6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

Back in November we first got wind of G&M Realty's plan to trademark the 5Pointz name and use it for their new residential towers at the site; now artists connected to the Long Island City graffiti mecca are fighting back. Father-son developers Jerry and David Wolkoff had their trademark application denied twice, most recently on January 6th, for being too similar to a California real estate company. Before their third go, artist Jonathan Cohen (aka MeresOne), who ran 5Pointz for ten years, has started an online campaign advocating to protect the storied name. So far the petition has 2,050 signatures, with a goal of 3,000.
More details on the 5Pointz feud

January 13, 2015

Paying $3 Million-Plus for a Brooklyn Townhouse Is Now the Norm

Brooklyn's real estate market is hot, but the market for historic townhouses is searing. Today, the NY Post cites Ideal Properties' latest report which reveals that $3 million-plus townhouse sales in Brownstone Brooklyn and North Brooklyn increased 579 percent in the last five years, and accounted for 9.5 percent of the 1,035 townhouses sold just last year. Record-breaking sales in the last quarter gave the segment its biggest boost, and rising inventory is expected to swell this number even further over the coming year.
Find out more here

Real Estate Trends

January 13, 2015

Chetrit Group Plans $1.8B Sellout for 96 Condos in the Sony Tower

Back in June, we learned that the Chetrit Group was planning to partially convert the Philip Johnson-designed Sony Tower at 550 Madison Avenue to high-end condos. And it has now been revealed that the 96 condo units will amount to a jaw-dropping $1.8 billion sellout, according to plans the developer filed with the Attorney General's office. By comparison, the initial total sellout at One57 was $2 billion, and at 432 Park Avenue it was $2.4 billion.
More on the luxury conversion

Via aurélien. via photopin cc

January 12, 2015

Street Fight: Why Are There Three Broadways in Manhattan?

Broadway is arguably the most famous street in New York City. It's synonymous with the Theater District; it runs from the southern tip of Manhattan all the way up to Westchester County; and it's the oldest north-south thoroughfare in NYC. While we might not all know these fun facts about the street, we undoubtedly know a thing or two about Broadway and its nonconformity to the street grid. But did you know there's also a West Broadway in Tribeca/Soho and an East Broadway on the Lower East Side/Chinatown? They're not extensions of Broadway proper, so how did they receive their monikers?
Find out about the Broadway conundrum here

January 12, 2015

Get Free Access to 33 Museums with the New NYC Municipal ID

Are you one of those New Yorkers who goes to the Met more than any other museum because it's "pay what you wish"? Do you wait in lines wrapped around the block to get into museums' free admission nights? Well, good news. You can now enjoy your favorite cultural institutions across all five boroughs without having to jump through hoops, thanks to the Mayor's municipal ID initiative. In addition to serving as a city identification card, IDNYC will offer a free one-year membership to 33 of the city’s most prominent museums and cultural centers; it will also serve as a cross-borough library card. New Yorkers can begin applying today, and enrollment will remain open until December 31, 2015.
Interested? Find out more here

January 12, 2015

Four Architects Reimagine Times Square as a Place You Actually Want to Visit

While beloved by tourists, Times Square is easily the most hated destination for those who actually live in New York City. And it's no wonder: Shoulder to shoulder traffic, blinding lights, costumed (and un-costumed) characters, honking cars, and not a tree in sight—Times Square is pretty much your worst nightmare come to life. But could this congested consumerist hellscape one day become a place "Real New Yorkers" want to visit? Last year, the Institute for Rational Urban Mobility and vision42 held a competition asking designers and architects to rethink 42nd Street—from the East River to the Hudson River—as a "pedestrian-friendly, auto-free, sustainable boulevard." 200 submissions were received, and the institute has just announced the four finalists.
See the four finalists here

Architecture And Design

January 12, 2015

Real Estate Wire: A Trippy Checkered East Village Apartment; Top Year-End Condo Sales of 2014

Every room in this $440K East Village apartment has black and white checkered floors. [CityRealty] The biggest sales that rounded out 2014, plus other real estate highlights. [CityRealty (opens to a pdf)] Another reason to love winter: Rent concessions. Winter is a good time to sign a new lease since many landlords will throw in […]

Real Estate Trends

January 12, 2015

Construction Update: One Manhattan Square, Extell’s Mega-Rental Complex in Two Bridges

Groundwork continues on Extell Development's 847-foot-tall mega-rental complex at the foot of the Manhattan Bridge. Rumored to be called One Manhattan Square, the project at 250 South Street will bring a staggering 790 luxury rentals and 205 affordable units to a remote section of the Two Bridges/Chinatown neighborhood. The project rises on the former site of a cherished one-story Pathmark supermarket and its sprawling parking lot. While details of the design remain scarce, public documents reveal a two-towered development of 68 and 23 stories to rise atop a three-story podium that will contain 30,000 square feet of retail. Blogger Bowery Boogie uncovered the residential amenity package, which will include two swimming pools, a health club, basketball court, squash court, bowling alley, golf simulator, and 137 on-site parking spaces.
More details on One Manhattan Square

Distinctive Homes

For $1.2M, this Park Slope brownstone co-op gets the top-floor perk of a private roof deck

$4M Prospect Heights penthouse has three bedrooms, a wraparound terrace, and views in every direction

$10.25M Chelsea condo atop Shigeru Ban's Metal Shutter Houses is everything a penthouse should be

Asking $6.35M, this restored 1804 Tribeca townhouse is one of the last remaining homes from the period

For $950K, a condo with a terrace that puts the 'green' in Greenpoint

The kitchen in this $1.53M Murray Hill co-op is like a ray of sunshine

A long-neglected Clinton Hill townhouse gets a total glow-up and a $5.5M ask

For $5.5M, a gallerist's Soho loft is the perfect backdrop for your art collection

For $4M, East Village living, penthouse-style

Amy Schumer sells Brooklyn Heights townhouse at $1.25M loss

VIEW ALL

January 12, 2015

EVENT: Is the Vanderbilt Corridor the Future of East Midtown?

The proposed East Midtown Rezoning has been a hotly debated issue over the past few years. First introduced by Mayor Bloomberg, and backed by Mayor de Blasio, the rezoning would allow developers to build larger and taller than the current Grand Central Terminal district zoning allows in exchange for financial contributions to the area's infrastructure needs. The Department of City Planning feels the rezoning would ensure that the area maintains its spot as a global business center, but others think it would forever ruin the historic nature of the neighborhood. One of the most major components of the project is One Vanderbilt, a 68-story, 1,514-foot zigzag tower that will stand adjacent to Grand Central. Along with the building comes a reconfiguration of the Vanderbilt Corridor, the streetscape around the Terminal. A panel discussion at the Museum of the City of New York on January 20th will examine both the tower and the corridor and what they mean for Midtown East.
More about the event here

January 12, 2015

New Public Art Piece Will Have All of Times Square Yawning at Once

And not out of boredom. Sebastian Errazuriz has created a new public art piece for Times Square that is the antithesis of the high-energy, fast-paced neighborhood. It's a close-up, black-and-white, three-minute video of the artist looking around and yawning that plays on 50 digital billboards throughout Times Square, which triggers a domino effect of sleepy, open mouthed gaping, since we all know yawns are contagious. Errazuriz's idea was to instill "a pause in the city that never goes to sleep," which informs the title of the work. The yawn-athon takes place every night through January 17th at 11:47pm from 42nd to 47th Streets between Broadway and 7th Avenue.
More (yawn) details ahead

Events & Things To Do

January 12, 2015

Daily Link Fix: Decorating Lessons from ‘Friends;’ Gowanus Bridge Getting a Light Show

The perfect winter coat for every New York neighborhood. [Refinery29] Calling all historic architecture buffs! Sign up now for preservation trivia. [HDC] 10 decorating lessons from Friends. Number one? DO NOT gamble away your rent-controlled apartment. [Apartment Therapy] It’s a big day for Friends…this artist created a miniature, paper replica of Monica and Rachel’s apartment. […]

Uncategorized

January 12, 2015

NYC Design Firm Axis Mundi Creates a Work of Art to House Their Client’s Works of Art

What do you get when you mix the classic bones of a landmarked Greek Revival townhouse built in the 1840s with the bold, award-winning, and decidedly 21st century esthetic of New York-based design firm Axis Mundi? A Greenwich Village residence that is an absolutely stunning work of art. When tasked with not only the gut renovation of a timeless building but also ensuring a suitable context for their client’s spectacular and thoroughly modern art collection, Axis Mundi made certain to respect the charms and scale of the original style while creating a fitting showcase for the likes of Warhol, Haring, and Basquiat.
See why every inch of this home is a work of art

January 12, 2015

Checking In on 56 Leonard: The Rising Star in the Downtown Skyline

Esteemed architect and historian Robert A.M. Stern once said that "New York is a constellation of magic moments. No city as complex as New York rebuilds itself so often, and often so well." Two stars are being born in that nebula of irregular streets we call Downtown. The taller of the two, 30 Park Place, is designed by the famed starchitect himself, and has recently surpassed its neighbor, the Woolworth Building, to soon take its place as the tallest residential perch in the district. The other star, 56 Leonard, may still shine brighter, however. While absent any height superlatives, 56 Leonard may very well end up being the most interesting skyscraper Downtown has produced in decades. Nicknamed the "Jenga-building" and the "tower of penthouses," 56 Leonard's design comes from the Swiss architectural firm of Herzog & de Meuron while working with the residential know-it-alls at Goldstein Hill & West. Currently, the concrete frame is approximately 700 feet tall with little more than 100 feet to rise before topping off. The floors progressively stagger at varying configurations creating cantilevered interior spaces as well as outdoor balconies for each of the residences.
More details ahead

January 12, 2015

Minimalist Prospect Heights Carriage House Asks $2.5M

This converted carriage house in Prospect Heights is back on the market with another price drop, this time, asking $2.499 million. The minimalist 22.5-foot wide home has a touch of European farmhouse charm in a raw modern warehouse, with some vintage accents like reclaimed sinks, found antique gates, repurposed mirrored French doors and tin ceilings. Not to mention the fact that the home comes with a private garage (currently being used as an artist studio space).
Take a look inside

Distinctive Homes

January 10, 2015

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft staff

New Study Reveals It’s More Important to Have a MetroCard Than a College Degree in NYC 158-Year-Old Legally-Embattled Building on Leonard Street Finally Sells for $11.2 Million Will Streetcars Make a Comeback in the Bronx? Construction Update: High Line-Embracing Condo 505 West 19th Street Gets Its Skin Once Vibrant but Long Vacant Graffitied Boyce Thompson […]

Uncategorized

January 9, 2015

Once Vibrant Graffitied Boyce Thompson Institute in Yonkers Will Get a New Lease on Life

While not officially landmarked, the Federal-style masonry building that formerly housed the Boyce Thompson Plant Institute has been part of the Yonkers landscape for nearly a century. After the institute relocated to the Cornell University campus in the late '70s, the original location fell into disrepair, becoming an eyesore the city was anxious to remedy. Enter Simone Development, who welcomed the opportunity to purchase the property and conclude the city's decades-long quest to find the right owner.
Find out about the Institute's new life and the architects behind it

January 9, 2015

Don’t Judge This Gorgeous Williamsburg Rental Loft by Its Cover

The exterior of this 1000-square-foot loft located at 457 Grand Street in Williamsburg isn’t particularly awe-inspiring. A typical turn-of-the-century red masonry building with charming window details, it’s pleasant to look at but doesn’t quite take your breath away. The same cannot be said for the gorgeously renovated and exceptionally bright loft hiding within. The space beautifully takes advantage of the building’s original features like hardwood floors, brick walls, and exposed ceiling beams, then ups the ante with a host of modern touches including multiple skylights, tons of custom built-ins, and a stunning, larger-than-life glass wall/door separating the bedroom from the living area.
See why this book is even better than its cover

Distinctive Homes

Real Estate Wire: Nearly a Quarter of NYC Apartments Aren’t Primary Residences; How Expensive Is Your Neighborhood?

Nearly one quarter of the apartments in New York City are not used as primary residences. Instead they serve as either as pieds-à-terre or investment properties that are rented out to tenants. [NYT] How pricey is your neighborhood? This map will give you an idea of how things stack up. [TRD] Jared Kushner’s Kushner Companies […]

Real Estate Trends

January 9, 2015

Muddy Construction Commences on Jardim, Isay Weinfeld’s Condominium on the High Line

The construction boom in Chelsea along the High Line continues unabated with the start of another condo development penned by a highly acclaimed foreign architect. This latest condominium, dubbed “Jardim” (Portuguese for garden), comes from the office of visionary Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld. Developed by Harlan Berger's Centaur Properties, Jardim's site is situated at 525 West 25th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues–just a single starchitect's lot away from the High Line. Construction at the currently muddy site has commenced, and we got a first-hand look at the progress.
More on the project here

January 9, 2015

The Beaverbrook Cottage Is a Charming Quonset Hut Retreat in the Country

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

If you daydream about spending a few days in a wooden cottage surrounded by an old-growth forest, bush blueberries and native wildlife, don’t worry, paradise is just around the corner. We found this charming two-bedroom, curved-roof retreat in Catskills which looks like the perfect place to unwind without having to leave your beloved modern amenities behind. Sweet and spacious, the Beaverbrook Cottage features spacious bright interiors, a modest country-style decor, a wood-stove, a piano, and a romantic garden complete with a gazebo.
Learn more about this charming curved-roof cottage

January 9, 2015

Daily Link Fix: Williamsburg Bar Will Open in a Water Tower; The Best 100-Year-Old Restaurants in NYC

Photo series explores the faith and modesty of Orthodox Jewish women from Brooklyn to Paris. [Elle] A new Williamsburg hotel will open a bar/lounge in a rooftop water tower. [Bedford + Bowery] Here are the 11 best 100-year-old restaurants in NYC. [Thrillist] Sad about the closing of Streit’s Matzo? Take a look at these historic photos of the factory’s […]

Uncategorized

January 9, 2015

NoMad’s Commune Hotel Reaches Street Level, Will Feature a Public Roof Deck at 300 Feet

After lying fallow for years, the site of the city's first Commune Hotel at 11 East 31st Street is abuzz with construction activity and has risen to street level. Developed by Simon Development Group, Cube Capital, and Eagle Point Hotel, the 250-room, 32-story hotel situated between Fifth and Madison Avenues will be among a dozen new residential and hotel developments slated to transform the once-sleepy NoMad neighborhood. With Gwathmey Siegel Kaufman Architects serving as the design architects and Mancini-Duffy Architecture as the architects of record, the slender 335-foot tower will feature a 125-seat restaurant, lounge, and a rooftop bar providing sweeping skyline vistas and front-row views of the Empire State Building.
More on the hotel and construction progress ahead

January 9, 2015

Community Board Likes Pier55 Floating Park Overall, but Wants More Transparency

It's been relatively quiet over the past six weeks or so as far as news about the proposed offshore park and performance space in the Hudson River known as Pier55. But this week, Community Board 2's Parks and Waterfront Committee reviewed the project, and though they liked Thomas Heatherwick's design overall, they cited their main concern as transparency. The board's issue stems from the fact that billionaire media mogul Barry Diller, who committed $130 million to the 2.7-acre park, and the Hudson River Park Trust had been working secretively for two years on the plans. According to Curbed, committee member Arthur Schwartz said, "Probably the main public critique of this project has been the way that so much of the design was developed in infinite detail before it even became a matter of public knowledge."
More on the outcome of the public meeting

January 9, 2015

Shoot Hoops in This Novogratz Townhouse for $70K a Month

It’s probably fitting that this striking townhouse has a basketball court because it appears that the owners, husband-and-wife design team Bob and Cortney Novogratz, are going to have to jump through hoops just to get it off their hands. The celebrity duo has been trying to unload this West Village townhouse since 2009, but for some reason they just can’t seem to get out from under it. It’s a bit surprising when you consider the specs: 7,180 square feet of interior space, 1,900 square feet of exterior space, high ceilings and views from every level in downtown Manhattan. And we haven’t even gotten to the good part. Well, now they’re bringing the home back to the market, this time as a rental, asking $70,000 per month.
Take a look inside, here

Distinctive Homes

January 8, 2015

The Lena Dunham Real Estate Effect: Looking at the Homes of the Stars of ‘Girls’

One of the reasons Girls became such an instant hit is because it was lauded as the anti-Sex & the City. Its characters live in Greenpoint, not the Upper West Side; they wear Converse instead of Manolos; they struggle to pay the rent rather than living in completely unrealistic apartments. But when it comes to their real lives in New York City, the cast of the HBO show is definitely not struggling to make ends meet, as is evidenced by their impressive collection of real estate. So, in anticipation for this Sunday's season four premier, let's take a look at how Lena Dunham and her posse actually live in the city, as compared with their characters' fictional digs.
See where the stars of 'Girls' live on and off the screen

January 8, 2015

Rents in Brooklyn Still Up Even with a Boom in New Listings

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

MNS has just released the December rental reports covering Manhattan and Brooklyn. Far from surprisingly, rents were up in both boroughs, each seeing a solid increase year over year. But one finding that definitely stood out was Brooklyn's 9 percent uptick in new listings between November and December 2014. Whether rents will reflect the new inventory the coming months has yet to be seen; November on December figures slow only the slightest decrease with average rents falling from $2,677 to $2,666 (a 0.39 percent drop). Bigger picture figures show that since December 2013, rent prices have increased 3.08 percent rising from $2,587 to $2,667 in December 2014. Brooklyn neighborhoods that did especially well last year included Boerum Hill, which saw an average rent increase of 15.7 percent from $2,668 in December 2013 to $3,088 in December 2014; and Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, which saw a 9.5 percent increase since December 2013—a continuing trend for the nabe. So, is Brooklyn still having its moment?
More details on Brooklyn and the Manhattan dispatch this way

Real Estate Trends

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January 8, 2015

Leave the City Behind in This Charming $15K a Month Brownstone

Yes, this is actually a Manhattan residence, not a Brooklyn pad in disguise. The renovated single-family brownstone is located just a block from Central Park and is brimming with charm. The cozy and familiar home has an owner of practically 50 years who has updated the interior with modern comforts like radiant heated floors, but it's details like decorative fireplaces and stained glass accents that make this place truly special.
More pics inside

Distinctive Homes

January 8, 2015

Real Estate Wire: Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis List Home for $4M; Jared Kushner Wants $66M for Top Puck Penthouse

With a new baby in tow, Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis are looking for a new home and putting their Meatpacking District home on the market for just under $4M. [NYP] Jared Kushner is looking to set a downtown record with his $66M listing for the uppermost penthouse at the Puck Penthouses. [WSJ] The upcoming World Trade Center […]

Real Estate Trends

January 8, 2015

Cozy Rustic Cabin Near the Finger Lakes Comes with a Sauna and Serene Surroundings

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

Sweet, wooden and eco-minded, this small guest-home offers a humble retreat in nature not too far from the city. Perched on a ravine in the forest, the cabin is perfect for both nature and wine lovers as it's just a short walk from the Finger Lakes Wine Trail and National Forest. The compact escape is well-equipped despite its diminutive size and features a lofted bed area, a composting toilet, a sauna, and the perfect porch for relaxing and taking in those soothing woodland aromas.
Learn more about this charming wooden cabin

January 8, 2015

There’s No Place to Hide in This Former Printing Press Turned Soho Loft Home

We love how New York’s historical mashup of factories, businesses, places of worship, carriage houses, etc., means that modern living spaces often have unique and interesting former lives. This Soho loft originally housed a printing press, and JENDRETZKI Architects was given the enviable task of transforming its hard edges and wide-open floor plan into a contemporary and functional home—although those who desire lots of privacy may not be so keen on some of the views afforded within the interior.
From printing press to posh loft

Architecture And Design

January 8, 2015

Daily Link Fix: Why NYC Is Awesome in Winter; the 3,200 Doorways Photographed in One Year

Be an optimist today while your hair is growing icicles. Here’s 50 reasons why NYC during winter is awesome. [TONY] Want a free-standing house with a front porch, but don’t fancy moving to NJ or Westchester? Better check out Ditmas Park. [NYT] The Brooklyn District Attorney’s office is investigating the Gowanus rabbit colony. [DNAinfo] Photographer Ray […]

Uncategorized

January 8, 2015

Fox News Host Kimberly Guilfoyle Buys $3.4M Central Park West Apartment Full of Taxidermied Animals

Generally speaking, the ultra-conservative crowd isn't spending their free time volunteering with PETA. So it's quite fitting that Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle just picked up the infamous taxidermy-filled apartment in the Beresford. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your thoughts on decorative dead animals, the long-time owner, journalist Gregory Speck, is sending his massive collection of stuffed friends to the Virginia Museum of Natural History, according to the Post. And Guilfoyle has already hired architect Campion Platt to renovate the two-bedroom, "classic six" home. Lucky for us, though, it's not too late to see the bizarre (or some may say terrifying) Central Park West home.
Take a look inside

January 8, 2015

Tour All Five NYC Boroughs in Five Minutes with This Amazing Drone Video

We thought Google’s new 3-D maps of NYC were cool, but this incredible aerial video of the city’s five boroughs blows Google Earth out of the water. Sky Tech One Aerial Photography created a spectacular montage of footage with the help of a drone, and what’s captured is truly something else. Spanning Lower Manhattan to Yankee Stadium […]

Uncategorized

January 8, 2015

Construction Update: High Line-Embracing Condo 505 West 19th Street Gets Its Skin

The area surrounding the High Line continues to serve as the city's hotbed of avant-garde architecture, and Thomas Juul-Hansen's 505w19 is the latest jewel to stud West Chelsea's verdant necklace. The two-building project, whose 10-story volumes straddle either side of the High Line, will join the ranks of Foster's 551W21, Selldorf's 520 West Chelsea, and Shigeru Ban's Metal Shutter House as a timeless, modern addition that contextually blends into the west side's no-nonsense streetscape. We recently got a peek at the construction of this 35-unit condo development, which is currently getting its skin--a dark-grey saw toothed façade with exposed concrete columns and slab edges.
Take a look at the progress here

158-Year-Old Legally-Embattled Building on Leonard Street Finally Sells for $11.2 Million

Image via Tribeca Trib

January 7, 2015

158-Year-Old Legally-Embattled Building on Leonard Street Finally Sells for $11.2 Million

It's been a rough year for an even rougher 158-year-old structure located at 17 Leonard Street. Since 2013, there's been an ongoing dispute over damage in the building that caused an evacuation ordered by the Department of Buildings. Owner Christopher Rolf has been feuding with his next-door neighbor, Steven Schnall, who is constructing a seven-story condo building with a two-story penthouse next door at 15 Leonard. The dispute concerns the cause of several giant cracks that Rolf alleged appeared once Schnall started construction. Rolf claimed Schnall's project was the reason for the damage, while Schnall insisted that the old structure was already in shambles long before he even broke ground. The drama has dragged on for over a year, but a recent sale points to the end of the saga at 17 Leonard—at least for Rolf. According to public records, Rolf has finally parted ways with the property, striking a deal with an undisclosed buyer (listed simply as "17 Leonard Properties, LLC") for $11.165 million.
More details here

January 7, 2015

Gorgeous Renovated Loft in Williamsburg’s Mill Building Asks $2.7M

There’s an exquisite loft in Williamsburg’s historic Mill Building available for $2.65 million. The one-bedroom stunner stands out from the rest with sumptuous upgrades contrasted with original detail like restored wide-plank floors and prewar beams. True, some of the fun, quirky elements—like the Warhol-esque paintings on the red wall and the trendy furniture—don’t come with the condo, but it’s still the perfect blend of character and luxury.
Take a look inside here

Distinctive Homes

January 7, 2015

Real Estate Wire: Curious Wedge-Shaped Building Sprouts in South Williamsburg; The Upper East Side Redrawn

A funny wedge-shaped two-family building has popped up on a tiny triangle in South Williamsburg on Heyward Street. [Brownstoner] The borders of the Upper East Side redrawn so no block is excluded. [Curbed] The Bnai Zion Foundation is looking to sell its long-time U.S. headquarters in Murray Hill for $21M. [TRD] The buyer of Kiefer Sutherland’s […]

Real Estate Trends

January 7, 2015

Tyra Banks Lists Nolita Condo for $3.8M

By Annie Doge

Fashion-forward supermodel Tyra Banks has listed her surprisingly unfashionable Nolita condo for $3.8 million, according to the Daily News. She bought the two-bedroom pad back in 2005 for $2.1 million. The historic Cass Gilbert-designed Beaux Arts building known as the Spring is located at 225 Lafayette Street and has quite the celebrity following. Actress Dakota Fanning currently resides there, and John Mayer sold his unit there for close to $4 million in 2013. We're guessing it wasn't the limelight that persuaded Banks to list, though.
Take a look around the rather un-fierce apartment here

January 7, 2015

The City Began Rebuilding 1,002 Sandy-Damaged Homes in 2014

Mayor de Blasio’s 2014 goal for Hurricane Sandy reconstruction was to start the rebuilding of 1,000 homes and distribute 1,500 reimbursement checks to homeowners who paid for repairs out of their own pockets. And not only have those goals been met, but they’ve been exceeded. According to the Daily News, the city has begun construction on 1,002 […]

January 7, 2015

Daily Link Fix: How Central Park Looked in the 1980s; What if Apple Made iMilk?

This Greenpoint artist uses discarded glass found on the street and McCarren Park turf to create mini sculptures [DNAinfo] Here’s what Central Park looked like in the 80s…a lot different than today. [Gothamist]. What if Nike sold oranges and Apple made iMilk? An artist reimagines fashionable brands as they’d exist in the grocery store. [Fast […]

Uncategorized

January 7, 2015

POLL: Will 2015 Manhattan Sale Prices Surpass Record-Breaking Average of 2014?

Yesterday we learned that the average Manhattan sale price reached an all-time high in 2014, climbing to $1,718,531 and surpassing the pre-recession record of 2008. We weren’t totally surprised, considering the past year’s slew of new, high-end developments. We predict that this trend will continue into 2015, with even more luxury listings hitting the market. But what […]

Real Estate Trends

January 7, 2015

Prospect Heights Row House Once Literally “Gone to the Dogs” Is Now Best in Show

Like most townhouses of its time, this Prospect Heights abode suffered from what Delson or Sherman Architects referred to as "common row-house ailments." Dark in the middle and spatially flat, coupled with the fact that it had housed a kennel in one of its former lives, this home had literally gone to the dogs in more ways than one. But wait until you see how the firm transformed the Brooklyn house.
From dark and flat to bright and layered

January 7, 2015

Palatial Tribeca Triplex with Coveted Keith Haring Mural Finds a New Owner

An 8,000-square-foot Tribeca triplex with a 45-square-foot entertaining space, an original Keith Haring mural, cast iron columns, soaring arched windows and 26+ foot coffered ceilings is not such a hard sell. So we were not surprised to see that this palatial pad sold for the asking price of $10 million according to city records. Located in the historic American Thread Building at 260 West Broadway, this regal home combines the privacy of townhouse living with the security and services of a fully staffed building. When it hit the market back in May we were seriously swooning over its museum-like feel and impressive art collection. But that's not all...
Take a look around the rest of the home here

January 6, 2015

Will Streetcars Make a Comeback in the Bronx?

Once upon a time in a city now known for its web of transportation options, the world’s very first streetcar made its debut in 1852 on the roads New York. At the height of their popularity, streetcars could be seen running on just about every major thoroughfare; but pressure from New York City's Board of Transportation for a unified bus transportation system across the city soon led to their demise. By 1948, the streetcar lines in the Bronx and Manhattan were gone, seemingly lost forever to the nostalgia of simpler times. Today, a perfect storm of factors may pave the way for the resurgence of this once-popular mode of transportation that promises to yield a bevy of benefits for Bronxites and beyond.
Streetcars back in the Bronx?

Transit

720 West End Avenue

Upper West Side

Serene Upper West Side homes near Riverside Park

1 beds starting at $1,005,000
2 beds starting at $2,495,000
3 beds starting at $3,495,000
4 beds starting at $5,850,000

Learn More

January 6, 2015

Dean/Wolf Architects’ Amazing Brooklyn Townhouse Has an Operable Tetris-Like Facade

Fusing indoor and outdoor space is a rare occurrence in places like New York City, where outside real estate rarely constitutes anything more than a 2 foot x 5 foot fire escape. So when the residents of this Brooklyn Heights townhouse moved into their new pad, they knew that their spacious backyard would have to be the star of their home. As such, the Brooklynites called upon Dean / Wolf Architects to take on the task of breathing new life into their townhouse, and by the looks of things, they couldn't have chosen better. Instead of simply employing floor-to-ceiling windows to make the connection, the savvy architects designed an operable, puzzle-like rear facade that allows the home's inhabitants to seamlessly join the indoors and the out with just a few turns of the wrist.
More on the aptly named 'Operable Boundary Townhouse/Garden' here

January 6, 2015

Ultra-Modern NoMad Loft Returns to the Market with a $1M Price Increase

The unusual $3.84 million loft at 50 West 29th Street is sure to be a head-turner, but not necessarily for the reason you may be thinking. Oh, we know what you’re thinking. Just look at it: a 20th century industrial loft with a modern 21st century twist. Sprawling spaces that make you want to whip out your bowling shoes. Pipes for days. But what you won't see in the architecture is the mysterious $1 million added to the price tag since it disappeared from the market last year. We’ll cast aside all judgment for a moment as we take a look at this remarkable space, because, let’s be honest, it’s a looker.
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Distinctive Homes

January 6, 2015

Real Estate Wire: 90-Year-Old LES Matzo Maker to Shutter; 45 Park Place Gets Its Demo Permits

Streit’s Matzo Factory, the last family-owned matzo factory in the U.S., is in contract for purchase by an unnamed developer. The properties, located in the Lower East Side, were listed for $25M. [Bowery Boogie] Soho Properties has received demolition permits for 45 Park Place, the site where a 665-foot tower luxury tower and an Islamic museum will rise. [CO] The […]

Real Estate Trends

January 6, 2015

Average Manhattan Sale Price Reaches All-Time High in 2014