Midtown East

Developer TF Cornerstone and investment firm MSD Partners have announced plans to purchase and tear down the Grand Hyatt building adjacent to Grand Central Terminal, the Wall Street Journal reports. The hotel brand will eventually return to the site in a form different from the smoked glass-clad building that was Donald Trump’s first major Manhattan development. In its place will rise a mixed-use project that includes 2 million square feet of high-octane office space. The planned development is one of four new towers in the works as a result of a 2017 Midtown East rezoning aimed at encouraging new office buildings as well as infrastructure improvements in the east side business district.
The times they are a-changin' in East Midtown

New Developments

February 5, 2019

For $335K, a compact but efficient studio in charming Tudor City

By Alexandra Alexa

25 Tudor City Place, also known as Tudor Tower, was one of the original buildings built at Tudor City, one of Manhattan's largest residential developments conceived by visionary real estate developer Frederick F. French in 1927 as a “suburb in the city.” The building retains its old-world charm with a well-maintained Gothic lobby and historic details in all 443 units, including beamed ceilings, hardwood floors, and casement windows. Like many of the pint-sized units that Tudor City is well-known for, this one, on the market for $335,000, offers a price tag to match.
Get the tour

Distinctive Homes

January 23, 2019

Late playwright Neil Simon’s three apartments at the Ritz Tower are for sale

A group of apartments in Midtown owned by late Broadway playwright Neil Simon are on the market, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. The three apartments are in the Ritz Tower, an Emery Roth-designed 42-story building in Midtown East and range in price from $1.5 million to $2.8 million. Simon, a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer who was best known for plays like "The Odd Couple," died at age 91 last August.
Take a look around

Second-tallest tower in the Western Hemisphere may rise across from St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Tower Fifth rendering by TMRW courtesy Gensler

January 23, 2019

Second-tallest tower in the Western Hemisphere may rise across from St. Patrick’s Cathedral

The developers behind the distinct supertall at 432 Park Avenue want to take a second shot at altering New York City's skyline. Harry Macklowe submitted a preliminary application to the city's planning department for a 1,551-foot-tall skyscraper between 51st and 52nd Streets in Midtown across from St. Patrick's Cathedral, the New York Times reported. If the city approves the project, Tower Fifth, the name given to the proposed tower by Macklowe Properties, would become the second-tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.
See inside the proposed supertall

Demolition permits filed for world’s tallest teardown at 270 Park Avenue

The existing 270 Park Avenue, MikePScott via Flickr

January 17, 2019

Demolition permits filed for world’s tallest teardown at 270 Park Avenue

Demolition permits were filed Tuesday for the JPMorgan Chase HQ at 270 Park Avenue, CityRealty reports. The building will be the tallest planned demolition in history. The filing is a significant step for the bank on the way to replacing the 1.5-million-square-foot Modernist tower previously known as the Union Carbide Building with a 2.5-million-square-foot skyscraper, to be designed by British Pritzker Prize winner Norman Foster/Foster + Partners architectural firm.
Down with the old, up with the new

New Developments

After less than a year, J.Lo and A-Rod put 432 Park apartment on the market for $17.5M

432 via DBOX; Alex Rodriguez via Wiki Commons; Jennifer Lopez via Wiki Commons

January 11, 2019

After less than a year, J.Lo and A-Rod put 432 Park apartment on the market for $17.5M

By Annie Doge

Less than a year after dropping $15.3 million on a trophy pad at 432 Park Avenue, J-Rod (J.Lo + A-Rod) has decided to put the sprawling, apartment back on the market. First spotted by the Post, the place is now asking $17.5 million. The news comes just five months after the couple put their considerably smaller apartment at 15 Central Park West on the rental market for $11,500 a month. Why are they selling so soon? Though three bedrooms and 4,000 square feet sounds large to most, a source told the Post that "They love the building, but when their kids are all together, it’s too small. They need something bigger for the family."
On to bigger and better

January 11, 2019

Billionaire’s Midtown penthouse got the biggest price chop in NYC history, now $70M off

Everything goes on sale after Christmas, and that’s certainly true of hedge fund billionaire Steve Cohen’s Beacon Court penthouse at 151 East 58th Street. The SAC Capital Advisors founder bought the 9,000-square-foot duplex for $24 million in 2005 and hired noted architect Charles Gwathmey to give it a once-over. The condo hit the market again in April of 2013 for a whopping $115M (around the time Cohen received a wrist-slap to the tune of $1.2 billion for insider trading). No takers at that price. Or the next one ($82M). Or the one after that ($79M)–you probably get where this is going. Where the five-bedroom aerie on the building's 51st and 52nd floors ended up today: Deeply discounted to $45 million after eight price cuts adding up to a $70 million drop, making it the heftiest haircut to happen in New York City history according to The Real Deal.
Take a closer look

Distinctive Homes

Via Wikimedia

January 10, 2019

$60M contract will finally bring East Side Access to Grand Central

It was announced today that a $60.2 million contract to build the project that will bring the Long Island Rail Road service to Grand Central Terminal was awarded to construction and development company Skanska. The award represents the final heavy civil contract in the MTA's largest largest capital project and one that marks the first expansion of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) in over 100 years.
Find out more

Transit

Via Creative Commons

January 9, 2019

The Chrysler Building is for sale

New York City's iconic Chrysler Building is on the market. The owners of the 1930 Art Deco landmark, Tishman Speyer Properties and the Abu Dhabi Investment Council, have hired real estate firm CBRE Group to sell the property, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. The Abu Dhabi government purchased its majority stake in the Chrysler for $800 million in 2008, but real estate experts told the WSJ it would be difficult to recover.
Details here

Real Estate Trends

Grand Central train shed repairs could mean a mess for Midtown streets

Photo via Wiki Commons

December 20, 2018

Grand Central train shed repairs could mean a mess for Midtown streets

The MTA recently purchased Grand Central Terminal for $35 million, a deal which gave the agency more control over development projects happening at the landmark. And in one of their first orders of business, it looks like they're mulling a massive undertaking to replace the train shed roof, according to Crain's sources. The shed is a two-level-deep underground space comprised of tracks, bridges, and viaducts used to stage and store Metro-North cars. It runs north of the terminal to East 57th Street and takes up an area larger than 20 football fields. Not only would the project cost hundreds of millions of dollars and take 20 years to complete, but Crain's notes that it would likely result in many Midtown streets being ripped up.
READ MORE

Transit

December 19, 2018

$395K Tudor City co-op is a man cave in waiting

Woodstock Tower at 320 East 42nd Street is one of the most charming of Tudor City's collection of elegant co-op buildings, and in keeping with the complex's pre-war charm is this studio asking less than $400,000. Like so many of the itty-bitty units in Tudor City, this 240-square-foot makes the most of its footprint with a Murphy bed and built-in storage, and in this case, a very refined and handsome design that would make this the perfect man cave.
Find out more about the place

Distinctive Homes

Rental Offers: Money to Burn? Greenwich Village apartments on Houston Street from $14,995/mo

Images (L to R): 136 West Houston Street, 223 Fourth Avenue, 10 Rutgers Street, and Halo LIC

November 17, 2018

Rental Offers: Money to Burn? Greenwich Village apartments on Houston Street from $14,995/mo

By Annie Doge

High-End Greenwich Village Rentals Available at Newly Constructed 136 West Houston Street=[LINK] 223 Fourth Avenue Offers Luxury Park Slope Rentals from $2,452/Month [LINK] Newly-Renovated Lower East Side Rentals at 10 Rutgers Street; No Fee + 1 Month Free[LINK] Halo LIC: Industrial-Inspired No-Fee Rentals with 1 Month Free in the Heart of Long Island City [LINK] […]

Uncategorized

Via Wikimedia

November 14, 2018

MTA to buy Grand Central Terminal for $35M

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is set to purchase Grand Central Terminal for $35 million, a deal which will give the agency more control over development projects happening at the space. Expected to be approved by the MTA's full board Thursday, the sale ends the 280-year lease that began in 1994 and gave the agency a one-time window to buy the station. Along with the famed terminal, the sale also includes miles of track on Metro-North's Harlem and Hudson lines.
Get the details

Transit

New Chase HQ in Midtown will rise 1,400 feet and have Metro North access

270 Park Avenue enclosed public space (with action); image from City Planning.

November 12, 2018

New Chase HQ in Midtown will rise 1,400 feet and have Metro North access

In late October, JPMorgan Chase announced the selection of Foster + Partners, led by British Pritzker Prize winner Norman Foster, as the architects of a new 70-story headquarters on the site of its current offices at 270 Park Avenue between East 47th and 48th streets, CityRealty reports. The plan, announced in February, represents the first major project under the 2017 Midtown East Rezoning Plan that upzoned 78 blocks of Midtown to allow for the construction of larger, more modern skyscrapers. The 70-floor, 1,400-foot height would make the new headquarters one of the tallest buildings in the city and the tallest office building by roof height.
Find out more

New Developments

PHOTOS: One Vanderbilt reveals terra cotta facade and insane views

All photos © Max Touhey

November 1, 2018

PHOTOS: One Vanderbilt reveals terra cotta facade and insane views

With less than two years left until it reaches its full 1,401-foot height, One Vanderbilt has released a slew of new construction photos that showcase its insane views of the MetLife Building, Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, and beyond, how it relates to its famous neighbor Grand Central, and an up-close look at its unique terra cotta facade. Developed by SL Green and designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, the 77-story office tower will become NYC's fourth-tallest skyscraper when completed in the third quarter of 2020. The building is expected to reach 50 stories by the end of this year, and it's already 37 percent leased.
See all the photos

Norman Foster will design new Park Avenue headquarters for JPMorgan Chase

Via MikePScott’s Flickr

November 1, 2018

Norman Foster will design new Park Avenue headquarters for JPMorgan Chase

JPMorgan Chase has tapped starchitect Norman Foster to design its new 2.5 million-square-foot headquarters at 270 Park Avenue, as first reported by Bloomberg. The new 70-story tower would replace the bank's current offices, located in the Union Carbide building. Foster + Partners designed the nearby office tower at 425 Park Avenue, as well as Apple's spaceship-like headquarters in California.
Find out more

October 9, 2018

Where modernism meets tradition: Inside the Japan Society’s historic headquarters

As a media sponsor of Archtober–NYC’s annual month-long architecture and design festival of tours, lectures, films, and exhibitions–6sqft has teamed up with the Center for Architecture to explore some of their 70+ partner organizations. For the last 111 years, the mission of the Japan Society has remained the same: to create a better understanding between the United States and Japan. While strengthening relations originally meant introducing Japanese art and culture to Americans, today in its second century, the nonprofit’s purpose, along with its programming, has expanded, with education and policy now a core part of its objective. The headquarters of the Japan Society is located in Turtle Bay at 333 East 47th Street, purposely constructed just blocks from the United Nations. In addition to being known for its extensive curriculum, the architecture of the society's building also stands out. Designed by architects Junzō Yoshimura and George G. Shimamoto, the building is the first designed by a Japanese citizen and the first of contemporary Japanese design in New York City. The structure, which first opened in 1971, combines a modern style with traditional materials of Japan. In 2011, the building was designated a city landmark, becoming one of the youngest buildings with this recognition. Ahead, learn about the Japan Society's evolving century-long history, its groundbreaking architecture, and its newest exhibition opening this week.
Take a look inside the landmarked building

Midtown pocket park with an urban waterfall is designated a National Historic Place

Via Terry Tynes on Flickr (CC)

October 8, 2018

Midtown pocket park with an urban waterfall is designated a National Historic Place

Greenacre Park, a famed vest pocket park in Midtown, was added last week to the National Registry of Historic Places. Measuring just over 6,300 square feet, the tiny three-level park features a dramatic 25-foot-high waterfall in the middle of Second and Third Avenues on East 51st Street. "This beautiful park delivers a connection that builds social bonds with family, friends and community and I congratulate the Greenacre Foundation on this national recognition," Rose Harvey, commissioner of NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, said.
More here

Uncategorized

October 5, 2018

Rockefeller Center ice skating rink opens Monday

While balmy October weather might help us forget the changing seasons, on the heels of fall holiday excitement comes the winter fun of ice skating outdoors. And that most iconic of ice skating venues, The Rink at Rockefeller Center, opens this Monday, October 8 in Midtown Manhattan.
Another year of skating fun

City Living

Via Wikimedia

September 21, 2018

Grand Central Terminal celebrates 20 years of retail with 1998 pricing

Grand Central Terminal is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its retail renovation; the iconic terminal's shops and restaurants will be offering 1998 pricing on select products and menu items on October 1. Participating businesses include Cafe Grumpy, The Campbell Bar, Grand Central Oyster Bar and Restaurant, Moleskine, Dyptique and many more. In addition, there will be a special exhibition in Vanderbilt Hall celebrating the terminal’s storied 105-year history.
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

New Midtown mural honors 9/11 firefighter

Photo © 6sqft

September 11, 2018

New Midtown mural honors 9/11 firefighter

The number of first responders who deserve to be honored for their courageous efforts after the September 11th attacks is many, but a new Midtown mural of one particular firefighter serves as a symbolic honor to all of those brave men and women. The Post first reported on the mural by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra, painted on eight-stories of a building on East 49th Street and Third Avenue. The image replicates a photo of FDNY member Mike Bellantoni "overcome with exhaustion and despair" on 9/11, originally taken by Post freelance photographer Matthew McDermott.
What did Bellantoni think of the photo?

Events & Things To Do

September 6, 2018

Sutton Place townhouse designed for Anne Vanderbilt asks $21M

The brick Georgian townhouse in Sutton Place designed for Anne Vanderbilt, the wife of railroad heir William Vanderbilt, has hit the market for $21 million. Located at 1 Sutton Place, the 15-room home sits on the northeast corner of 57th Street, punctuated by a bright blue front door. Vanderbilt, along with a group of wealthy buyers, is credited with turning the remote, riverside Manhattan neighborhood into one of the city's most influential areas.
Take a tour

August 27, 2018

Top-floor Tudor City studio can be your ‘sun-drenched jewel box’ for $424K

What it lacks in space, this Tudor City studio makes up for in views and location. The 600-square-foot, top-floor, corner apartment has a compact kitchen and a Murphy bed, but it's also lined floor-to-ceiling with built-in shelving and cabinetry. And the huge pane-glass windows not only let in tons of light, but provide incredible views from the 23rd floor of the UN, East River, and Long Island City.
See what else $424,000 gets you

Distinctive Homes

August 22, 2018

Massive $39M Trump World Tower ‘sky mansion’ has 16 rooms, 24 hidden TVs, and 20+ closets

The listing for this 7,500-square-foot, 16 room, six-bedroom property in the Trump World Tower at 845 United Nations Plaza calls the massive home a "mansion in the sky," and that gives you an idea of just what to expect, though you might already guess what to expect from the (almost) entire 82nd floor of the modern-luxe-encrusted tower. There are, of course, the 360-degree views, which reach to the moon. And a peek at the floor plan affirms a dizzying magnitude of square footage in one single Turtle Bay condominium.
Take the sky mansion tour

Distinctive Homes

A new deal and more construction at Waldorf Astoria, though opening date is delayed

Photo via Wikimedia

August 21, 2018

A new deal and more construction at Waldorf Astoria, though opening date is delayed