Upper West Side

On Tuesday the city halted a judge’s order to stop construction–or, rather, deconstruction and demolition–on the 55-story condominium tower at 200 Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan, the Wall Street Journal reports. Last month, 6sqft reported that State Supreme Court Judge W. Franc Perry ordered the city to revoke the building permit for the Upper West Side’s tallest tower north of 61st Street, ruling that developers SJP Properties and Mitsui Fudosan America would have to chop the building's height by as many as 20 stories to conform to zoning limits. This week's ruling means work can continue on construction of the skyscraper despite opposition from activists and critics.
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Policy

Before + After: How an Upper West Side couple renovated their 440sqft studio after a building fire

Photos by Pixy Interiors for Sweeten

February 27, 2020

Before + After: How an Upper West Side couple renovated their 440sqft studio after a building fire

By Dana Schulz

When a blaze broke out on the rooftop of Dianna and Todd's Upper West Side co-op building they luckily sustained no major damage, but their walls and floors did suffer some impairment. Since moving into the high-floor duplex three years prior, the couple had been planning to renovate their home, and after the incident, they took the plunge. Because the 444-square-foot studio duplex had an efficient layout, their contractors advised them to keep the current setup and focus the budget on modernizing the kitchen and bathroom, brightening up all the rooms with paint and stain jobs, and incorporating colorful decor and functional furnishings.
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Museum of Natural History’s new Halls of Gems and Minerals will open this fall

A conceptual rendering of the Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals, opening in fall 2020 at the American Museum of Natural History. Rendering courtesy American Museum of Natural History.

February 27, 2020

Museum of Natural History’s new Halls of Gems and Minerals will open this fall

The American Museum of Natural History announced this week that the new Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals will be opening in fall of 2020. Named for longtime museum supporters Roberto and Allison Mignone, the long-awaited redesign will be a dazzling showcase for one of the greatest collections of its kind. The new Halls will be connected to Studio Gang’s 235,000-square-foot Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education and Innovation.
More about the exhibitions and gallery, this way

February 20, 2020

For $1.25M, an Upper West Side one-bedroom one block from Central Park

A one-bedroom in a beautiful Upper West Side brownstone has hit the market for $1.25 million. Located between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West less than one block from the park, the parlor-floor co-op at 61 West 68th Street is packed with charming pre-war details, including oversized arched windows, exposed brick, two rounded entryways, and two fireplaces. In addition to its lovely interiors, the apartment's location, at the nexus of UWS, Lincoln Square, and Central Park West, is hard to beat.
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Distinctive Homes

Latest court ruling against 200 Amsterdam Avenue could result in the removal of 20 floors

Rendering courtesy of Binyan Studios

February 18, 2020

Latest court ruling against 200 Amsterdam Avenue could result in the removal of 20 floors

The Upper West Side's tallest tower north of 61st Street may soon be getting a major trim, the New York Times reports. In a dramatic ruling last week, State Supreme Court Judge W. Franc Perry ordered the city to revoke 200 Amsterdam Avenue's building permit and decided the developers will have to remove floors from the top of the building to fall in line with zoning limits. It's not yet been decided how many floors will need to be removed from the nearly-complete 52-story tower, but it could be as many as 20. Co-developers SJP Properties and Mitsui Fudosan America are expected to "vigorously" appeal the decision, according to their lawyer.
What's the deal?

Policy

A closer look inside Waterline Square’s starchitect-designed rentals, from $3,938/month

Living area inside an apartment at One Waterline Square; photo by Evan Joseph

February 4, 2020

A closer look inside Waterline Square’s starchitect-designed rentals, from $3,938/month

When rental units at the Waterline Square development on the Upper West Side hit the market last fall it was clear that the price tags reflected the starchitect lineup involved with its design: The trio of glassy towers was designed by Richard Meier & Partners (One Waterline Square), Kohn Pedersen Fox (Two Waterline Square), and Rafael Viñoly (Three Waterline Square), with Hill West Architects serving as executive architect for the master plan. Located on Riverside Boulevard between 59th and 61st Streets, the complex holds 868 rental units (in addition to 263 condos), which start at $3,938/month for a studio and go up to $15,000/month for a four-bedroom. If you’re curious about what those pricey rentals look like inside, here’s a look at three model homes in each of the towers.
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Photo credit: H5 Property, courtesy of Compass.

January 31, 2020

This Upper West Side brownstone co-op gives you three levels to love for $725K

Tucked into one of the elegant brownstones that, along with stately apartment buildings, line an enviable Upper West Side block, this one-bedroom home at 169 West 73rd Street has pre-war charm–with a twist. On the second floor of a brownstone co-op building, the space has a main living area, a step-down kitchen and dining area, a lower bedroom, and a lofted home office/bonus room, fitting more rooms into what would be a more limited space if it were on just one level.
Look up, look down

Distinctive Homes

Construction of Upper West Side’s tallest tower can proceed

Rendering of 50 West 66th Street courtesy of Binyan Studios/ Snøhetta

January 28, 2020

Construction of Upper West Side’s tallest tower can proceed

Construction of Extell's controversial supertall on the Upper West Side can move forward, the city's Board of Standards and Appeals ruled Tuesday. In an unusual 2-2 split decision, the BSA said the mechanical space planned for the tower at 50 West 66th Street is appropriate, rejecting a challenge from the preservation organization Landmark West. The group had argued that Extell abused the zoning code by including tall mechanical floors in its design in order to boost the overall height of units at the building, without increasing square footage.
More here

Policy

Beloved Upper West Side shop Book Culture closes for good

Book Culture on Columbus on Thursday 1/9/20, taken by 6sqft

January 21, 2020

Beloved Upper West Side shop Book Culture closes for good

By Dana Schulz

Drawing comparisons to "The Shop Around the Corner" in the movie "You've Got Mail" (which is also set on the Upper West Side), Book Culture became a beloved neighborhood shop for its whimsical atmosphere, great selection of books, and cozy children's reading room. But this past year, the store's owner penned a letter to city officials asking for a $500,000 loan to stay afloat amid unpaid vendor debts and loans. Earlier this month, a city marshal seized the store for "eviction action" due to unpaid rent, West Side Rag reported. Though the store was hopeful it could find a solution to remain open (even starting a Post-it Note campaign where customers left their support on the storefront), they announced today in an email that their doors are shut forever.
What happened?

Real Estate Trends

New-York Historical Society hosting an after-hours ‘Roaring 20s’ party this weekend

Photo courtesy of Dandy Wellington

January 13, 2020

New-York Historical Society hosting an after-hours ‘Roaring 20s’ party this weekend

By Dana Schulz

Photo courtesy of Dandy Wellington The New-York Historical Society is calling all "fabulous flappers and dapper dandies" for a Roaring 20s-themed fete this Saturday. The Jazz Age soiree will come to life with music from Dandy Wellington and encouragement for attendees to wear their most festive costumes. There will also be an open bar, snacks, and a photo booth.
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Events & Things To Do

Famed political cartoonist Ranan Lurie lists his Time Warner Center art studio-condo for $5M

Image credit: Donna Dotan courtesy of Compass.

January 6, 2020

Famed political cartoonist Ranan Lurie lists his Time Warner Center art studio-condo for $5M

The Time Warner Center condo at 25 Columbus Circle that Ranan Lurie, who holds the Guinness World Record for most syndicated political cartoonist, used as his art studio and office, is now on the market for $4,995,000. Lurie's "Uniting Painting" at the United Nations HQ is the largest contemporary painting ever exhibited there. The founder and Editor-in-Chief of Cartoonews has been the resident political cartoonist for, among many others, Life magazine, The U.S. News & World Report, Time International, Foreign Affairs magazine and The London Times. He has been syndicated globally to more than 1,100 publications with a daily readership of 300 million. His drawings often include a small trademark smiling sun drawn on the subject's tie or other articles of clothing.
More of this storied condo, this way

Photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group.

December 17, 2019

This $2.6M Upper West Side brownstone co-op has a beautiful back garden and a well-appointed cellar

On a gorgeous brownstone-lined street on the Upper West Side, this garden-floor co-op at 50 West 70th Street is less than a block from Central Park. In case you don't even want to venture that far, this $2.565 million home has a lovely landscaped private garden just beyond a wall of sliding glass doors. Technically a duplex, with several possibilities for bedrooms, this renovated co-op occupies the ground floor and the floor below in a 23-foot-wide 1893 townhouse. The renovation has incorporated well-considered finishings throughout, and an open layout gives it a loft-like feel. The large lower level means there's lots of space to use for whatever you need most.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

Giorgio Armani buys William Randolph Hearst’s one-time Central Park West penthouse for $17.5M

Listing images by Evan Joseph; courtesy of Compass

December 10, 2019

Giorgio Armani buys William Randolph Hearst’s one-time Central Park West penthouse for $17.5M

T-Mobile's departing CEO John Legere first listed his palatial penthouse at 91 Central Park West for $22 million in February 2018 and progressively dropped the price to just shy of $18 million in his search for a buyer. In the end, he didn't have to look far. Giorgio Armani—who already owns a unit on the same floor—recently purchased the residence for roughly $17.5 million, as the Wall Street Journal first reported. The one-time home of publishing giant William Randolph Hearst sprawls over 3,000 square feet and comes with a 1,700-square-foot private terrace overlooking the park. Armani will combine the residence with his existing, similarly sized unit and take over the entire floor.
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Design unveiled for New York Philharmonic’s $550M revamped concert hall

Renderings courtesy of the New York Philharmonic and Lincoln Center

December 2, 2019

Design unveiled for New York Philharmonic’s $550M revamped concert hall

A plan to redesign the New York Philharmonic's concert hall was unveiled on Monday, nearly two decades after the project was first proposed. The $550 million plan aims to create a more intimate experience, acoustically and visually, at David Geffen Hall by moving the stage closer to the audience, improving sightlines, and reducing the seating capacity. Officials estimate the new hall will open in March of 2024.
More here

Architecture And Design

200 spots open on waitlist for middle-income units at ritzy Upper West Side rental

Photo by Peter Burka on Flickr

November 27, 2019

200 spots open on waitlist for middle-income units at ritzy Upper West Side rental

A housing lottery launched this week to replenish the waitlist at a high-end apartment building on the Upper West Side. Applications are currently being accepted for a 200-spot waitlist for the West End Towers, a two-tower, 1,000-unit complex at 75 West End Avenue. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the available units, studios between $1,997 and $2,137 per month and one-bedrooms between $2,224 and $2,601 per month. Eligible applicants will be randomly selected and placed on the waitlist for future vacancies.
How to apply

Affordable Housing

Huge $24M Beresford duplex with park-facing terrace was home to showbiz luminaries

Photo credit: Denis Vlasov for Sotheby’s International Realty

November 26, 2019

Huge $24M Beresford duplex with park-facing terrace was home to showbiz luminaries

This duplex at The Beresford at 211 Central Park West possesses one of Manhattan's finest Central Park-facing terraces. The sprawling Upper West Side co-op in the celebrity-studded classic Emery Roth-designed pre-war building was home to Broadway and screen talent Adolph Green (he wrote "Singin' In The Rain") and Tony Award-winning actor Phyllis Newman. In addition to the sprawling duplex and 600-square-foot terrace, $24 million will assure you dazzling panoramic views of the Park, Central Park South, and the city skyline. And next door, you'll find Jerry Seinfeld's place.
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MAP: The best spots to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Map via Google Maps/Macy’s

November 25, 2019

MAP: The best spots to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

It's almost time for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and with 2.5 miles of public viewing areas along the route this year, anyone eager to claim a good spot should be able to with a little planning. This interactive map put together by the parade organizers outlines the stretches that have the best views as well as all the areas that will be restricted to the public. The map also notes where you can find essentials like restrooms, coffee, and food.
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Events & Things To Do

Where to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon inflation

Image by Phil Roeder via Flickr

November 22, 2019

Where to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon inflation

If you can’t get enough of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, you can extend the festivities by attending the yearly Balloon Inflation event that takes place the day before Thanksgiving. On Wednesday, November 27 you’ll be able to see the balloons come to life as they get filled with helium outside the Museum of Natural History. It’s the perfect opportunity to get a first glimpse of the five new balloons debuting this year, including Love Flies Up to the Sky by artist Yayoi Kusama in partnership with Macy’s Blue Sky Gallery series.
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Events & Things To Do

Photo credit: Warburg Realty

November 8, 2019

A 15th-floor Gilded-Age classic in the San Remo’s north tower asks $25M

This combined two-unit co-op in the architectural gem that is the Emery Roth-designed San Remo at 145 Central Park West (where Demi Moore's former pad just hit the market for $50M), asking $25 million, has the Central Park and Manhattan skyline views you'd expect from the iconic building's north tower. Inside, the over-5,500-square-foot corner residence is just as impressive, with an architect-led renovation and interiors by renowned designer Bunny Williams that has preserved the home's Art Deco character while sparing no expense on modern convenience. The 14-room home, currently owned by money manager Peter W. May and his wife, Leni May (h/t New York Times), is configured as three bedrooms and a library with an additional study and a media room.
Sky mansion tour, this way

Distinctive Homes

Sprawling residence inside Central Park West’s historic ‘castle’ seeks $6.5M

Listing images by Travis Mark; courtesy of Sotheby’s International Realty

November 7, 2019

Sprawling residence inside Central Park West’s historic ‘castle’ seeks $6.5M

This 120-year-old turreted brick-and-brownstone castle has a fascinating (and somewhat grim) history as the city’s first cancer hospital. Designed by Charles C. Haight in 1887 in the French Renaissance style, it later became a nursing home before it was converted to a very unique residential condominium in 2005. Units don’t often come on the market but when they do, they offer a scale that’s hard to match in the city, with 13-foot ceilings throughout, massive interior spaces, and Central Park a stone’s throw away. This three-bedroom residence at 445 Central Park West is now on the market for a relatively cool $6.445 million, considering the living room alone is larger than most NYC apartments.
Take a look around

For $50M, Demi Moore’s former San Remo penthouse has park views and famous neighbors

Photo credit: Evan Joseph courtesy of Douglas Elliman.

October 31, 2019

For $50M, Demi Moore’s former San Remo penthouse has park views and famous neighbors

Demi Moore may have sold her remarkable apartment in the San Remo at 145 Central Park West for $45 million in 2007–two years after first attempting to sell at a whopping $75M–but the rare penthouse in one of the venerable building's two beaux-arts towers is still a star. And the south tower triplex is for sale again, this time asking $50 million, the Wall Street Journal reports. As if the 8,000-square-foot sky mansion didn't have enough of its own cachet, neighbor Bono–who bought his apartment from Steve Jobs–can always add more. The seller is known only via the LLC “M2 Trust.”
See more of this rare Manhattan property

Studio with an elaborately carved fireplace and prime UWS location asks $529K

Listing images by Melanie Greene; courtesy of Compass

October 24, 2019

Studio with an elaborately carved fireplace and prime UWS location asks $529K

The main living area in this charming Upper West Side studio at 123 West 80th Street only adds up to 240 square feet, but within that are all the old-world details you could ask for. For starters, there’s that enormous carved wood fireplace with a mirror that will at least add the perception of more space. Other features include original parquet wood floors, an elegant chandelier, and carved south-facing windows with restored shutters. The unit was originally listed at the beginning of the month for $539,000 and just got a $10,000 cut on its asking price. The central location—just steps away from the American Natural History Museum—certainly contributes to that.
Take a look around

Distinctive Homes

Upper West Side favorite Boat Basin Cafe has permanently closed

Photo by WalkingGeek on Flickr

October 24, 2019

Upper West Side favorite Boat Basin Cafe has permanently closed

Another beloved New York City establishment has shuttered. The Boat Basin Cafe, a laid-back waterfront restaurant at the 79th Street marina, will not reopen for the season next year, Gothamist reported on Wednesday. The Upper West Side hangout announced its permanent departure in a Facebook post, citing a "local construction project" as the reason for the closure.
Another favorite gone

Food & Dining

Images courtesy of Douglas Elliman.

October 11, 2019

Is this gorgeous two-bedroom Upper West Side co-op in the Dorilton a steal at $1.9M?

The gated side street entrance at the 12-story pre-war Dorilton at 171 West 71st Street on the Upper West Side is considered to be among the grandest in New York. The building, an official city landmark since the 1970s, has undergone a careful restoration that has brought its intricate façade and rich interior spaces back to their original Edwardian splendor; intricate wood molding, wainscoting and marble mantles can still be found in many apartments. This classic style gets an upgrade with modern good looks and comfort in this gracious two (with potential for more) bedroom unit. Starting with the fireplace and stained glass bay windows in the entrance foyer, the apartment radiates elegance and charm. Add a large landscaped terrace, and its $1.925 million ask seems like quite a bargain.
Check out this gorgeous Upper West Side home

Distinctive Homes

Pricing revealed for starchitect-designed Waterline Square rentals, with studios from $3,938/month

Rendering courtesy of Noe & Associates with The Boundary

October 10, 2019

Pricing revealed for starchitect-designed Waterline Square rentals, with studios from $3,938/month

Update 10/10/19: More details about Waterline Square rentals were released on Tuesday, following the official lease launch last month. At the three-tower Upper West Side development, studios start at $3,938/month, one-bedrooms at $5,425/month, two-bedrooms at $8,625/month, three-bedrooms at $9,933/month, and four-bedrooms at $15,000/month. These prices include concessions for three months of free rent on a 12-month lease. Currently, the priciest unit available to rent is a $19,208/month four-bedroom at One Waterline Square, which measures just over 2,200 square feet. After topping out nearly two years ago, the trio of glassy high-rise towers known as Waterline Square on Monday kicked off leasing for its rental units. GID Development tapped three major architects, Richard Meier, Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), and Rafael Viñoly, to design the Upper West Side buildings, which include roughly 260 condos, 800 rental units, and 100,000 square feet of amenities. Rentals, ranging from studios to four-bedroom apartments, start at $4,130 per month, without concessions. Hill West Architects serve as the project's architect of record.
Get the details

Real Estate Trends

October 7, 2019

Townhouse? Loft? This $599K co-op off Central Park West has elements of both