6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

Looking at so many beautiful homes can get to be exhausting (not really) so we decided to change things up and show you a new kind of luxury. We’re not quite sure what we want to call it yet, but we’re thinking something like woodsman chic or garage chic. Either way, we’re thinking if the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were real, they would gladly shell out the $1.8 million asking price for this unit at 49 Howard Street.
Oh there's more... here

Distinctive Homes

July 9, 2014

Was Louis Kahn’s Four Freedoms Park inspired by the Masonic Pyramid on the $1 bill?

The Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedom's Park may have opened relatively recently in 2012, but architect Louis Kahn was brewing up the design for the memorial park nearly 40 years earlier. Kahn's death in 1974 (a somewhat tragic one which left him dead and alone in a Penn Station bathroom after a heart attack) was unfortunately accented by a dwindling reputation — Kahn's sordid multi-family affairs had come to light upon his passing and his fading architecture practice was loaded with debt. But beyond all the scandal, Kahn also left behind a number of sketchbooks packed with complete sets of unrealized projects. One of these projects was the Four Freedom's Park. While plenty of accolades have been given to successful realization of the project so far after Kahn's death, few have tracked where the architect may have pulled his inspiration for the design. That is until now. As a number of Kahn's sketches emerge for public viewing, some are asking: Was the the design of Louis Kahn's Four Freedom's Park inspired by the Eye of Providence found on the U.S. dollar bill?
What people are saying

July 9, 2014

Real Estate Wire: A Bushwick Factory to Get New Life as Condos; A Peek Inside Norman Foster’s 425 Park Ave. Design

Our wrap-up of today’s real estate news highlights: Williamsburg-based development firm ASH NYC is planning to turn a longtime Bushwick glass factory into 80 apartments with ground floor commercial space. [Wyckoff Heights] Freddie and Fannie are warding off any “vultures” eyeing Stuy Town. The two mortgage giants say that they won’t provide funds to buyers who […]

Real Estate Trends

July 9, 2014

Steel City: Architecture in Formation Structurally Redresses a Chelsea Duplex Using Digital Fabrication

Words that come to mind when we think of steel are heavy, imposing, and grey. In this Chelsea duplex penthouse, however, the material is widely used, but the space feels light, airy, and crisp. The "structural redressing" of the 1,500-square-foot apartment was completed by Architecture in Formation with the goal of creating "a stunning, sexy, one-of-a-kind home; and consummately New York.” To design the space, the firm used off-site, state-of-the-art digital design and fabrication methods to create its three main components: the back-lit, CNC-cut Corian screen; an origami folded-plate steel and Corian staircase; and the bedroom mirror/TV/light-wall.
Get up close and personal with these three architectural marvels, as well as the rest of the stunning home

July 9, 2014

Your Daily Link Fix: Ellen Comes to New York; Amazing Junk Mail Art

RocketSkates Go Up to 12 MPH: Apparently Kickstarter is where people go to find new ways to be a nuisance for city dwellers. Engadget spotlights the newest development–fashion-handicapped skates that let you zip along the sidewalk at insane speeds. Great news for the wearer. Bad news for everybody else. Ellen is Coming to New York!: […]

Uncategorized

July 9, 2014

Could We Construct a Skyscraper Out of Legos? Smart Bricks Provides an Interesting Building Alternative

Kite Bricks' "Smart Bricks" (also known as S-Bricks) are Lego-shaped, high-strength concrete bricks that can be used to construct the floors, walls, and ceilings of buildings quickly, inexpensively, and energy efficiently. Just like the childhood toy, the patent-pending product is available in different forms that snap together with rows of knobs on the top that slide into indentations on the bottom of another brick. And like a modular home, they can be delivered in a package with traditional doors and windows.
Learn more about smart bricks here

July 9, 2014

Sprawling Outdoor Space Beautifully Complements This Wooster Street Penthouse’s Equally Roomy Interior

Let’s see…. charming cobblestone streets, Soho’s artistic vibe, Nolita’s incomparable bakeries and restaurants, or the nearly 2,400 square feet of outdoor space? Yep, it’s hard to pick what would be our favorite part of living at 7 Wooster Street — and we haven’t even made it inside this magnificent penthouse. Once the key-locked elevator opens into this full floor 4-bed, 3-bath, 2,600-square-foot trophy residence we have even more to add to our list of “favorites”.
See more of this spacious residence

Distinctive Homes

July 9, 2014

Charming UWS French-Country Apartment Will Sell You with Its Urban Roof Deck

We'll admit it--even though New York City is our home, we sometimes long for the comforts of the suburbs. That's why we were so excited to find this floor-through apartment in a turn-of-the-century Upper West Side townhouse. Apartment 4 at 129 West 80th Street, which is listed at $1.695 million, is a 1BR/1.5BA co-op. Not only has it been renovated to exude a nostalgic, French country feel, but its spectacular roof deck gives you all the charms of backyard living without having to battle summer traffic to the Jersey Shore or Hamptons. And you can't get those skyline views in suburbia!
See what else this little slice of heaven has to offer

Distinctive Homes

Distinctive Homes

Asking $1.3M, this historic Newburgh home has designer interiors and dramatic Hudson River views

From cozy to bold, this $10M Soho condo embodies post-loft luxury

Asking $2.8M, this two-family Bed-Stuy townhouse looks like a good place to spend a sunny afternoon

For $2.25M, a historic timber and stone cottage in Southampton

Ricky Martin sells Upper East Side apartment for $6.15M

This $3.7M Greenwich Village co-op puts the 'classic' in classic seven

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

This $7M Gilded-Age mansion on the Upper West Side has a private garage and a theatrical history

This $4.5M Lenox Hill duplex combines pre-war elegance with architectural drama

For $9M, a Noho penthouse that captures the spirit of the neighborhood's past, and then some

VIEW ALL

July 9, 2014

Parkview Developers Ian Reisner and Mati Weiderpass Sell Southmoor House Penthouse for $11.9 Million

It appears that Ian Reisner and Mati Weiderpass of Parkview Developers have sold one of their Southmoor House penthouses. The 17-floor building serves as more than just home to the Out Hotel developers. It’s also headquarters for their company. And like true developers, they own a big chunk of the building, making them one of the co-op’s biggest shareholders. While the newly troubled pair seems quite committed to their own symmetrical pad—turning down a $15.5 million cash offer a few years back without batting an eyelash—that doesn’t stop them from making serious bank on some other units. And you won't hear us complaining, because that means we get to check out this 3BR/3BA penthouse.
Take a look inside this premier pad here

July 9, 2014

Rubbermaid VP Snatches Up Patrick Naggar-Designed Chelsea Penthouse for $7 Million

We're guessing this penthouse loft at 138 West 17th Street is going to get very organized when new owner Mark Tarchetti, Chief Development Officer and Executive Vice President of Newell Rubbermaid Inc., moves in. He may not need to bring in too many plastic bins, though, as internationally acclaimed architect/designer Patrick Naggar executed a stunning combination of high function and low maintenance in this 3BR/3BA, 3,200-square-foot Chelsea apartment. Naggar incorporated exotic materials and top-notch artisanry to create a sleek, modern home that feels luxurious and comfortable. Natural light and 360-degree unobstructed views abound thanks to 20 huge windows and five skylights.
Think the penthouse was worth the $7 million price tag? Check out more details right this way

July 8, 2014

You Will Go ‘Gaga’ When You Learn Who Once Lived in the Building of This $4.5M Upper West Side Residence

The historic building standing at 135 West 70th Street was built in 1927 to serve as a singular meeting place for all the Knights of Pythias lodges of NYC. Designed by architect Thomas W. Lamb, best known for his ornate movie palaces, it’s no wonder that the Pythian is richly decorated in brightly colored and glazed terra cotta embellishments. Though converted to a condominium in 1983, architect David Gura was careful to retain most of the building's ornamental features. Taking great pains to ensure that elements removed from their original positions were salvaged for use elsewhere within the building, his renovation earned a residential design award from the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
See why this apartment has earned our applause

Distinctive Homes

July 8, 2014

Bates Masi + Architects’ Potato Barn-Inspired Luxury Home Blends With the Landscape

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

NY-based Bates Masi + Architects designed a luxurious family home in East Hampton that pays homage to a local typology: the potato barn. Located in a 19th century waterfront community, the Piersons Way house consists of a series of gabled interconnected volumes clad in light Alaskan yellow shakes. This beautiful house rises among bamboo canes and tall silver grasses, protecting its own privacy while blending within the natural surroundings.
Tour the home here

July 8, 2014

Real Estate Wire: New Images of 432 Park Ave Under Construction; Battle of the Penthouses

To power up the vast $18 billion Related Companies project at Hudson Yards, the developers are looking to off-grid electrical systems. However, being green may also mean having to pay out more green. ConEd’s standby tariffs are canceling out any benefits for both big and small buildings alike. [Crain’s] The managers of the Empire State Building have asked a judge to dismiss a […]

Real Estate Trends

July 8, 2014

Mesmerizing Abyss Table by Duffy London Replicates a Geological Cross Section of the Ocean

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

Christopher Duffy from Duffy London unveiled a dramatic coffee table that brings the ocean's depths into people's living spaces. Like all of Duffy's designs, the Abyss Table serves as a functional design as well as conversation piece that will never go unnoticed. Made from layers of certified FSC high-grade wood and glass, this stunning sculptural design replicates a geological cross section of the ocean.
Learn more about the design here

July 8, 2014

Your Daily Link Fix: No More Crumbs; A Blue Whale Gets a Bath

By the Year 2016 Sharks Will Take Over Brooklyn: With Brooklyn growing the way it is, it only makes sense that it would attract sharks. We’re talking about the new exhibit the New York Aquarium plans to open. The Brownstoner tells you how you can help make this dream come true. A Blue Whale Gets […]

Uncategorized

July 8, 2014

$35 Million Richard Meier Penthouse up for Resale for First Time Ever

The penthouse of Pritzker Prize-winning starchitect Richard Meier’s last residential masterpiece is on the market for the first time since it was built in 2005. You know what that means. It means we get to glimpse inside the stunning West Village pad so we can begin brainstorming fundraising ideas to get this hot $35 million trophy. As if it’s not impressive enough that this 165 Charles Street penthouse sits atop an iconic building that won the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects 2005 Housing Design Award, this condo was designed by the starchitect himself. Now, if that’s not something to brag about, we don’t know what is.
Take a look inside the masterfully designed penthouse here

July 8, 2014

New Renderings of Two Trees’ BAM South Tower Highlight Views, Green Roofs and Space for Outdoor Markets

New images of the BAM South Tower at 286 Ashland Place have emerged and come courtesy of the project's landscape architect, Grain Collective. The renderings hint not only at the incredible views that will be afforded by the new tower, but the major rehaul of the public spaces along Fulton Street, Ashland Place and Lafayette Avenue. The new streetscaping plan will add much needed green space to the barren concrete quarter, with plenty of room for outdoor activities and events for patrons of BAM and BRIC, as well as local residents, to enjoy.
More of what's to come here

West Village Federal Rowhouse with Surprise Attic Space Sells for $6 Million

Attics get a bad name as the cobweb-laden crawl space to store holiday decorations, the makeshift bedroom for the angry teenager in the house, or the unknown room that no one even dares enter. But behind the dormer windows of 651 Washington Street is a modern, spacious attic space that has been transformed to fit two sunny bedrooms, one of the many factors that likely led to its recent $6 million sale. Other selling points of the five-story, 2,800-square-foot home include four bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, a full-floor finished basement outfitted with a home gym, a private outdoor garden, and two separate dining rooms. The lucky buyer is Charles Modica, Co-Founder and Chancellor of St. George's University located in Grenada, West Indies.
See what else Mr. Modica will get to enjoy in his new residence

July 7, 2014

Jaw-Dropping $3.4 Million Central Park West Pad Has Taxidermied Animals Everywhere

If Norman Bates were a real person we imagine he’d be rather fixated on this terrifying homage to our furry and feathery friends at The Beresford. If you ask Halstead realtor Robert Dowling about 211 Central Park West #3J, he would tell you that it’s a rare gem with soaring 10-foot ceilings, and plenty of windows. The woman in the shower… would tell you to run. Either way, we just couldn’t pass up the chance to explore this unique pad and its current owner's interesting style. But you might want to make sure Fido leaves the room before you continue.
Check out this taxidermists' dream here

July 7, 2014

Two for the Price of One: Our Interview with Father/Son Broker Team Siim and Rudi Hanja

It’s hard not to become a jaded New Yorker when it comes to real estate. We’ve been duped by phony listing pictures, stood up at a random addresses by our brokers, and probably watched a little too much of the soap opera-like Million Dollar Listing. But it’s not all Photoshopped specs and inter-agency drama — something I quickly learned during my interview with Siim and Rudi Hanja, a father/son broker team at Brown Harris Stevens who are passionate about their careers, connection to downtown, and their relationship with each other. Siim Hanja has been a SoHo and Tribeca resident for the past 40 years. He’s considered an expert on the downtown residential market, and much of his client base includes people involved with the arts. He raised his daughter and son Rudi in SoHo, a neighborhood he is still proud to call home. Rudi was first introduced to real estate when he was around ten years old, filing papers at a small, boutique brokerage that Siim owned. After graduating from Boston University, Rudi took a summer job with the sales and marketing team at 120 Greenwich Street, where he worked with the exclusive broker and closed the final 30% of sales in the condo building. He then went on to work at another major real estate firm in the city until he and Siim decided to begin working together at Brown Harris Stevens.
Find out what team Hanja has to say

July 7, 2014

Real Estate Wire: KPF’s New Supertall Tower for Midtown Site Sensitive?; Crown Heights and East New York Having “A Moment”

By Jon Dioffa

Today’s real estate news highlights: Conversions, condos, rising land prices, and, of course, more coffee shops. It looks like Crown Heights is “having a moment” as Brooklyn’s new “it” neighborhood. [New York Times] Oh, it looks like East New York’s moment has arrived as well — though this change has a bit more substance. Under the […]

Real Estate Trends

July 7, 2014

Susan Wisniewski Landscape’s River House is an Enchanting Hudson Valley Escape

Nestled in the quaint town of Coxsackie, New York is a residential garden oasis with crystal clear views of the Hudson River and magical green landscaping that could very well serve as the backdrop for a children's fairytale book. The enchanting grounds of the River House were designed by Susan Wisniewski Landscape, who created a natural-looking setting to frame the environmentally friendly Hudson Valley home.
Take a tour of the beautiful outdoor space

July 7, 2014

Studio FEM’s Playful Wave Shelving Changes Shape According to the Objects it Holds

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

This ingenious piece of furniture actually comes from the other side of the Atlantic, more precisely, from the Nordic city of Århus, in Denmark. An idea by Studio FEM, its undulating design playfully involves the user while adapting to changing storage needs.
Learn more about the design here

July 7, 2014

Your Daily Link Fix: A Colorful Loft Remodel; Mind-Bending Bamboo Structures

Mind-Bending Bamboo Structures: It’s strong, it’s flexible, and it doesn’t even do yoga. Architizer showcases 7 bamboo structures you’ll have to see to believe. A Blast from Brooklyn’s Past: Take a step back in time with the Brookyn Historical Society’s old map showcase on July 10. The Brooklyn Paper has more on the nostalgic exhibit. […]

Uncategorized

July 7, 2014

PULSE3AM Uses Horizontal and Vertical Lines to Open Up the Pilnock Residence

It's easy to get bogged down in the details when designing a home, but PULSE3AM thought high and wide when they took on the Pilnock Residence project. The duplex apartment exudes spaciousness thanks to the firm's creative mix of horizontal and vertical interest. Structural elements like steel beams, tall windows, and long ceiling vaults are accented by striped walls, exposed-brick pilasters, and geometric lighting fixtures—together creating a comfortable, open home.
See more of the residence right this way

July 7, 2014

Ready for Its Close-up: $19.5M Park Avenue Apartment With Interior Staging by Jed Johnson Associates Does Not Disappoint

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

Park Avenue is synonymous with luxury living and this 3BR/4.5BA apartment at the corner of 71st Street does not disappoint. The sprawling residence at 737 Park Avenue features over 4,300-square-feet of perfection starting the moment you step off the elevator onto your own private landing. We won't blame you for doing a little fist-pump after taking possession of the keys. Expertly staged by Arthur Dunnam of renowned interior design firm Jed Johnson Associates (whose work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, and Interior Design), the home is beautifully divided into public and private spaces.
Take a closer look at Mr. Dunnam's interior vision

Distinctive Homes

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July 7, 2014

Permits Filed for SHoP’s 36-Story Tower at the Domino Sugar Refinery

The transformation of the Domino Sugar Refinery is moving full steam ahead with Two Trees Development filing their first permits for their 36-story SHoP-designed tower at 320 Kent Avenue. The 401-foot glass tower will be one of the tallest of the mega development, sited alongside the Williamsburg Bridge.
More on the tower here

July 7, 2014

Resolution 4: Architecture Brings Modernism to the Bronx Waterfront

Waterfront views and innovative architecture: San Francisco? Manhattan? Miami? How about the Bronx? Residents of many Throgs Neck neighborhoods have happily traded off expansive living spaces and large backyards for the spectacular views of the Eastchester Bay and the bridge whose name the community bears. Though spaces can be a bit compact along the water, a challenging lot size didn’t stop Resolution: 4 Architecture from creating a home whose beauty rivals that of its view. Among the modest homes tucked neatly into small parcels along the waterfront, the Bronx Box stands out as a proud example of how infill housing is an innovative way to make the most of narrow lots in urban areas.
Learn more about this beautiful home

July 5, 2014

Brooklyn’s ‘A Cabin in a Loft’ Transforms a Space with Two Treehouse-Like Bedrooms

Remember as a kid how much you loved hiding out in a fort made of couch cushions or creating a make-shift house in the backyard? The owners of A Cabin in a Loft recreated that fun feeling by building a cabin and treehouse within their Bushwick loft to serve as private sleeping quarters. Each wooden bedroom cabin has its own semi-private garden, set at both ends of the open loft. The idea came about in 2009, when artists/designers Terri Chiao and Adam Frezzo wanted to create separate bedroom spaces within their open-plan guest house and artist space, located in a former textile factory building. Instead of cutting off light and making the unit feel half its size by building floor-to-ceiling walls, they decided to construct the simple, geometric volumes. What resulted is a space that feels like an outdoor environment and takes a new approach to loft living.
See more of the artistic loft

July 4, 2014

This Two-Story Belltel Loft Is Just Steps Away from Heaven

Let’s just say you have $23,500 weighing you down and you’re looking for a way to ease your burden. Why don’t you try renting this spectacular apartment at the Belltel Lofts? 365 Bridge Street Apartment 26B is a 2,800-square-foot, 3BR/3BA stunner that just gets cooler as you go along. This two-story loft manages to give you modern amenities in a prewar building, with surprises around every turn, and views to spare, all while putting you right in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn. Sound like something you want to see? Well then come closer…
A little closer... now click here

Distinctive Homes

July 3, 2014

Shigeru Ban’s Hamptons Home Is the Perfect Modernist Getaway for City Dwellers

By Jason Carpenter

Shigeru Ban's star has risen, and his 2014 Pritzker Prize is attracting attention to all his designs, like the recently opened Cast Iron House. But did you know that one of his lesser known works lies just outside of New York City? If you're looking for a reason to get out of town, and would like to see one of Ban's homes up close, then all you have to do is take a drive to the Hamptons.
See our gallery of the building here

July 3, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Developers Want to Demolish a Landmarked Building to Put Up Condos; ZIP Codes of the Super Rich

By Jon Dioffa

ZIP Codes of the Super Rich. 10013 A.K.A. Tribeca comes in 9th with a median home value of $2,824,000, according to Zillow. [CityLab] Stuy Town can’t seem to escape litigation. Stuy Town’s lenders say they are being cheated out of hundreds of millions of dollars in the CWCaptial and Wells Fargo takeover of the 11,000-unit […]

Real Estate Trends

July 3, 2014

Add Some Desert Flair to Your Garden with Spacio Terreno’s Brooklyn-Made Faceted Concrete Planters

The sandy deserts of the southwest are a long way from New York, but that doesn't mean we can't add a little of that earthy style to our lives. And the Faceted Concrete Planters by Spacio Terreno are the perfect way to start — their distressed concrete bodies and dusty colors remind us of sandy deserts, while the geometric design maintains an urban aesthetic. Plus, they're made in Brooklyn.
More on the lovely planters right this way

July 3, 2014

New Yorker Spotlight: Alina Cheung of Terracotta NY on How Her Investment Banking Past Inspired a Bowtie Business

By Susan Cohen

As investment banking analysts at Credit Suisse, Alina Cheung and Yidi Xu spent their days surrounded by men in ties. Little did they know that these men, and their ties, would later inspire them to leave investment banking behind. While crunching numbers and working on Excel spreadsheets, they found themselves thinking a lot about the prints on those ties. It was not long before Alina and Yidi realized they wanted the prints for themselves. And if they wanted them, they thought other women would too. With that thought, Terracotta New York, an accessories company, was born.
Read our interview with Alina here

July 3, 2014

Your Daily Link Fix: A Skycraper on Top of a Building; Run, Don’t Walk, to Shake Shack Today

IKEA Lamp Changes Colors with Your Mood: It’s the mood ring of the 21st century. PSFK examines how designer Vittorio Cuculo hacked an IKEA lamp so that the world may know exactly how he’s feeling. Invasion of privacy? Possibly. Totally awesome? Definitely. Architects Pushing Fashion Forward: Architizer shows us that architects love fashion, and demonstrates it […]

Uncategorized

July 3, 2014

Stunning Penthouse Illustrates Why “Time and Again” The Dakota is One of Manhattan’s Most Treasured Residences

Author Stephen King considers Jack Finney’s classic novel, Time and Again, to be “THE great time-travel story” ever, and figuring prominently in the main character’s attempts to travel back to the late 1800’s is the building that still sits prominently at 1 West 72nd Street, The Dakota. Its significance in the plot is not simply because it was completed around the time of the story’s setting, but rather for a more interesting notion: The Dakota faces a section of Central Park which, when observed from the apartment in the story, remains relatively unchanged from the day it was completed in 1884. A timeless view.
see how 19th Century charm meets 21st Century chic

Distinctive Homes

July 3, 2014

Former Bear Sterns Exec Richard Harriton’s Belaire Penthouse Sells for $8.7 Million

White collar defense lawyer Thomas J. Kavaler and his wife Loretta Preska have just purchased Richard Harriton’s Belaire Condominium penthouse, according to city records. The stunning apartment went on the market earlier this year, asking $9.2 million, but Harriton gave the couple a $500k discount, possibly after realizing that it never hurts to have a good defense lawyer on your side.
Take a look inside this splendid penthouse here

July 3, 2014

Game On!: Five New York Buildings with off the Hook Health Clubs

Roof decks, concierge services, screening rooms--these building amenities are so last year. The newest crop of luxury residential developments are offering more active perks. From basketball courts to rock-climbing walls, these calorie-burning features not only alleviate the need for a gym membership, but also offer the convenience of around-the-clock access and the ease of being just an elevator ride away from home.
See some of our picks for best building offerings that will get your heart rate up

Distinctive Homes

July 3, 2014

Rent This Oceanfront Long Island Retreat Designed by Resolution: 4 Architecture

By Patty Lee

East Quogue, a town located on the far end of Long Island, is littered with beach houses thanks to its picturesque oceanfront location. It's the perfect escape for New York City families to leave behind the hustle and bustle of Big Apple living and swap their tiny apartments for sprawling vacation homes. Because of its location on a barrier island, that doesn't hold true for this dune retreat, which meant the team at Resolution: 4 Architecture has to be as efficient with space as possible.
See how the architects overcome their dilemma

July 2, 2014

Flashback: See Five Famous New York City Buildings and Bridges Under Construction

By Jason Carpenter

As the Freedom Tower is being completed, New Yorkers are losing a once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity: The chance to snap pictures of a landmark while it is still being built. It is incredible to imagine getting to see a half-built Empire State Building, or a mess of wires that will soon be the Manhattan Bridge, or an excavated hole in the ground where Rockefeller Center will soon be placed. With old photos, we can see what these buildings looked like before they were finished, and what New York looked like before its landmarks were in place.
See what the landmarks of New York looked like in-construction here

July 2, 2014

Real Estate Wire: The Priciest Celebrity Homes in NYC; Developer Larry Silverstein’s Mega-Sized New Cause

By Jon Dioffa

Today's real estate news highlights: JDS is gearing up to build two luxury residential towers on the East Side on a $390M formerly owned by ConEd. [The Real Deal] What goes around comes back around right back into your real estate portfolio. Stephen Schwarzman’s Blackstone Group is buying the Park Avenue Tower, which it briefly owned in 2007. The property was flipped and sold it to Harry Macklowe for $625M. Blackstone just bought it back for $750M. [The Real Deal] The most expensive celebrity homes in NYC. Who has the most covetable pad in Manhattan? [Business Insider] Bushwick goes upscale with its gentrification. A 7-story building with valet parking may be coming to the nabe. [DNA Info] 'Jersey Boy' Bob Gaudio wants $6M for his San Remo apartment. Ohhhh what a deal? [Curbed] 50 West Street lists its units with condos starting at $1.615M [Curbed] For NY's tallest towers, the current rules require that they have mostly commercial space. Developer Larry Silverstein is championing for a change and wants that mix to favor far more lucrative residential space. [Crain's] The magazine everyone loves to hate continues to expand their media empire. Vice is investing $20M to renovate a 60,000-square-foot building on South Second Street and Kent Avenue, which will house its production facilities and a broadcasting station. [Crain's] Manhattan apartment inventory is at a low and the prices are up in the 2nd quarter. Read our brief after the break for all the details. Hugh Jackman in his luxurious 11,000 sq ft home (left); Larry Silverstein (right)
The 2nd quarter results here

Real Estate Trends

July 2, 2014

‘The Cloud’ Lamp Simulates a Thunder Storm Right in Your Living Room

By Lori Zimmer

Richard Clarkson’s incredible Cloud lamp brings the romantic intensity of a thunderstorm right into your living room. The interactive light fixture is a combination of a lamp and a speaker system that bursts with thunder and lightning in response to your step. The poofy cloud rumbles, grumbles and illuminates the space around you, but you won't run risk of getting soaked in an impending downpour.
More on the design here

Architecture And Design

July 2, 2014

$6.5M Flawless Merging of Two Gretsch Condominium Units is Music to Our Ears — and Our Eyes

In our humble opinion putting down roots in New York City should be on everyone’s bucket list. And that’s exactly what Friedrich Gretsch, an immigrant from Mannheim, Germany did in 1883, when he founded a small musical instrument shop in Brooklyn that later became a dynasty still in existence today. In 1916, as The Gretsch Company expanded, his son moved the operation to a mammoth ten-story factory at 60 Broadway in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, now the site of this luxury residential condominium conversion by architect Karl Fischer and interior designer Andres Escobar & Associates completed in 2003.
Read on to see why this apartment is music to our ears - and eyes

Distinctive Homes

July 2, 2014

Former Warner Music Co-Chairman Michael Fleisher Sells Brooklyn Heights Town Home for $6.4M

Wayfair CFO and apparent fan of extramarital endeavors, Michael Fleisher has sold his Brooklyn Heights town home, and for 6.4 million according to city records. The former Warner Music co-chairman listed the home at 273 Hicks Street five months ago with Corcoran agents James Cornell and Leslie Marshall, asking a staggering $6.95 million. After two months, he reduced the asking price to $6.495 million before finally settling in at a sale price of $6.4 million.
Take a look inside the Brooklyn Heights Beauty here

One Domino Square

8 South 4th Street

Williamsburg

Spectacular living on the Williamsburg waterfront

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

Learn More

July 2, 2014

CityLiving in Rome: From New York to Eat. Eat. Eat.

By Andrew Cotto

Like the author Elizabeth Gilbert of Eat. Pray. Love. fame, I’ve embarked on an international excursion that includes an extended stay in Rome. Unlike Ms. Gilbert, I’m not on a three continent journey in search of pleasure, enlightenment and emotional connections, nor will I be visiting any other lands beyond the peninsular confines of Italy. I’m here for five weeks to teach a creative writing class at John Cabot University, but I share a sense of her aspirations, if only in a somewhat adjusted manner, so I feel entitled to appropriate parts of her narrative into my CityLiving column while I’m here. This first dispatch will be about food.
Follow Andrew as he eats his way through Rome

July 2, 2014

Jane Kim Design’s Tribeca Loft Lifts the Bedroom to Create an Oversized Living Space

In an endless attempt to maximize space in tiny New York City apartments, the lofted bed has become a popular mechanism. This usually consists of a mattress hoisted up on wooden supports, leaving just about a foot of space below the sleeper's head and the ceiling. But in a beautiful Tribeca loft renovation, Jane Kim Design masterfully tackled this issue by lifting the entire bedroom volume only slightly off the ground, encasing it in an architectural glass cube, and installing cabinetry, bike storage, HVAC, and a washer/dryer beneath.
Take a look at the rest of this ingenious space

July 2, 2014

Demolition Permits Filed at 101 Murray – The Site of Downtown Manhattan’s Future Tallest Condo

By Ondel Hylton

Demolition permits have been filed with the Department of Buildings for the tallest condominium building south of 'Billionaires' Row.' The approximately 950-foot tower revealed by real-estate blogger YIMBY last month will house 129 condos within a dramatic champagne flute-like design by the architects Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates. Tentatively named 101 TriBeCa, the uppermost floorplates increase in size to take greater advantage of views uptown and towards the river that most likely will remain unobstructed years to come due to restrictive zoning in TriBeCa and Battery Park City.
more on the new tower here

July 2, 2014

Your Daily Link Fix: Where to Watch the 4th of July Fireworks in Brooklyn; A Tree-Shaped Farm-on-a-Skycraper

To Buy or Not to Buy, That Is the Question: Millions of Americans are plagued with dilemma of renting vs. buying every year. Sparefoot helps us crack the code with this helpful infographic. A Tree-Shaped Farm-on-a-Skyscraper: Green Acres is the place to be. Or at least that’s what the designers of the Urban Skyfarm believe. FastCo. […]

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July 1, 2014

Park Slope’s Slim and ‘Super Green’ Condo Building Features a Solar Panel-Clad Facade