This Man Dove off the Flatiron Building into a Collapsible Plastic Pool for 20 Years

Photo of 1974 jump via Daily News

June 15, 2015

This Man Dove off the Flatiron Building into a Collapsible Plastic Pool for 20 Years

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Picture this: You walk by the Flatiron Building, one of the most recognizable landmarks in the entire city, and see a man positioning himself to jump off. Today, you'd call 911 without hesitation, but 50 years ago it was annual spectacle. Ephemeral New York uncovered the story of Henri LaMothe, the "diving daredevil" who performed a stunt around the country where he did his "flying squirrel" dive from 40 feet above ground into a collapsible plastic pool with only four feet of water. On his birthday on April 2, 1954, he climbed to the 40-foot mark on the Flatiron Building and did his signature jump. For the next 20 years, he performed the feat annually on his birthday, decreasing the water level each year. On his 70th birthday in 1974, he dove into a pool filled with merely one foot of water, and many say when he stood up, his back was still dry thanks to his famous belly flop.
Find out more about this daredevil
Chloe Sevigny’s Former East Village Pad Is Back on the Market with a New Look
June 15, 2015

Chloe Sevigny’s Former East Village Pad Is Back on the Market with a New Look

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The former home of indie film star and "Big Love" actress Chloë Sevigny is back on the market. Sevigny sold the garden-level abode located at 119 East 10th Street back in 2013 for $1.76 million to tech power couple Halle Tecco and Jeffrey Hammerbacher. The couple then turned around and gave the 1,250-square-foot pad a nine-month overhaul that was featured in Apartment Therapy. Now, it's back on the market, sporting a modern new look, a slightly modified floor plan, and a $2.2 million price tag.
More pics inside
Cornell’s Roosevelt Island Tech Incubator Unveiled; Midtown East’s Rezoning Advances
June 15, 2015

Cornell’s Roosevelt Island Tech Incubator Unveiled; Midtown East’s Rezoning Advances

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Extell has launched sales at 70 Charlton Street. [6sqft inbox] Forest City Ratner unveils “The Bridge at Cornell Tech,” a new incubator located at the heart of Cornell Tech’s campus on Roosevelt Island designed by WEISS/MANFREDI. [6sqft inbox] The world’s tallest ‘Passive House’ building also broke ground at the campus. [NYT] The rezoning of Midtown East continues to move […]

Transfixing Spirulina Furniture Produces Free Heat, Light and Food
June 15, 2015

Transfixing Spirulina Furniture Produces Free Heat, Light and Food

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Jacob Douenias and Ethan Frier have been busy brewing up the next trend in green interior decor: spirulina-producing furniture. The cyanobacteria, commonly used for adding protein and nutrients to smoothies and other food, has made its way into the landscape of objects for the home, and here can be seen as the central feature in a spectacular series designed specifically for cultivating the living greens for practical purposes.
Learn more about this brilliant spirulina design
Send In Your Questions and Get Them Turned Into Stories
June 15, 2015

Send In Your Questions and Get Them Turned Into Stories

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Ever wondered how designers work around NYC’s tiny apartments? We’ll get in touch with the space-saving gurus at noroof Architects. Or maybe you want to know about the origins of the city’s street art? We know an artist who was part of the first generation of subway graffiti artists. Or it could be as simple as wanting […]

Westchester Colonial from the Early Days of ‘Mad Men’ Lists for $1.1M
June 15, 2015

Westchester Colonial from the Early Days of ‘Mad Men’ Lists for $1.1M

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Take a trip down memory lane to the good old days when Betty and Don Draper were still married and living the upstate life. Their home, which was supposed to be in Ossining, is actually located at 90 Forest Avenue in the Forest Heights neighborhood of New Rochelle, and it's on the market for $1.1 million, affording you the chance to make some (hopefully happier) memories in the original "Mad Men" residence. The 3,544-square-foot, six-bedroom, center-hall Colonial was built in 1914 and offers original details like pocket doors, crown moldings, hardwood floors, nine-foot ceilings, and four fireplaces. It also has "black shutters and a fire engine-red front door, just waiting for a briefcase-toting Don Draper to park his Plymouth and come inside to greet his wife and kids, after a steamy rendezvous with his mistress," writes lohud. Well, maybe we'll scratch that last part.
See more of the house here
5Pointz Artists Sue Developer for Whitewashing Iconic Graffiti Facade

Photo via Garrett Ziegler/Flickr

June 15, 2015

5Pointz Artists Sue Developer for Whitewashing Iconic Graffiti Facade

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Photo via Garrett Ziegler/Flickr It's been 19 months since the 5Pointz graffiti mecca was secretly whitewashed overnight by the developers who have since razed the site to make way for the two residential towers that will replace it. Then, to pour salt in the wound, this past November G&M Realty announced that they planned to use the iconic 5Pointz name for their new project, infuriating the artists whose work adorned the building and leading them to launch a petition to stop the title. Now, the plot has thickened. Nine graffiti artists filed a lawsuit on Friday "seeking unspecified damages from the owner who whitewashed away their artwork," reports the Daily News. The plaintiffs claim they're owed financial compensation as they were not given the opportunity to retrieve their work, much of which could have ended up in museums or the artists' personal collections. The lost collection amounts to more than 350 graffiti pieces.
More details here
The Millbrook House Is a Striking Combo of a Glass Pavilion and Wood Cabins
June 14, 2015

The Millbrook House Is a Striking Combo of a Glass Pavilion and Wood Cabins

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Thomas Phifer's Millbrook House stands within a 200-acre site overlooking a clearing with the majestic Hudson River just behind. Situated in the village that gives it its name, its sculptural design is formed by a cluster of buildings that includes a modern glazed pavilion and four boxy wooden cabins. Each of the contrasting structures have their own function and style and are interconnected by a large stepped garden and hidden paths underground.
Learn more about this geometrical cluster of buildings

Distinctive Homes

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Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff
June 13, 2015

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff

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Winston Marshall, Banjoist for Mumford & Sons, Buys $3.2M Nolita Pad Are Yuccies the New Hipsters? REVEALED: Bjarke Ingels Design for 2 World Trade Center Own a Charming Wood Frame Church in the Catskills for $99,000 J.P. Morgan’s 120-Year-Old ‘Great Camp Uncas’ in the Adirondacks Can Be Yours for $3.25M 98 Percent of Manhattan Rentals […]

New Yorker Spotlight: Al Diaz on NYC Street Art and Working with Jean-Michel Basquiat
June 12, 2015

New Yorker Spotlight: Al Diaz on NYC Street Art and Working with Jean-Michel Basquiat

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Artist Al Diaz is often asked to speak at panel discussions about Jean-Michel Basquiat or to lend his expertise for new exhibits about the world-famous artist. But Diaz was just as much a part of the downtown street art movement as his buddy Basquiat; in fact, the two got involved with the art form together. They met in high school and created the tag SAMO©, which appeared throughout lower Manhattan between 1977 and 1979 and put them on the map. They were first-generation NYC subway graffiti artists, and Diaz later became a text-oriented street artist. Today, you'll see his hand in the subway again with his WET PAINT series, which uses individually-cut-out letters to create "clever, surreal and sometimes poignant anagrams." We recently chatted with Al Diaz to get the inside scoop on street art history in New York City, what it was like to work with Basquiat, and how he and his art work are much more than a shadow of his famous friend.
Read the full interview here
Opponents of the Pier 55 Floating Park Slap Barry Diller with a Lawsuit
June 12, 2015

Opponents of the Pier 55 Floating Park Slap Barry Diller with a Lawsuit

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As with any major project ready to make waves in NYC, we were just counting the days until Barry Diller's plan for a futuristic floating park would run into legal trouble. Today, the Times reports that opponents of the $130 million project have joined together to sue Diller and The Hudson River Park Trust (who approved the plans to build) in order to stop construction. The civic group, known as City Club of New York, are saying that the parties have failed to throughly evaluate the environmental impact of the park, and they want Pier 55 to undergo a new environmental review while also obtaining approval from the State Legislature.
More on the lawsuit here
Finally, an Historic Brooklyn Brownstone for Under a Million Dollars
June 12, 2015

Finally, an Historic Brooklyn Brownstone for Under a Million Dollars

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What if we told you you could have an entire 2,664-square-foot brownstone in Brooklyn for under one million dollars? This four-level home at 374 Decatur Street in Bed-Stuy has everything you need to make your dreams come true. Naturally, you're going to have to put in a little sweat equity (or you can always pay someone), but the final result will be exactly what you want it to be and well worth the $855,000 investment. Sound interesting? We thought so.
More pics inside
Thomas Phifer’s Ethereal Woodland Retreat Hides Behind a Rippled Silver Curtain
June 12, 2015

Thomas Phifer’s Ethereal Woodland Retreat Hides Behind a Rippled Silver Curtain

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Standing on an idyllic clearing within a nine-acre woodland parcel in the Hudson Valley, the Salt Point House boasts an ethereal beauty that is still strikingly contemporary. Designed by Thomas Phifer and Partners for a New York City couple, this stunningly simple weekend retreat consists of a glass and wood box sandwiched between two rippled silver curtains. Made from perforated stainless steel, the shades not only keep the interiors private but also filter the excess brilliance mediating the home with its luscious surroundings.
Learn more about this ethereal home in the woods
Laser-Engraved Rolling Pins Leave Fun Prints on Your Baked Goods
June 12, 2015

Laser-Engraved Rolling Pins Leave Fun Prints on Your Baked Goods

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Why waste your time with sprinkles and icing when you can fancy up your cookies with nothing more than a rolling pin? These laser-engraved models from Valek are embossed with fun patterns like moustaches, deer, and swirly leaf motifs. There's even miniature versions for the kids that feature dinosaurs or robots. With just a roll of the pin, your dough instantly becomes a piece of art.
More here
How to Play an Historic Building; NYC Is Pretty Polluted Says the EPA
June 12, 2015

How to Play an Historic Building; NYC Is Pretty Polluted Says the EPA

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Forget the drums, why not play an historic building instead? Yup, Soho’s cast iron buildings can be used as musical instruments. [Off the Grid] Charting the age distribution at the top social networks. The youngsters really love Snapchat. [BI] A new interactive map from the Environmental Protection Agency shows neighborhood pollution, and the results aren’t […]

Former Tribeca Mansion Now Holds Spectacular Triplex Penthouse Asking $85,000 a Month
June 12, 2015

Former Tribeca Mansion Now Holds Spectacular Triplex Penthouse Asking $85,000 a Month

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144 Duane Street in Tribeca has an interesting history behind it. The 150-year-old limestone building was originally used as a shoe factory and was later transformed into an insane single-family mansion. The 23,000-square-foot home was outfitted with a basketball court in the basement, a landscaped roof deck, and a crazy glass staircase. It hit the market in 2011, asking $45 million, and when a buyer never turned up it hit the rental market, asking $100,000 a month. It eventually sold in 2013 for $43 million, according to public records. The owner then converted the mansion into four rental apartments asking between $12,500 and $85,000 a month. Are you keeping track? This unit, a triplex penthouse, is the one asking $85,000, and it's just as insane as you'd expect it to be, with a massive 10,829-square-foot footprint, five bedrooms, and a crystal-like glass topper.
Take a look inside
Pitch a story icon Know of something cool happening in New York? Let us know:
Own a Charles Gwathmey-Designed Mid-Century Marvel in East Hampton for $2.5M
June 12, 2015

Own a Charles Gwathmey-Designed Mid-Century Marvel in East Hampton for $2.5M

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If you've always dreamed of owning a piece of mid-century modern history, now's your chance. Located at 19 North West Landing Road in East Hampton, this abode was designed by famed New York Five architect Charles Gwathmey in 1968 for the graphic artist Joe Sedacca, hence its name the Sedacca House. It was only Gwathmey's third commission in a long line of projects that would include the addition to Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim Museum, 445 Lafayette Street, and the United States Mission to the United Nations. The current owner of the home, Paul Amador, bought it in 1993 for only $245,000, reports Curbed Hamptons. At the time, he was quoted in the Times saying, "I feel like I won the lottery. I'm buying a piece of art for the cost of the raw materials." He's now looking to make a steep profit, asking $2.495 million for the "living sculpture."
Take a look around here
98 Percent of Manhattan Rentals Are Occupied, Rents Keep Rising Everywhere
June 11, 2015

98 Percent of Manhattan Rentals Are Occupied, Rents Keep Rising Everywhere

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Looking to change apartments? Well apparently so is everyone else in the city as they get slammed with rent hikes. According to Douglas Elliman's latest rental report prepared by real estate guru Jonathan Miller, there was an 85.1 percent increase in new leases signed last month with units lingering on the market an average of only 41 days before being scooped up by a new tenant. Landlord concessions have also pretty much disappeared, they report, and the city's vacancy was a mere 1.65 percent in May. The takeaway: Even in the face of insane, and ever-rising rents—we're now talking a median $3,380 in the city (up for the 15th consecutive month)—Manhattan's is still full of crazy people (including us) willing to pour their paychecks into one-bedroom apartments with no views. Brooklyn, of course, was no better, with median rents also climbing to $2,961.
more here
Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 6/11-6/17

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!

June 11, 2015

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 6/11-6/17

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This week I invite you to enjoy a free glass of wine while getting to know my curatorial side at the Roger Smith Hotel in Midtown. A shameless self-promotion, I'm excited to bring the work of Mark John Smith before the eyes of 47th Street. If you don't feel like meeting me, you can still catch Smith's work along with his colleagues on Rivington Street, or sample an interactive experience at the Park Avenue Armory. This week you can also catch a sample of short films about street dancing (What time is it? IT'S SHOW TIME!), or gear up on the joys of tech and design at the Hudson 3D fest in Lower Manhattan. Saturday, get outside and celebrate street art in Astoria, or take Van Alen-led tours of Central Park.
All the best events here
Bjarke Ingels Talks About His Design for 2 World Trade Center

Two World Trade Center rendering via Silverstein Properties

June 11, 2015

Bjarke Ingels Talks About His Design for 2 World Trade Center

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If you were still itching for more after Tuesday's reveal of Bjarke Ingels' design for Two World Trade Center, you're in luck. The starchitect himself chatted with NY Yimby about his design process and inspirations behind the tower. He also revealed an interesting tidbit of information when asked when asked when he started the design process. "Let's say in December," he responded. Keep in mind, though, that word only broke about him replacing Norman Foster in April. Controversy aside, Ingels has a lot to say about this world-famous project, including why he thinks Foster's plan was scrapped for his.
More revealing details right this way
432 Park Will Offer Office Space; Heidi Klum May Purchase $11M Island
June 11, 2015

432 Park Will Offer Office Space; Heidi Klum May Purchase $11M Island

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Billionaires living in 432 Park can have their minions work right below them. The supertall condo tower will also offer office space. [Crain’s] Remember this amazing island plus home combo going for $11M? Well, it might have a buyer. Heidi Klum has reportedly checked it out. [NYP] Foster and Partners break ground on their 425 Park Avenue skyscraper project. […]

Kodama Zomes: Hanging Geodesic Homes for Lazing the Summer Away
June 11, 2015

Kodama Zomes: Hanging Geodesic Homes for Lazing the Summer Away

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Are you ready for a relaxing summer? We've found a great piece of furniture floating around the Internet that we wouldn't mind having in our home. Meet the new Kodama Zomes, a unique hanging lounger shaped like a geodesic dome that offers the perfect space for relaxation, reading, meditating, or just snoozing your afternoons away. Designed by structural engineer Richie Duncan, the sturdy cocoon will help you unplug as it softly sways you with the summer breeze.
Learn more about these floating sofas
VIDEO: From Painted Caves to 3D-Printed Houses, Watch How Housing Has Changed Throughout History
June 11, 2015

VIDEO: From Painted Caves to 3D-Printed Houses, Watch How Housing Has Changed Throughout History

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With 3D printing taking hold as the hottest new building trend, it's worth taking a look back at how far humans have come in the realm of home construction. Over 16,000 years ago, mammoth-bone houses were the biggest thing in architecture, and that was only a step up from painted caves. These and other home construction milestones are highlighted in a short animated video by the Atlantic called "Home Is Where the Hearth Is: A Brief History." The astutely named video demonstrates how housing has changed from prehistoric times to the present.
Watch the video here
Photographer Bob Estremera Shows Us That Greenwich Village Is Still Full of Character
June 11, 2015

Photographer Bob Estremera Shows Us That Greenwich Village Is Still Full of Character

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When we talk about the allure of Greenwich Village, we're often referring to it in past tense, reminiscing about the good old days of folk music, ridiculously cheap apartments for artists, and the free-spirited bohemians that transformed the enclave into a cultural hub. And when we do talk about the Village in present tense, it's often because we're examining gentrification, whining about those pesky NYU students, or looking at the ever-rising rents. But if we stop feeling bitter about the fact that we can't get a $600/month studio there anymore, the Village still has plenty of charming and quirky storefronts, buildings, and characters. Photographer Bob Estremera captured this essence of the neighborhood in an impromptu rainy-day photo shoot that reminds us to take the time to look around and appreciate the small things.
See all the amazing black-and-white photos here

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$120M UES Townhouses-to-Mansion Combo Officially Hits the Market
June 10, 2015

$120M UES Townhouses-to-Mansion Combo Officially Hits the Market

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On Monday, news broke that the three Upper East Side townhouses owned by the billionaire Safra family were being quietly marketed as a $120 million combination to be turned into one giant mega-mansion. Today, the listing at 12-16 East 62nd Street has officially hit the market, and there's some pretty impressive floorplans to give prospective buyers an idea of how their palatial home could look. Also up for grabs is the brownstone next door to the trifecta at 18 East 62nd Street. This wouldn't combine as easily as the other three, as their cornices, ceilings, and floors all line up, but it could make a pretty spectacular guest house.
Ogle the floorplans here
J.P. Morgan’s 120-Year-Old ‘Great Camp Uncas’ in the Adirondacks Can Be Yours for $3.25M
June 10, 2015

J.P. Morgan’s 120-Year-Old ‘Great Camp Uncas’ in the Adirondacks Can Be Yours for $3.25M

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You can now own a piece of the Adirondacks that has provided serenity for so many others for over a century. The secluded Camp Uncas was built in 1895 by Brooklynite William West Durant, who is credited with perfecting the Adirondack "Great Camp" style. While the compound is unquestionably a spectacular work, its claim to fame is that it was once owned by financier J.P. Morgan. Morgan purchased the 1,500 acre property from Durant in 1897, and for the fifty years that followed, his family used it as a vacation home. Though the property has traded hands several times since the Morgans graced its grounds, its roster of owners is no less interesting—nor is its rustic architecture.
Explore the forest hideaway
Winston Marshall, Banjoist for Mumford & Sons, Buys $3.2M Nolita Pad
June 10, 2015

Winston Marshall, Banjoist for Mumford & Sons, Buys $3.2M Nolita Pad

By
Fresh off the release of their third album, and in the midst of a national tour, Mumford & Sons has laid down some roots in NYC. Banjoist for the band Winston A. Marshall has picked up an impressive Nolita apartment at 237 Lafayette Street for $3.2 million, according to city records released today. The sprawling, 2,000-square-foot, three-bedroom co-op definitely has room for the entire band to crash, and its charming downtown loft vibe will certainly impress any love interests (ahem, Katy Perry).
Take a look around the musician's new digs
Trolley Map from the 1930s Shows How Easy It Was to Get Around Brooklyn
June 10, 2015

Trolley Map from the 1930s Shows How Easy It Was to Get Around Brooklyn

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Long before there was a subway packed full of angry crowds and unidentifiable organisms, New Yorkers in Brooklyn enjoyed above-ground commutes serviced by a streetcar system. This map posted recently by a Redditor is a blast from the past, showing just how complete and comprehensive this network was. In fact, by 1930, nearly 1,800 trolleys were traveling along the streets of BK from Greenpoint to Gowanus to Bay Ridge and beyond. Though the system proved to be profitable (yes, NYC once ran a transit system that actually made them money), the streetcars were eventually forced out of the city by none other than the auto industry.
find out more and see the complete map here
An Apple Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and It Could Be in Your Own Backyard
June 10, 2015

An Apple Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and It Could Be in Your Own Backyard

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Want to live in the city without giving up your greenery? This $1.45 million two-bedroom garden apartment in Cobble Hill might be the perfect solution. It offers 1,020 square feet of space in a 25-foot-wide brownstone co-op, with a beautifully manicured backyard and a gorgeous patio. We're talking enough green space to entertain you, friends and family, Fido, and your weedwhacker. Now that sounds promising.
More pics inside
Go Inside NYC’s Oldest Home; When Your Couch Won’t Fit Through the Doorway
June 10, 2015

Go Inside NYC’s Oldest Home; When Your Couch Won’t Fit Through the Doorway

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Tour the Lent-Riker-Smith homestead, the oldest “inhabited private dwelling” in the city, and possibly the country. [Curbed] Watch an intricate pen-and-ink illustration of New York City get completed in just three minutes. [BK Mag] These “depressingly hilarious” cartoons show why life in your 20s and 30s isn’t that different. [WP] How two Vice Media employees live as roommates […]

Camera-Equipped Intelligent Oven Knows Exactly How to Cook Your Meal
June 10, 2015

Camera-Equipped Intelligent Oven Knows Exactly How to Cook Your Meal

By
Although it may look like a run-of-the-mill toaster oven, don't let its modest appearance deceive you. This little appliance will quickly turn a poor soul who can't fry an egg into a master chef—or something close to one. Invented by Ammunition Group, a team credited with bringing the iPhone, the FitBit, the GoPro, and Lyft to market, the June Intelligent Oven is a revolutionary kitchen appliance that harnesses the power of everything we digital age junkies love: computers, a HD camera, and a Google-like image search system that can determine what we're cooking and how it should be cooked.
READ MORE
Wood Details Abound in This $1.3M Bed-Stuy Townhouse
June 10, 2015

Wood Details Abound in This $1.3M Bed-Stuy Townhouse

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Bed-Stuy is a Brooklyn neighborhood that's known for its stock of historic townhouses with incredible interior details. Here's one at 724 Macon Street, on the market for $1.299 million. The listing brags that the details are in "museum quality condition," and looking through the photos we'd have to agree. If you're someone who likes old homes, you will want to check out the extensive woodwork throughout the interior.
Right this way
REVEALED: Bjarke Ingels Design for 2 World Trade Center
June 9, 2015

REVEALED: Bjarke Ingels Design for 2 World Trade Center

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Last week it was made official that starchitect Bjarke Ingels would replace Norman Foster as the designer of 2 World Trade Center, as News Corp. and 21st Century Fox closed in on a decision to move into the downtown tower. Now, without delay, Wired has revealed exclusive renderings of the Ingels redesign for the site, which will top out at 1,340 feet, just 28 feet shy of One World Trade Center. The glass tower is defined by its striking setbacks that retract from the spot of the 9/11 attacks. Bjarke said in a statement, "To complete this urban reunification (the) tower will feel equally at home in Tribeca and the World Trade Center. From Tribeca, the home of lofts and roof gardens, it will appear like a vertical village of singular buildings stacked on top of each other...From the World Trade Center, the individual towers will appear unified, completing the colonnade of towers framing the 9/11 Memorial. Horizontal meets vertical. Diversity becomes unity."
Watch a video of the architect discussing his new design
Are Yuccies the New Hipsters?

Yuccie illustration via Bob Al-Greene for Mashable

June 9, 2015

Are Yuccies the New Hipsters?

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Yuccies = Young Urban Creatives. And according to Mashable, they're the new iteration of hipsters. The author describes his self-created and self-describing class as "a slice of Generation Y, borne of suburban comfort, indoctrinated with the transcendent power of education, and infected by the conviction that not only do we deserve to pursue our dreams; we should profit from them." Just think of your friends moving to Brooklyn these days. They probably work for a startup rather than as a furniture maker and they likely do Flywheel instead of hot yoga. It's a new type of free spiritedness, the love child of yuppie and hipster that is rooted in personal fulfillment while still maintaining a successful lifestyle (and Instagraming it along the way).
More on the yuccie trend ahead
Jil Sander CEO’s 5th Avenue Apartment Gets an Ultra Minimalist Renovation by Thomas Phifer
June 9, 2015

Jil Sander CEO’s 5th Avenue Apartment Gets an Ultra Minimalist Renovation by Thomas Phifer

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Jil Sander's CEO, Constance Darrow, and her husband, Angelo Lombardi, are constantly traveling between Milan and New York. But when they stay in the Big Apple they have a stunning, ultra contemporary space to rest their heads. Located in a prewar building on Fifth Avenue, the couple's love nest is a modern renovation by Thomas Phifer and Partners that opts for the scant over the ostentatious. Though living in such sparse quarters would make many feel uncomfortable, this space embodies a very powerful air by having almost nothing in it.
Learn more about this ultra minimal Fifth Avenue Apartment
Second Avenue Subway May Open Sooner Than Expected; 70 Years of the Circle Line Boat Tour
June 9, 2015

Second Avenue Subway May Open Sooner Than Expected; 70 Years of the Circle Line Boat Tour

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The Feds say they’re confident the Second Avenue Subway will open in early 2017, sooner than the most recent February 2018 estimation. [NYDN] A photographer documents New York’s diversity through “No Parking” signs. [Animal] The city’s Circle Line boat tour celebrates its 70th birthday. Here’s a look back at its impressive history. [Mashable] Daredevil Tattoos […]

Karim Rashid Asks Facebook Followers to Choose the Facade of His Next Building
June 9, 2015

Karim Rashid Asks Facebook Followers to Choose the Facade of His Next Building

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With all the controversy currently swirling around Karim Rashid's colorful design of a residential building in a historic Harlem neighborhood, it looks like the designer is looking to avoid any additional headache with the public as he moves forward with a brand new project in Soho. Rashid recently took to Facebook, asking his more than 419,000 followers to vote for one of four facades being considered for a building slated to rise at 30 Thompson Street. "It is a great opportunity to get feedback for my work," he said. "I believe we live in the age of 'the empowerment of the individual' where we all have a voice in the digital age."
Find out more here
Luxury Parisian Hotel May Be Coming to Chetrit’s Sony Building Conversion
June 9, 2015

Luxury Parisian Hotel May Be Coming to Chetrit’s Sony Building Conversion

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It's definitely been a big number game at Chetrit's Sony Building conversion–from the 96 luxury condos they'll add to floors 14 to 33 of the 37-story tower, to the planned $1.8 billion sellout, to the $150 million triplex penthouse, which, if sold, would be both the city's priciest unit in history (if not eclipsed by the $175 million unit at 220 Central Park South) as well as the largest at 21,504 square feet. And now the Post reports that Chetrit is going to up the ante at 550 Madison Avenue by turning part of the commercial space on the lower floors into a luxury Parisian hotel.
Get the scoop
Former Tribeca Commercial Space Is Now an Extravagant Modern Loft Asking $8.2 Million
June 9, 2015

Former Tribeca Commercial Space Is Now an Extravagant Modern Loft Asking $8.2 Million

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This Tribeca loft is really something. It's located at 88 Franklin Street, a former textile factory turned commercial space. The New York Times profiled the current owner who decided to buy the commercial space and work to convert it himself into a residential loft apartment. The result, after a thorough renovation, is a modern pad with big windows and unique bathrooms.
Check it out
Three UES Townhouses List for $120M, Could Be Single-Family Mansion

12-16 East 62nd Street via NYDN

June 8, 2015

Three UES Townhouses List for $120M, Could Be Single-Family Mansion

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Most of us can only dream of owning a townhouse on the Upper East Side, so the idea of having three of them seems downright silly. But that's exactly what's for sale on East 62nd Street–three adjacent townhouses that are being sold as a package deal for their potential to be combined into one giant, 30,000-square-foot mansion. The Wall Street Journal first reported on the $120 million listing, and the Daily News revealed that the billionaire Safra family, of Brazilian banking fame, is behind the company listed as the seller. Currently, the three limestone, six-story homes at 12, 14, and 16 East 62nd Street are divided into 13 apartments with one doorman, though they can be delivered vacant. Together they boast 23 fireplaces, 11 terraces, and two roof decks. What makes the trifecta perfect for a combination is the fact that the homes are pretty much identical, with their cornices, ceilings, and floors all lining up.
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Own a Charming Wood Frame Church in the Catskills for $99,000
June 8, 2015

Own a Charming Wood Frame Church in the Catskills for $99,000

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We're all keen on the trend of buying religious institutions for use as residential buildings. But in Manhattan, living on hallowed ground often means shelling out millions to nab just a room or two in one of these holy structures. Well, if you're on a budget and have designs on living in something a little more divine than a church attic studio (and don't mind giving up the city life), then feast your eyes on this amazing wood frame church located 90 minutes from Manhattan in the town of Harris in the Catskills. Priced at a mere $99,000, this 2,500-square-foot cutie was constructed in 1920, comes with half an acre, and according to its Craigslist listing, is in "excellent shape!"
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