6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

Michael Bloomberg’s ex wife, Susan Brown Bloomberg, sold her Noho penthouse in just over a month. [NYO] NYU’s $6 billion expansion plan is kicking off with plans to demolish Coles Gym. [DNAinfo] The owner of a $10.5 million Soho penthouse is suing the building’s restaurant for an “illegal” rooftop bar that’s caused him $1.5 million […]

Real Estate Trends

July 31, 2015

Jack Craig Fixes a Smashed Table With a Caramelized Resin Top

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

Detroit-based industrial designer Jack Craig crafted a curious table and stool that are all about the process. Made from smashed and reconstituted pinewood, the Broken Board Series 2 is sealed with caramelized resin. Its clear honey-hued top leaves the broken wooden ends exposed while creating some surprising visual effects when objects are placed on it.
Learn more about the piece here

July 31, 2015

1970s Map Reveals Worldview According to New Yorkers

Does anything really exist outside of New York? The creator of this map doesn't think so. Made in the 1970s by an anonymous artist, this maps depicts the worldview of the stereotypical New Yorker. The greatest city in the world occupies the greatest amount of space on the map, while the rest of the country is reduced to a narrow strip of land. That is, the rest of the country that's worth acknowledging.
See the full map here

July 31, 2015

Luxurious Modernism and Eclectic Spirit Coexist in This Classic Soho Loft by DHD Interiors

We've highlighted a few projects from DHD Architecture + Interior Design before, and one thing we love about the firm’s work is their talent for combining classic spaces with modern ideals and adding unexpected twists. Their designs often feature clean, crisp lines, interesting lighting and open floor plans and integrate residents' multifaceted personalities. In this case, they work their eclectic magic on a Crosby Street loft located on a cobblestoned Soho block in that neighborhood's Cast Iron Historic District. Dating from 1882, the building, a former department store, was converted to a 10-unit condominium residence in 2001.
Step into this cool loft space...

July 31, 2015

Documenting the Changing Coney Island Boardwalk; Potholes Cost Taxpayers $138M in Six Years

By Alyssa Alimurung

Photo essay by Nathan Kensinger documents the changing Coney Island boardwalk. [Curbed] The city’s 10 oldest surviving commercial real estate dynasties. [BisNow] Thomas Heatherwick’s designs may be unique and evocative (just look at the renderings for his Pier 55 floating park), but at what price? [NYTimes] A new infographic from the Design Trust links urban agriculture to positive […]

Uncategorized

July 31, 2015

Feasibility Study to Address Streetcars or Light Rail for Brooklyn-Queens Waterfront

In the ongoing discussion of expanding the city's mass transit options to underserved areas, we may be a step closer to addressing the need for transit along the Brooklyn and Queens waterfront–between Astoria, Red Hook and Sunset Park, according to CapitalNY. While many of those areas have transit to and from Manhattan covered, a north-west connection is needed (and relying on the G train doesn't help much). An advisory committee comprised of developers, transportation experts and civic organizers has formed to address this need. Recently, the consulting firm of HR&A Advisors (former employers of city planning commissioner Carl Weisbrod) was hired by the committee to study the feasibility of a streetcar service or a light rail line to connect Sunset Park to Astoria, connecting rapidly growing neighborhoods like Red Hook, Williamsburg and Downtown Brooklyn, as well as burgeoning business and industry hubs like Long Island City and the Brookyn Navy Yard.
Find out more

July 31, 2015

LinkedIn’s Remodeled Offices Have a Speakeasy and Plenty of Lounge Space

The Empire State Building is already one of the most unique places to work in the city, but the LinkedIn offices on the 28th floor have made the iconic building even cooler. Interior Architects recently remodeled the 33,005-square-foot space, which houses the social network's sales team. The result is a floor that is "fun and vibrant," but maintains the professionalism of a "club level of a hotel." Just a warning, though, everything about this office–from a wall of rotary phones that conceals a speakeasy to a photo display that celebrates employees' pets–is going to make you pretty bummed about your boring cubicle.
Take a tour of the office here

July 30, 2015

Starchitect César Pelli Buys $17.5M San Remo Apartment from John Leguizamo’s Mother-in-Law

By Jon Dioffa

Starchitect César Pelli and his wife Diana Balmori have bought a $17.5 million apartment at the San Remo, according to city records released today. And the seller of the 4,900-square-foot, 12-room residence is Rona Maurer, John Leguizamo's mother-in-law who was recently involved in a lawsuit claiming she was covering up the sale of the home to keep her stepdaughter from getting any of the profits. The corner unit has all the details one would hope for from the Upper West Side's most prestigious co-op, including 65 feet of Central Park views, soaring ceilings, herringbone floors, three entertaining rooms, and a marble entry gallery.
More photos this way

Distinctive Homes

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

David Bowie's former Central Park South home asks $4.95M

This $22.5M maisonette offers townhouse privacy with classic Upper East Side co-op luxury

An artist's mural in this $1.4M Hit Factory condo will remind you of its colorful past

This classic Park Slope townhouse sold for $5.3M in January. Now, it's asking $10.25M

For $7.15M, this Sag Harbor 1930s cottage is a timeless waterfront refuge

This landmarked $3M Flatbush townhouse is architecturally significant and expansively livable, garage included

For $1.6M, this Connecticut estate has an art studio, guest house, pool, and a vintage modern vibe

Bob Dylan's historic Harlem townhouse sells for $2.8M

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

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Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 7/30-8/2

Image via Wendy Perrin

July 30, 2015

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 7/30-8/2

By Lori Zimmer

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! A weekend of adventure awaits your beckoning call. Choose your own adventure: a cruise on the high seas whilst dressed as a sea monster (or sea siren if that's your preference), sleep amidst the taxidermy animals at an adult sleepover hosted by the American Museum of Natural History, or get dirty and explore "Old New York" through trash at Dead Horse Bay with Abandoned NYC. Feeling less adventurous? You can always learn about our ever-changing city at Van Alen's latest exhibition with the Gentrification Lab NYC, which reconnects the role of architecture with expansion. Try out a different kind of studio visit with dancer and artist Jillian Peña, who will perform her new architecturally-influenced dance and actually take time to explain it to visitors, or check a screening of the Swedish film making waves with its representation of transgender life at Pioneer Works. Enjoy the new José Parlá pieces outdoors at The Standard High Line while sipping cocktails from the garden. Lastly, trek to Times Square late at night as artists Os Gemeos take over the ad screens for Midnight Moment all month long.
All the best events to check out here

July 30, 2015

Historic Grandeur and an Architect’s Eye for Modern Design Meet in This Prospect Heights Townhouse

We've featured the work of this home's current owners–principals at WE Design–before, including the architects' previous home, and this latest oeuvre (or possibly magnum opus) is yet another impressive example. Though the luck of having a great house to begin with helps, this 4,100-square-foot, four-story beauty at 390 Sterling Place, on what is arguably the prettiest street in prime Prospect Heights, hits all the high notes after an amazing renovation. For lovers of historic homes there are pristine original details at every turn. For modern interior design fans the renovation has meant the latest and greatest in appliances and fixtures (including central A/C and "new everything") and a perfectly on-trend clean and modern look throughout. At $4.25 million, it's a big price tag, but the location is super-prime–and so is the home.
Tour this grand and gorgeous home, this way

Distinctive Homes

July 30, 2015

Former Nets Star Deron Williams Lists Trophy Tribeca Penthouse for $33.5M

By Annie Doge

Now that he's taking over as the starting point guard for the Dallas Mavericks, Deron Williams is parting ways with his massive Tribeca penthouse. The Post reports that the former Nets star has listed the 6,800-square-foot duplex at 35 North Moore Street for $33.5 million. The stunning, six-bedroom "trophy" apartment also boasts 3,000 square feet of private outdoor gardens, huge 17-foot ceilings with wrap-around skylights, a climate-controlled wine room, and a custom-made floating staircase.
Check it out here

July 30, 2015

First Look Inside 64 East 1st Street’s Lofty Condominiums in the ‘Bowery District’

By Ondel Hylton

Here's our first look at the lofty interiors of an upcoming GF55 Partners-designed condominium at 64 East 1st Street. The seven-story property is being developed by MGM Property Group, and the site was previously occupied by the much-maligned restaurant/hookah bar La Vie. MGM purchased the 3,300-square-foot lot in late 2013 to the tune of $5.4 million and swiftly demolished the one-story building last year. Excavation work is currently ongoing.
More details ahead

July 30, 2015

NYC Entering Biggest Building Boom in 50 Years; New Rendering of 220 Central Park South

New residential construction permits are at the highest since 1963, likely attributed to the expiration of the 421-a tax break. [WSJ] Two Billionaires’ Row condos, 111 West 57th Street and 1 Park Lane, only subsidized 23 affordable housing units. [DNAinfo] Jeopardy host Alex Trebek bought a $1.92 million fixer-upper Harlem townhouse for his 25-year-old son. [NYP] […]

Real Estate Trends

NYC aka New Netherland: Mapping the 11 Different Cultural ‘Nations’ Within the U.S.

Map via Colin Woodward and Tufts/Brian Stauffer

July 30, 2015

NYC aka New Netherland: Mapping the 11 Different Cultural ‘Nations’ Within the U.S.

Those of us who live in the tri-state area tend to get accused of thinking the country is made up of the northeast, the west coast, and maybe Florida, and then forgetting about the entire rest of the country. A new map that is part funny, part culturally realistic takes a look at the "11 distinct cultures that have historically divided the U.S.," according to Business Insider. The spot-on map comes from award-winning author and journalist Colin Woodward's newest book American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures in North America. In Woodward's map, New York City and northern New Jersey is renamed New Netherland, as it was settled by the Dutch and is a very commercial area. The author describes this nation as "materialistic, with a profound tolerance for ethnic and religious diversity and an unflinching commitment to the freedom of inquiry and conscience."
Find out about the other nations of our nation

City Living

July 30, 2015

Funky Decor and an Impressive Art Collection Distinguish This Greenwich Village Studio

Here's another apartment unit up for sale in the pre-war co-op building University Mews, at 39 East 12th Street in Greenwich Village. Just last month, a lofty unit in the building hit the market for $1.595 million. This one has a much different vibe. The current owner outfitted it in some incredible and unique decor, which is accentuated by the 14-foot ceilings and large windows. Its asking price? The same as the last unit–$1.595 million.
To the interior

Distinctive Homes

July 30, 2015

Endangered Species Will Be Projected on the Empire State Building; Mapping the Hottest Subway Stations

Soho is getting a cat camp pop-up this weekend. It will offer a series of educational “cativities.” [NYDN] New dating app Cheekd will let you search missed connections on the subway without any internet. [DNAinfo] New Yorkers think everyone else works less and is lazier than them. [Daily Intelligencer] On Saturday night, digital light images of endangered […]

Uncategorized

July 30, 2015

Bidding Wars and Over-Ask Sales on the Rise in Brownstone Brooklyn Neighborhoods

Homes in brownstone Brooklyn neighborhoods have been selling over the asking price and bidding wars are becoming even more commonplace, according to DNAinfo. In the second quarter of 2015, for example, homes in Prospect Heights and Park Slope were selling for 4 percent over their asking price–the highest percentage seen in Brooklyn or Manhattan.
Find out where to expect bidding wars

Real Estate Trends

Ricky Martin Gets $7.55M for Noho Pad

By Annie Doge

Ricky Martin moved into 40 Bond–the Herzog & de Meuron-designed Noho condo famous for its graffiti gate and green glass/green cast iron facade–back in 2007, shortly after the building was completed. He paid $5.7 million for unit 6C, which is perfectly spacious and lovely, but has had a bit of trouble getting it off his hands, first trying to rent it and then listing it for $8.3 million back in 2013. But the Post reports that the Latin pop star has finally found a buyer, who paid $7.55 million for the three-bedroom pad.
More interior pics ahead

My 1,000sqft: Tour an Interior Designer’s Classic Greenwich Village Apartment and Terrace

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 the heart of Greenwich Village. Want your home to be featured here? Get in touch!

July 29, 2015

My 1,000sqft: Tour an Interior Designer’s Classic Greenwich Village Apartment and Terrace

Sylvia Jacobson used to walk around Greenwich Village's winding, leafy streets, admiring the old buildings and dreaming that one day she'd live in the picturesque neighborhood. And 38 years ago, she did just that. When she and her husband moved into their fifth-floor walkup they had a lot of work to do–from putting up shelves and drawers in the little kitchen, to creating a multi-purpose room that could serve as a den as well as a studio for Sylvia's writing and interior design careers, to creating a usable terrace on an empty rooftop space. Now, almost four decades later, the apartment has withstood the test of time, bringing together clever design ideas and classic decor. We were lucky enough to get a tour of this 1,000-square-foot home and its stunning 500-square-foot terrace, complete with views of neighboring buildings and even One World Trade Center. Join us to see how elegant, tasteful design never goes out of style.
Step inside Sylvia's home here

July 29, 2015

LaGuardia Overhaul Could Actually Cost $8 Billion and Take Over 10 Years to Complete

Womp womp. For those of you still flying high over yesterday's news that LaGuardia Airport would soon be getting a major revamp, here comes some unfortunate news that might bring you back down to earth. As Crain's reports, Governor Cuomo appears to have grossly underestimated his vision for the upgraded air hub. "According to several sources with direct knowledge of the project," the paper says, "a new LaGuardia could take more than 10 years to build and cost close to $8 billion"—a price that's double the Cuomo administration estimates of $4 billion, with at least another five years tacked on to the schedule.
Find out more here

July 29, 2015

Modern Mansion Spanning 8,000 Square Feet Asks $13 Million on the Upper West Side

Here's a six-story single-family home at 337 West 87th Street with space galore: 8,000 square feet, to be exact, plus another 1,700 square feet outdoors. The whole place has been renovated with luxurious modern finishes, including a marble powder room, skylights, custom cabinetry, walk-in closets and more. In case you're wondering how you'd be able to climb six stories of your home everyday without breaking a sweat, it is outfitted with an elevator that goes from the cellar up to the penthouse level. Of course, all this doesn't come cheap, especially considering that the property is located on a tree-lined block off of Riverside Drive. The asking price is $12.995 million.
Tour the inside

Distinctive Homes

July 29, 2015

Hyperrealistic Artist Paul Cadden Uses Only a Pencil to Recreate Urban Photographs

Nowadays, when people want to get the details right in a photograph they turn to Photoshop. When artist Paul Cadden wants to capture all of a photo's details, he uses nothing more than a pencil. Cadden describes his art as hyperrealism–drawings that are so realistic that they are easily mistaken for photographs. The Scottish artist bases his work off photographs of objects and people that catch his attention. If he isn't drawing inspiration from his own photographs, Cadden told Don't Panic magazine that he "trawl[s] through a lot of stock images sites." What he does next isn't just a simple reproduction. "The idea is to go beyond the photograph," he says.
View more of Cadden's drawings here

Events & Things To Do

July 29, 2015

Inside the Woolworth Penthouse; Rent-to-own Programs Are Making a Comeback

Rent-to-own programs are becoming an option for those with bad credit who want to one day own a home. [WSJ] The MTA sent Mayor Bill de Blasio a letter yesterday urging the city to provide the $3.2 billion that the agency needs to close its capital budget deficit. [New York Post] Go inside the under-construction, ultra-expensive penthouse at the famed Woolworth […]

Real Estate Trends

July 29, 2015

Rare UES Townhouse Addition Coming to Fifth Avenue’s Museum Mile

By Ondel Hylton

New buildings along Fifth Avenue on the Upper East Side are hard to come by, but a rare development prospect may be in the works for a small site on a dormant stretch of the avenue in Carnegie Hill. Building permits filed yesterday detail the construction of a five-story residential addition atop an existing eight-story, 30-foot-wide townhouse at 1143 Fifth Avenue, between 95th and 96th Streets. The brick and limestone building designed by J.E.R. Carpenter, was erected in 1923, and up until recently, housed staffers of the French Embassy. Last June, the 16,000-square-foot, seven-unit property was unloaded by the French government for $36.4 million and picked up by a buyer listed as 1143 5th Ave LLC.
More on the potential development ahead

July 29, 2015

Bringing Back Drinking Fountains in NYC; Run Your Gadgets on Solar Energy with a Simple Outlet Adapter

Can drinking fountains make a comeback in NYC? [CityLab] There’s a tiny island called Tinian, 8,000 miles from New York in the Pacific Ocean, where you’ll find NYC locations like Broadway, Central Park, Greenwich Village, and Riverside Drive. [Gothamist] A table lamp designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for his 1911 Taliesin house in Wisconsin is now available […]

Uncategorized

July 29, 2015

POLL: Should the MTA Get Money from the State Before LaGuardia Airport?

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

Yesterday, we learned of Governor Cuomo’s plans for a major, $4 billion overhaul of LaGuardia Airport. The project includes consolidating the four terminals, moving the entire facility south, introducing a 24-hour ferry service, and launching AirTrain service that’ll connect travelers to the 7 line in Willet’s Point. Today, however, the revelry took a turn when it […]

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Airbnb Is Gobbling Up 20 Percent of Apartments in Popular Manhattan and Brooklyn Neighborhoods

Photo courtesy of Airbnb via Facebook

July 29, 2015

Airbnb Is Gobbling Up 20 Percent of Apartments in Popular Manhattan and Brooklyn Neighborhoods

As if it wasn't challenging enough to find a reasonable apartment in New York City, Airbnb is now taking up 20 percent of available units in popular Manhattan and Brooklyn zip codes, reports the Daily News. According to a study from New York Communities for Change and Real Affordability For All, the East Village is the most affected, with 28 percent of its apartments being rented as illegal hotel rooms on Airbnb. Additionally, the 20 most popular neighborhoods on the room sharing site "have lost 10% of their available housing units to Airbnb."
Find out more here

July 29, 2015

$1.75 Million Bed-Stuy Townhouse in a Future Historic District Has Location, Space and Charm

For anyone looking to bet on Bed-Stuy–not a bad idea, we hear–this classic three-family townhouse at 44 Macon Street could be a fine opportunity. While the $1.75 million ask for this 2,720 square-foot, 13-room home might have been unheard-of even five years ago, anything this charming under $2 million in brownstone Brooklyn is going to get some attention these days. The multi-family layout gives you lots of options–while still getting the 1-3 family tax break. Currently set up as an upper duplex with two floor-through apartments below, there is one catch: There's a tenant in place in the garden apartment, which won't be delivered vacant; this should certainly be considered, but that leaves three floors, all tastefully renovated with a laid-back, loft-like aesthetic, to do as you please.
Check out this classic Bed-Stuy bet, this way

Distinctive Homes

July 28, 2015

Governor Cuomo Reveals Renderings for $4 Billion LaGuardia Airport Overhaul

After much anticipation, Governor Cuomo unveiled his plan yesterday to overhaul LaGuardia Airport, which he called "un-New York" in its current state. The $4 billion project includes consolidating the four terminals into one hub and moving the entire facility south the length of two football fields, according to Crain's. Additionally, Cuomo's controversial AirTrain, which will connect travelers to the 7 line in Willet's Point, will be put into effect, as will a 24-hour ferry service that will operate out of the landmarked Art Deco Marine Air Terminal. The development will be handled by LaGuardia Gateway Partners, a new public-private partnership formed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, who will oversee the construction, financing, and operation of the new terminal under a 35-year lease.
Lots more details and renderings this way

July 28, 2015

Eero Saarinen’s Iconic JFK Terminal to Be Reborn as the ‘TWA Flight Center Hotel’

For the last 14 years, JFK's most beloved structure has mostly languished vacant, reopened intermittently for public tours or to serve as the backdrop of some Jet Age fashion shoot. While there has been plenty of talk surrounding the TWA Flight Center's transformation into a hotel, details have remained sparse until now. As Curbed has it, the city has finally revealed that MCR Development will be taking the reigns alongside JetBlue and the NYNJ Port Authority, bringing the iconic terminal back to life as a 505-room LEED-certified hotel with restaurants, 40,000 square feet of meeting space and a 10,000-square-foot observation deck. The project will aptly be called "The TWA Flight Center Hotel."
FInd out more here

July 28, 2015

$4.4M for Turnkey Updates and Designer Flair in an Historic Brooklyn Heights Townhouse

All told, $4.4 million isn't really a lot to ask for a four-story townhouse in prime Brooklyn Heights–in fact, the longtime sales record-holder, Truman Capote's former home at 70 Willow Street, sold for $12.5 million back in 2012 and was recently bested by the $15.5 million sale of a Cobble Hill townhouse. And this landmarked home at 73 Joralemon Street is no fixer-upper; quite the opposite. A top-to-toe, no-expense-spared redesign was just completed, helmed by designer Nick Olsen. Not only were the home's interiors transformed with dramatic flair, modern updates took place throughout: new windows were installed, stairs replaced and hardwood floors refinished; all mechanicals were replaced including central heating and air.
Take a look inside, this way

Distinctive Homes

July 28, 2015

Where to Find the NYC Haunts and Houses of Famous Writers

By Jason Carpenter

New York City has always been a hub for writers. Whether they were living in luxury or getting their start as starving artists, famous writers have lived and worked all across New York, and you can still see many of these writerly abodes today. Whether you're a fan of the Beat Generation, Sci-Fi, or even Southern Gothic, you might be interested in tracking down a famous writer's home.
See where writers lived and worked here

July 28, 2015

Donald Trump’s Estimated Worth Is $2.8B; The ‘Brooklyn’ of Every State

Donald Trump is estimated to be worth $2.9 billion by new accounts. Trump previously claimed $10 billion. [Bloomberg] Here are the Brooklyn equivalents of all the states. [Huff Po] Hockey Star Sean Avery lists his Hamptons house. [Curbed] After 40 years, the iconic Trash Vaudeville is leaving its St. Marks locale for a new space on 7th Street. […]

Real Estate Trends

July 28, 2015

Office of Architecture Brings Individuality and Adaptability to a Brooklyn Row House

Usually, there isn't much individuality to be found among Brooklyn row houses, at least not until you step inside. When a Brooklyn couple approached Office of Architecture about gut renovating their row house, the firm took it upon themselves to create a home that not only would stand out, but would be adaptable to the pair's needs as their life progressed.
Get a closer look

Architecture And Design

July 28, 2015

Quirky Park Slope Duplex with Charming Backyard Asks $629K

Talk about quirky... this is a property you don't see in Brooklyn every day. The unit in question is located at 429 7th Avenue, in Park Slope. It's a duplex with a kooky sleeping loft instead of a bedroom, a unique layout, and a really nice private backyard. It's not going to be for everyone but that outdoor space, plus a location two blocks west of Prospect Park, will certainly appeal to some. Don't mind the idea of curling up in a loft to go to bed? Well, the apartment is now for sale by owner asking $629,000.
See the rest of it

Distinctive Homes

July 28, 2015

Renderings Revealed for Bjarke Ingels’ Curved Harlem Apartment Building

Now that the hoopla surrounding his design for Two World Trade Center has simmered down, we've got a fresh set of renderings from Danish starchitect Bjarke Ingels. NY Yimby revealed the preliminary designs for his firm's 11-story East Harlem apartment building at 146 East 126th Street, which show a T-shaped structure that cantilevers over the Gotham Plaza retail center on 125th Street. The real fun is on the 126th Street side, though, where Bjarke employs a play on the conventional street wall with an undulating facade that seems to be a modern interpretation of the surrounding brick buildings. The project is being developed by none other than Extell, along with the Blumenfeld Group.
More details and renderings here

July 28, 2015

Photographing Street Art on NYC Doorways; The Last Remnant of the Original Penn Station

Photo series “Doorway Galleries” documents the spray-painted, stenciled, and stickered doorways of NYC buildings. [BK Mag] Active uses, street furniture, and first-floor windows–are these the three traits shared by the city’s most walkable streets? [CityLab] A mysterious building on West 31st Street is the last remnant of the original Penn Station. [Scouting NY] This device […]

Uncategorized

July 28, 2015

Donald Trump Gets $21M for Trump Park Avenue Penthouse

When you have $1.4 billion in assets, $21 million is a drop in the bucket, but the Wall Street Journal reports that's what Donald Trump just got for the sale of his penthouse in his namesake building Trump Park Avenue. The apartment is not too exciting, but it does boast 6,200 square feet, ten-foot ceilings, five bedrooms, seven-and-a-half bathrooms, and a private elevator. Trump bought the full-floor penthouse in 2002, when his company converted the Upper East Side building to condos, but never lived there. It first hit the market back in 2013 for $35 million and most recently got a price chop to $24.99 million.
Look around the whole place here

Should NYC Implement San Francisco’s ‘Pee-Proof’ Paint to Deter Public Urination?

Image via YouTube/St. Pauli Peeback

July 27, 2015

Should NYC Implement San Francisco’s ‘Pee-Proof’ Paint to Deter Public Urination?

Normally, urinating in public comes with a hefty fine, but in San Francisco, offenders might be spending their money instead on a new pair of clothes and shoes. The problem has apparently gotten so out of hand in the city that the Public Works Department is implementing "pee-proof" paint on walls that are hot spots for people to relieve themselves. The special superhydrophobic coating called Ultra-Ever Dry is liquid repellent, and therefore splashes the urine right back on the person.
More details and a video on the technology

July 27, 2015

Entertain on Three Levels in This $2.5M Modern Chelsea Loft

Read the rest of the story here

While most lofts offer a spacious open interior, this recently-listed $2.5 million Chelsea triplex extends vertically as well; a stylish recent renovation gets creative with windows and skylights to maximize light flow throughout all three floors. The 1,797-square-foot, two-bedroom condo at 251 West 19th Street–known as Chelsea 19, the classic loft building was built in 1910 and converted to condos in 2002–is just the spot for a three-story soiree (or a well-divided live-and-work space).
Check out all three floors...

Distinctive Homes

New York in the ’60s: Domestic Yearnings, Yorkville Hangouts and Bartenders

Our series “New York in the ’60s” is a memoir by a longtime New Yorker who moved to the city after college in 1960. Each installment will take us through her journey during a pivotal decade. From $90/month apartments to working in the real “Mad Men” world, we’ll explore the city through the eyes of a spunky, driven female. In our first installment, we went apartment hunting with the girl, and now that she’s moved in on the Upper East Side, we learn how she went about decorating her first NYC apartment, her favorite haunts of early 1960s Yorkville, and her bartender boyfriend.

July 27, 2015

New York in the ’60s: Domestic Yearnings, Yorkville Hangouts and Bartenders

By Penelope Bareau

History

July 27, 2015

VIDEO: Go Behind the Super Antiquated Switchboard of Today’s NYC Subway

The MTA is showing its age in a new video put forth by the public benefit corporation. "People know the system is old," the narrator of MTA's video opens, "but I don't think they realize just how old it is." The New York City subway system has been running since 1904, and as we previously reported in December, it's been running on the same technology used in the 1930s. In the video, computers are noticeably absent from the West 4th Street Supervisory Tower, which is in control of all of the train movements around the area. Instead there are plenty of pens and papers, as well as old, lever-operated machinery that the railroad industry has long stopped manufacturing. It's no wonder that the MTA has put out this video promoting their Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) system, a project that aims to modernize the subway.
Watch the incredible video here

July 27, 2015

NIMBYs Are Shaping NYC’s New Developments; William Randolph Hearst Penthouse Sells

NIMBYs have become power players in New York’s real estate game. Here’s a closer look at the playbook they use to take new developments down. [Crain’s] Aby Rosen has found a new restaurant to replace the iconic Four Seasons in the Seagram building. [NYP] The MTA is kicking gardeners out of their greenspace beneath the […]

Real Estate Trends

July 27, 2015

DelightFULL’s Botti Pendant Will Jazz Up Any Room

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

This eye-catching lighting piece is shiny, playful and loud. It takes a nod from the brass section of an orchestra and is perfect for a musician's home, a music hall, or any space in need of some elegance and flair. Crafted by DelightFULL’s skilled artisans using an array of trumpet bells, the Botti Pendant will jazz up any space.
Learn more about this loud trumpets lamp

Bergen Brooklyn

323 Bergen Street

Boerum Hill

World-class design rooted in Brooklyn charm

studios starting at $825,000
1 beds starting at $1,200,000
2 beds starting at $1,925,000
3 beds starting at $3,050,000
4 beds starting at $6,000,000

Learn More

July 27, 2015

IKEA Is Selling a Placemat with a Pocket for Your Phone

We're having a hard time deciding whether this design is brilliant or just plain depressing. These new placemats come courtesy of IKEA and are part of their upcoming SITTNING collection, a limited edition series made up of 40 pieces focused in on "the joys of sharing a meal with those you love." The new mats—which will reportedly be called "Logged Out"—will feature a convenient little pouch for you to tuck your smartphone away so you can finally enjoy a meal with your friends without checking Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, email...
More on IKEA's new design here

July 27, 2015

Things You Can Buy for $1 in NYC; Four Seasons Restaurant Getting a Younger Makeover

Here are 30 ways to spend a single dollar in NYC. There’s a slice of pizza, a coffee from McDonald’s, and a half mile in a cab. [Business Insider] A history of the comic book industry in New York City. [Bowery Boys] Tour the easy-going Clinton Hill brownstone of a plant designer and a DJ. [Design […]

Uncategorized

July 27, 2015

Harlem Townhouse Rental Mixes the Old and the New for $7,500/Month

Here's a historic Harlem townhouse, at 30 East 130th Street, now up on the rental market. From the exterior, it has pretty much retained its 1900s-era features. But the interior is a mix of the historic and the new as the result of a 2012 renovation. It's the type of place we picture a bunch of young professionals pooling funds to rent–at $7,500 a month with six bedrooms, you'd get decent bang for your buck. And what young New Yorker hasn't dreamed of renting a townhouse with all of their friends?
See more of the space

Distinctive Homes

July 27, 2015

Flushing and the Upper East Side Top the List of Most Traffic Accidents in NYC

Between March 2014 and April 2015, the city reported 223,141 motor vehicle accidents, almost 25 percent of which resulted in injury or death. The Auto Insurance Center used this open-source data, which includes geographical coordinates for the accidents, to create maps and graphs examining where and when the collisions happened (h/t Brokelyn). Queens accounted for 29.5 percent of the total collisions, with Brooklyn coming in right behind at 28 percent. In terms of neighborhoods (broken down by police precincts), Flushing, Queens takes the top spot, followed by Queens Village, the Upper East Side, Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, and Long Island City, respectively.
More data and maps right here

Transit

July 26, 2015

Bernheimer Architecture’s Lightbox House Is Made of Stacked Boxes to Capture Upstate Views