Brooklyn

Developer John Catsimatidis' Red Apple Group has filed plans for a 21-story tower on a Surf Avenue parcel that he purchased last summer according to Brooklyn Daily; the tower is part of a three-building Coney Island project that will likely include 415 apartments and retail. In the billionaire grocery mogul's typically patient fashion, he has slowly been acquiring the Boardwalk-adjacent lots between West 35th and West 37th streets for the project, called Ocean Dreams, since 2005.
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January 3, 2017

$40M Brooklyn Heights townhouse with a mayoral past is now four pricey rentals

After being on the market for over two years, Brooklyn’s priciest townhouse–a $40 million home at 3 Pierrepont Place–is now being offered as four rental units. 6sqft previously featured the home, known as the Low Mansion for the previous owner and businessman A.A. Low, whose son, Seth Low, became mayor of New York City in 1902. Spanning 17,500 square feet, the eight-figure townhouse boasted 15 bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, and more than 9,000 square feet of garden and outdoor space with original details galore. Though even Matt Damon toured the grand Brooklyn Heights property back in September, the house hasn't found a buyer, so the owner is now offering the mansion as four luxurious rental homes from a $4,500 one-bedroom to a 1,700-square-foot top-floor unit for $12,000 a month (h/t Curbed).
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January 3, 2017

Lottery opens for 63 affordable units at former Bushwick convent, starting at $519/month

All the way back in 2012, the Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council and developer Georgica Green announced plans to redevelop Bushwick's former Our Lady of Lourdes convent into affordable and supportive housing, and now, nearly five years later, the lottery has opened for 63 brand new units at the site. The available apartments are reserved for those earning 40, 50, 60, or 80 percent of the area media income and range from $519/month studios to $1,740/month three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

December 29, 2016

City eyes Gowanus Canal as the next ‘Little Venice’

Rezoning and the promise of public right-of-way on the west Brooklyn Superfund canal could bring an esplanade like Williamsburg’s, a recreation area and lots of new development. The light-industrial zone wedged between pricey Park Slope and Carroll Gardens hasn't accurately been a polluted flyover zone for decades, but the fact that it now boasts a flagship Whole Foods with a rooftop farm hasn't gone unnoticed. As 6sqft reported recently, the canal-side enclave, despite the sometimes-fragrant waterway in its midst, is on a par with its neighbors as one of the city's most expensive neighborhoods. Now Crain's tells of rezoning plans and lucrative developments that could open the door for a public esplanade and waterfront amenities like those along the Hudson and the East River.
Find out more about the Gowanus rezoning plans

Ride Coney Island’s Wonder Wheel for free on New Year’s Eve

Image via Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park

December 29, 2016

Ride Coney Island’s Wonder Wheel for free on New Year’s Eve

Since it opened on the Coney Island boardwalk in 1920, the landmarked Wonder Wheel has given more than 35 million rides. If you want to add to this number, a press release from Deno's Wonder Wheel tells us that it will offer free rides from 6 to 10pm on New Year's Eve. They'll also charge only $5 from 11am to 2pm on New Year's Day to coincide with the annual Polar Bear Plunge (50 percent of January 1st's profits will go to the Plunge's charity Camp Sunshine).
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Events & Things To Do

December 22, 2016

Chloe Sevigny’s glamorous $2.75M Park Slope co-op goes into contract

By Annie Doge

Just 42 days after it hit the market for $2.75 million, and a mere two days since 6sqft and other media outlets reported on it, Chloe Sevigny's Park Slope co-op has gone into contract, a tipster tells us. The Indie actress bought the pre-war spread at 9 Prospect Park West for $2,053,000 in 2013, after which she completed a renovation that created a chic space with "a sophisticated mix of classic furniture and interesting artwork."
See the whole place

December 22, 2016

Gowanus is now one of NYC’s most expensive neighborhoods

By Metro New York

Gowanus doesn’t welcome bargain hunters anymore, it seems. The up-and-coming Brooklyn neighborhood, where the local canal remains a superfund site, has rocketed to spot 14 of the city’s 50 most expensive neighborhoods, according to Property Shark’s final quarterly report for 2016. At this year’s end, the median sales price of homes in Gowanus rose by 68 […]

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December 21, 2016

Parlor floor pad offers brownstone beauty without the beastly mortgage at $4,300/month

Even when it's tucked into a postcard-pretty brick townhouse, it's unusual for a rental apartment to look like a longtime home. This two-bedroom parlor-floor unit at 155 Luquer Street in Carroll Gardens is about as welcoming as we've seen in a while. The home is 25 feet wide–standard townhouse width is 20 feet–which helps, and big rooms and blond wood add to the pretty picture.
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Distinctive Homes

December 20, 2016

Chloe Sevigny lists chic Park Slope co-op for $2.75M

By Annie Doge

After selling her East Village garden apartment for $1.76 million in 2013 (the area had become too much like a frat house for her liking), indie darling Chloë Sevigny moved to Park Slope, which she chose, as Brownstoner notes, to avoid "hip" Brooklyn in favor of the "dorkiest, hokiest neighborhood." She paid $2,053,000 for a pre-war co-op at 9 Prospect Park West, modernizing the home with an updated kitchen, cerused oak floors, and a sophisticated mix of classic furniture and interesting artwork. But perhaps the Slope has become too trendy for her as well, as she's listed the home for $2.75 million.
Take a tour

December 20, 2016

Another gorgeous Albemarle Road house hits the market for $2.25M, koi pond included

In June of last year the Albemarle Road buzz reached public ears when Michelle Williams purchased a $2.5 million Colonial Revival mansion on the Prospect Park South Historic District mansion row; in August, 6sqft reported that the extraordinary and storied 23-room mansion across the street at number 1305, listed at a neighborhood record-setting $2.98 million, had entered contract just two hours after it officially hit the market. Now, about five blocks to the west, a lovely and historic seven-bedroom home at 916 Albemarle Road is asking $2.249 million.
Tour the classic home

Distinctive Homes

December 16, 2016

$4M Williamsburg townhouse adds industrial interiors and contemporary drama to 19th century brick

It's a good thing there's so much to see in every direction while strolling the sidewalks of Williamsburg, because this $3.995 million single-family Northside townhouse looks a lot better on the inside than the outside. The three-story-plus-finished-basement home's interiors will definitely appeal to someone looking for a jumbo "loft alternative" accented with authentic materials like brick and wood, but with none of the hassles of the actual 19th century left to contend with.
Tour this 'Brooklyn masterpiece'

Distinctive Homes

December 15, 2016

Are concessions and a high vacancy rate a sign the rental bubble will burst?

In the past year or so, there has been no shortage of talk about inventory glut, flat rental prices and bursting bubbles; Now, Slate blogger Henry Grabar has rustled up some numbers and real-life examples to go with the chatter, and we're guessing they weren't too hard to find. According to Grabar, a vacancy rate at its highest since 2009 (with a staggering amount of inventory in the pipeline), and the percentage of rental price chops at a record 42 percent in October point to an impending renter's market of comparatively epic proportions.
More on the horizon, literally

Real Estate Trends

December 14, 2016

ODA’s Rheingold Brewery rental will offer 100 affordable units in Bushwick

The day after securing a $93 construction loan, the Rabsky Group has announced that 100 out of the 500 rentals at their massive Rheingold Brewery development will be below-market rate. As Curbed notes, Bushwick residents have been advocating that the 400,000-square-foot project include affordable housing since it was first announced, spurred not only by the neighborhood's need, but the fact that Rabsky had no legal obligation to include affordable units.
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New renderings from Albo Liberis offer up two visions for Brooklyn’s next skyscraping office tower

Rendering of 625 Fulton Street; image: Albo Liberis /Genesis Studios

December 14, 2016

New renderings from Albo Liberis offer up two visions for Brooklyn’s next skyscraping office tower

As the future Brooklyn skyline takes shape, one of the borough's largest office towers-to-be, a 36-story commercial skyscraper, is slated to rise at 625 Fulton Street in Downtown Brooklyn. Brooklyn-based Rabsky Group purchased the lot for $158 million and, as The Real Deal reports, plans are in the works to create 700,000 square feet of leasable space, for which the developer is in talks with City Planning to take advantage of a plaza bonus. Albo Liberis (see Williamsburg's William Vale Hotel) has been commissioned as the architect, and while no design has been officially revealed or finalized by Rabsky, the firm's site does offer up some insight into what is being considered for the game-changing tower.
Check out the renderings

December 14, 2016

Moroccan villa meets artsy loft, times two, for rent in Greenpoint

Whether they're luxury penthouses or shoebox-sized studios, New York City apartments don't often deviate much from the standard; so when apartments like the two now on the rental market at 658 Leonard Street in Greenpoint pop up, they tend to get our attention. The townhouse that is home to this pair of unique dwellings is, we're told, owner-occupied, and we're guessing the same owner made the effort to design these unique interiors with international flair, from the mahogany cabinetry and French-style mahogany windows to antique Moroccan tiling and hand-rubbed plaster walls. The higher-floor unit ($3,680/month) is slightly larger and has been divided to create two bedrooms, while the parlor-floor apartment ($3,280/month) has more of an open loft layout. In both, you get a spin-the-compass approach to home design while keeping quality and comfort in mind.
This way to the Kasbah

Distinctive Homes

December 13, 2016

Lofty two-bedroom Williamsburg pad with massive windows asks $1.395M

This two-bedroom condo comes from 80 Metropolitan Avenue, which you might mistake for a converted warehouse. But this blue brick building with punched, multi-paned windows was actually constructed in 2009 in the loft style that's popular around Williamsburg. From the inside of this apartment, 10-foot ceilings, huge windows and wood floors make it hard to tell the difference between old and new. The condo first hit the market this fall for $1.435 million and now the ask is down to $1.395 million.
This way for a tour

Distinctive Homes

December 13, 2016

For $560K, this spacious Sunset Park co-op has a Scandinavian heritage and interior style to match

We're told this big and bright pre-war apartment at 1413 9th Avenue is in a 1923 Finnish co-op building. We know that's not unusual for Sunset Park: In the first half of the 20th century, the neighborhood was home to a large Scandinavian community. But this particular home's charming interiors are also the picture of Scandi-chic (though we're pretty sure it's coincidental). At $560,000, three big bedrooms with plenty of space to spare make the laid-back minimal decor that much easier on the eyes.
Tour this lovely southwest Brooklyn gem

Distinctive Homes

December 13, 2016

Historic districts and landmarking: What they mean and how they could affect you

In New York City, where buying and selling real estate is a high-stakes endeavor, the topic of historic and landmark designation is frequently raised. There are heated discussions on the subject of listing neighborhoods or buildings on the State and National Register of Historic Places or having them designated by the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission. It's important to know what those organizations do and the distinctions between them. You could even be eligible for significant financial aid for your renovations if you own property in an historic district.
Find out what these designations mean, how you could benefit from them and why they're sometimes controversial.

December 12, 2016

$1.65M brick townhouse in South Slope has a sunroom and a lush garden with a pond

This three-story brick townhouse is nestled in the South Slope, a charming enclave just south of--you guessed it-- the Brooklyn neighborhood of Park Slope. For $1.65 million you get interior details like custom millwork, exposed and white-washed brick, a potbelly fireplace and a customized new kitchen. Outdoor lovers will appreciate the sunroom and the backyard, which has been completely decked out with plantings, pathways, and a lovely little pond. The home was last purchased in 2006 for $800,000 by the accomplished stage manager Tricia Toliver.
Take a look

Distinctive Homes

December 9, 2016

KBA Architects reveal ziggurat-like tower for Kellogg’s Diner-adjacent site in Williamsburg

Back in March, 6sqft reported that a new hotel/rental tower at 500 Metropolitan Avenue had risen above ground, but there was still a bit ambiguity surroundings its final design. Now, just as the Williamsburg building has topped out, CityRealty uncovered the final renderings from KBA Architects. The firm created a 14-story, ziggurat-like structure that will slope down from the adjacent site of longtime local haunt Kellogg's Diner and offer a slew of trendy amenities.
More views and details

December 9, 2016

Brooklyn’s Morbid Anatomy Museum needs $75K to stay afloat

By Metro New York

Brooklyn’s Morbid Anatomy Museum, the black corner building at Seventh Street and Third Avenue dedicated to the beauty of death, is having a hard time staying alive. The museum opened two years ago with a full-bodied program of salon discussions, film and lecture series and quaint exhibitions such as “The Kittens’ Wedding” featuring Victorian-costumed taxidermied […]

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December 9, 2016

Public petition asks Mayor de Blasio to back East River Skyway

A month ago, U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, City Councilman Stephen Levin, and State Assemblyman Joseph Lentol drafted a letter to the Mayor, urging him to advocate for the East River Skyway as a solution for the impending L train shutdown. Building on this momentum, a digital petition addressed to de Blasio has launched on Change.org where the public can show their support for the plan, as well.
Find out more

Transit

December 8, 2016

12-foot ceilings and a wall of windows at this $1.049M Prospect Heights apartment

Loft lovers will appreciate what this apartment at 535 Dean Street, in Prospect Heights, is delivering. The large, open living space--perfect for that flexible loft floorplan--boasts 12-foot-tall ceilings and wall-dominating windows. In addition, there are two bedrooms and a customized loft space built out by a local Brooklyn designer. This apartment, with its many built-ins and creative bedroom spaces, is now asking a hair over $1 million.
Check it out

Distinctive Homes

December 6, 2016

Pretty Cobble Hill carriage house boasts history of circus zebras–and Norah Jones as neighbor

Though this 1830s livery stable on a picturesque Cobble Hill block offers seemingly endless charms on its own, the three-story, 4,300-square-foot home may have one of the more unique carriage house histories we've heard: It's believed that between 1915 and 1920 the stable was used to house zebras when what is now the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus was in town—the building next door was used to hold the elephants. If that's not enough distinction, the adorable carriage house belonging to singer Norah Jones—it also appeared in the Julia Roberts film "Eat, Pray, Love,"—sits directly across the street. But this particular carriage house, on the market for $5.6 million, is eclectic enough without past-life zebras or celebrity neighbors, from its expansive owners' duplex to its cozy upper floor apartment. Two decks overlooking a gorgeous rear garden and parking at the front have already won us over, and that's before we've even gone inside.
Explore this eclectic former stable

December 5, 2016

$4.5M Williamsburg building has two apartments and one great backyard

This Williamsburg building has two big things going for it: lots of space and a central neighborhood location. The home is right around the corner from the Bedford Avenue L train, and it holds two apartments and a ground-floor commercial space. Out back, there's an incredible private backyard that looks like the best part of the property, which is now on the market for almost $4.49 million.
See it all

Distinctive Homes

December 5, 2016

As Red Hook’s Norman Foster office complex plans move forward, local residents want more input