Search Results for: green

New Landmarking Proposal Would Automatically Consider Any 50-Year-Old Building for Designation

Historic brownstones in Brooklyn Heights via City Realty

April 9, 2015

New Landmarking Proposal Would Automatically Consider Any 50-Year-Old Building for Designation

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Though landmarking has come under fire over the past year, with the Real Estate Board of New York claiming that historic designation limits affordable housing, the City Council is drafting legislation to alter the landmarks law in favor of historic preservation. As Crain's reports today, "Backers of the legislation say it will bring more clarity to a process that has been criticized for hindering development, but critics say the 'devil is in the details.'" Headed up by Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and drafted by Councilmen Brad Lander, Stephen Levin, and Daniel Garodnick, the new legislation, among other stipulations, would automatically consider any building older than 50 years for historic designation and make it harder for developers to demolish a property in "landmarking limbo." This comes just four months after the Landmarks Preservation Commission released a proposal to de-calendar 94 historic sites and two historic districts. The plan was eventually receded, but signaled to many a turn in the city's policy.
See the full terms of the legislation here
At Brooklyn’s Gateway, Woods Bagot Kicks Off Construction of the Jay Street Residences
April 9, 2015

At Brooklyn’s Gateway, Woods Bagot Kicks Off Construction of the Jay Street Residences

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AmTrust Realty has recently kicked off construction on a 250,000-square-foot, mixed-use project near Brooklyn's Manhattan Bridge approach. The development will be a step towards reconnecting Downtown Brooklyn to its waterfront, and, along with several other proposals, helps remedy a maelstrom of mid-century planning disasters between the two areas. Known as the Jay Street Residences by its designers Woods Bagot Architects, the project has previously gone by the addresses 120 Nassau, 199 Jay, 203 Jay, and 213 Jay Street. Its 38,000-square-foot lot, now under excavation, will give rise to an L-shaped complex composed of a 33-story tower anchoring Concord and Jay Streets, as well as an eight-story hotel and amenity wing along its western Jay Street frontage.
More details on the project here
My 500sqft: Artist Hector Castaneda Invites Us into His Spanish Harlem One-Bedroom ‘Museum’

Our new series “My sqft” checks out the homes of 6sqft’s friends, family and fellow New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to Spanish Harlem. Want your home to be featured here? Get in touch! 

April 8, 2015

My 500sqft: Artist Hector Castaneda Invites Us into His Spanish Harlem One-Bedroom ‘Museum’

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Located in an unassuming low-rise walk-up in Spanish Harlem is a tiny apartment with no views, a small living room, and thousands of pieces of one-of-a-kind art from around the world. Its owner, Hector Castaneda, is a world traveller who's visited more than 50 countries over the last 15 years. While most folks are happy simply snapping a few photos and heading home after a week or two, Hector is all about immersion and spends months at a time in some of the world's most exotic and extreme locales. As Hector travels the world he picks up art, tapestry, sculptures, furniture, and musical instruments from every country, which today magically fill every nook and cranny of his 500-square-foot apartment. "He is the only person I know who can turn a dingy walk-up building apartment into a work of art—it's really a private New York Museum and Hector is the curator," his friend Lisa Monroig told us. Once we heard that, we knew we had to pay him a visit.
Tour this miniature museum in the heart of Spanish Harlem here
Keith McNally’s Village Townhouse Now Renting for $6K Less; Pearl River Mart in Soho Will Close
April 7, 2015

Keith McNally’s Village Townhouse Now Renting for $6K Less; Pearl River Mart in Soho Will Close

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Chef Keith McNally’s gorgeous Greenwich Village townhouse gets a price cut. The pad is now renting for $18,950 a month, down from $25,000. [Elliman] The famed Pearl River Mart on Broadway in Soho will shutter due to rising rents. The landlord wants $500,000 a month for the three-story space after the retailer’s lease ends this year. [Crain’s] A […]

Donald Trump’s New Luxury Golf Course Opens atop a Former Bronx Dump
April 7, 2015

Donald Trump’s New Luxury Golf Course Opens atop a Former Bronx Dump

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Grab your golf clubs and head northward because Donald Trump's brand new luxury golf course is open for business. After decades of delays and cost overruns, The Donald has finally made the city's dream of a public golf course in the Bronx a reality. Called the Trump Gold Links at Ferry Point, the 7,400-yard course has been constructed atop a one-time landfill. And though its former use is anything but five-star, you wouldn't guess it by the admission price—Trump is charging nearly three times as much to use his greens as other city courses.
Find out more here
Mad for Modern: NYC Homes That Are Cooler Than Don Draper’s Park Avenue Pad
April 3, 2015

Mad for Modern: NYC Homes That Are Cooler Than Don Draper’s Park Avenue Pad

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We admit it: We’re a bit obsessed with mid-20th century modern design–its architecturally and socially advanced concepts so often result in a perfect mix of aesthetic appeal and livability. Sometimes met with suspicion and derision in its earlier days, modernist architecture has endured the test of time and is having an enormous resurgence in popularity and appreciation. How else could you explain fans' obsession with the award-winning and pitch-perfect mid-mod sets on Matthew Weiner’s “Mad Men.” It’s often said that the best ideas in home design are the ones that make the home a great place to live; the origins of modernist design had that idea at their heart. We've rounded up a few of the city’s mid-century architectural treasures and a handful of homes that embody modernist style.
More on the 'Mad Men'sets and NYC's Mid-Century Modern gems this way
The High and Low: Two ‘Mad’ Pads Offer Modernist Details, Timeless Appeal

Butterfield House at 37 West 12th Street (l); 225 East 74th Street (r).

April 1, 2015

The High and Low: Two ‘Mad’ Pads Offer Modernist Details, Timeless Appeal

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In honor of the final season of "Mad Men," we've found a pair of current listings with the modern appeal of the Draper apartment at (fictional) 783 Park Avenue. Accents that might come straight from the pages of a mid-century magazine—like a sunken living room, wood paneling and a Nelson hanging light–or 21st century perks like open kitchens, floor-to-ceiling windows, balconies and city views add up to just as much modern cool as they did in the "Mad Men" era. $2.8 million gets you a serious mid-century pedigree, an enclosed balcony and a prime Greenwich Village location, but for $925,000, a top-floor Upper East Side pre-war pad with a recent renovation, city views and a compellingly modernist vibe looks like a serious deal.
Check out these two 'Mad Men'-worthy pads here
Is the Meatpacking District the Next Midtown?

Rendering of 860 Washington Street, via James Carpenter Design Associates

April 1, 2015

Is the Meatpacking District the Next Midtown?

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We tend to think of the Meatpacking District as more of an after-hours or weekend destination for cocktails and shopping, but a piece in the Times today looks at the "influx of office space and more" moving into the neighborhood. In addition to the much-anticipated opening on May 1st of Renzo Piano's new Whitney Museum along the High Line, a James Carpenter-designed 10-story glass commercial tower and Samsung's six-story flagship building are taking shape across from the Standard Hotel. And let's not forget about Pier 55, the $130 million futuristic floating park that is expected to break ground in 2016 off West 14th Street. With all of these new cultural attractions that will undoubtedly attract tourists, coupled with big-name companies joining the likes of Google in the area, is the Meatpacking District the new Midtown?
More ahead
West Village Townhouse is Formal and Fun with a Bold Palette, Eclectic Furnishings – and Penguins
April 1, 2015

West Village Townhouse is Formal and Fun with a Bold Palette, Eclectic Furnishings – and Penguins

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New York City is rich with buildings from another time, each offering a unique blend of period details, classic lines, and historical features. As a result, the homes within, as beautiful as they are, can sometimes seem a little, well, stuffy. Faced with the challenge of bringing a more modern aesthetic to their client’s West Village townhouse while respecting the home’s time-honored elegance, Brooklyn-based design firm The New Design Project incorporated a bold palette, eclectic furnishings, and a whimsical family of penguins to instill a fun atmosphere and give the space a younger feel.
Those penguins and more this way
Jendretzki’s Spectacular Soho ‘Bubble Loft’ Available for Short-Term Rental at $40K/Month

Image courtesy of Jendretzki

March 31, 2015

Jendretzki’s Spectacular Soho ‘Bubble Loft’ Available for Short-Term Rental at $40K/Month

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When we wrote last year about the “out of this world” design of the 6,000-square-foot loft located at 145 Sixth Avenue in Soho, we had no idea the owners would decide to share their incredible home for a few months, offering the lucky renter a one-of-a-kind June-through-October experience in the city. In addition to the sure-to-be-a-conversation-starter giant bubble structure housing two bedrooms in the southwest corner of the home, there are a myriad of design elements incorporated by the architectural firm Jendretzki that provide plenty to talk about.
See all the surprises ahead
Spend the Summer in a Furnished Bohemian Loft in the West Village for $7K/Month
March 31, 2015

Spend the Summer in a Furnished Bohemian Loft in the West Village for $7K/Month

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We're pretty sure the definition of the best of both worlds is a rustic luxury loft in Manhattan. This spacious West Village studio at 289 Bleecker Street boasts original details and high ceilings, and this summer it can all be yours, fully furnished mind you, for $7000 a month. The loft has all the classic enviable details like whitewashed brick and refinished original wide plank hardwood floors. The double-height ceilings allow for two levels of giant windows with skylights to give the space an airy feel, while details like exposed wood beams add even more character to the space.
More pics inside
NYC Planning Commission Approves One Vanderbilt; A New ‘World’s Skinniest Tower’ Coming
March 30, 2015

NYC Planning Commission Approves One Vanderbilt; A New ‘World’s Skinniest Tower’ Coming

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One Vanderbilt gets the green light. The City Planning Commission gave unanimous approval (12-0; 1 recusal) to the controversial Midtown project slated to rise on a site adjacent to Grand Central Station. [6sqft inbox] More units at 432 Park are coming to the market. Nine new listings, including a $76.5 million penthouse, have been posted in the last seven […]

March’s 10 Most-Read Stories and This Week’s Features
March 28, 2015

March’s 10 Most-Read Stories and This Week’s Features

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March’s 10 Most-Read Stories Woody Johnson’s Co-op Sale Still Sets Record, but Comes In Lower Than Expected at $77.5M REVEALED: ODA Architects Design Cantilevering Ziggurats for Gowanus Site Supermodel Freja Beha Erichsen Snags a Stunning $3M Carroll Gardens Townhouse Construction Update: COOKFOX’s 855 Sixth Avenue Tops Off, Ties for City’s ‘Shortest Skyscraper’ Tiny 500-Square-Foot Apartment […]

REVEALED: ODA Architects Design Cantilevering Ziggurats for Gowanus Site
March 27, 2015

REVEALED: ODA Architects Design Cantilevering Ziggurats for Gowanus Site

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Another eye- and volume-popping mega-project by ODA Architects may be coming to Brooklyn, and this week's chosen neighborhood is Gowanus. A recently posted video by ODA delves into the thought process of Eran Chen's burgeoning firm and provides some shots of their recent work, including the provocative rendering shown here. We recognized the location only by the "Stop & Frisk Hands Off the Kids" text scrawled across the defunct Brooklyn Rapid Transit Powerhouse building (the "Bat Cave") and pinpointed the project for the full-block parcel at 175-225 Third Street purchased by Kushner Companies and LIVWRK last year. Update via LIVWRK/Kushner’s reps: "The developers are not working with ODA on this project and these designs do not represent our vision for this site or the Gowanus. We are committed to putting forth an outstanding plan that respects the context of the neighborhood and responds to the voices of local stakeholders.” As it turns out, ODA is one of many firms that pitched, and the design was ultimately turned down because it was out of touch with the direction of the neighborhood. Though it won't come to fruition, it does give some scale of what's to come—which will indeed be transformative for the area.
More information here
New Yorker Spotlight: Gil Shapiro of Urban Archaeology Re-Imagines Beautiful Old Things
March 27, 2015

New Yorker Spotlight: Gil Shapiro of Urban Archaeology Re-Imagines Beautiful Old Things

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Native New Yorker Gil Shapiro founded Urban Archaeology in the early 1970s, when the salvaging movement was just catching on. With a collector’s–and creator's–eye and an entrepreneurial spirit, he began re-imagining architectural remnants as treasured additions to the home environment. This month the company has been preparing for an auction taking place on March 27th and 28th, handled by Guernsey’s auction house, when nearly 1,000 of their long-treasured pieces of history will be sold to prepare for a move to a new location. First opened in Soho in 1978, the store's early customers–including Andy Warhol and other denizens of what was undisputedly the epicenter of the art world–adored the unique and time-treasured aspects of Shapiro's restored architectural salvage pieces, yet they would always find ways they wished they could customize their favorite items. Finding that he excelled at bringing a fresh perspective to pieces of historical and architectural importance, he started reproducing individual pieces as well as creating new lines of bath fixtures and lighting, many of which originated in places like the Plaza Hotel, New York’s Yale Club and the St. Regis Hotel.
Read our interview with Gil here
$2.2M Brooklyn Heights Loft with Gothic-Style Stained Glass Windows Is Simply Heavenly
March 27, 2015

$2.2M Brooklyn Heights Loft with Gothic-Style Stained Glass Windows Is Simply Heavenly

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No matter what your spiritual beliefs, we think it’s safe to argue that throughout history churches have represented some of the most beautiful architecture in the world, and the historic Presbyterian Church at 99 Clinton Street in Brooklyn Heights is no exception. Within its rich, mid-nineteenth-century stone exterior you will find this thoughtfully converted two-bedroom duplex loft, blessed with double-height ceilings, original wide-plank hardwood floors, exposed beams, and a series of stunning stained glass windows that will make living here feel like your own little piece of heaven.
Check out the gorgeous windows
New Renderings Revealed for Tadao Ando’s ‘Glass Jewel Box’ Condo in Nolita
March 27, 2015

New Renderings Revealed for Tadao Ando’s ‘Glass Jewel Box’ Condo in Nolita

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Over the summer we got a couple of teaser renderings for Pritzker Prize-winning architect Tadao Ando's forthcoming Nolita condo at 152 Elizabeth Street. But now the Times has released the entire batch of starchitecture porn, including a full building shot and interior details. Ando's first-ever standalone building in New York is a seven-story condominium with just seven units, and its design is completely representative of his signature style. Described as a "glass jewel box" by the Times, it's made of in-situ concrete, galvanized steel and glass, combining to create a simplistic, modern esthetic that blends with the area's industrial character. The Japanese self-taught starchitect wanted to create "a space which no one has created before with a very common material which anyone is familiar with and has access to. Concrete can be made anywhere on earth."
Pricing info and renderings this way
The Knickerbocker: Times Square’s First Luxury Hotel Is Reborn as a Modern Landmark
March 26, 2015

The Knickerbocker: Times Square’s First Luxury Hotel Is Reborn as a Modern Landmark

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When John Jacob Astor IV built the Knickerbocker Hotel in 1906, he launched a generation of luxury Times Square hotels. The Beaux Arts masterpiece attracted the likes of F. Scott Fitzgerald, John D. Rockefeller, and Italian tenor Enrico Caruso. It was the birthplace of the martini and the site where the sale of Babe Ruth from the Red Sox to the Yankees took place. But after just 15 years, the hotel's success declined just as fast as it emerged and it was repurposed as an office space, later becoming the Newsweek Building. Today, though, the landmark is reclaiming its title of ultimate luxury hotel under its original moniker. After a two-year, $240 million modern renovation, the Knickerbocker offers 330 guest rooms, a rooftop bar and lounge with the ultimate view of the Times Square ball drop, and a foodie destination restaurant from chef Charlie Palmer.
Uncover the history and future of the Knickerbocker
Sprawling Soho Loft Featured in ‘Sex and the City’ Lists for $18K/Month
March 26, 2015

Sprawling Soho Loft Featured in ‘Sex and the City’ Lists for $18K/Month

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If this incredible Soho loft looks familiar, it's likely because it's been used as a location on "Sex and the City," "Ugly Betty," and the Will Smith movie "Hitch," to name a few. It's also been featured in numerous architectural books and commercials. We're not surprised as to why location scouts and interior design publications flock to the sprawling, full-floor residence at 55 Greene Street, as it has all the quintessential and historic loft details one would hope for, like 15-foot pressed-tin ceilings, classic Corinthian cast-iron columns and wrap-around 10-foot-high windows. The famous three-bedroom pad is now listed as an $18,000/month rental.
Take a look around
Mayor’s Affordable Housing Plan Flawed, More Likely to Harm Brooklyn’s Most Expensive Nabes
March 26, 2015

Mayor’s Affordable Housing Plan Flawed, More Likely to Harm Brooklyn’s Most Expensive Nabes

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The revitalization of East New York is at the center of Mayor Bill de Blasio's affordable housing plan, but like his ambitious Sunnyside Yards project, his ideas for the fallen areas of Brooklyn are apparently also filled with holes. According to a piece published by the Wall Street Journal yesterday, de Blasio's plan to re-zone 15 neighborhoods to allow for taller and denser housing won't do much good for affordable housing. The main reason? The rents are too low. In fact, housing experts believe that his plan is more likely to hurt the character of Brooklyn's most tony areas, including Park Slope, Fort Greene, and Crown Heights, amongst many others.
More on their findings here
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