6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

Last week we took a look at why there are three Broadways in Manhattan–the thoroughfare proper, East Broadway and West Broadway– and learned that Broadway actually extends through the Bronx and into Westchester. There's even a one-block street in Harlem called Old Broadway. As if that weren't enough confusion, though, there are four other Broadways in the outer boroughs–one in Brooklyn, one in Staten Island, and two in Queens.
Learn about these outer-borough Broadways

How Long Are the Elevator Commutes in the Tallest Towers?

432 Park

January 26, 2015

How Long Are the Elevator Commutes in the Tallest Towers?

The race to build the tallest residential building seems to never end. In NYC, One57 briefly held the title at 1,005 feet before it was outdone by 432 Park at 1,396 feet. But both of these supertall towers are expected to be beat by the Nordstrom Tower, which will come in at 1,775 feet. Across the world, though, towers rise even higher; World One in Mumbai, India is 1,450 feet, the 106 Tower in Dubai is 1,421 feet, and the mixed-use Kingdom Tower in Saudi Arabia will hit 167 stories and 3,281 feet. In fact, according to The Real Deal, "of the 445 residential towers in the world over 650 feet that are built or under construction, only 12 are located in Manhattan." With these dizzying heights becoming the new normal, the elevator becomes perhaps the most important construction element, and a feature in the Wall Street Journal calculates the annual "elevator miles" logged by residents of supertall condo towers around the world.
Check out the mileage here

Architecture And Design

January 26, 2015

Billionaire’s DIY Mansion Likely to Hit a Roadblock with the LPC; Summing Up the ‘Save the View’ Debate

Billionaire Roman Abramovich will likely butt heads with the Landmarks Preservation Commission over the creation of his makeshift mansion. [Observer] All the layers of the ‘Save the View’ controversy happening by the Brooklyn Bridge in Brooklyn Heights. [Curbed] More than 32 contracts for homes priced at $4 million or more were signed last week. [TRD] City Tower, […]

Real Estate Trends

January 26, 2015

Hilla Shamia Blends Tree Trunks and Aluminum into Beautifully Imperfect Furniture

Tel Aviv-based designer Hilla Shamia has a thing for what she calls "controlled imperfections." And this particular interest is what makes her Wood Casting furniture line so poetic and special. Hilla's unique tables, stools, and benches are made by casting molten aluminum into wood—an unusual pairing of two very different elements that when fused not only reveal surprising details, but a third element born from the unlikely marriage.
Learn more about these striking designs

January 26, 2015

Talking to NY’s Last Seltzer Man; Supermarket Chaos Before the Blizzard

With perfect timing, the new Snow Monsters art installation arrives at Flatiron Plaza. [Untapped] Seltzer deliverymen used to be commonplace in the city, but now there’s just one left. [The Awl] The popular photo-documentary series Humans of New York has raised close to $700,000 to help underprivileged students in Brownsville, Brooklyn visit Harvard. [Gothamist] A […]

Uncategorized

January 26, 2015

Park Slope Townhouse Boasts Its Very Own ‘Red Room’ for $3.8M

By Stephanie Hoina

Did we get your attention? With the upcoming release of the Fifty Shades of Grey movie, a wider audience will no doubt become familiar with Christian Grey's infamous "red room". But we're guessing a very different kind of decadence is likely to be served up in the partially red (okay, it was a bit of a stretch) and very proper formal dining room located on the parlor level of this neo-Italian Renaissance limestone townhouse at 593 3rd Street in Park Slope.
Check out the 'red room' and more

Distinctive Homes

January 26, 2015

Tribeca Townhouse with Wild and Fiery Facade by System Architects Will Soon Come to Life

This isn't the sort of design we'd expect to see in Tribeca, but lo and behold, this bold statement by architect Jeremy Edmiston is about to become a reality along its brick and mortar block. The Tribeca Citizen reports that the single-family residence located at 187 Franklin Street is moving forward with construction on the kooky design which was first proposed in 2010. The project will see the building's facade removed and replaced with an undulating red facade complemented by silvery, net-like balconies.
READ MORE

Architecture And Design

January 26, 2015

This Awesome $10.8M Soho Pad Will Make Your Head Swim

There’s an impressive new listing at 45 Greene Street in Soho’s Cast Iron District, asking $10.8 million. For that sum, you can get a two-bedroom duplex penthouse loft with 5,400 square feet of space, two terraces, and one of New York’s rarest and most treasured gems: a swimming pool. Do we have your attention now?
More pics here

Distinctive Homes

Distinctive Homes

Ethan Hawke's former Chelsea townhouse lists for $5.98M

Tiffany-blue walls and de Gournay designs surround a $1M UES co-op with Deco-era glamour

Asking $20M, a university president's Greenwich Village residence enters a new chapter

For $8.85M, a condo with Central Park and Manhattan skyline views from every room

Daring details add a spark of personality to a classic $2.35M Village co-op

For $995K, this dreamy upstate farmhouse gets every detail just right

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

For $4.75M, this Williamsburg condo wraps 21st-century living in glass, with a priceless view

This $7M limestone townhouse brings restored Park Slope perfection to historic beauty

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

VIEW ALL

January 26, 2015

New Residential Building in East Williamsburg by James Cleary Architecture Will Have a Double-Height Solar Shade

A new residential building is going up on an East Williamsburg street that's already an eclectic mix of modern buildings, single-family homes with vinyl siding, and classic tenement apartment buildings. Designed by James Cleary Architecture, 237 Devoe Street will add some creative environmental design to the mix, thanks to its signature element--a double-height solar shade, clad with reclaimed barn wood, that opens onto the street.
More details on the project

January 25, 2015

Stay at the Dreamy White Pine Camp President Calvin Coolidge Once Called His Secret Retreat

If you need a few days out of the city to disconnect from the world and reconnect with nature, we can recommend a gorgeous spot in the most magical of pine-scented locales. Situated right in the heart of the Adirondacks and immersed in a forest of majestic trees, the White Pine Camp is a lovingly restored, historic accommodation built by the rich and powerful of the Gilded Age. Featuring a number of cozy cabins and cottages for rent, this rustically grandiose retreat also once served as the secret summer house of President Calvin Coolidge.
Learn more about this pine-scented spot in the Adirondacks

January 24, 2015

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff

Photo Series Captures Three Years of NYC Subway Cars Being Dumped in the Atlantic Ocean Most Millennials Would Rather Live in the Suburbs Than in a City Condo This Turn-Key Cobble Hill Townhome Comes with a Backyard Playhouse Russian Billionaire Roman Abramovich Buys Up Three UES Townhouses to Build a Makeshift Mansion Take a Peek […]

Uncategorized

January 23, 2015

New Yorker Spotlight: Maya Jankelowitz of Jack’s Wife Freda on Creating Restaurants That Feel Like Home

By Susan Cohen

If you're an Instagram-loving New Yorker, then you've likely seen, or maybe even posted, photos of the salads, egg dishes, and even the menus at the downtown restaurant Jack's Wife Freda. Through the app, diners at Jack's Wife Freda have been spreading the word about the establishment's food and polished-yet-relaxed atmosphere. These sepia-toned photos certainly caught our attention, especially the beautiful meals plated on crisp white dishes. The visionaries behind the restaurant are husband-and-wife team Dean and Maya Jankelowitz. The pair opened Jack's Wife Freda three years ago on Lafayette Street in Soho, and just opened a second location on Carmine Street in the West Village. Together, the two restaurants are designed for New Yorkers to sit down and enjoy simple dishes that remind Dean and Maya of their families and respective countries, South Africa and Israel. For the couple, it's only a perk that they are getting so much attention on social media, as their primary goal has always been the two H's: hospitality and happiness. We recently spoke with Maya at the new Carmine location to find out about running two restaurants in the city with her husband and what it means to give New Yorkers a restaurant to call "their spot."
Read the full interview here

January 23, 2015

Churchill’s Granddaughter, Sculptor Edwina Sandys, Relists One-of-a-Kind Soho Loft for $10M

You know an apartment is exceptional when Philip Johnson once referred to it as "the most beautiful loft in Soho." Home to sculptor Edwina Sandys, the granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill, and her husband, architect Richard Kaplan, this one-of-a-kind space at 565 Broadway was also the location for the original season of "The Real World" in 1992 and has since seen the likes of architects Richard Meier and Rafael Vinoly, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Massimo Vignelli and Christine Ebersole pass through its doors for high-society parties hosted by Sandys and Kaplan. But the real draw here is the simply stunning historic architecture. Originally home to Ball Black & Co., the top 19th century jeweler before Tiffany's, the five-bedroom duplex boasts a double-height, 17-foot, exposed-brick vault ceiling, stately Corinthian columns, and a Carrara marble floor, which certainly justifies the $10 million price tag.
READ MORE

January 23, 2015

VIDEO: Visit the Wonderfully Weird Lower East Side of 1995

It's hard to imagine the Lower East Side without all of its barflies and bros, but get ready for a blast from the past. Bowery Boogie has found an amazing video that gives us a glimpse into the neighborhood's quirky past—well before it became a nightlife mecca for New York's downtown set. The four-minute film, aptly titled "Planet Ludlow," takes us through the block via Ludlow Street circa 1995.
Watch the video here

History

January 23, 2015

Bed-Stuy Locals Talk About Their Nabe with the ‘Times;’ Historic Park Slope Building Gets a New Lease on Life as Condos

The New York Times visits Bed-Stuy, the first neighborhood featured in their new “Block by Block” series. [NYT] An historic building at 187 Seventh Avenue in Park Slope will be turned into condos. [NYT] A “Joie de Vivre” hotel is on the rise at 50 Bowery. [Bowery Boogie] A landmarked Brooklyn bathhouse, the Brooklyn Lyceum, will […]

Real Estate Trends

January 23, 2015

Take a Private Tour of the Long Island City Elevator Historical Society Museum This Weekend

Even true New York City culture buffs may have never heard of the Elevator Historical Society Museum (or known that such a society exists), so if you really want to impress a crowd with your knowledge of little-known urban trivia, be sure to sign up for tomorrow's tour of the Long Island City museum. The private tour, hosted by the New York Adventure Club, is being led by the museum's founder and curator Patrick Carrajat, who has collected more than 2,000 pieces of elevator ephemera like manuals, metal identification plates, pop culture paraphernalia, and obscure mechanical parts from the early days of vertical travel.
More on the museum and tour here

January 23, 2015

La Cabine: A Hidden Bathroom Inside an Elegant Oak Wardrobe

It's hard to believe, but hidden at the heart of this elegant oak wardrobe is a fully functioning bathroom. Minimal, space saving, and very classy, this stand-alone design shelters everything an average bathroom has. Designed by French bathroom designers Line Art together with high-end product manufacturer La Fonction, "La Cabine" can bring the intimacy of a bathroom into any room.
Learn more about this innovative bathroom

The History of NYC’s Drinking Fountains; Pig Out on Donuts While Getting Your Car Washed

The design history of New York City’s public drinking fountains. [re:form] Inside Underwest Donuts, a boutique donut shop in a West Side car wash. [Untapped] What you can see from the tallest observation decks on Earth. [Gizmodo] China constructs the world’s first 3D-printed apartment building. [CNET] Images: Drinking fountain (L); West Side Highway Car Wash […]

Uncategorized

January 23, 2015

Stunning Mahogany Woodwork Steals the Show in This $3.5M Park Slope Brownstone

By Stephanie Hoina

It’s everything you imagine a classic brownstone to be. For nearly 50 years this townhouse at 266 Berkeley Place in Park Slope has been under the careful stewardship of a single owner, and the love they showered on their home is evident in every one of its four floors—even the basement is immaculate with its whitewashed walls and brick archways.
take a tour here

Distinctive Homes

January 23, 2015

Grab Your Architect and Race to This $4M Chelsea Loft

Let your imagination run wild in this 4,050-square-foot loft at 141 West 26th Street, right in the heart of Chelsea. This loft has 12-foot ceilings, oak wood floors, tons of light from multiple exposures, and enough space to create your dream home, all for $3.95 million.
Take a look inside

Distinctive Homes

January 23, 2015

Politician Peter Kostmayer Buys $2M Clinton Hill Brownstone

By Annie Doge

Democratic politician Peter H. Kostmayer, best known for his seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and for his infamous 1992 divorce during which his ex wife publicly endorsed his Republican opponent, bought a lovely Clinton Hill townhouse for $2,144,000, according to city records. Located at 14 Saint James Place, the four-story Italianate brownstone recently underwent a gut renovation that combines historic details like crown moldings and mantles in every room with modern conveniences like a perfect-for-entertaining backyard and high-end appliances.
Check out the rest of Kostmayer's new home here

Unleash Gehry: Give Frank the East River and Churn the Lower Manhattan Pot

Image: Frank Gehry against his design for the Guggenheim in Bilbao, Spain

January 22, 2015

Unleash Gehry: Give Frank the East River and Churn the Lower Manhattan Pot

By Carter B. Horsley

The Foundation Louis Vuitton in the Bois de Bologne in Paris recently opened and was another kudo for architect Frank O. Gehry whose Bilbao, Spain, branch of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in 1999 was widely regarded as the most important architecture project since the opening of the Pompidou Center in Paris in 1975. All these projects are Deconstructivist; they don’t fit easily into boxes and are not symmetrical. Their aesthetic tends to be chaotic, disorganized, aggressive, random and definitely unconventional, but also absolutely heroic, proud and defiant. The Pompidou Center was huge and intimidating, a gargantuan power plant for some unfinished but gaily painted super ocean liner. By comparison, the Guggenheim was a shiny swirl of silvery metal cascading by its riverfront location in a staccato flurry of flamenco stomps. Vuitton is a whole other gesture altogether; an organic amorphous form about to devour a city, formed of glass, wood and concrete in rearing and overlapping fashion, a mad dash about enclosure. All of these might just amount to a sophisticated bowl of cherries for architecture aficionados, except that this project was a baby of Bernard Arnault, the head of the luxury conglomerate that runs not only Louis Vuitton, the purser, but also bubbler Moët & Chandon, sipper Hennessy, dazzler Bulgari and fashionistas Dior, Fendi and Givenchy—all One-Percent darlings. These, of course, are not the only platinum brands but they'll certainly do in an all-so-sizzling and svelte pinch. You may now ask what has all this to do with our city.
Read more here

East Village’s Historic Meseritz Synagogue Gets Ready for Restoration and Condo Conversion

Mezritch Synagogue © LuciaM via Panoramio

January 22, 2015

East Village’s Historic Meseritz Synagogue Gets Ready for Restoration and Condo Conversion

At the turn of the century, the Lower East Side/East Village was home to 75 percent of the 2.5 million Ashkenazi Jews that immigrated to the U.S. They quickly established synagogues, many of which were "tenement synagogues," aptly named because they were built on the narrow lots between tenements and served the mostly-impoverished people who lived in the surrounding, overcrowded buildings. Only one of these tenement synagogues is still in operation–the Congregation Meseritz Synagogue (or Anshei Meseritz) at 515 East 6th Street. Narrowly saved from the wrecking ball in 2012, Meseritz is now undergoing a total overhaul. Real estate developer East River Partners is adding three luxury apartments, including an 11-foot-tall penthouse, to the top of the structure. Though the plan was initially contested by some neighbors and local community and preservation groups, the developer is undertaking a multimillion-dollar gut renovation of the ground floor, creating a new home out of which the congregation can worship.
More details ahead

January 22, 2015

Enjoy the Ultimate Brooklyn Loft Experience in This $2.3M Ensemble Architects-Designed Duplex

On a gorgeous, tree-lined street in Brooklyn Heights lies this fully-renovated apartment at the top of the landmarked former YMCA building at 62 Joralemon Street. As we wrote about in September, the loft-style duplex was given new life by Elizabeth Roberts of Ensemble Architects, who used a combination of salvaged and new materials to create the ultimate Brooklyn pad. And it can now be yours for $2.295 million.
Let's take a look

Distinctive Homes

January 22, 2015

Billionaire Roman Abramovich’s DIY Mansion Getting Bigger; A Gramercy Park Building Wants $200M

After holding a 199-unit apartment building in Gramercy Park for nearly 70 years, the owner has put it on the market for $200 million. [Crain’s] Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich’s makeshift mansion could be even bigger than initially reported. Word is he’s purchased yet another building on East 75th Street. [NYP] Designer Michael Kors is purchasing a posh penthouse at […]

Real Estate Trends

January 22, 2015

Aviator’s Villa by Urban Office Architecture Was Built for a Pilot Using Salvaged Airplane Parts

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

This house is about as close as one can get to living among the clouds, so it makes perfect sense that it was built for a retired pilot. Designed by Urban Office Architecture, the geometric Aviator's Villa in Dutchess County, New York "explores the thought of flight as a strong motivator for architectural darings." Through the use of salvaged airplane parts and minimal, glass-encased structures, the firm was able to create the feeling of flying through the sky. And like a plane, the home is exposed to the elements on all sides and appears to be soaring above water, as it's suspended on stilts, straddling a pool and a small lake.
READ MORE

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VIEW ALL

January 22, 2015

Most Millennials Would Rather Live in the Suburbs Than in a City Condo

Has the pendulum swung back to favoring life in the 'burbs? A new poll conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reveals that millennials would rather buy a home in the suburbs than squeeze into a cramped condo in the city. The survey showed that 66 percent would prefer to live in the suburbs, 24 percent want to live in rural areas, and just 10 percent want to live in a city center. The NAHB used a sample of 1,506 people born since 1977 to come to their conclusions.
More from the study here

January 22, 2015

Visiting Harry Houdini’s Grave in Queens; A Subway Ride Will Now Cost $2.75

Did you know Harry Houdini is buried in Glendale, Queens? Naturally, there’s some controversy surrounding his grave. [Queens Brownstoner] If you’ve ever wondered how to build a squash court in the middle of Grand Central, here’s a time-lapse video showing you how. [WSJ] Start saving (or ask for a raise); the MTA fare hikes will take […]

Uncategorized

January 22, 2015

Tall Tin Ceilings Charm in This $1.4M Chelsea Loft

This $1.395 million, 1,000-square-foot, newly renovated loft at 136 West 24th Street has a flexible layout, making a second bedroom or home office a possibility, all within running distance of the Shake Shack line when it comes back. And Snoopy will love your close proximity to the park and the dog run (and let’s be honest, hamburger crumbs).
More pics inside

Distinctive Homes

January 22, 2015

Nearly Half of Luxury Condos Set to Hit the Market This Year Are Already in Contract

We know very well that 2015 will see a huge influx of new super-luxury condo units, but what we didn't know until now was that nearly half of these high-end homes set to hit the market are already in contract, making this year's forecast widely overblown. According to Crain's, a new report from Halstead Property Development Marketing suggests that of the 6,500 new condo listings that have been projected for 2015, only about 3,500 will actually be available for sale in the next 11 months, as 3,000 of them are already taken.
READ MORE

Real Estate Trends

January 22, 2015

New LaGuardia AirTrain Will Actually Increase Travel Times, Anthony Weiner Weighs In

Get ready to have your bubble burst. As it turns out, Governor Andrew Cuomo's proposed AirTrain to LaGuardia would actually increase the time it takes to get to the airport, and for some areas, almost double travel time. The Transport Politic enlightened (and dispirited) hopefuls yesterday in an analysis that highlighted the fact that the new train would would deliver commuters to the 7 subway station at Willets Point, which is further away from Manhattan than the airport. In light of the findings, Anthony Weiner threw in his two cents this morning, penning an op-ed in the Daily News, saying "if we are going to solve this problem, we should do it right." The former congressman also threw a proposal of his own into the ring.
More on what Weiner had to say

Transit

Get ‘Em While They’re Cheap: A Look at Crown Heights Real Estate Past and Present

Image via the Historic Districts Council

January 21, 2015

Get ‘Em While They’re Cheap: A Look at Crown Heights Real Estate Past and Present

By Lauren Price

What once seemed unheard-of in terms of where to rent or buy in tertiary neighborhoods is now a thing of the past—be it Harlem, Williamsburg, Hell’s Kitchen, Long Island City, or the Lower East Side. But one of the best examples of rapid transformation is Brooklyn. Certainly there are many coveted communities such as Brooklyn Heights, Prospect Heights, and Park Slope, but there is another neighborhood making what looks like a very successful run at gentrification: Crown Heights.
More on the Crown Heights renaissance here

January 21, 2015

Exquisite West Chelsea Loft Designed by 212box Architecture ‘Suits to a T’ at $5.9M

By Stephanie Hoina

While the etymology of the expression “suits to a T” isn’t clearly defined, there is no debating its meaning: when something is exactly as it should be or fits to perfection. Which is the ideal way to describe this rare T-shaped loft located in the Eagle Warehouse building at 532 West 22nd Street on a quiet and utterly charming Chelsea block full of art galleries. Designed by 212box Architecture, this $5.9 million dream home was recently featured in Interior Design magazine. Windows at every turn drench the home with sunshine, and custom black steel and pebbled glass room separators transport the natural light throughout the open floor plan offering some level of privacy while still maintaining the loft aesthetic.
See more of why this home 'suits to a T'

Distinctive Homes

January 21, 2015

One57 Records Another Blockbuster Sale, 85th-Floor Pad Sells for $55.6 Million

There’s no slowing One57. Yet another blockbuster sale hit city records this morning, bringing the brash blue supertall its third most expensive sale to date—and the city its ninth most expensive condo sale in history. The ultra-luxe pad is the 6,240-square-foot 85th-floor unit, which boasts four bedrooms, four baths, and the lofty, breathtaking views that have have made One57 one […]

January 21, 2015

Live in a Regal Apartment with Jackie O Cachet; Architect Helmut Jahn Chats About 50 West

Live in the luxurious co-op carved from Jackie O’s father’s home at 115 East 36th Street. [Curbed] Architect Helmut Jahn talks about his design of 50 West. [NYT] Permit applications filed with the Department of Buildings doubled in 2014. [TRD] The Bronx Post Office moves closer to its rebirth as a shopping and dining mecca. […]

Real Estate Trends

January 21, 2015

Meet LO-LO, a Capsular Microkitchen for the Home or Office

LO-LO is a capsular microkitchen from designers Tanya Repina and Misha Repin of Aotta Studio in Moscow. The family of three standing pods was designed for the basic office kitchen, but we could easily see the stylish pieces in a studio apartment. Each module is intended for a specific electrical appliances -- a water cooler, microwave, and coffee pot -- and its corresponding accessories such as cups, plates, cutlery, tea, and coffee.
More about LO-LO ahead

Shop

January 21, 2015

Stuart Parr’s Ultra-Contemporary Clearhouse Brings the Outdoors In, Literally

The stunning Clearhouse offers a dramatic, modern addition to Shelter Island's landscape. Envisioned by Stuart Parr Design, the dwelling elevates itself on a central plinth, taking in privileged views of the surrounding woodland and Peconic Bay. Much like Philip Johnson’s iconic Glass House, the Clearhouse boasts clean lines and glazed walls that blur the indoor/outdoor boundaries quite literally. Rising on stilts above the six-acre terrain, this ultra-contemporary home was also designed to cause minimal impact on the ground.
Learn more about this glass living box

January 21, 2015

Why Not Take a Helicopter to the Airport? An Ode to the Smells of NYC

Empire Mayo in Prospect Heights looks to create the “must try” garlic truffle mayonnaise from Kevin Hart’s SNL parody of Bushwick gentrification. [DNAinfo] Two for the price of one: This tiny side table transforms into a full-on rowing machine. [Gizmodo] Forget hailing a taxi to get to the airport; a helicopter ride will cost you just $99. [NYP] […]

Uncategorized

January 21, 2015

POLL: Do You Agree with How the MTA Gets Rid of Old Subway Cars?

Yesterday, we featured the breathtaking photography of Stephen Mallon, who for three years documented decommissioned NYC subway cars being dumped into the Atlantic Ocean. What might initially seem like an act of pollution is actually an environmental effort to create artificial reef habitats for fostering sea life along the eastern seabed. Some readers, though, felt […]

Transit

Can Developers Still Make a Profit as Land Prices Reach Record Sums?

What Manhattan will look like in 2018, via CityRealty

January 21, 2015

Can Developers Still Make a Profit as Land Prices Reach Record Sums?

Most landowners, especially those who have been in the development business for a long time, aren't easily persuaded to sell their holdings, but with sales reaching record sums, that's all starting to change. As Crain's recounts, back in November Jerry Gottesman, who has a property empire worth over $3 billion, sold a parking lot he owned between 17th and 18th Streets near the High Line for $800 million. He bought the site in the early '80s for $2.4 million. Influenced by the sale, other landowners are also looking to get in on the action; just last week three large residential development sites hit the market asking $1,000 or more per buildable square foot–a 50 percent increase in the price of Manhattan land from last year. And if the parcels fetch these sums, it will be the first time values per buildable square foot reach four figures. With these record sale sums, Manhattan condo builders would have to sell units at sky-high prices to make a profit. For example, a 1,000-square-foot apartment would need to sell for $3 million or more just to break even.
More on the trend here

Real Estate Trends

January 21, 2015

Make Central Park Your Neighbor with This Adorable $2.6M Townhouse Apartment

There’s a cute new listing available in this townhouse off Central Park West. This $2.55 million three-bedroom pad has tall ceilings and natural light from the north and south, along with prewar detail and a full view of the garden.
Take a look inside

Distinctive Homes

January 20, 2015

Photo Series Captures Three Years of NYC Subway Cars Being Dumped in the Atlantic Ocean

Who knew that the graveyard for decommissioned NYC subway cars was at the bottom of the ocean? If this is news to you, then you don't want to miss this photo series by Stephen Mallon, who documented the train cars being dumped into the Atlantic from Delaware to South Carolina over three years. But before you call 311 about this seeming act of pollution, let us tell you that it's actually an environmental effort to create artificial reef habitats for fostering sea life along the eastern seabed, which was started over ten years ago.
More photos and info right this way

Goldilocks Blocks: Lowry Triangle in Prospect Heights, Where the Gritty Meets the Gentrified

Between hyper-developed hotspots, main drags in up-and-comers, and those genuinely avoidable areas, there can often be found a city’s “just-right” zones. They aren’t commonly known, but these micro-neighborhoods often hide within them real estate gems coupled with perfectly offbeat vibes. Continuing our Goldilocks Blocks series, this week we look at Lowry Triangle in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.

January 20, 2015

Goldilocks Blocks: Lowry Triangle in Prospect Heights, Where the Gritty Meets the Gentrified

By Michelle Cohen

It’s...gritty. But it’s Prospect Heights. Anchoring an oddly magical Brooklyn crossroads where Prospect Heights, Crown Heights and Clinton Hill meet, bisected by noisy, gritty Atlantic Avenue, Lowry Triangle and its surrounding blocks form a literal mashup of three neighborhoods, all of which began hitting their gentrification strides at slightly different times. On a map it’s legitimately Prospect Heights, whose border is a block to the east at Grand Avenue. It’s a small but decidedly cool zone, open and semi-industrial, where old brick buildings share space with a growing number of sleek, modern boutique condos, compact cubes fronted by vast expanses of glass; a fascinating juxtaposition of old and new.
What you might not notice if you're just passing through

Brooklyn Point

138 Willoughby Street

Downtown Brooklyn

America's highest infinity pool + 25-year tax abatement

Studios starting at $985,000
1 beds starting at $1,200,000
2 beds starting at $1,885,000
3 beds starting at $2,700,000

Learn More

January 20, 2015

Airbnb in the Hot Seat Today; Lower East Side Ranks Low in Noise Complaints

Airbnb was the subject of a City Council hearing today as supporters on both sides debated the company’s presence in the city. [Brooklyn Magazine] Here’s your head-scratcher for the day: The Lower East Side ranks only 37th when it comes to noise complaints. [The Lo-Down and I Quant NY] Only one unit remains at 150 East 72nd Street. […]

Real Estate Trends

January 20, 2015

Tour the Chefs Club Restaurant by ‘Food & Wine’ Magazine at the Landmark Puck Building

There's been plenty of talk about the luxurious penthouses that top off the historic Puck Building. But just below these spectacular homes is an equally stunning space that's sure to take your breath away—or at least get your stomach rumbling. Archdaily brings us on a tour of the Chefs Club, a brand new dining experience dreamt up by the folks over at Food & Wine magazine. The sleek eatery opened just last fall to rave reviews, and it's no surprise; the Chefs Club by Food & Wine is exactly what you'd hope it is: the magazine's "Best New Chefs" and an international roster of rockstar cooks whipping up meals unlike any you've had before.
Take a tour of the spectacular interiors here

January 20, 2015

Miito Reinvents the Way We Boil Water in a Minimal and Sustainable Way

Meet Miito, one of those objects that makes you think, "Why didn't anyone think of this before?!" Innovative, minimal, sustainable, and most importantly, logical, it works by simply heating up liquids directly in one's mug as opposed to a kettle. Invented by Copenhagen-based Studio Chudy and Grase, Miito's clean, innovative design saves both money and time.
Learn more about this innovative boiler

January 20, 2015

The New Design Project’s Upper East Side Apartment Has a Downtown Industrial Vibe

At first glance, this urban-chic apartment with its industrial vibe and cool pops of geometric colors definitely appears to be located in trendy Soho or any up-and-coming section of Brooklyn. But it's actually in the neighborhood that's often considered the most unhip of all–the Upper East Side. A creation of The New Design Project, this 400-square-foot Uptown apartment was inspired by the urban features that the design team uncovered during the renovation at the landmarked Cherokee Apartments. Exposed brick walls and metal frames were left raw and are juxtaposed with bold colors, geometric patterns, and custom artwork. As the firm states, "the result is a space that does not take itself too seriously, where each room has a strong personality that delivers a happy experience."
Tour the apartment here

January 20, 2015

INTERVIEW: Architects Michael Loverich and Antonio Torres of Bittertang Farm on Their Wild and Colorful Designs