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.

All renderings by Williams New York

July 28, 2020

Brooklyn’s tallest tower commences closings and move-ins

By Dana Schulz

Not only is Brooklyn Point the tallest building in the borough, but it has the highest infinity pool in the western hemisphere. Superlatives aside, the 720-foot condo tower has also proved popular for its location across from Willoughby Square Park and its inclusion in the larger City Point development in Downtown Brooklyn. And in true Extell Development fashion, the amenity package is stacked, including a huge landscaped terrace complete with BBQs and a putting green, a triple-height lounge, and another indoor pool. Just in time for residents to enjoy all these perks, Brooklyn Point has announced that it's commenced closings and begun the first move-ins.
See the whole building

$100M penthouse closes at 220 Central Park South, third-most-expensive NYC sale ever

Photo of 220 Central Park South in front of 111 West 57th Street (cropped) by Jim Henderson via Wikimedia Commons

July 28, 2020

$100M penthouse closes at 220 Central Park South, third-most-expensive NYC sale ever

By Dana Schulz

Photo of 220 Central Park South in front of 111 West 57th Street (cropped) by Jim Henderson via Wikimedia Commons As of July 1, 2020, the average price per square foot for a New York City condo came in at $1,110, according to CityRealty. But this duplex penthouse at 220 Central Park South sold for a whopping $12,164 per square foot. First spotted by The Real Deal and confirmed in city property records, PH 76 at the Billionaires' Row tower just closed for $99,903,375, making it the third-most-expensive sale ever, behind billionaire Ken Griffith’s $238 million purchase also at 220 CPS in early 2019 and Michael Dell’s $100 million buy at One57 in 2015. The sale takes the number-three spot from a $92.7 million sale at 220 CPS, which sold in late 2019 to billionaire hedge-funder Daniel Och.
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Real Estate Trends

$17.5M Tribeca penthouse has a 1,000-bottle wine room and a terrace bigger than most apartments

Photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

July 28, 2020

$17.5M Tribeca penthouse has a 1,000-bottle wine room and a terrace bigger than most apartments

By Dana Schulz

For someone who loves to entertain, this Tribeca penthouse 166 Duane Street can't be beaten. First off, it's huge--6,200 square feet inside and 1,200 square feet outside (larger than most NYC apartments!). This roof deck has several seating areas and an outdoor kitchen, and it's adjacent to a sunroom that has a wet bar. There's another wet bar in the media room, and when the bar runs dry, just head to the 1,000-bottle wine room.
See the whole place

Distinctive Homes

Iconic West Village speakeasy Chumley’s is closing and auctioning off its memorabilia

Photo courtesy of A.J. Willner Auctions

July 27, 2020

Iconic West Village speakeasy Chumley’s is closing and auctioning off its memorabilia

By Dana Schulz

Update: A representative from A.J. Willner tells 6sqft that the auction has been cancelled due to the landlord objecting to the restaurant's right to sell the equipment. The lastest iconic eatery to shutter in the wake of the COVID pandemic is Chumley's. Opened in 1922, the West Village bar and restaurant was a speakeasy during Prohibition, becoming famous as a literary haunt for the likes of Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, John Steinbeck, Edna St. Vincent Millay, and J.D. Salinger. It faced an uncertain future in 2007 when a collapsed wall forced it to close; 10 years of red tape followed, but Chumley's reopened in 2016, albeit with a new owner and fancier menu. However, Untapped New York first heard the news that Chumley's will not reopen following the city's shutdown orders, and they are auctioning off everything from their restaurant equipment to the tufted leather banquettes to the iconic literary memorabilia.
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Food & Dining

Photos courtesy of Compass

July 27, 2020

Famous ‘haunted house’ in Clinton Hill reduces its price to $3.4M

By Dana Schulz

This Greek Revival home looks like something one might find in New Orleans or Savannah, but it's actually right in Clinton Hill. Its southern charm, however, has not seemed to help the home at 136 Clinton Avenue find a buyer; it's been on and off the market for four years, originally asking $4.8 million. One year ago, the price dropped to $3.6 million, and it's just been lowered again to $3,420,000. Perhaps its "haunted" past is scaring off potential buyers. The historic home is known to be one of the most haunted in Brooklyn.
Lots more ahead

52-year-old Chinese-Cuban restaurant La Caridad closes on the Upper West Side

Photo taken by 6sqft on July 24, 2020

July 27, 2020

52-year-old Chinese-Cuban restaurant La Caridad closes on the Upper West Side

By Dana Schulz

Last week, West Side Rag noticed a "for lease" sign on the window of La Caridad 78, a beloved Chinese-Cuban restaurant that has been on the corner of Broadway and 78th Street for 52 years. Neighbors had speculated about its closing in the days prior after seeing the restaurant's furniture and other interior items taken out. As Florence Fabricant wrote in the Times, "It was one of the city’s best-known purveyors of Chino Latino food," serving up dishes like "fried rice with plantains or Chinese pepper steak with Cuban black beans."
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Food & Dining

Photo credit: Warburg Realty/Jason Haber

July 27, 2020

Dramatic Upper East Side townhouse has private parking and a posh backyard for $9.9M

By Dana Schulz

It's almost unbelievable that all this space is within a Manhattan home, but this townhouse at 236 East 72nd Street on the Upper East Side is as real as they come. Listed for $9,880,000, the 5,000-square-foot house is anchored by a dramatic, double-height living room with ceilings almost 21 feet high and massive, cathedral-like windows. Outside, the 40-foot-long garden is surrounded by planters and beautiful landscaping and boasts a fountain and two seating areas. But perhaps the most enviable feature is the private parking garage.
See it all

Distinctive Homes

Tastes of Brooklyn food festival will return on August 1 with 25 restaurants and bars

Photo of Jolie Bistro in Gowanus by CityRealty

July 24, 2020

Tastes of Brooklyn food festival will return on August 1 with 25 restaurants and bars

By Dana Schulz

Now more than ever it's important to support our local restaurants, bars, and bakeries and a fun event happening on Saturday, August 1 makes it super easy to do just that. Tastes of Brooklyn returns for its annual food festival with 25 participating establishments in Gowanus, Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, and Cobble Hill. Tickets get you a select number of small dishes at drinks at your choice of restaurants, and proceeds will benefit Seeds in the Middle, a nonprofit creating sustainable farm stands and school-run healthy programs in Brooklyn's food deserts.
See who's participating

See inside an apartment at the world’s tallest residential building

Photo by Evan Joseph

July 24, 2020

See inside an apartment at the world’s tallest residential building

By Dana Schulz

It's been nearly two years since sales launched at Extell's Central Park Tower and one year since the 1,500-foot condominium topped out along Central Park South, making it the tallest residential building on the globe. And now, we've got our first look inside one of the enviable apartments at this Billionaires' Row building. The model residence is a 3,401-square-foot, three-bedroom corner unit on the 43rd floor, priced at $17,500,000. Not surprisingly, the interiors are decked out to the nines, but, of course, it's the insane views we can't stop ogling.
Take the full tour

For under $1M, this West Village co-op is a stylish starter home with a rooftop oasis

Photos by Ryan Lahiff/Rise Media for The Corcoran Group

July 23, 2020

For under $1M, this West Village co-op is a stylish starter home with a rooftop oasis

By Dana Schulz

If you've always dreamed of living in the West Village, this junior one-bedroom at 92 Horatio Street might be the place to start. Not only is the location spot on, but the $950,000 co-op was gut-renovated four years ago, resulting in a super stylish and unique home. The icing on the cake, though, is the private rooftop oasis that has views of the Empire State Building and Hudson River.
Go up to the roof deck

Distinctive Homes

Serving chips is not enough to comply with New York’s new booze rules

By Dana Schulz

Ever since Governor Cuomo announced last week that restaurants and bars across the state could only serve alcohol if customers were seated and ordering food, the question has been, what exactly constitutes "food?" According to the State Liquor Authority's updated COVID guidelines, "a bag of chips, bowl of nuts, or candy alone" are not enough; "food" is defined as that which is "similar in quality and substance to sandwiches and soups," including "salads, wings, or hotdogs." This basically makes it illegal for an establishment to serve a margarita if the customer only orders chips and salsa.
More details

Image via Nick Sherman SHLEPPERS via photopin (license)

July 23, 2020

12 tips for hiring movers and making sure things run smoothly

By Dana Schulz

From big corporations to small family-run operations, movers in NYC run the gamut in terms of services, pricing, and proximity, but regardless of which route you take, there are several things to consider before deciding. Ahead, 6sqft has rounded up 12 tips for hiring movers, including performing background checks, making sure you've accurately counted your boxes (no one wants to be that person), and negotiating the estimate.
All the tips ahead

Photo Credit: MW Studios

July 23, 2020

CNN president Jeff Zucker finds a buyer for his glitzy $17.5M Upper East Side home

By Dana Schulz

After purchasing his Upper East Side co-op for $12.3 million in 2007, CNN chief executive Jeff Zucker first put the five-bedroom apartment on the market in February for $17.5 million. Now, the Wall Street Journal reports that Zucker and his wife Caryn have found a buyer for the large, glitzy pad, though the buyer's identity and final sale price have not yet been made public. Located at The Verona at 32 East 64th Street, the home is full of elegant touches like Venetian plaster walls, three working fireplaces, and a private elevator landing.
See more

15 public pools will start reopening in NYC

Photo of Astoria Pool by Global Jet via Flickr cc

July 22, 2020

15 public pools will start reopening in NYC

By Dana Schulz

Just in time for the end of the current heatwave, New York City will reopen 15 of its free, public swimming pools. Eight pools will open this Friday, July 24, and the rest will reopen on Saturday, August 1. The Parks Department says that all pool-goers must maintain social distance and wear face coverings at all times when not in the water.
READ MORE

City Living

You can take a tour of the Gowanus Canal in a canoe

Photo courtesy of Gowanus Dredgers

July 22, 2020

You can take a tour of the Gowanus Canal in a canoe

By Dana Schulz

How's that for social distancing? Untapped New York has just announced the relaunch of its in-person tour series, and they've got some seriously cool new offerings, including a Victorian Flatbush walking tour and a tour of the Gowanus Canal that takes place via canoe. The team has implemented significant health and safety measures, from reduced capacity to a state-of-the-art radio system that allows for social distancing. In addition to these new tours, Untapped is bringing back many favorites, including "Hidden Gems of Governors Island," "Remnants of Dutch New Amsterdam," and "Public Art Tour of Lower Manhattan."
More info here

Events & Things To Do

July 22, 2020

300-unit affordable and supportive housing development coming to Flatbush, Brooklyn

By Dana Schulz

As part of his larger plan to invest $1.4 billion in Central Brooklyn communities, Governor Cuomo unveiled this week a 291-unit affordable housing development in Flatbush. Called the Clarkson Estates, the project will have half of its apartments set aside for "youth aging out of foster care, formerly incarcerated individuals, and formerly homeless young adults," according to a press release. Developer CAMBA Housing Ventures will offer an extensive network of supportive services within a 30,000-square-foot space that the building is calling its "HUB." Many of these facilities will also be open to the public.
READ MORE

Affordable Housing

Photos by Shannon Dupre of DDReps for The Corcoran Group

July 22, 2020

$3M Tribeca loft is a white-washed wonderland

By Dana Schulz

A true Tribeca loft is not too hard to come by, but this three-bedroom home at 77 Hudson Street definitely stands out from the rest. Just listed for $2,999,000, the home has been whitewashed from floor to ceiling, giving the space a casual beachy vibe. But when mixed with all those classic loft details--beamed ceilings, stainless steel accents--this vision in white is really something special.
Look around

Distinctive Homes

Screenshots taken from the MTmta app

July 21, 2020

The MTA’s app now tells you how many people are on a bus in real-time

By Dana Schulz

Many New Yorkers are having to start heading back to the office, and part of that anxiety is how they get there. For some, that means switching from the subway to the bus in search of more social distance. In fact, the New York Times recently reported that in April and May, bus ridership in NYC was higher than that of the subway for the first time in more than 50 years. And for those making the switch, it just got a lot simpler to feel at ease. The MYmta app now includes real-time data for the number of passengers on an arriving bus.
READ MORE

New York’s 14-day travel quarantine expands to more than half of the country

Photo by CDC on Unsplash

July 21, 2020

New York’s 14-day travel quarantine expands to more than half of the country

By Dana Schulz

Individuals traveling to New York from ten additional states must quarantine for 14 days, bringing the total number of states under the travel advisory to 31, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Tuesday. The new states added to the list include Alaska, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Virginia, and Washington, all places with "significant community spread," according to the state.
The full list of states

Policy

$5M Fort Greene townhouse has three rental apartments and a luxurious owner’s duplex

All images by Udor Photography

July 21, 2020

$5M Fort Greene townhouse has three rental apartments and a luxurious owner’s duplex

By Dana Schulz

There's quite a lot to love about this Fort Greene residence at 215 Clermont Avenue, just listed for $4,995,000. Not only does it have three income-producing rental units, but the owner's duplex is as luxurious as townhouse living comes. In addition to an incredible amount of preserved 19th-century architecture, the duplex boasts a large, landscaped rear garden, a wine room, and even a mudroom that doubles as a pet spa.
See more here

Distinctive Homes

The F train will shut down on nights and weekends for the next 8 months

Photo by Patrick Cashin courtesy of MTA via Flickr

July 21, 2020

The F train will shut down on nights and weekends for the next 8 months

By Dana Schulz

After one year of service disruptions, the much-talked-about L train "slowdown" wrapped up in April. The MTA has now turned its attention to the F train's Rutgers Tube, which is the last of 11 subway tunnels to be rebuilt after suffering damage from Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Using the same tactics as were employed for the L train, the Rutgers Tube will only be shut down on nights and weekends, affecting F train service from August 2020 through March 2021.
READ MORE

Transit

This incredible Italian-style villa is asking $9.2M in Greenwich, CT

Photos by Chris Meech

July 21, 2020

This incredible Italian-style villa is asking $9.2M in Greenwich, CT

By Dana Schulz

The "Great Estates" of Greenwich, CT were built at the turn-of-the-century after the railroad first connected New Haven to New York City. As explained in the CT Post, with the rich able to get to and from the city easily and also have a retreat near the shore where they could dock their yachts, many grand mansions were constructed here. Today, very few remain, but this incredible Italian-style villa, which was commissioned by the founder of American Standard Co., has stood the test of time and is listed for $9,208,000. It has the massive, seven-bedroom main house, a guest house, pool and pool house, tennis court, pump house, and rolling, romantic lawns.
Take the full tour

Distinctive Homes

Photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

July 20, 2020

This $3.5M Park Slope townhouse comes with private parking and an enchanted garden

By Dana Schulz

If COVID has you considering the suburbs, but you're still not totally sold, this $3.5 million Park Slope townhouse at 415 Dean Street might be just the compromise you need. It comes with a private driveway with a garage, so you can own a car for easy getaways. It also has a beautiful backyard that the listing calls "a Tuscan hideaway" that's perfect for outdoor dining and large enough for socially distant hangouts. And when you want to stay in, there are three bedrooms, classical interiors, and modern amenities.
See more

Distinctive Homes

Cuomo threatens roll back of outdoor dining in NYC amidst growing crowds

Photo of New Yorkers drinking on St. Mark’s Place in May by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

July 20, 2020

Cuomo threatens roll back of outdoor dining in NYC amidst growing crowds

By Dana Schulz

After yet another weekend of social gatherings in New York City, Governor Cuomo said in his press conference this morning that the state may have to roll back the opening of bars and restaurants in the city if the local government and police department does not enact stricter enforcement. The governor emphasized the fact that the NYPD's task is not to inform young people about mask compliance but to enforce the law. "That is the only line between anarchy and civilization," he said." This weekend, Steinway Street in Astoria was flooded with people partying, and the Lower East Side once again saw large crowds.
READ MORE

Photo (cropped) by Eden, Janine and Jim via Flickr cc

July 20, 2020

NYC (kind of) enters phase 4 today

By Dana Schulz

Governor Cuomo cleared NYC to enter the fourth and final phase of reopening on Monday, July 20. But just like with phase three, the city's reopening looks a bit different than the rest of the state. No additional indoor venues like malls and cultural institutions can reopen yet, and there's still no date for indoor dining. The governor also doubled down on bars and restaurants violating social distancing and face-covering rules in a new "Three Strikes and You're Closed" initiative. Any establishment that receives three violations will be immediately shut down, and walk-up bar service is no longer permitted.
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Policy

All articles by Dana Schulz

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