Greenwich Village

After spending some time on the rental market, first at $25,000/month then $19,000/month, restaurateur Keith McNally's 4,600 square-foot Greek Revival townhouse at 105 West 11th Street is for sale for $13.95 million (h/t Curbed). The New York Times once called McNally, whose success stories include buzzy establishments like Balthazar, Cherche Midi, Odeon, Café Luxembourg, Schiller’s and Minetta Tavern, "the man who invented Downtown." McNally purchased the house in 2002 for $2.496 million. Built in 1910, this 21-foot-wide, five-bedroom, four-story home should appeal to historic townhouse lovers as well as anyone with kitchen ambitions. From the walk-in wine cellar to the rustic French-country interiors, the house has been restored with a floor plan that considers both entertaining and daily life. Impressive details include five wood burning fireplaces, imported timber beams, reclaimed wide plank oak floor boards, casement windows, Venetian plaster walls and landscaped outdoor spaces, all on a historic townhouse-lined Greenwich Village street.
Take a look inside

They Paved Washington Square Park and Put Up a Parking Lot

Image via NYU Local

February 4, 2016

They Paved Washington Square Park and Put Up a Parking Lot

It's true: Washington Square Park was, in part, Washington Square parking lot. In the 1960s, at the peak of the nation's car culture fixation, the Greenwich Village park was put into use as a parking lot, until cars were finally banished altogether in the 1970s, when the large circular plaza around the fountain was added. Some say the parking lot was an effort to keep hippies from gathering in the beloved public space.
Find out more

February 2, 2016

The Urban Lens: Documenting Gentrification’s Toll on the Mom-and-Pops of Greenwich Village

By James and Karla Murray

6sqft's new series The Urban Lens invites photographers to share work exploring a theme or a place within New York City. To kick things off, award-winning authors and photographers James and Karla Murray bring us 15 years of images documenting the changing storefronts of Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village. Are you a photographer who'd like to see your work featured on 6sqft? Get in touch with us at [email protected] Bleecker Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenue South was once a huge Italian enclave with many traditional "mom and pop" stores catering to the large Italian families who resided in the neighborhood. By the late 1930s, it also had a significant bohemian population with many artists, writers, poets and musicians living in the area who set up galleries, coffee houses and music shops. Due to widespread gentrification and escalating real-estate values, the neighborhood has changed drastically and its unique appearance and character is suffering. We are here to take you on visual tour to experience how many of the truly authentic shops remain on this venerable Greenwich Village street, and to show you what has replaced the ones that have vanished. Many of the shops you'll encounter ahead have been featured with full-color photographs and insightful interviews with the store owners in three of our widely acclaimed books on the subject, but we've also rounded up several more ahead.
Walk the Greenwich Village of yesteryear and present

January 29, 2016

Famous Magician Tries to Escape His Greenwich Village Apartment for $2.3M

Remember David Blaine –the magician who's pulled stunts like encasing himself in a block of ice for over 63 hours and sealing himself inside a plexiglass case for 44 days with no food? Well, apparently after all these wild endeavors he needed a nice, tranquil place to come home to. The Observer reports that Brooklyn-born Blaine has put his modern/cool Greenwich Village apartment on the market for $2.27 million. He bought the top-floor, corner two-bedroom unit at 41 Fifth Avenue back in 1998, just as he was gaining worldwide fame. And though he moved to Tribeca several years later, he's held onto the unit until now.
See the magician's hideaway

January 2, 2016

Greenwich Village Apartment With Cottage-Like Charm Asks $2.25 Million

There's definitely something quaint about this apartment at 13 Downing Street, a 16-unit cooperative right in the middle of Greenwich Village. Its cottage-like vibe comes from exposed brick, a fireplace and lots of earth tones. It also feels cozy without being cramped, and spacious without being sprawling. The two-bedroom home is now on the market for $2.25 million after last selling in 2013 for $1.199 million.
Take a look

Distinctive Homes

December 18, 2015

Get a Look at the South Village’s Upcoming Boutique Condo, 54 MacDougal Street

By Ondel Hylton

Excavation is nearly complete at 54 MacDougal Street, a ground-up, six-story condominium being developed by Valyrian Capital and Ajax Partners. Up until 2013, a humble three-story townhouse stood at the 2,500-square-foot lot for nearly 200 years, dating its creation to around 1820 when it was built on land formerly owned by Aaron Burr. The building lot is within a once working-class and immigrant neighborhood referred to by some as the South Village. Unlike large swaths of Greenwich Village to the north and cast iron sections of Soho to the west, the motley mixture of low-rise, pre-war buildings for years lacked landmark protections. Since 2006, the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP) has urged the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission to designate a 35-block stretch of the neighborhood as an historic district, making it the city’s first tenement-based landmarked district. To date, two of the three phases of the district have been designated.
More details ahead

December 4, 2015

Greenwich Village Townhouse Flip Seeks $23.5M After Fancy Reno and Price Chop

The current owner of this seven-story landmarked townhouse–a real estate firm called Good Property–purchased it for $9.3 million in November of 2012, and proceeded to give it a top-to-toe renovation, clearly with luxury buyers in mind. The 1848 Greek Revival home on a pretty Village street catty-corner from Washington Square Park had been several market-rate apartments, and is now a single-family showstopper with an elevator, a super-premium kitchen, modern gas fireplaces, tri-level rear glass walls and doors, a landscaped backyard with an outdoor kitchen, an upper patio and a "penthouse lounge" on the roof. It was escorted back to the market in November of 2014 at $25 million; after a broker switch it's still thinking big at $23.5 million.
check out all seven floors

Distinctive Homes

November 26, 2015

Architect-Owner of This Polished-yet-Casual Village Loft Asks $3M

Century-old bones and clean white walls frame the well-proportioned interior spaces of this warm, sophisticated two-bedroom loft in Greenwich Village, the result of a recent gut renovation by the architect-owner. John Berg of BergDesign Architecture, with his wife Jennifer Desmond, purchased the sunny downtown co-op at 250 Mercer Street for $1.5 million in May of 2013, two years and an impressive renovation ago. The bright high-floor unit is now on the market for $2.9 million. We’ve featured some of the architect’s projects, and this apartment's renovation is detailed on the BergDesign site, with the imperative of keeping "three priorities: durability, casual living and contrasting rich materials" for a family with small children in mind.
Have a look at how a gut renovation transformed the space

Distinctive Homes

November 20, 2015

Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent List Their Greenwich Village Penthouse for $10.5M

Back in September Architectural Digest dedicated a whole cover plus photo spread to Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent "settling in" to their pristine apartment, a penthouse at the Emery Roth-designed 39 Fifth Avenue in the heart of the Village. While the pair spent the better part of the piece gushing about how they'd finally found their dream home (“We couldn’t stop thinking about the apartment, believing we were meant to live there...we were able to create the home of our dreams," Brent said to AD at one point), it looks like the family, which includes their young daughter Poppy, couldn't quite get as comfy as they'd hoped, because they've just listed their spacious pad for $10.5 million.
Tour their beautiful penthouse

November 17, 2015

325-Square-Foot Greenwich Village Apartment Is Smartly Designed to Pack All the Comforts of Home

By Rebecca Paul

NYC is an exciting city that often sets the stage for non-stop, action-packed living. But this fast-paced lifestyle often comes at the cost of some serious square footage. This didn't stop seasoned New Yorker and producer Andrea Mitchell from successfully putting together a stylish and efficient home with just 325 square feet to work with. Located in Greenwich Village, her tiny apartment includes all the comforts of home and mixes simple Ikea buys with eclectic flea market finds. In a recent interview with Inhabitat, she reveals some savvy design tips for living large in a small space.
Get the scoop

November 17, 2015

This Greenwich Village Co-op, With Exposed Brick and Fireplaces, Is Like a Mini Chateau

This co-op apartment at 7 Gay Street in Greenwich Village packs in a lot of rustic charm for a one-bedroom. Flanked with exposed brick, with four wood-burning fireplaces, you could pretend like you're in a miniature mountain chateau rather than a NYC pad. Although there's only one bedroom, this co-op has been renovated to include a second apartment so it spans a total of 1,000 square feet. It's also a corner unit with both southern and western exposures. In case you're rushing to buy it–hold tight. The owner has only put it up on the rental market for either short- or long-term tenants. It's asking $6,250 a month unfurnished, or $7,000 a month for all the furniture to stay.
See more

Distinctive Homes

November 13, 2015

10012 and 10013 Are NYC’s Most Prized Zip Codes

By Diane Pham

212 Fifth Avenue may be the considered the ultimate New York address, but zip codes 10012 and 10013 are the city's most coveted. Forbes has just released their annual list of the 500 Most Expensive ZIP Codes in the nation, and amongst the top zips were the two that make up parts of the West Village, Soho, Tribeca and the Lower East Side. However, 10012 and 10013 were the only New York City digits to break the top 10. California actually counted the most spots on the list this year, including #1. Is NYC passé?
check out the top 20 zip codes here

Real Estate Trends

November 11, 2015

Julia Roberts Makes a $5.35M Sale on Her ‘Beachy’ Greenwich Village Apartment

It didn't take much time for Julia Roberts to unload her apartment at 45 West 10th Street. According to the Observer, Ms. Roberts has just closed a $5.35 million sale on her Greenwich Village pad, pulling in more than $850K over her original $4.5 million ask. The apartment, which was being described as “easy breezy” and “Hamptons/California-style beachy” when it was listed in July, went to investment exec Nicolas de Croisset who recently tied the knot in a lavish beachside wedding in Greece with Vogue's Phoebe de Croisset. Not a bad starter home for newlyweds...
Take a tour of ROberts' former digs

November 6, 2015

Yet Another Burial Vault Uncovered Near Washington Square Park, Comes Filled With Coffins

By Diane Pham

Employees of the Department of Design and Construction are definitely being kept on their toes this week. After uncovering a hidden vault containing the skeletal remains of at least a dozen people believed to be approximately 200 years old, workers have uncovered a second burial vault, this one filled with wood coffins. Workers tasked with upgrading 19th-century water mains under the park stumbled upon the latest burial ground Wednesday night, a day after their first finding at the corner of Waverly Place and Washington Square Park East.
find out more here

History

November 5, 2015

Hidden Burial Vault and the Skeletal Remains of 12 Found Under Washington Square Park

By Rebecca Paul

It's pretty well known that Washington Square Park started out as a potters field, a burial ground for the poor, and later as a resting place for those who died from yellow fever. But this has always been something out of the history books. Until now. Recently, a group of city workers in the process of upgrading water mains under the park came upon a hidden vault containing the skeletal remains of at least a dozen people believed to be approximately 200 years old. According to officials from the Department of Design and Construction, the vault is eight feet deep, 15 feet wide, and 20 feet long. While the exact details are unknown right now, a team of anthropologists and and archaeologists will be requested to evaluate and determine the age of both the remains and the vault.
Find out more

History

November 4, 2015

‘Veronica Mars’ Actor Lists Village Loft Featuring Cast Iron Columns and Double Height Ceilings

Cast iron is prevalent throughout 67 East 11th Street, a Greenwich Village building built in 1868 and converted to a co-op in 1973. Back in the late 19th century, it was home to the James McCreery Dry Goods Store; the facade has beautiful cast iron details like Corinthian columns as well as big arched windows, and this apartment owned by actor Chris Lowell of "Veronica Mars" fame is now on the market for $1.195 million. The unit is a two bedroom, with the master bedroom located in a sleeping loft above the living room. The lofted space allows for 16-foot ceilings and incredible oversized windows.
Take a tour

October 28, 2015

Blockbuster Greenwich Lane Closes Its First Sales, Each Eight Figures

By Diane Pham

The first of five of the city's priciest developments has finally started to cash in, with two eight-figure sales recorded at Greenwich Village's rising mega-development, The Greenwich Lane. As 6qft reported in April, the ginormous, block-eating condo complex located at 145 West 11th Street is anticipated to make between $1.4 to $1.7 billion dollars at sell out. The first two sales, which appeared in public filings released yesterday, are a five-bedroom 4,537-square-foot unit (#8) which closed at $19.53 million, and similarly another 4,529-square-foot five-bedroom (#4) that closed at $16.32 million.
more on the significance of the two sales here

October 19, 2015

Eeeek! This Frightful $550K Village Fixer-Upper Is a Diamond in the (Very) Rough

To kick off Halloween season, 6sqft has found a listing that will strike terror in the heart of anyone looking to move right in; this underdressed underachiever of a "one-bedroom" co-op at 138 West 10th Street looks just a fright. The listing throws in the towel and offers, "West Village pre war one bedroom wreck in beautifully preserved building on one of the most sought after tree lined blocks.” Which, if you think about it, is only one word away from lots of folks' dream apartment. Once you get past the completely spooky condition of the small but well-located space, it's worth noting that it actually has quite a bit going for it given its $550,000 ask, which, though more than the price of a Brooklyn cemetery plot, is far less than you'd pay for the average Village one-bedroom apartment. But it’s clearly up to you, brave buyer–plus an architect, a contractor and a lot of patience–to clear away the cobwebs and make the dream happen.
Follow the screams

October 18, 2015

$7,500/Month Greenwich Village Loft Looks Good Even With All Its Carpet

In the world of New York real estate, there's generally a rule: wood floors are good, and carpeting... not so much. It gets dirty, doesn't look as authentic, and there are usually gorgeous wood floors hiding underneath. This is especially true for loft apartments, which are typically dominated by wood flooring throughout. But not this one, at 12 East 14th Street in Greenwich Village. And you know what? We don't hate it. Maybe it's the handsome blue color and the way it blends into the furniture. Or the idea of having a nice cushion underneath our feet. (Plus, this loft hasn't totally abandoned its wood floor roots... you'll find some in the kitchen and the hallways.) The co-op apartment is now on the rental market for $7,250 a month. It comes fully furnished, so the renter is going to have to embrace that carpet living.
See more

Distinctive Homes

October 16, 2015

Robert Stuart Fills His West Village Condo With Thoughtful Details for a Past Reimagined

By Rebecca Paul

This gorgeous, rustic West Village condo belongs to designer Robert Stuart from Rob Stuart Interiors. Located on Perry Street, his city oasis was used as a warehouse in the 1980s, so was in desperate need of some personality when he moved in. With his own home as his canvas, the designer took advantage of the massively high ceilings, wood burning fireplace, and panoramic NYC views. Before renovations were installed, the space was stripped down to its bare bones and every corner and detail was put in place to design a home of the past reimagined.
See it all here

October 12, 2015

Fashion Photographer Francesco Carrozzini Asks $16M for Historic Greenwich Village Townhouse

This Greenwich Village townhouse at 88 MacDougal Street is full-on historic from the outside, and completely chic once you walk through the doors. The seller is fashion photographer Francesco Carrozzini, who the Daily News says is singer Lana Del Rey's boyfriend, and who has photographed the likes of Angelina Jolie, Naomi Campbell, Beyonce, and Heidi Klum. He bought it seven years ago for $6.8 million and is now trying to make a big profit with an ask of $16 million. Will that high price fly for this renovated townhouse, which includes a retractable rooftop penthouse and deck? Last year, it was on the rental market for $16,000 a month.
Check it out to decide

September 24, 2015

This Oh-So-Sweet Co-Op in Greenwich Village Is on the Market for $2 Million

There's simply nothing to hate about this Greenwich Village co-op, located in the charming pre-war building 140 West 10th Street on a lovely leafy street. The apartment still has its historic details intact, some nicely done renovations, and big windows with views over the surrounding townhouses and backyards. The only thing we're not crazy about? The steep asking price of $2.295 million.
See the rest

Distinctive Homes

September 23, 2015

Rent Jessica Chastain’s Sparkling Greenwich Village Duplex for $11,500 a Month

While the home doesn't quite compare to her spectacular new spread at the Osborne, Jessica Chastain's former digs at 250 Mercer Street are certainly nothing to sneeze at. According to TODAY, the Oscar-nominated actress has put the duplex she left for Leonard Bernstein's old home on the rental market, asking a cool $11,500 a month. Described by its listing as "Exceptional in every way," the two-bedroom has been fully renovated and offers tons of luxurious finishes, and above all, a pretty sweet location in the heart of the Village.
Take a look inside

September 23, 2015

Enormous Greenwich Village Loft Above an Art House Cinema Awaits Your Vision

This raw-edged, sprawling 3,250 square-foot loft at 34 West 13th Street, on a bustling yet somehow old-school Greenwich Village street is on the market for the first time since the building became a cooperative in the 1970s. Formerly an acting school–there are two stages built in, which could be kind of cool if you're the theatrical type–the space is currently configured as a two bedroom with a laundry room, a big open kitchen/dining room, a living area and a hall gallery. Located between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, it's above the Quad Cinema indie theater (set to reopen with a big renovation this fall), which is also great if you love the movies. The ask is $5.25 million, and there are several suggested floor plans (see the photo gallery ahead), should you want to create a three- or four-bedroom home.
Find out more about this huge loft space

Distinctive Homes

September 22, 2015

Jude Law’s Former Greenwich Village Penthouse in Gorgeous Church Conversion Asks $12.5M

By Dana Schulz

Remember all that hoopla over Jude Law flinging fruit from his Greenwich Village penthouse onto ogling NYU students? Well, here's where it happened, ironically, in a former house of worship. Built in 1860 as a Methodist church, 135 West 4th Street underwent an incredible condo conversion by FLAnk Architecture in 2006, where they beautifully preserved original church features such as stained glass windows and exposed beams, but added all the modern luxuries an A-list celeb would want. The aforementioned penthouse first sold for $6 million to entrepreneur Mark Kress and was then listed for resale for $8.5 million in 2009. It ended up selling the following year for a much-reduced $6.3 million, and then found a renter in Jude Law. Now, the duplex is back on the market asking $12,495,000, and it can be all yours (assuming you keep your orange lobbing at bay).
Check out the entire pad

September 18, 2015

Alec Baldwin Sells One of His Devonshire House Apartments for $2.1M