March 2, 2015

Carroll Gardens Rental Takes Creative Cues from One of ‘The Women Who Saved New York’

What do you get when you mix a classic turn-of-the-century townhouse with the artistic sensibility of a graphic designer praised as one of “The women who saved New York?”  This magnificently restored home at 16 2nd Street in the heart of Carroll Gardens. Flawlessly modernized and brought to 21st century splendor, this gorgeous four-floor home exudes the kind of creative panache one would expect from the person responsible for the cover art of a young Madonna’s debut album. Lucky for us, she’s willing to make it available to the masses–well, to those of us with $15,000 a month to spend.
tour this beautiful home
March 2, 2015

Ikea Releases Furniture Collection That Will Wirelessly Charge Your Phone

The latest trend in the electric world is USB outlets, which allow you to charge your devices right there in the wall socket without a plug. That still requires getting off the sofa and walking the probably two feet over to the outlet, though, which can really put a cramp in one's "House of Cards"-binge-watching style. But thanks to a new furniture collection from Ikea, you can power up your phone without having to search for a cord and while still in the reclined position. The new line of lamps, bedside tables, and desks features integrated charging pads that allow users to simply place their wireless gadget on top.
Learn more about the new collection
March 2, 2015

Where Will Mayor de Blasio Land on the 421-a Tax Abatement Debate?

Developers have been rushing to break ground on projects before June, when the controversial 421-a tax abatement is set to expire, as it provides incentives to developers for up to 25 years when they reserve at least 20 percent of a building’s units for low- and moderate-income tenants. However, those against the 40-year-old program criticize it for using working people's tax dollars to build swimming pools and pet hotels for the world's billionaires; after all, the construction of One57, where a penthouse recently sold for $100 million, was built using subsidies from the program. But on what side of the debate does Mayor de Blasio, whose goal is to implement "the largest affordable housing program that any city, any state has attempted in a ten-year time span in the history of the republic," fall? Though many of his supporters oppose 421-a, in order to reach his goal of building 80,000 new affordable housing units–especially in places like East New York where a rezoning would be necessary to allow for denser construction that mandates the inclusion of permanently affordable apartments–de Blasio says he needs the program, according to Capital New York.
More on the 421-a debate here
March 2, 2015

Leonardo DiCaprio Renting Out His Super Eco-Friendly Greenwich Village Apartment for $25K

A-lister Leonardo DiCaprio isn't going to lose out on NYC rent while he's out schmoozing models and moguls across the globe. The Post reports that the actor has been renting out his Delos pad for a cool $25,000 a month to Jonathan Orszag, an economic policy advisor for President Clinton during the 1990s and a senior managing director of economic consulting firm Compass Lexecon.
See more here
March 2, 2015

You’ll Love This $1.2M Triplex as Much as This Painting Does

There’s a reason the kid in this painting is smiling with arms wide open, and it’s because he’s welcoming you into the coolest pad in the Upper East Side Historic District. This two-bedroom triplex at 18 East 63rd Street sold for just $497,000 in 2011. But after an extensive renovation, it’s back on the market with all the right bells and whistles, asking $1.15 million.
More cartoony fun inside
March 1, 2015

Map This: Seven Cool New York City Maps That Will Enlighten You

Maps have changed quite a bit since we were kids. The information age and rapidly evolving technology have allowed us to turn once-intimidating amounts of data and numbers into cool visualizations that can totally transform the way we understand the world. From looking at where tourists flock in our city to surveying how old every building in Manhattan is to measuring just how noisy NYC is compared to the rest of the states, here are seven of our favorite city maps—all of which will help navigate New York in a whole new way.
Who doesn't a love a good map?
February 28, 2015

February’s 10 Most-Read Stories and This Week’s Features

February’s 10 Most-Read Stories Orlando Bloom Looks to Flip His Tribeca Loft for $5.5M Map Revealed for de Blasio’s City-Wide Ferry System Mapping Where in NYC Millennials Live Modern Family’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson Buys $1.2M Gramercy Co-op One Vanderbilt May Offer Sky-High Observation Deck REVEALED: Lions Group Developing Complementary Skyscrapers in Long Island City What […]

February 27, 2015

New Yorker Spotlight: Paleontologist Mark Norell Spends His Days with Dinosaurs at the Museum of Natural History

While the closest to dinosaurs most of us come is plastic toys and the occasional viewing of Jurassic Park, Mark Norell gets up close and personal with these prehistoric creatures on a daily basis, and it's fair to say he has one of the most interesting jobs in New York. As the division chair and curator-in-charge of the American Museum of Natural History’s Division of Paleontology and professor at Richard Gilder Graduate School, Mark's work is very exciting. He studies not just dinosaurs, but a wide range of fossils from various time periods, and conducts research that benefits our understanding of both the prehistoric and modern world. And an extra perk of the job is surely his office–he occupies the entire top floor of the museum's historic turret on the corner of 77th Street and Central Park West (we don't recall Ross Geller getting an office like that!). We recently spoke with Mark to learn more about paleontology and what it's like to work at the museum.
Read the full interview here
February 27, 2015

This Impeccable $16K/Month Park Slope Rental Is Bikini Ready

Let’s face it, with spring right around the corner (yes, it is coming) some of us may be feeling a little less than excited to shed those extra layers of clothing. But this impeccably renovated triplex at 726 Carroll Street in Park Slope is more than ready to show off its beautiful “nearly-bare” self. Even without staging of any kind, its amazing combination of elegant original details and tasteful modern appointments add up to a stunning four-bedroom residence.
More pictures of this bikini-and-move-in-ready triplex
February 27, 2015

Revealed: AB Architekten’s 29 Clay Street to Bring Manhattan Modernism to Greenpoint

A proposed 12-story residential building near the mouth of Newtown Creek in Greenpoint may bring some avante-garde design to a neighborhood better known for its low-slung factories, unpretentious row-houses, hearty Polish community, and an immense wastewater treatment plant. Coming from the office of AB Architekten, led by Alexander Blakely, a 70,000-square-foot proposal at 19-29 Clay Street is envisioned to rise directly across from the long-promised Box Street Park, and it may be the first of a multitude of high-rises set to radically transform the neighborhood's waterfront.
More information on the proposed project
February 27, 2015

‘NYC Anthropocene’ Maps Visualize the City’s Oil and Chemical Spills Since 2010

When we think of chemicals, oil spills and toxic land, locales like Gowanus and Freshkills are among the first to come to mind. But all across the city are hotspots where spills have taken place. In an ongoing project called NYC Anthropocene, graphic designer and data guru Michael Appuhn is documenting all the areas where the city has seen these flubs since 2010, as well as some of the areas in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens storing oil, petroleum and various chemicals in bulk. While the map isn't really anything to have a scare over—many of these are used for home heating or are fuel stations (although we won't discount that spills can cause groundwater contamination including some public water supplies)—it's interesting to see the distribution across the city.
See the map in full here
February 27, 2015

Helicopter Taxi Service Brings Commuters to JFK or Newark Airport in Six Minutes

And you thought taking an Uber to the airport was fancy. Gotham Air, a helicopter livery operator, has launched its airborne taxi service which can bring New Yorkers from Manhattan to JFK or Newark Airport in just six minutes. The service is currently priced at $149/flight for those who register for the BETA group, but standard fares will likely start at $219. So, pretty much the same as an Uber during surge pricing.
Find out more about the swanky new transportation service
February 27, 2015

Heartbeat Urban Drum to Become a ‘Heartseat;’ 53 New Citi Bike Stations for Brooklyn

Stereotank’s heart-shaped urban drum in Times Square known as Heartbeat will turn into a “heartseat.” [Inhabitat] A Kickstarter campaign is raising funds for a documentary film about Horn & Hardart’s iconic Automat. [Gothamist] Mapping the 53 new Citi Bike stations coming to Williamsburg and Greenpoint. [BK Paper] A small shop in Ridgewood, Queens is the reason NYC […]

February 27, 2015

City Council Proposes New Law That Would Allow Tenants to Sue Landlords for Using Airbnb

One week ago we learned of the landmark ruling to evict a rent-stabilized tenant from his ultra-luxe 450 West 42nd Street building for listing the unit on Airbnb for nearly triple what he was paying, a show of just how serious the city is about the issue. Now they're getting even more aggressive, as two City Council members want to pass a new law that would let tenants sue their landlords for renting out neighboring apartments as illegal hotels through Airbnb.
More details ahead
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February 27, 2015

Elegant Throwback Penthouse in Sutton Place Returns for $5.1M

Who needs a shiny new development when you can have a penthouse in the highly sought-after Sutton Place neighborhood that has brag-worthy qualities like soaring coffered ceilings, a solarium, and terraces on all four sides. But for some reason, it just can’t seem to sell. The apartment at 345 East 57th Street first appeared on the market a year ago, asking $6.5 million. Then it was briefly taken off the market in December after a price cut to $5.9 million. Now it’s back, hoping the third time is a charm, and that an avid fan of Edith Wharton novels drops in with $5.1 million in her pocket.
More pics inside
February 26, 2015

Saudi Prince’s UWS Apartment with Three Bullet-Proof Panic Rooms Lists for $48.5M

But if panic rooms aren't your thing, there's also a sushi island bar, fitness center, billiards room, hair salon, ventilated cigar room, 60-foot living room overlooking the Hudson River, and a lounge with a six-person Jacuzzi. It certainly sounds like Prince Nawaf bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud has been having fun in his 10,500-square-foot Heritage at Trump Place triplex, which was previously listed in 2013 for $75 million. The four-bedroom Upper West Side pad is now back on the market for $48.5 million, according to the Wall Street Journal. Ryan Serhant of Million Dollar Listing fame is one of the listing agents, and though he declined to confirm the owner, he said he is selling because he rarely uses the residence anymore.
You can't miss seeing the rest of this incredible home
February 26, 2015

Apartable Website Helps Renters Find Out if a Building Has a Negligent Landlord

Looking to buy in NYC is a task, but finding the right place to rent can be a veritable nightmare. While apartments may look spic 'n span on the surface, oftentimes tenants find out the hard way (e.g. after hastily throwing down thousands on a broker fee and signing a two-year lease for fear of losing out on the space) that their landlord is pretty terrible when it comes to maintenance and safety. Enter Apartable, a new website that helps potential tenants investigate whether or not a building they're interested in is a slum they need to avoid, or if it's up to snuff.
Find out more here
February 26, 2015

Phase I of the Second Avenue Subway Now 78.7 Percent Complete–and Still on Track

It seems to be taking forever for the Second Avenue Subway (SAS) to be finished, but alas, never say never. Yesterday evening, community members and MTA Capital Construction officials gathered at Temple Israel for the SAS eighth quarterly workshop to discuss the line's construction updates, future plans and to take any comments or concerns from citizens. In his opening statement, MTA Capital Construction President Dr. Michael Horodniceanu reported that Phase I is now 78.7 percent complete (as of February 1, 2015). The number seemed to please many, but in light of the MTA's budget crisis, the top question on everyone's mind was still: "Is this thing on schedule to be completed in December 2016?" Dr. Horodniceanu reassured everyone, "We've been having these workshops for four years, and the date has stayed the same."
the next stop will be...
February 26, 2015

Live in a Haunted, Grey Gardens-esque Staten Island Mansion for $2M

For many New Yorkers, living on Staten Island is scary enough (just kidding!), but for those looking for an extra thrill, a historic, landmarked haunted mansion just hit the market for $2.31 million. The 7,700-square-foot, 10-bedroom Italianate villa-style home is located at 2475 Richmond Road in Egbertville and is known as the Gustav Mayer House for its original owner, an inventor who created the recipe for Nabisco's Nilla Wafers. Built in 1885, the house served as a Grey Gardens-esque residence for Mayer's two daughters, who stayed sequestered inside until their 100th birthdays. It's said that their ghosts still roam the hallways, along with the presence of their father, according to the Post.
Get the full story here
February 26, 2015

A Comprehensive Database of Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture; New Yorkers Love French Bulldogs

The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation’s website gets a beautiful overhaul that includes a comprehensive, searchable database of the architect’s works. [Fast Co. Design] Tour a tiny, pattern-filled Chinatown studio. [The Cut] The French bulldog was the most popular dog breed in NYC in 2014. See what breed reigned supreme in your neighborhood. [DNAinfo] Second annual Lower […]

February 26, 2015

$9,850/Month Enchanting Greenwich Village Rental Comes with a ‘Juliet’-Inspired Balcony

Although the original architectural details in this floor-through townhouse pad postdate Shakespeare’s classic tome about star-crossed lovers by about 300 years, they offer the perfect setting for a different kind of romance, because this one-bedroom rental at 4 West 9th Street in the Village is easy to fall in love with.
See more of why you'll fall in love
February 25, 2015

Do You Really Know Your Neighborhood? Interactive Map Helps You Find Out More on Who’s Around

No, this isn't a celebrity stalker map. This cool new map from PlaceILive lets you find out more about how your neighborhood rates when it comes to everything from demographics to health to transportation to daily life, safety, sports and leisure and entertainment, which even takes into account how many ramen houses and cheese shops are within reach.
Find out more here
February 25, 2015

The Only Two Living Things in NYC to Have Been Landmarked Are Trees

Last week we looked at the city's oldest and tallest tree in Alley Pond, Queens, which got us thinking about one of the questions at the Preservation Trivia night we recently attended. What are the only two living things in NYC to have ever been landmarked? We'll admit, we were stumped. We guessed Peter Stuyvesant's pear tree and the World Trade Center Survivor Tree, which were both wrong. But they are trees: the Weeping Beech Tree in Flushing, Queens and the Magnolia Grandiflora in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn. And to make it even more exclusive, only the latter still survives; the Beech Tree died and was cut down in 1999.
Find out the history of how these landmarks came to be
February 25, 2015

Elegant Village Rental Has Ties to the Underground Railroad and Lincoln’s Assassin

In a city rich with history it’s always fun to learn of a building’s interesting past, and the walls of this 1830s historic mansion at 45 Grove Street, in which you’ll find this elegant West Village rental, must certainly have some stories to tell. Not only was it a secret stop on the Underground Railroad, but one of its former residents, actor Samuel K. Chester, claimed that John Wilkes Booth visited there in early 1865 and tried to convince him to join a “conspiracy to take over the government” and kidnap President Abraham Lincoln. Chester wanted nothing to do with the plan and Booth went on to assassinate the president in April of that year.
See more of this historic beautiful rental
February 25, 2015

Rents Rising Faster Than Inflation; Tour the Brooklyn Kings Theatre

NYC rents have been rising faster than inflation over the last three years. [NYT] East New Yorkers are trying to stop some of the “new frontier” developments big-wigs are looking to bring to the neighborhood at the center of the de Blasio administration’s affordable housing plan. [Village Voice] A worker at Barclays Center installing the arena’s green […]

February 25, 2015

Is 212 Fifth Avenue the Ultimate Manhattan Address?

That's what developers of a new condominium at 212 Fifth Avenue are hoping. The prestige of Fifth Avenue is world-famous (it also adds a 5- to 10-percent premium to the price of an apartment), and as anyone who was around back in the days of analog phone exchanges knows, 212 is synonymous with Manhattan. Reporting on the "New York-iest address," the Daily News mentions how even "Seinfeld"'s Elaine steals her dead neighbor's 212 phone number after she gets changed to a 646 area code. "The bearer of a 212 phone number looks like a longtime New Yorker. It's the ultimate luxury accessory," the paper says.
Is all the fuss justified?
February 25, 2015

Spectacular ‘Working Girl’ Townhouse on Star-Studded West Village Street Sells for $17 Million

The West Village home that's captured the hearts of film buffs, film makers, preservationists, pinners, real estate oglers—need we go on?—across the globe has just sold for a sweet $17 million, according to city records filed today. Although it was previously reported that the home needed work, buyers were certainly not deterred. A bow-fronted facade, dramatic staircase, 40-foot garden, and spectacular storied details surely kept the bidding war going strong for this 66 Morton Street beauty which was originally listed for just $13 million last October.
have a look inside this way
February 25, 2015

Looking at Ramblersville, Queens, the City’s Smallest Neighborhood; Where To Go Seal Watching in NY

Have you heard of Ramblersville in Queens? If not, it could be because it’s the city’s smallest neighborhood. [Curbed] Architect Thomas Juul-Hansen (the interiors of One57 are just one of his projects) shares details about his personal and professional life, broken down by numbers. [NY Post] Looking for a fun cold-weather activity? Why not go seal […]

February 25, 2015

POLL: Will the NYU Expansion Plan Move Ahead?

After years of contention, we learned yesterday that opponents of the controversial NYU expansion plan would receive their final day in court to try to block the massive redevelopment. While Villagers have long been known as preservation pioneers (Jane Jacobs’ successful fight against Robert Moses’ destructive plans for the area is probably the best-known example), […]

February 25, 2015

Renderings Revealed for West Village’s New Triangular Park That Will Feature AIDS Memorial

In 2011, Rudin Management inked a controversial deal to convert part of St. Vincent's Hospital into luxury condos, now known as The Greenwich Lane. Part of the deal was that the developer would build a public park on an adjacent piece of triangular land that would include the city's first major AIDS memorial, a feature that garnered tons of press thanks to a much-talked-about design competition. Now, the Wall Street Journal reports that Rudin has broken ground on the new 16,000-square-foot West Village green space, located on Seventh Avenue between Greenwich Avenue and West 12th Street. And along with this news comes renderings from M. Paul Friedberg & Partners, the architecture firm that designed the Greenwich Lane and is also designing the park, which show winding walkways, curving benches, plenty of trees, play areas, a lawn, and water jets.
More details ahead
February 25, 2015

Old-World Victorian Home in Ditmas Park Lists for $2.3M

Let’s take a trip to the quiet, tree-lined streets of Victorian Flatbush where a 111-year-old home in the Fiske Terrace-Midwood Park landmarked historic district awaits, asking $2.275 million. This quarter-acre lot is large enough for a pool and a guesthouse or your own little secret garden. And while the curb appeal sets the bar high, the inside takes it to a new level, blending old-world charm with modern updates.
More pics inside
February 24, 2015

Citigroup Will Sell Site to Feed Long Island City’s Growing Skyline

Long Island City's most recognizable tenant is about to sell a prime piece of property in the heart of the neighborhood. According to the New York Times, the financial giant is putting up a one-acre development site, bound by 44th Road, 23rd Street and 44th Drive in Court Square, and it could fetch up to $150 million. Court Square's proximity to Manhattan and plentiful transit has made the enclave one of Queens' most sought-after areas for residential development. Mayor de Blasio is all for the sale and has plans of his own to rezone LIC to spur even more construction.
Find out more here
February 24, 2015

Modernly Rustic Greenpoint Townhouse Is Ready for Its Close-up at $2.5M

It’s easy to see why this gorgeous townhouse at 175 Eckford Street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn was recently featured in a global design magazine. Rustic features like painted white beams, splashes of exposed brick and antique wide-plank floors effortlessly coexist with more modern touches reflected in concrete block walls, Caesarstone countertops, sleek poured radiant heated concrete floors, and a curtain wall of glass that looks out to a pastoral backyard.
have a closer look inside
February 24, 2015

NYU Expansion Plan Opponents Will Get Final Day in Court

In October, the appellate court overturned a previous decision by the New York Supreme Court that prohibited NYU's $6 billion, 1.9 million-square-foot Greenwich Village expansion plan, but community groups vowed to appeal the decision. And they most certainly kept their word. In a press release sent today by the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP), we've learned that the New York State Court of Appeals agreed to hear an appeal by GVSHP, Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, NYU Faculty Against the Sexton Plan, Community Board 2, actor Mark Ruffalo, and other local concerned parties.
More info here
February 24, 2015

Gluck+’s Bridge House: Three Centuries of Rural American Architecture in One Interconnected Home

Bridge House by Gluck+ rethinks the typical country retreat, which is oftentimes just a nondescript, run-of-the-mill house built in a remote area. Located in the hamlet of Olivebridge, this unusual design combines three centuries of American country architecture in one home. Its unique assemblage consists of various volumes, each with a different style and material, joined by long and lean bridges, a gesture from which the home gets its name.
Learn more about this interconnected woodland retreat
February 24, 2015

NYC Time Machine Lets Users Navigate Overlaid Maps from 1600 to Present Day

Cartographers and history buffs will have a field day with this online tool known as NYC Time Machine. Using public data from the New York Public Library, the resource allows users to “navigate perfectly-overlaid maps of NYC from 1660 to present day.” The site is part of Vestiges of New York, which overlays historic photos and current images.
More details
February 24, 2015

Film Critic Jonathan Baumbach Sells Prospect Park South Victorian for $1.8M

Film critic and novelist Jonathan Baumbach (you may know his son, film maker Noah Baumbach, or his first wife, Village Voice critic Georgia Brown) and his wife have sold their historic Prospect Park South Victorian home for $1.8 million, according to city records released today. Built in 1901, the five-bedroom property originally hit the market back in September 2014 for $2.27 million, but decreased its price twice in just five short months.
Take a look around this classic Victorian
February 24, 2015

Sweeping Soho Loft Featured in Magazines Asks $23K/Month

Ever flip through the pages of an architecture magazine and wish that home could be yours? Well, there’s a two-bedroom stunner at 143 Prince Street that has graced the pages of many an architecture magazine, and it can be yours for $23,000 per month. This corner unit is flooded with light thanks to 12-foot ceilings and two walls of 17 oversized southern and western windows spanning 45 feet in the living room. Add to that ebonized wood floors and cast-iron columns, and you have the perfect architectural pin-up.
More pics inside
February 23, 2015

The U.S. Trails Behind in the Global Skyscraper Race

New York is most certainly experiencing a skyscraper boom, but you may be surprised to find out that the number of supertalls going up in the city account for only a small percentage of what's going up globally. According to CBS News, just 20 percent of the world's towers are being built stateside, and of all the tall buildings completed last year, we had only four in the top 20 (One World Trade Center topped the list). So if we aren't number one in this race, then where is this new crop of towers creeping up?
Find out here
February 23, 2015

Modern East Village Condo at The Petersfield Features Magnificent Chandeliered Bathroom

This meticulously renovated $1.75 million double-height corner condo loft in The Petersfield holds more than a few surprises, the first of which greets you as you enter the gallery foyer. Cleverly doubling as a built-in bookshelf display you will find a set of wooden stairs leading up to a sizable queen-sized sleep loft, always a nice addition to a one-bedroom apartment. And then, of course, there's the crystal chandelier over the bathtub...
More inside is right this way
February 23, 2015

Video: Footage Dating from 1896 Is the Oldest of NYC

Can you visualize what New York City looked like in 1896? If not, a new video will let you step back in time. It shows shots of 28 locations from 1905 all the way back to 1896, making it the oldest known footage of the city. The absolute oldest shots were taken on May 11, 1896 and were of Herald Square. Since in many cases a lot has changed over the last century, pinpointed maps with dates provide a welcome commentary.
Watch the full video here

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