6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

Unlike many East Village apartments, noise won't be an issue for this duplex at 323 East 8th Street. The two-bedroom home sits on the same block as Tompkins Square Park, so there is no through traffic on the street. Asking $1.19 million, it's been recently renovated with modern finishes but retains classic pre-war features like high ceilings and exposed brick.
Check it out

Distinctive Homes

July 31, 2018

LPC landmarks Philip Johnson’s AT&T Building at 550 Madison

This morning the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to designate the AT&T building at 550 Madison Avenue as an individual landmark. Designed by Philip Johnson and completed in 1984, the world’s first postmodern skyscraper originally served as the AT&T headquarters. A decade later, Sony moved in and it became known as the Sony Tower. Recently, a growing roster of preservationists and architects have been urging the LPC to landmark the building after plans surfaced showing significant changes to its architecture.
So what happens now?

July 31, 2018

How six Italian immigrants from the South Bronx carved some of the nation’s most iconic sculptures

By Lucie Levine

When the Piccirilli Brothers arrived in New York from Italy in 1888, they brought with them a skill-- artistry and passion for stone-carving unrivaled in the United States. At their studio at 467 East 142nd Street, in the Mott Haven Section of the Bronx, the brothers turned monumental slabs of marble into some of the nation’s recognizable icons, including the senate pediment of the US Capitol Building and the statue of Abraham Lincoln that sits resolutely in the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall. The Piccirillis not only helped set our national narrative in stone but they also left an indelible mark on New York City. They carved hundreds of commissions around the five boroughs, including the 11 figures in the pediment of the New York Stock exchange, the “four continents” adorning the Customs House at Bowling Green, the two stately lions that guard the New York Public Library, both statues of George Washington for the Arch at Washington Square, and upwards of 500 individual carvings at Riverside Church.
Chisel away at this tale

July 31, 2018

1.5M Midtown duplex has every season covered with a roof deck and a wood-burning fireplace

This two-bedroom condominium at The Armory at 520 West 42nd Street may not have its own rooftop bocce court, but it has spring and summer sussed with a large private rooftop terrace for gardening, barbecuing, and entertaining. In colder months, head indoors where a working fireplace awaits, and watch the snow fall through big greenhouse windows. The Hell's Kitchen home is asking $1.499 million.
Get a closer look

Distinctive Homes

July 30, 2018

This 1946 map shows how Native American trails became the streets of Brooklyn

While we take for granted the paths and roads we use on a daily basis, it's interesting to find out how they came to be. It's not a new concept that paths worn by the comings and goings of early dwellers and subsequent settlers in a particular area became roads, streets and thoroughfares, often with names that reflect their beginnings. Brooklyn Heights Blog (via Viewing NYC) shares some insight into Brooklyn's familiar roads that began as Native American trails on a 1946 map titled "Indian Villages, Paths, Ponds and Places in Kings County."
Peruse the map

History

Small living advocate Graham Hill lists his 350-square-foot Soho micro apartment for $750K

Photo by Christopher Testani for LifeEdited

July 30, 2018

Small living advocate Graham Hill lists his 350-square-foot Soho micro apartment for $750K

When eco-conscious architect and entrepreneur Graham Hill listed his famously tiny 420-square-foot apartment in Soho, we thought a unit couldn't get any smaller. But Hill has done it again, listing another micro apartment at 150 Sullivan Street for $750,000. The itty-bitty digs, dubbed LifeEdited 2, measures just 350 square feet but manages to seat 10 for dinner, host two guests and have space for a home office.
Tour the tiny space

Distinctive Homes

The city’s first shared electric moped service launches in Brooklyn

Photo via Revel Transit

July 30, 2018

The city’s first shared electric moped service launches in Brooklyn

More than 60 electric mopeds will hit the streets of Greenpoint, Williamsburg and Bushwick on Monday, as part of a new ride-sharing program. Developed by Revel Transit, the mopeds are available to anyone with a driver's license and for rides within Brooklyn in Queens, as the Wall Street Journal reported. Through an app, users can find nearby mopeds and reserve one up to 15 minutes in advance. While moped sharing exists in a few other cities, including Berlin and Paris, this is the first service of its kind in New York City.
Roll this way

Transit

This August, party on the rooftop of the New York Aquarium

Photo via Flickr/cc

July 30, 2018

This August, party on the rooftop of the New York Aquarium

Sure, there are plenty of rooftops to get your drink on this summer, but here's a chance to do it with fireworks and fish. As part of the inaugural season of their new Ocean Wonders: Sharks! exhibit, Coney Island's New York Aquarium is hosting late-night Friday and Saturday night rooftop parties during August and Labor Day weekend. The aquarium usually closes at 7pm, but for Summer Nights they'll welcome guests until 10pm with cocktails and a fireworks display on the roof of their new building, as well as extended access to the nine new spaces, including a 40-foot-long immersive coral reef tunnel, a rare look into the underwater "Grand Canyon," and a real hull from a local shipwreck.
All the details

Events & Things To Do

Distinctive Homes

This $3.15M co-op embodies East Village cool, all grown up

$65M Sutton Place penthouse is highest on East Side waterfront

For $25M, a Flatiron penthouse in a golden cupola, with Manhattan at your feet

This $3M co-op is like a European loft in the West Village

For $5.8M, this Fifth Avenue co-op has 'Mad Men'-era vibes and Central Park views

$4.5M Central Park West duplex in Hotel des Artistes gets color just right

This $839K co-op in an Upper West Side mansion has a presidential connection

This $3.3M Village co-op will brighten even the darkest winter days

Bob Dylan's former Turtle Bay home asks $7.25M

This $3.6M Spuyten Duyvil home is a tranquil refuge indoors and out, within New York City limits

VIEW ALL

July 30, 2018

Cap on ride-hailing services in NYC is a civil rights issue, racial justice groups say

Photo via Wikimedia As New York City prepares to become the first major city in the country to cap the number of vehicles driving for services like Uber, racial justice organizations are rallying against the legislation, calling it a civil rights issue. Groups like the National Urban League and the N.A.A.C.P say the City Council's plan to place a freeze on the amount of for-hire vehicle licenses for one year hurts minority New Yorkers who have trouble hailing taxis on the street. "Some yellow cabs won't even go uptown or to parts of Brooklyn," Rev. Al Sharpton told the New York Times. "If you are downtown they won't stop."
Find out more

July 30, 2018

Cozy Chelsea co-op with a ’70s vibe asks $975K

This one-bedroom co-op at 250 West 15th Street in Chelsea shows off its considered design and just enough of an of-the-moment look and laid-back 1970s feel for us to almost overlook its compact size and slightly odd layout. The turn-key apartment is priced to sell at less than a million–and a wood-burning fireplace with an exposed brick hearth and drawers galore can't hurt its chances.
Have a seat by the fire

Distinctive Homes

July 30, 2018

The New York City subway in fascinating facts and figures

When it comes to New York City’s subway system, you may think you know the letters (A,B,C,D,E,F,G,J,L,M,N,Q,R,S,W,Z) and numbers (1 through 7), all too well. But a few of the fun facts and staggering stats that add up to the seventh busiest public transit system in the world might surprise you. From the longest route (the A line is 31 miles) to the world's highest rapid transit station at Smith-9th Streets (it's 88 feet above street level), there are plenty of figures that even the most well-versed New Yorker likely doesn't know.
More stuff you never knew about the subway

RENTING IN NYC: This week’s roundup of NYC rental news

Images (L to R): 485 Marin Boulevard, Lewis Steel Building, Heritage Dean Street and 321 Wythe Avenue

July 28, 2018

RENTING IN NYC: This week’s roundup of NYC rental news

By Ondel Hylton

Images (L to R): 485 Marin Boulevard, Lewis Steel Building, Heritage Dean Street and 321 Wythe Avenue 321 Wythe Debuts in Williamsburg: Luxury Rentals with All-Star Amenities + Skyline Views [link] The Alabama in Greenwich Village: Furnished Rentals for Students and Young Professionals [link] Clinton Hill’s Latest Rental Debuts with Homes from $2,175/Month [link] Meet […]

Real Estate Trends

Explore ‘faces and voices’ of Manhattan storefronts with new exhibit from James and Karla Murray

Photos © James and Karla Murray

July 27, 2018

Explore ‘faces and voices’ of Manhattan storefronts with new exhibit from James and Karla Murray

Whether it's their photography from our My Sqft series, images from their best-selling Storefront books or their most recent "Mom-and-Pops" life-size installation in Seward Park, chances are you've already admired the work of Karla and James Murray. And now there's an opportunity to further appreciate their work and the work of those they have mentored. Earlier this year, James and Karla hosted two, two-session workshops, which taught the art of capturing New York City storefronts. Starting August 1, the workshop's participants will show off their photos at the Jefferson Market Library's Little Underground Gallery. Celebrate with them during a free opening reception for the exhibit next Friday, August 3 from 5 pm to 7 pm.
Learn more about the event

Events & Things To Do

Affordable housing 101: The history and future of Mitchell-Lama

Waterside Plaza, a former Mitchell-Lama Housing Program-funded rental project. Photo via Flickr cc.

July 27, 2018

Affordable housing 101: The history and future of Mitchell-Lama

By Cait Etherington

A high percentage of working New Yorkers do not qualify for low-income rentals yet still struggle to pay the city’s exceptionally high rents on the private market. While this may seem like a new problem, in fact, it is something legislators and housing advocates have been attempting to resolve for over 70 years. Indeed, this […]

NY may be first city to cap Uber drivers; MTA (sort of) wants you to hold them accountable

Via Flickr cc (L); Flickr cc (R)

July 27, 2018

NY may be first city to cap Uber drivers; MTA (sort of) wants you to hold them accountable

By 6sqft

NYC could become the first city to cap Uber drivers. If the legislation passes the City Council it would halt new for-hire vehicle licenses for a year. [NYT] After a week of criticism, the MTA announced a quarterly Customer Commitment initiative so “customers can hold NYCT accountable.” [MTA] Target said they’re sorry if their new East […]

Uncategorized

July 27, 2018

$2M Soho co-op packs three bedrooms and a terrace into a stylish full-floor home

This full-floor, three-bedroom apartment at 118 Sullivan Street is on a classic stretch of Soho that combines commercial and nondescript with expensive and charming in a way few downtown Manhattan neighborhoods do. The co-op itself, asking $2 million, conveys the same un-fancy classic chic, with spacious rooms, three bedrooms, and an elegant patio.
Step in, stay awhile

Distinctive Homes

July 27, 2018

Are barns the next Williamsburg? Millennials head out of NYC to ‘upcycle’ rustic residences

By Michelle Sinclair Colman

Millennials are masters of upcycling, the practice beyond recycling products and things to not just reuse them but make them better. This trend is now extending to the real estate sector, where we're seeing some pretty spectacular renovations of historic barns into stunning homes. Below are five great examples of upcycling historic barns in a way that modernized the structures and added luxe amenities while honoring the authenticity and origin of the structures. All for sale and all within a few hours drive of New York City, these barn homes can be your country dream - or reality.
Check them all out

Merchant’s House Museum files petition in court against construction of adjacent eight-story hotel

The Merchant's House Museum and its supporters filed a petition on Monday in New York Supreme Court against the construction of an eight-story hotel planned next door. The 186-year-old East Village home at 29 East Fourth Street belonged to hardware merchant Seabury Tredwell, who bought the 10,000-square-foot residence for $18,000 in 1832. The museum, which has been remarkably preserved since then, became the first property in Manhattan to be designated a New York City landmark in 1965. But landmark status does not guarantee protection from any adjacent construction projects. The museum is now taking legal action against the hotel project because, as its executive director, Margaret "Pi" Halsey Gardiner, told the WSJ: "It's not going to be able to survive construction next door, I guarantee you."
Get the details

July 27, 2018

For $10K/month, this West Village duplex is a tranquil townhouse retreat

In the enviable Abingdon Square enclave, above a neighborhood shop and next door to iconic Rebel Coffee, this bright and cozy aerie at 21 8th Avenue is a certain kind of West Village dream. Asking $9,995 a month, the home is comprised of the top two floors in a charming brick townhouse. As the building's only residential unit, it's tucked above a quiet village boutique.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

‘The New L’ luxury shuttle service promises to solve L train shutdown, snacks included

Photo via The New L Train

July 27, 2018

‘The New L’ luxury shuttle service promises to solve L train shutdown, snacks included

As the doomsday clock ticks down the minutes to the dreaded L train apocalypse–the line is being shut down between 8th Avenue in Manhattan and Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn for Hurricane Sandy repairs starting in April of 2019–the powers that be have been telling us to take the bus, take the bus and take the bus or ride a bike. But Gothamist reports that a service called The New L hopes to keep us out of commuter hell by offering ultra-luxe commuter vans with professional chauffeurs at the wheel plus wi-fi, breakfast bars, and phone chargers.
And how much will it cost us?

Transit

This weekend’s subway service changes are comparatively merciful

Photo by Billie Grace Ward via Flickr

July 27, 2018

This weekend’s subway service changes are comparatively merciful

By Hannah Frishberg

On the heels of a slew of stations closing "temporarily," this weekend's subway agenda is quite reasonable. Still, though, a number of lines will be skipping multiple stops, masquerading as other trains, and running at spaced out intervals – see the full damage below.
It's the most functional weekend schedule in some time

Transit

July 26, 2018

For $16K a month, this unique Lincoln Square loft has a double-height plant wall in the living room

This four-bedroom pre-war duplex would be unusual for its double-height living room alone, but the soaring internal space is graced with a stunning living wall feature that you definitely won't find in the average Upper West Side living room. You can rent this cool space–originally an artists' loft when the Atelier at 33 West 67th Street was constructed in 1903–for $16,450 a month.
Take the tour

July 26, 2018

15 must-see attractions and adventures on Staten Island

With major developments underway, Staten Island is slowly losing its nickname as the "forgotten borough." While projects like Empire Outlets, the Bay Street Corridor rezoning, and the expansion of the former Stapleton homeport hope to revitalize the borough with new residential and commercial space, Staten Island already offers visitors a ton of unique attractions to explore. Just take the free Staten Island Ferry to discover the miles of coastline and 12,300-acres of parkland in the city's greenest and least populated borough. For the best spots in the borough, follow 6sqft's list ahead of the 15 most unforgettable attractions on Staten Island.
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

July 26, 2018

880+ affordable homes, new performing arts center and public space upgrades coming to Brownsville

A proposal to revitalize Brooklyn's Brownsville neighborhood was announced one year ago, with a plan to bring a seven-building housing development to the area unveiled last month. And on Thursday, city officials released more details about the massive project, with new renderings and updates on its progress. As part of the Brownsville Plan, the city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development will bring a new arts center and school run by a group from the Brooklyn Music School and a media lab run by BRIC, new retail and commercial space, and a rooftop greenhouse with locally sourced produce. Plus, two proposals were selected as the NYCx Co-Lab Challenge winners, a competition that sought to find ways to enhance the area's "nighttime experience."
Find out more

This fall, 1,000 New Yorkers will perform an ‘opera’ on the High Line

Photo byLiz Ligon via Mile Long Opera.

July 26, 2018

This fall, 1,000 New Yorkers will perform an ‘opera’ on the High Line

For five consecutive nights from October 3-7, 2018 "The Mile-Long Opera: a biography of 7 o’clock," will bring together 1,000 singers from across New York for free performances on the High Line. The project is a collaboration between architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang, with words and lyrics by acclaimed poets Anne Carson and Claudia Rankine. The free collective choral work shares personal stories, gathered through first-hand interviews with hundreds of New Yorkers about city life.
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

July 26, 2018

5 chances to live in the hip hub of Bushwick, from $926/month

Everything you need to know about affordable housing: applying, getting in, and staying put

Photo via Victoria Pickering on Flickr If you live at 682 Bushwick Avenue, chances are you would never go hungry. The rental building, which sits at the corner of Bushwick and Willoughby Avenues, is near local bars like Happyfun Hideaway and Birdy's, Mexican eatery Regalo De Juquila and artsy cafe Little Skips. A lottery launched this week at the building for five units set aside for New Yorkers earning 60 percent of the area median income. Available apartments include two $926/month one-bedrooms and three $1,042/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

THE 6SQFT SHOP

The best websites for buying and selling used furniture in NYC

The 6 best furniture rental companies in NYC

8 best places in NYC to thrift for home goods

Everything you need to know about using a guarantor in NYC

15 quintessential NYC gifts for the New Yorker in your life

New York City's best holiday markets of 2023

Raising chickens in NYC: Laws, tips, and everything else you need to know

10 best plants for apartment dwellers

Snag the Greenest Seat in Town: Gufram's 1972 Pratone Chair is Shaped Like a Patch of Grass

VIEW ALL

July 26, 2018

Test out townhouse life at this newly restored Harlem mansion for $13,000/month

This renovated, turn-key townhouse at 133 West 122 Street in Harlem combines 4,745 square feet of gorgeous historic details with the space and convenience of a modern mansion in one low-commitment rental opportunity for $12,950 a month. This uptown stunner was built in the 1880s by architect Francis Kimball; a recent renovation by David Mann brings contemporary chic and 21st-century comfort to the home's five bedrooms and five stories of living space, all while highlighting historic details like stained glass transoms, inlaid floors, and a whopping seven decorative fireplaces.
Tour this stunning Harlem mansion

MTA set to hike fares next year, despite poor service and fewer riders

Image by Ged Carroll via Flickr CC

July 26, 2018

MTA set to hike fares next year, despite poor service and fewer riders

Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials announced Wednesday it will stick with its plan to increase fares and tolls that net four percent in 2019 and 2021 as the agency faces budget deficits in the coming years, the Daily News reported. The MTA said it expects to lose roughly $376 million over the next four years, or $90 million per year, due to a drop in ridership. Between 2016 and 2017, there was a loss of 69 million rides on the city's subway and buses. The fare hike would be the sixth since 2009 when the state legislature approved a plan that included increasing fares every other year.
More here

July 26, 2018

Moby lists Westchester midcentury stunner for $1.3M with a promise to donate proceeds

Not only is Moby a singer/songwriter, DJ, photographer, vegan restauranteur, and animal rights activist, but he also has an eye for unique real estate. He formerly owned a whimsical replica castle in LA, and in March he dropped $1.24 million on a midcentury-modern stunner in Pound Ridge to be near his childhood home in Darien, Connecticut. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright-disciple David Henken in 1956, the Westchester home has jaw-dropping mahogany interiors, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the woods and a quaint garden, and a swimming pool. But after realizing that he's still spending most of his time on the west coast, he re-listed the property for $1.3 million, according to Curbed. And in true Moby fashion, he took to Instagram to say that he'll be donating proceeds from the sale to animal rights causes and progressive political candidates.
You don't want to miss this one

July 26, 2018

Misty Copeland dances her way to an Upper West Side apartment for $3.1M

By Annie Doge

Ballet superstar Misty Copeland, the first black ballerina to become a principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, moved to the Upper West Side when she was just 17 years old to join the company. And it doesn't seem like she plans on leaving any time soon. The dancer and her husband, attorney Olu Evans, have bought a condo at 215 West 88th Street for $3.125 million. The three-bedroom home is located in the Merrion, a building erected in 1915 (h/t Real Estate Weekly).
See it for yourself

42nd Street bus is the city’s slowest; NYC trails in the Airbnb race

M42 bus via Wiki Commons (L); via Pexels (R)

July 25, 2018

42nd Street bus is the city’s slowest; NYC trails in the Airbnb race

By 6sqft

Miami, Boston, LA, and San Francisco–all these cities have more expensive Airbnb rentals than NYC. [Bloomberg] And now that the NYC Council passed a bill that requires Airbnb to disclose names and addresses of hosts, their listings in the city could be cut by half. [Bloomberg] The M42 bus travels at an average pace of 3.2 mph […]

Uncategorized

Governor Cuomo announces plans for NYC’s next ‘food hall’ at LaGuardia Airport

Photo via Flickr cc

July 25, 2018

Governor Cuomo announces plans for NYC’s next ‘food hall’ at LaGuardia Airport

Shake Shack, Irving Farm coffee, La Chula taqueria--these sound like your typical food hall staples, but this time they're not in a Brooklyn warehouse or a trendy new building, but in LaGuardia Airport. Governor Cuomo announced today the lineup of in-state food purveyors for Terminal B, which will open in phases starting later this year as part of his massive $8 billion overhaul of LaGuardia. When complete, the entire new airport will have a total of 50 new restaurants, shops, and services, many of which will be local small businesses.
Get the scoop

You can soar down Centre Street on a 165-foot-long zipline this August

2017 Summer Streets; photo via DOT on Flickr

July 25, 2018

You can soar down Centre Street on a 165-foot-long zipline this August

Summer Streets is back! Starting August 4, New Yorkers can enjoy seven miles of car-free fun along Park Avenue, from Central Park to the Brooklyn Bridge. As part of the Department of Transporation's 11th annual event, activities will be offered on three Saturdays in August, from 7 am to 1 pm. While there's sadly not a dishwasher-looking waterslide this year, there will be a 165-foot-long, 30-foot-high zip line, fun hand-cycles to test out, and an eight-foot-tall bouldering wall.
Plan your summer streets fun

Lottery opens for 160 affordable apartments near the High Line, starting at $702/month

Photo via Flickr cc

July 25, 2018

Lottery opens for 160 affordable apartments near the High Line, starting at $702/month

The High Line and affordability don't typically go hand-in-hand, but the lottery opens tomorrow for a new, 160-unit affordable housing project at 425 West 18th Street, less than a block from the High Line. As part of a Bloomberg-era initiative to lease unused NYCHA land to private developers, the 18-story building took over the parking lot of the 1960s Fulton Houses complex. The low- and middle-income availabilities range all the way from $702/month studios to $3,216/month two-bedrooms, and amenities include a laundry room, bike storage, and outdoor space on the roof and first floor.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

July 25, 2018

$699K Bushwick ‘penthouse’ comes with a private roof deck and a 421-A tax abatement

We know that displaying guitars along a funky apartment wall or leaning one or two casually against a doorway is a regularly-employed home-staging move, but in this Bushwick "penthouse" at 38 Wilson Avenue, it somehow works. And you might not even have to have a record deal yet, as the one-bedroom condo with a private roof deck and platinum-selling views also comes with a 421-A tax abatement in place 'til 2035, lowering monthly common charges to $641 a month.
Rockin' views, this way

Distinctive Homes

July 25, 2018

New map from NYC Planning displays all zoning and land use applications dating back to 1970

The Department of City Planning launched a new data tool on Tuesday that displays the status of all zoning and land use applications dating back to 1970. The Zoning Application Portal, or ZAP, provides the public an easy way to search through 28,000 projects and pending applications, 500 of which are currently in public review. "This online tool is the ultimate in planning and zoning transparency," Marisa Lago, director of DCP, said. "It’s fast, it’s easy, it’s intuitive. We hope that New Yorkers – residents, advocacy groups, property and business owners – take full advantage, and get more involved in planning for our city’s future."
Explore the Zap Map

Policy

Men of steel: How Brooklyn’s Native American ironworkers built New York

Roger Horne, a Mohawk Ironworker in the Raising Gang, ca. 1970 via the Smithsonian

July 25, 2018

Men of steel: How Brooklyn’s Native American ironworkers built New York

By Lucie Levine

The Empire State Building. The George Washington Bridge. The United Nations. The Woolworth Building. 30 Rock. The Seagram Building. Lincoln Center. The Waldorf Astoria. Virtually all of New York’s most iconic structures were raised in part by Mohawk Native American ironworkers. Since 1916, when Mohawk men made their way to New York to work on the Hell Gate Bridge, ironworkers from two Native communities, Akwesasne (which straddles Ontario, Quebec, and New York State) and Kahnawake (near Montreal), have been “walking iron” across the city.
Get the rest of this stories-high story

First look at ODA’s boxy condo coming to busy 14th Street corner

Rendering by ODA Architecture

July 25, 2018

First look at ODA’s boxy condo coming to busy 14th Street corner

First renderings of ODA Architecture's 13-story tower planned for Greenwich Village reveal a Tetris-inspired, boxy design, YIMBY reported on Wednesday. Much like the firm's other projects, the facade of the building, located at 101 West 14th Street, will look like a series of sculpted, stacked boxes. Developer Gemini Rosemont has filed permits to convert the site which currently holds a former bank into condos with ground floor retail. There will be 45 condos total, with 21 of them duplexes.
See the design

Tribeca and Yorkville top the list for new development condo sales in 2018

Photo via Chris Goldberg/Flickr

July 25, 2018

Tribeca and Yorkville top the list for new development condo sales in 2018

For followers of Manhattan real estate it would be hard to miss the bumper crop of innovative, eye-catching and pricey new developments rising what seems like daily in Tribeca; but big numbers for new towers may come as a surprise when they're attached to old-school Yorkville on the Upper East Side. In the city that never fails to surprise, recent research from CityRealty shows that Tribeca and Yorkville are the top neighborhoods for new development condo sales so far this year. There are, of course reasons for the unlikely pairing at the top.
See who else is on the list

July 25, 2018

$4.4M Upper East Side penthouse tops the townhouse where Marc Chagall once lived

Like many grand Manhattan properties in the neighborhood, this duplex penthouse atop a five-story townhouse at 57 East 73rd Street has an interesting past: It was once home to painter Marc Chagall (though another former Chagall residence nearby at 4 East 74th Street has attracted a bit more buzz in recent years, especially since Michael Jackson lived there in the 1990s). The 73rd Street townhouse has been divided into five condos since the artist's time. Besides having painterly penthouse bragging rights, there's a terrace that looks out over the Upper East Side neighborhood, which in turn is one block from Central Park and the Carlyle Hotel. The 1,350-square-foot home is asking $4.35 million–after several price chops from its original ask of $4.95 million in June.
Get a closer look

Astoria is getting a new food hall with outer-borough vendors

Rendering via Vass Stevens

July 24, 2018

Astoria is getting a new food hall with outer-borough vendors

A new food hall is coming to the Astoria-Long Island City border in Queens, the Commercial Observer reported on Tuesday. Developer Vass Stevens Group is in the process of converting a former print shop, dollar store and restaurant supply store at 34-39 31st Street into a retail space with eight 2,000-square-foot storefronts. The interiors of the single-story building have been demolished and renovations, which will add new glass storefronts and doors, are set to begin soon.
Get the details

Food & Dining

July 24, 2018

‘Oversized’ Upper West Side studio earns its $600K ask with cute and clever details

By Hannah Frishberg

Here's a large studio apartment in the Upper West Side's Verdi co-op building at 175 West 73rd Street, just two blocks from Central Park. The eighth-floor unit has a Murphy bed to free up space, some original details, and is decently priced for those who value the location.
How would you arrange the space?

Distinctive Homes

July 24, 2018

Tommy Hilfiger’s former reality TV-famous Connecticut mansion lists for $6.75M

This incredible Greenwich, Connecticut mansion looks like something out of a television show, and, in fact, it has made many an appearance in the reality tv world. Owned by Tommy Hilfiger until 2006, it was the setting for his CBS design show "The Cut" and his kids' MTV show "Rich Girls." Built in 1999 on nearly five acres, the residence, known as "Appleyard Estate," boasts stone walls and a cobblestone courtyard, a professional grade theater and music studio, a massive pool and hot tub, and tennis courts. And it's just hit the market for $6.75 million.
Get a full look around

MTA says Uber use is the cause of NYC subway and bus ridership drop

Image: Todd Shaffer via Flickr.

July 24, 2018

MTA says Uber use is the cause of NYC subway and bus ridership drop

According to the Wall Street Journal, the MTA has presented data showing that lower New York City mass transit use numbers matched up with an uptick in taxi and ride-hailing trips. Even as the city's population grows, subway and bus ridership has been declining. New York City Transit Executive Vice President Tim Mulligan explained in a presentation Monday how dips in weekday subway ridership between 2016 and 2017 coincided with increased use of taxi and for-hire vehicles.
An international phenomenon

Spring + Thompson

83 Thompson Street

Soho

Loft-like residences in Soho designed by Selldorf Architects

2 beds starting at $4,975,000
4 beds starting at $14,850,000

Learn More

July 24, 2018

Our 1,600sqft: Inside the Tribeca live-work showroom of Vipp, a Danish ‘tool building’ company

6sqft’s series “Where I Work” takes us into the studios, offices, and businesses of New Yorkers across the city. In this installment, we’re touring the showroom-apartment of Tribeca's Vipp, a third-generation Danish company. Want to see your business featured here? Get in touch! Nearly 80 years ago in Denmark, Holger Nielsen designed a trash can with a pedal for his wife Marie's hair salon. Despite having no intention of selling it, demand grew for Nielsen’s sleek, and hygienic, trash bin and it became a fixture in Danish clinics, and later home use, over the next several decades. Nielsen called the bin “Vipp,” Danish for tilt, which describes the lid's movement. In 2009, the design was accepted into the permanent design collection at MoMA. Today, Vipp is a third generation family-owned company run by Nielsen’s daughter, Jette Egelund, and her two children Kasper and Sofie. In addition to its classic bin, Vipp now offers a wide range of lifestyle products, from entire kitchens and bathrooms to tableware and lighting. Based in Copenhagen, Vipp came to the United States four years ago and opened a showroom in Tribeca. Sofie Christensen Egelund, along with her husband and business partner Frank Christensen, turned the showroom into their actual apartment, outfitted with Vipp products. The designer-couple gave 6sqft a tour of their live-work space and Sofie talked to us about the company's design DNA, the move from Denmark to Manhattan and what it's like to work together as a married couple.
Take a tour of the apartment-showroom

Cuomo called out for ‘extravagance’ in adding $30M worth of blue and gold tiles to East River tunnels

Image courtesy of The Schreder Group.

July 24, 2018

Cuomo called out for ‘extravagance’ in adding $30M worth of blue and gold tiles to East River tunnels

Gov. Andrew Cuomo reportedly ordered the MTA to spend an extra $20-30 million to add blue and gold stripes–the state's color scheme–to the white tiles that line two of the city's tunnels beneath the East River. According to the New York Post, the already cash-strapped agency was ordered to add the blue and gold details to the white tiles being used to reline the Brooklyn-Battery and Queens Midtown tunnels in Superstorm Sandy repairs, even though the funds are sorely needed for station and other infrastructure repairs. According to a construction exec, “The white tile had already been ordered, but he insisted that [the walls] be in the state colors."
What does the MTA say?

Amazon launches same-day delivery from Whole Foods in Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan

Image via Whole Foods Market

July 24, 2018

Amazon launches same-day delivery from Whole Foods in Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan

You can now have all of your organic needs met within as little as an hour--without waiting in line. Amazon launched on Tuesday "ultrafast" same-day delivery from Whole Foods Market in 24 cities, including Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn and select areas of Long Island. The service, for Prime members only, began earlier this year and will continue to expand to more neighborhoods in NYC and in the country throughout 2018. "Today’s announcement is another way that we are continuing to expand access to our high-quality products and locally-sourced favorites," Christina Minardi, executive vice president of operations for Whole Foods Market, said in a statement.
Find out more

City Living

July 24, 2018

MTA to launch 14th Street Select Bus Service to help move 50K more daily riders during L train shutdown