February 23, 2018

3 trains down for the count, W trains picking up some slack in wacky weekend subway service

The subways are a mess this weekend, with track replacement, electrical and structural improvements, and track maintenance wreaking havoc on service citywide – not that straphangers would expect anything better. Particularly detrimental this weekend is that the 3 is once again not running and 7 train service will be severely limited. The W train will be coming out of its usual weekend hibernation for some "special service" operating between Whitehall St and Ditmars Blvd.
Trains are masquerading as each other right and left
February 22, 2018

NYC is the dirtiest city in the country; Italian-American group wants to landmark Christopher Columbus statue

New York is the dirtiest city in the nation, topping the categories of litter and pests. [NBC] And its residents smoke more weed than any other city in the world. [Brokelyn] The Columbus Heritage Coalition is petitioning the LPC to landmark the controversial Christopher Columbus statue. [amNY] Related’s Stephen Ross discusses Hudson Yards’ centerpiece, the Vessel. […]

February 22, 2018

Just 35 miles outside NYC, this magnificent estate on the New Jersey waterfront asks $1.75M

Located right on the shores of Green Pond--known as the cleanest lake in New Jersey--and just 35 miles outside of NYC, this custom property is asking $1.75 million (h/t CIRCA). Everything here is unique, from the stonework, wrought iron gates, deck and stone patio around the property, to the two-story glass conservatory inside. There's even a separate apartment for guests, so the property sleeps 16 people total. It's surely a destination that'll lure New Yorkers out of the city.
Get inside
February 22, 2018

Configure your loft life any way you like in this $1M Bushwick condo

There was a time when it would be surprising to find a million-dollar condo in deepest Bushwick near the Ridgewood border. But that time has passed long ago, and turnkey loft living awaits at this $1.05 million loft at the Wy 101 Lofts at 101 Wyckoff Avenue. The four-story 1925 warehouse building has been converted to 29 lofts possessed of every modern convenience (minus the L train, starting in 2019.). Currently configured as two large private rooms and a living room/kitchen area, the 1,152-square-foot corner floor plan is ready for configuration to fit your lifestyle in true loft fashion.
Get a closer look
February 22, 2018

Soon to be largest deliberately demolished tower ever, 270 Park Avenue proposal faces backlash

Plans to replace JPMorgan Chase's current headquarters at 270 Park Avenue with a much taller tower at the same site is facing opposition from architecture and preservation buffs, shortly after the proposal was announced. Not only will the project become the largest intentionally demolished building in history, as YIMBY reported, the landmark-worthy Union Carbide Building was also designed in 1960 by Natalie de Blois, a pioneer of American architecture and one of the few female senior designers at that time. As the first project under the Midtown East rezoning, JPMorgan Chase's existing 700-foot tall structure will be bulldozed to make way for a tower that will most likely be over 1,200 feet tall.
More this way
February 22, 2018

NYC developments get smart: A look at the latest residential building technologies

In a refreshingly non-"Black Mirror" way, many NYC residential developments are taking advantage of new technologies, like keyless door entry systems and digital concierges, not to replace humans but rather enhance them. These building technologies are making residents’ lives easier while prioritizing the importance of face-to-face interaction. According to a joint cnet/Coldwell Banker survey, “81 percent of current smart-home device owners say they would be more willing to buy a home with connected tech in place.” Clearly, developers got that message. Many new buildings in NYC are incorporating technology into their developments to enhance service as well as increase residents' personal security and privacy.
Get the scoop on all the latest tech
February 22, 2018

Did you know the Flatiron Building used to have a massive restaurant in the basement?

New York's iconic Flatiron building, built in 1902, gets plenty of attention for its distinctive, triangular design. But the massive restaurant that operated out of the landmark's basement--known as The Flat Iron Restaurant and Cafe--has seemingly been lost to the ages. The basement restaurant allegedly could seat up to 1,500 guests. And by 1906, Madison Square had transformed from a desirable residential neighborhood for the city’s elite, as it had been in the Gilded Age, to a bustling commercial hub. The lengthy menu reflects that, with offerings that include affordable dishes of shellfish, meats, and sandwiches.
Check out the menu
February 22, 2018

Billionaire Michael Dell revealed as the secret buyer of One57’s $100M penthouse

Founder and CEO of Dell Technologies, Michael Dell, was revealed as the buyer of the sprawling penthouse at One57 for $100.47 million, the most expensive home ever sold in New York City. According to the Wall Street Journal, Dell first entered a contract to buy the unit in 2012 when the Billionaires' Row building, located at 157 West 57th Street, was still under construction. He closed the transaction through a limited liability company in 2014.
Get the details
February 22, 2018

‘Glee’ actor Matthew Morrison puts his beachy Chelsea condo on the market for $2.5M

Actor Matthew Morrison of "Glee" fame must really want to part ways with his Chelsea condo because he and his wife Renee have just listed the two-bedroom at 540 West 28th Street for $2.495 million, according to People, barely more than the $2.25 million they bought it for in 2014. The couple was using the two-bedroom corner unit as a pied-a-terre while Morrison starred on Broadway in "Finding Neverland" from 2015-2016, but after welcoming their first child, a son named Revel, four months ago, they may be looking to reprioritize.
Take a look around
February 21, 2018

Christie Brinkley leaves Hamptons homes behind for a $30K/month Tribeca rental

Supermodel Christie Brinkley recently picked up a penthouse in Tribeca for $29,500 per month while two of her Hamptons estates are still on the market. The gorgeous 3,000-square-foot apartment at 475 Greenwich Street boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, two terraces and incredible views of the Hudson River. Although Brinkley has called the Hamptons home for decades, one of her Sag Harbor estates is currently listed for $20 million and another, a little further down, for $29.5 million, as Variety reported.
See inside
February 21, 2018

Two affordable apartments up for grabs right off Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx

In the Wakefield section of the Bronx, two affordable apartments are up for grabs just a block east of the picturesque Woodlawn Cemetery and a quick walk to Van Cortlandt Park. Located right near the 2 and 5 trains, the recently constructed, four-story, eight-unit building at 626 East 223rd Street is offering a $690/month one-bedroom to a household earning 40 percent of the area median income and a $1,200/month two-bedroom to a household earning 60 percent.
See if you qualify
February 21, 2018

Beamed ceilings and a spiral staircase make a bold statement at this $6,500/month West Village pad

The West Village co-op 92 Horatio Street is featuring a duplex apartment up for rent, and it's got lots of personality. This unit is decked out with dark wood beamed ceilings, two brick fireplaces, and a spiral staircase taking you up to a private roof terrace. The one bedroom also boasts some extra space in the form of a home office. There have been no shortage of quirky co-ops up for sale in this building, but this one is up for rent asking $6,500 a month.
Go see inside
February 21, 2018

Conceptual proposal envisions futuristic mixed-use NYC project with micro units and drone landings

Although Mayor Bill de Blasio announced last year new mandates to force building owners to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as a way to fight climate change, a Dallas-based architecture firm has taken the idea of sustainable design to the next level. During last month's International Builder's Show, Humphreys & Partners presented a conceptual plan for a mixed-use project on Manhattan's waterfront. In Pier 2: Apartment of the Future, the architects tackled major issues prevalent in many cities, like affordability and energy efficiency (h/t Curbed NY). The futuristic proposal includes two towers with modular and micro-units, which would boast futuristic amenities like artificial intelligence, drones, home automation and more.
More this way
February 21, 2018

Our 1,600sqft: The owners of NYC’s oldest dog boutique mix classic styles on Central Park West

When Mark Drendel and Chad Conway met on Fire Island 21 years ago, they didn't know that they'd one day claim ownership of "the world’s only Dog Lifestyle brand." Despite the wild success of Canine Styles, also the oldest dog emporium in New York City, this couple remains down-to-earth and grounded in their family, which includes their high school-aged son, 13-year-old border terrier Katie, and year-old miniature schnauzer Izzy. But of course, their home, located in the Art Deco Central Park West building The Century, is just as fashionable as their business. They describe Canine Styles as having "a flair for traditional, classic but up-to-date design," which holds true for their recently renovated apartment, too. Mark and Chad's basic design concept was wanting guests to not be completely sure what city or era they're in. By mixing the space's Art Deco bones with their modern art collection, contemporary furnishings, and antiques spanning from the 18th century to the 1960s, they've created a uniquely stylish space. 6sqft recently took a tour and chatted with this lovely couple about the history and future of Canine Styles, what a normal day at home looks like, and their thoughts on raising a family (human or four-legged!) in NYC.
All of that, this way
February 21, 2018

New 70-story JPMorgan Chase tower will be the first project under Midtown East rezoning

Mayor Bill de Blasio and JPMorgan Chase announced on Wednesday plans to build a new 70-story world headquarters at the site of the bank's current offices at 270 Park Avenue, the first project under the East Midtown Rezoning plan. Approved by the City Council in August, the rezoning affects 78 blocks running from East 39th Street to East 57th Street and from Third Avenue to Madison Avenue. The updated zoning code is expected to clear the way for 6.5 million square feet of modern office space and allow for taller buildings. JPMorgan Chase's new building will have enough room for about 15,000 employees, compared to the old building's capacity of just 3,500 employees.
Find out more
February 21, 2018

30 chances to live in FiDi’s new art-themed rental tower, from $613/month

The Financial District's new 23-story luxury rental tower Exhibit offers what's becoming the usual package of high-end amenities--a wrap-around roof deck, lounge, and fitness studio complete with a yoga room and Pelaton indoor cycles--but what sets the project apart is that it's considered the city's "first curated rental residence." The building at 60 Fulton Street has on display a collection of more than 100 pieces of art, from works by a 5 Pointz graffiti legend to massive photography, which they consider "a dynamic celebration of the downtown art, music, culture, and style that made New York City the capital of the world." Whether or not you buy into the hype, you might have a chance to live in this hip building for a lot less. The lottery is currently open for 30 affordable units ranging from $613/month studios to $2,733/month two-bedrooms, reserved for households earning 40, 60, or 130 percent of the area median income.
Find out if you qualify
February 21, 2018

Live in historic townhouse style without the commitment in this $5,500/month Clinton Hill duplex

Historic Brooklyn townhouses are at a premium, and they're a lot of work to maintain. Opportunities like this gorgeous duplex on one of the prettiest avenues in the Clinton Hill Historic District give you a chance to live in high-ceilinged grandeur, fabulous backyard oasis and all, without the mortgage or the commitment. It will, however, cost you $5,500 a month for this 1,700-square-foot rental at 227 Washington Avenue.
Take the tour
February 20, 2018

Taylor Swift has ‘bad blood’ with her Tribeca neighbors; Inside David Adjaye’s Midtown spy museum

Taylor Swift’s Tribeca neighbors are not happy about her recent real estate hoopla, even posting “Taylor Swift Can Go F–k Herself” signs. [NYP] A proposed law would force NYC businesses to accept credit cards for transactions over $10. [Time Out NY] See inside David Adjaye’s Spyscape museum of espionage in Midtown. [Dezeen] New York state has 400 breweries, breaking […]

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February 20, 2018

$3M Tribeca loft has the elegance of old New York in a 21st century condo

This full-floor, pre-war Tribeca loft condominium is truly, as the listing implies, a warm and stylish exception in a sea of fabulous but frosty new developments. Asking $3.095 million, the spacious 1,835-square-foot home at 42 White Street is more civilized than the average loft, though more laid-back than the average townhouse, and currently has enough books and art to satisfy an entire generation of culture-hungry New Yorkers.
Have a look around
February 20, 2018

With permit to dig, Elon Musk’s plan for a 29-minute ride between NYC and D.C. inches forward

The Boring Company, led by Elon Musk, received a building permit this week from the Washington, D.C. government, potentially jumpstarting the tech entrepreneur's plan to bring a high-speed tube system between New York City and D.C. Although Musk said last summer he received "verbal" approval from officials, the new, written permit allows preparatory and excavation work to begin on a parking lot on New York Avenue in D.C., the Washington Post reported. The Hyperloop One would be able to take passengers from NYC to D.C., with stops in Philadelphia and Baltimore, in just 29 minutes via a tube moved by electric propulsion.
More this way
February 20, 2018

$14M “single family masterpiece” on the Upper West Side stuns in seafoam

The current owners of the Upper West Side townhouse at 144 West 82nd Street took on a careful renovation that they're hoping will appeal to a new buyer. The 6,193-square-foot residence was transformed into a grand single-family home, with impressively restored, ornate interior details paired with modern appliances and perks like a wine room and elevator. (They've also finished much of the interior in shades of seafoam green.) The owners bought in 2000 for $3.6 million--post reno, it's asking a $13.9 million.
The interior will impress
February 20, 2018

Subway stations on the Upper West Side and Astoria to temporarily close this spring

Thousands of straphangers on the Upper West Side and Astoria will have to rethink their daily commutes come spring, as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority plans on closing some stations for up to six months for repairs and upgrades. The station makeovers fall under the MTA's Enhanced Station Initiative, a plan to improve the reliability and customer experience inside the subway system. Planned enhancements include installing digital countdown clocks at subway entrances, glass barriers, LED lighting and adorning station walls with artwork.
Find out more
February 20, 2018

The 8 best places in Times Square that don’t suck

One of the true marks of a New Yorker is an aversion to Times Square, where slow-walking out-of-towners clog sidewalks, costumed characters try to hug you for tips, and overpriced suburban chains like Olive Garden and Applebees abound. But a few bright spots exist amid the touristy madness and Broadway shows, and they’re worth a visit if you happen to be in the area, if not a specific trip (seriously, avoid Times Square at all costs if you can).
Here are a few of our favorites
February 20, 2018

Could an East River pontoon bridge be a viable L train alternative?

Real estate investor, sailing champion and former Calvin Klein underwear model Parker Shinn has entered the impending void of the dreaded L train shutdown scheduled for April of 2019 with a new alternative. The concept, which joins a growing list that includes a gondola, an inflatable tunnel, car-free bus lanes, bike lanes and a lot of MTA re-routing, is called L-ternative Bridge, and consists of a temporary pontoon bridge between Brooklyn and Manhattan that would be capable of supporting two lanes of bus traffic and two walking/bike paths.
So what's a pontoon bridge?
February 20, 2018

Rafael Viñoly’s octagonal-cored Upper East Side tower gets new rendering

First announced over a year ago and later approved by the city's Department of Buildings in September, Rafael Viñoly’s residential project planned for 249 East 62nd Street moved forward this week after the architect released a new rendering. As YIMBY reported, the 510-foot building will feature retail and a townhouse at its base, with apartments above it through the 12th floor. The uniqueness of this project's design lies with its 150-foot-tall octagonally-shaped core, aimed at raising the height of upper-level apartments without counting it toward usable square footage.
Details here
February 20, 2018

Frank Gehry and Santiago Calatrava to design Hudson Yards residential towers

Though starchitect Frank Gehry threatened to flee to France after the 2016 election, he'll likely be sticking around to design new towers at the Hudson Yards mega-development on Manhattan's west side; Gehry and fellow controversial architect Santiago Calatrava are among those chosen to work on the residential western section of Related Cos. and Oxford Properties' 28-acre complex, according to a source close to the project who spoke with the Wall Street Journal.
Find out more
February 17, 2018

NYC RENTALS: This week’s roundup of rental news & offers

Special Leasing Offers at 175 Kent Avenue in Williamsburg New Renderings of Lenox Terrace Expansion in Harlem, Plus Renovated Apartments from $1,650/Mo. New Listings at RIVERBANK in Hell's Kitchen: Sky-High Rentals from $2,879/Month 1629 Pacific Street: Luxury Crown Heights Rentals Start at $2,667/month Ready to Roll: Long Island City Rental The Silver Star Set for March Launch Live at Rocket Factory Lofts on Williamsburg's South 4th Street; 1- and 2-Beds Available Now Leasing Kicks Off on New Uptown Rentals at 531 West 159th Street
READ MORE
February 16, 2018

This drool-worthy, lofty pad asks $1.4M inside a historic Chelsea townhouse

The Neo-Classical townhouse at 146 West 16th Street sits on a dreamy historic Chelsea side street, and one of the apartments inside is just as charming. The two-bedroom apartment spans the entire floor and has been renovated. It sold in 2010 for $899,000, in 2014 for $1.29 million, and now it's asking $1.399 million. Interior details like walnut stained oak floors, whitewashed exposed brick, an original decorative marble mantel, plus a wall of windows facing 16th Street are sure to impress.
So take a look
February 16, 2018

Before its summer kickoff, new renderings for Halletts Point’s first rental

The first of the Durst Organization's seven-building, $1.5 billion development on the Astoria waterfront got new renderings this week, months ahead of its scheduled opening. As Curbed NY learned, the developer said leasing will launch for the two-tower 10 Halletts Points this summer. The first building to open on the Halletts Point campus, the tower will feature 405 apartments, of which up to 25 percent will be affordable.
More details here
February 16, 2018

The Urban Lens: Documenting 20 years of Harlem architecture

After moving to New York in 1992 and earning a degree in architecture from City College, Yugoslavia-born photographer Albert Vecerka moved to Harlem and started documenting the neighborhood. Originally an attempt to dispel the notion that Harlem was "dangerous," his "Harlem project," also captures its architectural fabric and aesthetic changes over time. 6qft recently caught up with Vecerka to hear his thoughts on Harlem--what it was like 20 years ago and why he still calls it home.
See more photos and hear from Albert
February 16, 2018

Plan for a performing arts space at the World Trade Center moves forward

The project to bring a performing arts center to the World Trade Center is finally back on track, almost 15 years after the idea was included in the original vision for rebuilding the area post-9/11. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Thursday an agreement for a 99-year lease between the Port Authority and the World Trade Center Performing Arts Center Inc. (PAC) for $1 per year, paving the way for construction to begin. Named for the billionaire who gifted $75 million to the project, the Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center will include 200,000 square feet of space, three halls and a rehearsal space, a restaurant and a gift shop. If everything moves smoothly, the center could open as soon as the 2020 or 2021 season.
Find out more
February 16, 2018

New Jersey’s priciest penthouse has a hibachi dining room and glass cube roof deck

Developer Alexander Hovnanian has introduced a new, head-turning $8 million penthouse at the Nine on the Hudson development in New Jersey's Port Imperial neighborhood. Inspired by Japanese design and Dutch aesthetics, the home was created to be "incomparable to other penthouses in NJ, even in NYC" atop the new U-shaped 278-unit project on the Hudson River in West New York.
Greenhouse kitchen, glass cube roof deck, this way
February 16, 2018

Black history in Greenwich Village: 15 sites related to pioneering African-Americans

Greenwich Village has been known throughout its existence for breaking new ground and embracing outsiders. One often-forgotten but important element of that trailblazing narrative is the extraordinary role the Village played in relation to African American history. The neighborhood was home to North America’s earliest free Black settlement in the 17th century, to some of America’s first black churches in the 19th century, and many pioneering African-American artists, civil rights leaders, and organizations in the 20th century. This Black History Month, here are just a few of the exceptional Greenwich Village sites connected to African-American history.
Learn about all 15 sites here
February 16, 2018

The Panorama Challenge is back! See if you can answer past years’ toughest trivia questions

For the 11th year, the City Reliquary, Queens Museum, and The Levys’ Unique New York! have partnered for the Panorama Challenge, considered the ultimate NYC trivia. On Friday, March 2, using the Panorama of the City of New York at the Queens Museum – a room-sized scale model of the entire city, a relic from the 1964 World's Fair – teams will answer questions in categories that may include McKim, Mead, & White sites; the Grammys; the movie Wonderstruck; and the Museum's Never Built New York exhibit. In anticipation of the event, quizmaster Jonathan Turer is testing 6sqft readers with five (one for each borough!) of past years' toughest clues.
Test your knowledge!
February 16, 2018

Bruce Willis ‘downsizes’ to a new four-bedroom Riverside Center condo

Bruce Willis and his wife Emma Heming Willis found a buyer for their home at 271 Central Park West for $17.75 million within a week of listing the six-bedroom co-op after deciding to downsize a bit. According to reports the pair have just bought a new Upper West Side aerie at One West End at 1 West End Avenue. The four-bedroom condominium in the 41-story tower, part of the in the massive Riverside Center project designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli and Hill West Architects, spans over 3,000 square feet and was last listed for $7.9 million.
Take a look
February 16, 2018

MTA serves up debilitating service change schedule this long weekend

Monday is a Federal Holiday, President's Day, and the MTA has both a trick and a treat planned for the long weekend. The treat is that the Q70 LaGuardia Link bus will be free through Tuesday. The trick is that both subways and buses will be operating on a Saturday schedule come Monday, meaning there will be no express service on the 6 or 7 trains and the B, J and W trains will not be running, in addition to a number of other service changes. The MTA is offering no rest for weary straphangers in terms of planned work line rerouting: 3 trains won't be running at all, and the Rockaways will be serviced largely by shuttle bus.
Good luck, straphangers
February 15, 2018

Three chances to live off Crown Heights’ hip Franklin Avenue for $2,250/month

The lottery launched on Thursday for three middle-income units in a new building located just off Crown Height's hip Franklin Avenue. Within walking distance to tasty restaurants and eclectic stores, as well as the Brooklyn Museum and Prospect Park, 615 St. John's Place sits in one of the most coveted areas of Central Brooklyn. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the three one-bedroom apartments for $2,250 per month.
Find out if you qualify
February 15, 2018

The new nomadic lifestyle: Luxury real estate and restaurants take over Nomad

A nomad is defined as “a member of a community of people who live in different locations, moving from one place to another in search of grasslands for their animals.” But it would be hard to imagine any Nomad resident ever straying for grasslands beyond Madison Square Park. After a series of incarnations over the years, Nomad is now a super hip, bustling neighborhood from morning through night with residents, technology businesses (it’s now being referred to as “Silicon Alley”), loads of retail (leaning heavily toward design), great architecture, hot hotels, and tons and tons of food. Named for its location north of Madison Square Park, Nomad's borders are a bit fuzzy but generally, they run east-west from Lexington Avenue to Sixth Avenue and north-south from 23rd to 33rd Streets. Douglas Elliman's Bruce Ehrmann says, “Nomad is the great link between Madison Square Park, Midtown South, Murray Hill and 5th Avenue.”
READ MORE
February 15, 2018

A 10-minute walk to the subway could save you 10 percent on rent

While amenities like on-site laundry and air conditioning are big selling points in New York City rentals, the building's proximity to the subway remains one of the most important factors when looking for new digs. And like other amenities, there is an added cost to live near the subway. New data from RentHop breaks down how much renters can save by living further from the subway in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. According to their report, as Curbed NY reported, apartments closest to the subway cost 6 to 8 percent more than the borough median, with the furthest costing 8 to 10 percent less.
Details here
February 15, 2018

Tired of NYC’s light pollution? Use this map to find ‘dark sky’ escapes

The omnipresence of artificial light, brilliant in its intentions, has become as much of a nuisance as a blessing in cities where we almost can’t tell night from day. Enter global light pollution. Is there any escape? The bright lights get in the way of astronomy–and affect animals and plants (who can’t just pull the shades down). Scientists are looking to “dark sky” initiatives to protect areas unscathed by light pollution; there are now dark-sky-designated areas in North America, South America and Europe. Interactive dark sky maps, courtesy of Esri, show where on Earth one might find respite from the glare–and where it’s at its most intense.
Check out the map
February 15, 2018

Fearless Girl and Charging Bull statues might relocate from Wall Street

The temporary bronze sculpture that has attracted millions of tourists and locals could become a permanent fixture in New York City, according to Adweek. Commissioned by State Street Global Advisors, the Fearless Girl statue was installed last March, a day before International Women's Day, sending a message to Wall Street for the need of gender equality in the financial world. With her chin up and hands firmly on her hips, the 250-pound statue defiantly faces the iconic Charging Bull statue, which has stood in the same spot since 1989. And now the city might relocate the pair of statues from Bowling Green Park in lower Manhattan to another, more pedestrian-friendly home to ease safety concerns.
Find out more
February 15, 2018

New York City’s priciest townhouse sets another record after $90M sale

Billionaire Len Blavatnik has broken the city's record for the most expensive townhouse after paying $90 million for an Upper East Side mansion, according to the New York Post. The seller, HNA Group, sold the home at 19 East 64th Street after recently picking it up in April for $79.5 million, a record at the time. Blavatnik, a music executive who already owns a home on 64th Street and paid $80 million for a home at 834 Fifth Avenue, has an estimated net worth of around $20.5 billion.
More this way
February 15, 2018

Mel Gibson’s former 75-acre Greenwich estate is back on the market for $22.5M

The marvelously enormous Greenwich, CT estate known as Old Mill Farm was owned by Mel Gibson for 15 years, during which it was known as Wayne Manor; The actor/director sold it for about $24 million in 2010, and it has been on and off the market ever since. The sprawling property, which includes a greenhouse, a pool, a box maze, stables, a log cabin, a spring-fed lake, a lighted tennis court–and a life-sized chess board--is back on the market asking $22.5 million, Curbed reports. The estate is anchored by a 15,800-square-foot, eight-bedroom Elizabethan Tudor, which is a marvel even on its own.
Get the grand tour
February 15, 2018

In a former Harlem school building, this rococo-inspired studio asks $695K

There's no overlooking this studio apartment from the former Harlem public school at 220 West 148th Street. Carved from the early 1900s school building, this is a 750-square-foot pad with 12-foot ceilings and light through three exposures. In this bright space, the current owner has packed every corner with a rococo-inspired design. Plenty of elaborate touches make this feel less like a tight studio and rather a lofty apartment with plenty to look at.
Head right in
February 14, 2018

The Obamas are not moving to the Upper East Side

Barack and Michelle Obama via Wiki Commons; One of 10 Gracie Square’s terraces overlooking the East River, via CityRealty Dreams of having Barack and Michelle Obama in New York City were dashed this week after a report dispelled any and all rumors about the presidential couple moving to Manhattan. According to New York Magazine, the Obamas are not purchasing the five-bedroom duplex at 10 Gracie Square that went into contract for $10 million last month. On background, a source told the magazine: "It's not happening. They certainly did not submit an application, and this never got to the point where a deal was even being floated."
More here
February 14, 2018

A love letter to NYC pigeons; Are these the New Yorkiest Valentine’s cards?

They’re romantic, they’re ubiquitous, and they have crazy visual abilities–why you should love NYC pigeons. [WNYC] For the third time, Jersey City was ranked the most diverse city in the country. [NJ.com] Celeb-favorite sweets emporium Sugar Factory will open a Museum of Candy in the old Limelight Church. [NYP] Inside one of Bushwick’s last remaining […]

February 14, 2018

RPA report envisions New Jersey’s Meadowlands as the first ‘Climate Change National Park’

Released last fall, the Regional Plan Association's (RPA) Fourth Plan includes 61 recommendations focused on improving and expanding the area's deteriorating infrastructure, transportation, and affordability, much of which revolves around climate change and its transformation of the region. According to the report, more than one million people and 650,000 jobs are at risk of flooding due to rising sea levels. In the plan, the RPA ambitiously recommends that the New Jersey Meadowlands, 21,000 acres of low-lying wetlands, becomes a national park as a way to mitigate impacts of climate change (h/t Curbed). Designating the region's largest wetland as a national park would restore the natural habits, protect nearby communities, and create a recreational space, becoming, the report says, a "Climate Change National Park." The Meadowlands National Park would adapt and grow with climate change by drawing and redrawing the boundaries of the park as coastlines change.
Find out more
February 14, 2018

Six things you didn’t know about the Lower West Side

This post is part of a series by the Historic Districts Council, exploring the groups selected for their Six to Celebrate program, New York’s only targeted citywide list of preservation priorities. The Lower West Side may not be a neighborhood name used by brokers, but for those involved with preservation efforts in the area, it's a neighborhood very much unique from the surrounding Financial District. Encompassing the area west of Broadway from Liberty Street to Battery Place, it was originally home to Irish and German immigrants, followed by Little Syria, the nation’s first and largest Arabic settlement, from roughly the 1880s to 1940s. But the construction of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel and World Trade Center "nearly wiped the neighborhood off the map." There are still several buildings remaining that serve as a connection to the past, however, and Friends of the Lower West Side is working diligently to make sure this history is not lost, expanding its oral history program, offering walking tours of the area, and appealing to the Landmarks Commission to designate a small historic district.
Find out six little-known facts about this amazing district
February 14, 2018

$9.5M tricked-out Soho bachelor pad is a townhouse with condo benefits

The name is as flashy as its leather-wrapped walls and furnishings and smoked-glass kitchen:  Townhouse One at Soho Mews spans 3,855 square feet on two floors and offers five bedrooms and a discreet private entrance on Soho's bustling Wooster Street. Asking $9.5 million, this palatial "townhouse" gets access to the amenities of the stylish Soho Mews condominium at 311 West Broadway including a concierge, a gym and parking.
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February 14, 2018

Collection of antique Valentines explores expressions of love over three centuries

While a simple and perhaps less swanky gesture than diamonds and roses, a Valentine's Day card remains one of the most popular ways to say "I love you" every February 14. This year Americans will exchange about 190 million greeting cards during the holiday, spending nearly $1 billion on them. A collection of antique paper Valentines from The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens proves this is not a 21st-century phenomenon. The museum, located in San Marino, CA, acquired a collection of about 12,300 romantic greeting cards, sentimental notes and drawings made in Europe and North America from 1684 to 1970 (h/t NY Times). A historian from New Jersey, Nancy Rosin, put together the impressive collection of cards over four decades and her family recently donated them to the museum.
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