Real Estate Trends

Jeff Bezos scoops up three Flatiron apartments for a record-setting $80M

Rendering of 212 Fifth Avenue by Visualhouse; Photo of Jeff Bezos via Wiki Commons

June 4, 2019

Jeff Bezos scoops up three Flatiron apartments for a record-setting $80M

The Wall Street Journal reported today that Amazon Chief Executive Jeff Bezos is closing on three apartments at 212 Fifth Avenue, next to Madison Square Park. Bezos is scooping up a penthouse and two units that are right under it for approximately $80 million, though the precise numbers haven’t been made public yet. Combined, the apartments add up to over 17,000 square feet. The deal is reportedly the largest to ever close in New York south of 42nd Street, and the second largest deal of the year, second to Ken Griffin’s now-infamous $240 million penthouse at 220 Central Park South.
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Jeanne Gang’s first residential tower in NYC tops out in Downtown Brooklyn

Images courtesy of Studio Gang

June 4, 2019

Jeanne Gang’s first residential tower in NYC tops out in Downtown Brooklyn

By Devin Gannon

The first residential tower in New York City designed by Jeanne Gang's Studio Gang topped out this week in Downtown Brooklyn. Reaching 620 feet tall, 11 Hoyt Street will offer 481 condos, an elevated park, and 55,000 square feet of amenities. Sales launched at the Tishman Speyer-developed building last September, with prices ranging from $690,000 for studios to about $3.5 million for a four-bedroom. Hill West Architects served as the architect of record for the project.
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Parker Posey picks up a cozy Chelsea co-op for $1.5M

Listing photo courtesy of Douglas Elliman; Photo of Parker Posey via Wiki Commons

May 31, 2019

Parker Posey picks up a cozy Chelsea co-op for $1.5M

By Annie Doge

Parker Posey certainly has good taste in real estate. She first landed on our apartment-porn radar for her chic East Village apartment, which she bought back in 2008. (The home is now owned by actor Alexander Skarsgärd.) She then dropped $1.35 million on a slightly more classic co-op in Greenwich Village. After personally modeling in the listing photos, she unloaded this apartment in 2016. We're not sure where she's been for the past three years, but as of this week, she is a proud new Chelsea resident. According to the Post, Posey dropped $1.5 million on this super-cute and character-filled duplex at 365 West 19th Street. Not only does it have charming details like a wood-burning brick fireplace and huge half-moon window, but there's a private roof deck.
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Photo by Laurian Ghinitoiu.

May 30, 2019

See new views of OMA’s first NYC building, with ‘prismatic’ details

By Michelle Cohen

The new L-shaped residential building at 121 East 22nd Street represents Rem Koolhaas's architecture firm OMA's first ground-up Manhattan project; developers Toll Brothers City Living have released new photos of the eye-catching structure on the border between the Gramercy and Madison Square Park neighborhoods, highlighting its unique design. The new condominium residence is comprised of two blocks that straddle an existing tower, the 11-story School of the Future, constructed in 1915. The building's north tower has two interlocking planes that meet to form a distinct, three-dimensional corner. The 13-story south tower features an "undulating grid of punched windows" overlooking 22nd Street.
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Google’s Chelsea takeover continues as it picks up another property in the neighborhood

The building at 450 West 15th Street is connected to Chelsea Market via a bridge; photo via Wikimedia

May 23, 2019

Google’s Chelsea takeover continues as it picks up another property in the neighborhood

By Devin Gannon

Google on Wednesday picked up a 325,000-square-foot building in Chelsea, adding to its ever-growing footprint in the Manhattan neighborhood. According to the Financial Times, the company bought the building at 450 West 15th Street from Jamestown Properties for $600 million. In addition to its headquarters at 111 Eighth Avenue, Google owns the apartment buildings across the street and the Chelsea Market building, which it bought last year for $2.5 billion. And the company will serve as the primary tenant at Pier 57, a mixed-use development on the Hudson River.
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Real Estate Trends

Raising chickens in NYC: Laws, tips, and everything else you need to know

Image by furtwangl / Flickr

May 22, 2019

Raising chickens in NYC: Laws, tips, and everything else you need to know

By Cait Etherington

6sqft’s ongoing series Apartment Living 101 is aimed at helping New Yorkers navigate the challenges of creating a happy home in the big city. This week, we cover everything you need to consider when raising chickens in the city. In a city where simply finding a balcony large enough for a pot of basil can be a challenge, one may be surprised to discover that chicken coops can be found across all five boroughs. Chickens were once primarily kept by older city residents, including many who come from places in the world where a backyard supply of fresh eggs is taken for granted. More recently, everyone from Park Slope housewives to Bushwick hipsters appears to be embracing the backyard chicken craze.
More on Raising City Chickens

Williamsburg’s tallest tower tops out at Domino Sugar Factory development

Photo by Max Touhey

May 21, 2019

Williamsburg’s tallest tower tops out at Domino Sugar Factory development

By Devin Gannon

Williamsburg officially has a new tallest tower. One South First, formerly 260 Kent Avenue, topped out this week at the Domino Sugar Factory redevelopment along the waterfront. Designed by COOKFOX Architects, the 435-foot-tall tower features two interlocking buildings with white precast concrete facades inspired by the molecular pattern and forms of sugar crystals, a reference to the former factory site.
Domino details here

May 21, 2019

Rockefeller Center developer reveals new Art Deco views of its first residential tower in Nomad

By Dana Schulz

In March, Rockefeller Group, the famous developers behind their eponymous Rockefeller Center, announced that they'd be building their first residential project in their 90-year history. Dubbed Rose Hill for the historic area that once occupied today's Nomad, the 600-foot tower at 30 East 29th Street is a uniquely modern interpretation of the Art Deco style. Now we have an even better look at this striking bronze facade, as well as the expansive amenity spaces and luxury condo interiors. The new views coincide with sales launching; prices will start at $1.195 million for a studio.
More details and renderings this way

May 20, 2019

Audible opens new offices at a restored historic cathedral in Newark

By Devin Gannon

Audible, the audiobook company owned by Amazon, opened new offices on Friday in a restored historic cathedral in Newark. The company, which has been located in New Jersey's largest city since 2007, restored an 80,000-square-foot 1913 church and modernized it with open workspace, a four-lane bowling alley, and cafes. Dubbed the Innovation Cathedral, the new offices on Washington Street will hold 400 employees.
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Essex Crossing reveals new renderings of trendy office space

By Dana Schulz

If you're looking to attract top talent these days, you better have an office outfit with the amenities to lure a millennial. So it comes as no surprise that Essex Crossing developer Taconic Investment Partners has begun to market its 350,000 square feet of office space just days after the new Essex Street Market opened and a few weeks after a Regal theater opened. The office space is split evenly between two mixed-use buildings at the complex, 145 and 155 Delancey Street. According to a press release, "A worker at Essex Crossing will have direct access to one of the largest marketplaces in the world, indoor gardens, a 14-screen movie theater and four subway lines – all within one complex."
Check out more renderings here

Real Estate Trends

Renderings courtesy of Binyan Studios

May 13, 2019

FXCollaborative’s skinny FiDi school-condo tower reveals new looks and launches sales

By Alexandra Alexa

Sales at Trinity Place Holding’s new condominium tower at 77 Greenwich Street have officially launched, and a new batch of renderings are offering us a look inside the elegant residences. Designed by FXCollaborative, the 42-story high-rise will comprise 90 residential units on top of a new public elementary school. Though it hasn’t topped out yet, the finished building will hit 500 feet in height. The residences begin on the 15th floor and will feature sprawling river views with prices starting at $1,780,000 for a one-bedroom unit.
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Christie Brinkley finally sells her $18M Sag Harbor vacation home

Listing images courtesy of Douglas Elliman; photo of Christie Brinkley via Wiki Commons

May 8, 2019

Christie Brinkley finally sells her $18M Sag Harbor vacation home

By Annie Doge

Christie Brinkley’s idyllic Sag Harbor home officially has a new owner. The sale closed this week for just under the final asking price of $17,990,000, though the precise amount has yet to be confirmed. The supermodel bought the five-bedroom residence in 2004 for $7,150,000 and first listed it back in 2010. As 6sqft previously reported, the 5,500-square-foot property sought its highest asking price in 2016—a cool $25,000,000 with Enzo Morabito of Douglas Elliman. The price tag was lowered incrementally until it hit $17,999,000 last summer, as Brinkley continued to search for the right buyer.
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Proposed project from Vornado and Rudin calls for 1,450-foot tower in Midtown East

Via Vornado Realty Trust and Rudin Management Company

May 6, 2019

Proposed project from Vornado and Rudin calls for 1,450-foot tower in Midtown East

By Devin Gannon

A tentative joint venture between two developers could bring another supertall to Midtown East. Vornado Realty Trust and Rudin Management Company may team up to develop a 1,450-foot office tower at 350 Park Avenue, the Real Deal reported Friday. A leaked brochure for the potential project includes renderings of the proposed tower, revealing a glassy building with a series of setbacks that would allow for outdoor terraces and floorplates of various sizes.
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Real Estate Trends

May 2, 2019

Skyline Tower, Queens’ tallest building, launches first sales

By Alexandra Alexa

Queens’ Skyline Tower has launched its first 20 listings, providing a glimpse of what we can expect when the official sales gallery opens up later this spring (h/t Curbed). In addition to taking the title of 6sqft’s 2018 Building of the Year, the 67-story building caused a stir last year for its notable height—it will be the tallest in the borough—and proximity to Amazon’s planned HQ in Long Island City, leading to a record-breaking $1 billion sellout. When complete, the Hill West Architects-designed, 778-foot-tall tower will house 802 condos. The 20 live listings include studio- to three-bedroom units, ranging in price from $660,400 for a studio to $2,325,610 for a three-bedroom with outdoor space.
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May 2, 2019

New photos of ODA’s Bushwick rental highlight its sloping, sunset-hued facade

By Devin Gannon

While architecture firm ODA's sunset-hued rental in Bushwick topped out almost two years ago, recently released photos of the block-long building reveal a new level of uniqueness. Dubbed the Rheingold, part of the development of the former brewery site, 10 Montieth Street boasts one of the most distinct facades in the city, with a sloping rooftop, cascading terraces, and window frames in a pattern of yellow, orange, and red (h/t Dezeen). The seven-story building contains 500 studio, one-, and two-bedroom residences, which first hit the rental market last August.
See it here

Rockefeller Center office tower will be converted into Airbnb rentals

75 Rockefeller Plaza via Google Street View

April 29, 2019

Rockefeller Center office tower will be converted into Airbnb rentals

By Devin Gannon

Ten floors of an office tower in Rockefeller Center will be converted into short-term rentals, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. RXR Realty, which has leased the tower at 75 Rockefeller Plaza since 2012, has partnered with Airbnb to transform a portion of the 87-year-old building into roughly 200 units of high-end lodging. In a press release, RXR CEO Scott Rechler described the new venture as a "travel experience that immerses guests in a dynamic, thriving community in the heart of Rockefeller Center that's vastly different than anything else in the market today."
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With loan secured, Brooklyn’s tallest skyscraper is finally ready to rise

Rendering courtesy of SHoP Architects/JDS Development

April 24, 2019

With loan secured, Brooklyn’s tallest skyscraper is finally ready to rise

By Devin Gannon

The on-again, off-again construction of a Brooklyn skyscraper got a major push forward Tuesday. The Wall Street Journal reported that 9 DeKalb Avenue's developer Michael Stern of JDS Development has acquired a more than $664 million loan package to fund the development of the skyscraper. While the plan was first approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission three years ago, lack of financing and a change of developers stalled the project. Expected to reach 1,066 feet high upon completion, the SHoP Architects-designed tower will become the borough's tallest.
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Pacific Park construction accelerates with groundbreaking at tallest tower

Rendering courtesy of Greenland Forest City Partners

April 23, 2019

Pacific Park construction accelerates with groundbreaking at tallest tower

By Alexandra Alexa

Long in the works, construction at the Pacific Park complex in Brooklyn is set to ramp up after Greenland Forest City Partners announced a partnership with the Brodsky Organization to develop 18 Sixth Avenue. Designed by Perkins Eastman, the building will exceed 500 feet and become the tallest in Pacific Park. As 6sqft previously reported, Brodsky was also tapped for another apartment building in the complex at 664 Pacific Street, which will also include public space and a school. Groundbreaking at both sites is set to take place within the next two weeks.
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April 22, 2019

Behold views and shoes for days at this $875K Clinton Hill condo

By Michelle Cohen

Located in a newly-minted boutique condominium building on a bustling Clinton Hill corner, this sun-filled one-bedroom home at 500 Waverly Avenue, asking $875,000, has both space and views to its credit. And if you're a shoe collector, you'll be inspired.
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Age-friendly NYC: The best neighborhoods for New Yorkers 65+

Photo via Flickr cc

April 22, 2019

Age-friendly NYC: The best neighborhoods for New Yorkers 65+

By Cait Etherington

More than 17 percent of New Yorkers are over the age of 60, and over the coming two decades, this number is expected to rise to well over 20 percent. To address the specific needs of older New Yorkers and to ensure the city is able to fully benefit from their presence, New York City has launched an Age-Friendly Neighborhoods Initiative. Modeled after similar initiatives in cities around the world, it is described as “an opportunity to build upon the rich experiences of older adults and leverage the strengths of local neighborhoods that make each New York City community unique.” This article explores what “age-friendly” neighborhoods look like and examines five NYC neighborhoods where at least 25 percent of residents are already 65 years of age or older, from the Upper East Side to Brighton Beach.
All the info ahead

Real Estate Trends

At 9 DeKalb, SHoP Architects reveal a rooftop pool wrapping around Dime Savings Bank’s dome

Rendering via SHoP Architects

April 22, 2019

At 9 DeKalb, SHoP Architects reveal a rooftop pool wrapping around Dime Savings Bank’s dome

By Alexandra Alexa

A fresh rendering of 9 Dekalb Avenue first published in the New York Times last week revealed a new aspect of the project: the Dime Savings Bank's roof will be transformed into an outdoor lounge for residents, including a pool that will partly wrap around the ornate Guastavino dome. Inside, the Beaux-Arts interior will become a flagship store, with further details to be announced. The rising 1,066-foot-tower is being developed by JDS Development, with SHoP Architects leading the design, and is set to become the tallest tower in Brooklyn upon completion.
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To avoid rent burden in Manhattan and Brooklyn, you’d have to live in a 300 square foot space

Image via Flickr cc

April 12, 2019

To avoid rent burden in Manhattan and Brooklyn, you’d have to live in a 300 square foot space

By Alexandra Alexa

Renting remains an increasingly popular choice in cities throughout the country, where on-the-go millennials with mobile jobs and lifestyles prefer to remain untethered to a specific location. But often, making rent doesn’t equate with staying on budget or having the amount of space you really need. A new study by RENTCafe looks into the issue of rent burden, asking how much space a typical income would get you if you limited your rent to no more than 30% of your income. Their findings show that in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Boston spending 30% of your income on rent means you’d have to live in less than 300 square feet of space.
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April 11, 2019

Extell’s Upper West Side tower going forward despite city’s amendment on mechanical voids

By Alexandra Alexa

Rendering courtesy of Binyan Studios/ Snøhetta Following a revised design and review by the FDNY, developer Extell has been granted permission to proceed with plans for the Snøhetta-designed tower at 50 West 66th Street, Gothamist reports. This comes a few months after the Department of Buildings threatened to pull the building’s permits over concerns that the project was misusing mechanical voids in order to boost the overall height of units in the building. The DOB approved Extell's revised plans last Thursday, allowing the project to go forward despite a 12-to-1 City Planning Commission vote yesterday to crack down on the mechanical void loophole.
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New renderings for Pritzker Prize winner Álvaro Siza’s first U.S. building in Hell’s Kitchen

Rendering via The Boundary

April 10, 2019

New renderings for Pritzker Prize winner Álvaro Siza’s first U.S. building in Hell’s Kitchen

By Devin Gannon

New renderings of Pritzker Prize-winning architect Álvaro Siza's first United States building were revealed this week, stirring up interest before the Hell's Kitchen tower launches sales this fall. Currently under construction just off 11th Avenue, 611 West 56th Street will reach 37 stories and contain 80 condo units, ranging from one- to three-bedrooms, and penthouses. In addition to the fresh images of the limestone tower, developers Sumaida + Khurana and LENY also released a teaser website for the project.
See it here

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