Midtown

New Rendering for 111 West 57th Street Shows Ethereal Views
November 17, 2014

New Rendering for 111 West 57th Street Shows Ethereal Views

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Move over 432 Park, there's a taller, slimmer and sexier ultra-luxury residential tower coming to Midtown. At the Municipal Art Society's 2014 Summit for NYC, Simon Koster, Principal at JDS Development Group, provided the audience with a compelling presentation on how our ideals can serve as the basis in how we shape our city. The restored crown of Stella Tower, the East River mega-rental project at 616 First Avenue, and 111 West 57th Street's discretionary approval by the Landmarks Preservation Commission were used as relevant examples. And the 57th Street project really caught our eye. The 1,400+ foot tower will also become the slimmest building in the world with a slenderness ratio of 1:23. Its narrow profile and stepped crown evoke the romantic art-deco towers of the 1920s and '30s and other timeless city landmarks. SHoP Architects are the designers and WSP Group are the engineers/magicians making sure things remain upright.
More on the tower here
The $26M Listing for Lauren Bacall’s Dakota Apartment Is Finally Here
November 17, 2014

The $26M Listing for Lauren Bacall’s Dakota Apartment Is Finally Here

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Those who've been waiting for a glimpse into the late Lauren Bacall's Dakota apartment will finally have their curiosity quelled. Curbed has just spotted the official listing for Ms. Bacall's sprawling Central Park West home and, as expected, it boasts a $26 million asking price. It was previously reported that the apartment was in need of quite a bit of work, but by the looks of things, the home is in fine shape with many of its original 19th century details still intact, including the original plaster moldings, pocket doors, fireplaces, wainscoting and hardware.
Inside the Dakota apartment
VIDEO: Architect Robert A.M. Stern Talks 15 Central Park West and How It’s a “Background Building”
November 17, 2014

VIDEO: Architect Robert A.M. Stern Talks 15 Central Park West and How It’s a “Background Building”

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15 Central Park West is frequently in the news—whether it's because a new celeb has moved in, or that it's recorded yet another blockbuster sale. But standing far from the limelight is the building's architect, Robert A.M. Stern, who, like his buildings, opts for the stately, subdued and classic over the winding and twisting standalones of his contemporaries. "We have a lot of silly buildings being built, in my opinion. The buildings should not look like Lady Gaga,” the architect says. In the latest installment of the Louisiana Channel Stern discusses what might be his most famous project, 15 CPW, and why he strives for buildings that complement, not dominate.
Watch the interview here
Designer Robert Couturier’s Midtown Apartment Could Double as a Modern Art Museum
November 13, 2014

Designer Robert Couturier’s Midtown Apartment Could Double as a Modern Art Museum

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This gorgeous midtown home says mod from top to bottom. Designer Robert Couturier is responsible for the apartment's impeccable interior design, and according to Couturier, "décor above all else, must be appropriate to the architecture, to the clients, and to the setting." Keeping that in mind, the cool stylings and playful details infused throughout this apartment have us convinced that the owners are the kind of folks we'd like to meet.
Tour the mod, colorful apartment here
Upcoming Condo-Hotel Overlooking Bryant Park Unveils New Dapper Look
November 7, 2014

Upcoming Condo-Hotel Overlooking Bryant Park Unveils New Dapper Look

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An updated rendering of a ground-up, mixed-use tower along the south side of Bryant Park has been revealed on HFZ Capital Group's website. The storied site at 20 West 40th Street was acquired by HFZ after Fortieth St. Partners defaulted on a $44 million loan back in 2010. According to HFZ's project page, the development will include a 5-star hotel, restaurant and bar, and residential condominiums. Construction permits filed last month specify that the hotel-design experts Stonehill & Taylor are the architects of record.
Additional details on the project
Midtown Site of the Iconic Lutèce Restaurant Sells for $17M – Will It Be Demolished?
November 4, 2014

Midtown Site of the Iconic Lutèce Restaurant Sells for $17M – Will It Be Demolished?

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These three townhouses may not look like much to you, but they've for decades been making appearances in pop culture, from the penned to motion pictures, including The Prince of Tides, Wall Street, Crossing Delancey, and most recently, Mad Men. Located at 249-253 East 50th Street, this site once housed the world-renowned Lutèce restaurant. Though today the structures can be described as dilapidated at best, that hasn't stopped a group of Chinatown investors from scooping up the properties for $17 million from East 50th Development LLC. Now in new hands, what's up next for this famed locale?
More details here
New Yorker Spotlight: Scott Liroff Sheds Light on His Century-Old Family-Run Business, City Knickerbocker

Scott with his father

October 24, 2014

New Yorker Spotlight: Scott Liroff Sheds Light on His Century-Old Family-Run Business, City Knickerbocker

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Tucked away on the second floor of a building on 11th Avenue and 48th street is City Knickerbocker, Inc., a small lighting business with a long history. Founded in 1906 founded by Adolph Liroff, a Russian immigrant whose trade was converting gasoliers and sconces to electric lamps, this business has lasted for four generations. Today, Scott Liroff, Adolph's great-grandson, proudly carries on the family tradition serving as City Knickerbocker's Vice President. To appreciate Scott's role in both his family and the business, one needs to go back over one hundred years to Brooklyn in the early 20th century. When Adolph's Brooklyn-based business took off, he headed to the city and rented a space on 42nd Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. After the Metropolitan Opera rented his light fixtures, Broadway started calling to rent lights too. As early as 1912-1913 City Knickerbocker's primary source of business was rentals. When Adolph's son, Seymour, took over the business in the 1950s, the store provided lighting for shows including The Ed Sullivan Show and The Milton Berle Show. 6sqft recently spoke with Scott to learn about City Knickerbocker and what it means to carry on a legacy in New York.
Read the en-light-ening interview here
75% of Grand Central’s $210M Renovation Money Will Go to the 4, 5, 6 Trains
October 15, 2014

75% of Grand Central’s $210M Renovation Money Will Go to the 4, 5, 6 Trains

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New York City's most taxed line is about to get a sizable cash infusion. Of the $210 million that developer SL Green Realty has budgeted for improving Grand Central's subway station for the green light to construct a 65-story office tower next door, more than 75% will go toward the Lexington Avenue line, Crain's reports. Yesterday, a 63-page study was delivered to Manhattan's Community Board 5 and to transportation advocates who have called for Midtown East's rezoning to include improvements to transportation infrastructure to meet current demand as well as the influx of nearly 16,000 workers as new lines are drawn. So where exactly will the money go?
Where will the money will go?
Billy Joel Unloads Another Apartment at 128 Central Park South
October 14, 2014

Billy Joel Unloads Another Apartment at 128 Central Park South

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Piano man Billy Joel has just sold off his one-bedroom pad at 128 Central Park South for $775,000, according to public records. The sale is the second for Joel at the building, the first being an $11 million deal he struck last year for the two-bedroom, 10,000-square-foot penthouse he once shared with ex-wife Christie Brinkley. The one-bedroom is a comparably modest pad situated on a high floor of the building. An eat-in kitchen, abundant south light and city views are some of the perks, but the listing (now offline) noted that the home needed renovation. The apartment was previously rented out, though Joel and Brinkley did entertain it as a penthouse extension. The transaction was managed by Joel's accountants Gelfand, Rennert and Feldman. Adam Modlin of the Modlin Group brokered the deal.
See the floor plan here
<b>Holiday Field Trip: Where to Find Christopher Columbus in NYC</b>
October 13, 2014

Holiday Field Trip: Where to Find Christopher Columbus in NYC

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It's easy to forget that Columbus Day is more than just a day off from work (which we're not complaining about), but rather a holiday celebrating Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1942. But if you need reminding, look no further than these memorials scattered around New York City.
Take a tour of where to find Christopher Columbus monuments in NYC
Rent the Ultra-Opulent Plaza Pad of Kazakhstan President’s Nephew for $55K a Month
October 6, 2014

Rent the Ultra-Opulent Plaza Pad of Kazakhstan President’s Nephew for $55K a Month

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Daniyar Nazarbayev, the ultra-rich nephew of Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev, is now leasing his equally ultra-luxurious four-bedroom at The Plaza Hotel for $55,000 a month, reports the NYDN. The beautiful 4,200 square foot home is certainly of a presidential caliber and comes dripping with the ornate features and finishes that have become so synonymous with the storied Plaza. With sunny Central Park views from every room and expansive north and west exposures, this home also hosts ceilings highlighted with mosaic stained glass and crystal chandeliers, artistically detailed moldings, a formal dining room, marble entry foyer, and much more—including a helluva lot of international drama to boot.
Inside the embroiled plaza home here
One57’s First Flip Sees a $3.5 Million Profit Just Five Months Later
October 3, 2014

One57’s First Flip Sees a $3.5 Million Profit Just Five Months Later

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The first of what's sure to be many flips at One57 has just netted its seller a respectable $3.45 million profit, just five months after its purchase. According to NYDN, the former owner, Investor Sso Enterprises, paid $30.55 million for the 58th-floor three-bedroom back in May, now selling it off for $34 million to hedge fund manager Harvey Sandler and his wife.
Inside the massive apartment
Iconic Rainbow Room Reopens with All Its Former Glitz and Glamour
October 2, 2014

Iconic Rainbow Room Reopens with All Its Former Glitz and Glamour

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The Rainbow Room served its first guests on October 3, 1934, and now, almost 80 years later to the day, the historic restaurant and event space has reopened after a restoration by Gabellini Sheppard Architects. Located on the 65th floor of the Raymond Hood-designed 30 Rockefeller Plaza (30 Rock), it was the first restaurant located in a high-rise building and for decades was the highest restaurant in the country. Suffering from a decline in business, the fine-dining establishment closed its doors in 2009. But in 2012, the Rainbow Room was declared an official interior landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), and a year later it was announced that the storied space would reopen this fall. Right on schedule, the new incarnation of the venue opened last night for a preview by the Sir John Soanes Museum Foundation.
Ogle the landmarked restaurant here
<b>Makeshift Mansions: How Today’s Filthy Rich are Creating Homes of Epic Proportions</b>
September 30, 2014

Makeshift Mansions: How Today’s Filthy Rich are Creating Homes of Epic Proportions

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For Manhattan’s jet-set crowd, the 2010s are starting to look an awful lot like the 1900s. New York’s upper crust are embracing a return to the Gilded Age, moving out of their fancy penthouses, co-ops and lofts and into opulent single-family mansions. From Aby Rosen’s quest to build the largest private mansion on Park Avenue to Jared Kushner’s conversion of three former Brooklyn Law School buildings into single-family townhouses—the most affluent buyers are now on the hunt for New York’s ultimate trophy prize.
More on makeshift mansions
REVEALED: Penthouse Floorplans for Jean Nouvel’s MoMA Tower
September 22, 2014

REVEALED: Penthouse Floorplans for Jean Nouvel’s MoMA Tower

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Just last week, we announced that the Jean Nouvel-designed MoMA residential tower was finally moving forward, after the purchase of $85 million in air rights and with a new construction loan of $860 million. Now, The Real Deal has obtained penthouse floorplans for the 82-story tower, and they are nothing to sneeze at.
Check out the floorplans and dream about living in a Nouvel-approved penthouse
Construction on Jean Nouvel’s MoMA Tower will Finally Move Forward!
September 18, 2014

Construction on Jean Nouvel’s MoMA Tower will Finally Move Forward!

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Hot off the purchase of $85 million in air rights, and with a new construction loan of $860 million in tow, Hines is back on track to bring the Jean Nouvel-designed MoMA residential tower to fruition. According to TRD, Hines just closed on two deals to buy more than 240,000 square feet of development rights from MoMA and the St. Thomas Episcopal Church for $85.3 million.
more here
REVEALED: New Skyline Renderings for Nordstrom Tower at 217 West 57th Street
September 8, 2014

REVEALED: New Skyline Renderings for Nordstrom Tower at 217 West 57th Street

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Back in July, we learned that Extell's Nordstrom Tower will rise 1,775 feet–just one foot shorter than One World Trade Center, making it the tallest residential building in the world. Now, New York YIMBY has released renderings of how the 92-story supertall will look against the rest of the skyline. Though official images from Extell haven't been released, these preliminary sneak peeks are pretty impressive.
More on the new development here
Impeccably Finished Condo at the Plaza Asks $50 Million
August 28, 2014

Impeccably Finished Condo at the Plaza Asks $50 Million

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Just weeks after Tommy Hilfiger put his Plaza Hotel estate up for sale, another one is following suit, asking an astronomical $49.5 million, nearly triple the amount it was purchased for back in 2008. However, as ambitious as the price may be, this three-bedroom condo is pretty spectacular. The 3,413-square-foot Art Deco residence has exquisite details, 13-foot ceilings, and stellar views of Central Park—including those of the pond and Gapstow Bridge—from every major room.
Take a look inside this impressive residence
Mastering the Master Plan: A Look at NYC’s Planned Neighborhoods
August 21, 2014

Mastering the Master Plan: A Look at NYC’s Planned Neighborhoods

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We often think of the street grid as New York's greatest "master plan." Officially known as the Commissioners' Plan of 1811, this put in place the original, gridded street pattern that we still know today. But there have been several other master plans that took shape on a smaller scale within the linear configuration of Manhattan. These planned communities were largely conceived to transform blighted or underutilized areas into suburban enclaves or peaceful oases within the big city. And just like the neighborhoods that grew organically among the street grid, these master-planned areas each have a unique character. They've also influenced a new crop of developments, currently under construction on the West Side and in Brooklyn.
We take a look at planned communities that historically changed the fabric of the city, as well as those on the horizon
Curb Appeal: The Psychology of Moving Buyers from Cab to Curb to Contract
August 13, 2014

Curb Appeal: The Psychology of Moving Buyers from Cab to Curb to Contract

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Great neighborhood? Check. Great apartment? Check. Curb appeal? Killer first impressions can be long lasting — and whether it’s a newly advertised flavor of Ben & Jerry’s, an ad for Tory Burch’s latest shoe collection —or finding new digs, “love at first sight” spot-on marketing moments play a sizeable role in how we make our decisions. Industry experts note that a large percentage of a house hunter's decision to explore a property further than the curb is based the project’s “wow” factor. Truth is, it sets the “perception” stage of what’s to come beyond a grand entrance or swanky lobby that was designed to provide a sense of arrival and belonging. Obviously, at the end of the day, a building’s outside will only persuade potential buyers to see more, and first impressions can vary from one individual to the next, but the “I was meant to live here” moment is fairly universal.
How a building's design tugs at your desire to 'be someone'
Tour Tommy Hilfiger’s Lavish Plaza Penthouse
July 30, 2014

Tour Tommy Hilfiger’s Lavish Plaza Penthouse

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When we think of Tommy Hilfiger we might imagine him in an all-American, red-white-and-blue outfit, standing in a nautical seashore cottage, but his penthouse at the Plaza couldn't be any more the opposite than this vision. Instead of paintings of beach scenes there are Basquiats and Warhols (20 of the latter, to be exact); rather than white-washed walls there are entire rooms clad in marble; and instead of simple, shabby chic bedrooms there are opulent personal retreats that could fit entire NYC apartments within their footprint. In short, Mr. Hilfiger's city residence is nothing short of regal. He and his wife Dee Ocleppo purchased and combined three separate units in 2008, and they then embarked on a massive renovation of the duplex to emulate the old-world style of the landmarked building.
Take a tour through this magnificent home and see if the couple lived up to goal
This Central Park South Apartment Stands Out with a Gaudi-Inspired Ceiling
July 25, 2014

This Central Park South Apartment Stands Out with a Gaudi-Inspired Ceiling

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Ears ringing? Yes, the neighbors are at it already, talking about you and your new swanky new home. Well, that is if you decide to drop the $11.8 million on this 3,050-square-foot apartment at the Trump Parc. Located at 106 Central Park South, this home features a 51-foot, semi-circular great room capped off with an 18-foot, undulating, Gaudi-inspired ceiling that will make even the most jaded real estate aficionados look twice.
Take a tour of the rest of this pad
Landmarks Deems S.L. Green’s One Vanderbilt Tower ‘Appropriate’ for Its Grand Central Site, Others Not Happy
July 22, 2014

Landmarks Deems S.L. Green’s One Vanderbilt Tower ‘Appropriate’ for Its Grand Central Site, Others Not Happy

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The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission held a hearing today on a proposal by S.L. Green to build a huge tower on the northwest corner of Vanderbilt Avenue and 42nd Street directly across from Grand Central Terminal. The proposal before the commission was an application for a “certificate of appropriateness” for a transfer of air rights from the former Bowery Savings Bank Building at 110 East 42nd Street between Park and Lexington Avenues. The developers of S.L. Green made their moves by wooing Landmarks with renderings of Kohn Pedersen Fox-designed tower which would be 1,350 feet tall not counting a 100-foot-high spire—this is significantly higher than the Chrysler Building on the northeast corner of Lexington Avenue and 42nd Street and higher than all the supertalls in construction or planned for 57th Street.
Reactions from the hearing this way
LOT-EK Turns a Humble Shipping Container Into an Ultra Cool Penthouse with Empire State Views
July 21, 2014

LOT-EK Turns a Humble Shipping Container Into an Ultra Cool Penthouse with Empire State Views

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We've seen Manhattanites do all kinds of crazy and creative things to maximize space—from turning their ovens into closets to lofting entire rooms—but the Guzman Penthouse by LOT-EK is one of our favorite transformations. To expand this penthouse residence, LOT-EK revamped an old mechanical room, added a 20-foot shipping container to serve as the master bedroom, and created a spacious rooftop patio, all of which sit on top of the building with jaw-dropping Empire State Building views.
You can't miss the rest of this one-of-a-kind home
Oasis Singer Liam Gallagher Puts His Essex House Condo on the Market
July 17, 2014

Oasis Singer Liam Gallagher Puts His Essex House Condo on the Market

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If his home is any indication, we’re guessing Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher loves animal prints as much as he loves Great Britain. According to the NY Post, the singer and his brother Noel have just put their Essex House condo up for sale for $4 million with Douglas Elliman agents Oren and Tal Alexander.
Take a look inside the Oasis singer's pad here
NYC Events 7/11: Art Battle in Staten Island; Tour the Woolworth Building
July 11, 2014

NYC Events 7/11: Art Battle in Staten Island; Tour the Woolworth Building

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This week, we've got a well-rounded roster of events for you, spanning from sticker art to rare architecture to dance and film. Pay a visit to one of our fair city's oft forgotten boroughs and sail the high seas on over to Staten Island for Saturday's take over, which will transform Artist Alley into a festival of live art making, drinks, and music. Next week, break out the picnic blanket and catch a free summer flick in Midtown's best park, or wake yourself up with not only a coffee and fresh juice, but a raging (pre-work) dance party. Treat your architectural side to a private tour of very private sites—the newly renovated United Nations chambers or the closed-to-the-public lobby of the Woolworth building—and then finish the week off by satiating your inner modern art nerd with the contemporary abstractions of Carly Ivan Garcia.
All the best events here
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