Upper West Side

Looks like the De Blasios aren't the only mayoral figures making moves. Dan Doctoroff, former Deputy Mayor and current President & CEO of Bloomberg L.P., has sold his Upper West Side townhouse at 309 West 91st Street for $11.25 million, slightly less than the $13 million asking price from when the home went on the market in November 2013. He and his wife Alisa purchased the mini mansion in 1994 for $1 million out of foreclosure and then put millions into a gut renovation. The five-story, stately townhouse was built in 1896 by Clarence True, one of the most prominent architects on the Upper West Side around the turn of the century. It is one of a row of seven limestone masterpieces that feature True's signature low-stoop façade. The Doctoroffs had the home impeccably restored by architect Oliver Cope and designer Victoria Hagan, down to every last elegant detail, including four wood-burning fireplaces, a winding sky-lit staircase, and spectacular crown moldings.
Check out more of the 6,400-square-foot townhouse

August 8, 2014

See Why This Delightful Upper West Side Pad Could Be Our “Favorite Place”

Whether you like inspirational quotes on the walls or puppets bungee jumping in front of windows overlooking Central Park, you'll love this two bedroom, two bathroom Upper West Side prewar co-op in The Bolivar. In fact, inspiration and celebration are rather fitting when you consider the one-of-a-kind nature of this beautiful pad in a building that shares a name with a South American liberator. The Central Park views from this apartment are so mesmerizing, even the Queen of England would have to stop and catch her breath. And by the looks of these pictures, she may have. So, let's take a quick little tour, so you can see exactly why it might be well worth it to “skid in broadside” to claim this $2.9 million prize.
Ready to be inspired? Click here

Distinctive Homes

August 8, 2014

New Yorker Spotlight: Danny Wasserman of Tip Top Shoes, a Mom & Pop Outfitting the UWS for More than 50 Years

By Susan Cohen

Years ago, shoemaking was a family business handed down from one generation to the next. And while there may not be as many old school shoemakers practicing their craft in the city today, there is the Wasserman family and their Upper West Side shoe store. Tip Top Shoes, located on 72nd between Amsterdam and Columbus, has been taking care of New York's footwear needs since it first opened in 1940. Although the Wassermans are not the original owners, it's been in the family since Danny Wasserman's father purchased the store fifty years ago, continuing a family tradition that began in Europe. When Danny began working alongside his father, he was the third generation in the shoe business. His son and daughter are now the fourth. Together, Danny and his children are making sure customers have access to both classic shoes and the latest trends. Wearing a pair of Birkenstocks I purchased at Tip Top Shoes, I met with Danny to learn more about the family business.
Read our full interview with Danny

August 6, 2014

Liberty Lofts Penthouse with Massive Master Suite Sells for $6 Million

Compromise is so overrated. Why not just have it all? Well, when you live half a block from New York City’s most iconic park and equally close to the city’s cultural hub, having it all is more than just a dream. It’s a reality. And it appears that two New Yorkers have decided it’s a reality they want a piece of, because according to city records, they just paid $6 million for the Liberty Lofts Penthouse 9B.
See what having it all looks like, here

August 4, 2014

Philanthropists Joe and Carol Reich Sell Central Park West Condo for $16M

Philanthropists Joe and Carol Reich have sold their Central Park West condo, according to city records, and when we say this place is fit for a king, we’re not exaggerating. The couple’s $16 million former duplex actually resides in the Prasada, which is one of the most prominent buildings in the city and one of the three buildings that solidified Central Park West as a prestigious avenue. In fact, this Beaux-Arts beauty—designed by architectural duo Charles W. Romeyn and Henry R. Wynne—was one of the first high rises to attract wealthy New Yorkers back around the turn of the century when townhouse living was the norm. But what else would you expect from a place that was commissioned by the King of Spain? See? We told you we weren’t exaggerating.
Take a look inside this royal estate here

August 1, 2014

New Yorker Spotlight: Matthew Namie of Paris Framemakers on the Art of Framing

By Susan Cohen

Painters, portraitists, and photographers--the visual artists tend to get all the credit. But there is another type of art that goes into making a piece beautiful, and that is the art of framing. Most of us rarely think about this component, but for Matthew Namie, it’s always on his mind. As a salesperson at Paris Framemakers on the Upper West Side, he works with customers to make sure their prized artworks are framed just right. Paris Framemakers, located on 75th and Amsterdam, opened twenty years ago, and also has stores on 81st and Madison and 100th and Broadway. Matthew is a recent addition to Paris, but not to framing. He has seven years of experience under his belt and a keen eye when it comes to frames, mats, and glass. He will soon be heading across town to serve as the manager at the Upper East Side location. While working with Matthew on my own framing needs, I realized that many New Yorkers don't know the intricacies of this craft. So, I recently popped into Paris Framemakers to learn all about the art of framing and Matthew’s expertise.
Read the full interview right this way

July 31, 2014

Seasoned Real Estate Couple Grab Eclectic Central Park West Apartment for $5.3 Million

It must have been a nice change of pace for Stephen Yalof to look for residential properties instead of the retail spaces he scoped out for 12 years as Senior Vice President of Real Estate for the Ralph Lauren Corporation and now as CEO of Premium Outlets. Though for his wife Liora Yalof, a broker with Corcoran, it was likely just another day at work. The couple paid $5.3 million for their new three-bedroom home at the St. Urban on Central Park West. Apartment 11E is an eclectic mix of historic details and global-inspired décor, perfect for such a well-rounded real estate pair.
READ MORE

July 25, 2014

MIT Professor Sells Gorgeous Prewar Apartment in the Dorchester

A professor of Politics at MIT has just sold his Upper West Side co-op for $5 million, $50,000 over asking, according to city records. The 7th floor apartment at the Neville and Bagge-designed Dorchester has been renovated to include pristine modern finishes, while still embracing the home’s original details from over a century ago. Some of those details include hardwood floors, beamed ceilings, and elegant mouldings.
Take a look inside this gorgeous pad here

July 18, 2014

This Colorful Central Park West Apartment is the Perfect Family Pad

Not every New Yorker needs a sprawling pad in a glassy tower. Many of us appreciate cozy spaces a little closer to the ground. If you love ogling homes that feel quintessentially "New York", you have to check out this colorful apartment located at 57 West 93rd Street. Perfect for a family of three or four, this wonderful 2BR/2BA sits on a leafy street just off Central Park West, and, quite rare for Manhattan, it's in a kid-friendly neighborhood to boot.
Take a look at what else this lovely home has to offer

Distinctive Homes

July 18, 2014

PENCIL’s Lisa Belzberg Nabs Incredible Upper West Side Penthouse at an $8.5 Million Discount

It looks like Lisa Belzberg, Operating Partner at Leeds Equity Partners, founder of the nonprofit PENCIL, and well-connected New York City socialite, has applied her business savvy to the real estate market, snagging penthouse 13 at 44 West 77th Street for $11.5 million, well below the original $20 million asking price. Dubbed the apartment with "the best living room ever," this 3BR/2.5BA, 4,187-square-foot unit has been featured on Bloomberg TV and Open House NYC for its opulent living space, which includes 24-foot, floor-to-ceiling windows, Corinthian columns, a hand painted Venetian plaster ceiling, and an eight-foot-tall 17th century stone fireplace that was imported from the Iberian Peninsula.
And that's not all. Check out the rest of this extraordinary home.

July 17, 2014

Still Portzamparc-ish: New Images of Extell’s Riverside Center Uncovered

By Ondel Hylton

On the website of Extell Development's latest residential tower, One Riverside Park, we uncovered some newer, more realistic renderings of their massive Riverside Center project. The 8-acre superblock between West 59th and 61st Streets lies at the southern end of a string of 11 Riverside South buildings that have been underway since the mid-1990s. Developer Donald Trump had struggled since 1974 to redevelop the 77-acre rail yard, and he developed the first eight buildings as Trump Place before selling a substantial portion of the site to Extell Development in 2005.
See more images of this mega-development here

July 16, 2014

Citigroup’s Former Chairman Sanford Weill Sells His Maid’s Quarters for $5.34M

By Diane Pham

It's great being Sandy Weill, and apparently it's also pretty good being his hired help. According to city records, the former Citigroup chairman just sold off his servants quarters, a lovely little sixth floor pad at celeb favorite, 15 Central Park West. The sale of 6H rang in at an impressive $5.337M — more than five times what Weill paid for it back in 2007. But Weill is no stranger to making big bucks on his real estate deals. Back in 2011 he sold his apartment in the same luxury tower for a record-breaking $88M to Katerina Rybolovleva, the young daughter of Russian billionaire Dmitriy Rybolovlev.
More details here

Real Estate Trends

July 16, 2014

You Won’t Find Oscar Madison in this Immaculate $8.5M Riverside Drive Beauty

Maybe we are dating ourselves but we’re betting on the fact that The Odd Couple is one of those rare shows pretty much everyone has heard of, even if you were born well after the 1970’s TV series. Best known for the hilarious dynamic between unlikely roommates “neat freak” Felix Unger and slovenly but amiable Oscar Madison, the show’s setting was Mr. Madison’s Riverside Drive apartment, about ten blocks south of this immaculate 4BR/4BA home in the Peter Stuyvesant located at 258 Riverside Drive. Take one look at this residence’s ten beautifully appointed rooms and you’ll know Oscar Madison would probably have never have been comfortable living here, but he’d be in the minority on that score. What’s not to love?
Whether you're a Felix or an Oscar, see more of this gorgeous home

Distinctive Homes

July 15, 2014

Jeffrey Gates and Richard Moran Acquire the Rest of Laurie Tisch’s Brentmore Penthouse for $22.5M

Jeffrey Gates, of Gates Capital Management, and his partner Richard Michael Moran have just acquired the rest of Laurie Tisch's penthouse at the Brentmore, according to city records. Three years ago the pair traded up from apartment 6W to 9N, when Laurie Tisch sold off her pad in pieces. Retired investor Michael Stubbs and his wife Veronica, who lived in the neighboring apartment 10/11N purchased Tisch’s remaining unit 10W. Now it appears that Gates and Moran may have added the Stubbs’s newly renovated apartment combo to their estate for $22.5 million.
Take a look inside the newly acquired property here

July 9, 2014

Charming UWS French-Country Apartment Will Sell You with Its Urban Roof Deck

We'll admit it--even though New York City is our home, we sometimes long for the comforts of the suburbs. That's why we were so excited to find this floor-through apartment in a turn-of-the-century Upper West Side townhouse. Apartment 4 at 129 West 80th Street, which is listed at $1.695 million, is a 1BR/1.5BA co-op. Not only has it been renovated to exude a nostalgic, French country feel, but its spectacular roof deck gives you all the charms of backyard living without having to battle summer traffic to the Jersey Shore or Hamptons. And you can't get those skyline views in suburbia!
See what else this little slice of heaven has to offer

Distinctive Homes

July 8, 2014

You Will Go ‘Gaga’ When You Learn Who Once Lived in the Building of This $4.5M Upper West Side Residence

The historic building standing at 135 West 70th Street was built in 1927 to serve as a singular meeting place for all the Knights of Pythias lodges of NYC. Designed by architect Thomas W. Lamb, best known for his ornate movie palaces, it’s no wonder that the Pythian is richly decorated in brightly colored and glazed terra cotta embellishments. Though converted to a condominium in 1983, architect David Gura was careful to retain most of the building's ornamental features. Taking great pains to ensure that elements removed from their original positions were salvaged for use elsewhere within the building, his renovation earned a residential design award from the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
See why this apartment has earned our applause

Distinctive Homes

July 7, 2014

Jaw-Dropping $3.4 Million Central Park West Pad Has Taxidermied Animals Everywhere

If Norman Bates were a real person we imagine he’d be rather fixated on this terrifying homage to our furry and feathery friends at The Beresford. If you ask Halstead realtor Robert Dowling about 211 Central Park West #3J, he would tell you that it’s a rare gem with soaring 10-foot ceilings, and plenty of windows. The woman in the shower… would tell you to run. Either way, we just couldn’t pass up the chance to explore this unique pad and its current owner's interesting style. But you might want to make sure Fido leaves the room before you continue.
Check out this taxidermists' dream here

July 3, 2014

Stunning Penthouse Illustrates Why “Time and Again” The Dakota is One of Manhattan’s Most Treasured Residences

Author Stephen King considers Jack Finney’s classic novel, Time and Again, to be “THE great time-travel story” ever, and figuring prominently in the main character’s attempts to travel back to the late 1800’s is the building that still sits prominently at 1 West 72nd Street, The Dakota. Its significance in the plot is not simply because it was completed around the time of the story’s setting, but rather for a more interesting notion: The Dakota faces a section of Central Park which, when observed from the apartment in the story, remains relatively unchanged from the day it was completed in 1884. A timeless view.
see how 19th Century charm meets 21st Century chic

Distinctive Homes

June 19, 2014

The Country Meets the City in This $6.7 Million Old-World Charmer

Hiding away in the premier St. Urban, 285 Central Park West #12W is what you imagine was the result when old-world country mouse met old-world city mouse… and the two bought a lavish Central Park apartment. With gorgeous pre-war details accented with a touch of country chic, this 3,000-square-foot Beaux-Arts style apartment has a combination of opulence and southern comfort to make anyone happy. In fact, we suspect if Oliver and Lisa from Green Acres had purchased this place, it would have settled all their arguments.
Find out why this Central Park West pad is the place to be here

Distinctive Homes

June 17, 2014

Helen Hunt Finally Sells Upper West Side Pied-a-Terre for $2.58 Million

It looks like Helen Hunt has finally sold her Upper West Side apartment to the tune of $2.58 million. This new development comes after having the apartment on the market for nearly 9 months. That’s essentially like having a baby. Hunt purchased the apartment at 320 West 86th Street for $2.43 million in 2006, according to the Daily News, and was using the 3/BR as a pied-a-terre. Her main residence is in California. After acquiring the co-op, Hunt completely renovated the pad, creating a six-room layout with restored herringbone floors, hideaway office spaces and decorative fireplaces.
Take a look inside the star's pad here

June 17, 2014

Time Warner V.P. Unloads Upper West Side Condo for $4.3 Million

A strikingly elegant co-op apartment at 375 West End Avenue has for $4.3 million, according to city records. The seller, Paul T. Cappuccio, Vice President and General Counsel at Time Warner, Inc., bought the 5BR/3.5BA unit in July 2011 for $3.5 million, netting him an almost $1 million profit. The handsome, 2,400-square-foot space is a mix of traditional design and convenient, modern touches. Stunning, detailed moldings and shiny herringbone hardwood floors work alongside barely-there recessed lighting and a contemporary, marble bathroom. Ten-foot ceilings and large windows framed by panel molding are decorative elements that harken back to the building's prewar construction, while custom walk-in closets and a laundry room with full-size washer/dryer are 21st-century touches.
Take a look at the rest of this swoon-worthy pad

June 9, 2014

$11.5 Million Residence at The Rushmore is Presidential in Its Own Right

Though perhaps a tad less striking than the famous monument sharing its name, the twin towers of The Rushmore rise elegantly above their counterparts along Riverside Boulevard. The Costas Kondylis and Partners designed building actually dwarfs the heads of the Mount Rushmore sculpture by nearly 400 feet, which translates into breathtaking river and city views for the lucky inhabitants.
Check out why this gorgeous home is presidential in its own right

Distinctive Homes

June 4, 2014

Even Without Matt Damon as a Neighbor, This Upper West Side Condo Gets Top Billing

The Bourne Identify star may have passed on being a neighbor but this 5BR/5.5BA apartment at 535 West End Avenue has star quality all its own, starting with the elegant gallery off a large and semi-private landing – what a way to make an entrance!
Step right this way to see more of this beautiful home

Distinctive Homes

June 4, 2014

Annie Liebovitz Purchases Central Park Pad Next Door to Robert De Niro

Robert De Niro just got a new neighbor, and it’s esteemed photographer Annie Liebovitz. Liebovitz nabbed the Brentmore co-op for $11.25 million, a bit lower than the $14.5 million asking price from a year and a half ago. However, the celebrity photographer will be gaining more than an A-list neighbor. After a long day of work she’ll have a gorgeous 3BR/3.5 bath duplex to return to. The apartment has its own appreciation for the picturesque, with large windows framing Central Park and delivering front row views to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Take a glimpse inside the photographer's new home here

May 29, 2014

Straus Park Stunner with Striking Balcony Asks $4.65 Million