October 21, 2014

Charming Nikolai Katz-Designed Noho Loft Asks $5 Million

An adorable two-bedroom renovated loft, designed by Nikolai Katz, has just popped up on the market, asking $4.895 million. The 2,200-square-foot pad is basically the best of all worlds, with original details and modern updates, and a prime Noho location. There are actually a few proposed options for this flexible floor plan. Each one makes the most of the natural light provided from the home’s oversized, northern and southern-facing windows. An open living space showcases many of the loft’s original details, such as exposed brick walls, 10-foot ceilings, exposed beams and a cast-iron column.
Take a look inside, here
October 20, 2014

Extraordinary Dwellings: These Amazing Homes Are Hidden in Plain Sight

It isn’t unusual to see old warehouses, churches and banks converted into luxury multi-unit condos and apartments. But far more rare, and often shrouded in myth and mystery, are one-of-a-kind buildings that had former lives as banks, schools, a synagogue, a public bath house, a Con Ed substation, even a public restroom and a hillside cave–and have more recently served as home and workspace for a lucky handful of bohemian dreamers (and hard-working homeowners).
Find out who lives behind the gates of those those cavernous, mysterious buildings
October 20, 2014

REVEALED: Renderings of Greenpoint Landing’s Waterfront Park Designed by James Corner

Renderings for the waterfront park to be built alongside the massive housing development Greenpoint Landing have been released. Flooding from Hurricane Sandy ravaged the area only a few years back, so it comes as no surprise that the local community was concerned with how the developers were going to address the possibility of damaging storm swells in the future. Despite their concerns the park's designer James Corner Field Operations has used intelligent design and beautiful landscaping to enhance the structural integrity and aesthetic appeal of the existing riverfront.
READ MORE
October 20, 2014

Churches Across Brooklyn Are Hot to Sell Their Holy Land for Millions

In the face of financial pressures, dozens of churches across Brooklyn are looking sell of their holy land in hopes of banking on the conversion trend that's taken the city by storm. According to DNA Info, more than 50 Brooklyn clergy members are looking to develop their land and air rights to offer more affordable housing and other community services. Hundreds of religious leaders attended a recent meeting hosted by Borough President Eric Adams detailing how they could raise money as their shrinking congregations give way to fundraising and budgetary constraints. “You are land-rich but cash-poor. The largest amount of housing potential in Brooklyn lies with you,” Reverend Gilford Monrose, director of the Borough President’s faith-based initiatives, said at the event.
Find out more
October 20, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Forest City Selling Their Stake in Barclays Center; Re-zoning for One Vanderbilt Certified

Forest City Enterprises is putting its 55% stake in Barclays up for sale. [Brooklyn Eagle] The Department of City Planning certified a five-block rezoning application today for a stretch of Vanderbilt Avenue near Grand Central Terminal that includes SL Green’s One Vanderbilt tower. [CO] Mayor Bill de Blasio has rejected JPMorgan Chase’s request for $1B in […]

October 20, 2014

The Ostrich Pillow Mini Arms You with Comfort for Napping On-the-go

Life can sometimes be hectic, and when you live in a city that never sleeps it can be exhausting. This is why we are head-over-heels excited about the Ostrich Pillow Mini, a new personal power nap pillow from Studio Banana by Kawamura Ganjavian. Weather you're on the subway or in a cubicle, this little bundle of joy was designed to be taken on the go, arming you for any mid-day napping location.
More on the design here
October 20, 2014

NYC’s First Certified “Passive House” by FABRICA 718 is Lean, Mean and Incredibly Green

When this Park Slope brownstone was first built in 1899 we’re pretty sure energy efficient design wasn’t a guiding factor in its construction. But over 100 years later an award-winning Passive House retrofit by FABRICA 718 has turned this classic residence into one that consumes approximately 90% less heat energy than the average home and 75% less energy overall.
See what consuming 90% less heat energy looks like
October 20, 2014

Complying with Current FEMA Regulations Could Cost the City $5 Billion

Following Superstorm Sandy, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) updated its flood-zone maps for the first time since 1983, more than doubling the included buildings to 70,000. Therefore, many more property owners are facing the decision of whether to stormproof their homes or pay up for insurance premiums that would go up as much as 18%. But going with the former choice is not as easy as one may think. FEMA guidelines don't take into account the unique makeup of New York City with its rowhouses and high-rises, so to comply with the current regulations it would cost the city more than $5 billion, according to studies produces by Crain's. Those who would be absorbing the costs include middle-class homeowners; NYCHA, which owns more than 25% of rental units in the flood zone ;and owners of large apartment towers, which account for 61% of the 5.5 million properties in FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program. All of these entities must follow the same guidelines as the plan is laid out now, but the city and a group of nonprofits are asking the agency to make changes to the insurance program.
More about the issue ahead
October 20, 2014

Palatial Co-op at the Sherry Netherland Reduces Price to $85 Million

An influx of new property in Manhattan has made Liberty Travel founder Gilbert Haroche reconsider the hefty $95 million price tag for his 15-room co-op at the Sherry Netherland. Haroche had a similar change of heart a year ago, when he lowered the price to $88 million, however he quickly returned to his astronomical initial asking. Now, after sitting on the market for an entire two years, the sprawling simplex is available for a slightly less jaw-dropping $85 million.
Take a look inside, here
October 19, 2014

Inside the Historic $6M Bed-Stuy Mansion with a Presidential Connection

Bed-Stuy's most expensive single-family home has a set of new photos that gives us a closer look into the work that's been put into bringing this storied home back to life. Designed by Montrose Morris and modeled after a Gilded Age Vanderbilt mansion along Fifth Avenue, this spectacular house known as 'The Kelley Mansion' was built for water meter magnate John Kelley in 1900. The mansion was a favorite hangout of Kelley's pal President Grover Cleveland and has for the better part of its existence been affectionately referred to as the 'Grand Dame' of Hancock Street. The home fell into disrepair over the decades, but savior Claudia Moran, a retired ad exec, dedicated a great deal of her time and money restoring the mansion after buying it up for just $7,500 in the 1980s. It's now selling for $6 million.
Take a look inside the incredible mansion
October 18, 2014

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff

We take a look at the fast-changing Brooklyn neighborhood Bed-Stuy–From Harlem and hip-hop to hipsters, Hassids and high rents. Clive Wilkinson’s 4,400-square-foot “superdesk” winds it way through the Chelsea offices of the Barbarian Group, taking the idea of a collaborative and open work environment to a whole new level. A History of New York in 101 […]

October 17, 2014

Peeking into the East Village’s Marble Cemeteries

Today we think of cemeteries as spooky, haunted places that we avoid, or as sad, depressing spots reserved for funerals. But they were once quite the opposite--in fact, they were the earliest incarnations of public parks. In New York City, burials took place on private or church property up until the mid-1800's when commercial cemeteries began popping up. And in the East Village there are two such early burial grounds hidden among the townhouses and tenements--the New York Marble Cemetery (on the west side of Second Avenue just above Second Street) and the New York City Marble Cemetery (on the north side of Second Street between First and Second Avenues). Though their titles are extremely similar and they're located less than a block apart, the two cemeteries are operated separately and have their own unique history. And during openhousenewyork weekend, we were lucky enough to take a peek beyond the cast iron gates and into these important pieces of the East Village's past.
Explore the Marble Cemeteries
October 17, 2014

New Yorker Spotlight: Emmy-Winning Journalist Christine Chen on Moving from the News Desk to the Yoga Mat

Long before Christine Chen was an Upper West Sider, she was living in Great Falls, Montana. A year out of U.C. Berkeley, she landed her first gig in broadcast journalism—a job that transplanted her from her native Bay Area to a small town in Big Sky Country. For Christine, it was the beginning of a very impressive career that included anchoring at KCPQ, the Fox affiliate in Seattle, and hosting About the Money on KCTS, the PBS station in Seattle. Along the way, she won two Emmys for her work as both a reporter and an anchor. After dealing with severe back pain, Christine knew her body needed a change. Looking for relief, she sought out yoga, which quickly evolved beyond exercise into both a lifestyle and career change. Today, New Yorkers in Chelsea, the Upper West Side, and Westchester have the chance to learn and take classes with Christine. 6sqft recently spoke with Christine to find out how New Yorkers engage with yoga, and what they can look to forward reading next March.
Our interview with Christine Chen
October 17, 2014

Real Estate Wire: NYC is Filled with Illegal Greenhouses; Elle Macpherson UES Apartment

Is your apartment greenhouse illegal? Some New Yorkers are turning their greenhouses into extended indoor living spaces. [NYT] Elle Macpherson sells her pied-à-terre at East 68th Street for $2.4 million. [WSJ] More developments are coming to Renwick Street in northern Tribeca and people are loving it. [WSJ] Durst Organization is officially the new builder of Hallets […]

October 17, 2014

Starry Night Pendant Lamp Turns Any Room into a Personal Planetarium

One thing we don't see much of here in New York City are starry nights. Unfortunately, this leaves some city-dwellers nostalgic for their star-gazing, universe-pondering suburban youth. While it's unlikely that any skyscrapers will be moving to make room for a better view, Starry Light, a constellation lamp collection from Anagraphic, is a star-studded substitute worthy of praise.
More on Starry Light here
October 17, 2014

O’Neill Rose Architects’ Choy House in Flushing, Queens Is Three Homes in One

When O'Neill Rose Architects was hired to build a family home in Flushing, Queens there was one small challenge--to "design three homes under one roof, in a neighborhood of Queens which is defined by single family homes." The resulting Choy House is made of three disparate dwellings, connected and overlapping to reflect the relationships of the extended family--a husband (the client), wife, and two small children; the husband's younger brother and his wife; and the brothers' mother.
Details of the project ahead
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October 17, 2014

Renovated Chelsea Home Greets with a Bi-Level Garden Framed by a Two-Story Glass Wall

The minute you walk into this gorgeously renovated three-bedroom apartment at 442 West 23rd Street in Chelsea you are greeted with the most unexpected of views: a breathtaking bi-level garden. Beautifully framed by a two-story Portella-designed architectural steel door and window combination, the 1,000-plus square feet of landscaped perfection is the focal point of this exquisite home.
See why this apartment will take your breath away
October 17, 2014

Loft in Soho’s Little Singer Building Stands Out with Perfectly Framed Views

An opportunity to live in architect Ernest Flagg’s Little Singer Building may already be considered a treat by many, but take one step inside this 2,300-square-foot loft, on the market for $6,250,000, and you’ll immediately see that this particular unit has a little something extra up its sleeve. Thanks to the building’s distinctive original façade, which convenes to form an elaborate wrought iron arch right in front of unit 11A, residents and friends alike will always be able to enjoy a perfectly framed view of downtown Soho.
Take a look inside, here
October 17, 2014

Mayor De Blasio Finds a Tenant for His Park Slope Home

All the buzz surrounding Mayor De Blasio's home has yielded some great results for NYC's First Family. Bill and his wife Chirlane McCray have rented their house to the first folks who came to check out the property located at 442 11th Street. De Blasio listed the Park Slope home less than two weeks ago through Brooklyn Properties for $4,975 a month. Let's take a look inside...
Find out more
October 16, 2014

A History of New York in 101 Objects: 6sqft Edition

As urbanists we tend to define the city by locations and the historic events that unfolded at them. But what about getting even more specific and looking at New York's past through tangible objects? That's exactly what New York Times urban affairs correspondent Sam Roberts has assembled in a new book, A History of New York in 101 Objects. And a corresponding exhibit at the New York Historical Society puts Roberts' choices, along with objects from the Society's collection, on view. We were so intrigued by this idea that we decided to put together a 6sqft version of the list. From preservationists to architects to real estate brokers, we've asked ten people to give us the ten objects that they feel best define New York City's history. There are definitely some favorites that emerged like cobblestones, Metrocards, and pizza, as well as an eclectic mix of items that speak to our participants' personal connections to New York.
See the lists here
October 16, 2014

New Proposal Could Pave the Way for a Harlem High Line Park

The success of the High Line Park continues to inspire all corners of the world—including Queens—and now the latest neighborhood to jump on the elevated park bandwagon is Harlem. DNA Info reports a nonprofit called the Housing Partnership has proposed a plan to bring 2,000 affordable housing units and $170 million dedicated to public projects in Hamilton Heights. The new park encompassed within the nonprofit's 'Harlem Promenade' plan would run alongside the West Side Highway atop a portion of Amtrak rail lines.
More on the proposed harlem high line project here
October 16, 2014

Real Estate Wire: 99-Year Lease Inked for Ice-Rink in the Bronx Armory; Campbell’s Soup Heiress Buys a New Pad

80-year-old Campbell’s soup heiress Hope van Beuren bought a $5M home at 1 East 66th Street. [NYDN] The city has signed a 99-year lease for the Bronx’ Kingsbridge National Ice Center, the highly anticipated ice-rink planned for the Bronx Armory. [CO] American Idol creator Rich Fuller sells two of his Plaza apartments for $38M. [NYP] Neiman Marcus CEO Karen […]

October 16, 2014

Bates Masi + Architects Roughly Cut Cypress Home Feels Like a Tree House

New York-based Bates Masi + Architects designed this beautiful family residence referred by its owners as their 'Tree House'. Located on Fire Island, this two-level wooden dwelling is surrounded by a dense grove of pines and hollies and overlooks the bay from its upper level. Built from roughly cut vertical cypress louvers, it blends naturally with its luscious environment.
Learn more about this stunning tree house home
October 16, 2014

The Hardest Part About Living in this Perfect Brooklyn Heights Loft is Spelling the Name of Your Street

S-C-H-E-R-M-E-R-H-O-R-N. A village in the Dutch province of North Holland. The name of one of President Andrew Jackson’s Indian Commissioners responsible for removing the Cherokee and Chickasaw Indians beyond the Mississippi River (later known as the Trail of Tears). And the street where you will find this impeccable corner loft in Brooklyn Heights.
See why this Brooklyn Heights corner loft is letter perfect
October 16, 2014

REVEALED: Renderings for Santiago Calatrava’s Ground Zero Church

Ahead of the groundbreaking this weekend, a new video and renderings have been revealed for Santiago Calatrava's church near Ground Zero, which will overlook the 9/11 Memorial. The new St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church will be constructed of white Vermont marble, inspired by a mosaic of the Madonna and Child Enthroned at the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
More on the design here
October 16, 2014

GKilo and ClogG: Thin-gk’s Minimal Med-Tech Kitchen Devices

The Italian designer-dreamers at Thin-gk developed two minimal med-tech objects for the kitchen. Featuring wooden geometrical shapes and rows of LED lights, they interact with the user from a simple human touch. While GKilo is both a clock and a scale, ClogG is a modern version of a clock that brings a med-tech touch to the daily act of cooking.
Find out more about this med-tech cooking designs
October 16, 2014

There’s a Balcony in Every Bedroom of This $7.5M TriBeCa Loft

From the Skinnygirl to the Queen Bey, 195 Hudson Street has won the hearts of quite a few stars, and now the former industrial space has a new unit on the market asking $7.45 million. This bottom floor space offers everything you would want out of an authentic Tribeca loft, with 15-foot ceilings and the building’s signature four columns serving as its anchor. And just like the former home of Bethenny Frankel (her home is currently occupied by her soon-to-be ex-husband while the Skinnygirl house hunts), the columns are masterfully incorporated into the living space.
Take a look inside, here
October 16, 2014

New Woolworth Building Listing Reveals Additional Residential Details

First came the floorplans for the $110 million penthouse, then the first set of interior renderings, and now we have a new sneak peak inside the highly anticipated Woolworth Tower Residences. The Post has profiled unit 31A, a four-bedroom, full-floor unit on the market for $26.4 million. And along with a written description--"a kitchen with all the modern conveniences, a massive formal dining room, hidden bars, a library and...two terraces to enjoy the view from 31 stories up"-- come two new renderings, those of the terrace and the kitchen.
More details ahead
October 15, 2014

Bed-Stuy: From Harlem and Hip-Hop to Hipsters, Hassids and High Rents

Brooklyn is changing fast and at the forefront of this is Bedford-Stuyvesant—or as it's more commonly known, Bed-Stuy. Like most New York neighborhoods, Bed-Stuy has had its ups and downs, its most notable down being the 80s and 90s when crime and drugs were at a record high. But as hard as the times may have gotten, the neighborhood has maintained itself as one of the city's most culturally significant. Bed-Stuy has long been home to one of the largest concentrations of African-Americans in New York, it boasts beautiful well-preserved architecture spanning countless styles and centuries, and of course, there is the neighborhood's central role in the hip-hop movement.
More on the history and future of Bed-Stuy
October 15, 2014

Landmark Limestone Townhouse in Park Slope Returns for $4M

One of Park Slope’s landmark limestone townhouses has just returned to the market. The 5,100-square-foot, Frederick Tyrrell-designed home was built in 1901 at the height of the neo-classical style’s popularity. With a well-maintained original four-story building, along with a new extension, original details, and a private gated driveway, this $3.995 million home is definitely worth a look.
Take a closer look, here
October 15, 2014

75% of Grand Central’s $210M Renovation Money Will Go to the 4, 5, 6 Trains

New York City's most taxed line is about to get a sizable cash infusion. Of the $210 million that developer SL Green Realty has budgeted for improving Grand Central's subway station for the green light to construct a 65-story office tower next door, more than 75% will go toward the Lexington Avenue line, Crain's reports. Yesterday, a 63-page study was delivered to Manhattan's Community Board 5 and to transportation advocates who have called for Midtown East's rezoning to include improvements to transportation infrastructure to meet current demand as well as the influx of nearly 16,000 workers as new lines are drawn. So where exactly will the money go?
Where will the money will go?
October 15, 2014

Babilus: Organically Textured Vases Designed to Resemble Ancient City Skylines

Babilus is a collection of vases made by Tel Aviv designer Nir Meiri.  The shapes of the vases were designed to resemble architecture found in ancient cities such as alters and temples, and the name Babilus is used in reference to the age-old city of Babylon. Each form is made from several layers of materials staked in various combinations. When viewed together, the collection simulates an antique city skyline, however each vase was also designed to stand alone with the intent of igniting the imagination.
More on the vases here
October 15, 2014

Clive Wilkinson’s 4,400-Square-Foot “Superdesk” Puts Literal Twist on Collaborative Workspace

Visitors to this past weekend’s 12th Annual Open House New York were treated to tours of Manhattan’s first fully robotic parking system, an African Burial Ground National Monument in Tribeca, and this 4,400-square-foot “superdesk" winding its way through the Chelsea offices of the Barbarian Group, a New York-based creative agency.
Right this way for more on this fun and functional
October 15, 2014

POLL: Will the QueensWay be the Next High Line?

A study released yesterday revealed that the QueensWay– the High Line-esque linear park and cultural greenway proposed for a 3.5-mile stretch of abandoned railway in central Queens– will cost $120 million, give a boost to the local economy, and provide nearby residents with a safer place to walk and bike. But opponents of the project say central Queens already has […]

October 15, 2014

Daily Link Fix: Battery Chair Design Winner Announced; Odin is a Stylish, 3D-Printed Dog Toy

NYC Parks and the Battery Conservancy announced that the Fleurt Chair by Canadian designer Andrew Jones is the winner of the first-ever design competition to create a moveable, outdoor chair for a New York City park. Rego Park has a new “green” playground, complete with colorful murals, fitness stations, and an outdoor classroom, reports DNAinfo. Get […]

October 15, 2014

An Abridged History of New York City’s Most Popular Bridges

According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), Manhattan boasts about 20 bridges that connect the Big Apple to neighboring areas—many of which have various degrees of landmark status, including the Brooklyn Bridge, the George Washington Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, the High Bridge, the University Heights Bridge and the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge. We often use these marvels without giving them much thought beyond the grandiose size and maybe their engineering, so to give you a little trivia to impress your friends with the next time you cross one these storied bridges, we're offering up a handy primer on seven of the city's most famous.
A quick primer on the city's top bridges
October 15, 2014

Fabrica 718’s Renovation of Soho Loft in Former Department Store is Highly Fashionable

Firehouses, stables, factories – even churches – have long offered designers the opportunity to carve out unique living spaces from non-traditional structures. So it should come as no surprise that in a city as fashion conscious as New York, even department stores are fair game for residential conversion. When this co-op building in Soho was subdivided into loft apartments, each inherited some awkward and quirky features courtesy of its former life, but that didn’t stop Brooklyn-based designer Fabrica 718 from turning one of the apartments within into a different kind of showcase.
See more of Fabrica 718's fashionable renovation
October 15, 2014

CNN’s Don Lemon Buys Harlem Condo in 2280FDB

According to city records released today, Emmy Award-winning CNN news anchor Don Lemon has purchased a condo in Harlem's 2280FDB (2280 Frederick Douglas Blvd.) for $867,780. He already owns the neighboring unit, so this may be an expansion opportunity for the journalist. The newly acquired 859-square-foot, one-bedroom, contemporary unit comes complete with a spacious terrace, boasting impressive city views.
Take a look inside
October 15, 2014

NYU Gets Green Light for Village Expansion; Locals Vow to Appeal the Decision

The battle between New York University and local residents and community preservation groups just got a little fiercer, as just yesterday the appellate court overturned a previous decision by the New York Supreme Court that prohibited the university's $6 billion, 1.9 million-square-foot expansion plan. NYU now has the green light to move forward with their colossal project, which includes taking over "implied park land" that has been used by the public for years. Local community groups vow to appeal the decision. The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, NYU Faculty Against the Sexton Plan, Community Board 2, and local residents, filed the lawsuit against the school in 2012.
More on the latest ruling and what it means for NYU and the Village
October 14, 2014

It’s Official: 432 Park Avenue is NYC’s Tallest Residential Building

NYC supertalls all over town are weeping: 432 Park Avenue is officially the tallest residential building in the city as of today, topping out at 1,396 feet, and the second-tallest tower after One World Trade Center. Concrete on the highest floor of the Rafael Viñoly-designed building is being poured, probably as we speak, cementing (no pun […]

October 14, 2014

Renovation Diary Part II: Choosing the Right Architect for the Job

Our Renovation Diary series follows 6sqft writer Michelle Cohen as she takes on the challenge of transforming her historic Clinton Hill townhouse into a site-sensitive modern home. In Part I she shared her experience of defining a plan of action and getting started and this week she takes on the all important task of choosing an architect. One of the first steps in our renovation project was to hire an architect. The house is in a historic district, so we have to submit all alteration plans to the Landmarks Preservation Commission; we wanted to find someone who was very familiar with that process. We also wanted to find someone who was familiar with working on renovating old brownstones, and someone whose style we liked. Someone who comes with lots of good recommendations. And, not least of all, someone we could even close to afford. In our case he or she would be our main point person on the project, and, ostensibly, our advocate in any dispute that would occur later on.
Find out how to choose the right architect for your project and your budget.
October 14, 2014

Willem Dafoe Sells His Lovely Perry Street Pad for $2.9 Million

After making a move on up to the penthouse this past spring, actor Willem Dafoe has shed his full-through third floor pad for $2.875 million, according to city records filed today. Dafoe originally purchased the two-bedroom co-op located at 67 Perry Street for $1.6 million back in 2005—meaning the actor made a tidy $1.28 million profit with the recent sale. The cozy home comes with exposed brick walls, a wood-burning fireplace, separate study nook with built-in bookshelves, and tranquil tree-top views from oversized bay windows.
Ihside the home here
October 14, 2014

Real Estate Wire: NYU’s $6B Expansion Moves Forward; All the Places That Have Been Compared to Brooklyn

NYU just got the green light for its $6B expansion. [DNA Info] All the places the New York Times has compared Brooklyn to. [City Lab] Just six months after buying a $99 million Williamsburg retail and residential property, developer Joel Schreiber has flipped for $106 million. [TRD] The 346 Broadway conversion will include a snazzy penthouse. […]

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