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December 2, 2016

State seeks proposals for massive development above South Bronx rail yard tracks

As the city's land costs rise, interest has been focused on the South Bronx, including the potential for a huge waterfront development above the MTA's Concourse Yards, as 6sqft previously reported. Now, Crains reports that Empire State Development (ESD) has invited developers to present offers for leasing or purchasing a 13-acre South Bronx rail yard along the Harlem River just north of the Willis Avenue Bridge and decking it over to build a residential or mixed-use project.
Find out more
December 1, 2016

Michael Bloomberg’s daughter looking to sell Tribeca loft for $3.5 million

Though Emma Bloomberg–daughter of former mayor Mike Bloomberg–may be trying to patch up her relationship with Donald Trump, she's looking to part ways with the sprawling loft at 62 Beach Street that she and husband Christopher Frissora bought for $2.45 million in 2007. And though it's certainly no little pink house, John Cougar Mellencamp was among the interested parties eyeing the two-bedroom 1,528 square-foot home, currently on the market for $3.5 million, according to the New York Post. The rocker recently split from Christie Brinkley after a year of dating, and we can't think of a better post-breakup man-cave.
Another day, another Tribeca loft fit for a celebrity
November 3, 2016

My 4000sqft: Tour the 113-year-old Ditmas Park home of an architectural preservationist

Michelle Williams' move to Ditmas Park may have put the neighborhood on the real estate map, but for those in the know, the area's history is far more profound than any of its celebrity residents. More than a century ago, Ditmas Park was not much more than farmland, but with the arrival of the subway also came interest from developers. One notable developer who descended upon the area was Dean Alvord. In 1899, Alvord initiated a new housing project that he envisioned as a “park in the city” for the rich. What followed was the construction of a range of large and stately suburban-style houses, built in an assortment of styles, from Tudors to Victorians. The development was a great success, and even drew in Manhattan's upper crust (among them Guggenheims and the Gillettes). However, as New York declined in the 70s and 80s, so did Ditmas Park. But fast-forward a few decades you'll come to seen an area that is experiencing a revival. Though it admittedly remains quite sleepy when compared to other burgeoning Brooklyn neighborhoods, Ditmas Park's suburban vibes make it the ideal destination for city-loving families—particularly when its architecturally grand proportions are taken into account. In this My sqft feature, we check out one urban family's lovely home, a landmarked wood construction owned by preservation architect Norma Barbacci and her husband, architectural conservator Glenn Boornazian. The pair purchased the house in 2004 and raised two children within its historic walls. Ahead Norma takes us through the space—which maintains most of its 1903 character—and introduces us to the Ditmas Park of 2016.
Go inside the home here
October 31, 2016

René Lalique’s windows saved this Fifth Avenue building from destruction in the 1980s

In 1984, a series of grime-covered windows at 714 Fifth Avenue caught the attention of an architectural historian by the name of Andrew Dolkart. Seemingly innocuous, and almost industrial in aesthetic—at least from afar—the glass panes would later become the foundation for a preservation victory.
more this way
October 25, 2016

Star Power: Celestial ceilings and zodiac symbols in New York architecture

These days if an architect were to ask a developer “What’s your sign?" they probably wouldn't be taken very seriously. But in the early 1900s, it was an entirely different story. A century ago, wealthy industrialists, bankers, businessmen and civic planners were erecting opulent buildings with the help of top architects and artists. And in addition to elaborate ornamentation, celestial ceilings with zodiac symbols were also requested in a number of iconic building designs. Ahead we point out six historic New York area buildings where you can still encounter these astral vestiges.
Where to find Zodiac signs in NYC
October 17, 2016

Diego Rivera’s psychedelic Rockefeller Center mural was destroyed before it was finished, 1934

In 1932, Mexican artist Diego Rivera was commissioned by Nelson Rockefeller to add a mural to the soaring lobby of Rockefeller Center. Despite being known for his petulant temper and loyalty to Communism, Rivera was still one of the most highly sought after artists of his time, lauded for his creative genius and his detailed paintings. But politics, artistic vision, power and wealth collided in 1934 when a displeased Rockefeller had the very mural he commissioned from Rivera chiseled off the wall the night before it was to be completed.
read about the mysterious mural here
October 13, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week – 10/13-10/19

In a city where hundreds of interesting happenings occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Art Nerd‘s philosophy is a combination of observation, participation, education and of course a party to create the ultimate well-rounded week. Jump ahead for Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer’s top picks for 6sqft readers! Architecture geeks rejoice, as Open House New York Weekend is finally here! It's time to reserve your spot to see some architectural gems normally closed off to the public. But if you're looking for something a little less hectic, head to Queens to check out a field of Christopher Walken busts at Socrates Sculpture Park. Clamp Art is also showing off Mark Yankus' gorgeous "portraits" of New York's buildings, and New York art world impresario Gregory de la Haba is also producing an evening opera at Carnegie Hall honoring Ireland's unsung hero, Lady Hazel Lavery. Plus for the bruncher with artistic inclinations, this Sunday you can learn more about art writers and curators (including me!) that make their living in New York. Details for these events, and even more of my picks, ahead.
More on all the best events this way
October 11, 2016

Fall getaway: Travel to the historic Inns of Aurora for an anti-Manhattan antidote

Now that fall is in full swing, why not take a weekend getaway upstate to the Finger Lakes wine country, where the fall foliage is in all its glory and the crisp air is perfect for cozying up next to a fire. The charming town of Aurora, located on a hill on the east side of Cayuga Lake is just a five-hour drive from the city, and here you'll find the Inns of Aurora, a collection of four very different historic properties with rooms to rent and a lot of history to share.
Join us on an historic tour of the Inns of Aurora
October 7, 2016

SHoP Architects designing world’s largest 3D-printed object; register to vote at city’s wi-fi kiosks

SHoP Architects are designing a pair of sculptural pavilions for Design Miami that will break the Guinness record for largest 3D-printed object. [Fast Co. Design] Chocolatiers Mast Brothers have new city-inspired collections based on their flagship locations in Brooklyn, London, and LA. [Design Milk] Could NYC benefit from Poland’s solar-charged, glow-in-the-dark bike lanes? [Inhabitat] Through October […]

August 19, 2016

Friday 5: Upper East Side elegance for less, buildings now offering free rent

The Upper East Side has long been one of Manhattan's most attractive neighborhoods, embodying a certain kind of elegance and convenience that's difficult to find in other parts of the city. Homes here are often situated just a short walk from Central Park; shopping, dining, museums, and entertainment are plentiful and in close reach; and quiet tree-lined streets highlighted by historic architecture provide for a picturesque backdrop that further elevate the offer. Ahead we spotlight a few of the best buildings on the Upper East Side currently offering free rent and more.
check out this week's deals here
August 11, 2016

The Success Story of Industry City as Told by Its Innovative Manufacturing Tenants

Industry City is a six million-square-foot, 30-acre industrial complex on the Sunset Park waterfront. Its 16 buildings made up the former Bush Terminal, a manufacturing, warehousing and distribution center that opened in 1895. After falling into disrepair over the past few decades, in 2013, a new ownership team led by Belvedere Capital and Jamestown began their $1 billion undertaking to update the complex while cultivating a diverse tenant mix that fuses today’s burgeoning innovation economy with traditional manufacturing and artisanal craft. Today, there are more than 4,500 people and 400 companies working in Industry City, and 6sqft recently paid a visit to four of them (a handbag designer, lighting designer, candle company, and chocolatier) to learn why the complex makes sense for their business and what unique opportunities it's afforded them. We also spoke with Industry City CEO Andrew Kimball about the unprecedented success of the complex and his visions for the future, as well as took a tour of the buildings and their wildly popular public amenity spaces such as the food hall, outdoor courtyards, and tenant lounge.
All this and more ahead
August 10, 2016

Revealed: Kenneth Park Architects Reimagine Penn Plaza as a Vibrant Public Space

The past decade has seen an increasing effort to transform New York City's under-utilized–and sometimes dismal–public spaces into pedestrian plazas and other vibrant and attractive public oases. From Columbus Circle and Times Square to Downtown Brooklyn's Willoughby Street, new car-free spaces encourage passersby to linger and enjoy their surroundings. Vornado Realty Trust (VNO), one of the city's biggest landlords, has been working on a similar transformation of the urban sprawl that surrounds Penn Station and Madison Square Garden by implementing kiosks, seating and attractive architecture. Now, CityRealty.com has revealed new renderings from Kenneth Park Architects (KPA) showing their ideas and recommendations for repositioning retail space and optimizing pedestrian and vehicular circulation.
Take a look at the reimagined Penn Plaza
July 29, 2016

Spotlight: Olympic Silver Medalist Tim Morehouse Hopes to Create a Fencing Hub on the UWS

The opening ceremonies for the 2016 Rio Olympics are a week away, and for many of us it's all about the swimming, gymnastics, and track and field. But for Tim Morehouse, the main event is fencing, a sport with three weapons (sabre, foil, and epee) that has tremendous depth internationally. In 2008, Tim was part of the US men's sabre team that won silver in Beijing, and in 2012 in London, he reached the quarterfinals in the men's individual sabre event. Four years later, Tim has transitioned from a competitor to a fencing ambassador, aiming to raise the sport’s profile in the United States. To accomplish this, he founded and runs Fencing in the Schools, a non-profit organization that teaches physical education teachers the basics of fencing so they can introduce it to their students - especially those who might otherwise not have the opportunity to try it - with the hope of a few of them wanting to take it beyond gym class. In November 2015, Tim continued his mission by opening his own sabre club on the Upper West Side. Though less than a year old, the club is already making a name for itself on 91st, as well as way beyond; at the recent United States Fencing Association's National Championships in Dallas, two of club's students medalled. 6sqft recently spoke with Tim to discuss the Olympics, starting his own club, and his goals of making fencing accessible to everyone.
Read the full interview here
June 29, 2016

Cool $1.075M Heights Co-op Shows You Can Have Prewar Charm and Waterfront Views

This stylish two-bedroom co-op at 32 Willow Place in Brooklyn Heights does a great job of proving that all waterfront apartments don't need to be in tall towers. Located on the top floor of a historic limestone and brick (walk-up, unfortunately) building in one of the city's loveliest waterfront neighborhoods, this renovated two-bedroom co-op offers a dedicated gated parking spot, river views, modern design and pre-war charm in what–according to the listing–Details magazine called "the coolest apartment in Brooklyn," for $1.075 million.
Take a look around
June 28, 2016

Sales Begin at Jardim, Isay Weinfeld’s Serene High Line-Adjacent Oasis

For those longing for Hamptons serenity without leaving Manhattan, Isay Weinfeld has designed a condominium for you. Sales officially kicked-off last week for the Brazilian architect's first New York commission, which has aptly been named Jardim for its leafy oasis in the heart of hard-edged West Chelsea. The homes are divided among two 11-story fraternal buildings that come dressed in a textually rich skin of cast-concrete interrupted by elongated ribbons of glass. Thirty-six light-filled homes frame the lushly planted, multi-level courtyard designed by Future Green Studio. And like all Manhattan real estate surrounding coveted greenery, the units come at a premium. Asking prices for the three currently available homes stand at $2,475 per square foot, according to CityRealty. The lowest priced abode is a 2,218-square-foot three-bedroom on the fourth floor going for $4.25 million; another three-bedroom on the third floor has an ask of $4.25 million; and a four-bedroom on the seventh floor has an ask of $7.55 million.
find out more here
June 24, 2016

Spotlight: Kristin Heckler Delivers Bouquets on Wheels at Uprooted Flower Truck

In a city where ever-rising rents often hamper potential small business owners from opening a storefront, mobile retail has become a popular alternative. Food trucks certainly led the way over the last few years, but the business model has spread beyond the culinary world and now includes a flower shop on wheels. A year ago, Ashley Custer and Kristin Heckler introduced New York to Uprooted Flower Truck. The business parks in neighborhoods around Manhattan to sell their New York-inspired, hand-tied bouquets available in three sizes: studio, loft, and penthouse. The driving force behind Uprooted is to not only bring flowers directly to New Yorkers, but to help people engage with and hopefully gain a deeper appreciation for them. 6sqft recently spoke with Kristin to learn more about this budding business and how it’s developing a unique identity in the city.
Read our interview with Kristin
June 21, 2016

The King of FiDi: Developer Nathan Berman Talks Transforming Downtown and 443 Greenwich

He’s been called the King of FiDi with over 2200 apartments under his management. The founder and principal of Metro Loft Management, Nathan Berman specializes in transforming landmark office buildings into luxury rentals. He recently acquired the leasehold for 20 Broad Street, the former New York Stock Exchange building, and plans to convert it to white-glove rental […]

June 17, 2016

Shigeru Ban’s Cast Iron House Tops Out, Raises the Bar for Tribeca Penthouses

Few intersections of New York come close to perfection, but the corner of Shigeru Ban's latest New York endeavor at Franklin and Broadway sure comes close. Long anchored by the exquisite 134-year-old James White Building at 361 Broadway, one would assume that a modern penthouse addition could only diminish the neo-Grecian beauty. Not so here. A rehabilitation, conversion, and enlargement spearheaded by Knightsbridge Properties seeks to produce an end sum that will at least be neutral and surely harmonious. Named Cast Iron House by Ban himself, the 13-unit condominium development is a marriage of old, new and timeless, and it reminds us of the incredible sophistication and beauty our city can possess when the bottom line fades. As a sequel to his Metal Shutter Houses in West Chelsea, Ban and design partner Dean Maltz carve eleven airy residences within the sumptuously detailed and impeccably restored 1882 Tribeca cast iron building and float a pair of glass and steel penthouses above.
Get a look inside these magnificent penthouses
June 9, 2016

Zen Out in Your Apartment With the Meditation Tipi

Even the most cynical, high-strung New Yorkers need a little "namaste" time. If committing to a yoga membership seems like too much, why not get one of these Meditation Tipis, which allow you to "create your own sacred space for meditation, connection, writing, reading and more." Made in Bozeman, Montana by Little Turtle's Tipi, these handmade canvas teepees come with an imitation fur rug and a salt crystal aroma lamp for your favorite essential oils. And with a diameter of only six feet and height of seven, they're perfect for even the smallest apartments.
Find out how to get your own
June 1, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week – 6/2-6/8

In a city where hundreds of interesting happenings occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Art Nerd‘s philosophy is a combination of observation, participation, education and of course a party to create the ultimate well-rounded week. Jump ahead for Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer’s top picks for 6sqft readers! After a relaxing long weekend of picnics and barbecues, jump back into your culture addiction. The power of female sex is illuminated, literally, at Catinca Tabacaru Gallery with Sophia Wallace's neon show. Brian Leo gives his tiny paintings a big voice at Amy Li Projects, while Martí Cormand sticks to the medium size of 5x7 for a postcard-themed show. Hop on a ferry and celebrate the tenth FIGMENT art festival at Governors Island all weekend long for free. Experience the visual stylings of musical act Baby Alpaca or the musical stylings of Australia with Anna Copa Cabanna. Cap it off by giving back at the Amref African Health gala or the wacky Times Square-fueled Chashama gala at the former offices of Vogue.
More on all the best events this way
June 1, 2016

Donald Trump’s Stake in Two Major Towers Came From a Lost Battle With China

When Donald Trump made an attempt to own the Empire State Building, he partnered with a foreign real estate investor, in this case from Japan. But it ended in a lawsuit and a public smear campaign before he ultimately sold back his stake. A similar turn of events surrounded his dealings with another high-profile Midtown building and related San Francisco tower; you may recall this quote from the day he announced his candidacy: "I beat China all the time. I own a big chunk of the Bank of America building and 1290 Avenue of the Americas that I got from China in a war. Very valuable." As the Times explains, the battle may not have gone down quite like the Donald says, with him schmoozing his way to the top and eventually waging a losing legal battle.
The full story ahead
May 24, 2016

Great Game Changers: One Worldwide Plaza, A Classy Attraction for Sleazy 1980s Midtown

What does it take to jump-start an unglamorous neighborhood? A huge development? A mixed-use project? New transit facilities? When this full-block, mixed-use development project was conceived in the mid-1980s the area in and around Times Square was one of the city’s worst. It was riddled with crime and pornography and was run-down, especially along Eighth Avenue. The proposition to add a building that was the scale of the full-block One Worldwide Plaza development, therefore, was not only surprising, but shocking and downright unthinkable. The legendary Madison Square Garden designed by Thomas W. Lamb had occupied its site from 1925 to 1966, but its second incarnation here was rather ramshackle especially in comparison to its previous glorious building on Madison Avenue at 26th Street. When it moved south next to the “new” Penn Station 16 blocks to the south, this site became the city’s largest parking lot and it took about a decade and a half for it to find a new life. The site was finally developed and completed in 1989 by a syndicate headed by William Zeckendorf Jr. that included Arthur Cohen and Worldwide Realty partners Frank Stanton and Victor Elmaleh.
more on the rise of worldwide plaza and how it revived midtown manhattan
May 19, 2016

Richard Meier Flips Favored Palette from Ivory to Ebony for Developer Pal’s Turtle Bay Tower

Pritzker Prize-winning architect Richard Meier has long been known for his modestly-scaled building designs with exteriors on the whiter side of pale. But for developer Sheldon Solow's new 42-story 556-unit residential building, currently under construction at East 39th Street and First Avenue on Manhattan's East Side, the New York Five starchitect will be designing a tower of black glass. The developer will be unveiling a residential tower, Meier's tallest and largest in New York City, according to the Wall Street Journal, that will consist of a rectangular slab with a recessed niche above the midsection, "a polished specimen of neo-Modernist simplicty" in typical Meier fashion–except it will be clad in glassy black. The mix seems to perfectly represent a collaboration between old friends and East Hampton near-neighbors Meier and Solow, who has pointed out that "All my buildings are black."
Find out more about the new rental, condo and commercial project
May 4, 2016

Related Launches Hudson Yards Living Website With New Renderings

On the heels of the news that Hudson Yards will add $18.9 billion to the city's GDP and the reconfirmation that the developers will build an iconic $200 million sculpture at the center of the plan's plaza, Related quietly launched a new Hudson Yards Living website, providing general information for prospective residents and a few new images of the $20 billion master plan.
More details and renderings this way
May 3, 2016

Late Portrait Artist Aaron Shikler’s UWS Co-op in the Iconic Studio Building Asks $7.8M

Late portraitist Aaron Shikler is best known for his classically gorgeous paintings of the American elite, most notably an official White House portrait of Jacqueline (then) Kennedy as First Lady and (posthumously) President John F. Kennedy as well as paintings of notables like Lady Bird Johnson, the Duchess of Windsor and the portrait of Ronald Reagan that appeared on Time magazine’s Man of the Year cover in January 1981. The Brooklyn-born artist and his wife, who died in 1998, lived at the standout Studio Building cooperative at 44 West 77th Street overlooking Central Park for over 50 years with their family. Shikler passed away last year at 93, and since ownership appears to have been transferred to the couple's two children in 2013, we'll assume they're the ones who have just put this classically grand three-bedroom Upper West Side co-op on the market for $7.795 million. Among the most thrilling of its many assets is the light-filled, enormous art studio where Shikler worked. The artist's fascinating paintings are visible throughout the apartment (though we doubt they're part of the deal).
Take a look around this creative co-op