All articles by Alexandra Alexa

Billionaire financier and art collector lists massive Central Park West penthouse for $5.25M

Via Google Street View

January 8, 2019

Billionaire financier and art collector lists massive Central Park West penthouse for $5.25M

By Alexandra Alexa

Editor's note: At the request of Sotheby's International Realty, listing photos that appeared in an earlier version of this post have been removed. Just steps from Central Park on the Upper West Side, this two-bedroom co-op at 23 West 73rd Street is located in the Park Royal, a pre-war, red-brick building that has been called “one of the most attractive sidestreet apartment houses” in the coveted neighborhood. On the market for $5,250,000, the penthouse unit is owned by financier Donald Marron, who is also one of the most recognized private art collectors in America and previously served as President of the Museum of Modern Art’s Board of Trustees.
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Distinctive Homes

First weekend of 2019 starts major headaches for 7 train riders and Washington Heights station

January 4, 2019

First weekend of 2019 starts major headaches for 7 train riders and Washington Heights station

By Alexandra Alexa

New year, same subway challenges. This weekend will be the start of significant service disruptions along the 7 line—making travel between Manhattan and Queens more complicated—and of long-term construction at several stations in Washington Heights, beginning on January 5 with the closure of the 1 train's 168 Street station (some good news: A and C trains will still be servicing the station). Riders can expect to encounter skipped stops across many lines and long wait times. Read on for a detailed list of the planned service changes.
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Transit

$12M East Village penthouse has three floors, a gym, and a roof terrace

December 31, 2018

$12M East Village penthouse has three floors, a gym, and a roof terrace

By Alexandra Alexa

East Village real estate dreams hardly ever come with as much square footage as this luxurious four-bedroom at 130 East 12th Street. For the current asking price of $12.5 million, you’ll get the building’s two-story penthouse plus a two-bedroom apartment on the floor below with its own private entrance. That totals up to a 6,414 square-foot, three-floor East Village palace for anyone with the right budget.
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Distinctive Homes

Historic Brooklyn Heights 1854 parlor home with a private garden asks $5.1M

December 28, 2018

Historic Brooklyn Heights 1854 parlor home with a private garden asks $5.1M

By Alexandra Alexa

Own a corner of historic Brooklyn Heights with this home at 23 Willow Place—part of the landmarked neighborhood known as Willowtown. The picturesque setting and old world charm of the 1854 building combine with a modern extension in the back to give an elegant but relaxed feel. The four-floor, seven-bedroom home with a private garden is on the market for $5.1 million.
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Distinctive Homes

Plan for homeless men’s shelter on Billionaires’ Row temporarily stopped

December 28, 2018

Plan for homeless men’s shelter on Billionaires’ Row temporarily stopped

By Alexandra Alexa

The West 58th Street Coalition, a group of residents suing over the city’s controversial plan to open a homeless shelter on Manhattan’s Billionaires' Row, has won a temporary injunction to halt construction at the former Park Savoy Hotel, the New York Post reported Thursday. The residents sued the city in July, claiming the proposed shelter posed a significant fire hazard and also fearing their new neighbors would usher in increased crime and loitering in the area as well as “un-quantifiable economic harm to the value of their property,” as court papers stated.
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Policy

Say ‘good riddance’ to everything you hated about 2018 in Times Square today

Image courtesy of the Times Square Alliance

December 28, 2018

Say ‘good riddance’ to everything you hated about 2018 in Times Square today

By Alexandra Alexa

Let’s face it: a lot of us are more than happy to say goodbye to 2018 and turn over a new leaf. If you’re ready for some cathartic collective destruction, use your lunch break on Friday to join others in Times Square for the 12th annual "Good Riddance Day" and say goodbye to the worst of this year. The event, hosted by the Times Square Alliance, is inspired by a tradition in some parts of Latin America in which New Year’s revelers stuff dolls with objects representing bad memories and burn them in order to make room for the new.
Details on the shred, ahead

Events & Things To Do

Here’s how to get around NYC this New Year’s

December 28, 2018

Here’s how to get around NYC this New Year’s

By Alexandra Alexa

On the last weekend of 2018, the MTA will be running decent subway service. You may have to wait a while for a 4 or 5 train, and several trains are being rerouted via other lines. Read details about your line below to avoid confusion. Minor service disruptions on New Year's Day and expanded service on LIRR and Metro-North should have most travelers starting 2019 with minimal frustration. Also, this Sunday will be the last opportunity to ride on vintage subway trains from the 1930s. You can catch one on Sunday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., they'll be running from 2 Avenue to Rockefeller Center on the F and going uptown on the A, C, D from 59 Street to 125 Street.
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Transit

Charming, classic Tribeca loft with private roof terrace asks $2.35M

December 27, 2018

Charming, classic Tribeca loft with private roof terrace asks $2.35M

By Alexandra Alexa

With exposed brick throughout, original weathered warehouse floors, soaring ceilings, and skylights, this Tribeca duplex is a classic downtown loft. The 3,636 square-foot condo at 37 Walker Street — currently on the market for $2,350,000 — has three bedrooms, 1.5 baths, and a private roof terrace. With a flexible open plan, it could easily be reconfigured or renovated, though lovers of the shabby-chic aesthetic will embrace the unit’s charming peeling walls and original details.
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Distinctive Homes

Photo courtesy of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

December 27, 2018

Port Authority offers to help in reconstruction of World Trade Center’s St. Nicholas Shrine

By Alexandra Alexa

Last December, construction on the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church at the World Trade Center stopped due to lack of funding. The Archdiocese has remained committed to finishing the construction of the church, which was destroyed during the 9/11 attacks. Recently, the Port Authority — who owns the land on which the church is sited at Liberty Street — said that it wants to help the church with its rebuilding efforts, as the New York Post first reported.
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New Developments

For $410,000, this efficient Gramercy studio is a smart starter home

December 24, 2018

For $410,000, this efficient Gramercy studio is a smart starter home

By Alexandra Alexa

Centrally located in Gramercy, just north of the park, this co-op studio in the gorgeous landmarked pre-war building 4 Lexington Avenue is currently on the market for $410,000. While tiny, it features a smart layout, full-service amenities and a covetable location, making it a great option as a starter home for a young professional. For those needing more space, an adjacent studio unit is also on the market, and the board is open to combining the two apartments.
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Distinctive Homes

Popular Articles

Signal and track repairs on the E, M, and J will bring delays in the last week of December

December 24, 2018

Signal and track repairs on the E, M, and J will bring delays in the last week of December

By Alexandra Alexa

The MTA will take advantage of a period of low ridership at the end of the year to perform critical signal and power upgrades on the E, M, and J lines, which will be operating on a restricted schedule through the end of the year. The scheduled work will allow them to fit a month’s worth of weekend repairs into just a few days. Work on the E and M will be wrapped up before New Year’s and should not affect your travel plans, but repairs on the J will continue into the first week of 2019.
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Transit

City Council passes comprehensive Garment District rezoning plans

December 21, 2018

City Council passes comprehensive Garment District rezoning plans

By Alexandra Alexa

On Thursday, the City Council unanimously passed a rezoning of the Garment District in Midtown Manhattan. As part of a larger manufacturing strategy, the plan for Midtown is intended to preserve production space and ensure long-term stability for the fashion industry, while also supporting the other industries that are growing in the area. As 6sqft previously reported, the citywide plan includes the creation of a 200,000-square foot garment production hub at the Made in NY Campus in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
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Policy

$10,500/month Cobble Hill duplex with four bedrooms and playful decor is a perfect family home

December 21, 2018

$10,500/month Cobble Hill duplex with four bedrooms and playful decor is a perfect family home

By Alexandra Alexa

This four-bedroom condo on a quintessential Cobble Hill block is currently on the market for $10,500 a month. With rooms to spare, it's perfect for a growing family. The two-level unit is bathed in southeastern light, in tip-top shape, and features cute decor details throughout, like exposed brick and hardwood floors. To top it all off, a private roof deck provides a cozy outdoor sanctuary.
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Distinctive Homes

How to get around (or get out of) NYC this Christmas

Via Flickr cc

December 21, 2018

How to get around (or get out of) NYC this Christmas

By Alexandra Alexa

Here’s everything you need to know about getting around this weekend and over the Christmas holiday, whether you’re staying in or traveling outside NYC. The good news is that the MTA is suspending bridge and tunnel maintenance for the holiday, the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North are providing extra service, off-peak fares apply, and there’s a free bus to La Guardia. Read on for some of the bad news.
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Governor Cuomo takes his second tour of the Gateway Tunnel

December 20, 2018

Governor Cuomo takes his second tour of the Gateway Tunnel

By Alexandra Alexa

Last night, Governor Cuomo toured the Gateway Tunnel to survey its levels of corrosion and damage beneath the Hudson River. He was joined by the same experts from Cornell University's College of Engineering and Columbia University's Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science who toured the Canarsie Tunnel last week with the Governor. The purpose of the tour was to provide insight into rehabilitating the Canarsie Tunnel ahead of the L train shutdown. However, the tour may definitely have done double duty as a push to the Trump administration, reiterating the importance of this critical project which won’t be able to go forward without federal support.
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$8,000/month Nolita loft blends old-warm charm with downtown decor

December 20, 2018

$8,000/month Nolita loft blends old-warm charm with downtown decor

By Alexandra Alexa

For $8,000 a month, this loft-like Nolita two-bedroom offers a chic and sunny ambiance with glazed brick tiled floors, exposed wooden beams and brick walls in every room, and eclectic decor that is definitely the definition of downtown cool. With a roomy living area, large master bedroom, two full bathrooms, and all the amenities you want, this unit at 262 Mott Street is a dream.
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Distinctive Homes

New renderings of Norman Foster’s Red Hook office complex reveal green roofs and courtyard

December 19, 2018

New renderings of Norman Foster’s Red Hook office complex reveal green roofs and courtyard

By Alexandra Alexa

Construction on Norman Foster’s Red Hoek Point, a 7.7-acre commercial campus at the former Revere Sugar Factory, started in October and this week new renderings of the future office complex were released, as CityRealty first reported. Developed by Thor Equities and designed by Foster + Partners with SCAPE Landscape Architecture, the complex will be composed of two five-story buildings that will hold a combined 795,000 square feet of office space on three levels and 23,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space on the ground level. The new views provide the first look at the nearly four acres of green roof space, including walking and jogging paths and landscaping to mitigate stormwater runoff.
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Celebrate the winter solstice in NYC with one of these musical parades

December 19, 2018

Celebrate the winter solstice in NYC with one of these musical parades

By Alexandra Alexa

On December 21st, the longest night of the year, neighborhoods throughout New York City will be transformed by the festivities of Make Music Winter, a series of free participatory parades focused on music and representing a range of cultures and traditions. With more than 18 separate events taking place throughout the boroughs, there will be something for music lovers of all stripes this Friday.
Follow the music

Events & Things To Do

Historic Clinton Hill carriage house with 4,500-square-foot garden asks 3.4M

December 18, 2018

Historic Clinton Hill carriage house with 4,500-square-foot garden asks 3.4M

By Alexandra Alexa

On a historic block in Clinton Hill, this three-level carriage house at 361 Waverly Avenue is a dream for those seeking country living vibes without leaving the city. As Curbed reported, the interior could use a modern refresh (or at least some curtains that don't match the wallpaper), but the $3,400,000 property is truly original and offers a ton of charming architectural details, a garage for worry-free parking, and a massive garden that could probably host a small wedding.
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Delays and station closures but no major outages on the subway this weekend

December 14, 2018

Delays and station closures but no major outages on the subway this weekend

By Alexandra Alexa

The bar is set pretty low for the MTA these days. Even with plenty of station closures, trains operating only every 10-12 minutes, and many trains rerouted via other lines, overall it seems like a decent weekend schedule with no major disruptions. Check out a detailed list of the planned service changes below.
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Transit

Port Authority launches public poll to decide fate of awkward Holland Tunnel holiday decorations

Photo via Flickr cc

December 13, 2018

Port Authority launches public poll to decide fate of awkward Holland Tunnel holiday decorations

By Alexandra Alexa

Update 12/17/18: Following the public poll, the Port Authority says they will move the Christmas tree over the A and remove the wreath over the U in Tunnel. The Port Authority is asking commuters to weigh in on the great Holland Tunnel holiday decoration debacle that many are calling an "OCD nightmare." While the decorations have historically been placed to sit aligned symmetrically above the tunnel lanes, workers who were tasked with decking out the tolls created an eyesore by placing a triangular tree over the N in "Holland" and by putting a wreath over the U, turning the "Tunnel" into a "Tonnel." As the New York Post reported, Cory Windelspecht of Tribeca decided to start a Change.org petition to challenge the decor faux pas. “I look at it and it makes me itch. It gives me anxiety and anger," he fumed. "Why wouldn’t they just put [the tree] in front of the A?”
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A megachurch in East New York will become an ‘urban village’ with 2,100 affordable apartments

Via Practice for Architecture and Urbanism

December 11, 2018

A megachurch in East New York will become an ‘urban village’ with 2,100 affordable apartments

By Alexandra Alexa

A Christian megachurch in East New York is partnering with the Gotham Organization to redevelop their East New York campus into a mixed-income community, or "urban village" as Reverend A.R. Bernard calls it, of 2,100 affordable units and neighborhood amenities. The plan from the Christian Cultural Center, led by Bernard, will supplement the existing church at 12020 Flatlands Avenue in Brooklyn and create a community with CCC at its core.
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Affordable Housing

Live in this fully-furnished designer Brooklyn Heights studio for $2,450/month

December 10, 2018

Live in this fully-furnished designer Brooklyn Heights studio for $2,450/month

By Alexandra Alexa

On a quiet block in the heart of Brooklyn Heights, this charming studio at 38 Livingston Street doesn't offer a ton of square footage but the thoughtful design details make it worth a look. The fully-furnished unit is outfitted with chic, just-trendy-enough pieces that make a bold statement, and it's asking the semi-reasonable rent of $2,450 a month.
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Distinctive Homes

Hit producer Shonda Rhimes closes on $11.75M Upper East Side penthouse

December 7, 2018

Hit producer Shonda Rhimes closes on $11.75M Upper East Side penthouse

By Alexandra Alexa

Shonda Rhimes -- the showrunner behind TV hits like “Scandal,” “How to Get Away With Murder,” and “Grey’s Anatomy” -- just picked up a penthouse at 765 Park Avenue for $11.75 million, The Real Deal reports. The Lenox Hill unit first appeared on the market in March for $14.75 million before being dropped to $12.5 million in June. This is Rhimes' second real estate move in the past few months. In October she listed one of her several Los Angeles properties, a Hancock Park mansion, for just under $10 million.
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No M this weekend and all the other subway updates you need to know

December 7, 2018

No M this weekend and all the other subway updates you need to know

By Alexandra Alexa

It's going to be another good weekend for the L train, which continues to run on weekends through late January. Not so much for the J train, which is not running again between Brooklyn and Manhattan. Like last weekend, there will be shuttle buses available from Hewes Street to Essex Street and between Essex and Metropolitan Avenue. The M train is going to have a rough weekend as well: all service is suspended. There will be M shuttle buses running between Metropolitan Avenue and Myrtle Avenue, and express to/from Delancey Street/Essex Street, but otherwise M riders will have to look to the 4, 5, and F for alternative routes.
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Transit

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