Search Results for: -fifth avenue

October 13, 2014

A Google Maps Comparison of How Much Williamsburg Has Changed Since 2007

My, the difference a few years makes. Never was that more apparent than with Google Maps Street View’s new function that allows you to take a peek back in time and see how much your neighborhood has gentrifi--err--transformed since 2007. The photos culled by the WSJ ahead focus in on the unprecedented changes Williamsburg has undergone over the last six years. The alterations are particularly apparent at Bedford Avenue and North 7th Street, where some cosmetic improvements have been made to the building facades. However, the transformation is rather mind-blowing when you see the difference new developments by the waterfront have made to the neighborhood’s aesthetic.
Take a look at Williamsburg's astonishing transformation here
October 11, 2014

An Architect’s Gift from the Jet Age: The TWA Flight Center at JFK International Airport

The TWA Flight Center at what is today John F. Kennedy International airport represents both the ephemeral and the ageless; our vulnerability at the end of the "American century" and the enduring beauty of inspired modern design. The work of mid-20th century Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen, the historic terminal is among the city’s most beloved architectural treasures. It first opened in 1962, a year after the architect’s death, and Saarinen posthumously received the AIA Gold Medal award for the design in 1962. Despite its storied past and widespread reverence, since the demise of TWA and its subsequent purchase by American Airlines in 2001, the terminal’s iconic “head house” has remained eerily vacant, and its future continues to be a point of contention.
More on the terminal's past and uncertain future
October 10, 2014

Girls Star Zosia Mamet Lists Bushwick House for $1.6M

In November 2013 Girls star Zosia Mamet (you may know her as Shosanna) and her boyfriend, actor Evan Jonigkeit, purchased a multi-family house at 896 Flushing Avenue in Bushwick (of course she wanted to live in the world's seventh coolest neighborhood) for a little over $1 million. The couple had planned to convert the entire 2,500-square-foot home as one single-family dwelling, but less than a year after moving in it's back on the market, now asking $1.6 million.
Take a look inside the short-lived Girls pad
October 10, 2014

Real Estate Wire: 432 Park Officially Tops Out Next Week; Don’t Blame Foreigners for Rising Prices

The Vinloly-designed tower at 432 Park Avenue will officially top out next week. The buidling is the tallest residential tower in the Western Hemisphere, and the second tallest tower in NYC. [Crain’s] BIG’s pyramid at 625 West 57th Street will also top out in the coming weeks. [NYDN] Foreign investors aren’t driving real estate prices up, […]

October 10, 2014

New 35-Story DoubleTree Hotel by Gene Kaufman Coming to Midtown West

Fresh renderings have been posted for a new 35-story hotel currently undergoing excavation at 350 West 40th Street. Located just southwest of Times Square and directly across from the Port Authority Bus Terminal, the block-front between Eighth and Ninth Avenues has been the victim of a half-dozen mid-range hotels. With the large blank wall of the bus terminal on one side and an ungainly assortment of budget hotels, walk-ups, and parking lots on the other, the street may be a worthy contender for the "Ugliest Street in Midtown." The project was first revealed by YIMBY last spring. Permits call for a 315-foot, 594-room DoubleTree Hotel designed by Gene Kaufman and developed by Sam Chang of McSam Hotels. McSam--which already has several hotels up and running on the block including a Holiday Inn, Candlewood Suites, and Hampton Inn--has been one of the city's most active and notorious developers in the last decade.
More on the project here
October 8, 2014

Renovation Diary: Defining a Dream, Assembling a Team

Our Renovation Diary series follows 6sqft writer Michelle Cohen as she takes on the challenge of transforming her historic Clinton Hill townhouse into a site-sensitive modern home. This week she shares her plans for the storied structure and the first big step she's taken to make her dream home a reality: assembling the professionals needed to make it happen. After two years of tireless searching, we finally took the big, scary step of buying an old townhouse on a leafy block in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Clinton Hill. We loved the house at first sight; but to understate matters a bit, it needs some work. It’s a fixer-upper, though far from a wreck. This renovation diary is an attempt to share what we learn over the next many months as this terrifying adventure unfolds, and let others learn from our mistakes!
Find out more about the huge renovation adventure we have ahead of us and what the first important decisions are.
October 8, 2014

Real Estate Wire: ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ Selling His Tribeca Home; $533 Domino Factory Rentals

The real-life “Wolf of Wall Street”, Alan Wilzig, is trying to sell his $4.5M Tribeca home on his own. [TRD] Domino’s first affordable rentals will be priced at $533 a month. [Brownstoner] Brandeis University is selling its Vanderbilt mansion for $33M. [WSJ] The landmark Lucerne Hotel will be getting a 13-story brick/limestone/terracotta-clad condo neighbor. [Curbed] Alan Wilzig […]

October 7, 2014

Own a Romantic One-Bedroom in Park Slope’s Iconic Chiclet Mansion

Part of what makes New York City so romantic are the picturesque historic buildings that have been maintained over the past few centuries. Now you can live this romance all day, everyday, in this 600-square-foot one-bedroom located at 115 Eighth Avenue in the Park Slope's iconic Chiclet Mansion (yes, a mansion designed for the gum magnate). Co-ops like this are very rarely available, and with its current listing price at $549,000 this one will not be on the market for very long.
Take a peek inside
October 7, 2014

Daily Link Fix: A Lamp That Changes Color to Match Its Surroundings; 35 NYC Parks to Get Upgrades

During the first ever Madison Avenue Fashion Heritage Week, 16 stores along the world-famous shopping corridor will turn their storefronts into displays about their brand’s history, reports Racked NY. Feeling blue? Pink? Yellow? Whatever color you’re in the mood for, the colorup table lamp by PEGA D&E can match it. Designboom explains that the fixture mimics the hues of anything […]

October 7, 2014

Karim Rashid’s East Harlem HAP Building Gets a New Color Scheme After Much Opposition

After much outcry, the Karim Rashid-designed residential building at 329 Pleasant Avenue in Harlem will be getting a new color scheme. According to the WSJ, locals have voted to scrap HAP Five's color-blocked magenta and turquoise design for a facade of simple white balconies with a less audacious “translucent cirrus with [a] graduated magenta balcony trim”.
Find out more here
October 7, 2014

Unique $2.5 Million East Village Loft Boasts Barrel-Vaulted Ceilings and Loads of Character

The two-bedroom apartment at 59 Fourth Avenue is still sitting on the market six months after it first popped up. After an unfruitful summer and several price chops from its $3 million price tag, today the seller is asking a reduced $2.5 million for the East Village pad. While the loft has some interesting dimensions, it still has much in the way of character, and the flexible layout allows for creative adjustments. Add to that a sublime roof deck and a prime location at the intersection of Greenwich Village, East Village and Union Square, and this unique unit could be a winner. But we’ll let you be the judge.
Let's take a look inside
October 3, 2014

Fort Greene Apartment in Former Seminary Has Us Praising Its Incredible Windows

Formerly a seminary, the gothic-style structure sitting in Fort Greene at the crossroads of Prospect Heights and Clinton Hill was reborn as Cathedral Condominiums, and this 1,100-square-foot home within is certainly one to be worshipped. No matter what your religious persuasion there’s no denying the windows in this stunning condo at 555 Washington Avenue are a blessing.
See why this condo has us singing its praises
October 3, 2014

New Yorker Spotlight: Leslie Edelman of Tiny Doll House on Furnishing NY’s Smallest Spaces

On a quiet block on the Upper East Side, there are elaborate houses and grandiose rooms. However, these stately dwellings are not townhouses, but instead the kind that live inside them, filled with miniature plates, plants, and pets. If you haven’t guessed, we’re talking about dollhouses, and they can be found at Tiny Doll House, a store devoted to dollhouses and all things miniature. For almost 25 years, Leslie Edelman has owned and run the store. With a background in interior design for full-scale homes and humans, he has miniaturized his skill set and passion at Tiny Doll House, where New Yorkers of all ages can fulfill their architecture and interior design fantasies for much less than the price of a Park Avenue townhouse. 6sqft recently spoke with Leslie to learn more about his store, and the care and attention to detail New Yorkers bring to their dollhouses.
Our interview with Leslie here
October 3, 2014

The Flowerbox Building: A Sustainable Gem in a Storied Setting

Built in 2007, The Flowerbox condo building at 259 East Seventh Street, about mid-way between Avenues C and D, is considered by many to be one of the city’s most beautiful new developments–and definitely a neighborhood standout, featuring a vertical garden that waters itself. The building boom that started with the 21st century and has continued apace since the end of the most recent economic downturn has given Downtown Manhattan an impressive collection of starchitect-designed creations, complete with Sky Garages, Boxwood Mazes and plenty of glass curtain walls. But the Flowerbox Building continues to charm with its design, quality and curb appeal.
Find out about the vertical
October 3, 2014

Wonderful East Village Penthouse Has a Vegetable Garden

Just this August we took a glimpse inside an adorable East Village apartment at 217 2nd Avenue with not one, but two gardens. Now, the penthouse of the same building is on the market, asking $2.8 million; and just like its neighbor, this apartment charms from start to finish. This full-floor condo manages to seamlessly blend old-world New York with rustic touches such as wide plank pine floors, vintage oak cabinets and a “lovingly worn” marble sink. Enter the home to find the industrial chic commercial grade kitchen with a skylight and a spiral staircase, which we’ll get to later.
Take a look inside, here
October 2, 2014

Kleindeutschland: The History of the East Village’s Little Germany

Before there were sports bars and college dorms, there were bratwurst and shooting clubs. In 1855, New York had the third largest German-speaking population in the world, outside of Vienna and Berlin, and the majority of these immigrants settled in what is today the heart of the East Village. Known as "Little Germany" or Kleindeutschland (or Dutchtown by the Irish), the area comprised roughly 400 blocks, with Tompkins Square Park at the center. Avenue B was called German Broadway and was the main commercial artery of the neighborhood. Every building along the avenue followed a similar pattern--workshop in the basement, retail store on the first floor, and markets along the partly roofed sidewalk. Thousands of beer halls, oyster saloons, and grocery stores lined Avenue A, and the Bowery, the western terminus of Little Germany, was filled with theaters. The bustling neighborhood began to lose its German residents in the late nineteenth century when Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe move in, and a horrific disaster in 1904 sealed the community's fate.
Read our full history of Kleindeutschland
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

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
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 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 […]