Brooklyn

Move over Bushwick and Williamsburg, Sunset Park is the new cool kid in the borough. Curbed shared a report from Cushman & Wakefield that names the 100 coolest streets in the country, and coming in among the top 15 neighborhoods is Sunset Park, "where boxes and independents co-exist." The report points to a bohemian exodus from Williamsburg, which has become more mainstream and pricey. And though hipsters are moving to 'hoods like Bed Stuy and Crown Heights, Sunset Park outdoes them with a unique type of retail growth and creative sector thanks to the Bush Terminal Park and Industry City. The millennial population is about 27 percent and the average household income is $81,529.
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Real Estate Trends

June 29, 2016

Cool $1.075M Heights Co-op Shows You Can Have Prewar Charm and Waterfront Views

This stylish two-bedroom co-op at 32 Willow Place in Brooklyn Heights does a great job of proving that all waterfront apartments don't need to be in tall towers. Located on the top floor of a historic limestone and brick (walk-up, unfortunately) building in one of the city's loveliest waterfront neighborhoods, this renovated two-bedroom co-op offers a dedicated gated parking spot, river views, modern design and pre-war charm in what–according to the listing–Details magazine called "the coolest apartment in Brooklyn," for $1.075 million.
Take a look around

Distinctive Homes

June 26, 2016

Boaz Gilad’s Bed-Stuy Rental Marcí Begins Leasing With $1,846/Month Studios

By Ondel Hylton

Another one of Boaz Gilad's reported 40+ Brooklyn projects has met the finish line with leasing kicking off at the Marcí in Bedford-Stuyvestant. Rising eight floors from the corner of Marcy Avenue and Kosciusko Street, the 35,000-square-foot project presents an inoffensive Rubik's Cube design hashed up by Franklyn Estrella Architects. Inside are 41 studio, one- and two-bedroom no-fee apartments. Pricing of the building's seven active units are rather affordable for new construction, with available units ranging from $1,846/month studios, $2,862/month one-bedrooms, and $2,723/month two-bedrooms.
More on the building

June 24, 2016

New Renderings Show Rooftop and Courtyards at ODA’s Massive Rheingold Brewery Project

In March of 2015, the cube-happy architects at ODA revealed their design for 10 Montieth Street, part of Bushwick's 10-block Bushwick's Rheingold Brewery site. The 400,000-square-foot, 400-unit rental building from the Rabsky Group has a bow-tie shape with a sloping zig-zagging green roof and amenity-laden courtyard. Last week, renderings were released for a second project from ODA at the Rheingold site, this one with developer All Year Management. Inspired by a "European Village" and dubbed Bushwick II, this rental one ups 10 Montieth; it will encompass one million square feet over two city blocks and have 800-900 units, as well as an entire system of interconnecting courtyards and common spaces that break from the street grid, an 18,000-square-foot central park, and a 60,000-square-foot rooftop with an urban farm and recreational spaces including a pool. Dezeen has uncovered additional renderings of Bushwick II that showcase these outdoor spaces, and they do not disappoint.
More details and renderings ahead

Ride the Coney Island Cyclone for Free This Weekend!

Image via creative commons by Mark Hout

June 24, 2016

Ride the Coney Island Cyclone for Free This Weekend!

If visiting Coney Island has long been on your list of NYC to-dos, this weekend might be the best weekend to head down to the famed beach and boardwalk. On top of what will be gorgeous weather, per the Coney Island Blog, the amusement park’s iconic wooden roller coaster will be offering FREE rides to 89 thrill-seekers. The roller […]

History

June 23, 2016

$2.25M Carroll Gardens Carriage House Has Three Floors, Two Terraces and One Parking Spot

This unassuming brick carriage house at 164 West 9th Street is tucked into the gentrified-industrial corner of south Brooklyn where Carroll Gardens meets Gowanus. The 2,100-square-foot townhouse has been thoroughly renovated and infused with enough charm to make it a nice turnkey option for a buyer who's looking for a condo alternative–for $2.25 million. Interiors have been given modern upgrades like central AC, all new mechanicals, and attractive finishes, and a curb cut makes parking easy, a rare gift in busy Brooklyn.
See the whole house

Distinctive Homes

My 1200sqft: Inside Summer Rayne Oakes’ Williamsburg Oasis Filled With 500+ Plants

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 Summer Rayne Oakes’ plant-filled Williamsburg loft. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch!

June 21, 2016

My 1200sqft: Inside Summer Rayne Oakes’ Williamsburg Oasis Filled With 500+ Plants

As far as multi-hyphenate models go, Summer Rayne Oakes may be the most impressive we've come across. More than being a cover beauty, Summer is also a writer, businesswoman, activist, chef (she's working on her first cookbook), and an ecologist by training (she graduated from Cornell with degrees in Environmental Science and Entomology). Unsurprisingly, this overachiever's multifaceted talents touch ever corner of her life, including the space she's called home for the past 11 years. On the top floor of an unassuming Williamsburg building is a 1200-square-foot loft that's been transformed into a veritable jungle with over 500 plants (and 150 species) and a handful of exotic insects, including African millipedes and Madagascar hissing cockroaches (they're confined to a terrarium, if you're wondering). While her home at first glance appears to be dominated by plants, Summer's space is also decorated with dreamy touches, carefully curated vignettes, and furniture she's built with her father using wood found on the street. Ahead Summer takes us through her unique loft and gives us some insight into the work she's done, her perspective on her changing neighborhood, as well as some tips for raising plants in the city.
Inside Summer's unbelievable home this way

June 21, 2016

Pretty Top-Floor Co-Op With its Own Roof Deck Asks $1.2M in Park Slope

Park Slope is known for its pretty real estate, and this top-floor co-op at 656 Carroll Street is no exception. Decked out with a wood-burning fireplace, arched doorways, exposed brick and stained glass, this is a one-of-a-kind interior that matches the historic vibe in the rest of the neighborhood. And it's all topped by a private roof deck offering 360-degree views of Brooklyn and the Manhattan skyline.
See more this way

Distinctive Homes

June 20, 2016

Nine L Train-Adjacent Affordable Apartments Up for Grabs in Williamsburg, From $882

Starting tomorrow, qualifying New Yorkers can begin applying for nine brand new below-market pads in hipster Williamsburg, right off the G/L Metropolitan/Lorimer stop and in proximity to neighborhood standbys like Union Pool, Mccarren Park, and that bagel shop that birthed the cragel and rainbow bagel. Located at 11 Jackson Street (also known as 15 Jackson Street), affordable units are being priced at $882 for a studio, $945 for a one-bedroom, and $1134 for a two-bedroom. Currently, there aren't any market-rate units available (the last rented out just days ago) and it's worth noting that no-fee two-bedrooms have been going for upwards of $3,250 a month—meaning these are some very nice apartments.
find out if you qualify here

Affordable Housing

June 20, 2016

Historic Prospect Heights Rowhouse, Asking $12,500/Month, Has All Its Woodwork Intact

William H. Reynolds may not be a recognizable name in New York City history today, but back in his day he was known as an influential real estate developer, politician, and entrepreneur who developed much of Prospect Heights. He is responsible for this lovely townhouse at 323 Sterling Place, located right off Grand Army Plaza. Over the years much of the interior has been preserved, so the home feels like a time machine taking you back to the days Reynolds was building up the neighborhood.
Take an interior tour

Distinctive Homes

June 17, 2016

Lotto Kicks Off for Four Affordable Apartments in Bushwick Building with Rooftop Dog Walk

Starting Monday, NYC's Housing Connect will begin accepting applications for four brand new apartments located in an upscale, four-story, 20-unit apartment complex at 83 Bushwick Place. Rents will start at $947 for one-bedrooms and $1,071 for two-bedrooms. The building has been designed by architect Ariel Aufgang and developed by Slate Properties, and unlike other more recent constructions in the area, units have been sized for growing families opposed to younger singles looking for studio rentals. Among the perks offered are a rooftop dog walk and luxury-level finishes, according to previous reports. A convenient location a block from the Montrose L train station serves as another major draw.
Find out if you qualify here

Affordable Housing

June 17, 2016

Two Chances to Live in Trendy Bushwick for $947/Month

You know you've hit gold when your apartment is just three blocks away from Roberta's, and the city is offering two lucky renters the chance to live in this trendy Bushwick location for just $947 a month. Starting today, single persons earning between $32,469 and $38,100 annually and two-person households earning between $32,469 and $43,500 can apply for these units at 103 Varet Street through an affordable housing lottery. The four-story new construction building has a roof deck and laundry room, and units feature stainless appliances and dishwashers, hardwood floors, and marble bathrooms.
More info

Affordable Housing

June 16, 2016

New Renderings of Extell’s Central Park Tower Emphasize Design and Record Height

By Annie Doge

A new set of images of the world's upcoming tallest residential tower have been uncovered, these better revealing the cantilevering silhouette of the 1,550-foot supertall and how it will relate to the skyline of Central Park South. The images of the Central Park Tower (née Nordstrom Tower) were first spotted by NY Yimby and are part of official EB-5 Immigrant Investor program materials posted online and provided by developer Extell. As such, they confirm that the supertall will indeed no longer have the spire, a feature which would have brought the tower to 1,775 feet and just a foot shy of One World Trade. The materials also reveal that the tower is being marketed with a height of 133 floors (the actual count is just 95, though some units like the 17,000-square-foot three-story penthouse have ceilings that stretch well beyond the standard) and 179 luxury residential units.
more here

June 16, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week – 6/16-6/22

By Lori Zimmer

In a city where hundreds of interesting happenings occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Art Nerd‘s philosophy is a combination of observation, participation, education and of course a party to create the ultimate well-rounded week. Jump ahead for Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer’s top picks for 6sqft readers! Get sexy with art twice this week, with House of Yes's LUST event where art, erotica, performance and food combine, or bust out your best clam shell bra for the 34th annual Mermaid Day Parade in Coney Island. Get schooled by some of the world's best creatives during the Awwwards Festival, learn how to focus your career with Hope McGrath, then get into the mind of threeASFOUR's Ange for an artist talk at Untitled. The International Print Center gears up for their Summer Show, and Williams Carmona reflects on Cuba at HG Contemporary. With summer here, the French Films on the Green are back, with free screenings each week in parks across the 5 boroughs.
More on all the best events this way

Events & Things To Do

June 16, 2016

One Month Free at 76 North 4th Street, Steel Factory Turned Rental in Williamsburg

For the renter looking for a balance between Williamsburg's old warehouse buildings and its newer luxury development, the Lewis Steel Building beckons. This 83-unit rental was co-developed by Cayuga Capital and Jake Toll, the son of the developer behind Toll Brothers. They transformed a 1930s steel factory into modern apartments while keeping the 13-foot ceilings, exposed beams and factory-sized windows intact. Leasing launched last year and there are now six apartments left, ranging from a $3,117/month one-bedroom to a $5,683/month three-bedroom. And for any renters who pick up the remaining apartments, they're getting the first month of rent free.
Take a look around

June 15, 2016

Historic Home Upgraded by High-End Furniture Designer Asks $2.995M in Bed-Stuy

588 Madison Street is a French Neo-Grec brownstone built in 1889 by the architect William Godfrey. While the single-family, Bed-Stuy home is steeped in history, a recent owner has brought it stylishly into modern day. The owner/developer, a principle at the design firm KGBL, specializes in designing high-end furniture. Here, they played off the existing historic details to add some unique, modern touches. And the mashup of historic and modern is asking nearly $3 million.
Take a look

Distinctive Homes

June 15, 2016

Construction Kicks Off on a Pair of Condo Buildings in the Columbia Street Waterfront District

By Ondel Hylton

Avery Hall Investments and co-developer OTL Enterprises are forging ahead with the development of pair of understated five-story condominium buildings at 161-163 Columbia Street in Cobble Hill's Columbia Street Waterfront District. The team picked up the lots in 2014 through a unique deal with the nonprofit Carroll Gardens Association where proceeds of the sale would be used to preserve below-market rate rents for 28 units on the street and possibly develop 70 more affordable units in nearby Red Hook.
READ MORE

June 14, 2016

Check Out the Manhattan Skyline in 2020! New Development Sales to Hit $8.4B This Year

As part of their Manhattan New Development Report, CityRealty has released a trio of skyline renderings that show how the city will appear in 2020 -- looking south from the Lower East Side, north from the tip of the island, and of course, down on Central Park South's Billionaires' Row. The eye-popping images underscore the fact that new developments have been "markedly above the average price of all other Manhattan condos since 2013." The average sales price in new developments is expected to hit $4.4 million this year and $5.7 million by 2018. By comparison, the expected average price of a non-new development condo for 2016 is $2.65 million. Moreover, new development sales totaled $5.4 billion last year, up from 2014's $4.1 billion. This figure is expected to reach $8.4 billion this year and more than $10 billion by 2018.
See all the renderings and find out which buildings are leading the pack

June 14, 2016

Landmarks Approves ODA’s Wall Replacement for Former DUMBO Sugar Factory Building

By Ondel Hylton

Last summer, the Landmark Preservation Commission approved ODA Architecture's sugar crystal-inspired vision for a DUMBO commercial loft building at 10 Jay Street. Today the team went back before the LPC and received approvals to replace the building's deteriorated east wall that has been covered in stucco since the 1970s and is in dire need of structural repair. Developer Glacier Global Partners previously fancied condos for the 19th century sugar factory building, but the robust Brooklyn office market led the developers to a change of heart, envisioning 200,000 square feet of class-A office space instead.
Get all the details right here

June 14, 2016

$1.4M Williamsburg ‘Penthouse’ Has On-Trend Finishes, Two Terraces and Skyline Views

With its pretty, rustic-meets-modern kitchen, tons of outdoor space on two levels and glass accordion doors framing gorgeous city views, this 956-square-foot condo at 150 Richardson Street has the makings of a smart little home in a coveted Williamsburg spot. A $1.425 million ask for the top-floor walk-up is likely based on that location, in a neighborhood that has become one of the borough's–if not the city's–priciest. Let's take a closer look at what you get with your prime 'burg pad.
Outdoor space, views, and smart finishes this way

Distinctive Homes

June 14, 2016

One-bedroom With Shower in the Kitchen Wants $1,850/Month in Williamsburg

Yep, it's a real one-bedroom, separate kitchen and all. Which is a good thing, because that's where the shower is. It seems as if we just got done marveling at that Lower East Side pad with a similar setup; now, Real Estate Weekly informs us, we're invited to behold this red hot value of a listing at 255 Powers Street. Let's take a look at what's included in that sounds-too-good-to-be-true rent in the L train-friendly environs of East Williamsburg.
Get a look

June 8, 2016

Last Apartment Left at Gothic Revival Church in Fort Greene Asks $8,200/Month

Gothic Revival church turned luxury rental apartment: only in New York. That's the story behind 232 Adelphi Street, a majestic Fort Greene church built in 1888. It fell into disrepair before being converted into 12 apartments in recent years. This is the last apartment left empty and it's a pricy one. It's also big: an 1,800-square-foot duplex with two bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths, all accessed via a private entrance.
Check out the church details that remain

Distinctive Homes

June 7, 2016

Another Luxury Development May Rise on Billionaires’ Row

Crain's reports that another prime piece of property will soon be changing hands, putting 126,000 square feet of development rights in play. The Steinberg family last month made an agreement with commercial developers Thor Equities and General Growth Properties to sell neighborhood fixture Lee's Art Shop's four-story structure at 220 West 57th Street for $85 million, a deal that is expected to close this month. It is not yet clear what the developers plan to do with the landmarked building, but what is known is that the property comes with the right to build atop the historic structure—itself boasting 21,837 square feet on a sizable 8,400-square-foot lot.
find out more here

New Developments

June 7, 2016

Brooklyn Design Firm Creates Dramatic Living Spaces Inside a Williamsburg Loft

Loft apartments have naturally good bones for dramatic living spaces, with those big windows and high ceilings, but the renovation of this 1,300-square-foot Williamsburg pad truly resulted in some breathtaking spaces. The work is by Greenpoint-based design and architecture firm Space Exploration and general contractor Tristan Warner Studios Inc. According to Brownstoner, Space Exploration was initially hired to create a wall-length book shelf for the living room, where the ceiling surpasses 18 feet. The success of the bookshelf -- which was built by a high-end millwork firm in Brooklyn -- inspired the owner to “go forward with the full monte,” said founder of Space Exploration Kevin Greenberg. His full reno enlarged the lofty mezzanine space, while decked out the interior with truly unique custom design touches.
Take a look

June 7, 2016

A True Loft at Brooklyn’s Former Ex-Lax Factory Asks $875K

There are a lot of New York apartments trying to sell themselves as lofts that just aren't. That makes it especially refreshing to see this loftier-than-thou apartment, from the former Ex-Lax factory at 423 Atlantic Avenue in Boerum Hill, hit the market. The factory was constructed in the 1920s and was eventually combined with adjacent buildings that were being used as a bottling plant. In 1981, the complex went co-op -- and as a residence it still retains some of the Ex-Lax advertising memorabilia. This apartment was designed by an architect to maximize all available space. They especially took advantage of the 15-foot ceilings, building out not one but two lofted living spaces.
Check out the sleeping loft

Distinctive Homes

June 1, 2016

Norman Foster’s First Brooklyn Project Revealed, A 7.7-Acre Red Hook Office Development