August 14, 2015

Construction Kicks Off at Morris Adjmi’s 540 West 26th Street, New Renderings Revealed

Construction has kicked off on a sleek, nine-story commercial and gallery building in the heart of West Chelsea's gallery district. It's being developed by Savanna Fund, the Manhattes Group, and the Silvermintz family. Located just half a block from the High Line, the 145,000- square-foot, 159-foot-tall project at 540 West 26th Street replaces a parking lot and a two-story commercial building once home to the Lehmann Maupin Gallery. The building's straitlaced design, penned by Morris Adjmi Architects, is massed in two tiers and adorned with a repeating grid of factory-sash, floor-to-ceiling windows. Adjmi's site notes that the facade's "bead-blasted aluminum frame" is a nod to the district's robust industrial character. Furthermore, the interiors will be detailed with blackened steel, finished concrete, and salvaged wood. The lower level will house gallery spaces, while the floors above will provide full-floor commercial offices with generous floor-to-ceiling heights. The setback of the upper two floors allow for a spacious landscaped terrace with views of the Hudson River.
More on the project right this way
August 14, 2015

Inside Hillary and Bill Clintons’ Sprawling $100K Hamptons Rental

It looks like Hillary Clinton is hoping to add some R&R to her campaigning spree at the end of August. The Post reports that the Democratic presidential candidate and husband Bill are renting a sizable mansion at 44 Broadview Road in Amagansett from Republican art collector Andre Nasser and his wife, Sotheby's real estate bigwig, Lois. The reported price? Oh, a mere $100,000 for two weeks.
Go inside the Hamptons home here
August 14, 2015

Elegant Brownstone in Sleepy South Slope Asks $2.65M

The Brooklyn neighborhood of Greenwood–with Park Slope to the north and Sunset Park to the south–has become a top choice for buyers priced out of other headline-stealing neighborhoods. It retains its somewhat sleepy old-Brooklyn feel, while enabling residents to stay in the loop with an ever-growing roster of amenities–including those in nearby Park Slope, Gowanus and Red Hook. The area is convenient, transit-wise; Prospect Park is its northeast border, and adjacent Green Wood Cemetery is one of the city's most treasured green spaces. South Slope itself has seen a precipitous price leap as it has gone from being a dodgy lower annex to merely a more laid-back option. And homes in Greenwood are no longer the "steal" they once were, but they are still expected to be considerably less costly than their northern counterparts. The row of stately four-story 19th century brownstones that includes 228 17th Street seems almost out of place among the eclectic mix of wood-frame, vinyl-sided and brick homes, larger townhouses and apartment buildings, some of them with modern renovations (plus the unavoidable march of new construction), that give both South Slope and Greenwood their laid-back feel. But variety is certainly welcome here. The home was first listed in April with Brooklyn Properties for $2.95 million, reduced to $2.750 million shortly thereafter, delisted in July, then listed anew in the able hands of Halstead at its current ask.
Take a tour
August 13, 2015

Marilyn Monroe and Milton Greene Conspired in This Upper East Side Townhouse

Back in 2006, this 3,500 square-foot four-story Upper East Side townhouse first surfaced on the rental market, and again three years later; in 2010, its owner attempted to find a renter for the winter holiday season (a portion of December) apparently without much luck. After bouncing through several different agencies, 127 East 78th Street landed at Sotheby's in 2011 with the intent of marketing the house as a summer rental for $25K; not much luck there either, as townhouse renters tended to want something more long term. A lesson seems to have been learned here, as there are no short-term stipulations mentioned in its new listing for $27,500.00 a month. What is mentioned is more interesting: The townhouse once belonged to famous fashion photographer Milton Greene–known for his collaboration with Marilyn Monroe on photo shoots as well as their joint film production company–and his wife, Amy. Marilyn considered the home a sanctuary among friends when she was in town. And though its interiors have likely been updated since Marilyn's day, the elegant Upper East Side enclave still retains the aura of an East Coast refuge for Old Hollywood.
Take a look around
August 13, 2015

Could This Honeycomb Tower Be Moshe Safdie’s Bancroft Building Replacement?

Images of a mysterious high-rise project have been posted on the website of Architecture Work Office, depicting a balcony-laden 50-story residential tower that balloons in area as it rises. The rendered skyscraper appears to align with a block-through development site near the corner of West 29th Street and Fifth Avenue that has been assembled by Ziel Feldman's HFZ Development. That site was purchased from the Collegiate Churches of New York in 2013 and was partially occupied by the striped brick and limestone Bancroft Building dating to 1896. Despite pleas from preservationists, the building was demolished earlier this year and has gone down as one of the city's most heart-wrenching architectural losses in recent years.
is this new tower in the works?
August 13, 2015

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 8/13-8/19

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 end of week picks for 6sqft readers! This week, time travel to relive two iconic, yet very different, New York moments. Head to Times Square to recreate the 1945 sailor kiss that became famous on the cover of LIFE Magazine, or scoot up to the Bronx for the restaging of City Maze, the seminal exhibition from 1980 during the dawn of street art. Revive Marcel Duchamp at the Queens Museum, experience the exciting new present of an art-infused South Street Seaport, or get a glimpse of the future by spotting a dude walking around in an air conditioned suit (we swear it's art). You can live in the now and see what Brooklyn’s Cotton Candy Machine is up to, or see if athletes can really cut it in contemporary art.
All the best events to check out here
August 13, 2015

Rents Are Soaring Everywhere; Brooklyn and Queens Set New Records

We always hear that the summer months are the worst time to move, and the July rental report from Douglas Elliman confirms this belief, as median rental prices rose in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. Like they did in June, median Brooklyn rents set a new record, rising 4.1 percent to $2,968, just $450 less than the median Manhattan rent. If you thought you could seek refuge in Queens, you'd better go to your plan B; the borough's median rent rose 14 percent, coming in at $48 above Brooklyn, also setting a new record after several months of decline. And unlike Manhattan and Brooklyn, large apartments in Queens had higher rent increases.
More from the report
August 13, 2015

Inside Brooke Shields’ Hamptons Cottage; A NY Cabby Scores a $226/Month Chelsea Pad

Taxi driver Hamidou Guira has finagled himself a $226/month apartment at the Chelsea High Line Hotel using a little known rent regulation law. [NYP] Take a tour of Brooke Shields’ colorful and classy cottage on Long Island. [Better Homes and Gardens] Real Estate bigwig and “Shark Tank” star Barbara Corcoran is reportedly eyeing Tavern Island as her […]

August 13, 2015

This Chair Helps Break Smartphone Addiction by Blocking All Cellular and Wireless Service

As much as most of us hate to admit it, we're completely addicted to our smartphones. We eat dinner with a fork in one hand, iPhone in the other. We walk down busy streets like zombies. We even found a way to project a touch screen onto our bare arms. But there's still hope for curing these nasty habits, and a good first step might come in the form of a chair. First spotted by designboom, the Offline Chair by Polish product and furniture designer Agata Nowak looks fairly simple at first glance, but it's actually a brilliant piece of technology. An exterior "offline pocket" blocks all Wi-Fi and mobile signals to the device inside, leaving the phone owner free to sit sans scrolling and typing.
Find out more about the Offline Chair
August 13, 2015

Drovers Tavern, an Upstate Property with Many Past Lives, Seeks a New Owner

In its 195 years of existence, Drovers Tavern has changed hands several times; however, the one thing that hasn't seemed to change is its facade. Completed around 1820, the Cazenovia, New York property is a typical Federal-style house, but its history is anything but. In its earliest days, the four-bedroom house served as a resting spot for drovers shipping livestock down to New York City. After the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825, the droving profession, and consequently the tavern, became obsolete. Eventually, the 114-acre property was put to use as a family farm. Drovers Tavern has had its share of notable residents. It was home to Melville Clark, the creator of the Clark Irish Harp, and his nephew Melville Clark, Jr., a physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project. Now up for auction, the historic mansion is in search of a new owner to continue its long, quirky history. Bids start at $525,000 and will be accepted until August 31st.
Tour the historic tavern here
August 13, 2015

West Village Co-op Asking $800K Fits In Charm Over 650 Square Feet

If you're on the lookout for a Manhattan property in a great neighborhood that costs less than $1 million, you're going to have to compromise on space –that's just the daunting real estate market we live in right now. Take, for example, this one-bedroom co-op at 80 Charles Street in the West Village. It's asking $800,000 and you're getting 650 square feet. That's not a ton of room, but this unit definitely manages to fit in personality and charm. And of course, it doesn't hurt that it's located right in the heart of the Village, between Bleecker and West 4th Street.
Check it out
August 13, 2015

Listen to the First 3D-Printed Violin; 50-Year-Old Subways to Remain in Service Until 2022

Subway trains from 1964 on the C and J/Z lines won’t be replaced until 2022. [NYDN] A local artist is planning a funeral procession down the High Line. [DNAinfo] The world’s first 3D-printed violin sounds pretty darn good. [Fast Co. Design] Have fun in the sun on Saturday at Coney Island’s 25th Anniversary sand sculpting competition. [Brownstoner] These […]

August 13, 2015

Study Says: The 4 Train Is the Worst Performing, the L Train the Best

The L train may be painfully packed during rush hour, but at least it can tout the title of being the best performing of all of NYC's subway lines—which appear only to be getting worse. The Journal reports that an audit recently conducted by the state comptroller’s office revealed that, on average, the subway system's on-time performance (how frequently a train reaches its last stop within five minutes of the scheduled time) is on the decline, falling to 74 percent on weekdays and 81 percent on weekends in 2014, from 81 percent and 85 percent in 2013. But the worst performing train of all? The 4 train.
More on the best and worst trains here
August 12, 2015

Green, Grand, Great Eats: A History of Jackson Heights and Its Future as the Next Hot ‘Hood

As the transformation of Queens reaches a bit deeper into the borough, it’s really no surprise that Jackson Heights is quickly becoming a focal point for savvy buyers and renters. The area, roughly bounded by Northern Boulevard, Junction Boulevard, Roosevelt Avenue and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, is fully loaded with stunning pre-war co-ops practically everywhere and shiny new redevelopments for under $800,000. Combine this with its diverse cultural offerings and a myriad of subways that can always get you smack dab in the middle of Manhattan in less than 30 minutes (that’s better than a lot of the up-and-coming areas of Brooklyn, mind you), it has all the makings for the next hipster-setting housing boom.
Why Jackson Heights is one to consider
August 12, 2015

Venus and Serena Williams Sell Midtown West Apartment for $2M

Just in time for the U.S. Open, superstar tennis sisters Venus and Serena Williams have sold their Midtown West apartment for $2.1 million, according to city records released today. The 1,800-square-foot loft at 28 West 38th Street is currently configured as a one-bedroom, but the wide open layout lends itself to a two- or three-bedroom setup. The sisters bought the unit in 2005 for $1,335,000, but were quoted a couple years later saying they had yet to furnish the space. And judging by the seemingly staged listing photos, they may never have gotten around to it. The buyers are Ted Wells, the criminal attorney recently hired by the NFL to investigate the "deflategate" issue, and his wife Nina Mitchell Wells, former Secretary of State of New Jersey.
See the rest of the space
August 12, 2015

Map Lets Users Draw Where They Think Their Neighborhood Borders Are

Back in the day, there was no East Village; it was all the Lower East Side. The Upper West Side was one big neighborhood; there weren't subdivisions like Broadway Corridor or Riverside. Brokers didn't invent acronyms like NoMad and DoBro. As time goes on, areas in New York City seem to multiply, but this really all depends on who you're talking to. Since the city has no actual neighborhood boundaries (they divide the city by much larger community districts), everyone has their own idea of where one neighborhood ends and the other begins. And a new interactive map from DNAinfo allows New Yorkers to draw what they think their neighborhood borders are and see how their approximations compare to others.'
See how we did at our first attempt
August 12, 2015

Former Jehovah’s Witness-Owned Carriage House Asks $9.95 Million in Brooklyn Heights

The Jehovah's Witnesses have a long history in the neighborhoods of DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights, but over the past five years the religious group has slowly retreated from the neighborhoods for a hefty profit. For a little backstory, Jehovah's Witnesses set up a headquarters in Brooklyn Heights way back in 1909, and then went on to acquire significant real estate holdings in the area that included homes in Brooklyn and big hulking warehouses in DUMBO. They decided to start selling off real estate holdings in 2011, which brought in millions upon million of dollars. This carriage house, at 165 Columbia Heights, was sold by the Jehovah's Witnesses in 2012 for $4.1 million. And after a very significant renovation, it's now back on the market asking $9.95 million.
See the reno
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August 12, 2015

Bay Ridge Home with ‘Architectural Drama’ Asks an Absurd $4.58M

The quiet old-school neighborhood of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn is filled with grand and storied homes, from the elegant to the eclectic and, more than occasionally, the awkward. Overlooking the Brooklyn shore of the New York Harbor's Upper Bay, Shore Road is an architectural mashup of eras and styles, with everything from Deco-esque apartment buildings both plain and fancy to more than its fair share of large and luxurious dwellings that trade for equally luxurious sums. A $4,580,000 ask breathes some rarified air even in this crazy market, but the house itself fits well within a certain mid- to late-Bay Ridge-style, perhaps best described as an early '90s interpretation of a Catskills resort contained within a suburban home. This wouldn't be the first of its kind on Shore Road to command upwards of $4 million; while it's not the All Marble Everything house, which sold for the tidy sum of $4.4M in April, the house at 7529 Shore Road has charms of its own. The listing promises, "all the architectural drama you can imagine, yet warm and intimate feeling." And there's a wall-length aquarium.
Architectural drama, this way
August 12, 2015

A Toast to Tribeca: More Images Revealed of KPF’s 111 Murray Street

Grounded in the foothills of the downtown skyline, where the quaint streets of Tribeca scale upwards into the shimmering temples of capitalism, lies the 35,000-square-foot construction site of an upcoming 62-story condominium known as 111 Murray (previously called 101 Murray). Architecture critic Carter Horsley exclaims, "111 will be the most elegant addition to the downtown skyline in decades." Truly, the  Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates-designed tower–reminiscent of a champagne flute with its curvaceous body, narrowing mid-section, and flared crown–will be a refreshing expression of form and fluidity that will counteract the blocky towers that have shrouded the once romantic skyline. We've uncovered some brand-new renderings of the tower, and they continue to impress.
Take a look right here
August 12, 2015

1940s Machine Built a House in 24 Hours; No One’s Using LOL Anymore

Greenpoint has the most cases of illegal trash dumping. [NYP] A 1940s house-building machine could supposedly crank out a two-bedroom home in 24 hours. Was this the original 3-D printer? [CityLab] This 17-year-old just opened a gelato shop on the Lower East Side. [Yahoo! Food] Thanks to “hehe,” “haha,” and emoji, no one is using LOL anymore. […]

August 12, 2015

POLL: Do You Agree That the New LaGuardia Plan Is Non-Functional and Uninspiring?

On Monday, resident architecture critic Carter B. Horsley shared his thoughts on the the new $4 billion LaGuardia airport proposal, and let’s just say he is not impressed. He feels the design is “especially lackluster and uninspired when compared to many new 21st-century airports” with no “new urban mascot, logo or icon to offer and amuse.” He […]

August 12, 2015

$29M Historic Townhouse Looks to Take Back the Title of Most Expensive Sale on the UWS

On Monday, the New York Times reported about the listing of an Upper West Side house at 24 West 71st Street – "a historically significant granite-and-iron-spot-brick townhouse with fanciful terra-cotta embellishments and distinctive interior millwork." The stately residence sold for $4.3 million back in 1996, setting a record for the neighborhood. Now, 20 years later, it's back and is looking to reclaim its title of most expensive townhouse sale on the UWS. The home is asking $29 million, more than the current record holder 247 Central Park West, which sold for $25 million earlier this year. The 7,134-square-foot house was built in 1892 by architects Lamb and Rich, and it underwent a $1 million renovation in 1988 that turned it from a ten-unit apartment building back to a single-family mansion, surely helping seal the record-breaking sale in '96 to current owners Arrien and Robin Schiltkamp. According to the just-launched listing, "Immaculately maintained, the six-bedroom, six and a half-bath townhouse has retained the gorgeous original details that infuse every corner, while augmenting them with opulence by Jonathan Rosen Interiors." Some enviable features of the home include six bedrooms; an elevator; a private, south-facing back garden; top-floor terrace; almost all of the original woodwork; stained glass windows; a 400-pound original door; ten gas fireplaces; and a Japanese-inspired spa.
Find out all about the townhouse
August 11, 2015

My 350sqft: A Modern Bachelor Opens Up His Creative and Clever Brooklyn Heights Studio

Our ongoing series “My sqft” checks out the homes of 6sqft’s friends, family and fellow New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to Brooklyn Heights. Want your home to be featured here? Get in touch! When we typically think of bachelor pads, we imagine dark rooms, garbage bags full of empty beer cans, and heaping piles of clothes that aren't discernibly clean or dirty. But today's generation of single man is out to dispel the frat-guy stereotype. Take for example investor relations associate Owen Boyle, whose colorful Brooklyn Heights studio is perfectly curated and ridiculously organized. Though the first-floor pad on Pineapple Street is only 350 square feet, the mix of creative decor and clever design make for a home that is sure to entice any interior design-loving lady. Owen worked with a good friend and designer to transform his first solo apartment into a funky mix of Jersey Shore nostalgia (where he grew up), Brooklyn hip (there's a record player), and laid-back professionalism (see his impressive tie collection). He recently let us in his home, where everything from his shoehorn to the American flag has personal meaning.
Tour this modern bachelor pad here
August 11, 2015

Cookbook Author and New York Times Food Columnist Mark Bittman Gets $1.8M for UWS Co-op

If you want to get in on the million dollar real estate game, get a food-related editorial job at the New York Times. First, we learned that op-ed columnist (and former chief restaurant critic) Frank A. Bruni bought a $1.65 million Upper West Side pad at 123 West 74th Street, quickly followed by the sale of his old apartment in the same building for $1.95. Now, just a few blocks away at 17 West 71st Street, the Times' famed food columnist Mark Bittman and his wife Kelly Doe, an art director at the paper, have sold their apartment for $1.82 million, according to city records released today. The couple bought the home in 2009 for $999,999, so they've almost doubled their money. Bittman is also the author of 14 cookbooks (the most well known of which might be "How to Cook Everything") and a regular judge on Food Network competition shows. This makes it curious that the kitchen of his Central Park West pad is rather small and dull.
Take a look around here
August 11, 2015

The Bronx Is Getting a New Mixed-Use High-Rise Near Yankee Stadium

Brooklyn and Queens have been flush with new condos and rental developments lately, now it's time for the Bronx to get in on the action. Local developer M. Melnick & Co. has begun construction of a mixed-income, 17-story residential and commercial high rise at 810 River Avenue that will be the area's first since it was rezoned in 2009. The company dates back to 1934 and has proven to be reliable builders of multi-family, senior, supportive and mixed-use housing developments around the city.
Find out more right here
August 11, 2015

First Look at 23-Story Condominium Replacing Greenwich Village’s Bowlmor Lanes

Here's our first peek at the 23-story condominium tower replacing the former home of Greenwich Village's iconic Bowlmor Lanes at 110 University Place. Documents filed with the Department of Buildings depict a modest 280-foot-high tower rising from a block-long, one-story retail podium. Situated on a charming stretch of University Place lined with an assorted mix of low and mid-rises, the existing four-story, 75,000-square-foot building housed a parking garage in addition to the famed bowling alley. In 2012, Billy Macklowe, founder and CEO of William Macklowe Company and son of 432 Park Avenue developer Harry Macklowe, purchased a long-term controlling position in the building, which effectively made Macklowe the building's landlord for the next 72 years.
More details right this way
August 11, 2015

Take a Walk Down ‘Do the Right Thing Way’; NY Real Estate Could See a Slowdown in Chinese Investment

A look at the new Goethals Bridge on Staten Island, now under construction. [SI Live] A street in Bed-Stuy has officially been named after Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing.” The name applies to Stuyvesant Avenue, a stretch between Lexington Avenue and Quincy Street. [Brooklyn Mag] The devaluation of the Chinese renminbi could lead to slowdown in New York investments. China has […]

August 11, 2015

One-Bedroom Co-Op Inside a Romanesque Revival Mansion Asks $665K

If you can't afford a mansion in Brooklyn, that doesn't mean you can't own an apartment inside of one. This one-bedroom co-op is nestled within a Romanesque Revival mansion located at 784 Carroll Street in Park Slope. It was designed by the architect Charles Werner in 1889, who has other work in Park Slope, Fort Greene, Prospect Park South and Prospect Heights. The listing, of course, speaks highly of the unique building: "784 Carroll Street's captivating facade combines lush greenery with picturesque nineteenth century architecture." The asking price of this unit is $665,000, significantly lower than an actual mansion, not to mention much of the real estate now on the market in Park Slope.
Take a look inside
August 11, 2015

DHD Interiors Bring the Beach Back to This Hamptons Beach House

When a Manhattan couple first bought this 8,000-square-foot Hamptons home, it seemed like more of a hunting house than a beach house. Wall-mounted deer heads and paisley wallpaper outfitted the space, while dark mahogany floors sucked the light out of the rooms. But the new homeowners didn't let this turn them away. “It was a big house with unbelievable water views and we thought it would be a fantastic place to host family and friends,” the wife told luxe. “But we knew it needed some work.” The couple called in Steven Wakenshaw and Steffani Aarons of DHD Interiors, as well as landscape architect Steven Tupu, to bring out the best in their now house, but what had started out as small-scale remodeling and redecorating snowballed into an architectural intervention. Given the placement of the house on the eroding shoreline, DHD was prevented from changing the shape of house without obtaining local ordinances, which could take years to get. The homeowners wanted the house ready in time for Memorial Day, giving the team only five months to complete the task. With those restrictions, the firm decided to work with what they had to create a stylish, family-friendly beach house.
See how DHD Interiors turned the house around
August 11, 2015

A ‘Hamilton’ Tour of New York; There May Be a New Ikea in Town

The new Broadway musical “Hamilton” is the hot ticket in town. Here are all the places in New York Alexander Hamilton frequented. [Broadway Direct] A Rhode Island-based startup called Greycork is promising modern furniture that’s cheaper and easier to assemble than Ikea. [Curbed] Still mourning the end of “Mad Men?” Ease the pain by owning […]

August 11, 2015

Developer Avoids Rent-Stabilized Tenants by Building Luxury Condos on Top of Them

Here's a clever new move for the developer playbook: If you want to keep rent-stabilized tenants from interfering with your plans for ultra-posh condos, just build your pricey pads on top of them. According to the Times, the Department of Buildings (DOB) recently approved the construction of a 10-story luxury condo directly above a 1950s six-story apartment structure at 711 West End Avenue. Because the rent-stabilized tenants in the existing building are protected by law from getting the boot, Kaled Management and developer P2B Ventures dreamt up this sly alternative to buying out tenants, or waiting for unit de-regulation to build anew.
More on their plan here
August 11, 2015

New Census Fact Finder Sheds Surprising Light on Neighborhood Demographics

Think you live in a hipster 'hood? Constantly complaining about the stroller parades down your block? While you may think you have your neighbors pinpointed, a quick look at the hard facts may surprise you. Last week, the Department of City Planning revealed its updated Census Fact Finder, an interactive application that uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau's annual American Community Survey to provide highly detailed neighborhood profiles. Take for example the Lower East Side, often thought of as a playground for well-off post-grads. As The Lo-Down noted, 47 percent of the neighborhood's population is unemployed, only 34 percent have a college degree, and 35 percent pay less than $500/month in rent.
More findings right here
August 11, 2015

Be Woody Allen’s Neighbor for $80K a Month in This Historic Upper East Side Townhouse

Trophy purchase, short-term refuge, or family home? Take your pick. This impressive and unique townhouse at 116 East 70th Street was previously owned by philanthropist George Soros’s ex, Susan Weber Soros, who bought the 5,688-square-foot home in 2012 for $22.5 million and proceeded to see it through a thorough renovation, updating infrastructure and interiors and installing every 21st-century comfort known to stratospherically-priced townhouse-owning man (or woman, as the case was). Post-renovation, the barrel-fronted, copper-clad townhouse changed hands in an off-market deal to an anonymous LLC for $31 million. The house was back on the market again for $33 million last February after only four months. With its price pared down to $28 million, it’s still seeking a buyer, but is now having a go at the rental market, too. The stunning single-family manse–all five floors of it–is being offered for $80,000 a month, which comes with the caché of calling Woody Allen your next-door neighbor.
Tour the house, this way
August 10, 2015

Carroll Gardens Townhouse Rental, Asking $11,750 a Month, Is Downright Pretty

There are some New York City townhouses that are so extravagant they are downright intimidating. Then there are others that have been renovated, lost all their interior details, and are downright boring. This one, at 152 Luquer Street in Carroll Gardens, isn't either. It's simply a lovely, pretty building with just enough historic interior details and just enough modern renovation. There's nothing to hate about it, in our modest opinion. The full townhouse is now up on the rental market, asking $11,750 a month.
Take a tour
August 10, 2015

Permits Filed for New Faux-Loft Building at the Intersection of Boerum Hill and Gowanus

Avery Hall Investments filed permits last week for an eight-story, 20-unit residential building at the corner of Third Avenue and St. Marks Place. The site is situated in the area where bucolic Boerum Hill meets the utilitarian factory lofts of Gowanus. The development at 125 Third Avenue will replace a one-story commercial building that Avery picked up earlier this year for $5.65 million according to city records. The team also recently broke ground on another Boerum Hill condominium at 472 Atlantic Avenue designed by the context-sensitive Morris Adjmi Architects.
More details on the project
August 10, 2015

New York Times Custom Birthday Book Features Every Front Page Since Your Birth

We've found the ultimate gift for the dedicated Times reader in your life—or a fun indulgence for a day you feel like treating yourself with something cool. The New York Times Custom Birthday Book is a beautifully bound hardback that culls every front page printed since the year of your birth, embossed with your name and birthdate for a super fascinating snapshot of world history over the course of your life.
Find out more here
August 10, 2015

Car2go Expanding to Queens; Brooklyn Rents in Trendy Nabes Outpace Manhattan

Car sharing service Car2go is expanding from Brooklyn to cover western Queens. [Crain’s] Rapidly growing brokerage Compass is looking to recruit. Here’s a quick video showcasing how they’re trying to “reinvent real estate.” [6sqft inbox] The Dakota’s co-op board allegedly tried to woo developer Robert Siegel—who has been trying to move into his apartment at the storied building […]

August 10, 2015

Another Pivoting Skyscraper Coming to Crowded Midtown East Block

It's hard for a new building to stand out in the Big Apple these days, with striking towers designed by the world's foremost architects, soaring pinnacles jutting 1,500 feet into the clouds, and massive 1,000-unit apartment buildings possessing all the amenities of a Caribbean resort. However, within the densest thicket of Midtown skyscrapers, Handel Architects along with SLCE have crafted a 43-story, 450,000-square-foot residential tower whose elevations are angled to the street grid on all sides. The tactic will set the skyscraper apart from its perpendicular neighbors and grant its residents a touch more light and air within Midtown's concrete canyons. Envisioned by Lloyd Goldman’s BLDG Management Company, the future 360,000-square-foot tower at 222 East 44th Street will rise from a claustrophobic stretch of street that perhaps is the closest Manhattan gets to matching the tightness and vertical density of Hong Kong. The feeling is further heightened by the street dead ending into Lexington Avenue and the imposing MetLife building looming behind.
Find out more here
August 10, 2015

Facebook Co-Founder Lists His Elegant Bespoke Soho Loft for $8.75M

Among the first things you'll notice about this impressive loft at 30 Crosby Street, currently on the market for $8,750,000, is that at 4,100 square feet it's about the size of three normal-sized apartments. Currently owned by political and media power couple Chris Hughes (Facebook co-founder and publisher of the New Republic) and Sean Eldridge (financier and former congressional candidate), who bought it in 2010 for $4.8 million, the home's interiors–courtesy of an exhaustive bespoke renovation–are masculine, yet intimate, with spaces organized to consider the many facets of daily life. Surrounded by the quiet elegance of brick, wood, leather and marble, spaces for entertaining are separated from private living quarters–so party-throwers and peace-and-quiet-seekers can easily coexist. The converted Soho loft building is itself no stranger to large living, having had its share of celebrity residents including Alicia Keys, Courtney Love and Lenny Kravitz.
Take a look at the loft's bespoke and tailored interiors
August 10, 2015

Rupert Murdoch Puts West Village Townhouse Back on the Market After Just Five Months

Back in April, we reported that News Corp. and 21st Century Fox chairman Rupert Murdoch had listed his One Madison penthouse for a whopping $72 million. He had planned to live in the glassy triplex full time, but instead picked up a $25 million West Village townhouse. But now it looks like the billionaire has changed his mind yet again, putting the townhouse at 278 West 11th Street back on the market for $28.9 million, according to the Daily News.
Find out more here
August 10, 2015

Buy Fashion Designer Betsey Johnson’s Flowery East Hampton Home for $2M

Fashionistas got an unusual treat this past weekend when Betsey Johnson held a giant yard sale at her East Hampton home. The Post noted that the punk-rock-meets-bubblegum-pink fashion designer was unloading around 10,000 items from her personal collection, "including her own designs, one of a kind runway pieces and vintage couture." The sale coincides with Johnson listing her home at 25 Grape Arbor Lane for $1,995,000. And while the clothes outside may be wild and crazy, the designer's cottage-like residence is much more subdued, save for the girly, flowery wallpaper, vintage accents, and glitzy chandeliers.
See more of Johnson's fashionable home
August 9, 2015

$7.4M Lake George Tudor Has 600 Feet of Private Waterfront and a Five-Slip Boathouse

You'd think having a private peninsula would appeal to people looking for seclusion, but this Lake George estate is geared for the gracious host who's ready to throw a serious lakeside party. The four-bedroom Tudor-style house is nearly ninety years old and is full of original architectural details like stone mullions and steep beamed ceilings. But when it comes to inviting friends and family over, it's the outdoor spaces that seal the deal. The 1.26-acre property has a whopping 600 feet of private waterfront, as well as three outdoor dining and cooking areas, a secluded spot to fish and swim, a massive five-slip boathouse, and a carriage house that boasts amenities like a 2,000-bottle wine cellar and home theater. What'll all this cost you? $7.4 million.
View the lakeside estate
August 9, 2015

Construction Update: Williamsburg’s 95 South Fifth Tops Out

After breaking ground earlier this year, Horrigan Development and Pilot Real Estate Group’s 95 South Fifth Street has already topped out. Although the site’s pre-war building is not landmarked, Standard Architects is preserving the industrial heritage aesthetic by incorporating the facade of the former three-story brick warehouse into the new 6,500-square-foot addition. The 26,500-square-foot renovation will be split between 18,000 square feet of residential space, plus a small 675-square foot commercial space that will be used as a restaurant at the base.
More here
August 8, 2015

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff

First 1,000+ Foot Tower Outside Manhattan May Rise in Downtown Brooklyn Are the City’s Bodegas Becoming a Thing of the Past? Funky Soho Apartment from ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ Keeps Trying 2 World Trade Center Could Be the Most Expensive Office Tower in the World Could This Deconstructivist Office Tower Be Coming to the Garment […]

August 7, 2015

New Yorker Spotlight: Lori Pailet of Aquaskills on Teaching Water-Fearing Adults to Swim

Like many who work in the Financial District, Lori Pailet heads to work before the sun is up. But instead of jumping into an early meeting at an investment bank or law office, Lori meets her clients poolside for a morning dip. As the owner and director of Aquaskills, she spends her days helping New Yorkers reach their aquatic potential. A former artist and designer, Lori has been sharing her passion for swimming since Aquaskills was founded in the early 2000s. She is driven by a desire to help individuals engage safely and happily with the water. Through her hard work and determination, the school has become a go-to for all walks of life looking to learn to swim for the first time, or refine their technique. Along with a team of trained instructors, Lori offers a wide range of classes and lessons depending on skill level, but specializes in adults who either have aquaphobia or who never even learned to dog paddle. Lori was even featured in a NY Times piece last summer about aquaphobia, the story following drummer Attis Clopton as he overcame his fear of water. We spoke with Lori to find out more on her own journey into the pool, and how she approaches those learning to swim for the first time.
Read our interview with Lori here
August 7, 2015

Another 1,000-Foot-Plus Tower Moves Forward Near South Street Seaport

There's no slowing down the city's supertall boom. Crain's reports yet another 1,000-foot plus tall tower could soon be joining the New York City skyline, rising at the combined sites of 80 South Street and 163 Front Street. Chinese investment company China Oceanwide Holdings released a statement saying they would be purchasing the development parcels for $390 million through a U.S. subsidiary from current owner Howard Hughes Corporation. The new tower will sit just south of the South Street Seaport, and amid a grouping of other tall, but not quite as tall, towers.
FInd out more here
August 7, 2015

Live in This Cool, Summery Duplex Located in an 1851 Church for $8,750

One thing we can say about this apartment currently for rent at 215 Degraw Street (a.k.a. 56 Strong Place) in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn: The listing broker likes it. She writes, and we quote: "...this incredible 3 bedroom 3 bath duplex offers more to one lucky renter than this writer can ever hope to convey." But she gives it a shot just the same, explaining that for a mere $8,750 a month, you can bag "The triple Crown of Rentals!" She says more, too, but let's take a look at what's causing all this excitement. First, Landmark at Strong Place is a circa 1851 Gothic Revival church that was converted into a 23-unit condominium in 2010. So already it's more interesting than your average apartment.
And there's more! (this way)

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