November 3, 2014

Staten Island’s Abandoned 45-Acre Farm Colony Will Be Revitalized to Include a Massive Public Park

Staten Island's renaissance continues to move full steam ahead as the Landmarks Preservation Commission has unanimously approved the rehab of the long-abandoned poorhouse and farm located on the oft forgotten borough. Curbed reports that the New York City Farm Colony will be redeveloped into 350 units of senior housing with some retail space in a new eco-minded project called 'Landmark Colony'. The plan, which is being spearheaded by NFC Associates in cooperation with the New York City Economic Development Corporation and Vengoechea + Boyland Architecture was lauded for its site-sensitive design and ample green space.
find out more here
November 3, 2014

Real Estate Wire: 15 of NYC’s One-Block Streets; Great Ground-Floor Apartments

More Goldilocks Blocks; here are 15 one-block streets in NYC. [Untapped Cities] Great ground-floor apartments that aren’t dark and grim—like this one located in a former seminary. [Curbed] The case for the pied-a-terre tax: All apartments take advantage of major city services—be it police, fire, courts, or sanitation. It’s these city services that make New York City […]

November 3, 2014

Poorex’s Tripod Furniture Makes a Statement on Three Legs

As New Yorkers, we're always on the hunt for space-saving furniture, but oftentimes those pieces don't quite meet our design esthetics. The Tripod Furniture collection, however, is an exception. Created by Polish design studio Poorex, the beach wood furniture puts a contemporary twist on the classic photography stand. The collection includes a lamp, clock, an adjustable mirror, two types of tables, and a toy. And since the pieces are able to expand and contract, the user can modify the tripod's height and angle to their specific needs, as well as fold it up for easy storage.
More details on the Tripod Furniture
November 3, 2014

Copper-Clad Writer’s Cabin by Andrew Berman Changes Color with the Sun

Some people need a tranquil, secluded space to create, and this stunning writing studio by Andrew Berman Architect is the perfect place to fulfill that need. Located in Bellport, New York, on Long Island's South Shore, this unique shelter is certainly eye-catching as it's entirely clad in copper. In addition to boasting a large central window that overlooks the green landscape, this charming abode also changes color depending on the light. Talk about an ideal spot for daydreaming and curing writer's block...
More on the house here
November 3, 2014

This 16-Room Upper East Side Penthouse with Conservatory is Back for $4M Less

Real estate in NYC has its own special 'wow' factor that many of us have become accustomed to. However, every now and again you come across a property of truly epic proportions, and this seven-bedroom, 16-room penthouse located at 52 East 72nd Street on the Upper East Side is just that. The massive space spans approximately 6,300 square feet and includes 1,200 square feet of elegantly landscaped terraces. The listing price for this beauty is $17.95 million—and yep, if you've been following it, it has indeed returned to the market for $4 million less than its April listing price.
Take a peek inside
November 3, 2014

Trinity Church Will Build First Residential Developments in Hudson Square

Trinity Real Estate, the property arm of Trinity Church, oversees 5.5 million square feet of office space in buildings that it owns in the city, a $3 billion portfolio. But now the Episcopal church is looking to branch out into residential development for the first time since it received 215 acres of land in downtown Manhattan from Britain's Queen Anne over three centuries ago. Led by Jason Pizer, Trinity Real Estate will build four luxury residential towers in Hudson Square and a part-residential tower near Wall Street, amounting to over 1 million square feet of residential space.
More on Trinity's plans here
November 3, 2014

Today’s the Day: Condé Nast Moves into One World Trade Center

More than nine years after ground broke at One World Trade Center, the tower's first and largest tenant, Condé Nast, is moving in. Though the media company will not complete its move until January, the relocation actually began last weekend when 2,800 orange crates full of files, photos, and books were carted downtown from the media company's Times Square office. Today, 175 employees will start their days at One WTC, the first wave of the 3,400 employees at 18 magazines. And as the New York Times notes, the scene they're encountering is much different than when construction began nearly a decade ago. As the number of financial institutions has declined, tech firms, advertising agencies, and media companies have made the Financial District their new home, along with a residential population of 61,000.
More on the big move here
November 3, 2014

Brighten Your Mood with this $4M Colorful Maria Brito-Designed Co-op

Who needs lifestyle tips from Goop when you can live like Gwyneth Paltrow instead? That’s right. 320 East 72nd Street has an apartment designed by Maria Gabriela Brito, self-proclaimed luxury lifestyle consultant with a Rolodex full of clients like P. Diddy and Gwyneth. The colorful Lenox Hill apartment is not afraid to show its fun side, and it’s now on the market, asking $3.795 million. The Brazilian-inspired design is definitely not for the faint of heart, but Brito anchors the vibrant accents with a neutral backdrop, creating a lively yet sophisticated space.
Take a look inside, here
November 2, 2014

And About That Grecian Temple on the Henry Hudson Parkway…

New York City is filled with an abundance of structural treasures that are hard to miss. From the Brooklyn Bridge to the Chrysler Building to the soon-to-be-opened Freedom Tower, there is no shortage of architectural eye candy vying for your attention. Which means some pretty spectacular little gems get lost in the shuffle. Like the curious white, Doric-columned structure located off the Henry Hudson Parkway near West 190th Street. Part of Fort Washington Park, this scenic overlook perched over 100 feet above the Henry Hudson River is known as Inspiration Point – a perfect moniker given its breathtaking vistas of the river, George Washington Bridge, and the majestic Palisades in neighboring New Jersey.
Learn more here
November 1, 2014

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff

Do cemeteries affect real estate prices in New York? The answer might surprise you. It’s going to cost $32 to visit One World Trade Center’s observatory. But the views are pretty incredible. Did you check out the Village Halloween Parade last night? Find out the history of the famous festivity. If you haven’t already, wish […]

October 31, 2014

New Yorker Spotlight: Behind the Scenes and Screams with Clinton Hill’s Halloween Queen, Janna Kennedy Hyten

When Janna Kennedy Hyten was growing up in rural Florida, she probably never envisioned the crowds that would one day gather outside her Brooklyn home for Halloween 313. At the time, Janna's physical world was small, but her imagination was large and primed to create the wonder, joy, and gore necessary to captivate thousands of children each Halloween. Halloween 313 began 20 years ago when Janna opened her home at 313 Clinton Avenue to Clinton Hill's children. Over the last two decades, what began as elaborate Halloween decorations on the home's exterior, developed into an annual, full-fledged, front yard production with fun names and storylines like "Grimm Scary Tale," "Pirates of the Scarebbean, The Curse of the White Pearl," and "20,000 Screams Under the Sea." We recently spoke with Janna to find out more about the woman and home behind Halloween 313.
Read the interview here
October 31, 2014

Grave Concerns: Do Cemeteries Affect Real Estate Prices in New York?

Not so surprisingly, Manhattan has a slew of cemeteries, graveyards and built-over potter’s fields (for unclaimed bodies). Madison Square Park was originally used as a potter’s field, as was Bryant Park. And though these swaths of land served many purposes over the years, it took an eternity before they were lovely public parks. From the late 1600s, burial grounds were generally confined to what would now be just south of City Hall, but more began popping up further uptown during the 1800s as the city’s population grew in leaps and bounds. With Halloween upon us, tis’ the season for checking out if living near one might give a buyer a bit of a ghostly scare or whether it takes an eternity to sell when the living room window overlooks tombstones marking coffins buried six feet under. Hear what experts say, and then learn about the city's most notable graveyards.
Do homes near cemeteries sell at a discount in NYC?
October 31, 2014

$129 Billion Worth of NYC Real Estate Is Within New FEMA Flood Zones

Since FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) updated its flood-zone maps after Superstorm Sandy, we learned that it could cost the city $5 billion to comply with the new regulations, as 60,000 additional buildings were identified as being within the flood zones. This brings the total to 84,000 buildings worth over $129 billion, according to a new report released by the Office of New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer on the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy.
What does this mean for the city?
October 31, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Bjarke Ingels’ 57th Street Apartment Tops Out; Landmarked Dudley Townhouse for Sale

David Wolkoff, the developer of the residential building replacing 5Pointz, has sold his 791 Park Avenue home for $10M. [NYO] BIG’s 57th Street pyramid gets its topper. [Curbed] A Bowery development site sold for $45M. [TRD] The Port Authority has lost the $175M Hudson Yards tower deal. [Crain’s] Landmarked Dudley Memorial townhouse at 118 Amity Street in Cobble […]

October 31, 2014

Tsao & McKown Re-Tailor an 1850s Derelict Farmhouse into a Charming Weekend Retreat

When Brooklyn-based architecture firm Tsao & McKown arrived to this farmer’s cottage in upstate New York, they found the 1850’s building in a complete derelict state. They made all efforts to preserve its original charm, paying special attention to the materials and details found in every corner of the house. Located in Rhinebeck, this woodland retreat is full of endangered crafts and classic pieces by the likes of Victorian designer Christopher Dresser and Danish designer Hans Wegner.
Learn more about this charming renovation filled with classics
October 31, 2014

Live-Work Loft in SoHo is a Museum for Luxury Living

This live-work loft, currently home to a prominent art dealer and his a notably impressive art collection, was recently put on the market for $6.5 million. Located in the heart of SoHo at 84 Mercer Street, this galley-style home occupies a full floor that was gutted and rebuilt with the help of loft architect Todd Ernst. The building was first constructed in 1884, and in 1978 was declared a National Historic Landmark. The cast-iron structure features massive windows, 16' ceilings, a private elevator, and a definitively cool interior style.
Tour this spectacular loft
Pitch a story icon Know of something cool happening in New York? Let us know:
October 31, 2014

Animated GIFs Remembering the Post-Sandy Devastation

This week marks the two-year anniversary since Hurricane Sandy devastated New York City and the surrounding coast lines. In its wake, the storm forever altered our coastal areas. These before-and-after satellite images from the Huffington Post taken via Google Earth, show just how dramatic the damage was—and they ask us to consider the progress we've made recovering from the destruction over the last two years. Our rebuilding efforts in the post-sandy aftermath have been significant, however our work is far from over.
More details here
October 31, 2014

Visit This Quirky Museum Hidden in a Chinatown Elevator Shaft

Looking for something off-the-beaten-path to do this Halloweekend? Mmuseumm might be right up your alley. And speaking of alleys, it's located on Cortland Alley in Chinatown within a single, abandoned elevator shaft. The 60-square-foot Mmuseumm is a modern natural history museum that exhibits contemporary artifacts, illustrating "the complexities of the modern world." Its eclectic collection of everyday items includes toothpaste tubes from around the world and papers left behind in copy machines.  It even manages to fit a gift shop and café in its tiny footprint.
More info on the museum here
October 31, 2014

The City’s Priciest Rental is a $500,000/Month Suite at The Pierre

Because if you've got the cash, why buy a $6 million home when you can rent one for a year at the same price? The WSJ reports that the newest most expensive rental in the city is located on the the 39th floor of The Pierre and it's going for a cool half-a-million dollars a month. The floor includes the 2,000-square-foot Presidential Suite, which can combine with other rooms for a total of 4,786 square feet (or six bedrooms with six-and-a-half bathrooms), or be rented separately for $400,000 per month with the additional rooms ranging from $20,000 to $40,000 per month.
Find out more here
October 31, 2014

This Brooklyn Heights Pad Brings a Touch of the Countryside to the City

There are a million reasons to move to Brooklyn Heights: it’s one of the most coveted locations in Brooklyn; its quiet tree-lined streets are enhanced by scenic landscapes and beautiful architecture; and most importantly, it was the setting for the Cosby Show--although it turns out the façade of the Huxtable’s brownstone was actually a residence in Greenwich Village. The horror! Well, now there’s another reason to head over to Brooklyn Heights, and it’s this beautiful co-op at 76 State Street, asking $995,000. This two-bedroom apartment makes its mark by managing to seamlessly bring a little country living to the upscale urban backdrop. What more could you ask for?
We'll show you here
October 30, 2014

6 of New York’s Spookiest, Scariest and Downright Strangest Homes

Every day at 6sqft we pretty much find ourselves in awe saying "We can't believe people live like this!" But every so often we come across a home that has us muttering "People live like this??" In celebration of All Hallow's Eve, we've rounded up six spooky and scary Manhattan and Brooklyn residences. One is filled to the brim with dead animals, another hides a secret underground portal, and another harbors an incredible tale of murder and deceit. Jump ahead to see all six them all—and if you'd ever dare live in one of these petrifying pads, you're in luck because several of these homes are for sale. Lucky you?
For these homes, it's Halloween year-round
October 30, 2014

Townhome in Hidden English Tudor Village on Upper West Side Asks $2M

It would be easy to walk right past Pomander Walk on a trip down 95th street, between Broadway and West End Avenue. The quaint little enclave is well concealed by an unsuspecting gate. However, walk through that gate and you’re in for quite a treat. Behind it is one of the most unexpected co-ops on the Upper West Side—an enclave so enchanting that it won the hearts of American treasures like Rosalind Russell, Lillian Gish, and Humphrey Bogart. And right now, one of those co-ops is available for $1.995 million.
Let's take a look
October 30, 2014

President Obama’s College Apartment is Now Renting for $200 Cheaper

Live like a president—back when that president was a struggling student in college. The tiny two-bedroom apartment President Barack Obama once shared with another student while at Columbia is now renting for $2,300 a month, a couple hundred bucks less than its previous $2,500 a month listing price. The quaint home located in a rental building at 142 West 109th Street comes with an old photo of the prez standing in the doorway, and according to the listing, living here could be the road to political greatness: "who knows you might end up at the WHITE HOUSE one day!"
Inside Obama's college digs here
October 30, 2014

East Village Condo’s Celebrated Design Will Make Your Dreams Come True

On any given day New York City has the potential to make all of your dreams come true, and this beautiful three-bedroom East Village condo, located at 211 East 3rd Street, might make that dream a little sweeter. This amazing property underwent an all-inclusive renovation just two years ago, and the result is an exquisitely curated interior enhanced by architectural sophistication that is sure to grab your attention. The renovation also garnered features in Martha Stewart Living, the Wall Street Journal and several other magazines and papers.
READ MORE
October 30, 2014

Relax in This Giant Birdsnest by OGE Creative Group

Since there's snow predicted for tomorrow, we're starting to get in the mood to curl up in a warm, comfy chair with a good book. But while we've been dreaming about La-Z-Boys and plush sofas, the imaginative designers at OGE Creative Group were busy coming up with the ultimate cozy lounger--the Giant Birdsnest. Known officially as the "Giant Birdsnest for creating new ideas," this bed/couch hybrid was conceived as a new and inspiring social space that fuses furniture and playground.
More on the fun-loving Giant Birdsnest here
October 30, 2014

Construction Halted on Karim Rashid’s Harlem Condo After Buddha Statue Gets Decapitated

Karim Rashid's condo at 329 Pleasant Avenue just can't seem to win. Weeks ago, the designer was forced to scrap the building's cyan and magenta color scheme for a more subdued palette, and now DNA Info reports that the city has issued a partial stop-work order on the building. The halting of construction comes after the city received complaints from neighbors that their foundations were being damaged by digging and careless workers. But the greatest victim in all of this? How about this Buddha statue which was decapitated by a construction worker.
More on the drama
October 30, 2014

POLL: Would You Live Next to a Cemetery?

In the spirit of Halloween, yesterday we took a look at whether or not living near a cemetery affects real estate prices in New York. Apparently, on average, homes close to cemeteries were slightly smaller, but sold for more due to a higher cost per square foot. And though this is what the research suggests, […]

October 30, 2014

Tour the Lent-Riker-Smith Homestead and Cemetery, Queens’ Oldest Private Residence

In a world where you can virtually tour real estate listings, it's nice to know that the good, old-fashioned house tour hasn't gone out of style. And this Saturday, one of the oldest homes in Queens is opening its doors for a tour of its refurbished interior, exceptional gardens, and historic cemetery. The Lent-Riker-Smith Homestead in East Elmhurst was built circa 1656 by Abraham Riker, an early settler of New Amsterdam. Its current owner Marion Duckworth Smith still lives in the home, which makes the property the oldest private residence in the borough. She and her late husband Michael Smith began restoring the home in 1980, and since then Smith has offered the occasional tour, giving guests a glimpse into the Riker burial ground, which holds the remains of 132 descendants, the interior living areas, and the picturesque gardens, which include a gazebo and workshop designed to look like a gingerbread house.
More on the house's history and the upcoming tour
October 30, 2014

Bruce Willis Buys $12 Million, 22-Acre Site in Bedford, NY

Lots of Hollywood celebrities are making waves in Bedford, New York this week. Just after it was reported that Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones sold their home in the woodsy Westchester town for $7.5 million, in turn closing on a nearby property for $11 million, it's now making headlines that Bruce Willis has dropped $12 million on two Bedford parcels totaling 22.32 acres. The actor has been very busy with real estate lately. He recently listed his Sun Valley ski house and Beverly Hills estate and bought a Central Park West apartment. Willis and his wife Emma Heming will now get to enjoy the 8,000-square-foot, shingle-style home, as well as the adjoining property's antique house and two renovated guest cottages.
Take a look at Bruce's Bedford digs here
October 29, 2014

Forget Showrooms, Developers Turn to Oculus Rift to Virtually Immerse Buyers in Pricey Properties

Though more and more house hunters are back to buying off of blueprint in this hot real estate market, that hasn't stopped developers from tricking out their sales offices with hopes of trumping the competition. Ultra-detailed scaled models line spaces, and the priciest of couches and countertops fill life-sized mockups blocks away from the actual address. More recently, buildings like 50 West have built out entire theaters wrapped with screens intent on showing buyers the panoramic city views their shelling out millions for. Clearly, cost is not a concern. But watch out, there's a new group on the scene ready to really shake things up. Architecture visualization firm ArX Solutions has turned to a piece of virtual reality tech that everyone seems to be talking about: Oculus Rift. With their specially designed virtual reality tours, clients can see exactly what its like to walk through a home with all their sensations engaged. Cool? Absolutely. But this tour doesn't come cheap. Like the lofty homes it features, a trip with Oculus Rift rings in at a jaw-dropping $95,000.
Find out more about taking an Oculus Rift real estate tour
October 29, 2014

Bike Activists Demonstrate the Absurd Size of Cars for Single Drivers

In New York, where a parking spot can cost up to $1 million, it's important to realize just how much space one single car really takes up. As part of the 2014 edition of European Mobility Week, a group of Latvian activists got this message across with some truly out-of-the-box methods. The activists are part of the advocacy group Let's Bike It, and the goal for their recent project was to create a visual commentary about the space taken up by cars on a typical road. In doing so, the group fabricated bamboo structures that resembled the shape of a car and mounted them to their bicycle frames. They then road their cycle-monstrosities through the streets to demonstrate the absurdity of operating large cars to transport a single person.
More on the activism here
October 29, 2014

Crowdfunded MAID Microwave Suggests Meals Based on Your Eating and Fitness Habits

That line about New Yorkers using their ovens as shoe storage is getting pretty old (thanks Sex and the City), but a new smart microwave may just make it viable to ditch the stove for good. Called MAID (Make All Incredible Dishes), the product is being crowdfunded on Kickstarter by creator SectorQube, and not only can it perfectly nuke your meals, but it can suggest what dishes you'll like based on your cooking habits and fitness. MAID is 1.3 cubic feet and provides access to a crowdsourced recipe store, gesture and voice commands, and a smartphone app that will alert you when dinner's up. The recommendation feature, definitely the highlight of the product, will offer meal options to complement your diet as well as suggest a run if you just indulged in a 2,000-calorie, carb-loaded pizza.
More details on the smart microwave
October 29, 2014

Greenwich Village Townhouse Boasts Cool Rooftop Office and Personal Secret Garden

Simply put, this historic Greenwich Village property, designed by BW Architects, is amazing. A sophisticated balance of design elements that blend the old with the new are incorporated throughout the 4000-square-foot home. And not only is it beautiful, but the 1840s townhome underwent an extensive reconstruction project, completed in 2012, that made it the first townhouse in downtown Manhattan to earn a LEED for Homes Gold rating. And have we mentioned its incredible rooftop office?
Check out the home
October 29, 2014

Daily Link Fix: Memorial Events for the Second Anniversary of Hurricane Sandy; A Modest Proposal for NYC Ambassador Taylor Swift

Pix11 has rounded up memorial events in New York and New Jersey to mark the second anniversary of Hurricane Sandy. It’s National Cat Day! And in honor of the occasion Uber’s UberKITTENS will deliver an ASPCA cat to your office for 15 minutes. More on Business Insider. In today’s Daily News, Jeremiah Moss, of Jeremiah’s […]

October 29, 2014

It Will Cost $32 to Visit One World Trade Center’s Observatory

On Monday we learned that tourism is predicted to bring in one quarter, roughly $53 million, of the One World Trade Center's annual revenue by 2019. And now the much-talked-about ticket price to visit the three-floor observation deck of the tower, known as One World Observatory, has been revealed. It will cost $32 for an adult to visit the observatory when it opens in the spring of 2015.
More details and renderings of the observatory ahead
October 29, 2014

Unique Historic Penthouse with Intriguing Past Asks $7 Million

The penthouse of one of Manhattan’s most prestigious and unique landmark apartment houses has just hit the market, asking $7.25 million. The one-of-a-kind pad was formerly the squash-tennis court of Kingdon Gould, grandson of the infamous multimillionaire financier Jay Gould, who notably fell from grace for manipulating gold and railroad stocks. Kingdon’s custom-built quarters consisted of a triplex penthouse with a fourth-level painting studio for his mother, and 20 rooms, including a double-height music room.
Take a look inside, here
October 28, 2014

Happy Birthday Lady Liberty! She Turns 128 Today

Every day Lady Liberty stands tall holding high her torch in celebration of our nation's freedom. Since today is Miss Liberty's 128th birthday, we thought it would only be appropriate to take some time out of our busy schedules to return the favor. Join us for a brief look back at some of Miss Liberty's most notable moments throughout history. Happy birthday Lady Liberty, and here we go!
Fun facts on Miss Liberty here
October 28, 2014

Will Bill Ackman Be Able to Pull off a $90M Condo Flip at One57?

It's true that One57′s first flip saw a $3.5 million profit in just five months, but that unit sold for $34 million the second time around. A selling price of more than $90 million is a different story--and that's exactly what hedge fund manager William (Bill) Ackman is hoping to achieve. In a profile in the Times on Sunday, Ackman was revealed as the buyer of the $90 million penthouse at the luxury building, which is sure to see its share of flips. But he also shared that he has no intention of ever living in the apartment. He'll stay with his wife and daughters at their current home in the Beresford and use the penthouse as a "fun" investment opportunity for himself and some good friends, perhaps hosting a few parties there in the meantime.
More on the planned flip here
October 28, 2014

The Iconic Black Moleskine Notebook Is Turning Red to Raise Awareness for AIDS

The black Moleskine notebook is one of the most recognizable products in the stationary world, but the iconic pad is getting a brightly colored update for a good cause. The special edition #oneREDday collection is a partnership between Moleskine and (RED) to raise awareness and funds for the fight against AIDS. The collection includes a hard cover notebook, 2015 planner, red click pen, and luggage tag, all of which feature the iconic elastic Moleskine band in red. Five percent of every purchase goes to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS. Additionally, the #oneREDday campaign asks people to use their notebooks to answer the question: If you had just one day to raise awareness around the fight against AIDS, what would you do and how would you do it? Selected illustrations and photos tagged with the #oneREDday hashtag are featured on the official campaign site.
More details on #oneREDday
October 28, 2014

Elegant Chelsea Loft Features Storybook Detailing and Peaceful Garden

New to the market is this beautifully designed two-bedroom loft located at 161 West 15th Street in Chelsea. The property is nestled in the corner of the Jensen Lewis Building, one of Chelsea's best prewar loft buildings, and boasts a slew of luxury features. Huge windows, 12-foot vaulted ceilings and a peaceful garden make this home the perfect escape from the hustle of the New York City's streets.
READ MORE
October 28, 2014

I-Beam Design’s Pixelated Chelsea Renovation is Made From 20,000 LEGO Bricks

We all love and played with LEGO when we were kids, and this New York loft apartment is just another great example of how versatile the colorful Danish bricks are. The story begins when the son of Melissa Marks and Vicente Caride got too old not to have a door on his bedroom, so his parents decided to renovate their Chelsea loft in an innovative and playful way. I-Beam Design was called to do the job, and together with LEGO artist Sean Kenney they created an amazing pixelated new stair railing and wall using 20,000 LEGO bricks.
Learn more about this pixelated home
October 28, 2014

Daily Link Fix: How to Put Midtown’s Empty Pied-a-Terres to Good Use; 3D-Printed Photos for People without Vision

Brick Underground suggests nine ways to put Midtown’s empty pied-a-terres to good use. An 85-year-old artist has painted more than 85 NYC streetscapes, documenting history by chronicling buildings and blocks that are facing the wrecking ball. More on the Times. Taylor Swift is the “Ambassador” of New York City. Business Insider has info on the, shall we […]

October 28, 2014

Sportscaster Marv Albert Gets $15M for His Lincoln Square Apartment

Famed sportscaster Marv Albert has found a buyer for his sprawling penthouse located at 150 Columbus Avenue. The NYDN reports the "Voice of Basketball" and his wife, former ESPN producer Heather Albert, just inked a contract that points to a $14.9 million deal. The couple originally purchased the 3,553-square-foot penthouse back in 1996 for just $2.39 million, calling it their home for years before heading down to Tribeca—and turning this pretty sweet profit. The penthouse was listed just five months ago.
Inside the home
October 28, 2014

Cindy Gallop Puts Her Stefan Boublil-Designed “Black Apartment” Back on the Market for $6M

New York City’s most famous bachelor pad—ironically owned by a woman—is back after being taken off the market earlier this year. The distinctive $5.995 million loft at 213 23rd Street, formerly the men’s locker room of the first YMCA in the U.S., was purchased by businesswoman Cindy Gallop in 2006 for $1.5 million. With an additional million, and the help of Stefan Boublil of interior design firm The Apartment, she gave the space a dramatic makeover, stating she wanted to feel like she was in a Shanghai nightclub. Its resulting “lacquered Chinese box” vibe has earned the Black Apartment a featuring role in Law & Order SVU, Notorious B.I.G’s “Nasty Girl” video, and many photo shoots. The notable home has undergone quite a transformation, rendering it practically unrecognizable as it prepares for a new owner, but let’s take a moment to admire its former interior in all its glitzy splendor.
See more of this unique pad, here

Our Mission

More than just current events, here you'll learn about the places, people, and ideas that are shaping your city.