6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

Since it started making news in 2006, the starchitect-designed condominium tower at 53 West 53rd Street, officially known as 53W53 along Manhattan's "Billionaire's Row," has progressed slowly, stalled until last September when developers were able to obtain 240,000 square feet of development rights from MoMA and the St. Thomas Episcopal Church for $85.3 million and secure a $860 million construction loan. The Jean Nouvel-designed 1,050-foot asymmetrical tower, often called MoMA Tower, is adjacent to the museum and will occupy three of its lower floors. Now Bloomberg brings us a video interview with Nouvel and interior designer Thierry Despont from the building's sales gallery that opens the door on the building's interiors–or at least those of the building's furnished model unit, which is more than we've gotten so far. We also get to behold a sleek model of the tower's facade surrounded by its neighbors. The architect says that there are "...almost no two similar apartments in the building because on every floor the shape and the layouts are different."
Check out the interiors and the video this way

May 17, 2015

Be the Third Family Ever to Own This 18th Century Dutch House in the Hudson Valley

When the current owners of this 18th century Dutch saltbox bought the home in 1986 they were only the second family ever to own it after the original builders and their ancestors. But they did make one little change–they moved it to a nearby piece of property. At the current location, they completely restored the 1747 Dutch vernacular-style main house, known as the Hall Christy House, and rebuilt the existing ca. 1750 Dutch gambrel home, called the Skidmore House, turning it into a garage and guest house. In addition to restoring and preserving the two beautiful historic structures, the owners also added to the 5.3-acre property impeccable landscaping, a lily pond, herb and vegetable gardens, a brick courtyard, a charming gazebo and a free-form pool resembling a natural lagoon. And now that they've completed all this hard work, you can own the stunning Hudson Valley property for $1,495,000.
READ MORE

May 16, 2015

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff

Extell Shoots for a $4.4B Sellout with the Nordstrom Tower, the Most Expensive Ever Official Rendering Revealed for the Nordstrom Tower Bradley Cooper Scopes Out an $8.5M Three-Bedroom in Tribeca’s Hubert NYC’s 1940s ‘Dream Airport’ Would Have Been on a Giant Midtown Rooftop Louvered ‘Shore House’ Is a Contemporary Beauty Along the Amagansett Coast Place […]

Uncategorized

May 15, 2015

What’s Your Favorite Building in NYC? 6sqft’s Writers and Friends Square Off

By Stephanie Hoina

Once upon a time, when 6sqft was not yet launched, a group of writers were asked for their thoughts on their favorite building in New York City. Their choices, some easily recognizable and others a little further from the beaten path, were mixed together with those of a few folks a lot like our readers—interested in and passionate about all things New York. The result? A wonderful blend of what makes this city great: its diversity, not simply demographically but also in the opinions of those eight million souls who weave together the fabric of all five boroughs to create the most interesting city in the world. And it stands to reason the most interesting city in the world is home to quite a few interesting buildings. As one might expect, there was barely a duplicate in the bunch. Some weren't even on our radar! Is your favorite on the list? If not, we’d love to know what you think in the comments.
Read on to see if you agree with our selections

Architecture And Design

May 15, 2015

6sqft Turns a Year Old Today!

Most of you probably won’t know this, but it was exactly one year ago that 6sqft was launched (time flies when you’re reporting on real estate and architecture!). It’s been a wonderful 12 months for us with more than 2,700 stories and a growing audience that’s amazingly extended beyond the borders of New York City. We’d like […]

Events & Things To Do

May 15, 2015

‘Eat, Pray, Love’ Firehouse in Cobble Hill Sells for $6.25M

The 19th century Cobble Hill carriage house featured in the Julia Roberts movie version of Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat Pray Love" has just sold for $6.25 million, according to the Observer. We’re reminded of the boho-fabulous Park Slope townhouse featured in Noah Baumbach’s "The Squid and the Whale," which changed hands for its ask of $3.45 million back in 2012, so this may be a testament to how much the market has shifted since then–or one could compare indie film cred with Julia Roberts-grade mainstream appeal. Either way, this charming 1840s former firehouse at 172 Pacific Street on a pretty, shade-dappled Cobble Hill block has cinematic qualities on its own. The home, which had been on the market for nearly a year, is unique even on this block of quaint 19th century houses.
Take a look inside here

May 15, 2015

See a Time-Lapse Video of 56 Leonard Going Up; Brooklyn Embassy Townhouse for Sale

56 LEONARD CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS from Rob Cleary on Vimeo. In anticipation for its topping out this summer, 56 Leonard, the 60-story tower designed by Herzog & de Meuron, released a time lapse video tracking the building’s rise from March 2014 to May 2015. [6sqft inbox; video link] The “Late Show’”s presence has been a boon […]

Real Estate Trends

May 15, 2015

What Are New Yorkers Listening To? The Answer May Surprise You

Decades later, and New Yorkers are still gyrating to the tunes of the Rolling Stones. The Journal recently culled the top artists and songs played in bars and restaurants across the city (via e-jukebox vendor TouchTunes) into a map, and they found that although New York is about as diverse as they come, we pretty much all love the same music—or at least groove to the same stuff as we throw back a few.
Find out more here

City Living

Distinctive Homes

$6M Park Slope townhouse is a standout in more ways than one

Steven Van Zandt's Village penthouse in a converted church asks $15M

This $6.5M Hell's Kitchen townhouse has a heavenly rooftop oasis

This $545K studio captures the romantic spirit of the West Village

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

For $1.95M, live in a Victorian house with a two-car garage without leaving city life behind

This $9.7M Nolita loft is a luxury confection in a former chocolate factory

$1.25M two-family Williamsburg townhouse has lots of options for less than a condo

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

185-acre equestrian estate that once belonged to the Carnegie family heads to auction

VIEW ALL

May 15, 2015

Bradley Cooper Scopes Out an $8.5M Three-Bedroom in Tribeca’s Hubert

By Annie Doge

It looks like Hollywood hunk and newly single Bradley Cooper is looking for some New York digs. The Post reports that the actor was spotted checking out a sprawling three-bedroom at The Hubert, located in none other than celeb haven, Tribeca. The picture perfect pad is a seventh-floor unit that's been designed a renovated by Moka Home, described by the brokers as a "rare one-of-a-kind offering will take your breath away from the moment you enter."
Have a peek inside

May 15, 2015

Even the Laundry Room Is Cute at This Clinton Hill Apartment

It's the perfect season to start drooling over garden apartments. This co-op apartment, at 110 Clinton Avenue in Clinton Hill, has a charming interior as well as a lovely, massive garden with plantings and a 70-year-old maple tree. In fact, we can't decide what we like better—the inside or the out. (Just wait until you see the laundry room.) The whole shebang is on the market for $895,000.
Check out the interior and exterior here

Distinctive Homes

May 15, 2015

New Rendering Shows Isay Weinfeld’s Jardim High Line Condos

As the construction boom along the High Line continues, new renderings have surfaced (via Curbed) for the condo development designed by highly acclaimed Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld. Developed by Harlan Berger’s Centaur Properties and Greyscale Development Group, the new project, called “Jardim” (Portuguese for garden), will occupy the site at 525 West 25th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues.
Find out more about the project here

May 15, 2015

Hang with Don Draper on a Midtown Bench; Brooklyn Half Is Saturday

The Brooklyn Half Marathon is this Saturday; some streets will be closed and the race ends at the Coney Island boardwalk. Good luck to all! [Sheepshead Bites] Foreign money: This map shows the city’s Chinese-backed real estate developments. [Curbed] As “Mad Men” signs off, a bench outside the Time-Life Building in Midtown will immortalize Don Draper for the summer. [Pentagram] Six tiny […]

Uncategorized

May 15, 2015

Holy Windows! Stunning Gothic Revival Pad Near Prospect Park Asks $1M

Here's a $995,000 unique two-bedroom pad on coveted 7th Avenue, right near Prospect Park. It's a second-floor unit in a limestone 1880s Gothic revival townhouse, and it features original details like crown and ceiling moldings, 12-foot ceilings with medallions, hardwoods with walnut inlay, a marble mantel, and those windows. Not to mention, there's a peaceful private terrace overlooking a garden.
More pics inside

Distinctive Homes

May 14, 2015

New Yorker Spotlight: ‘Wildman’ Steve Brill Takes Adventurous Folks Foraging in the City’s Parks

By Susan Cohen

In the concrete jungle that is New York City, there's an entire world of wild, yet edible plants and mushrooms. For many, this is likely surprising news, but it's exactly the type of information the aptly named "Wildman" Steve Brill loves to share with New Yorkers. "Wildman" Steve has been foraging New York City's parks and surrounding areas for over 30 years. He even goes so far as to refer to them as his supermarket. However, he didn't always have wild in front of his name. In fact, it was a budding interest in cooking that led him to the edible world. Over the years, his interest blossomed into a business leading foraging tours in New York and beyond, where he introduces newbies to the activity and teaches them about ecology, nature, edible and medicinal plants, and mushrooms. His tours take him through many of New York City's parks including Central Park, Prospect Park, Inwood Hill Park, and Forest Park. "Wildman" Steve has the privilege of working on a regular basis with a wide range of New York schools, universities, institutions and camps, as well as hosting birthday parties for budding naturalists. We recently caught up with "Wildman" to learn all about foraging and the natural world that exists within the city (and even got a few recipes).
Hear about life as a professional NYC forager

May 14, 2015

This Freestanding Home in Manhattan Beach Is Fit for a Hobbit

This freestanding home looks more like it belongs in a hobbit shire than New York City. But it's indeed up for sale in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, at 167 Beaumont Street. It's a cozy stucco house, set back and surrounded by a large, lovely lawn. It's also located just a few blocks from the shores of Brighton Beach. So how much for this unique piece of property at the edge of Brooklyn? $1.2 million.
Tour the interior here

Extell Shoots for a $4.4B Sellout with the Nordstrom Tower, the Most Expensive Ever

Image: the Nordstrom Tower penthouse

May 14, 2015

Extell Shoots for a $4.4B Sellout with the Nordstrom Tower, the Most Expensive Ever

Extell has plenty to brag about, from claiming fame to the city's top two most expensive sales to being credited with starting the whole superluxury supertall tower boom. But according to the Wall Street Journal, the development company's head honcho and mastermind Gary Barnett is vying for another record, aiming to make his next skyscraping creation, the Nordstrom Tower, the most expensive building ever sold at $4.4 billion.
more details here

May 14, 2015

Why Are There So Many Empty Storefronts in NYC?; LIC’s Citigroup Building May Become Condos

The Department of Buildings is getting a $120 million overhaul to help get stalled projects going again. [CO] A new shared bike lane will connect the East River Park to the Williamsburg Bridge. [Bowery Boogie] Here’s why there are so many vacant storefronts in trendy NYC neighborhoods. [Gothamist] Jared Kushner has made a $296 million […]

Real Estate Trends

Place a Bid to Ride in Norman Foster’s Helicopter or Smoke Up with Bjarke Ingels in Copenhagen

Want to get some one-on-one time with the world's most prolific architects? Well here's your chance to pick the brains of the world's leading creatives—and go on an adventure while you're at it! The Van Alen Institute's annual Auction of Art + Design Experiences is in full swing and they've got some great outings for you to lift your paddle for. A ride in Norman Foster's private helicopter, birdwatching with Jeanne Gang, and a private tour of Bjarke Ingels's ski mountain/smoke-ring blowing power plant are just some of amazing excursions being offered—although there are far more relaxed options as well. For lovers of leisure: How does soaking in a hot tub with Charles Renfro of Diller Scofidio + Renfro, cocktails and three of your best buds sound?
info this way, including how to bid

City Council Announces New Task Force on Tracking and Preserving Affordable Housing

Image by Jorbasa Fotografie / Flickr

May 14, 2015

City Council Announces New Task Force on Tracking and Preserving Affordable Housing

City councilman Mark Levine announced Wednesday the creation of the Affordable Housing Preservation Taskforce, which will track existing affordable units across the city on the brink of becoming market rate. The task force is the latest in an effort to address the monumental task of preserving the city's affordable housing. According to Crain's NY, the 14-member task force, which will be led by Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, will work with residents, landlords and nonprofits to identify buildings headed toward market rate rent status. Rent regulation, for example, stipulates that rent can only be raised by a certain percentage each year as set by the New York City Rent Guidelines Board.
More on the new task force

May 14, 2015

See the Northern Part of Central Park on the S.S. Hangover; Citi Bike Stations Coming to UWS

By Alyssa Alimurung

Here’s an excuse to head up to Upper Manhattan. Setting sail tomorrow, the S.S. Hangover will launch its six-week installation showing people the wonders of the northern end of Central Park [Untapped Cities] 39 Citi Bike stations will pop up in the Upper West Side by late summer [DNAinfo] Sad to see the Snowden bust go? Now you can get a […]

Uncategorized

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 5/14-5/20

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, beginning tonight!

May 14, 2015

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 5/14-5/20

By Lori Zimmer

The way-too-hecticness of an art fair week is upon us. If skipping around from Harlem to Randall's Island to the Lower Lower East Side isn't your jam, you can still get an art fix in the comfy confines of your usual spots. Rediscover Central Park with an art walk, or your old post office as it becomes a gallery. Check out architect-designed 3D-printed shoes while picking up new pumps, or discover a new street artist while checking out boutique jewelry. Whether you hit Frieze and the satellite fairs or not, there is an overabundance of art and design this week.
All the best events here

Official Rendering Revealed for Nordstrom Tower: No Surprises but Potential for More Height

Image of Nordstrom Tower/217 West 57th Street, via YIMBY

May 14, 2015

Official Rendering Revealed for Nordstrom Tower: No Surprises but Potential for More Height

Recent reports revealing a potential pinnacle bump for Extell's supertall planned for 217 West 57th Street, followed by a statement by Extell's Gary Barnett denying the new height report–which would have the tower outstreching One World Trade Center–have discussion once again focused on the world's tallest residential tower-in-waiting. Today NY Yimby reports that an official Extell rendering of the project confirms it will match earlier versions of the plans as well as previously-revealed in-house images.
Find out the latest on the tower's height

May 14, 2015

Own a Three-Unit Wing in the Historic Ansonia for $12M

Here's your chance to nab an apartment in the famous Ansonia for $12 million. The 4,500-square-foot pad is the place to entertain all your friends, boasting the tallest ceilings in the entire building, and stunning Upper West Side views from east, south, and west exposures. The space is actually a combination of three units that used to form their own wing of the building, representing the largest original layout ever designed by the building's architect, Duboy of Graves and Duboy. Its current owner, Michel Madie, spent nine years collecting all of the units to bring the space back to its former glory.
More pics inside

May 13, 2015

The Light Is Guiding You to This Chelsea Townhome Owned by an Emmy Winner

It's good to have options. Take this former "Guiding Light" actress's 4,000 square-foot early Greek revival townhouse on James Phelan Row, for instance. It can either be delivered to you as three separate apartments with a potential rental income of $20,000 per month, or you can convert it into one giant dream home. Either way you've got three large outdoor spaces waiting for you during the warmer months, and eight wood-burning fireplaces ready to warm you during New York's fierce winters. And all these options can be right at your feet for $9.5 million.
More pics inside

Move It Whole Foods, Brooklyn Is Getting a Wegmans!

Rendering: Beyer Blinder Belle

May 13, 2015

Move It Whole Foods, Brooklyn Is Getting a Wegmans!

Everyone rejoice! East Coast foodie favorite Wegmans is finally coming our way, inking a deal to open its first ever NYC location in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The New York Times reports that the supermarket giant will take up a whopping 74,000 square feet, anchoring the new shopping complex slated to replace Admiral's Row. Wegmans beat out three other proposals vying to enter the scene but was ultimately chosen because of the lack of affordable grocers in the area, and the store's commitment to bring 600 jobs to the area, 200 of which will be full-time—double what other proposals promised to deliver.
More on Wegmans coming to Brooklyn here

Real Estate Trends

May 13, 2015

Anthony Bourdain’s Food Hall Coming to Pier 57; Equinox Is Katz’s New Neighbor

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

No pain, no gain. Equinox gym is opening up next door to Katz’s Deli. [NYP] Not only is Google taking up space at the upcoming SuperPier Pier 57, but the location will also host Anthony Bourdain’s much talked about food hall. [TRD and CO] More millenials are renting but just as many want to own a […]

Real Estate Trends

THE 6SQFT SHOP

The 6 best furniture rental companies in NYC

8 best places in NYC to thrift for home goods

The best websites for buying and selling used furniture in NYC

Everything you need to know about using a guarantor in NYC

15 quintessential NYC gifts for the New Yorker in your life

50 places to shop locally in NYC for that perfect gift

Raising chickens in NYC: Laws, tips, and everything else you need to know

Everything you need to know about affordable housing: applying, getting in, and staying put

10 best plants for apartment dwellers

VIEW ALL

May 13, 2015

Historic Fort Greene Carriage House in Need of Some TLC Gets over Asking Price

When we think of million dollar listings, visions of super modern or impeccably restored residences come to mind, but this Fort Greene carriage house fits into neither of those categories. In fact, it could easily serve as the backdrop for a ruin porn Instagram photo. But despite its fixer-upper status, two lucky ladies just picked up the 19th century home at 327 Vanderbilt Avenue for $2.6 million, $500k over the asking price, according to city records released today. When the listing first hit the market this past December, Curbed noted that it wasn't "exactly habitable at the moment," but fortunately for the new owners, the sale came with renderings for potential overhauls. It also comes with some surprising historic remnants from its days as a horse stable.
More details, plus find out the interesting history of this carriage house

May 13, 2015

$7.2M Tudor City Penthouse Boasts Amazing Gothic-Style Terraces

If you want an apartment that will truly bowl people over, and you have millions to spare, look no further than this penthouse unit at 5 Tudor City Place in Turtle Bay (h/t Curbed). Massive windows, soaring ceilings, and a private terrace with griffins and gargoyles will definitely impress. The seller is Gordon Bowen, founder of the big-time advertising firm mcgarrybowen. He's unloading his Don Draper-worthy penthouse to the tune of $7.2 million.
See the interior

Distinctive Homes

May 13, 2015

Ikea Says New Yorkers Actually Like Cooking; Get Inside 125 Sacred Sites This Weekend

Ikea’s latest Life at Home report focuses on the kitchen. Turns out, 46 percent of New Yorkers cook almost every weekday and 81 percent enjoy the art of cooking. But, no surprise here, we hardly ever eat in our kitchens or dining rooms. [IKEA] Photos of ’90s newsstands show a grittier and cheaper New York City. [Daily Intelligencer] This Saturday […]

Uncategorized

May 13, 2015

POLL: Is the Reign of Whole Foods Coming to an End?

Last week, we learned that Whole Foods is planning to open a cheaper chain of stores, targeting millennials and vying to compete with other affordable stores like Trader Joes. And today, the internet is abuzz with the news that a Wegmans grocery store is coming to the Brooklyn Navy Yards. This northeast chain is popular […]

City Living

May 13, 2015

Jean Nouvel Says He Has ‘No Favorite Color’ at Event Honoring 53W53

Last night, MoMA held an event to honor Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel and his much talked-about project 53W53, which is also known as the MoMA Tower for its location next to the museum and the fact that the institution will occupy three of its lower floors. Furthermore, its developers bought more than 240,000 square feet of development rights from MoMA, as well as the St. Thomas Episcopal Church, for $85.3 million back in September, at which time they also secured a $860 million construction loan for the 1,050-foot asymmetrical tower. And now that construction has moved forward and interior renderings of the condos were revealed, what better time to pat this long-stalled project on the back. The celebration drew a diverse crowd, including Richard Meier, Martha Stewart, and broker to the stars Dolly Lenz. In a Q&A with filmmaker Matthew Tyrnauer, Nouvel discussed his inspiration for the forthcoming project. Dressed in head-to-toe black (down to his socks and tie), he also revealed that he has "no favorite color," according to the Observer.
Find out about Nouvel's inspiration for 53W53 here

May 12, 2015

Go Inside 190 Bowery This Saturday for an Art Opening

More good news from 190 Bowery! After finding out last week that the Landmarks Preservation Commission-approved plans for the building include keeping its iconic graffiti, we've now gotten word that the storied structure will open its doors to the public this Saturday evening, May 16, for an art opening. The Lo-Down reports that Aby Rosen, the developer who bought the building for $55 million last fall and who is also an avid art collector, is hosting an art opening on the ground-floor in collaboration with curator and art dealer Vito Schnabel. The event runs from 5 to 8pm, plenty of time to take a look around the historic former Germania Bank Building.
More details ahead

The Nordstrom Tower Will Not Be Taller than 1 World Trade Center, Says Developer Gary Barnett

Rendering of the tower NY Yimby

May 12, 2015

The Nordstrom Tower Will Not Be Taller than 1 World Trade Center, Says Developer Gary Barnett

Yesterday, new details on Extell's Nordstrom Tower were leaked, stating that the tower's height had been stretched 20 feet to trump the One World Trade Center. But it looks like the news was all fodder as Extell Development boss Gary Barnett has stepped out denying that his supertall slated for 217 West 57th Street will reach such heights. The NY Post spoke with Barnett late yesterday and the developer told the paper that the tower “will categorically not be taller than One World Trade Center.” Barnett clarified that the building will reach 1,775 feet (with its spire) as planned, which is just one foot shorter than the One World Trade Center.
More on what Barnett had to say

May 12, 2015

If Robert Moses Visited NYC Today, Here’s Where We’d Take Him

If you have even the slightest interest in architecture, urban planning, and NYC history, you know Robert Moses. Unforgettably profiled as the "Power Broker" by Robert Caro, Moses was the "master builder" of mid-20th century New York and its environs. He was a larger-than-life character who had very set ways of approaching urban design. He advocated for highways over public transportation (he built 13 expressways through NYC), dense housing towers over low-scale neighborhoods, and communities segregated by race and class over organic, mixed-demographic areas. Of course, there are plenty of much-loved aspects of the city that also came from Moses–Jones Beach, the United Nations, and ten public swimming pools like the one in McCarren Park. Regardless of your feelings on Robert Moses, though, we can all agree that the city would not be the same without him. But a lot has changed since he lost his post as director of the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority in the mid 1960s and even more so since he passed away in 1981. So we can't help but wonder what he would think of our fair city in 2015. To have a little fun, we planned a present-day tour for the ghost of Robert Moses.
See where we'd take the Power Broker here

May 12, 2015

19th Century Bed-Stuy Townhouse on ‘Doctors Row’ Is Swimming in Wood Details

When you're lucky enough to come across a gorgeous older home that has been lovingly restored like this eight-bedroom home at 126 Hancock Street, you grab your broker and run like the wind to claim it. And you just might do so after you've had a look at this brownstone. This stunning home was originally built in 1883 by architect Isaac D. Reynolds and has been carefully restored to its original glory by a team of interior designers from Pure Interior Design of New York. After this group was finished shining this baby up like a brand-new penny, we were left with a stunning home with all the modern updates, asking $3.195 million.
More pics inside

May 12, 2015

Brooklyn Bazaar to be Replaced by BMW Dealership; Affordable Hell’s Kitchen Apartments Start at $868/Month

Long Island City’s clock tower has been named a historic landmark. [Curbed] Brooklyn’s night bazaar is being replaced by a BMW dealership. [Gothamist] There are now a million rooms available on Airbnb. [NYT] Can scaffolding be beautiful? You be the judge. [Untapped] Rent in Hell’s Kitchen’s luxurious Sky building for as little as $868 a […]

Real Estate Trends

NYC’s 1940s ‘Dream Airport’ Would Have Been on a Giant Midtown Rooftop

Manhattan Airport image via Archidose

May 12, 2015

NYC’s 1940s ‘Dream Airport’ Would Have Been on a Giant Midtown Rooftop

Imagine never having to sit in hours of traffic heading to JFK or enduring all the local stops on the 7 line trying to get to LaGuardia? Your dreams almost came true in 1946 with the proposed 990-acre Manhattan Airport, which would have "stretched 144 blocks from 24th to 71st Streets and 9th Ave to the Hudson River at 200 feet above street level," according to Untapped. The idea of real-estate mogul William Zeckendorf, who owned the Chrysler Building and Astor Hotel, the airport would have cost a whopping $3 billion, a staggering sum in the 1940s, which was planned to be paid off in 55 years from rental income.
More on NYC's Manhattan Airport

May 12, 2015

Travelbox Is a Compact Hotel That Weighs Only 132 Pounds

Want to get away this summer, but don't have the bucks to throw down for a hotel? Consider Travelbox. The compact, lightweight (at 132 pounds it weighs less than the average person) structure has everything you need to comfortably travel on a budget. Designed by the architects of Austrian firm Juust, Travelbox contains a bike, bed, table, chair, and storage, all of which fit into its contemporary wood and aluminum-clad frame that measures just 6.8 feet long, 4 feet high, and 1.3 feet wide.
More on Travelbox here

May 12, 2015

Cozy Gramercy Park Co-Op Comes with Its Own Private Garden and Koi Pond

It's unusual for a small apartment to come with such a big private outdoor space, but that's the case at this one-bedroom co-op apartment up for sale at 22 Irving Place. This Gramercy Park pad is cute on the inside, but even better with its 500-square-foot garden. Not only is it beautifully landscaped, with enough space for a table and barbecue, it's also got its very own koi pond. How much for this little oasis in one of the most desirable neighborhoods of Manhattan? $999,000.
See the rest of the interior here

Distinctive Homes

May 12, 2015

New App Gives Real-Time Subway Locations; Don’t Trip on the Met’s New Rooftop Installation

LiveTrain NYC maps eight subway lines using actual train location data from the MTA. [CityLab] Researching the history of your Brooklyn brownstone? Here’s how to find the original blueprints. [Brownstoner] Tribeca’s AT&T Long Lines Building was constructed to withstand a nuclear blast and be self-sufficient for two weeks. [Ephemeral NY] In honor of Bike to […]

Uncategorized

The LES Site of 90-Year-Old Streit’s Matzo Factory Sells for $30.5 Million

Image by Leo London/Flickr

May 12, 2015

The LES Site of 90-Year-Old Streit’s Matzo Factory Sells for $30.5 Million

When word hit that the Lower East Side's Streit's Matzo Factory would be shuttering, it was sad news not only for longtime residents in the neighborhood, but a horror for New Yorkers worried about the city's transformation into a sea of characterless new constructions. The Real Deal now reports that the site of the historic institution has officially changed hands, closing yesterday for $30.5 million. According to city records, Midtown developer Cogswell Realty is the new owner of the four-building property which totals 50,000 square feet.
So, what's next for this site?

Nordstrom Tower Adds 20 Feet to Become the Tallest Building in NYC and Western Hemisphere

Rendering of the tower at its new height by NY Yimby

May 11, 2015

Nordstrom Tower Adds 20 Feet to Become the Tallest Building in NYC and Western Hemisphere

One World Trade Center's claim to the title as the city's tallest building could soon be nil. NY Yimby reports that the ultra-super-tall Nordstrom Tower at 217 West 57th Street has experienced a growth spurt that's pushed its already jaw-dropping height from 1,775 to 1,795-feet. Though the addition of 20 feet seems insignificant for a skyscraper of such size, the consequences are not: The tower will now not only be the tallest building in the city (19 feet higher than 1 WTC) when completed, but also the tallest in the U.S. and the western hemisphere.
FInd out more here

May 11, 2015

It’s Hard to Pick a Favorite Apartment at This Double Duplex in Boerum Hill

When it comes to multi-family townhouses, it's typical that the owner's floors look a whole lot more desirable than the units that will be listed for rent. Not so at this Boerum Hill townhouse at 355 Pacific Street. The house has undergone a renovation resulting in two very lovely duplex apartments. Picking favorites is going to be a lot harder than the new owner might expect. For the whole 3,440-square-foot property, it's asking $4.595 million.
See both duplex units after the jump

Distinctive Homes

May 11, 2015

Charting the Property Taxes of the City’s 10 Most Expensive Apartments

Back in March, we learned that the owner of the $100 million apartment at One57 (the most expensive sale ever in the city) pays only $17,268 in annual property taxes– "or 0.017 percent of its sale price, as if it were worth only $6.5 million," as we noted. "In contrast, the owner of a $1.02 million condo nearby at 224 East 52nd Street is paying $24,279, or 2.38 percent of its sale price." Why does this happen? It's in part due to the 421-a program, which offers tax breaks for the inclusion of affordable housing and "lowers the billable-assessed value of a property to incentivize real-estate development," according to CityLab. It's also thanks to the city's haphazard system for assessing market values of condos and co-ops. In response to this growing issue of inequality, Mayor de Blasio announced just last week that he hopes to end 421-a for condos, as well as implement an even stricter mansion tax. To make the issue a bit more black-and-white, CityLab has put together two charts that show just how disproportionate the actual value of the city's ten most-expensive apartments is compared with their property taxes. As they note, "In NYC, billionaires pay 1/100th the average property-tax rate."
Find out more here

One Domino Square

8 South 4th Street

Williamsburg

Spectacular living on the Williamsburg waterfront

1 beds starting at $1,925,000
2 beds starting at $2,055,000
3 beds starting at $3,030,000

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May 11, 2015

One WTC’s Elevator Descent Will Fly You Through FiDi; Starbucks Is Coming to Bushwick

Construction may be booming, but there is a record shortage of homes on the market. The low inventory is causing prices to jump and making it harder for folks to move to, let along buy in, New York. [Crain’s] Eight of the ten “Broken Angel” condos are in contract after launching sales less than a […]

Real Estate Trends

May 11, 2015

Louvered ‘Shore House’ Is a Contemporary Beauty Along the Amagansett Coast

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

Let's shake off our winter blues by delving into this this stunning two-level home located just steps away from the sea. The Shore House, designed by Bridgehampton-based Stelle Lomont Rouhani Architects, is an elegant weekend retreat located in Amagansett in the Hamptons. Though the structure is very modern in form, according to the architects it was actually designed to bring up memories of summer camp at the beach. Was your summer camp anything like this?
Learn more about this seaside 2-levels property

The Whitney Bag: Renzo Piano Designs a Purse to Go with His New Museum

The Whitney Bag via Max Mara (L); The new Whitney Museum via 6sqft (R)

May 11, 2015

The Whitney Bag: Renzo Piano Designs a Purse to Go with His New Museum

The architecture world has been pretty "meh" on Renzo Piano's new $422 million Whitney Museum, neither loving nor hating the patchwork of shapes and angles. But if the starchitect is hoping for a more glowing design review, he still has a chance with the fashion world. Piano has designed the Whitney bag, "directly inspired by the pure design and sophisticated materials of the new Whitney Museum of American Art," for Italian fashion house Max Mara.
Find out more about this architecturally inspired collaboration

May 11, 2015

VIDEO: Starchitect Norman Foster Offers Up Some Sage Career Advice

Do what you love. We've all heard it before, but for some reason it seems so much more poignant coming from the mouth of starchitect Norman Foster. In this latest installment of the Louisiana Channel, Marc-Christoph Wagner meets up with Foster in his Geneva home to get some career insight from the icon. Though Foster's worlds are for those in the art and architecture professions, his passion and words can certainly be carried across the spectrum.
Watch the video here

Architecture And Design

May 11, 2015

The World Mapped as Pop Art; How the Park Avenue Tulips Get Planted