Manhattan

LPC approves design for condo conversion at 120-year-old Hotel Wales

Rendering of the proposed cornice at Hotel Wales by Form4Design Studio and Higgins Quasebarth & Partners, LLC; via LPC

April 22, 2020

LPC approves design for condo conversion at 120-year-old Hotel Wales

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday approved plans to retrofit Carnegie Hill's historic Hotel Wales, which is set to be converted into luxury condominiums. The proposal from Form4 Design Studio and Higgins Quasebarth & Partners retains the hotel's Beaux-Arts facade, terra cotta elements, and scroll-bracketed balconies, as CityRealty reported. But the biggest alteration planned for the Carnegie Hill Historic District building is the new cornice and rooftop addition, the design of which the LPC on Tuesday said needs to be modified.
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Sweet Upper West Side one-bedroom is a great first place for $525K

Listing photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

April 21, 2020

Sweet Upper West Side one-bedroom is a great first place for $525K

By Dana Schulz

It might feel like the coronavirus crisis has halted life, but many New Yorkers still need to move. And for those looking to buy their first place, this adorable one-bedroom co-op at 46 West 65th Street could be the perfect place. First, there's the prime Upper West Side location just across from Lincoln Center. Then there's the cozy layout and modern finishes. And most importantly, the price is right at $525,000
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Distinctive Homes

Jeff Bezos now owns $96M worth of apartments in Flatiron condo

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

April 17, 2020

Jeff Bezos now owns $96M worth of apartments in Flatiron condo

By Dana Schulz

Amazon behemoth and richest person in the world Jeff Bezos has been making headlines in recent weeks for his $100 million donation to U.S. food banks. He's also become $24 billion richer since the coronavirus crisis sent Amazon's stocks surging. And it looks like he's taking a very small percentage of that fortune and expanding his real estate investment in NYC. The Post reports that Bezos just dropped $16 million on an apartment in the Flatiron condo 212 Fifth Avenue. Last June, he bought three units in the building totaling $80 million, making it the largest deal to ever close in New York south of 42nd Street. Now he can create a mega-mansion in the sky.
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$9.87M Noho penthouse has three terraces and a huge skylight

Listing photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

April 17, 2020

$9.87M Noho penthouse has three terraces and a huge skylight

By Dana Schulz

When you have three separate outdoor spaces and a massive atria skylight, cabin fever will definitely be less of a problem. All that and more is on offer at this $9,875,000 Noho condo. Located at 27 Great Jones Street, a traditional cast-iron loft, the duplex also has oversized windows, original wood-beamed ceilings, contemporary finishes, and views of the surrounding neighborhoods and all the way down to the World Trade Center.
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Listing photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

April 16, 2020

This $8M Upper East Side townhouse feels like an Italian Chateau

By Dana Schulz

Let's talk about these ceilings--soaring 21 feet with dramatic archways, they are undoubtedly the highlight of this $7,995,000 Upper East Side Townhouse. Add in architectural details like wrought iron railings, etched glass windows, ornate moldings, and carved marble fireplaces, and it feels like you've stepped into an Italian Chateau. In reality, the four-bedroom house is located at 234 East 61st Street, part of the exclusive, two-block Treadwell Farm Historic District.
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Distinctive Homes

Family drops $27M on eight Waterline Square apartments as ‘safe’ investment during coronavirus

Rendering courtesy of Noe & Associates with The Boundary. L to R: Two Waterline Square by KPF, Three Waterline Square by Rafael Vinoly, One Waterline Square by Richard Meier

April 15, 2020

Family drops $27M on eight Waterline Square apartments as ‘safe’ investment during coronavirus

By Devin Gannon

A family from Peru has paid nearly $27 million for eight units at the new three-tower luxury complex Waterline Square on the Upper West Side, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. The buyers went into contract and closed on the all-cash deal on the same day, Douglas Elliman agent Maria Velazquez told the newspaper. Velazquez said the family who bought the condo units see it as an investment, opting to put their money into real estate instead of a bank during the coronavirus pandemic. "They felt their money was safer in an apartment in New York than in a bank," she said.
More on the deal

Real Estate Trends

Photo credit: VHT, courtesy The Corcoran Group

April 10, 2020

This $769,000 Billionaires’ Row studio is roomy and reasonable

By Dana Schulz

Old and new NYC collide in this $769,000 studio that's roughly 600 square feet. It's located at 100 West 58th Street, a classic 1928 Rosario Candela-designed apartment building. But today, this location, just a block south of Central Park at the corner of 6th Avenue, puts it smack in the middle of Billionaires' Row. And with a sizable separate kitchen and enough room for two distinct areas in the living space, it's quite a reasonable buy.
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Distinctive Homes

Plans to convert Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine into field hospital have been canceled

Photo by Kripa Chettiar on Flickr

April 10, 2020

Plans to convert Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine into field hospital have been canceled

By Devin Gannon

Update 4/10/20: Plans to convert the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine into an emergency field hospital have been canceled. ABC News reported on Thursday that tensions between the progressive church and the Samaritan's Purse, known for its anti-LGBTQ and Islamaphobic views, may have halted the project. A spokesperson with the church told ABC the space could either become a hospital with a different agency, a morgue, or nothing if the number of hospitalizations continues to drop. One of the largest churches in the world will be converted into a field hospital this week. The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in Manhattan's Morningside Heights neighborhood said it will have nine climate-controlled medical tents installed in its 600-foot-long nave and underground crypt by the end of the week, the New York Times first reported. The site is expected to house at least 200 patients, who could start arriving as early as this week.
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Policy

See NYC landmarks turn blue in honor of essential workers

Photo by Jörg Angeli on Unsplash

April 10, 2020

See NYC landmarks turn blue in honor of essential workers

By Devin Gannon

To show support for New York City's essential workers on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic, a number of buildings turned blue Thursday night. Madison Square Garden, One World Trade Center's spire, Beacon Theatre, Pier 17, Hudson Yards' Vessel, and more join more than 100 landmarks across the country as part of the #LightItBlue campaign. The nationwide lighting will occur weekly every Thursday.
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City Living

Photos by Travis Mark for The Corcoran Group

April 9, 2020

Two terraces and a grassy rooftop oasis make this $7.85M Tribeca penthouse a dream

By Dana Schulz

The outdoor space at this Tribeca penthouse would be enviable at any time, but during New York State on PAUSE it's truly a dream. Located at 49 Murray Street, there are two large terraces, as well as a huge, grassy rooftop with a full outdoor kitchen and incredible lower Manhattan views. The interior is just as incredible; it's spread over three floors and has five bedrooms, a floating steel-and-glass staircase, and sleek, contemporary finishings. It's currently listed for $7,850,000 or as a $30,000/month rental.
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Distinctive Homes

$1.35M Upper West Side co-op has two floors and a sunny private garden

Photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group

April 8, 2020

$1.35M Upper West Side co-op has two floors and a sunny private garden

By Dana Schulz

One of the toughest things for families living in an NYC apartment versus a suburban home during this time is not having a backyard. But this Upper West Side co-op, listed for $1,350,000, has enough space for everyone inside and outside. Located at 204 West 92nd Street, the 1,100-square-foot apartment has three bedrooms on two levels, as well as a sunny garden patio that's "perfect for grilling, entertaining, or private sunbathing," says the listing.
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Distinctive Homes

Before + After: A Hudson Heights co-op goes from drab to a modern, family-friendly home

“After” photos by Kate Glicksberg for Sweeten

April 7, 2020

Before + After: A Hudson Heights co-op goes from drab to a modern, family-friendly home

By Dana Schulz

When Erin and Chris first started their family, they bought a one-bedroom in Hudson Heights and fell in love with the neighborhood. But three kids and nine years later, Chris' job took them to the California Bay Area. After two years, they had the chance to come back to NYC and jumped at the chance to return to Hudson Heights. They found a three-bedroom in its "original, fifties-era condition," but knew the space and layout were perfect. Ahead, see how they came to Sweeten to find a contractor and took the co-op from drab to a contemporary and comfortable family home.
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All the performances, events, and classes in NYC you can stream online

Anna Netrebko in the title role of Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor.” Photo: Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera

April 3, 2020

All the performances, events, and classes in NYC you can stream online

By 6sqft

Although the coronavirus has shuttered most of the city, many museums, performance venues, theaters, and famous New Yorkers are offering free (or low-cost) online resources to entertain New Yorkers throughout this difficult period. From virtual storytime with Brooklyn Public Library librarians to live-streamed performances by the Metropolitan Opera to baking classes with Milk Bar's Christina Tosi to dance lessons from the Radio City Rockettes, support local organizations safely from your home. This list was lasted updated at 10:00 a.m. on April 3, 2020.
The full list, ahead

Events & Things To Do

April 2, 2020

Deal reached to redevelop MTA’s former Midtown East headquarters, making way for new tower

By Devin Gannon

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and New York City reached an agreement to redevelop the agency's former headquarters in Midtown as part of a revenue-generating plan, officials announced on Thursday. The redevelopment of the site at 341-347 Madison Avenue is expected to create more than $1 billion for the cash-strapped agency's capital program. The deal, delayed due to a prior dispute between city and state officials, comes nearly a decade after the MTA first announced plans to sell or lease its three-building complex.
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Cast iron accents and a glassed-in loft bring the drama to this $750K Gramercy co-op

Photo credit: Chalom + Blaylock Photography, courtesy The Corcoran Group

April 2, 2020

Cast iron accents and a glassed-in loft bring the drama to this $750K Gramercy co-op

By Dana Schulz

If you're holed up in a small apartment with nowhere to escape your significant other or roommate, this split-level Gramercy listing very well might leave you with major apartment envy. The one-bedroom co-op at 215 East 24th Street just hit the market for a cool $750,000, and it's full of industrial accents--exposed brick, tons of original cast iron, wooden ceilings beams--combined with a contemporary glass-walled second floor that has enough space for a bonus bedroom and airy office.
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Distinctive Homes

Listing photo credit: Tim Waltman of Evan Joseph Studios, courtesy of Douglas Elliman

April 1, 2020

$9.9M Chelsea penthouse has Empire State Building and Hudson Yards views

By Dana Schulz

The west side of Chelsea is known for its collection of starchitecture projects, and this $9,950,000 penthouse at 520 West 19th Street is not only an architectural feat in itself, but it has views of all the surrounding projects (like Bjarke Ingels' XI and Thomas Heatherwick's Lantern House), the entirety of Hudson Yards, and even the Empire State Building. And all of these views can best be enjoyed from the 50-foot-long terrace. The two-floor interior is a sprawling 4,100 square feet and has five bedrooms, six bathrooms, and lots of bonus space and storage.
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Distinctive Homes

April 1, 2020

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen drop $7.7M on another penthouse in their Nolita building

By Devin Gannon

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen have picked up a second penthouse apartment at their Nolita building. As the Real Deal first reported, the power couple paid $7.7 million for a three-bedroom at the landmarked Brewster Carriage House at 374 Broome Street, joining the $9 million pad bought by the duo in 2018. They seem to really like the building; Legend and Teigen also lived in a one-bedroom unit at the building until they sold it in 2016 for $4 million.
Details here

Listing photos courtesy of Warburg Realty

March 31, 2020

For $1.75M, a corner Battery Park condo with direct Freedom Tower views

By Dana Schulz

Famed architecture firm Pelli Clarke Pelli completed the LEED Platinum-certified Battery Park City condo tower The Visionaire in 2008, two years after construction began on One World Trade Center. Today, many of its apartments have stunning views of the tallest building in the western hemisphere, including this two-bedroom unit currently listed for $1,750,000. The unique shape of the living space, coupled with its 11-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows, put this view front and center.
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Distinctive Homes

A nightly music-to-light show launches at the Empire State Building to keep NYC bright

Photo by Anthony Quintano on Wikimedia

March 30, 2020

A nightly music-to-light show launches at the Empire State Building to keep NYC bright

By Devin Gannon

A New York City landmark is looking to lift the spirits of New Yorkers and keep the light in the city bright during this challenging time. The Empire State Realty Trust on Friday launched a music-to-light show from the skyscraper's famous tower, in partnership with iHeartMedia. A new show, designed by lighting artist Marc Brickman, will premiere every Friday night and play nightly for one week.
More here

19 windows and a bohemian vibe make this $1.8M West Village loft a keeper

Photo credit: Elizabeth Dooley, Courtesy of Compass

March 27, 2020

19 windows and a bohemian vibe make this $1.8M West Village loft a keeper

By Dana Schulz

19 massive windows, three exposures, 11-foot ceilings, and one very stylish design--this $1.8 million West Village loft is bright, beautiful, and was designed by famed architect Aurelie Paradisio in collaboration with a bohemian fashion designer. Located at 99 Bank Street, it's in the heart of the West Village, just off Abingdon Square and has one bedroom, as well as a bonus lofted bedroom.
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Distinctive Homes

March 25, 2020

73 mixed-income apartments up for grabs in prime Central Harlem, from $680/month

By Devin Gannon

A housing lottery for 73 mixed-income units will launch on Thursday at a building in one of the most bustling sections of Central Harlem. The new 10-story building, called The Robeson, is located at 407 Malcolm X Boulevard between West 130th and 131st Streets. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 50, 100, and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, which range from a $680/month studio to a $3,452/month three-bedroom apartment.
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Affordable Housing

Eataly looks to buy or lease part of shuttered Barneys flagship

Photo by Jim.henderson on Wikimedia

March 24, 2020

Eataly looks to buy or lease part of shuttered Barneys flagship

By Devin Gannon

A month after Barneys New York closed all of its stores, a food hall is reportedly in talks to occupy part of the luxury retailer's former flagship. As first reported by the New York Post, Italian market Eataly is looking at leasing or buying some space at the now-shuttered store at 660 Madison Avenue on the Upper East Side.
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Real Estate Trends

Photo credit: DDreps, Courtesy of Compass

March 23, 2020

Rich colors and a classic reno define this $2.9M Upper East Side co-op

By Dana Schulz

Located just off Park Avenue at 114 East 90th Street, a classic pre-war co-op, this three-bedroom apartment has all the elegance of a 1920s classic-seven, but it's received a modern renovation that has updated the layout for 21st-century living and added rich colors and patterns throughout. Plus it's prime Carnegie Hill location puts it right near both the 86th and 96th Street subway stations, as well as Central Park and the Guggenheim.
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Distinctive Homes

Photo credit: Julia Gillard with MW Studio, Courtesy of Compass

March 20, 2020

$749K Upper West Side one-bedroom is a brownstone beauty

By Dana Schulz

When you've got beautiful brownstone features like a huge bay window, crown moldings, and a classical fireplace, you don't want to compete with the architecture but you also want to find a design aesthetic that enhances these details. Which is exactly what's on view at this one-bedroom Upper West Side co-op at 111 West 82nd Street. For $749,000, not only is it easy on the eyes but the apartment has a spacious and efficient layout that would make for a great starter home.
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Distinctive Homes

Get Park Avenue elegance for just $625K at this Upper East side co-op

Photo credit: Chalom + Blaylock Photography, Courtesy of Compass

March 19, 2020

Get Park Avenue elegance for just $625K at this Upper East side co-op

By Dana Schulz

Located just off Park Avenue at 115 East 90th Street, this one-bedroom co-op has all the uptown elegance at a fraction of the price. Asking 625,000, the Upper East Side gem has tons of pre-war charm in the form of picture moldings, large windows, and an efficient layout. There's also a surprising amount of closet space and a brand new kitchen and bathroom.
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Distinctive Homes

March 19, 2020

Waitlist opens for affordable units at luxury Yorkville rental, from $728/month

By Devin Gannon

Applications are currently being accepted to replenish the waitlist for affordable apartments in a luxury Yorkville building. Located at 1775 York Avenue, the building, known as The Brittany, is a high-rise located on the East River waterfront. Apartments--set aside for New Yorkers earning 40 percent of the area median income--include one- and two-bedroom apartments for $728/month and $868/month, respectively.
How to apply

Affordable Housing

March 18, 2020

For $12M, combine these two historic Harlem townhouses for the mansion of your dreams

By Devin Gannon

Two neighboring Harlem townhouses have seen a big price drop since hitting the market last year. First listed for a combined $27 million, the historic homes at 32 and 33 Mount Morris Park West are currently listed separately for $7.95 million and $3.95 million, respectively. The 7,000-square-foot, five-bedroom property at 32 Mount Morris Park has been respectfully gut-renovated, while the townhouse next door, which has the same footprint and unique architectural elements, needs restoration work.
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520 Fifth Avenue

Midtown West

Live at the center of NYC

1 beds starting at $2,445,000
2 beds starting at $3,435,000
3 beds starting at $6,775,000

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