All articles by Diane Pham

Diane is the founder and Editorial Director of 6sqft. After graduating from the University of Southern California with a B.S. in Real Estate Finance & Development and a minor in Architecture, she enjoyed stints at SCI-Arc, the A+D Museum Los Angeles, Perkins Eastman Architects and Resolution 4: Architecture. She also previously served as Senior Editor of Inhabitat.com and spent several years as an analyst at CB Richard Ellis Investments in Milan, Italy.

40 Percent of Manhattan’s Buildings Would Be Unbuildable Today

720 Park Avenue could not be built today. Image via Google Maps

May 20, 2016

40 Percent of Manhattan’s Buildings Would Be Unbuildable Today

By Diane Pham

Many feel that the city's current construction boom is unprecedented, but while towers may be reaching new heights, according to a new report by architecture firm KPF, nearly three-quarters of the city's existing square footage was actually built between the 1900s and 1930s. More interestingly, The Times points out that forty percent of the buildings that currently make up Manhattan could not be built today because they break at least one zoning code violation—among which include being too tall, having too many residential units, or having too much commercial space.
find out more here

May 18, 2016

Video: ‘Degentrify America’ Takes on the Issue of Gentrification in Five Minutes

By Diane Pham

The definition of gentrification may be difficult to pin down, but filmmaker Nelson George is attempting to do so in his five-minute short "Degentrify America." In the film, George melds together national headlines with interviews and animation to paint a picture that has become all too familiar in metropolitan areas across the country. Most notable, however, is the appearance of Crown Heights resident and co-founder of the Crown Heights Tenants Union, Donna Mossman, who speaks candidly about the evictions, injustice and other ills that come with this particular kind of change. Crown Heights recently ranked #8 on NYU’s Furman Center's report of New York's 15 fastest gentrifying neighborhoods.
Watch the short film here

Uncategorized

Interview: CetraRuddy Founder, Nancy Ruddy, Discusses Her Firm’s Notable New York Works

Image courtesy of CetraRuddy

May 18, 2016

Interview: CetraRuddy Founder, Nancy Ruddy, Discusses Her Firm’s Notable New York Works

By Diane Pham

One architectural name dominating the new development scene is CetraRuddy. Nancy Ruddy and her husband Jon Cetra formed the firm back in 1987, and over the decades that followed the pair built an architectural powerhouse that’s erected countless buildings across the globe. But while their breadth of work touches everything from the educational to hospitality to […]

The World Trade Center’s Elevated Liberty Park Will Open This Summer

Construction image via Port Authority

May 18, 2016

The World Trade Center’s Elevated Liberty Park Will Open This Summer

By Diane Pham

The city will cut the ribbon on another landscaped elevated this park this summer with the opening of the World Trade Center's Liberty Park—although no exact opening date has been pinned down, reports DNA Info. The park, which will measure just over an acre and rise 25 feet, is sited next to the Santiago Calatrava-designed St. Nicholas National Shrine (still under construction) and will provide an overhead view of the 9/11 Memorial and a leafy pocket of respite for FiDi workers, dwellers and tourists alike. But more practically, the park will give way to a pleasant pedestrian connection across West Street, on top of hiding the entrance to the WTC's security hub that sits beneath.
See more here

Architecture And Design

May 17, 2016

Lottery Launches for 29 Affordable Units at Extell’s 70 Charlton in West Soho, From $833/Month

By Diane Pham

It's not too often that affordable housing opportunities arise in prime downtown areas like West Soho, but starting tomorrow, 70 Charlton Street will begin accepting applications for 29 of its below-market-rate apartments. The Beyer Blinder Belle-designed building is of the luxury persuasion, developed by none other than Extell. In total there are 116 residences; 92 are high-end co-ops (currently priced between $1.6M and $7.1M) with interiors crafted by Workshop/APD in one building, and the rest affordable units situated in a connected building. According to the Housing Connect website, studios will start at $833/month, one-bedrooms will go for $895/month and two-bedrooms for $1,082/month.
Find out if you qualify here

Affordable Housing

May 17, 2016

Clever Pour-Over Coffee Maker Poses As a Decorative Water Tower

By Diane Pham

Pour-over coffee makers are most-definitely favored by coffee connoisseurs, loved by those obsessed with the nuances that each bean carries. While the craft is considered cool, the large, bulbous glass vessels used during the process are hardly such. To improve the design of this method, Damon Ahola created TOWER, a single-serving pour-over coffee maker that masquerades as a decorative water tower—"the epitome of the New York City skyline," says Ahola.
Find out more here

May 17, 2016

Live On Artist Hannes Bend’s Boat for Under $300/Month – Tow It Wherever You Want

By Diane Pham

Now that we know it is very possible to live a (reasonably) comfortable life on a 200-square-foot boat with your significant other and a dog, there's no reason to pass up this opportunity to stretch out on a 28-foot sailboat for next to nothing. As Brokelyn first reports, artist Hannes Bend, is offering up his Bronx-docked boat up to anyone who wants to live a seafaring life—with the convenience of the city just handful of subway lines and stops away, of course—pretty much for free.
more details on how to move in here

May 13, 2016

Brooklyn-Queens Streetcar Gets a New Website With More Details and Images

By Diane Pham

Friends of the Brooklyn Queens Connector launched a brand new website yesterday, revealing not only more images of how the streetcar could fit in with the various neighborhoods it would serve, but also the names of the developers, transportation experts and civic organizers involved in pushing the lightrail project forward. As listed on the site, members of the advocacy group include former MTA head and mayoral candidate Joe Lhota, big names hailing from the likes of Tishman Speyer, Steiner Studios and Two Trees Development, and a number of local groups, including the Fifth Avenue Committee, Industry City and DUMBO BID. According to DNA Info, over the next 16 months, the committee will attempt to get additional neighborhood groups and residents along the streetcar's 16-mile route involved in the city's public planning process, which in turn should drive more support and funding.
More photos of the Connector this way

Transit

May 12, 2016

Interview: RAMSA’s Paul Whalen Reflects on the Unique Design of 15 Central Park West

By Diane Pham

For good reason, hundreds if not thousands of articles and books have been published on 15 Central Park West, the “Limestone Jesus” designed by famed architect Robert A.M. Stern. This modern icon is credited with not only elevating the New York City luxury market to a level no one before dreamed it could reach, but […]

May 10, 2016

Forgotten Four Acres of Central Park Reopens to Visitors After Almost 90 Years

By Diane Pham

After being closed off to the public since the 1930s, The Hallet Nature Sanctuary on the lower east side of Central Park is once again open to all, writes The Times. The lush four-acre peninsula has for the last decades been used as a bird sanctuary, reclaimed and then tended to by the Central Park Conservancy in 2001 as part of their Woodlands Initiative. Under the project, $45 million was directed towards revitalizing and restoring the wooded areas of Central Park to their original glory.
More on how to visit here

Watch for Falling Bricks: The Importance of Brickwork Repair and Regulation

By Diane Pham

Scaffolding is more often than not seen as a nuisance and a blight, but the reality is that what’s going on behind all that metal, wood and mesh is a major necessity to keeping us all safe. While most of us wouldn’t give a second thought to taking a seat in front of a fully-constructed […]

Policy

May 8, 2016

A Look at Architect Rosaria Candela’s Influence on Today’s New York

By Diane Pham

The open floor plan has dominated new constructions over the last several decades, first popularized in the 1950s by Frank Lloyd Wright with his Usonian designs. But as architectural trends wax and wane, the pendulum is swinging back to the classics, and more and more architects are looking to the early 20th century works of Rosario Candela for an “updated” living […]

Norman Foster Still in the Running to Design 2 World Trade Center

Foster’s original design

May 5, 2016

Norman Foster Still in the Running to Design 2 World Trade Center

By Diane Pham

Nearly one year ago it was revealed that starchitect Bjarke Ingels would be taking over the design of 2 World Trade Center from Norman Foster as developer Silverstein Properties was in talks with Fox and News Corp. to make the tower their new headquarters. However, plans fell through in January when the media companies opted to remain at their Midtown headquarters at 1211 and 1185 Sixth Avenue. Now without a tenant and two different designs in hand, Chairman Larry Silverstein is said to be weighing both options. “[The top of] Two was a distinguishing feature of Norman Foster’s design,” Silverstein told The Post. “Opposed to what Bjarke Ingels proposed. We can go in either direction. Which way, we are not sure yet.” But he did add that they were leaning towards Ingels' design in discussions being had with prospective anchor tenants, which include BlackRock and JPMorganChase.
Find out more here

Architecture And Design

April 27, 2016

Tips for First-Time Renters and Students Leaving the Dorm

By Diane Pham

Rents across the city may be climbing, but that’s not keeping college students from wanting to flex their newfound autonomy even further by leaving their dorm for digs off campus. Unfortunately for many of these young scholars—and many first-time renters like them—searches typically start off with head-in-the-clouds expectations (“I had this fantasy about scoring a place with a fireplace and […]

April 26, 2016

What Are Top NFL Players’ Salaries Worth in Real Estate?

By Diane Pham

It's no secret that the NFL's top draft picks command starting salaries well into the eight-figure range, but to really put into perspective just how crazy-big their paychecks are, CityRealty's latest infographic takes a look at what the last five #1 picks could buy in Manhattan with their money. And on top of that, how these hypothetical one-off property purchases translate into real estate portfolios in their hometowns. (Teaser: Quarterback Jameis Winston could either buy a $24.95M pad at The Eldorado or 107 homes in his native Tampa, FL!)
Check out the full-size infographic here

Looking at New York’s Growing Collection of LEED and Passive House Constructions

A Passive House design by Loadingdock5 Architects at 174 Grand Street in Williamsburg

April 22, 2016

Looking at New York’s Growing Collection of LEED and Passive House Constructions

By Diane Pham

While other parts of the country continue to debate the validity of climate change, architects and developers in New York City have been ramping up their sustainability cred and erecting buildings that think beyond ROI. From luxury condos to public housing to individual homes, green buildings are on the rise across the city. Ahead, CityRealty goes over what it […]

April 14, 2016

LAST DAY to Win a ‘Burgopoly’ Board Game, A Williamsburg-Themed Monopoly!

By Diane Pham

The Bronx has its own hot sauce, Bushwick has its own candle, and now Williamsburg has its own board game, thanks to Compass broker and Williamsburg resident Ralph Modica! "Burgopoly" is a BK-themed version of the classic real estate game Monopoly, taking players through the trials and tribulations of living in NYC—think bedbug infestations, your tub overflowing and the end of tax abatements on your condo (eek)—while setting them in Brooklyn's trendiest neighborhood. Although the game isn't for sale (Ralph created it for clients who meet him at the closing table), 6sqft has paired up with the Modica team to give away THREE Burgopoly board games to THREE lucky readers. The last day to enter is Thursday, April 14, 2016.
Enter to win a burgopoly + read 6sqft's interview with ralph

Architecture And Design

April 6, 2016

Famed Tiny Apartment Architect Says He ‘Doesn’t Really Believe in Tiny Living’

By Diane Pham

By now you’ve surely seen Tim Seggerman‘s practically iconic 240-square-foot apartment on Pinterest and on design blogs across the web. But while the architect has made a name for himself creating innovative solutions for small living in the city, what might come as a surprise is that he doesn’t really advocate squeezing into a small space. […]

April 3, 2016

Seniors Increasingly Struggle to Find Housing, But Some Find Ways to Cope

By Diane Pham

Income requirements on top of lofty rents make renting in New York a formidable challenge for all, but seniors who live on limited means with little to no incoming cash face even greater obstacles when it comes to securing a home in the city. Although seniors make up one of New York’s fastest growing populations […]

Real Estate Trends

March 31, 2016

Famed Architect Zaha Hadid Dies at Age 65

By Diane Pham

6sqft is sad to report that world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid has passed away. According to BBC News, Ms. Hadid died of a heart attack today in a Miami hospital, where she was being treated for bronchitis. The Baghdad-born Iraqi-British architect is considered one of today's most prolific and her works have been commissioned across the globe, including here in New York where her first Manhattan building is currently on the rise at 520 West 28th Street (seen above). Hadid was the first female architect to receive a Pritzker Prize award (2004) and she was also the first woman to receive the RIBA Gold Medal (2015).
more here

Architecture And Design

March 30, 2016

Is Buying a House With Your Friend a Good Idea?

By Diane Pham

With deals below a million dollars few and far between, home ownership in NYC is out of reach for the majority. But what about pooling your money with a friend to make a big ticket purchase? This might come as a surprise, but taking the plunge and purchasing a property with pals—not a family member—is […]

Real Estate Trends

My 1,000sqft: Tour a Newly Transplanted Couple’s Bushwick Apartment Filled With Craigslist Finds

Our ongoing 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 the Bushwick apartment of Adam and Cami, a couple who spent the last few years living minimally abroad. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch!

March 22, 2016

My 1,000sqft: Tour a Newly Transplanted Couple’s Bushwick Apartment Filled With Craigslist Finds

By Diane Pham

Most of us moved to New York City with nothing more than a couple suitcases, only very slowly accumulating objects to fill our bedroom—definitely not thinking about tackling our living spaces. But here's a couple that had no interest in sleeping on a mattress on a floor while they figured out how to decorate their home. After spending several years in London and bouncing from friends' places to sublets, Adam Dudd and Cami Raben (he's a graphic designer and she works in hospitality consulting) moved into their Bushwick apartment wanting to create a home to call their own as soon as possible. While IKEA seems like the no-brainer quick-fix for those on a budget with any design sensibility, Adam and Cami weren't interested in the mass-produced but instead wanted unique and quality pieces. So where did they turn without thousands of dollars to spend? Craigslist! Believe it or not, in just four months the pair managed to turn a blank slate into a perfectly outfitted apartment that's both minimal and functional and full of color and character.
Go inside their lovely home here

Affordable Housing 101: Should I Buy an HDFC Apartment?

A two-bedroom in the East Village asking just $695,000

March 21, 2016

Affordable Housing 101: Should I Buy an HDFC Apartment?

By Diane Pham

While perusing hundreds of real estate listings you come across one that seems almost too good to be true: it’s in a prime neighborhood, there are two real bedrooms and two real bathrooms, and it’s selling for well under a half million. While you may be pinching yourself over the price tag, rest assured that it’s […]

How to Use Virtual Renovations to Sell Your Home for More

Cindy Gallop’s infamous “Black Apartment” received a virtual renovation after spending an extended period on the the market. The home eventually sold for $4.5M. Images ©MWSTUDIO

March 20, 2016

How to Use Virtual Renovations to Sell Your Home for More

By Diane Pham

New York City’s real estate market may move fast, but the same can’t be said for every property that’s up for sale. Smart sellers know that in order to be competitive, you’ve got to put your best space forward, and that means no mounds clothing stuffed into corners, no grit and grime in the bathroom, and definitely no dark […]

March 18, 2016

1,436-Foot Supertall May Rise at 80 South Street in the Financial District

By Diane Pham

The sale of 80 South Street from Howard Hughes Corp. to China Oceanwide Holdings has been finalized, reports The Real Deal. The $390 million deal was first announced in August, but closing was contingent on Howard Hughes transferring an additional 303,113 square feet in air rights to the address after already securing 104,167 square feet. With this, 80 South Street's development potential has grown to 817,784 square feet and a tower of 1,436 feet (to put this in perspective, 432 Park is 1,396 feet tall, while 1 WTC is 1,368 feet tall by roof height) with 113 floors could soon rise on the site which has sat in redevelopment limbo for over a decade.
more here

All articles by Diane Pham

Pitch a Story

Interested in seeing the property in person?

Interested in seeing the property in person?

Distinctive Post Form

Get in Touch

Send us a Tip

Interesting in learning more about purchasing a new home?

Thinking about selling your home?

Sell a Home (Footer)

Before You Move On from this Page.

Your Passport to NYC:Subscribe for Local Insights and Stories!

Before You Move On
from this Page.

Your Passport to NYC:
Subscribe for Local Insights and Stories!