October 2, 2014

$4.4 Million Greenwich Village Loft Dazzles with Two Extraordinary Skylights

A walk down 13th Street between Broadway and University Place may seem a bit uneventful in the way of architectural standouts. However, you'll be pleasantly surprised to encounter this hidden gem at 60 East 13th Street. The handsome condominium conversion has more to offer than just a pleasantly painted façade and strong lighting. Inside it houses a stunning architectural dream of a loft, now available for $4,395,000.
Let's take a look inside
October 2, 2014

Historic Henderson Place Townhouse Asks $7.5 Million

Oh, how the times change. In the late 19th century, developer John C. Henderson began constructing an enclave of townhouses, designed by architectural firm Lamb & Rich, and intended for “persons of moderate means”. Today, one of those Yorkville homes is available for rent, asking $25,900 per month… or if you’d like to purchase it outright, $7.495 million. If you’re looking for remnants of 146 East End Avenue’s low-income housing past, you’re in for a disappointment. The result of a “painstaking” two-year gut renovation, this desirable dwelling only speaks the language of luxury. However, if there’s any city that knows how to preserve its history while providing modern amenities, it’s New York. The final result is a beautifully updated home that pays homage to its honorable past.
Take a look inside this historic home, here
October 1, 2014

The New Upper East Side: Changes Are Coming Above 86th Street

There's been so much talk lately about how the Upper East Side is the next cool 'hood--this guy even says it's cooler than Brooklyn--and while that may be true (the neighborhood's got a Meatball Shop; is there really any use denying it anymore?), we have our sights set slightly farther north. The high 80's and 90's, clustered between Park and 1st Avenues, is a hot spot for young professionals who are looking for little more culture and a little less of the bro-tastic bar scene, as well as for just-starting-out families who want a community feel, but not the sky-high rents of Park Avenue and Museum Mile. A slew of new residential developments are popping up in the area, as are fun, independent restaurants and bars. And this piece of Manhattan offers almost just the same transportation convenience as the Upper East Side proper, but with lower rents and a calmer feel.
More on the new Upper East Side
October 1, 2014

Enjoy Your Own Private Rooftop Pool in the Heart of the City for $40K a Month

Apparently, even 1,500 square feet of mesmerizing outdoor space isn’t enough to get renters to pay the $40,000-per-month asking price for this Union Square penthouse at 17 East 17th Street. The unique home has had a pretty rocky history during its last few years on the rental market, and it appears to still be searching for a temporary dweller nearly a year after it last became available. As stunning as this 4,000-square-foot triplex is—and it’s a stunner—there's one interesting choice that might make apartment hunters take pause. You’ll see what we’re talking about after the break.
See what's inside, here
October 1, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Durst Organization Acquires Astoria’s Hallets Point; 26-Story Tower May Come to Essex Crossing

The Durst Organization has paid more than $100 million to acquire 90% of the Hallets Point residential-retail development along the Astoria waterfront. [Daily News] Landmarks OK’s residential addition for 121-year-old Upper West Side church. [Curbed] 26-story, mixed-use tower proposed for Victoria Theater site in Harlem. [Yimby] Handel Architects filed preliminary permits for a 26-story tower as part of […]

October 1, 2014

Could Jet Taxis Make Waves in NYC?

New York is often criticized for being a city that doesn't take advantage of its waterfront location in the way that Chicago or Baltimore, for example, do. But with new developments like Brooklyn Bridge Park and ideas for floating pools, we are well on our way to becoming an aqua-fied metropolis. But are we ready for the newest water transportation model, the jet taxi? Luca Solla and Pierpaolo Lazzarini of Italian-based company Jet Capsule are launching their 8-12-passenger vehicle in their home country in 2015, but expect other major cities around the world will want to get in on the action. They envision the jet functioning in hybrid, electric, private, personal, diving, and ambulance versions.
More on the sleek vehicle here
October 1, 2014

21st Street Loft: Past-Era Panache Gets a Modern Update

This townhouse duplex may have been built at the turn of the century, but you'd never guess that from its distinct bohemian vibe. A clean, contemporary makeover gave the 21st Street Loft space a new life back in the 1960s, when two early 1900s townhouses were turned into a mid-century masterpiece that spans two levels with a modern floor plan. The older renovation featured a number of unique handmade solutions geared towards the challenges of daily life, and much care was taken to preserve them. But Ensemble Architecture's most recent refresh has brought this home to a whole new level, drastically transforming the loft into a much brighter and more inviting space for modern family living.
See how the space gets a fresh new look while keeping its warmth and creative vibe
October 1, 2014

Impeccably Classic Residence in the Legendary Osborne Lists for $7M

Often overshadowed by the Dakota, its more famous “cousin” further uptown, the Osborne was one of New York’s first major luxury apartment buildings. Located in the heart of Midtown West and completed in 1883, the Osborne's somber appearance rising up from 205 West 57th Street belies the dazzling lobby within, “a luminous Byzantine dream of gilded tiles.” But the lobby isn’t the only treasure awaiting your entrance. This classically elegant, 12-room corner duplex exemplifies everything one would expect from a residence in such a legendary building. And it's on the market for $6,950,000.
See what makes this home so impeccably classic
October 1, 2014

Earth-Sheltered Home Uses Surroundings to Save on Energy

We’ve featured plenty of beautiful sustainable homes here on 6sqft, many of which include some pretty hi-tech gadgets from geothermal wells to highly reflective roofing materials. But John Grzibowski decided to just use what’s available in nature. He built an Earth-sheltered home in Newburgh, New York that strategically uses the surrounding landscape to insulate itself. The […]

October 1, 2014

POLL: Will Freshkills Transform Staten Island?

Last week, we interviewed Eloise Hirsh, the Freshkills Park Administrator about her role in transforming 2,200 acres of reclaimed land at the former Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island, the largest landfill-to-park conversion in the world to date. Though it won’t be entirely completed until 2035, Staten Islanders are already visiting the park and enjoying its […]

October 1, 2014

Strivers’ Row Home Tour & Exhibit at Macy’s Showcase Harlem’s Elegant Enclave

This weekend, all you old-house lovers will have two opportunities to step back in time and explore the elite Harlem enclave known as Strivers' Row. Located on West 138th to West 139th Streets, between Adam Clayton Powell and Frederick Douglass Boulevards, the area was once home to prominent, wealthy African-American performers, artists, and professionals who lived in the harmonious row of stately brick dwellings. Running until Sunday, October 5th is an exhibit at Macy's called “Strivers’ Row Style: Uptown Comes Downtown,” which will feature vignettes by various designers of what the interiors of these historic homes would have looked like during the heyday. Also on the 5th is the Strivers' Rome Home Tour, which lets participants inside eight of the distinctive residences and four historic churches.
More on Striver's Row and the upcoming events
October 1, 2014

Two Puck Building Penthouses List for a Combined $57M

It was pretty big news back in June when Penthouse IV at the landmarked Puck Building sold for $28 million, netting real estate tycoon Jared Kushner a pretty penny. It was the second largest out of the six units in the penthouse-only building. As we reported then, there were four others that were yet to be listed, and they were expected to sell for between $21 and $60 million. Well, it looks like we weren't too far off the mark, as two additional penthouses at 295 Lafayette Street have now listed for a combined $57 million. PHII, is a three-bedroom, five-bathroom home, with 5,222 square feet of interior space and 800 square feet of outdoor space, listed for $35.1 million; and PHVI, the smallest of the "limited edition" penthouses at 4,895 square feet, is on the market for $22 million (it originally went up for sale in January for $21 million).
More details and floor plans ahead
September 30, 2014

Makeshift Mansions: How Today’s Filthy Rich are Creating Homes of Epic Proportions

For Manhattan’s jet-set crowd, the 2010s are starting to look an awful lot like the 1900s. New York’s upper crust are embracing a return to the Gilded Age, moving out of their fancy penthouses, co-ops and lofts and into opulent single-family mansions. From Aby Rosen’s quest to build the largest private mansion on Park Avenue to Jared Kushner’s conversion of three former Brooklyn Law School buildings into single-family townhouses—the most affluent buyers are now on the hunt for New York’s ultimate trophy prize.
More on makeshift mansions
September 30, 2014

The Price of Parking: There’s More Than One $1 Million Parking Space in Manhattan

Car-owing New Yorkers can probably recite year-round alternative-side parking laws on cue, but most will also tell you how they loathe circling their block for 20 minutes, tracking which days to stay put, the inconvenience of babysitting a spot before the switch, figuring out a cluster of parking signs or, worse yet, arguing with a paid-for parking squatter. It often drives one batty. Yet, there is an option and that’s paying for a monthly but costly sliver of asphalt—hopefully an elevator ride away or at the very least, a quick walk a few doors down. However, the key word here is “paying” and if you live in New York, that slice of space could put you back a pretty penny, especially if you're shoveling out dollars for one in a new development. Unless you’ve been living under a real estate rock, there’s no doubt you’ve read about the $1 million dollar spaces at 42 Crosby Street’s garage in SoHo. Is this lofty price tag for parking a market first? Nope.
more on the price of parking here
September 30, 2014

$6.4M Loft on the Williamsburg Waterfront Is Rough-Around-the-Edges But Unique Nonetheless

Every once in a while a real estate opportunity comes along that is too good to pass up, and this former firehouse at 411 Kent Avenue on the Williamsburg waterfront is a perfect example. The very definition of a creative Brooklyn loft, the existing 3,300-square foot, two-story building features massive open spaces, high ceilings, huge windows, multiple skylights, original wood floors, exposed brick, and completely exposed wood ceiling joists.
See what investing in Brooklyn's hottest neighborhood looks like
September 30, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Karim Rashid’s HAP Four Hits a Pricey Snag; More High Line Condos Coming

HAP Investment Developers’ plans for a Karim Rashid-designed rental at 653-667 West 187th Street have hit a bump in the road—they’re missing the parcel at 653 West 187th Street. [TRD] 36 new condos are coming to the High Line and they’ll be designed by Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld. [Curbed] A downtown development site at 112, 114, 116 and 118 […]

September 30, 2014

NYC Buildings That Add Solar Panels Will Now Get an Even Bigger Tax Break

New York is serious about going green and Governor Cuomo just signed into law a bill to extend—and double—the possible tax breaks given to those who install solar panels on their properties. A press release notes that the break will offer a rebate of 5 percent on either the solar panel installation cost; property taxes the year panels are installed; or $62,500—whichever is less. The new bill is meant to offset the 25 percent higher cost of installing solar systems in the city due to stringent regulations and the complexity of building sites.
Find out more on here
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September 30, 2014

Isabella Rossellini’s Daughter Buys Eerie $2M Fort Greene Townhouse

Elettra Rossellini Wiedemann, daughter of famed Italian actress and model Isabella Rossellini, has just picked up a $2.2 million Fort Greene townhouse, according to city records. And the beautifully historic, yet slightly disheveled home at 23 South Elliott Place would make the perfect backdrop for a fashionably eerie photo shoot (or some really good Instagrams). Built in 1870, and part of the Fort Greene Historic District, the five-bedroom home is currently configured as a two-family residence, but we're guessing Ms. Rossellini isn't going to be looking for roommates and will likely convert it back to a single-family dwelling.
Tour the historic, sepia-toned home here
September 30, 2014

Daily Link Fix: Tour the Abandoned Ellis Island Hospital; Pikaplant Shelf Automatically Waters Plants

The abandoned Ellis Island Hospital Complex, where 1.2 million immigrants were treated, is opening for public tours starting October 1st, reports AM New York. Take a load off…the Battery Conservancy is hosting its “Draw Up A Chair” design competition in Battery Park’s Castle Clinton to decide the official chair of the park. More on Tribeca Trib. A […]

September 30, 2014

openhousenewyork’s Weekend Event Guide is Finally Here – Take the Tours!

You can probably guess that we're pretty excited about the 12th annual openhousenewyork weekend, taking place this year on October 11th and 12th, so of course we couldn't wait to share the just-announced guide to the spaces on this year's roster. Tour goers will have access to 300 sites and tours in all five boroughs, including private residences, new buildings, and sites of architectural, cultural, and historical significance. Some of the sites we're most looking forward to touring are the TWA Flight Center at JFK, Kickstarter headquarters, the Manhattan Micro Loft, and El Barrio's Artspace PS109.
More on these sites and the entire OHNY Weekend
September 30, 2014

Could Spofford Juvenile Center in Hunts Point Become Mixed-Income Housing? Majora Carter Thinks So.

Tribeca has adaptively reused its former manufacturing lofts; Gowanus its factories; and Long Island City its bakeries. Now, Hunts Point might be added to the adaptive reuse list for its conversion of a former jail. Urban revitalization strategist and public radio host Majora Carter is aiming to transform the Spofford Juvenile Center into a combination of mixed-income housing, open space, and economic development, a formula she feels would appeal to the neighborhood.
More on Carter's vision and the transformative project
September 30, 2014

One-of-a-Kind Red Brick Dream Home in TriBeCa Features Five-Story Atrium

Who wants to deal with an arduous New York City commute when you can have your workspace and live in it too? Well, there’s a beautiful red brick townhouse in the heart of Tribeca offering just that, for $20,000 per month. The 25-foot wide townhouse at 155 Duane Street was initially built in 1830 and restored in the 1990s. It features a fully equipped storefront office space with seven workstations, and a four-floor residence above. Now the entire one-of-a-kind building is available for 12-18 months, for the first time ever.
Let's take a look inside, here
September 29, 2014

Goldilocks Blocks: Vanderbilt Avenue in Wallabout, Brooklyn

The culturally rich, architecturally stunning Brooklyn neighborhoods of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill need little introduction. The Brooklyn Navy Yard to the north is busily growing as a start-up business incubator and creative and commercial hub. An “in-between” zone—the sort of area that engenders a question mark and a furrowed brow when perusing neighborhood maps—lies just north of Myrtle Avenue and south of the Navy Yard. Known as Wallabout, the area was named for Wallabout Bay to the north, much of which was filled in to create the Navy Yard in the 19th century. Unique among its neighbors, a block-long stretch of this border district feels more like a small-town side street than a growing urban crossroads.
Find out what makes this historic block so special, and why it’s likely to stay that way.
September 29, 2014

Gardens and Grandeur for $7M on a Tree-Lined Street in Brooklyn

It is no surprise this impeccable 24-foot-wide multifamily brownstone is located in the aptly-named enclave of Carroll Gardens, since it boasts two lovely and spacious gardens of its own. Located on tree-lined 1st Place, just a stone’s throw from Manhattan, its $7 million price tag offers a taste of suburbia with all the advantages of city living.
Tour the beauty here
September 29, 2014

The Top 15 Family-Friendly Buildings in NYC

Last week, we talked to five families currently raising children in New York City’s many diverse and multifaceted neighborhoods about why they pick city living over the suburbs, and most of our readers agreed that they prefer an urban upbringing to the more "traditional" suburban childhood. But once you've decided to raise your children in the Big Apple, it can be tough deciding which neighborhood is best for your family. Many factors come into play: What are the best schools in the area? What amenities does the building offer? Are there playgrounds nearby? How secure is the building? And the list goes on. But to make the process a little easier, we've rounded up 15 of the best family-friendly buildings in New York City.
Check out our list here
September 29, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Robert A.M. Stern’s “Scaled-Down” Luxury; Controversial Astoria Cove Project Approved

Robert A.M. Stern, the architect behind 15 Central Park West, is bringing a new 17-story tower to 20 East End Avenue. The building—said to be less pricey than Stern’s others—will have 43 units starting at $4.5M. Penthouses will go for $20M. [NYT] New renderings and listings appear for One John Street. [Brownstoner] East New York’s rapidly rising […]

September 29, 2014

Triangular Townhouse in Greenwich Village with Italian Renaissance Interior Sells for $5M

Fashion director and stylist Alessandra Gambaccini (who goes by Sciascia) purchased her Greenwich Village townhouse at 45 West 12th Street in 1996 for $865,00, and has now sold it for a whopping $4,975,000. But it's not just the incredible profit Ms. Gambaccini made that makes this historic home stand out--it's also its unusual triangular shape, the result of having been built in 1846 diagonal to Minetta Brook, since covered over by the city. There are hidden remnants of the old creek all throughout the Village, and this Greek Revival townhouse is definitely one of the most storied. Sciascia spoke to the Wall Street Journal about her fascinating home and how she was rather intrigued by its unusual shape. The four-bedroom house is also noted for its opulent interior, outfitted with custom-made Italian décor thanks to Milan-based architect and decorator Roberto Gerosa. And if those weren't enough talking points, the deed to the cobblestone courtyard is said to have once been owned by English royalty, and Frank Lloyd Wright's sister is a past inhabitant.
Now, let's check out those interiors
September 29, 2014

Even Wackier Design Emerges for an Earthship Home at 61 Pitt Street

Some of you may remember a proposal from 3+ years ago to bring a sustainable Earthship home to 61 Pitt Street—a vacant Lower East Side lot zoned for a twelve-story building. The proposed design was the brainchild New Mexico-based architect Michael Reynolds and backed by local resident Ken Ruck who championed for its construction with the LES' Community Board 3. Surprisingly, the board wasn't against it, nor was the site's owner, but Ruck and Reynolds didn't make much headway beyond that meeting and quietly disappeared without any word on what would come next. Now fast forward to 2014, and Mr. Reynolds is back with a new and improved (but equally out-of-this-world) iteration that employs the popular floor-maximizing cantilever taking our city by storm.
More on the updated here
September 29, 2014

Daily Link Fix: How the Apple Cube Landed in Midtown; Packstache Is a Cardboard Bike Carrier

New app Getaround lets New Yorkers borrow cars from strangers on demand. It’s the freedom of driving without the anxiety of alternate side parking. More on Business Insider. Daily Intelligencer uncovers the little-known story of how the Apple cube actually landed in Midtown. Packtasche is an architect-designed cardboard carrier that makes toting groceries and the like while […]

September 29, 2014

$5.25M Dietz Lantern Building Loft Is Historic Tribeca Living at Its Finest

High, barrel-vaulted ceilings? Check. Exposed brick? Check. Classic columns? Check. Oversized windows? Check. This apartment in the Dietz Lantern Building at 429 Greenwich Street offers everything you'd want from a historic Tribeca loft and is on the market for $5.25 million. The four-bedroom, 2,700-square-foot apartment is located within the Tribeca North Historic District in a former factory building, erected in 1887, that manufactured lanterns for horse-drawn carriages. It was converted to condominium in 1996, and today its homes boast an enviable mix of historic details and modern conveniences.
Take a look inside unit 7B here
September 29, 2014

Ultra Modern Condo in the Asymptote-Designed 166 Perry Street Asks $3 Million

Superstar broker Fredrik Eklund has a new listing for a two-bedroom condo in the Asymptote Architecture-designed 166 Perry Street, asking $2.995 million. The avant-garde structure with its sleek angled glassy façade began turning heads long before its 2009 completion. It resides in the desirable far West Village, with a few equally stunning Richard Meier structures close by. So let’s take a look behind the intriguing mirrored exterior and see what the inside of this apartment has to offer.
Check it out here
September 28, 2014

Take-off Is a Customizable Lamp That Let’s You Design Your Favorite Pattern

It’s always refreshing when an object requires actual human input. Just look at the brilliant Take-off Light; its simple design allows people to create their own geometrical pattern on its shade. Designed by German label Fifti-Fifti, it features a hanging paper shade for peeling, or to take off little bits, into endless patterns combinations.
Learn more about this stunning customizable lamp
September 27, 2014

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff

Michelle Williams lists her gorgeous ivy-covered Boerum Hill townhouse for $7.5 million. See exclusive photos from the opening of the High Line’s third phase, as well as some beautiful snaps by photographer Iwan Baan. City Kids: Why parents pick city living over the suburbs. The Columbia Street Waterfront District, a quirky, 22-block enclave wedged between Red Hook […]

September 26, 2014

New Yorker Spotlight: Eloise Hirsh on Turning the Freshkills Landfill Into a Thriving Park

Similar to Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux's grand ideas for Central Park, there is a vision for the 2,200 acres of reclaimed land at the former Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island. Where trash once piled up for as far as the eye could see, the site is now a blossoming park full of wildlife and recreational activities. The Park Administrator overseeing this incredible transformation is Eloise Hirsh. Eloise is a major force behind the largest landfill-to-park conversion in the world to date. In her role as Freshkills Park Administrator, she makes sure the park progresses towards its completion date in 2035, and regularly engages with New Yorkers to keep them informed and excited. 6sqft recently spoke with Eloise to learn more about Fresh Kills' history, what it takes to reclaim land, and what New Yorkers can expect at the park today and in the years to come.
Read the full interview here
September 26, 2014

Michelle Williams Lists Her Boerum Hill Townhouse for $7.5 Million

Michelle Williams’s gorgeous ivy-covered Boerum Hill townhouse just hit the market. And it comes with a three-car garage. The listing calls it “the one and only,” and for someone looking for a huge single-family home in this coveted South Brooklyn neighborhood, it just might be–assuming they can cover the steep asking price. First, the size factor: The corner townhouse is 22 feet wide, offering four stories, four and a half baths, at least six bedrooms, 12-foot-ceilings and a three-car garage that currently includes a rec room.
Find out what else makes this home so exceptional
September 26, 2014

Before There was ‘Ruin Porn’ There was ‘Ruin Value’

In the internet hierarchy of "things the internets like", we'd argue that ruin porn sits wedged somewhere between Buzzfeed quizzes and cats. Images of decaying architecture conjure up unsettling feelings of tragedy and loss, but somehow manage to grip us with its intangible beauty. Whatever the cause for this may be, the thrill and enjoyment we get from looking ruin porn is palpable. The term 'ruin porn' is said to have been coined by blogger James Griffioen during a 2009 interview with Vice magazine in which he criticized photographers who scouted down-trodden Detroit for provocative photos. While ruin porn is the trend at hand, decades before its arrival there was something called 'ruin value'.
learn more about ruin value
September 26, 2014

Real Estate Wire: A Look Inside the Woolworth Condos; Another Tall Residential Tower for DoBro

A first glimpse inside the new Woolworth condos. [NYT] The penthouses at Tribeca’s Seven Harrison have hit the market. [CityRealty] This block near the final section of the High Line is real estate gold. [TRD] Downtown Brooklyn’s skyline is a getting another tall residential tower. This one will rise 65 stories at 420 Albee Square. [Brownstoner] […]

September 26, 2014

Upcoming Exhibition at MCNY Showcases Hyper-Real Photos of NYC from Artist Jeff Chien-Hsing Liao

An upcoming exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York, New York: Assembled Realities, will showcase more than 40 works from Taiwanese artist Jeff Chien-Hsing Liao. His large-scale panoramas push the boundaries of traditional documentary photography by mixing several exposures of the same location taken over the course of many hours. The photographs that result are hyper-real and complex and provide a fascinatingly accurate depiction of the frenzy that is New York.
More on the exhibit and Liao's work
September 26, 2014

No. 3 Bench by Floris Wubben Combines Natural and Hi-Tech Materials

Dutch designer Floris Wubben crafts beautifully strange pieces that combine natural and high-tech materials. It's that blend of rough, textured surfaces with new technologies that makes his designs stand out from the crowd. One of our favorite examples is the No. 3 Bench, made from an accordion-folded sheet of white polypropylene that follows the contours of a piece of driftwood.
Learn more about this stunning sculptural design
September 26, 2014

D’Aquino Monaco-Designed Apartment at 15 Central Park West Is Colorful and Whimsical

Tucked away within the austere limestone façade of Architect Robert A.M. Stern’s 15 Central Park West is this fabulous apartment courtesy of Carl D’Aquino and Francine Monaco of New York-based design firm D’Aquino Monaco. Every single room is a treat to the senses, with bold splashes of color and unusual finishing touches combined to create a living space as cozy as it is quirky.
Tour the colorful and whimsical home here
September 26, 2014

New Exterior Rendering Released for 60 Water Street Rental Project in DUMBO

Two Trees Management Company has revealed an additional, close-up exterior rendering and a teaser website for their new rental development 60 Water Street in DUMBO, which is nearing completion. Designed by LEESER Architecture and Ismael Leyva Architects, the building will begin leasing in the coming weeks, though pricing and interior images have not yet been released. The façade stands out in the former-industrial neighborhood thanks to glass curtain walls with angled windows.
Get a closer look at the glass pattern and entrance
September 26, 2014

$1.8M Greenwich Village Pied-a-Terre Is Charming on so Many Levels

As you’re walking in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Union Square, it might not occur to you that you’re just paces away from a rather gorgeous retreat waiting to be someone’s home or pied-a-terre. But just a few blocks from the thriving landmark, one such adorable unit at 49 East 12th Street has popped up on the market, asking $1.795 million.
Take a look inside here
September 25, 2014

Beautiful Inside and Out: $2.5M Tribeca Loft is the Epitome of Cast Iron Elegance

How we love New York’s cast-iron buildings...there’s something to be said for the craftsmanship and history that comes with these turn-of-the-century gems. With New York boasting the world’s largest collection of cast-iron architecture, it’s hard to imagine a time when many of the most significant of these buildings faced a date with the wrecking-ball. Fortunately, early preservationists advocated for their protection, and this hard work paved the way for the 1973 designation of the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District and, subsequently, individual landmarks and historic districts, like the Ladies’ Mile, NoHo, and the Tribeca South, West, and East Historic Districts. These efforts mean we get to appreciate the simple beauty of places like 47 Walker Street, where the interior of this 1,350-square-foot loft is just as elegant as the building's historic facade. With soaring 12-foot ceilings; huge, original four-by-ten-foot arched leaded windows; and a grand, open living space, this true Tribeca loft is respectful of its cast-iron-era roots.
See why we think this home is a beauty inside and out
September 25, 2014

Timeless Trophy: 740 Park Avenue

New York City may have an ever-revolving cast of hottest restaurants, hippest clubs, and even most desirable neighborhoods, but some real estate titans never go out of style in this metropolis. Known as the "Tower of Power," 740 Park Avenue is one such mainstay. The Upper East Side 19-story, Art Deco building was completed in 1930 to the designs of Rosario Candela, often considered the finest architect of luxury apartment interiors, as the last of the grand dames erected along Manhattan's Gold Coast. It didn't reach its peak until the real estate boom of the 1980s, but is today one of the most sought-after addresses with 31 apartments, mostly all duplexes, triplexes, and penthouses. The massively scaled residences feature grand living rooms, formal dining rooms, spiral staircases, high ceilings, expansive foyers, and an abundance of windows.
Plenty more on this timeless trophy residence and its long list of well known inhabitants
September 25, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Ridgewood Sees a Rise in Property Sales; 57th Street Supertalls

The rise of Ridgewood continues. The neighborhood has seen a surge in the sales of commercial properties. [NYO] Meryl Streep’s model daughter has bought a South Williamsburg pad. [NYDN] Mario Testino just purchased a pricey apartment at the Herzog & de Meuron-designed 215 Chrystie Street. [TRD] Penthouses with decks are coming to a former hospital. [DNA […]

September 25, 2014

Y-Shaped Guest House was Co-Designed by HHF Architects & Artist Ai Weiwei

When you're avid art collectors like the owners of the Tsai Residence and Guest House, you probably won't be too impressed with a typical rectangular structure to house your masterpieces. That's where Swiss-based firm HHF Architects and world-famous Chinese artist Ai Weiwei come in. Working together, they created a unique Y-shaped guest house for the couple's Ancram, New York property. Each of the home's three wings has a specific purpose--bedroom, workroom, and art gallery. The simple and effective design "served to link these elements at isolated points and to define the overall appearance of the guesthouse."
More on the artistic residence, which is the only Ai Weiwei-designed house in the country
September 25, 2014

Daily Link Fix: Instagrammer Takes Photos from Atop 432 Park Avenue; WEDG Personal Cloud Offers Stronger Security

A new infographic, The Schematic of Structures, displays the 90 greatest architectural achievements since prehistory. You can be the judge of this list over on Fast Co. Design. Break out the Meow Mix, NYC’s first permanent cat café could open next spring. According to Gothamist, a $65,000 crowdfunding campaign is underway to make the kitty dream a realty. […]

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