All articles by Dana Schulz

Dana is a writer and preservationist with a passion for all things New York.  After graduating from New York University with a BA in Urban Design & Architecture Studies, she worked at the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, where she planned the organization's public programs and wrote for their blog Off the Grid. In her free time, she leads walking tours about the social and cultural history of city neighborhoods. Follow her on Twitter @danaschulzNYC.
VIDEO: Driving Around NYC in the 1920s Was a Dangerous Task

Say, you crazy nut — where did you learn to drive?

June 1, 2015

VIDEO: Driving Around NYC in the 1920s Was a Dangerous Task

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I didn't. It's a gift. Next time you're holding on for dear life in the back of a taxi, watch a few seconds of this video and you'll likely feel a bit better about your fate. In this 1928 parody of what bad drivers New Yorkers are (some things never change), actor Harold Lloyd, famous for his silent comedy films, assumes the role of a city cab driver who takes passengers on a bumpy ride, dodging street-level trains and weaving in and out of traffic. We then see that the alternative modes of transportation, horse and carriage or bus, are just as dangerous.
Watch the full video here
UWS Co-op of the Late Andy Rooney Lists for $2.4M
June 1, 2015

UWS Co-op of the Late Andy Rooney Lists for $2.4M

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We had some celebrity action at 522 West End Avenue just a couple weeks ago when we discovered that "Girls" star Zosia Mamet bought a rather unimpressive apartment in the building. And we've now learned from the Journal that the former home of the late Andy Rooney, legendary "60 Minutes" anchor, has hit the market for $2.385 million. The two-bedroom, ninth-floor co-op is quite lovely, but what's really going to attract potential buyers is the collection of Mr. Rooney's wood art pieces–like the dining room table and headboards–on display throughout the home. He was an avid woodworker in his free time, and the staging and brokerage teams decided to utilize his creations. They've also included photos of Rooney and his typewriter. Unfortunately, none of these mementos come with the apartment.
Take a look around
May’s 10 Most-Read Stories and This Week’s Features
May 30, 2015

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

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May’s 10 Most-Read Stories New York Times Columnist Frank Bruni Nabs a Broadway Corridor Pad for $1.65M New Renzo Piano-Designed Residential Tower to Rise in Soho Go Inside 190 Bowery This Saturday for an Art Opening Bradley Cooper Scopes Out an $8.5M Three-Bedroom in Tribeca’s Hubert Live in Eleanor Roosevelt’s Historic Townhouse for $18M Paul […]

Fantasy Floorplans Bring to Life Your Favorite TV Show Homes from ‘Friends’ to ‘Mad Men’

Monica and Rachel’s apartment from “Friends” © Brandi Roberts/Fantasy Floorplans

May 29, 2015

Fantasy Floorplans Bring to Life Your Favorite TV Show Homes from ‘Friends’ to ‘Mad Men’

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Do you get distracted watching your favorite television shows because you're too busy trying to figure out Don Draper's address or how the heck Monica and Rachel afford that massive Greenwich Village apartment? If so, we've got the perfect piece of wall art for you. Fantasy Floorplans (h/t Bezar) are hand-drawn blueprints of the apartments and homes in your favorite TV shows. From "Friends" to "Mad Men" to "Sex and the City" to "The Jeffersons," tons of popular NYC-based television shows are included. And for our friends outside the big apple, the floorplans cover locations throughout the country from shows that aired as far back as the 1950s.
Find out more ahead
How the Whitney Installed an Invisible Flood Barrier After Hurricane Sandy
May 28, 2015

How the Whitney Installed an Invisible Flood Barrier After Hurricane Sandy

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For the past few months, all eyes have been on the new Whitney. From architecture reviews of Renzo Piano's modern museum to insider looks at the galleries, New Yorkers can't stop talking about the design of this game-changing structure. It wasn't all sunshine and roses for the building, though. In 2012, halfway through construction, Hurricane Sandy flooded the museum with more than five million gallons of water, causing the architects to rethink the site. The Whitney now boasts a custom flood-mitigation system that was "designed like a submarine," according to engineer Kevin Schorn, one of Piano's assistants. As The Atlantic reports, the system has a 15,500-pound water-tight door that was designed by engineers who work on the U.S. Navy's Destroyers and can protect against a flood level of 16.5 feet (seven feet higher than the waters during Sandy) and withstand an impact from 6,750 pounds of debris. But what's just as amazing as these figures is the fact that this huge system is invisible to the average person.
Find out more here
190 Bowery Art Show Was Closed to the Public to ‘Protect the Space and the Art’
May 28, 2015

190 Bowery Art Show Was Closed to the Public to ‘Protect the Space and the Art’

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The art opening at 190 Bowery took social media by storm a couple weekends ago when hundreds of people (who were likely more eager to get a look inside the iconic building than to peruse the art) lined up outside and were then promptly turned away when the event was changed from public to private. As The Lo-Down notes, curator and art dealer Vito Schnabel, who hosted the event with the building's developer Aby Rosen, has now spoken out in the New York Times about the last-minute change of plans, saying that his main concern was "protecting the space and the art."
Find out more here
REVEALED: 1 Park Lane Will Be the Next Supertall Central Park South Tower

Rendering via Witkoff

May 27, 2015

REVEALED: 1 Park Lane Will Be the Next Supertall Central Park South Tower

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Just a week after Manhattan's Community Board 5 called for a moratorium on shadow-casting Central Park skyscrapers taller than 600 feet, renderings have been revealed for the next supertall tower coming to the periphery of the park. New York Yimby first spotted the images for 1 Park Lane, the 1,210-foot-tall glassy condo that will replace the Helmsley Park Lane Hotel at 36 Central Park South and become the fourth-tallest residential building in the city.
More details ahead
For Under $1M You Can Buy a Dome Home in New Paltz That Rotates 360 Degrees
May 27, 2015

For Under $1M You Can Buy a Dome Home in New Paltz That Rotates 360 Degrees

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Long Island may be home to the the world’s largest geodesic dome house, but just two hours north of NYC in New Paltz is an eco-friendly wooden dome home that can rotate 360 degrees with the push of a button. And, as Curbed reports, it's now up for grabs for $950,000. Built in 1999, the 2,300-square-foot, three-bedroom, UFO-looking residence sits in the middle of a 28-acre forest at the base of the Mohonk Preserve. It spins in order to utilize passive solar energy and to take advantage of the picturesque views.
See what else this geodesic dome home has in store
Why a Spanish Monastery Was Left in a Brooklyn Warehouse; ‘Tis the Season for Dumpster Diving
May 27, 2015

Why a Spanish Monastery Was Left in a Brooklyn Warehouse; ‘Tis the Season for Dumpster Diving

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The Spotted Pig owners will officially open a four-story restaurant at the top of 70 Pine Street. [NYP] William Randolph Hearst stored a 12th century Spanish monastery in a Brooklyn warehouse for 26 years. [Untapped] Take a look inside this artist couple’s bright, floral, and fantastical Soho loft. [Curbed] It’s that time of year again… dumpster diving […]

NYC Households Spend $130 a Month Funding the MTA
May 27, 2015

NYC Households Spend $130 a Month Funding the MTA

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Today's dose of disheartening news about the MTA comes via the Daily News, who reports that the debt-ridden city agency collects $4.8 billion a year from city taxpayers through taxes, fees, and the city budget. This comes out to $130 a month for the average New York household, even more than the cost of a monthly Metrocard, according to a new report by Comptroller Scott Stringer. Keep in mind this is in addition to the $5.3 billion they collect from fares and tolls.
Find out more here
Own a Mansion with Celebrity History on a Private Island Overlooking NYC for $11M
May 26, 2015

Own a Mansion with Celebrity History on a Private Island Overlooking NYC for $11M

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Considering the fact that New York City townhouses go for tens of millions of dollars and luxury condos are climbing into the hundred million range, $11 million for an entire private island and mansion seems like quite the bargain. Tavern Island is a 3.5-acre piece of land located in the Long Island Sound near Rowayton, Connecticut, overlooking NYC. According to the Daily Mail, in the 1950s and '60s, theater impresario and lyricist Billy Rose owned the island and hosted lavish parties for the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Maureen O'Sullivan, and Barbara Streisand. In addition to these epic bragging rights, the new owner of the island will gain a six-bedroom English Colonial mansion dating to 1900, private beach, swimming pool, and a docking area and boat for access the mainland.
Tour this unique island
Yayoi Kusama’s Polka Dot-Covered ‘Obliteration Room’ Shows for the First Time in the U.S.
May 26, 2015

Yayoi Kusama’s Polka Dot-Covered ‘Obliteration Room’ Shows for the First Time in the U.S.

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This picture may look familiar to you, as the installation at the David Zwirner Gallery has been making the rounds on Instagram. The work of artist Yayoi Kasuma, "The Obliteration Room" is part of the larger exhibit "Give Me Love." It's the first time the wildly popular polka dot-covered room has been shown in the U.S., and New Yorkers are excited to be part of the interactive experience. The backdrop for "The Obliteration Room" is an all-white, familiar domestic setting located within a prefabricated suburban home. As guests enter the room they're handed stickers, round dots in various sizes and bright colors, and asked to place them anywhere they'd like.
More on the colorful installation
The Lost Dakota Stables; What Makes NY Bagels So Good?
May 26, 2015

The Lost Dakota Stables; What Makes NY Bagels So Good?

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Looking back at the lost Dakota Stables, built for the use of the Dakota tenants, as well as the UWS neighborhood. [Daytonian in Manhattan] Take a day trip upstate to Kykuit, the 40-room mansion and impressive sculpture garden that were once the Rockefeller family estate. [Curbed] Does NYC have the best bagels because of its soft water? Find […]

$700K Dutchess County Farmhouse Welcomed Four Presidents and Marie Curie
May 25, 2015

$700K Dutchess County Farmhouse Welcomed Four Presidents and Marie Curie

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At first glance, you'll be drawn to this farmhouse's classic colonial facade and beautiful surrounding landscape. Once inside, you'll love the original architecture and old-time decor. But there's much more than meets the eye at this Dutchess County beauty. Located atop the historic Quaker Hill and built circa 1700, this home reportedly welcomed four Presidents–Washington, Coolidge, Hoover, and Roosevelt–and Marie Curie was a frequent house guest whose gifted backyard tree still stands today. And this amazing piece of history in Pawling, New York can be yours for $699,000.
Take a tour around the sprawling premises here
Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff
May 23, 2015

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff

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Bradley Cooper Scopes Out an $8.5M Three-Bedroom in Tribeca’s Hubert Be the Third Family Ever to Own This 18th Century Dutch House in the Hudson Valley VIDEO: Preview the Interiors of Jean Nouvel’s MoMA Tower Ahead of This Week’s Sales Launch ‘Girls’ Star Zosia Mamet Buys Unimpressive Upper West Side Co-op for $1.2M Community Board […]

New York Public Library Releases Interactive Map of Its 80,000 Historic Photos
May 22, 2015

New York Public Library Releases Interactive Map of Its 80,000 Historic Photos

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For us NYC history nerds, the New York Public Library's digital archive is one of the most valuable tools. We can search historic photos by address, building name, or neighborhood. This can get a little tedious, though, especially if a location no longer exists or we don't know the exact street number. But sleuthing for vintage pictures just got a whole lot easier thanks to a new mapping tool from the library's NYPL Labs team. OldNYC is an interactive map that features red dots on every location for which the collection has photos from the 1870s through the 1970s and lets you explore and interact with the images.
Find out more here
ICRAVE Mixes Cedar and Steel to Create This Modern Hamptons Pool House
May 22, 2015

ICRAVE Mixes Cedar and Steel to Create This Modern Hamptons Pool House

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If you're spending the holiday weekend out on the Hamptons, chances are you're in for crowded beaches, bustling restaurants, and high-energy parties. But for those of us looking for something a little more low key, this contemporary pool house and spa by ICRAVE couldn't be any more perfect (well, except for the fact that we're not invited over). The designers were tasked with creating a fresh outdoor space in Amagansett where their clients could entertain, and seeing as ICRAVE is responsible for such hospitality projects as the Borgota casino's Bask by Exhale Spa and eight STK restaurants, we're not surprised that the result is so flawless. A mix of natural cedar and industrial steel, the pool house is a modern oasis, highlighted by the central pool.
Get up close here
Fully-Furnished Rentals Launch at One57
May 22, 2015

Fully-Furnished Rentals Launch at One57

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In the past when we've talked about the latest occupancies at billionaires' row blockbuster One57 we were referring to the record-breaking $100 million condo sale (the most expensive in the city ever) or Bill Ackman's $91.5 million flip attempt. But now those looking to get in on the city's most expensive condo building can do so without dropping seven figures in one fell swoop. Extell Development, after selling most of the condos at One57, has quietly listed 38 fully-furnished apartments for rent on the building's seven lower residential floors. But don't get too excited if you're not in the billionaires' club; asking prices range from $13,350/month for a one-bedroom unit to $50,366 for a three-bedroom.
More details ahead
The Price of History: Looking at NYC’s Biggest Landmark Condo Conversions
May 21, 2015

The Price of History: Looking at NYC’s Biggest Landmark Condo Conversions

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This year is full of celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the New York City Landmarks Law, and in marking this milestone we tend to look at all of the historic buildings that have been perfectly preserved in their appearance and function. But what about those that retain their original character, yet have a new use? The folks over at CityRealty have taken a look at this group, focusing on city landmarks that have been converted from commercial spaces into condominiums. Zoning in on the five largest landmarks (by number of units), they found that owning a piece of history will cost you. In fact, the average unit price in these Manhattan landmarks was 45 percent higher than other condos; in Brooklyn, 26 percent.
Check out the full infographic here
studioMET Architects Turn a Brooklyn Parking Garage into a LEGO Art Studio
May 21, 2015

studioMET Architects Turn a Brooklyn Parking Garage into a LEGO Art Studio

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For most creatives, waking up and building things with LEGOs every day sounds like a dream. For artist Sean Kenney, it's a reality. Self-described as a "professional kid" who builds everything from lamps to portraits to entire rooms with the colorful bricks, Kenney needed a studio where he and his team could construct the fanciful works. He employed studioMET Architects to transform an old Brooklyn parking garage into his dream work space. With a project budget of less than $250,000, the firm designed a 4,000-square-foot artist studio with just as much personality as its owner's sculptures. The bright white, open space allows the fun creations and bins of colorful bricks (4 tons of them to be exact!) to stand out while still maintaining a logical, functional layout.
Find out more about this fun and functional artist studio
Roosevelt Island Gets a Technicolor Swimming Pool; Inside the Secret Subway WiFi Basement
May 21, 2015

Roosevelt Island Gets a Technicolor Swimming Pool; Inside the Secret Subway WiFi Basement

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Minnesota-based artist HOT TEA used 120 gallons of rainbow-colored paint to transform a Roosevelt Island swimming pool. [Colossal] Geodesic dome creator Buckminster Fuller had a pretty hefty FBI file. Find out what these documents say. [Gizmodo] Go inside the secret basement that powers New York’s wireless subway network. [Fast Co.] How the Twin Towers went from […]

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