6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

During the week May 26th, NYC saw 254 condominium and cooperative sales, averaging $2.3M and $1.5M a sale respectively. The three most expensive closings were on the UES and in Nolita. Egyptian billionaire Nassef Sawiris made history with his $70M penthouse buy – the most ever paid for a co-op. In celeb real estate news, new-age author and physician Deepak Chopra ditched his mediocre Park Imperial pad and even managed to make more than a million dollars in the process; Simon Cowell on the other hand put down $10.85M for his family's new ultra-luxe UES home. Industrial Revolution: While designers (and developers) are favoring ridiculously tall glass towers, architect Morris Adjmi is returning to the fundamentals by designing subtly distinct, timeless buildings that blend seamlessly into their historic neighborhoods. We profile Adjmi in this week's issue. For market trends, top residential sales, celeb real estate news and a look at those (architects) who dare to be different, we turn to CityRealty‘s Weekly Market Snapshot for the scoop.
Get the full report here

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June 25, 2014

Before DUMBO Had a Dumb Name: Eamon Loingsigh’s New Novel References the Neighborhood’s Seamy Past

By Andrew Cotto

There’s been a lot of novels set in New York City (guilty myself, two times). When done right, such work can serve as a portal to the past, when New York was a distinctly different place, one often defined by its era and often in direct contrast to the current conditions. In Eamon Loingsigh’s powerful new novel, Light of the Diddicoy, reference is made in the very first line to the area “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass.” Of course, any New Yorker worth his/her salted caramel custard from Shake Shack knows DUMBO, the Brooklyn nabe known for its pricey lofts and tony boutiques, its art galleries and swank eateries and a grassy park that sprawls along the water’s edge below the span of East River bridges. Lovely. The characters in Loingsigh’s novel aren’t so privileged, for they lived in DUMBO 100 years ago, long before any clunky acronyms, when the waterfront was a war zone, and the novel’s narrator, Liam Garrity, a displaced and desperate Irish immigrant, all of 14 years, fell in with a brutal gang as a matter of survival.
More about 'Light of the Diddicoy' here

June 25, 2014

Your Daily Link Fix: A Quirky Mmuseumm Serenade; Mayor De Blasio to Rent Family Home

Borrowing the Internet from the Library: Anything that involves more internet hotspots is a good thing. Well, according to Gizmodo, libraries may start offering Wi-Fi in areas with lower bandwidth. We can’t help but wonder what the overdue fees will be. Multitasking is So Yesterday: According to FastCo. there’s a new group of people in […]

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June 25, 2014

Landmarks Greenlights BKSK Architects’ Glass Topper for the Pastis Building – Locals Not Happy

What's a little more glass and metal in a town overrun by supertalls, right? After getting shot down by the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) for their design of a two-story, mixed-use glass crown to top the Pastis Building in the Meatpacking District, BKSK Architects went back to the drawing board only to emerge with a new idea that's won the LPC's blessing. Set to top the low-rise brick building at 9–19 9th Avenue, the redesign is a somewhat more subdued iteration that uses the same materials and form, but with much less glass.
See the before and after here

June 25, 2014

This East Village Duplex Has a Secret That Will Be Like Music to Your Ears

We’re going to take a quick detour from our mega-expensive, extravagant homes, and spotlight a pad that we think demonstrates the heart of New York City. New York is artsy and quirky and marches to the beat of its own drum. People walk the streets in all types of personal style, restaurants like S’mac and Peanut Butter & Co that are dedicated to one food attract patrons from all over. This city is one of a kind. So, we’re going to show you a one-of-a-kind apartment in a little neighborhood we like to call the East Village.
See what this duplex has in store here

Distinctive Homes

June 25, 2014

$1.8M Greenpoint Apartment Boasts Incredible 16-Foot High Exposed Ceilings

When you hear about a Greenpoint apartment for sale, "loft" might not be what first pops into your head. But apartment 8 at 190 West Street, currently listed for $1.825 million through CORE, will make you a believer in Brooklyn loft living. The 1,364-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment has all of the loft-like charms you'd hope for--steel support columns, nine-inch oak plank flooring, and exposed wood ceiling beams, duct work, and pipes. It also feels twice its size thanks to 16-foot ceilings, 40 feet of street-facing frontage, eight-foot-high windows, a large skylight, and an open layout that can easily accommodate a two-bedroom conversion.
Don't miss the rest of this Brooklyn beauty

Distinctive Homes

June 25, 2014

$3.3M Lenox Hill Condo: Almost Versailles… But Then There’s That Kitchen

Remember the Sesame Street segment called “One of These Things is Not Like the Others”? (If you don’t, click here for a reminder). Well, it’s exactly what came to mind as soon as we saw photos of this gorgeous Upper East Side apartment located in Bridge Tower Place at 401 East 60th Street. The lush details in every room conjure up the French baroque style of Versailles with its lavish decoration and romantic elegance. Every room that is, except the beautiful but sorely out of place kitchen.
See why the kitchen doesn't seem to belong

Distinctive Homes

June 24, 2014

Live Life in the Open in This Ultra Bright WXY Studio-Designed Loft (Agoraphobes Need Not Apply)

By Annie Doge

Describing this Flatiron loft and 'spacious' and 'bright' somehow seems like an understatement, but there's no denying that even just looking at this 4,000-square-feet home will make you fee sun-soaked. Up for one lucky renter to scoop up, this beautiful WXY Studio-restored space at 40 West 22nd Street is perfect for an artist or art collector hang their pieces and comes with plenty of space to host fabulous art parties and lots of friends. Though you should make sure the two Emmy Awards in the media room are put away...
Tour the light filled home

Distinctive Homes

Distinctive Homes

For $949K, this Village co-op has a Gold Coast address, prewar charm and a splash of color

For $8M, a proper Park Avenue penthouse with an artistic pedigree

Make this lofty $1.5M Chelsea co-op your own

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

Seagram heir's Soho penthouse rents for $120K a month, a neighborhood record

This $15M penthouse is a 9,000-square-foot mansion in the Midtown sky

This $9.75M Harlem brownstone reflects neighborhood history with five floors of 19th-century elegance

This $6.4M Chelsea condo is like having a library, cafe, and office in a three-bedroom loft

For $2.45M, an artist's downtown Manhattan loft is a blank slate with a modern frame

This $800K Chelsea two-bedroom co-op is easy on fees and rules

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June 24, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Bed Stuy Getting 50 New Condos; Brooklyn’s Tallest Building Killing It in Sales

By Jon Dioffa

We roundup today’s residential real estate news highlights for one digestible bite: Bed Stuy is getting a brand new 10-story mixed-use building complete with 50 apartments [Brownstoner] NYC gets a rent hike! Of 1%… The lowest ever recorded [New York Post] South Slope’s newest condo development just placed its units on the market. The cheapest […]

Real Estate Trends

June 24, 2014

Your Daily Link Fix: Great White Shark Sighting; Cooper Hewitt Museum Lets Visitors to Draw on Walls

Great White Sightings Off Rockaway Beach: Shark Week is a couple of months early this year, as a baby great white was caught (and released), and a a 10-footer was spotted… on the same day… by the same group of people. DNAinfo gives you the shocking details. Girl Scouts President Gives Advice: No, it’s not […]

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June 24, 2014

Simon Cowell Drops $11 Million on Lenox Hill Pad for His New Family

After months of house hunting, Simon Cowell has found a home for his new family. According to the NY Post, the TV mogul just put down $10.85 million on a nest at 151 East 78th Street for his girlfriend Lauren Silverman and their love child. The family will now call the Peter Pennoyer-designed condominium home; and while the Post isn’t entirely sure which unit the TV mogul purchased for his best friend’s ex-wife (no judgment here), they’re guessing it was the three-bedroom penthouse.
Want to know more about the penthouse? Find out here

June 24, 2014

Multiple Walker Tower Owners Also Buying Units in Sister Property Stella Towers

Take two Art Deco commercial buildings designed by Robert Walker in the roaring twenties and mix in a little 21st century residential conversion magic by JDS Development Group, Property Markets Group, and Starwood Capital Group, and what do you get? Apparently two highly successful projects that now have even more in common - owners who have purchased units in both buildings.
Why did owners double up on their investments?

Uncategorized

June 24, 2014

Academic Historian Philip Bobbit Sells his Scholarly Beekman Penthouse for $1.3 Million

With four degrees from three ivy league universities, Philip Bobbit might be expected to live in a house lined with bookshelves and filled with piles of marked-up papers. The author, academic, historian, and public servant, however, kept a pristine space with virtually no clutter to be seen. But there is a scholarly feel to the 2BR/2BA apartment with its traditional design, formal artwork, and dignified furniture. Despite its studious charm, Bobbit has sold PH1606 at 575 Park Avenue, known as the Beekman, for $1.325 million. If the dramatic décor of the penthouse wasn't enough to entice the buyer, it also features north, east, and south exposures, as well as two custom, operable glass NanaWalls that open onto a gorgeous 45-foot-long outdoor terrace, creating an indoor/outdoor oasis.
Continue your penthouse education ahead

June 23, 2014

Workshop/apd’s Wood-Clad Studio is the Ultimate Tranquil Workspace

Even looking at this wood-clad retreat designed by workshop/apd brings us into a more peaceful state of mind. Everything about the freestanding studio — from the neat wood frame to cozy interiors — is a reminder of how modern-day architecture and Mother Nature can get along after all.
Click to see the interiors

June 23, 2014

Sitting Pretty: Beautiful and Unique Benches in New York City

On an average workday in New York, over 3.9 million people crowd onto the tiny island of Manhattan. That’s a lot of behinds needing a seat, and the city provides plenty of those in the form of benches. But not all benches are created equal. There are gems hidden in every borough – beautiful, funky, unique slabs for you to sit on this summer.
See more fantastic benches here

Architecture And Design

June 23, 2014

Temporary Treasures: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Demolished New York Buildings

Frank Lloyd Wright is one of architecture's most important figures, and you can see his work in five countries and 37 of 50 states. But when it comes to New York City, there is only one major Wright construction to be found: The Guggenheim. There is also a pre-fab house in Staten Island and one in Blauvelt just north of the city, but what other work did he do in the five boroughs? It turns out that Wright designed two other major projects in NYC, but both have been demolished. Here's a look at these lost works by the great architect.
See the historic Frank Lloyd Wright works here

June 23, 2014

West Village Rental in Renowned Bing & Bing Condominium Offers a Lot of Bang for the Buck

Celebrity sightings are not uncommon in the West Village and along the quiet, leafy street named Christopher filled with charming homes owned by the likes of the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman and comedienne Amy Sedaris. But residents here take it all in stride, and that low-key vibe permeates the walls of this beautifully appointed 3-bedroom, 2-bath condo at 45 Christopher Street. This corner unit’s original beamed ceilings, hardwood floors, and light-filled rooms offer a perfect setting to the city views greeting you to the north and west.
See more pics of this Christopher Street charmer

Distinctive Homes

Your Daily Link Fix: The View from Williamsburg’s New Rooftop Bar; 10 Sullivan Units Hit the Market

A Mechanical Pharaoh Fan: Thanks to Thanko – not done on purpose, we promise – you can experience fanning Pharaoh-style, and you don’t even have to hire servants. Gizmodo spotlights the interesting new fan (lush grapes not included). A New Chef in Town: Brooklyn Magazine has discovered a new restaurant that just opened up under […]

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June 23, 2014

BOUNCE Collection by Véronique Baer Will Make Your Foam Matress Jealous

Comfy foam is not just for mattresses and your grandma's slippers anymore. The BOUNCE Collection by Véronique Baer is made up of sculptural foam seating that can be adapted as chairs, stools, ottomans, and even chaise lounges. The quilted pieces transform to the body that sits on them, and when that person gets up they bounce back to their original form. Véronique Baer had three goals when creating the BOUNCE collection: to create an adaptable seat that would offer maximum comfort; keep production simple and the product affordable; and bring joy to the user.
More about the joyful collection this way

June 23, 2014

Listing for NYC’s Most Expensive Home Officially Here – “The Penthouse Collection” Up for $118.5M

By Annie Doge

Last week we reported on the plans of two industrious property owners at the Ritz-Carlton in Battery Park City who were pooling their three penthouses in hopes of making a record-breaking $118.5 million sale. Hearsay no more because it looks like the listing for the space has officially emerged, and will be managed by none other than power broker Ryan Serhant at Nestseekers. Aptly dubbed 'The Penthouse Collection', the combined 39th and 40th floor spaces owned by Randall Yanker and Gary Segal offer up a staggering duplex totaling 15,434 square feet — or in layman's terms (or is that possible with something this size?) 12 bedrooms and 15 bathrooms with "the potential" to extend both those numbers further. 20-foot ceilings, three kitchens, four terraces, and multiple living areas also means its a good thing that hotel amenities include housekeeping.
All the photos you've been waiting for this way

Distinctive Homes

June 23, 2014

Stunning $13 Million Birkenstock Penthouse Takes You Around the World in 3,500sqft

Alex Birkenstock, heir to the shoe brand worn in colleges across the U.S., is selling his Setai Wall Street penthouse and he’s asking $12.995 million. If you’re into movies like Back to the Future or the episodes of Family Guy where Stewie and Brian hop in the time machine, you’ll get a kick out of this amazing apartment. With the help of Steve Harivel, one of the designers behind the famous Soho House hotel, this 3,500-square-foot pad seamlessly blends modern technology and vintage charm… and the best part is the furniture is included. If you’re already screaming like you got called to the front in The Price is Right, just wait until you see what this place has in store.
Oh, but there's more... a lot more. Just click here.

Distinctive Homes

June 23, 2014

Sneak Peek at the Hy-Fi Mushroom Towers Rising at MoMA PS1

Every year MoMA PS1 holds a competition that gives emerging architects the opportunity to build a full-scale pavilion for their courtyard space in Long Island City, Queens. Past winners of the Young Architects Program (YAP) have gone on to do some great things, becoming hotly sought after for their skills and world-renowned for their incredible works (Do HWKN, SHoP and Work Architecture Company, ring a bell?). As no surprise, this year's winner is no shrinking violet, and he together with his team are bringing something unprecedented to the PS1 courtyard space. Architect David Benjamin and his studio, The Living, have devised a plan to construct a spectacular "Hy-Fi" tower made from a self-assembling, mushroom-based material that can be completely composted once the summer is over. This past weekend we got a sneak peek of the towers rising at the LIC site. Check out our photos of the mushroom wonder ahead.
See more photos here

June 23, 2014

Deepak Chopra Finally Unloads Park Imperial Pad for $3.5 Million

Deepak Chopra has finally been able to free himself of the mediocre, non-wellness oriented piece of real estate he once called home. After spending $14.5 million on a Greenwich Village apartment built for a hypochondriac – the space has antimicrobial coating on high-touch surfaces and EMF shielding to protect residents from electromagnetic fields – he has finally managed to get rid of the germ-soaked two-bedroom unit his lesser-evolved self once appreciated.
Take a look inside the Park Imperial Pad here

June 23, 2014

OKUM’s oon Power Outlet Makes the Boring Extension Cord Fun

Next to the desk at which I'm currently sitting is an unattractive, jumbled mess of extension cords. I've always figured this was an inevitable way of life, until I saw the oon power outlet by OKUM. The fun and functional product is a flexible, cloth-covered cable that stretches up to six feet and has painted wooden blocks strung on it. Made of Connecticut hard maple, three cubes are outfitted with sockets that can be rotated to accommodate blocky adapters, while smooth spheres prevent tangling.
Say goodbye to your white extension cord and learn more about oon here

June 22, 2014

Manhattan Mansions: 5 of the Biggest (We Mean Gigantic) Single-Family Homes

Everyone knows Manhattan is all about high-rise condos, tall apartment buildings, and any other kind of building in which people live above other people. But it wasn't always that way. A hundred years ago, there was still room on this small island for the ultra-rich to build mansions all to themselves, single-family homes with the square footage of a castle. Today many of these buildings, all "Millionaire's Row" mansions in the Upper East Side, belong to museums and schools, but the question remains: What are the biggest buildings in Manhattan today that were built as single-family homes?
See our list of mansions here

June 22, 2014

Why Is This Fort Greene Residence All Lit Up?

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

As New Yorkers, we have long come to terms with living in small spaces — we cram into tiny studios, fashion herb gardens on fire escapes and even wrap our apartments with shelves for storage space. But we're also a stylish bunch, always looking for ways to make our homes stand out. So when the owners of this Brooklyn residence wanted to tie in their many rooms without losing any space, the partners at Taylor and Miller Architecture and Design came up with a creative plan.
Click to see the interiors...

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New York City's best holiday markets of 2023

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Giant Rocking Horse Head Sculpture by Jeff Koons Going Up at Rockefeller Center

Photo © Jeff Koons. Courtesy Gagosian Gallery. Photography by Tom Powel Imaging.

June 21, 2014

Giant Rocking Horse Head Sculpture by Jeff Koons Going Up at Rockefeller Center

By Annie Doge

Is it a giant rat? A horse? A dinosaur? Those passing by 30 Rock over the past week and a half have probably been wondering what's going up in the famed plaza (at least we have). Word has it that Jeff Koons is back in the 'hood, this time with a massive sculpture of a pony, or "Split-Rocker", grafted in living flowers and complete with an internal irrigation system. Editor's note 8/27: This article has been updated to show the completed work, seen above.
Find out more about the work here

June 20, 2014

Here Comes the Sun…In This Industrial Tribeca Loft Complete with Artist’s Studio

That's right, little darling, we have here a sun-soaked duplex apartment that will make you want to belt out Beatles' tunes. The 2BR/1BA apartment at 74 Reade Street comes complete with 3,000 square feet of flexible space and a live/work permit — the perfect combination for an artist or entrepreneur looking to personalize their home. Apartment 1E is listed for $3.1 million. Its selling point is most definitely the abundance of natural light that shines in through the full wall of double-height windows on the first floor and large, geometric skylights that grace each bedroom. The open floor plan, huge exposed brick walls, and 15-foot tin ceilings add to the bright, airy feel of the apartment.
sun, sun, sun...more this way

Distinctive Homes

June 20, 2014

Light Up Your Home With These Summer-Ready Beach Ball Lights by Toby Sanders

Looking to bring a bit of sun and surf indoors? These Beach Ball Lights crafted by British designer Toby Sanders are a fun way to give your home an air of summer all year round.
See how the lights look indoors

June 20, 2014

Vacation in the Woods in Style with Archi-Tectonics’ Pre-Fab Upstate Guest House

It’s not often a guest house gets as much attention as the main one, but this mini-me of an upstate New York home designed by Archi-Tectonics is hard to miss. Built as an alter-ego to a larger structure, the 1,500-square-feet building stands out without upstaging the estate’s true star.
Check out more photos straight ahead

June 20, 2014

Your Daily Link Fix: Hy-Fi Mushroom Tower Comes to Life; 9 Co-Working Spaces in Brooklyn

9 Co-working Spaces in Brooklyn: It seems the world is going freelance but that doesn’t mean you have to forfeit human interaction. Brooklyn Magazine shows us nine great community workspaces to rub elbows with fellow freelancers. Amazon’s New Fire: The Perfect Phone for Moms?: Amazon has just released the new phone and FastCo. thinks they’ve […]

Uncategorized

June 20, 2014

Combined Ritz-Carlton Condos Look to Set Record With $118.5 Million Asking Price

What’s better than getting $56.5 million for your 7,600-square-foot, five-bedroom duplex? Joining forces with your neighbor and adding in your second apartment to list the whole kit and caboodle for a record $118.5 million. At least that’s what Five Star Electric’s Gary Segal chose to do, according to the Wall Street Journal. Segal briefly listed his Ritz-Carlton duplex, which has two terraces and views of the Statue of Liberty and One World Trade Center, for $56.5 million last year before apparently getting shiny ball syndrome and taking it off the market. Who wants $56.5 million when you could get $7,600 per square foot? It appears his neighbor, financier Randall Yanker, agreed after putting his 4BR/5BA duplex up for sale earlier this year, asking $23 million, then lowering to $19 million, before ultimately taking it off the market.
Check out some photos of the three-condo combo here

Distinctive Homes

June 20, 2014

NYC Events 6/20: Alice in Wonderland Drawing Bash; The New Museum White Party

By Lori Zimmer

There are some major ways to get your arty party on this week! Get weird and kick off the weekend while spurring your creativity and head to Brooklyn for Michael Alan's Alice in Wonderland themed draw-a-thon, complete with costumed models, booze and live music. Or go classic in Manhattan, break out your best whites and join the New Museum for their Annual White Party (just be careful with the open bar). But before you party, school yourself with the best in Italian Street Art, or channel your inner rocker on the Lower East Side with live music for The Cast's street party. Finish it off by indulging in an art film, with a free screening at the Tribeca Screening Room.
All the best events here

June 20, 2014

$7.5 Million Award-Winning Renovated Loft With Two-Story Living Room Has Us Going Overboard

If you’re looking for a conveniently located loft with over 4,000 square feet of interior space and enough outdoor space to turn the phrase “in the doghouse” into a reward, this award-winning penthouse in The Chelsea Quarter might be your pad. PHAB at 129 West 20th Street is a beautifully renovated two-story condominium with a National Design Award from the Society of American Registered Architects to back it up. There’s something about this home we find adorably endearing; perhaps because it makes us a bit nostalgic for an ‘80s yachting movie. And we mean that in the best way possible.
Take a peek inside this award-winning loft here

Distinctive Homes

June 19, 2014

5 Prohibition-Style Speakeasies to Transport You Back to the Gilded Age

Speakeasies and retro bars have been the new trend in New York for so long that this style may not be a trend at all. These "speakeasy bars" hearken back to a time somewhere between the Gilded Age and Prohibition, giving their interior designers a chance to play around with this fantastic historical style. The five speakeasies and retro bars below show a true design sense that transports us to the time of outlawed alcohol and tiny flapper dresses.
See our speakeasy gallery here

NYC Guides

June 19, 2014

WORKac Designs Creative NYC Headquarters for Ad Agency Wieden+Kennedy

It takes a lot of teamwork to come up with a winning advertisement, so when renowned agency Wieden+Kennedy enlisted WORKac to design its New York City headquarters, the mission was clear: to move away from the recent "office-as-playground" trend and create an environment that fosters creative thinking.
Take a tour of the office right this way

June 19, 2014

François Azambourg’s Sputnik Lamp is Truly Out of This World

When a tiny satellite named Sputnik was launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, it quickly triggered a "Space Race" between the Russian republic and the United States. While François Azambourg's nifty lamp — named after the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth — may not start any international rivalries, it certainly is eye-catching.
Learn more about the French designer's unique style

June 19, 2014

Your Daily Link Fix: A Look Inside 12 Brownstones; James Corner’s Essay on the High Line

Check Out Apple’s New Aerial App: Apple Maps has a new feature called Flyover City Tours… and its awesome. Gizmodo has more details on the app along with a video that might actually make you feel like you’re flying. The Rocky Road to Pre-K: Let’s be honest. The competitive process of getting tots into preschool […]

Uncategorized

June 19, 2014

Renderings of Pritzker Winner Tadao Ando’s Concrete and Glass Condo for Nolita Revealed

It was announced back in March that Pritzker Prize winning architect Tadao Ando would be bringing his signature style to Nolita, and we've been waiting with bated breath to see what beauty he would design for the city. Wait no more... It looks like a few renderings of the 7-story, 8-unit residence planned for 152 Elizabeth Street have finally been unveiled!
See more images of 152 this way

June 19, 2014

Orlando Bloom Purchases Tribeca Loft for $4.88 Million

Orlando Bloom just got a lot closer to Taylor Swift, and she didn’t even have to write a break-up song about him. The Lord of the Rings star has just purchased a $4.88 million three-bedroom loft at 155 Franklin Street, in the building formerly known as the Sugarloaf Warehouse. (We figure that sentence would make Prince proud.) We’re guessing this building has a certain appeal to hobbit acquaintances as the penthouse, now home to Swift, was formerly home to director Peter Jackson. So, it’s the hobbit gift that keeps on giving. According to the New York Post, the star was drawn to the loft’s “cast-iron columns, exposed brick walls, open chef’s kitchen and wood-beamed ceilings”. We would be too.
Take a look inside the hobbit star's Sugarloaf loft here

June 19, 2014

The Country Meets the City in This $6.7 Million Old-World Charmer

Hiding away in the premier St. Urban, 285 Central Park West #12W is what you imagine was the result when old-world country mouse met old-world city mouse… and the two bought a lavish Central Park apartment. With gorgeous pre-war details accented with a touch of country chic, this 3,000-square-foot Beaux-Arts style apartment has a combination of opulence and southern comfort to make anyone happy. In fact, we suspect if Oliver and Lisa from Green Acres had purchased this place, it would have settled all their arguments.
Find out why this Central Park West pad is the place to be here

Distinctive Homes

June 19, 2014

NIMBY: Residents Lose Out to Hudson Properties’s Plan to Build a 23-Story Tower Near Prospect Park

Workers will resume construction today on the 23-story residential tower planned for 626 Flatbush Avenue at the edge of Prospect Park in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens. Yesterday, a judge threw out a lawsuit placed against Hudson Properties that demanded they chop their tower down to just eight stories. Through the Prospect Park East Network, residents managed to attain a temporary restraining order through State Supreme Court […]

New Developments

June 19, 2014

Brownstone of Park Slope’s “Original Gentrifiers” Sells for $3 Million

When Evelyn and Everett Ortner bought their Park Slope brownstone at 272 Berkeley Place in 1963 for $32,000 they probably never imaged it would sell 50 years later for over $3 million. But it was their own historically sensitive and forward-looking vision that helped revitalize the area and make it a much-sought-after Brooklyn neighborhood. The Ortners moved to Park Slope when brownstones were unfashionable and the rich turned their noses down at the area. They convinced their friends to also buy brownstones in the neighborhood. Evelyn was an interior designer specializing in period interiors, and the couple meticulously restored their home down to every last historic detail. After a 25th anniversary trip to France, where they were inspired by local preservationists working to conserve a crumbling castle in Normandy, Mr. and Mrs. Ortner dedicated themselves to historic preservation efforts in Park Slope until their deaths in 2006 and 2012.
See the results of the couple's tireless passion

June 18, 2014

Camp Rockaway Raises $50K to Make the Queens Beachside ‘Glamping’ Retreat a Reality

Those who laughed at Kent Johnson's plan to bring a "glamping" site to the Far Rockaway can now eat a slice of humble pie. It looks like the designer has raised enough funds via Kickstarter to make the “luxurious” campsite a reality. Johnson targeted $50,000, and just a mere five hours ago managed to exceed his goal by $789.
More on Camp Rockaway this way

Architecture And Design

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

June 18, 2014

Stick and Stones Won’t Break Pedro Paulo Franco’s Bone-Shaped Skeleton Chair

Designers don't need to look far for inspiration. We've seen a solar charger shaped like a bonsai tree, flower-inspired pendant lights and now, a chair that Brazilian designer Pedro Paulo Franco modeled after the human skeleton.
Details on the bone-shaped design here

June 18, 2014

Weekly Market Snapshot: The Week of June 18, 2014

For the week of May 19, 2014, 81 condos sold for an average price of $3.1 million, while 123 coops sold for an average of $1.3 million. The Walker Tower, One57, and the newly opened Marquand stole the top three spots for most expensive sales that week. NYC's soon-to-be-tallest residential tower at 432 Park Avenue surpassed its 1,000-ft mark this week and is now taller than any rooftop north of the Empire State Building. The Vinoly-designed building will top out at 1,397 feet – taller even than One World Trade Center. Beauty or beast? We take a closer look at the Herzog & de Meuron-designed 40 Bond — form, function, sales prices and all. For market trends, top residential sales, and the latest starchitecture news, we turn to CityRealty‘s Weekly Market Snapshot for the scoop.
get the report here

Architecture And Design

June 18, 2014

Your Daily Link Fix: Modern Marble Accents for Your Home; Herzog & de Meuron Designing Chrystie Street Hotel

Brick Single-Family on Clinton Hill Progressing Quickly: The Brownstoner has an update on the construction at 218 Greene Avenue, and it’s moving pretty quickly. Modern Marble Accents for Your Home: The Observer schools us on the new way to incorporate marble while showcasing ten of their marble picks. iMakr 3D Printing Company Moves to the […]

Uncategorized

June 18, 2014

City Approves $3 Million Streetscaping Plan for Downtown Brooklyn Cultural District

The city has officially approved a $3 million streetscaping plan as part of the overall plan to create a cultural district on the border of downtown Brooklyn and Fort Greene, according to Crain’s New York. The plan, which will transform public spaces along several streets including Fulton Street, Ashland Place, Lafayette Avenue, will include ripping up the existing sidewalks and replacing them with dark stone slabs embedded with a sprinkling of lights. There will also be new seating and landscaping along a number of blocks north of Atlantic Avenue where patrons of popular institutions like the Brooklyn Academy of Music and BRIC arts and media gather. The idea is to turn that area into a cultural epicenter in Brooklyn, much like Lincoln Center in Manhattan, but comprised of several independent entities.
Find out more about Brooklyn's new cultural epicenter here

Real Estate Trends

June 18, 2014

Caveat to DeBlasio’s Grand Central Terminal Area Rezoning Would Require Special Permit for New Hotels