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.
Crazy Futuristic Hotel at 55 Wythe in Williamsburg Now Under Construction, Developer Zelig Weiss Scores a $18.4M Loan for the Site
June 12, 2014

Crazy Futuristic Hotel at 55 Wythe in Williamsburg Now Under Construction, Developer Zelig Weiss Scores a $18.4M Loan for the Site

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The new Level Hotel planned for 55 Wythe in Williamsburg wasn't much more than a rendering when it was revealed last month, but one of 6sqft's intrepid reporters swung by the site recently only to find that construction on the Jetson's-like building had commenced. Permits for the 320,000 square foot hotel were approved in early April, and according to locals, heavy equipment arrived on the scene a few weeks ago with groundwork now well underway. Now, further cementing Level's status as a hotel of the future, the hotel's developer, Zelig Weiss, closed on an $18.35 million loan from Madison Realty Capital to purchase the site for about $30 million, according to Crain's.
More details and photos here
Walmart Heiress Alice Walton Buys a $25 Million Park Avenue Pad
June 12, 2014

Walmart Heiress Alice Walton Buys a $25 Million Park Avenue Pad

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Walmart heiress, philanthropist, and the 14th richest person in the world, Alice Walton, will be moving into a $25 million duplex condo at 515 Park Avenue. The Post reports that the Walton claimed the 30th and 31st floors of the Lenox Hill co-op building — a unit with 6,346 square feet of space hosting five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a grand staircase, and 52 windows that offer up panoramic views of the city. 515 Park also has its own exclusive kitchen and caterer, Chef Daniel Boulud, and 15 private, climate-controlled wine cellars.
Take a look inside here
Market Snapshot: The Week of June 11, 2014
June 11, 2014

Market Snapshot: The Week of June 11, 2014

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Leading into summer, the market continues its roller coaster ride — we're seeing sharp increases in sales following an unexpected lull in the typically active spring season. For the week of May 12th, the city recorded 233 sales; Manhattan condos sold for an average of $3 million, while co-ops pulled in an average $1.3 million. One57 scored not one, but two of the most expensive sales of the week at $30.5 million and $17.8 million. But it was celeb favorite, 15 Central Park West, that staked claim to the top spot with a buyer paying $48 million for the keys to #1819B. The real-estate flip: We all know someone who knows someone who managed to buy at the right moment only to sell it months later for an exorbitant sum. We look at three of NYC's biggest moneymakers in the last three years. One of which comes courtesy of the Winklevoss Twins.   For market trends, the latest real estate listings, and a dissection of one of New York's riskiest investment pursuits, we turn to CityRealty‘s Weekly Market Snapshot for the scoop.
Get the full report here
Chinese Property Company Taps Fortress Investment Group for $165M for the Oosten Williamsburg Condos
June 11, 2014

Chinese Property Company Taps Fortress Investment Group for $165M for the Oosten Williamsburg Condos

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Back in 2012, Chinese company Xinyuan Real Estate Co. purchased a $54.2 million, 92,000-square-foot, Kent Ave. site in Williamsburg for its first development in the U.S. — which they said, of course, would be slated for a luxury condo building. Now it looks like their dev team is ready to kick it into high gear and Xinyuan has enlisted the help of Fortress Investment Group in the form of a $165 million loan. An interestingly enough, the project is the beautiful Oosten condo development designed by Dutch architect Piet Boon.
Details and Renderings of Xinyuan's development here
Light-Filled Greek Revival Townhouse in Brooklyn Heights Finds a Buyer for $6.8M
June 10, 2014

Light-Filled Greek Revival Townhouse in Brooklyn Heights Finds a Buyer for $6.8M

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Brooklyn Heights is one of the city's most coveted neighborhoods, and it's no wonder why. With its beautiful tree-lined streets, historic architecture, and that certain light which seems to bring a calm and peace to the streets, it's managed to draw everyone from best-selling authors to bankers to even Hollywood starlets. The latest and most notable sale for BK nabe is 19 Monroe, which just sold for $6.8 million through a listing held by Yolanda Johnson at Corcoran. The property hit the market back in March for $7.3 million, and while the interiors were admired by many, the ask made more than a few jaw drops. But let's not forget that this is NYC, and it never hurts to be overly ambitious...
Take a peek inside this unique townhouse
“Limited Edition” Penthouse in the Ultra Posh Puck Building Closes for $28 Million
June 10, 2014

“Limited Edition” Penthouse in the Ultra Posh Puck Building Closes for $28 Million

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And it's official: After going into contract December of last year, Penthouse IV in the illustrious Puck Penthouses at 295 Lafayette has closed for $28 million, according to city records filed yesterday afternoon. The penthouse is the second largest in the penthouse-only building (there are six overall), with more than 5,900 square feet of space, 3BR/5.5BA, and a whopping 2,000 square feet of terraces overlooking a garden. Four of the Puck's five other penthouses have yet to be listed, but they are anticipated to sell for between $21 million and $60 million. The Puck is one of burgeoning real estate tycoon Jared Kushner's many luxury residential undertakings, and this particular project transforms the interior of a landmarked building into what the Puck official site has dubbed as "limited edition" properties.
Images of the puck penthouses this way
Brooklyn Navy Yard Gears Up for Expansion, 1.8 Million Square Feet to be Added
June 9, 2014

Brooklyn Navy Yard Gears Up for Expansion, 1.8 Million Square Feet to be Added

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Over the years, the Brooklyn Navy Yard has become a modern manufacturing pole, and it has grown to host spaces for everyone from furniture makers to photographers to even financial services companies. Demand for space has grown tremendously, and in response, the Navy Yard has announced plans to create another 1.8 million square feet of space for both future and current tenants looking to grow their businesses.
More of what's in store this way
Egypt’s Richest Man Scoops Up the City’s Most Expensive Co-op for $70 Million
June 6, 2014

Egypt’s Richest Man Scoops Up the City’s Most Expensive Co-op for $70 Million

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David Geffen has been dethroned as the person to have spent the most on a co-op in NYC, ever. Egyptian billionaire, a.k.a. the richest man in Egypt, Nassef Sawiris closed on the pad at 960 Fifth Avenue this afternoon through a listing held by Brown Harris Stevens. The penthouse apartment was originally going for $65 million earlier this spring, but power brokers Mary Rutherfurd and Leslie Coleman of Brown Harris Stevens managed to squeeze an extra $5 million out of Sawiris in a bidding war. Funnily enough, 960 has been cited as one of the city's 'A-plus' buildings, and in 1997 a New York Times article wrote that most residents in the building "are worth over $100 million" and that apartments cost about $15 million — my how times have changed!
Take a look inside the opulent apartment here
Former Bush Appointee Buys in Cobble Hill for $1.7 Million
June 6, 2014

Former Bush Appointee Buys in Cobble Hill for $1.7 Million

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Don't tell the crunchy neighbors in baby-laden Cobble Hill, but there's a Republican moving into the neighborhood. According to public records filed yesterday evening, Reuben Jeffery III, the former Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs, appointed by George W. Bush, and his wife Robin have purchased a unit in a pre-war co-op at 174 Pacific Street. Records also listed their daughter, Jocelyn — for whom we can only assume the purchase is made (Mamma and Papa Reuben bought a full-floor pad just last year at 620 Park Avenue for $9.16 million). The 2BR/2BA apartment, which is conveniently located near Trader Joe's, was purchased for $1.7 million through a listing held by Brown Harris Stevens.
A look Inside the Pacific Street Home this way
An Artificial Beach Could be Coming to the Hudson River in 2016
June 5, 2014

An Artificial Beach Could be Coming to the Hudson River in 2016

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Will New York City be taking a cue from Paris Plages? Living in the city doesn't mean giving up the pleasures of nature — at least that's how Blayne Ross sees it. The entrepreneur, along with his buddies Matt Berman and Andrew Kotchen of workshop/apd and Nathaniel Stanton of Craft Engineering, have conjured up a plan that will bring an artificial beach to a site on the Hudson River by 2016. The new "beach" would boast a food court, retail, and apparently a surf shop in case you forget your bathing suit (assuming you're brave enough to take a dip in the Hudson).
More on the project here
Market Snapshot: The Week of June 4, 2014
June 4, 2014

Market Snapshot: The Week of June 4, 2014

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NYC's first family is bidding adieu to Brooklyn. After six months in office, Mayor DeBlasio and his brood are moving into Gracie Mansion. Chirlane McCray, DeBlasio's wife, made it official on Monday by announcing the move on her Tumblr. A six-bedroom space at One Beacon Court is the city’s most expensive new listing of the week, asking for $32.5 million. But if that's too steep for you, you can always move into this one-of-a-kind, three-bedroom penthouse at 30 Bond, currently up for $5.5 million. During May 5th-11th, 79 condos sold for an average price of $2.3 million; while 103 co-ops changed hands for an average of a million. The market it quiet for this time of year, but a unit in One57 managed to sell for $20.4 million — the most expensive of the week. And what the heck is NoMad? You know your neighborhood has "arrived" once it's christened with a new name — particularly an acronym. We take a closer look at what's happening north of Mad.   For market trends, the latest real estate listings, and an inside scoop on the city’s coolest buildings, we turn to CityRealty‘s Weekly Market Snapshot for the scoop.
the full details this way
Dwell’s Editor-in-Chief Amanda Dameron Shares Her Favorite Designs with 6sqft
June 4, 2014

Dwell’s Editor-in-Chief Amanda Dameron Shares Her Favorite Designs with 6sqft

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Enter the home of any design enthusiast and you're almost guaranteed to find a copy the latest month's Dwell magazine sitting on their coffee table. While a number of design publications have disappeared into the abyss over the last few years, Dwell has stuck around as a power player and source of inspiration for creatives across the globe. And it's no wonder — the mag's glossy pages are brimming with cutting edge architecture, lots of industrial design eye-candy, and fascinating stories of those who dare to live differently. Amanda Dameron is Dwell's Editor-in-Chief, and she's the brains behind the content across all of the media company's platforms. As one of the most influential voices in the world of modern design, it was only fitting that last year she launched the Dwell Store, an e-shop offering up many of the incredible things featured in the magazine each month. Though there are thousands of designs to be had at the site, here Amanda shares with us a curated list of her favorite items from the store.
Amanda's favorite things this way
Woolworth Penthouse to be Priced at a Record-breaking $110 Million
June 2, 2014

Woolworth Penthouse to be Priced at a Record-breaking $110 Million

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According to Bloomberg News, the penthouse at the Woolworth building will ask for a jaw-dropping $110 million when units hit the market this Fall. This is the highest-ever ask for an apartment in downtown Manhattan, and one sure to send the market into a frenzy. Jonathan Miller, president of appraiser Miller Samuel Inc., told Bloomberg that the price is indicative of the prestige and unique history of the landmarked building, rather than the location or its status as a luxury apartment. “We’ve seen rapid absorption downtown," he told Bloomberg, "but this project is unlike anything that’s come online.”
More about the penthouse this way
Market Snapshot: The Week of May 29, 2014
May 29, 2014

Market Snapshot: The Week of May 29, 2014

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An anonymous buyer snagged an 18th - and 19th-floor apartment at 15 Central Park West for $48 million. This purchase is the second most expensive sale in the building, falling "just" $40 million short of former Citigroup CEO Sany Weil's penthouse buy. Most Manhattan apartments don't come with an inch of green space, but the six listings highlighted in our report sure do! Guess which addresses have green escapes hidden from prying eyes... 116 condos sold for an average of $2.4 million; and 137 co-ops sold for an average of $1.2 million during the week of April 28th-May 4th. With summer just around the corner, it looks like buyers are clamoring to close.   For market trends, the latest real estate listings, and an inside scoop on the city's coolest buildings, we turn to CityRealty‘s Weekly Market Snapshot for the scoop.
Get the report here
Billionaire Pier Luigi Loro Piana Buys a Glamourous Carnegie Hill Apartment for $11.3 Million
May 29, 2014

Billionaire Pier Luigi Loro Piana Buys a Glamourous Carnegie Hill Apartment for $11.3 Million

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When you've got billions what's $11.3 million spent on some prime NYC real estate? According to city records filed this morning, Italian billionaire (the 1,067th in the world, and the 22nd in Italy) Pier Luigi Loro Piana just purchased a stunning Carnegie Hill co-op at 980 Fifth Avenue through a listing held by Sotheby's. The Italian fashion magnate crossed the billionaire's mark just last July when he and his brother sold an 80% stake in the Loro Piana fashion line to French billionaire Bernard Arnault's LVMH for $2.6 billion. With plenty of closets in this 3BR/3.5BA, including a 100-square-foot dressing room, the Pianas will have lots of room to store some of the luxurious cashmere and wool suits and sweaters that brought their family such great wealth today. The beautiful home also boasts stunning views of Central Park, and the building itself sparked quite a bit of controversy back in 1966 when it was constructed.
More details this way
Bec Brittain’s Beautiful Maxhedron Pendant Lamp Creates Stunning Light Constellations
May 28, 2014

Bec Brittain’s Beautiful Maxhedron Pendant Lamp Creates Stunning Light Constellations

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Bec Brittain may be Brooklyn-based, but this lighting designer isn't falling into her Bushwick neighborhood's predilection for rough-edges and unfinished wood. With its calculated geometry, elegant mirrored glass, and a constellation of lights held within, Brittian's beautiful Maxhedron offers the perfect amount of luminance while creating an out of this world refraction that can transform any room.
More images of the incredible lamp this way
Giza: Itai Bar-On’s Unique Modern Lighting Solution Using Industrial Materials
May 27, 2014

Giza: Itai Bar-On’s Unique Modern Lighting Solution Using Industrial Materials

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Israeli industrial designer Itai Bar-On's favorite material is concrete — a love that stems from his family’s multi-generational construction business. But when the designer decided to test the limits of aluminum, he managed to create a stunning lighting fixture that emphasizes the natural qualities of a material that's often blasted to a sheen or bathed in a candy-colored powder paint finish.
Check out this sweet lamp here
See New Renderings of Fortis’s Waterfront Residential and Hotel Development at 151 Maiden Lane
May 27, 2014

See New Renderings of Fortis’s Waterfront Residential and Hotel Development at 151 Maiden Lane

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New renderings of Fortis Property Group’s mixed-use development at 151 Maiden Lane have been revealed! As reported by New York YIMBY, permits were filed last week for the new tower which will sit upon a 281,000-square-foot waterfront development site that the company purchased back in August of last year. Fortis’s new residential project will boast a 161,000-square-foot, 52-story luxury condominium with […]

Derek Lam Scoops Up a Light-Filled Apartment in Gramercy Park North for $4.8 Million
May 21, 2014

Derek Lam Scoops Up a Light-Filled Apartment in Gramercy Park North for $4.8 Million

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Hot off the sale of their Soho loft, fashion designer Derek Lam and his partner Jan-Hendrik Schlottmann just closed on a $4.8 million 3BR/3.5BA pad at 50 Gramercy Park North, according to city records filed this afternoon. The home, which was listed by Kirk and Paige at Douglas Elliman, boasts a 40-foot expanse of floor-to-ceiling windows that give the home a decidedly modern California aesthetic that is very much in the vein of a Neutra icon. Though the current decor is quite subdued, if Lam's F/W'15 line is any indication of his preferred palette, we expect that this new space will be accented with plenty of rich blues, greens, and a bit of orange.
Have a look inside the stunning apartment
Market Snapshot: The Week of May 21, 2014
May 21, 2014

Market Snapshot: The Week of May 21, 2014

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Despite sky-high sales at several marquis buildings, condo pricing in Manhattan is down 1.8 percent in the current three month period as compared to the last 90 days. Hotelier Ian Schrager has released renderings for his long-awaited mixed-use condo hotel – Public – at 215 Chrystie Street on the Lower East Side. Is Jake Gyllenhall apartment hunting in Tribeca? New York City versus…. San Francisco?! How two of the priciest cities in the US compare in a head-to-head real estate challenge evaluating the "grittiest" and most glamorous neighborhoods of the two. For market trends, cool listings, celeb real estate news, and eye-opening comparisons, we turn to CityRealty‘s Weekly Market Snapshot for the scoop.
Get the full report here
Plans Filed for the SOM-designed Apartment Tower at 401 West 31st Street
May 21, 2014

Plans Filed for the SOM-designed Apartment Tower at 401 West 31st Street

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Brookfield Office Properties filed its first plans yesterday for their SOM-designed residential tower located at 401 West 31st Street, adjacent to all the Hudson Yards hoopla. The 756,674-square-foot, 702-foot-tall tower will host 790 apartments with 3,438 square feet of retail on its ground level. The design sits within a grouping of glass towers and a low slung, tapering structure. The […]

Camp Rockaway: Queens Designer Kent Johnson Wants to Bring Luxury Camping to Far Rockaway
May 20, 2014

Camp Rockaway: Queens Designer Kent Johnson Wants to Bring Luxury Camping to Far Rockaway

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And the glamping trend continues... Designer Kent Johnson has just launched a Kickstarter campaign that aims to bring a "luxurious" tent campsite to the Rockaways. From fully furnished tents with crisp white linens, to private fire pits and hot tubs overlooking Jamaica Bay, this is not your everyday man's campsite. And if you think the idea sounds crazy, think again. It's actually an initiative inspired by the area's past, which once found incredible success!
More on Camp Rockaway this way
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