Don’t Forget, One World Trade Was Supposed to Be the Greenest Building in America
December 9, 2014

Don’t Forget, One World Trade Was Supposed to Be the Greenest Building in America

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Since the opening of One World Trade Center just a few weeks ago, the world has been in an uproar over the design and the incredible cost of making New York's tallest tower a reality. But one feature that we all seemed to have forgotten was the promise that the tower would be the greenest building in America. A recent City Lab article looks at what went wrong, and why, in a race to meet contractual obligations to its anchor tenant, Condé Nast, the development dumped a major part of its plans to go green, currently leaving the building in a state of noncompliance.
Find out more here
Daily Link Fix: Mapping Manhattan’s Disappearing Gas Stations; A Proposal to Reduce City Lights Kept On at Night
December 9, 2014

Daily Link Fix: Mapping Manhattan’s Disappearing Gas Stations; A Proposal to Reduce City Lights Kept On at Night

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Looking for the ultimate NYC-themed holiday gift? The CityStore sells quirky urban treasures like manhole cover floor mats and FDNY dog coats. [Daily News] Check out this Greek Revival Sag Harbor home, filled with whimsical touches and seaside décor. [Domaine] Here’s a fun map of all the remaining gas stations in Manhattan. [Untapped] A City […]

Rosie O’Donnell Sells Chic Greenwich Village Penthouse for $9M
December 9, 2014

Rosie O’Donnell Sells Chic Greenwich Village Penthouse for $9M

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After initially listing her Greenwich Village penthouse for $11 million in July 2013, Rosie O'Donnell has finally sold the chic four-bedroom home for the substantially lesser amount of $9 million, according to the Daily News. O'Donnell bought the duplex apartment at 130 West 12th Street, part of the former St. Vincent’s Hospital complex, for $8.09 million in the summer of 2012. She then redecorated it with a combination of artsy, modern, and elegant furnishings. In addition to benefitting from Rosie's design sense, the new owner will also get to take advantage of a 435-square-foot private terrace and views of both the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center.
Take a look around the penthouse here
Sleek $8.5M Central Park West Pad Returns Asking Twice the Price
December 9, 2014

Sleek $8.5M Central Park West Pad Returns Asking Twice the Price

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About two years ago, this impeccable pad on Central Park West sold for $4.3 million. Today, after an extensive gut renovation, the apartment is back on the market asking $8.495 million—nearly twice its initial price. But that 50% increase includes a Workshop/APD redesign, complete with “museum quality finishes” and only the finest craftsmanship. The finished product evokes a sense of calm sophistication in a supreme duplex with partial views of the city and Central Park.
More pics right this way
Soho Broadway BID Will Support Local Residents in Addition to Businesses

Soho via CityRealty

December 9, 2014

Soho Broadway BID Will Support Local Residents in Addition to Businesses

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By definition, a Business Improvement District (BID) "is a public/private partnership in which property and business owners elect to make a collective contribution to the maintenance, development, and promotion of their commercial district." Typically, they're implemented in neighborhoods that need an economic boost, so Soho would seem like an unlikely candidate. Ever since the neighborhood's artist lofts were replaced with designer boutiques, residents have struggled to deal with the "mall-ification" of their home. And when the Soho Broadway BID was presented, local activists opposed it, citing that commercial activity was already bursting at the seams, and it was the residents who needed assistance. Now, after nearly four years of debate, the BID is moving forward, but with a decreased budget and an equal commitment to both residents and businesses.
More details ahead
Park Slope’s Iconic Pavilion Theater May Go Residential
December 8, 2014

Park Slope’s Iconic Pavilion Theater May Go Residential

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Images on the website of architecture firm Architecture Outfit reveal that Park Slope's historic Pavilion Theater at 188 Prospect Park South may go residential. The theater is currently owned by a consortium led by Ben Kafash who purchased the theater from Morristown, NJ-based Cinedigm in 2011. One scheme shows a six-story residential building rising behind the theater's sublime Moorish façade and from a neighboring lot just south of the theater. It conceptualizes a mix of apartments along the circle dubbed Bartel-Pritchard Square and contextually scaled townhouses along narrow 14th Street. The second scheme preserves the theater in its entirety and limits new construction to the neighboring lot at 190 Prospect Park West where a nondescript one-story building currently stands.
More information here
Ben Hansen’s Gorgeous State Street Townhouse Brings a Bit of California Modern to Brooklyn
December 8, 2014

Ben Hansen’s Gorgeous State Street Townhouse Brings a Bit of California Modern to Brooklyn

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Architect Ben Hansen’s State Street townhouse is a contemporary masterpiece located in one of Brooklyn’s most charming neighborhoods. Originally a dated townhome with a dysfunctional floor plan, Hansen used this project as a chance to reinterpret the classic brownstone typology as a modern home suited for a young couple and their three small children. Hansen gutted the interior and joined the parlor floor rooms to create a space that both allows the home's inhabitants to move easily between spaces and enjoy their verdant surroundings from within.
Take the tour here

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This 17-Room Historic Bronx Mansion with 40-Foot Indoor Lap Pool Can Be Yours for $8M
December 8, 2014

This 17-Room Historic Bronx Mansion with 40-Foot Indoor Lap Pool Can Be Yours for $8M

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This massive house, located at 4547 Livingston Avenue in the Bronx's beautiful historic Fieldston neighborhood, is 17 rooms deep, boasts 10,450 square feet, and is now available for $7,950,000 (h/t Curbed). Built in 1911 with fieldstone quarried from the property, the home was last sold in 1984 for $451,000 to philanthropists Harvey and Jayne Beker. Over the past 30 years they meticulously renovated and expanded the property with no detail left behind. The mansion now boasts an indoor lap pool with Jacuzzi, a heated driveway, a paved terrace that can accommodate a 100-person dinner party, and an "au pair suite."
Tour the massive Bronx home here
6sqft Gift Guide: Andrej Urem’s Architecturally Inspired Eco-Candles
December 8, 2014

6sqft Gift Guide: Andrej Urem’s Architecturally Inspired Eco-Candles

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Candles are probably the easiest, most common holiday gift when you just don't have a clue what to get someone. But after several years of giving the same old candle, it gets a little boring. So we've found the perfect outside-the-box candle for architecture buffs, tech nerds, or anyone who will love an attractive eco-candle. The AU Collection by artist and designer Andrej Urem is a series of 3D-printed candles inspired by architectural forms. And they're made right here in Brooklyn.
More on the AU Collection
Bruce Willis Lists Central Park West Apartment for $13M
December 8, 2014

Bruce Willis Lists Central Park West Apartment for $13M

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Bruce Willis is really stepping up his New York real estate game. Just five weeks after buying a $12 million, 22-acre estate in Bedford, New York, he and his wife, actress Emma Heming Willis, have listed their three-bedroom Central Park West co-op at the El Dorado for $13 million. The Daily News reports that the couple is looking to trade up to a bigger unit now that they have a second child. Willis bought the apartment at 300 Central Park West less than two years ago for $8.85 million from U2 bassist Adam Clayton. And after a meticulous renovation, he's looking to make $4 million on the flip.
Take a tour of the Willis home
REVEALED: New Look for Hell’s Kitchen Radio City Lofts Built Atop Historic Post Office
December 8, 2014

REVEALED: New Look for Hell’s Kitchen Radio City Lofts Built Atop Historic Post Office

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Who can deny the cool factor of living in a space oozing with history? New Yorkers find themselves living in former schools, churches, banks, fire stations, and even insane asylums. Now coming to Hell's Kitchen are 44 condominiums dubbed Radio City Lofts, which will bring our space-deprived denizens a new form of living: life atop a functioning post office.
More on the new lofts here
Nobutaka Ashihara-Designed Hotel Coming to the Garment District
December 8, 2014

Nobutaka Ashihara-Designed Hotel Coming to the Garment District

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A 22-story limited-service hotel is gearing up to rise in Midtown at 4-6 West 37th Street. According to new building permits filed this past weekend, a 120-key 60,000 square-foot development will go up at the 4,200 square-foot lot situated between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Two charming six-story buildings, erected in 1920, will be be demolished for the 210-foot tall project designed by notable hotel designer Nobutaka Ashihara Architects. The firm recently opened the city's tallest hotel, the Marriott Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Central Park at 1717 Broadway.
FInd out more here
The Glowing Hudson Passive Project Is a Dreamy Upstate Eco-Retreat
December 7, 2014

The Glowing Hudson Passive Project Is a Dreamy Upstate Eco-Retreat

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BarlisWedlick Architects LLC joined forces with Bill Stratton Building Company to create this sweet, high-performance and very quick-to-build home. The stunning glazed dwelling sits within the Hudson Valley just two hours north of the city. Dubbed the Hudson Passive Project, this cutting-edge dream home is not only beautiful, it's proudly New York State's first-ever certified passive house.
Learn more about the stunning Hudson Passive Project
Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff
December 6, 2014

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff

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Hudson Yards Observation Deck Will Offer a Death-Defying Way to Experience City Views Roman and Williams-Designed Brooklyn Brownstone Is an Eclectic Mix of Curiosities ThyssenKrupp’s New Elevator Could Revolutionize Skyscraper Design with Its Horizontal Capabilities Zaha Hadid Wants to Change Billboard Advertising with Her Signature Curves REVEALED: New Renderings for Christian de Portzamparc’s Riverside Center […]

New Rendering of 190 Bowery Gives Us a Look at the Mysterious Building Graffiti-Free
December 6, 2014

New Rendering of 190 Bowery Gives Us a Look at the Mysterious Building Graffiti-Free

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One of the city's most mysterious buildings has become a whole lot less intriguing with this newly released rendering from Massey Knakal. The image, which was pulled from the marketing materials of the broker by Bowery Boogie, shows a very pristine 190 Bowery totally free of graffiti and all lit up. Formerly the Germania Bank Building—and formerly the home of photographer Jay Maisel—the massive 72-room building was reportedly recently purchased by Aby Rosen of RFR Realty for an undisclosed amount (the sale has yet to hit city records) and, to much surprise, was put back on the market just a couple of weeks ago as a flip.
Find out more here
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New Yorker Spotlight: Drag Queen Coco Peru Reminisces About Her Hometown of City Island in the Bronx
December 5, 2014

New Yorker Spotlight: Drag Queen Coco Peru Reminisces About Her Hometown of City Island in the Bronx

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Dating back to 1685, the quaint nautical community of City Island has fought hard to retain much of the charm that makes it an anomaly in the heart of the bustling Bronx. So perhaps it is fitting that one of the island’s most colorful natives—and once a bit of an anomaly herself—shares her memories of growing up in New York City’s sleepy little fishing village. Larger-than-life personality and drag queen extraordinaire Coco Peru’s life today couldn’t be much further from her years spent as a child on the quiet streets of City Island. Based in LA and traveling the world to bring her often irreverent but hysterically funny brand of storytelling to the masses, Coco’s tales from her youth often steal the show. But it’s probably safe to say the majority of Coco Puffs (her beloved fans) have never even heard of this small island in the Bronx—and that most New Yorkers haven’t made the trip over the 113-year old soon-to-be-replaced bridge that represents the only point of access by car or foot. Which is why we are quite excited to bring you this exclusive peek into two of the city’s most unique treasures: City Island and Miss Coco Peru.
Read the interview with Miss Coco here
14 Hip Holiday Markets and Indie Pop-Up Shops in NYC

Capsule Market Square.

December 5, 2014

14 Hip Holiday Markets and Indie Pop-Up Shops in NYC

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As December dawns, the holiday gift markets roll in, and it’s harder than ever to turn around in NYC without encountering a pop-up shop or makeshift mall offering everything anyone could ever want–whether they know it yet or not–for the body, mind, soul and home. We've assembled a list of smaller, cooler pop-ups and holiday markets that mix music, food and fun freebies like haircuts, goodie bags and beer with this year’s selection of clever, crafty gifts.
Find out where to get the goods, this way
REVEALED: New Renderings for Christian de Portzamparc’s Riverside Center

L to R: Building 1, Building 2 (21 West End Avenue), Building 3, Building 4, Building 5 (1 West End Avenue)

December 5, 2014

REVEALED: New Renderings for Christian de Portzamparc’s Riverside Center

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The final appearance of Christian de Portzamparc’s Riverside Center master plan is coming into full view. A bevy of images depicting three never-before-seen crystalline towers have been released by Goldstein Hill & West Architects, giving us a more complete look at what the two-block site will ultimately look like circa 2018. The city-approved plan will ultimately hold three acres of open space and five mixed-use buildings containing approximately 2,500 condo and rental units, a public school, a hotel, a movie theater and an auto showroom.
More details ahead
Real Estate Wire: Taxi King’s Apartment Going for $27M; Flashback to ‘Home Alone 2’ Brownstone
December 5, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Taxi King’s Apartment Going for $27M; Flashback to ‘Home Alone 2’ Brownstone

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New York’s taxi king lists his apartment at 101 Warren Street for $27M. [TRD] Reel Estate: A look at the brownstone-turned-battleground in Home Alone 2. [Brick Underground] Condos in starchitect Tao Ando’s first NYC building will start at $5.9M. [TRD] The massive 1929 Rothschild mansion on the Upper East Side is selling for $40M. [Curbed] […]

Chelsea’s Seymour Condominium Tops Out with More Than Half of the Units in Contract
December 5, 2014

Chelsea’s Seymour Condominium Tops Out with More Than Half of the Units in Contract

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The Naftali Group's 12-story condominium dubbed The Seymour has topped out just six months after breaking ground. Though we've yet to see the traditional topping-out tree, a flag can be seen pitched atop the concrete frame of the building's bulkhead–a sure sign of the completion. Sales have been just as speedy with more than half of the building's 67 units in contract. According to CityRealty, there are currently nine units available on the market with an average price of $1,882 per square foot, ranging from $1.3 million for a one-bedroom unit to $3.95 million for a three-bedroom home on the 10th floor.
More details here (plus learn the origins of
Upper West Side Duplex Rental Is a Crown Molding Lover’s Dream
December 5, 2014

Upper West Side Duplex Rental Is a Crown Molding Lover’s Dream

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Finding a place to rent in New York City can be a headache at best. But you can save some money on aspirin if you're interested in this two-bedroom Upper West Side duplex that is now available to rent for $6,925/month. Located at 313 West 75th Street, this charming, well-preserved, pre-war home boasts many of its original details, the most striking of which is its wealth of historic moldings, including crown and picture moldings throughout. You'll also find dentil moldings in the living room, and ornate floral moldings around the mirror. The decorated marble fireplaces aren't too shabby either.
Take a look around
Landmarks Drops Proposal to De-Calendar Nearly 100 Historic Sites After Public Outcry

Green-Wood Cemetery via wallyg via photopin cc

December 5, 2014

Landmarks Drops Proposal to De-Calendar Nearly 100 Historic Sites After Public Outcry

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Major controversy ensued earlier this week between preservationists and city officials when the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) released a proposal to de-calendar 94 historic sites and two historic districts. The plan would have left these locations, including Long Island City’s Pepsi sign, Manhattan’s Bergdorf Goodman building, and Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, completely unprotected and ripe for alterations […]

Former Padres Owner’s Ex-Wife Buys $55M Unit at One57, Second-Highest Condo Sale of the Year
December 5, 2014

Former Padres Owner’s Ex-Wife Buys $55M Unit at One57, Second-Highest Condo Sale of the Year

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Just yesterday, Bloomberg released a grim report that sales had come to a halt at One57, as only one condo unit was sold in the third quarter. But it looks like the fourth quarter might prove a bit more optimistic for the city's most expensive building. According to city records released today, Rebecca Moores, ex-wife of John Jay Moores, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and former owner of the San Diego Padres, dropped $55.5 million on unit 81 at the building, making it the second-highest condo sale of the year, according to CityRealty. The number one spot also goes to One57 for Bill Ackman's $90 million flip-happy purchase. The former couple also made real estate headlines in 2013 when they listed their Del Mar, California home for $23 million, making it one of the most expensive in the San Diego area and probably the only one with its own moat. Let's take a look, though, at Rebecca's latest property venture at One57.
Check out the floor plan

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Landmark West End Avenue Townhouse Wants $11M
December 5, 2014

Landmark West End Avenue Townhouse Wants $11M

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One of Lamb & Rich’s original townhouses in the West End-Collegiate Historic District is resolving to find a new owner in the New Year. The flexible 6,875-square-foot layout can either be a sprawling 6-8 bedroom single-family mansion, or a spacious quadruplex with a separate garden duplex rental. Add to that late 19th century original details and modern updates, and this could be the perfect home for anybody...with $10.9 million in their pocket.
Take a look inside here
Long Island City Tower Will Be Tallest Residential Skyscraper in NYC Outside of Manhattan
December 5, 2014

Long Island City Tower Will Be Tallest Residential Skyscraper in NYC Outside of Manhattan

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The tallest residential building in the outer boroughs is underway, and no, it's not going to be in boomtown Brooklyn, but rather along the rapidly evolving corridor of Queens Plaza in Long Island City. 42-12 28th Street will soar 57 stories from an 18,000-square-foot lot and will contain 447 luxury rental units. At its 635-foot projected height, it will be just 20 feet shy of the current outer borough tallest, One Court Square (the "Citi" building). Recently posted images on Goldstein Hill & West's revamped website reveal some new aspects of the project, including its ground-level street frontage and an "extensive" amenity package to include a swimming pool directly linked to an outdoor roof deck.
More details on the record-setting project
Walk This Way: How Observant Jews Shop for Real Estate with the Torah in Mind
December 4, 2014

Walk This Way: How Observant Jews Shop for Real Estate with the Torah in Mind

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Certain neighborhoods are becoming increasingly sought after by observant Jews—but in keeping with what is written in the Torah, apartment hunting can be a formidable undertaking. Observant Jews not only have to deal with New York City’s low vacancy rate but they need to find a home that, most importantly, is within walking distance to shul (synagogue) from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday and some Jewish holidays—owing to the fact that Sabbath obligations, of which there are a lot, do not allow one to drive a car. It goes against what’s written in the Torah to start or extinguish fires during the Sabbath, and, well, cars burn fuel. And by the way, this also means cooking only one, single, solitary item.
Find out more here
Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s Billionaire Businessman Father Sells Central Park West Pad for $7M
December 4, 2014

Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s Billionaire Businessman Father Sells Central Park West Pad for $7M

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You likely know plenty about Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, but did you know her father is a very prominent, very wealthy businessman? William Louis-Dreyfus is the chairman of Louis Dreyfus Energy Services and the great grandson of Léopold Louis-Dreyfus, founder of the Louis Dreyfus Group. He has an estimated net worth of $3.4 billion, and just made an impressive $7.1 million on the sale of his Upper West Side co-op, according to city records released today. Unit 9C at 262 Central Park West is a three-bedroom apartment with ten large picture windows and panoramic views of Central Park. And the sleek interior must have been pretty impressive in person, as the selling price is well over the $6.75 million asking price.
Take a look around the Louis-Dreyfus home
Real Estate Wire: Brooklyn Is the Least Affordable in the US; Bed-Stuy Townhouse Sale Breaks Record
December 4, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Brooklyn Is the Least Affordable in the US; Bed-Stuy Townhouse Sale Breaks Record

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Brooklyn has the least affordable housing in the US. [Bloomberg] A Bed-Stuy townhouse sells for a record-breaking $3M. [Brownstoner] 100% Sold Out: All of the homes at The Townhouses of Cobble Hill have been scooped up after less than a year. [6sqft inbox] Related breaks ground on the first residential tower at Hudson Yards. [NYDN] Images: […]

Beautiful Flatiron Loft Shows NYC What Built-Ins Are Supposed to Look Like
December 4, 2014

Beautiful Flatiron Loft Shows NYC What Built-Ins Are Supposed to Look Like

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It's not everyday that cool new listings pop up in the Flatiron District, but lucky for us today is an exception. We are pleased to bring you this stunning, new-to-the-market property that was recently renovated and transformed from a gorgeous three-bedroom loft into this fabulous two-bedroom apartment with home office and a massive 25 x 31-foot living room. Located at 15 West 17th Street, this home features many of the unit's original details, including exquisite exposed brick and hardwood floors.
Check out the rest of the home here
Anmahian Winton Architects’ Red Rock House Is a Minimalist Berkshires Retreat
December 4, 2014

Anmahian Winton Architects’ Red Rock House Is a Minimalist Berkshires Retreat

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Plenty of New Yorkers have already begun weekend trips up to their second homes in the Berkshires, but once the snow starts falling all the winter-loving urbanites will really start making an exodus. And this estate in Red Rock, New York couldn't be any more perfect for a festive getaway. The work of Anmahian Winton Architects, the Red Rock House is a property made up of the main one-bedroom house and a combined guest house/garage. It's situated on a densely wooded, 16-acre site and was designed to work with the existing topography, taking advantage of the landscape, views, and daylight.
Tour the entire property
6sqft Gift Guide: Oyster Mushroom Log
December 4, 2014

6sqft Gift Guide: Oyster Mushroom Log

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Sure, we'd all love to be able to give our fungus-loving friends a nice, big truffle for the holidays (or even this $1 million beauty), but that's not really the most economical gift idea. So to cure our mushroom cravings, we've found the next best thing. The Oyster Mushroom Log from Williams-Sonoma is a hardwood log pre-inoculated with oyster mushroom spores. Just keep it damp and stored in a dark place, and the delicious mushrooms will sprout every two months for up to three years.
More on the culinary gift here
December 4, 2014

NYC Sees a 24 Percent Increase in Construction Loans, Especially in Brownstone Brooklyn

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It's that time again when everyone starts looking back on the year as it comes to a close, but it's also the time to look ahead to the new year. We already know 2015 will bring a slew of new developments to the New York City skyline, and right on trend with that forecast, Bloomberg has reported that construction loans are up 24 percent in the city. On-the-rise neighborhoods like Bed-Stuy and Harlem are being aided by the construction loan boom, especially for the renovation of multi-family buildings. The loans, often well over $1 million, are appealing for gentrifying areas because they usually require borrowers to only begin making interest payments once the renovation is complete. For example, a Clinton Hill resident secured a $800,000 construction loan to renovate a century-old multi-family brownstone and estimates that the value of the home will more than double to at least $2.2 million after the renovation.
More information here
Lowline Underground Park Creators Want to Open “Lowline Lab,” a Research Hub and Exhibition Spot
December 4, 2014

Lowline Underground Park Creators Want to Open “Lowline Lab,” a Research Hub and Exhibition Spot

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Four years ago, likely inspired by the wildly successful High Line, architects James Ramsey and Dan Barasch revealed their plan to turn the forgotten historic trolley terminal below Delancey Street on the Lower East Side into a solar-powered underground park. By 2012, the Lowline had raised over $155,000 from 3,300 donors on Kickstarter, setting a record for the largest number of supporters for an urban design project on the platform. And now, with design competitions, support from elected officials, and planning studies under their belt, the Lowline team is aiming to complete negotiations with the MTA and the city by 2017, anticipating a 2018 opening. But the latest component of the $55 million project is the development by May 2015 of the "Lowline Lab," a year-round nucleus serving as a research hub and exhibition spot, and going by the success of their previous crowdfunding campaign, the team is once again reaching out to the public to fund the initiative.
More details on the Lowline Lab ahead
Hudson Yards Observation Deck Will Offer a Death-Defying Way to Experience City Views
December 3, 2014

Hudson Yards Observation Deck Will Offer a Death-Defying Way to Experience City Views

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The idea of creating a glass observation deck is nothing new, but the Hudson Yards development wants to push the limits with a seemingly perilous glass-enclosed capsule 1,000 feet up in the sky. According to the NYP, the "thrill device" is modeled after the glass module located 350 feet above Royal Caribbean cruise ship Quantum of the Seas, but amped up with a tilting glass walkway. A detailed design of what will be the tallest observation deck in the city has yet to be revealed, but when Related Hudson Yards President Jay Cross spoke about it at the Young Men's/Women's Real Estate luncheon back in November, he said, “You can choose to pay for it separately and crap your pants.”
Find out more
Roman and Williams-Designed Brooklyn Brownstone is an Eclectic Mix of Curiosities
December 3, 2014

Roman and Williams-Designed Brooklyn Brownstone is an Eclectic Mix of Curiosities

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Interior design buffs are undoubtedly familiar with J. Crew Creative Director Jenna Lyons's former home; it was featured in countless magazines and blogs, hailed for its mix of traditional pieces with mid-century modern and pops of color. But in 2012, after a bidding war that included prospective buyers being asked to write personal essays, she sold the 19th century Park Slope pad for $4 million to Vince Clarke, founder of Depeche Mode, and his wife Tracy Martin, CEO of the Morbid Anatomy Museum. And needless to say, they gave the 4,000-square-foot home quite the overhaul, infusing it with a mix of historic styles and curious touches that could serve double duty in Martin's taxidermy-filled museum. The masterminds behind the transformation were Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch, the founders of design firm Roman and Williams, who created a home that looks like it was furnished in the last century. Their goal was to embrace the home’s historic details while achieving an idiosyncratic and moody approach.
Tour the curiosity-filled home here
Real Estate Wire: Why One WTC’s Transportation Hub Costs $4B; Walker Tower Combo Up for $44.5M
December 3, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Why One WTC’s Transportation Hub Costs $4B; Walker Tower Combo Up for $44.5M

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Why the Santiago Calatrava-designed transportation hub at One World Trade Center has gone so far over budget. [NYT] A Walker Tower combo is looking for a $44.5M sale. [WSJ] 551W21, the Norman Foster-designed luxury condo, gets its windows. [Field Condition] New York will receive $72M to put towards protecting bridges from floods. [Crain’s] A Park Slope […]

6sqft Gift Guide: Nokero’s Solar Light Bulb with Phone Charger
December 3, 2014

6sqft Gift Guide: Nokero’s Solar Light Bulb with Phone Charger

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Aren't we all a little sick of receiving holiday gifts that are completely useless and end up collecting dust in the junk drawer? Well, here's a gift idea that's extremely useful, but still an exciting product to unwrap, thanks to its sleek design and fun, bulbous shape. Nokero's solar lights are perfect for camping, traveling, or everyday use in a poorly-lit apartment. The Huron N222 (pictured above) can charge a cell phone while it illuminates an entire room, while the Start N182 is compact enough to fit in your pocket (hello, stocking stuffer) but strong enough to light up a small space.
More on Nokero's solar products here
Andy Warhol Museum Coming to the Controversial Essex Crossing Development on the Bowery

The Andy Warhol Museum via nooccar via photopin cc.

December 3, 2014

Andy Warhol Museum Coming to the Controversial Essex Crossing Development on the Bowery

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Since 1994, the 88,000-square-foot Andy Warhol Museum has been one of Pittsburgh's main attractions, the largest museum in the country dedicated to a single artist. And though Warhol was born in Pittsburgh, he spent most of his formative years in New York City, a fact that has sparked plans for a satellite museum on the Bowery. In Miami for Art Basel, museum director Eric Shiner told The Observer last night that the Lower East Side museum would be 10,000 square feet and part of the controversial Essex Crossing development. Its anticipated opening is 2017.
More details here
QUIZ: Can You Guess When This Building Was Constructed?
December 3, 2014

QUIZ: Can You Guess When This Building Was Constructed?

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Modernism, neoclassical, deconstructivism, colonial. You may know your architectural styles, but what if a glassy building was really built in the early 1900s? Would that trip you up? This fun BuzzFeed Quiz rounds up a few tricky buildings whose styles differ from those of the decade in which they were actually constructed. See if you can figure out what was built when, ahead. […]

Brooklyn Artists Plan a Dance Party Funeral for Williamsburg

Funeral invitation via CHERYL

December 3, 2014

Brooklyn Artists Plan a Dance Party Funeral for Williamsburg

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We've all been talking and writing about the "death" of Williamsburg for years now, and every time a new neighborhood is compared to it (i.e. Quooklyn) we begin the debate anew. But now the Brooklyn-based artists' collective CHERYL is taking matters into their own hands, hosting a dance party funeral in memoriam of the hip 'hood that once was. As the Daily News states, they're "dancing on Williamsburg's grave." The cause of death? "The cancer of mass gentrification and the proliferation of the luxury condo."
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How the Cost of One World Trade Center Compares to the World’s Most Expensive Skyscrapers
December 3, 2014

How the Cost of One World Trade Center Compares to the World’s Most Expensive Skyscrapers

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Don’t share this with Michael Kimmelman. The New York Times architecture critic who this past Sunday blasted the design of One World Trade for its excess will only find more fuel for his fire with this infographic visualizing the world’s most expensive buildings. The recently opened One WTC is not only the world’s priciest construction, but it outdoes its runners-up, Las Vegas’s Palazzo […]

$2 Million Tribeca Loft Floats Like a Butterfly and Stings Like a Bee
December 3, 2014

$2 Million Tribeca Loft Floats Like a Butterfly and Stings Like a Bee

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A charming two-bedroom unit at Duane Park Lofts in Tribeca is back on the market, asking $2.095 million. This return marks the second price drop for the pad, which initially asked $2.5 million. The 1,350-square-foot loft has a floor plan that makes the most of its eastern exposures. Unfortunately that means the second bedroom is a windowless interior space, but quintessential loft features, a prime location and room for a second bathroom make this space worth a look.
More photos here
95 Historic Sites in Jeopardy After Landmarks Commission Proposes Mass “De-Calendaring”

The currently calendared Pepsi sign in Long Island City via gigi_nyc via photopin cc

December 2, 2014

95 Historic Sites in Jeopardy After Landmarks Commission Proposes Mass “De-Calendaring”

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Just a month before the year-long celebration of the landmarks law's 50th anniversary is set to commence, the preservation community was dealt what is perhaps its biggest blow since the demolition of Penn Station. The city's Landmarks Preservation Commission revealed in its public review meeting last Wednesday that it would de-calendar 95 historic sites and two historic districts throughout the five boroughs, removing the historic buildings and spaces from the landmarking to-do list and leaving them completely unprotected. Proponents of the plan argue that many places on the list have been there for 50 years, and their removal would free up the LPC's backlog. Preservationists dismiss this claim, citing that the fact that the historic sites have sat unlandmarked for so long is all the more reason this out-of-nowhere proposal is bad public policy. Some of the more high-profile locations under consideration include Long Island City’s Pepsi sign, Manhattan’s Bergdorf Goodman building, and Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.
More on the de-calendaring and what it means

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