-foot live/work space, which is now asking $11 million.
More pics inside

Distinctive Homes

New Research Shows More Than 58 Percent of NYC Airbnb Listings Possibly Illegal

Photo courtesy of Airbnb via Facebook

February 11, 2015

New Research Shows More Than 58 Percent of NYC Airbnb Listings Possibly Illegal

Airbnb has been under constant scrutiny in recent months, whether for its potential threat to the affordable housing market or the fallout for bed and breakfasts forced to shutter in the wake of the battle. Now, new research from Capital New York shows that more than 58 percent of New York City's Airbnb listings could be illegal, as they are for "entire apartments or houses, meaning no one else would be present during a stay." According to a state multiple dwelling law that was introduced in 2010, it's illegal to lease homes (excluding one- and two-family homes) for less than 30 days when the owner or tenant isn't present. But Capital found that of the 15,977 apartments listings on Airbnb, only one cites a requirement for a stay longer than a month. While the data isn't conclusive on how many listings could be exempt from the law, more than 10,000 listings are in Manhattan where single-family residences are less likely.
More on the findings ahead

February 11, 2015

Douglas Manor Colonial for $2.7M Is Like Something Right out of ‘The Great Gatsby’

With its sweeping staircases and exquisitely landscaped grounds nestled within a quiet waterfront community, this historic Douglas Manor colonial at 122 Grosvenor Street calls to mind one of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s most memorable characters, the inimitable Jay Gatsby. And although this six-bedroom masterpiece listed at $2.7 million might not quite measure up to the former James Gatz’s lofty standards, we are completely enamored with this astonishingly lovely home.
More pictures of this Gatsbyesque home this way

Distinctive Homes

My 3,900sqft: Four Ladies Turn a Clinton Hill Townhouse into a ‘Pop-Up Mansion’

What happens when you let four ladies run loose in a four-story Clinton Hill townhouse? Closets, corners and a pantry spilling over with shoes and coats, apparently. "There are shoes lining the kitchen pantry shelves; the tiny third bedroom upstairs that resembles a Swiss chalet in the twilight zone is filled with racks of vintage frocks, coats and designer handbags. You can really tell almost everyone in this house either works in fashion or hoards it," says owner and 6sqft writer extraordinaire Michelle Cohen. We recently visited Michelle in her Brooklyn home to see the pretty amazing setup she has created for herself. Michelle, whose house you've certainly seen on our site before, is currently undertaking a major renovation that will turn her and her fiance Stanley's brick-clad buy into a modern-meets-historic home with a rental garden apartment. But while Michelle's poring over drawings with her architect, she's found a few friends to share the journey, and the house; namely three fabulous women with wonderfully different personalities. "Stanley likes to call it a sorority for outstanding ascendant young creative professional women," she muses. Jump ahead to meet Michelle and the girls—who range from a Vogue fashion stylist to a creative producer to a journalist who covers evolution, disease and health policy—in their home to get a closer look.
See more here

February 10, 2015

New Fly-Through Video of 190 Bowery Gives Us a Peek at How Photographer Jay Maisel Lived

One of New York’s most mysterious buildings continues to come further into light, now with a brand new marketing video (h/t EV Grieve) that not only shows us images of the building completely graffiti-free, but how its former owner, photographer Jay Maisel, had set up his work and living spaces. The three-minute video offers up […]

February 10, 2015

RAAD Studio’s Centre Street Loft Redesign with Stunning Wooden Dome Is…Arresting

Perhaps one of the most beautiful buildings in New York City, the Beaux-Arts style former police headquarters located at 240 Centre Street sometimes seems to have flown under the “great buildings in Manhattan” radar for much of its 100-plus years. But we’re pretty sure those lucky enough to reside in one of the 55 luxury apartments created when the building was converted to condominiums in the late 1980s have a true appreciation for the grandeur of this hidden gem. RAAD Studio recently redesigned one of those apartments, and there’s no way this transformation could go unnoticed.
More pics of this 'arresting' home

February 10, 2015

Tucked Away Behind a Landmarked Courtyard Is This Enchanting 1850s West Village Townhouse

Forget about curb appeal, this warm and cozy three-bedroom townhouse built in the 1850s has courtyard appeal. That’s because you can only discover this hidden West Village gem at 5C Carmine Street by walking through its gated entry and into the tranquil–and landmarked–courtyard. The unique and historic house listed at $4.5M is located directly across the street from the beautifully restored Father Demo Square. Modeled after a traditional piazza in Italy, this lively community gathering place is only steps away should you ever tire of the exquisite seclusion this home’s outdoor spaces afford.
See more of this hidden gem

Distinctive Homes

February 10, 2015

Buy Your Sweetie an Empty Lot in Newark for $1000; Inside Brooklyn’s First Net Zero Condo Building

The city of Newark has announced a “Valentine’s Day Land Sale” of 100 city-owned empty lots at $1,000 apiece. [Brick Underground] Tour R-951, Brooklyn’s first net zero-capable solar-powered passive house condo building in Prospect Heights. [Inhabitat NYC] First look at the hotel planned for the huge hole near the Lorimer stop. [Curbed] A controversial plan to […]

Real Estate Trends

New York’s Airports Come In Last for Mass-Transit Accessibility

Photo via Continental Airlines Boeing 737-500; N16617@LGA;05.02.2008/498af via photopin (license)

February 10, 2015

New York’s Airports Come In Last for Mass-Transit Accessibility

If you've ever endured the long ride to any of the area's airports, all the while lugging your suitcase and anxiously wondering if you'd miss your flight, then this statistic probably comes as no surprise. According to a study by the Global Gateway Alliance, "John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports rank last and third-to-last, respectively, in mass-transit accessibility compared with 30 of the world's busiest airports," reports Crain's. The analysis looked at total travel time for public transit users, mode of transportation and number of transfers and cost, scoring them from 0 to 100. And if Anthony Weiner is correct, the new LaGuardia AirTrain will only increase travel times–not good news those for us who prefer not to sit in insane taxi traffic or fork over $99 for a private helicopter ride.
More on the study here

Transit

February 10, 2015

What Would NYC Look Like If Sea Levels Rose 100 Feet?

We know that rising sea levels are one of the scarier parts of global climate change. Just take a walk past the beachfront houses in the Rockaways or on Staten Island that have been raised on stilts. According to the Real Deal, "the US Geological Survey estimates that if all the world’s glaciers melted, sea level would rise by about 80 meters, or more than 260 feet." Though this could take thousands of years, it would make unrecognizable many of the world's coastal cities, including New York City. A stunning map series created by Jeffrey Linn, a Seattle resident with a background in geography and urban planning, visualizes major US cities in "this doomsday scenario" using actual geographic data. In New York City, after sea levels rose just 100 feet, the island of Manhattan is almost submerged; Brooklyn and Queens look like little archipelagos; and the Statue of Liberty is out to sea.
More details ahead

City Living

February 10, 2015

Mapping NYC’s Basketball History; Is LoLeEaSi a Neighborhood Now?

The NBA released an interactive map of NYC basketball history. [NYDN] Looking for an unusual gift for your Valentine? Why not name a cockroach after him or her? [DNAinfo] But if you want something more traditional, here are the 20 most romantic hotels in the city. [BI] Despite what some feel is a “misleading tactic,” the […]

Uncategorized

February 10, 2015

50 Building Inspectors and Contractors to Be Charged in Bribery Scheme

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

It's not going to be a good day for up to 50 city building inspectors and contractors, as well as two mob associates, who are expected to be charged today in "one of the biggest corruption crackdowns in years." After a year-long investigation into projects that have been fast-tracked and received certificates of occupancies in return for cash, the Department of Investigation (DOI) and the Manhattan district attorney plan to charge 12 crooked city inspectors and nearly 40 contractors, according to the Daily News. Early this morning, the charged parties surrendered to authorities
More details on the charges

Policy

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February 10, 2015

Modern Bucolic Townhouse in Cobble Hill Asks $4M

By Aisha Carter

It’s homes like these that make us appreciate the diverse architecture of New York. A glance at these photos would have you think you’re looking at an idyllic countryside setting, but don’t get out your riding boots just yet. You’re in Cobble Hill. That’s right, this Brooklyn townhouse has all the old-style charm you could dream of in a modern package with a convenient location, and it’s asking $3.995 million.
Take a look inside

Distinctive Homes

February 9, 2015

PlaceInvaders Invites You to Have Dinner in NYC’s Most Extraordinary Private Homes

There's definitely no shortage of amazing homes to ogle over from your desktop (especially when on 6sqft), but how often do you actually get to experience one of these places up close and personal? PlaceInvaders is a cool new local startup that gives us regular folks the keys to some of the city's most incredible apartments. Here individuals are invited to schmooze with fellow NYC inhabitants while also wining and dining on often experimental fare. PlaceInvaders recently brought foodies into Cindy Gallop's infamous “Black Apartment,” while another event found a group eating delicious moose pot pie (yes, you read that right) in an artist's loft overlooking the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Find out how to sign up here

February 9, 2015

Joan Rivers’ Legendary Upper East Side Penthouse Is on the Market for $28M

Joan Rivers' Upper East Side triplex penthouse, where she lived for 25 years, is opulent to say the least, with a huge Louis XIV-inspired ballroom, a bordello-esque master bedroom and gilded details galore. And we wouldn't expect any less from the late, great comedienne, who once said of her lavish Spencer Condominium apartment at 1 East 62nd Street, "It's what Marie Antoinette would have done, if she had money," and described the décor as "Louis XIV meets Fred and Ginger." After Rivers' daughter Melissa inherited her mother's apartment in October, it's now officially hit the market for $28 million, reports the Daily News.
Tour the legendary home

February 9, 2015

Mapping Where in NYC Millennials Live

The initial results may not surprise you–young adults living in New York City tend to set up shop in North Brooklyn, the Far West Side, the Upper East Side, the East Village and western Queens. This data is courtesy of a new mapping project from the University of Waterloo School of Planning in Ontario called Generationed City. Using census and crowd-sourced data, the project compares demographic patterns of millennials (typically defined as those born between 1980 and 2000) to that of older generations like baby boomers. It looks at North American cities with populations over 1 million where it's commonly accepted that millennials live in central parts of cities. While the largest chunk of NYC-based data is pretty on par with what we already knew, there are some other trends, both within the city and compared with other cities, that are a bit more curious.
More findings ahead

February 9, 2015

Building on Sunnyside Yards Comes with a Slew of Political, Cost and Engineering Complications

Of the new city initiatives laid out by Bill de Blasio last week during his State of the City address, few were as ambitious as the mayor's plan to build 11,250 affordable apartments on Sunnyside Yards. But, as it turns out, more than just the mayor are looking to turn the 200-acre property into their legacy project. Crain's reports that since the plan was announced, Governor Cuomo has emerged with his own ideas, namely tunnels that would bring the Long Island Rail Road into the heart of Midtown. Former Bloomberg administration Deputy Mayor Daniel Doctoroff has also chimed in with a plan of his own that encompasses a huge new money-spinning convention center. But it doesn't stop there; the clashing of ideas is just one of the burdens that comes with building on this coveted site—meaning we probably won't see any affordable housing here for more than several decades.
More on the complications here

Real Estate Trends

February 9, 2015

There Were Nearly 600 Manhole Fires Last Week; The Psychology behind NYC’s Wildest Wardrobes

Last week, thanks to salt in melting snow, there were 570 manhole explosions, fires, and other incidents. [DNAinfo] Just in time for Valentine’s Day, take a culinary tour of 15 Harlem bakeries. [Untapped] The past and present of Park Slope’s Plaza Hotel. [Brownstoner] Check out this handmade rope screen at a new Chelsea restaurant. [Contemporist] […]

Uncategorized

Foreign Shell Companies Hide the Names of the Seedy Buyers of NY’s Luxury Real Estate

The Time Warner Center

February 9, 2015

Foreign Shell Companies Hide the Names of the Seedy Buyers of NY’s Luxury Real Estate

We've been talking a lot lately about foreign investors with their hands in the NYC real estate market, but a story in the Times took the investigating one step further by uncovering the secrecy of more than 200 shell companies at the Time Warner Center, documenting "a decade of ownership in this iconic Manhattan way station for global money transforming the city’s real estate market." Though most of these were simply wealthy Americans, at least 16 were rich foreigners who "have been the subject of government inquiries around the world, either personally or as heads of companies," ranging from environmental violations to financial fraud. In 2014, around 50 percent of all $5 million+ sales were to shell companies, but at the Time Warner Center it was 80 percent. With this growing trend, however, the government hasn't taken a closer look at the money being used to buy luxury real estate, allowing shell companies to make the movement of foreign funds largely untraceable.
Find out more about Mr. Low and this real estate trend

Real Estate Trends

February 9, 2015

Colorful Chic Furnished Loft in the Ice House Asks $7,500/Month

By Aisha Carter

There’s a really chic loft available for rent in the Ice House in Nolita, right on the edge of Soho and the Lower East Side, and it’s asking $7,500 a month. This 1,033-square-foot space has the potential for two bedrooms, along with all the classic loft must-haves like reclaimed oak floors throughout, 10-foot beamed ceilings, and exposed brick walls. And the best part? It's available fully furnished.
More pics inside

Distinctive Homes

February 9, 2015

Adrian Grenier Buys Five-Story Clinton Hill Townhouse for $2.1 Million

Recently it was reported that filmmaker, actor and Entourage star–and sometime boutique brewer and Brooklyn renovator Adrian Grenier had been spotted checking out a three-bedroom co-op in Chelsea, accompanied by his mom, Brown Harris Stevens broker Karesse Grenier. While Chelsea may be in their sights as well, city records show that the pair recently inked a deal on a huge, historic five-story townhouse in prime Clinton Hill at 112 Gates Avenue, not far from the house he brought back to life with a green reno in 2007.
More on the story this way

February 9, 2015

Photographer/Pillsbury Heir Snaps Up Turnkey Clinton Hill Flip for $3.5 Million

We’ve been a bit obsessed with the house at 102 Gates Avenue–a Brownstoner House of the Day not once but twice–since it hit the market as an estate sale back in 2013; lines stretched down the block and 350 people showed up on one Sunday to view the house, which was asking $1,295,000, a great price at a time when townhouse prices in the area were hitting their recent hot streak. The house, in estate condition but dripping with gorgeous original details, set off a bidding war and sold in a matter of weeks for $1,555,000, becoming a poster child of sorts for the frenzied brownstone Brooklyn townhouse market. After a high-end renovation that spared no detail, the house, a two-unit stunner with a sweet garden apartment and a beautifully restored triplex plus landscaped yard and deck, re-emerged less than one year later at the head-turning asking price of $3.35 million.
More on this brownstone Brooklyn Cinderella tale this way

February 8, 2015

Sebastian Errazuriz’s Bizarre Magistral Chest Hides Valuables Behind Its Spiky Skin

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

Chilean-born, New York-based artist, designer, and activist Sebastian Errazuriz isn't happy simply designing nice things to please the eye. Through his work, the internationally acclaimed creator wants to provoke some thoughts and make exceptional pieces, tackling everything from political artworks to experimental furniture. Just take a look (but do you dare to touch?) at his Magistral Chest, a porcupine-like chest of drawers that can hide and protect your most valuable treasures inside its spiky shell.
Learn more about this spiky chest of drawers

February 8, 2015

MADE IN BROOKLYN: A Rep for Authenticity and Excellence That’s Well-Earned–and Far from New

The story behind cheese-aging facility Crown Finish Caves in Crown Heights tells of an enormous amount of risk and dedication to making something on a small scale; to doing one thing well. It also once again stirs the hive of buzz around today’s Brooklyn. Article after article raises the idea that Brooklyn’s moment as the new hot spot for excellence in food, culture and authentic, hand-crafted goods, is in some quarters regarded as trite and trendy hype with little substance to it. For some, the underground cheese caves are just one more example: Cheese caves. How Brooklyn. Thirty feet below street level, in the lagering tunnels of a former brewery beneath the Monti Building in Crown Heights, Benton Brown and Susan Boyle spent several years renovating and creating “Brooklyn’s premier cheese-aging facility” complete with state-of-the-art humidity control and cooling systems. The couple created the 70-foot space with advice from the world’s top cheese experts; Crown Finish Caves opened in 2014. On an article in Cheese Notes, a commenter raves: “If I were a mouse, I would move to Crown Heights.”
More excellence and authenticity this way

History

February 7, 2015

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff

Map Revealed for de Blasio’s City-Wide Ferry System Developers Rush to Break Ground and Add Affordable Housing Before Tax Incentives End What Would Happen if New York Let Everyone Ride the Subway for Free? Wake Up Over and Over Again in This $6M Yorkville Townhouse with Soaring Vaulted Ceiling Brooklyn’s Most Expensive Listing Ever: A […]

Uncategorized

February 6, 2015

New Yorker Spotlight: CurlNYC Has Brought Curling to New York and They Want You to Try It

By Susan Cohen

Maybe it's the throwing, or the sweeping, or just the way the athletes yell down the ice, but something about curling intrigues us every four years during the Winter Olympics. And now, thanks to the efforts of CurlNYC, New Yorkers can try their hand at the game. Since 2013, CurlNYC has been on a mission to get the city hooked on the sport. The visionaries behind this start-up are Dean Roth, Dean Gemmell, a former U.S. Curling National Champion who competed at the 2012 World Championships, and Chad McMullan. Their eventual goal is to build the first ice facility in the five boroughs dedicated to the sport, and they're well on their way. Upsilon Ventures hired the group to manage the curling program at LeFrak Center at Lakeside in Brooklyn's Prospect Park and the South Street Seaport. CurlNYC has a roster of curling instructors, like husband-and-wife duo Luke Hansen and Kendall Speten-Hansen, to introduce the sport through demonstrations at both locations and during league play at Lakeside. We recently spoke with U.S. National Champion Dean Gemmell and curling instructors Kendall and Luke to find out why New York and curling are a winning combination.
Read the full interview here

February 6, 2015

The NYC Subway Is Filled with Bacteria and DNA from Unidentifiable Organisms

If you're a hand sanitizer-wielding New Yorker who often finds yourself ridiculed by friends for your hypochondriac germaphobe ways, good news, because you've got the last laugh—sort of. A team of researchers from Weill Cornell Medical College spent the past 17 months mapping the DNA found in the New York City subway system, and what they uncovered will certainly make your skin crawl. Not only were some bacteria samples associated with bubonic plague and anthrax, but they also found that nearly half of the DNA found on subway infrastructure—we're talking turnstiles and ticket kiosks amongst other things—did not match any known organism.
Find out more here

February 6, 2015

Facebook Expands Its Midtown Office; Buy a Condo at the Oosten and Get a Free Trip to Amsterdam

Facebook is expanding its offices. The social media giant will add 80,000 square feet—at $100 per square foot—at its 770 Broadway locale. [Crain’s] If you buy a condo at the Oosten in Williamsburg, you’ll get a free trip to Amsterdam. [Brick Underground] How many jobs are accessible from your neighborhood? [DNA Info] The East River Waterfront […]

Real Estate Trends

February 6, 2015

Cubitat: Sleek Plug-and-Play Unit Shelters a Kitchen, Bathroom, Bedroom and Living Room

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

A new plug-in home station for small-space living has just made its global debut. Called Cubitat, this giant "Rubik’s Cube" by Italian designer Luca Nichetto and developer Urban Capital, packs every modern convenience you need into a compact construction. The minimal storage container is divided by function, sheltering a fully equipped kitchen, a bathroom, a bedroom and a living room inside its sleek silver shell.
Learn more about this magical cube

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As Developers Favor Large Apartments, Studio Prices Are on the Rise

Studio 505N at 540 West 49th Street, available for $815,000 via Halstead

February 6, 2015

As Developers Favor Large Apartments, Studio Prices Are on the Rise

As anyone who lives in a studio apartment can tell you, it's often the best–if not the only–way to live without a roommate in New York. But with developers finding it much more profitable to build large apartments, studio apartments may be heading to extinction. And those existing one-room units are seeing steep price increases as demand is outpacing supply. As the Daily News reports, "Listings for new studios compose just 4% of the units in Manhattan — down from 15% in 2013... As of January, just 30 such apartments were on the market, compared with 161 in January 2012." The median price for a new Manhattan studio rose over the past year to $930,000, a whopping 60 percent increase. Comparatively, the median price for a new one-bedroom unit rose 30 percent and for a two-bedroom home it dropped by 11 percent.
More on the real estate trend here

Real Estate Trends

Front & York

85 Jay Street

Dumbo

Upscale DUMBO living with timeless views

1 beds starting at $995,000
2 beds starting at $1,699,000
3 beds starting at $2,475,000

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February 6, 2015

$2.75M Victorian Brownstone’s Original Coal Stove Is a Park Slope Cover Girl

All around the city new structures of glass and steel are rising up as bastions of modernity, often dwarfing neighboring turn-of-the-century buildings that experienced a different kind of rise–that of New York City as an economic and cultural center of the world. Standing the test of time, homes like this 1893 Romanesque Revival style brownstone call to mind the saying “they don’t make them like they used to.” While it’s true there’s nothing quite like Manhattan’s gleaming skyline, the original details in this classic Victorian residence at 585 11th Street in Park Slope are every bit as breathtaking.
See more of this home's gorgeous original details

February 6, 2015

Offbeat Valentine’s Day Activities in NYC; Modern Pinball Brings Arcade Fun to Kips Bay

Here’s ten alternative, off-the-beaten-path Valentine’s Day activities you can use to woo your crush. [Untapped] Leave your selfie stick at home when visiting NYC museums. [Gothamist] Get your pinball game on in Kips Bay. [Brooklyn Based] Taking a look at the history of Castle Clinton in the Battery. [Daytonian in Manhattan] Check out designer Kate […]

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February 6, 2015

ArchDaily Announces Winners of Its Building of the Year 2015 Contest

By Alyssa Alimurung

The votes are in, and the people of the architecture and design community have spoken. ArchDaily has announced the winners of its Building of the Year 2015 contest. The winners of the 14 categories included NYC-based firm WORKac’s Wieden+Kennedy NY headquarters for Interiors (which have been featured on 6sqft before), Herzog & de Meuron’s Arena do Morro for […]

February 6, 2015

Chinese Real Estate Investors Expanding Their Search to the Long Island Suburbs

In recent years, the Manhattan real estate scene has had a major upswing in the amount of wealthy buyers from China, who feel that New York City condos and other properties are a safe place for their money. In fact, high-profile real estate firms are even tapping Chinese brokers to cater to this growing clientele. But now the trend is moving east, with Chinese buyers eyeing the stately mansions that make up the Gold Coast suburbs of Long Island. According to the Times, "Some Chinese buyers are parking money in what they see as a low-risk investment. Others are seeking a trophy home. Still others are intent on living in these places full time while their children attend the area’s high-performing schools."
More details ahead

Real Estate Trends

February 6, 2015

Photographer Jay Maisel Officially Sells 190 Bowery for $55M