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If there's one thing most people attribute to Robert Moses it's highways. The master planner built 13 expressways throughout New York, including the Cross Bronx Expressway, Brooklyn Queens Expressway, the FDR Drive, and the West Side Highway. Love him or hate him, this was a pretty profound feat of urban planning. But had he been granted free rein, Moses would've constructed even more highways. The two failed attempts that remain most notorious are the Lower Manhattan Expressway, which would've cut east-west along the residential areas of Broome Street, as well as a Mid-Manhattan Expressway, a proposed six-lane elevated highway along 30th Street. After mapping these aforementioned Moses proposals, cartographer Andrew Lynch decided to take his project one step further and create a map series of all the never-built highways in NYC, both from Moses and others.
Check out the full-size maps here

Transit

September 10, 2015

A Totally Modern Brooklyn Townhouse With a Rock Climbing Wall Asks $4.25M

The best thing about shiny new modern townhouses? They can be really fun. Take this townhouse at 113A Columbia Street, along the Columbia Street Waterfront in Brooklyn, for example. It's a new-construction home, built in 2010. And over five stories you get lots of unique, fun custom details that really make this house one of a kind. The design, most of all, is kid friendly, with a rock-climbing wall making for one of the coolest kid's rooms ever.
Check it out

Distinctive Homes

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 9/10-9/16

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 10, 2015

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 9/10-9/16

By Lori Zimmer

No matter what age you are, for everyone, September has that overwhelming feeling of "Back to School." Educate yourself (while supporting female artists) and listen to Grimanesa Amorós speak about her work at El Museo del Barrio, or bone up on your French with the last free French film screening of the season at Columbia. Art galleries are back in full swing, and I'm personally looking forward to Tahiti Pehrson's epic paper cuts at Joseph Gross, Elias Sime's remixing of elements from Ethiopia at James Cohan Gallery and the heart-wrenching portraits investigating prostitution around the globe by Yapci Ramos at Catinca Tabacaru. Visitors are welcome to taste the boom of the Williamsburg/Greenpoint neighborhood—literally, and you can also relive the New York classic "The Warriors" for a grandiose reunion and day-long celebration at Coney Island. Finish the week with No Longer Empty's contribution to the newly redeveloped South Street Seaport with an installation about the converging of waters.
All the best events to check out here

September 10, 2015

Turn Hot Coffee to Iced in Minutes With the Coil

New Yorkers love to drink coffee, and while most can manage the time and effort required to brew a pot, getting the bubbling liquid cold is another story. Many of us are willing to spend upwards to four or even six dollars if someone can ice it for us. Well, fellow coffee addicts, thanks to the Coil, a chiller that drops the temperature of coffee within minutes, your days of over-priced joe have come to an end.
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September 10, 2015

Bushwick Gets Cheaper; Interview With 9/11 Memorial Designer Michael Arad

Bushwick rents have dropped 16 percent as new apartments have been added to the market. [DNA Info] With retail rents rising across the city, shop owners are increasingly considering the second floor to sell their wares. [Crain’s] Four top NYC hotels are heading to the auction block. [NYDN] Meet the designer who dreamt up the National […]

Real Estate Trends

September 10, 2015

Lose Yourself In History at the Notorious Grey Gardens Estate for $175K/Month

If you love historic homes and the macabre, it really doesn't get any better than the Grey Gardens Estate in East Hampton. As the Post reports, the beautiful home steeped in infamy is again up for rent starting September 15th through July of next year. The asking? You better dig deep into your pockets because it's going for an incredible $175,000 a month. Quite pricey, yes, but if you consider that designer Liz Lange has been paying $250,000 a month to call it her summer escape, it's kind of a deal.
Find out more here

September 10, 2015

3,000 ‘Nerdy Knitters’ to Unite Next Weekend; Wear a T-Shirt of Your City’s Map

Next weekend, the three-day NYC Yarn Crawl will take up to 3,000 “nerdy knitters” from yarn shop to yarn shop. [DNAinfo] Citees are wearable maps of more than 80 global cities. [CityLab] Airbnb now has an Apple TV app for trip planning. [Mashable] Fodor’s published its first Brooklyn guide, and the illustrations are pretty great. [Brownstoner] The world’s largest […]

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September 10, 2015

Jon Bon Jovi Scoops Up a 10-Room Village Condo for $12.9M

By Ondel Hylton and Heather Cooper Vivares

It looks like Jon Bon Jovi has no plans on leaving New York behind. After finally unloading his $34 million Soho penthouse earlier this year, according to the Observer, the rocker has just paid $12.88 million for a sprawling ten-room apartment at the brand new 150 Charles Street in the West Village. There are no photos of the […]

Distinctive Homes

$45M for a two-for-one penthouse palace at the top of the Plaza

Midtown East penthouse seen in 'Wolf of Wall Street' lists for $4.95M

One of the oldest wood-frame houses in Brooklyn Heights asks $4.9M

This $6.75M Gowanus compound combines a townhouse, gallery, garage, and lofts in one unusual property

$15M penthouse in a gold cupola high above Fifth Avenue heads to auction this month

Kurt Weill's former New York country estate with a creative pedigree asks $2.3M

For $1.6M, this magical Rockaway Beach 'surf shack' has a sauna, plunge pool, and music studio

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

185-acre equestrian estate that once belonged to the Carnegie family heads to auction

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

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September 10, 2015

Construction Update: Related Companies’ Rental Tower at Hudson Yards’ Front Door Begins to Rise

Related Companies' new mixed-use rental tower at the front door of Hudson Yards is forging ahead. Located at 530 West 30th Street, just south of the towering Coach Tower (10 Hudson Yards) and west of the recently finished Abington House (also developed by Related), the 28-story building will bring 174 new rental homes to the rapidly evolving neighborhood. 530 West 30th shares its lot with 529 West 29th Street, an all-affordable, 126-unit building Related opened last year with apartments set aside for artists, seniors, and local residents of Community District 4.
More details

September 10, 2015

Soccer Star Frank Lampard Checks Out a $52,000/Month Pad at 15 Central Park West

It certainly is the season for international soccer stars to get in on the NYC real estate game. First, hunky player Cristiano Ronaldo bought an $18.5 million loft at Trump Tower shortly after it was rumored that he'd be moving from Real Madrid and the Portuguese national team to the MLS (the United States soccer league). Then just ten days later, Italian player Andrea Pirlo scoped out a $29,995/month penthouse at 205 East 59th Street, as he had recently joined the New York City Football Club. And now, the Post reports that English footballer Frank Lampard was seen checking out a $52,000/month pad at 15 Central Park West. Lampard, often considered one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, is the all-time leading goalscorer for Chelsea. As of this year, he signed a two-year contract with the New York City Football Club, so it makes perfect sense why he's now house hunting. He reportedly looked at the 2,761-square-foot apartment with his fiancée, Northern Irish broadcaster Christine Bleakley.
Take a look around the loft

September 10, 2015

Traditional Japanese Design Defines This $2.7M West Side Maisonette With Two Tea Rooms

In the world of modern interiors, traditional Japanese design concepts have led to some very innovative interpretations that also meet residents' needs such as providing a peaceful retreat, keeping the flow of life organized, or, as in this case, offering flexibility of space and rooms that serve multiple functions. This duplex maisonette, however, would be counted among the more traditional end of the spectrum in its execution. Though having a nine-room apartment certainly helps when it comes to versatility, this particular space achieves its goals and more. The home's $2.7 million ask seems reasonable for this large duplex loft at 419 West 55th Street in increasingly popular West Midtown; though monthly maintenance fees seem a bit high for a condo at $4,333 (with no mention of taxes) when compared to the price, those generally reflect unit size, and–though no square footage is listed–there's no denying that attribute. So, pros and cons aside, let's take a look at this carefully-crafted testament to the owners’ vision of creating a loft space with a Japanese aesthetic.
Take the tour this way, shoes off, please

September 9, 2015

Live in Kate Moss and Johnny Depp’s Former ’90s Love Nest for $14.9 Million

Here's a blast from the past that's sure to get you nostalgic for the '90s. A 6sqft tipster has pointed out that the beautiful NYC townhouse that equally beautiful Johnny Depp and Kate Moss rented in when they were engaged 20-plus years ago is now on the market. Priced at $14.9 million, the brick-clad stunner at 112 Waverly Palace is an historic 1820s structure spanning five levels with four income-producing units that include a duplex penthouse, a 925-square-foot one-bedroom, a garden duplex, and, of course, the spectacular carriage house that Moss and Depp canoodled in during the mid-90's. Let's have a look inside, shall we?
Go inside here

Fall House Tours: Go Inside Tribeca Lofts, Victorian Mansions, and Google’s Headquarters

Brookmill Farm in Lambertville via C.C. Chapman/Flickr

September 9, 2015

Fall House Tours: Go Inside Tribeca Lofts, Victorian Mansions, and Google’s Headquarters

While spring is the main season for house tours, the fall also offers up some great options to satisfy design-loving New Yorkers. From Tribeca lofts to New Jersey Victorians and mid-century modern estates to World's Fair relics, this October's tours have a little something for everyone. To help you plan your schedule, we've put together all the tours we could find.
Get the full Fall house tour lineup

REVEALED: First Look at 1399 Park Avenue, 23-Story Tower Coming to East Harlem

Google Streetview of buildings that previously stood at the site (L); Rendering of the new building via Goldstein Hill & West Architects (R)

September 9, 2015

REVEALED: First Look at 1399 Park Avenue, 23-Story Tower Coming to East Harlem

By Ondel Hylton

Here's our first look at Heritage Real Estate Partners' 23-story, 108-unit residential building underway at 1399 Park Avenue in East Harlem. Designed by Goldstein Hill & West Architects (GHWA), the 253-foot tall, glass and cast-stone tower is expressed as a stack of variably-sized, staggered volumes creating numerous terraces that face north towards the East River and west towards Central Park. Fittingly, Heritage has filed permits under the alias "Heritage on the Park LLC," possibly hinting at the official name for the tower.
More details ahead

September 9, 2015

Norah Jones Is Buyer of $6.25M ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ Carriage House in Cobble Hill

We knew in May that the famous Cobble Hill carriage house from the Julia Roberts movie "Eat, Pray, Love" had found a buyer at $6.25 million. But now the Daily News is reporting that this mystery buyer is Norah Jones, who purchased the historic home under an LLC. The singer is no stranger to the neighborhood; she also owns a house around the corner at 166 Amity Street, which she bought in 2009 for $4.9 million. Her new converted 1840s fire house comes complete with a magical secret garden, a glassy greenhouse, second-floor terrace, and giant exposed wood beams.
Take a tour of the unique home

September 9, 2015

Find Out When Your Nabe Will Be Sprayed for West Nile; How Important Are Big Name Brokers to Their Firms?

Activists are taking a stand against billionaire Barry Diller’s plan to build a floating park. [NY Post] How much do big firms rely on their top name brokers for revenue? [TRD] Here’s the city’s schedule of “West Nile Spraying Events.” Find out when your neighborhood is up. [NYC.gov] The artist-owned NY Studio Gallery at 154 Stanton Street in the Lower […]

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September 9, 2015

Lauren McGrath’s Upper East Side Pied-a-Terre Is an Elegant Mix of Traditional and Contemporary

Keeping business in the family is extremely common, but it's not everyday that you meet a mother-daughter interior design team with taste this impeccable. Lauren McGrath and her mother Suzanne, who make up the aptly titled firm McGrath II, are already known for their stunning townhouses, country homes and pied-a-terres, so when it came time to revamp her own Upper East Side apartment, Lauren led the way without hesitation.
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Space-Saving Chair Pops Up From a Single Sheet of Bamboo

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

"To what degree is the object you're creating capable of dictating its own design? Is it even possible for an object to 'tell' for which form its best suited? And if so, what will the end result be?" Following this train of thought, designer Robert Van Embricqs created The Rising Chair, a bamboo seat that assembles in just a few seconds. Made from interconnected, renewable bamboo slats, this pop-up seat starts off as a flat surface and only needs to be pulled upwards to create a chair.
Learn more about this sculptural bamboo seat

September 9, 2015

Colorful Dot Maps Paint a Picture of Immigration in the U.S.

First spotted by CityLab, these dot maps called Mapping Immigrant America are colorful in two senses of the word. Kyle Walker, assistant professor of geography at Texas Christian University, used census tract data to map America's immigrant population. The nine countries of origin (Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, East and Southeast Asia, South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and Southwest Asia, Europe, Oceania, and Canada) are represented with a different hued dot, creating a picture of diversity and ethnic enclaves. With each dot standing in for 20 immigrants, a quick look at a city's color palette tells a lot about its cultural makeup.
More maps ahead

Uncategorized

September 9, 2015

No Walls in Sight at the Ultimate Loft, Asking $1.3 Million in Tribeca

What more could you ask from a loft apartment? A big space, tall ceilings, exposed brick, quirky details and no full walls. It's all here at 10 Leonard Street in Tribeca, a co-op apartment that is now on the market for $1.345 million. Although you don't have any separating walls, the apartment is large enough to create distinct spaces–as the listing puts it, "With great bones and a flexible layout, the possibilities abound for your creative vision." While a renovator could build out separate rooms here, this is the type of apartment where you've just got to embrace the loft living.
Check it out

Distinctive Homes

September 9, 2015

Mapping the Average Hottest Day in America; Aerial Photos of Rockaway Beach Reveal Clever Marketing

In honor of yesterday’s record-breaking inferno, this map shows in what month the average hottest day falls across the country. [CityLab] A new quinoa restaurant in San Francisco is almost fully automated. Will the trend come to New York and be the reincarnation of the automat? [NYT] Board game store called the Geekery coming to […]

Uncategorized

September 9, 2015

Channel the Spirits of Tesla, Carnegie and Edison in the Former Engineers’ Club HQ for $14K/Month

Like so many places in this fascinating city, this listing comes with some interesting history: Known today as Bryant Park Place, the primarily residential co-op building at 32 West 40th Street was once the clubhouse of the Engineers' Club. Founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1907, members included–in addition to Carnegie himself–Thomas Edison, President Herbert Hoover, H.H. Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla, who was honored here upon receiving the Edison Medal in 1917 and enjoyed feeding the pigeons in the park across the street. Units 1A and 1K currently comprise a commercial listing–with residential possibilities if you're willing to do your homework. The property–two connected co-op units–is for sale for $3.1 million, and also for rent at $14K a month (in the latter case it would make a pretty impressive HQ for that hot new startup–and since there's a small kitchen, those all-nighters won't be a problem). Buyers may need to unwind some red tape, but according to the listing, residential conversion is possible along with some serious subsequent upside.
Find out more

September 8, 2015

Hamptons Island Could Go for $1B, Despite Being Contaminated With Foot-And-Mouth Disease

The Hamptons are increasingly a hotbed for crazy real estate offerings, from Andy Warhol's recently listed former compound now selling for $85 million to the teeny tiny trailer in Amagansett asking $1.2 million earlier this year. But now NPR reports that there's an 840-acre island just off the tip of Long Island complete with miles and miles of untouched shoreline, acres of undeveloped woods, a lighthouse and a ferry terminal that could go for as much as $1 billion when it hits the auction block. Oh, yes, and it's also contaminated with foot-and-mouth disease.
Find out more here

Distinctive Homes

September 8, 2015

See Brooklyn Before and After Gentrification in This New Photo Series

Brooklyn's hipsterization is pretty much widely accepted as fact at this point, but still not a day goes by without some article, essay or artwork pointing to how the neighborhood has lost its authenticity. The latest photo series to emerge documenting the substitution of the borough's street cred for artisinal goods and overpriced organic cocktails is Kristy Chatelain's "Brooklyn Changing." Though Chatelain isn't quite what you'd call a longtime New Yorker—she moved to Greenpoint from New Orleans in 2006—unlike the rants of her fellow new-era Brooklynites who bemoan how different things are since they moved in, her series comes off as a thoughtful study in just how quickly things changed in North Brooklyn over just five years.
More photos here

September 8, 2015

Hedge Fund Tycoon May Be the Buyer of $200M Penthouse at 220 Central Park South

We first got wind of the potentially record-setting penthouse listing at 220 Central Park South back in March, when it was reported that the unit could sell for between $150 and $175 million. In June, sources said that a Qatari billionaire was looking to combine multiple apartments in the Robert A.M. Stern-designed building to create a $250 million mega-penthouse. Then last month, the Post speculated that another high-profile buyer was Ken Griffin, the billionaire hedge fun tycoon who is currently in the midst of a messy divorce from wife Anne Dias-Griffin (she's asking for $1 million a month in child support). Now the paper reveals that it's Griffin who's looking to snatch up the $200 million+ penthouse in what's being called the "billionaire's bunker."
More details this way

Real Estate Trends

September 8, 2015

Handcrafted Organic Materials Meet Seamless Smart Home Tech in This $5.4M Village Loft

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

Loft lovers and perfectionists will covet this sprawling Greenwich Village condominium at 8 East 12th Street; it's both spacious and luxurious, boasting handcrafted organic materials in custom-designed interiors and switched-on, "smart home" creature comforts high and low. For your $5.4 million, you're getting location (near just about all the reasons you'd want to live downtown) and 2,330 square feet of painstakingly-created space for you to move in and enjoy. The current setup offers two bedrooms and 2.5 baths, but there's enough space here for any combination–and all the bells and whistles are already installed.
Take a look around...

Distinctive Homes

THE 6SQFT SHOP

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September 8, 2015

The Nordstrom Tower Loses Its Spire; What Parents Should Consider When Buying or Renting in NYC

The Nordstrom Tower will no longer have a spire. Sans the architectural adornment, its height will now reach 1,550 feet. [Curbed] So you’ve decided that urban living is right for your family? Here are some things to consider when looking for a place to buy or rent. [BrickUnderground] A glass shortage is sending construction costs sky-high and causing […]

Real Estate Trends

September 8, 2015

Hand-Printed Poster of the Empire State Building Is a History Lesson and Art Piece in One

The Empire State Building has a long and torrid history and is arguably the most iconic piece of New York Architecture to date, with both native New Yorkers and tourists alike looking to the towering mega-structure as a symbol of man's ingenuity and achievement. That being said, who wouldn't want to adorn their walls with this cool graphic poster of the Empire State Building from designer Taylor Doolittle? In addition to an illustration of the cherished building, this poster will fill your days with useful trivia, as it also includes a slew of facts about the building's history and legacy.
Find out how to get your own print

September 8, 2015

Soren Rose Studio’s Tribeca Loft Interior Design Contrasts the Old and New of New York City

When approached with the redesign of a Tribeca loft, the architects at Soren Rose Studio found themselves with the ideal canvas to work their magic. Perfectly primed with large windows, double height ceilings and plenty of square footage to flex their creativity, they used the generous space to fashion a playful, fresh take on contemporary New York City style. Here, white walls and lightly colored wood flooring run throughout the space enhancing the home's open airy feel, while the monochromatic space is broken up by boldly colored accent walls, modern furniture and painterly graphic artwork.
READ MORE

Distinctive Homes

September 8, 2015

Historic Brooklyn Heights Site May Be Redeveloped Into 40-Story Condominium

By Ondel Hylton

Concept studies by the design firm SRA Architecture + Engineering (SRAA+E) reveal that an existing five-story commercial building in Downtown Brooklyn may be redeveloped into a dramatic retail and condominium tower. The prominent 19,000-square-foot, triangular site at 205 Montague Street is located at the gateway of Brooklyn Heights and currently holds a 1960s-era marble and glass office-retail building that was picked up by Joseph Cayre's Midtown Equities back in 2010. In 2012, the development firm filed permits doubling the building's size, envisioning a 100-unit residence that would convert the structure's three upper levels into apartments and add another six stories above. The permits, also filed by SRAA+E, were never approved, but in 2012 an insider told the Brooklyn Eagle, “an awful lot more can be built than what's in the Buildings Department plans." Midtown Equities, who is also busy rebuilding the Empire Stores in Brooklyn Bridge Park, could not be reached for comment.
Find out more about this possible project

September 8, 2015

Elegant and Historic Carnegie Hill Townhouse Asks $7.45 Million

Carnegie Hill, a neighborhood of the Upper East Side, is known for its good bones—much of the area lies within historic districts and is dominated by brownstones, townhouses, mansions and museums. This particular property, at 121 East 91st Street, is located on a leafy and residential block of impressive architecture. The townhouse, built at the turn of the century, is no less impressive. It's been well-maintained from the outside and well-modernized from within. It is now on the market for $7.45 million after selling for $4.4 million back in 2003.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

September 8, 2015

What It’s Like to Ride the Subway for 14 Hours; City’s First Food and Drink Museum to Open in Williamsburg

Mapping the 900 million Wi-Fi signals in the world’s biggest cities. [Business Insider] The Museum of Food and Drink is opening its first permanent space, called Mofad Lab, in Williamsburg this October. [NY Times] Here’s what it’s like to the ride the longest known subway route — 54.6 miles, 54 transfers, 13 hours and 48 minutes. [WNYC] Time Warner […]

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Rendering of the revamped Tin Building via SHoP Architects

September 8, 2015

New South Street Seaport Will Be the City’s Next Foodie Destination by 2017

Perhaps spearheaded by the Smorgasburg foodie culture, putting multiple local food vendors in one place has become a recipe for success in NYC development projects. There's the Hudson Eats food hall at office-filled Brookfield Place, the forthcoming food court by Anthony Bourdain at Pier 57, Danny Meyer's possible giant food hall at Hudson Yards, the 55-vendor Dekalb Market Hall planned for Downtown Brooklyn's City Point, and the food hall at Sunset Park's Industry City, to name just a few. So it comes as no surprise that the South Street Seaport redevelopment will boast not one, but two massive food halls. The Post reports that none other than three Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten (ABC Kitchen, the Mercer Kitchen, and JoJo are just a few of his famed restaurants) will be spearheading the foodie revolution at the Howard Hughes Corporation's $1.5 billion mega-development. According to the paper, "The great chef and his business partner Phil Suarez have signed a lease/partnership contract with NYSE-listed Hughes to launch two major Seaport projects — a 40,000 square-foot, seafood-themed marketplace inside the Tin Building and a 10,000 square-foot restaurant in a rebuilt Pier 17." Both are expected to open in 2017.
Find out more right here

September 8, 2015

First Look at the Gibraltar, Newest Addition to the Greenpoint Waterfront

By Heather Cooper Vivares

Another residential building has been called to join the ranks of the Greenpoint waterfront. Located at 160 West Street, the six-story condo is known as the Gibraltar. Permits filed a year ago claimed 13 apartments and 16,198 square feet, but according to developer Saddle Rock Equities, it will house 14 apartments over 20,000 square feet. Designed by architect Joe Eisner, the bulky grey building stands out for its oversized balconies and abundance of rooftop space.
More on the development and new renderings

September 6, 2015

Add This Awesome All-Season Igloo to Your Outdoor Oasis

By Ondel Hylton and Heather Cooper Vivares

We're always seeking out cool ways to escape the city, but we're also constantly on the lookout for items that will enhance our city living—and the Garden Igloo certainly falls within this category. This awesome multipurpose geodesic dome was designed both as a winter garden and a summer canopy. It's lightweight and comes with easy, step-by-step instruction, no tools necessary. What better way to enjoy your outdoor space in the colder months of fall and winter than to be chilling outside in your very own Garden Igloo?
READ MORE

First Look at Rawlings Architects’ 20-Story Mixed-Use Murray Hill Building

Elevation of the new building (L); the current site (R)

September 6, 2015

First Look at Rawlings Architects’ 20-Story Mixed-Use Murray Hill Building

Charles Blaichman’s CB Developers have begun construction on a 20-story mixed-use building directly adjacent to their nearly finished rental tower the Frontier. Located at 210 East 39th Street, the building is designed by Rawlings Architects in conjunction with the grey metal and glass Frontier next door. The project is replacing a small townhouse owned by the Kingdom of Lesotho; the small African country contributed its property as a joint venture with the developers, and they will receive a commercial unit within the building's lower three floors to use as a mission.
More details ahead

September 5, 2015

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks From the 6sqft Staff

Liza Minnelli Makes an $8.4M Sale on Her Upper East Side Apartment Miraculously Unscathed by Time, This Historic Wooden UES Townhouse Seeks Tenants The UWS Apartment Babe Ruth Once Called Home Is Selling for $1.595M Interactive Map Shows Where and When to Find Fall Foliage at Its Peak Taylor Swift May Be the Reason Sir […]

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September 4, 2015

PBDW Architects Add a Dramatic Rear Conservatory to This Greenwich Village Townhouse

The scope of this beautiful Greenwich Village Townhouse renovation, completed back in 2003 by PBDW Architects, was massive, but from what we can see, totally worth it. It included adding complete structural reinforcement and new building systems. Additionally, the home's exterior and interior spaces were fully restored, and a new garden and conservatory was added to the back of the building.
See the full renovation

September 4, 2015

New Yorker Spotlight: Ira Block Photographs World Treasures for National Geographic

By Susan Cohen

When Ira Block leaves his New York City apartment for work, he might find himself on the way to Bhutan or Mongolia. As a photojournalist who has covered more than 30 stories for National Geographic magazine and National Geographic Traveler, Ira travels the world photographing some of its greatest marvels. He's captured everything from far-off landscapes to people and animals to discoveries made at archaeology sites. In between trips to Asia, Ira spends time photographing baseball in Cuba. The project has afforded him the opportunity to catch the country on the cusp of change. His first images showing Cuba's passion for the sport, mixed in with its beautiful but complex landscape, are on display at the Sports Center at Chelsea Piers. We recently spoke with Ira about traveling the globe for work and how his career and passion have shaped his relationship with New York.
Our interview with Ira right this way

September 4, 2015

For $2.65M This Corner Tribeca Loft Has Classic Bones, Snappy Interiors and Windows Galore

This classic Tribeca loft at 2 Hubert Street gives you a corner spot with walls of windows, a traditional-meets-modern custom renovation, a private elevator, closet space, and great original details reworked to accommodate daily life. Though this is a busy corner near the highway entrance, that description fits much of the neighborhood, and, in a way, it adds to the unique industrial feel when taken together with these big-shouldered loft buildings. Built in 1890, 2 Hubert–also known as 151 Hudson Street–is an intimate eight-unit loft condominium building. For $2.65 million, you don't get a lot of space at 1,222 square feet, but the layout could certainly be reconfigured, and it is, indeed, a two-bedroom apartment in Manhattan's most expensive residential neighborhood. And the charmingly updated interiors are a definite plus for anyone who wants to move in and get right down to the business of living.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

September 4, 2015

Infographic: Here’s How Much Every State Contributes to the U.S. Economy

Would you guess that Texas has a bigger or smaller economy than New York? Which state would you say is the smallest contributor to our nation's $17.3 trillion GDP? This fascinating chart created by HowMuch.net breaks down the relative economic value of each state (in 2014 dollars) into one digestible diagram that's sure to start a conversation—if not offer a whole new respect for states like Florida and New Jersey.
Get a more detailed look here

Uncategorized

September 4, 2015

Out in Southampton, a Restored 1740s English Barn Asks $2.4 Million

Forgot Hamptons beach houses–try farmhouses instead. Pictured above is an original 1740s barn that sits on 3.7 acres of land in Sagaponack, a village of Southampton. The structure's intact posts and beams are an example of the traditional English barn design, construction that was brought over by English settlers. The architecture has been meticulously restored and slightly altered to accommodate living spaces. The result? A truly unique residence surrounded by beautiful land and a pool. Start saving your pennies, as it is now on the market asking $2.4 million.
See more

September 4, 2015

Minimal Furniture Gets Dressed Up with Handmade Mexican Textiles by Daniel Valero

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

Architect Daniel Valero recently teamed up with a group of Mexican craftsmen to develop a stylish collection that blends minimal furniture with handmade textiles. Dubbed Mestiz, the line consists of skeletal wooden pieces that are dressed up with textured cloths. In addition to serving as decorative and functional objects, the furniture range provides employment for locals and keeps traditional craft alive.
Learn more about these dressed-up designs

In the 19th Century Men Who Didn’t Pay Alimony Went to the Ludlow Street Jail

Ludlow Street Jail (L) and men playing billiards inside (R), via NYPL

September 4, 2015

In the 19th Century Men Who Didn’t Pay Alimony Went to the Ludlow Street Jail

Public shaming of cheaters was around long before the Ashley Madison scandal. In fact, in the 19th century, men who divorced their wives and didn't pay alimony were sent straight to jail. Atlas Obscura uncovered the fascinating history of the Ludlow Street Jail, New York City's federal prison on Ludlow and Broome Streets. Built in 1862, the jail mostly held debtors, but it also was where men who cheated on their alimony payments ended up, thus turning the "prison" into a glorified clubhouse for divorced men known as the New York Alimony Club. In addition to cigar smoking and unsavory jokes, the Ludlow Street Jail became known for back-door deals, rampant corruption, and the baffling semi-imprisonment of Boss Tweed.
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September 4, 2015

Which Subway Stations Are the Crappiest?; Pound It to Cross the Street

This map shows the top ten subway stations in each borough with the highest share of “structural components not in state of good repair.” Only 16 percent of the city’s 467 subway stations are considered in good repair. [Gothamist] Here’s what happens when you only eat from NYC street carts for a week. [Thrillist] Instead of pushing […]

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September 3, 2015

Miraculously Unscathed by Time, This Historic Wooden UES Townhouse Seeks Tenants

Townhouses available for rent have a way of seeming decadent and dreamy, the perfect home for a collective of friends or a lucky city family. Their monthly bill is often but a dream for many as well, and this Upper East Side home asking $18,500 a month is no exception; the house itself, however, is quite exceptional. The amazingly preserved home at 120 East 92nd Street, as well as its neighbor at number 122, and a third, a block over at number 160, comprise a trio of wooden houses built between 1859 and 1871, before the city sprung up on all sides. This collection of dainty wooden houses presents an utterly charming shock of nostalgia amid the brick, stone and steel of Manhattan's Upper East. One of the last wood-frame houses to be built in Manhattan, the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission called 120 East 92nd "...a delightful surprise. Time and change have passed it by." But change, in this case, has been good: The three-story, four-bedroom home's longtime owners have renovated it for comfort and livability–and preserved it with the utmost care; it boasts every modern convenience while keeping its historic beauty.
Take a look inside this rare historic home

September 3, 2015

Get All Your Local Foodie News in This New Interactive Map

If you're a regular 6sqft reader you know that real estate and architecture news here in NYC moves at the speed of light. Projects change architects overnight; celebrities are constantly buying and selling their multi-million-dollar pads; and it seems like everyday there's a new development announcement. The gastronomy crowd can make the same claim, though, as restaurants constantly open and close, chefs come in and out, and the food of the moment goes from cronut to fried chicken sandwich in a matter of days. To help foodies stay up on their news, Blockfeed, a news app that uses geographic location to determine one's feed, has created the Food News in NYC map, a five-borough interactive platform that provides local food happenings (h/t DNAinfo). According to the site, "This map frees you to explore the last 60 days of food news in NYC, amounting to roughly 3,000 articles about new restaurants, festivals, pop-ups, nightlife, and more."
More on the map

Food & Dining

September 3, 2015

Here’s How Many Calories You’ll Burn if You Walk, Jog, or Cycle Instead of Taking the Subway

Looking to shed a few pounds after all the summer cookouts and outdoor happy hours? Perhaps you should consider ditching the old Metrocard and traveling by foot or bicycle instead. To put into perspective just how fit this will get you, the folks over at Treated have calculated how many calories you'll burn by walking, jogging, and cycling between subway stops. As Curbed notes, the analysis provides calorie info for every single subway stop and also charts the longest stops, which unsurprisingly are mostly over bridges, and the shortest stops, mostly located in lower Manhattan.
See the full map and calorie charts here

September 3, 2015

Law & Order’s Christopher Meloni Sells Midtown Apartment; NY’s Top 10 Building Sales