6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

If you've visited Brooklyn Bridge Park then it's likely you've seen 8 Old Fulton Street, the historic brick cooperative--with the red door--directly facing the park. In the 1860s, this building was constructed for the Brooklyn City Railroad Company. Today the landmark holds just 10 co-ops, meaning it's rare to see apartments up for grabs. But this one-bedroom triplex has hit the market for $1.975 million, decked out with columns, exposed brick and twelve-foot ceilings. The previous owner was the artist Caro Heller, who passed away in 2014. According to public records, her children--an adventure writer and gallery owner--have listed the property for sale.
See the stunning interior

September 21, 2017

Architensions transformed a Brooklyn townhouse into a stunning compound with a writing pavilion

By Andrew Berman of Village Preservation

This Brooklyn abode feels more like a compound than traditional townhouse, with a redesign that blurred the lines between inside and out, and added three pavilions to the backyard. Two pavilions extend from the rear of the townhouse, while the third was envisioned as a mini writers retreat. (We've swooned over this backyard pavilion before.) Inside the main house, the completely paired down, modern interiors were finished with light wood, gray tile and high ceilings.
Head inside

From Willem de Kooning’s loft to the threat of the wrecking ball: The history of 827-831 Broadway

827-831 Broadway today via Wiki Commons (L); Willem de Kooning in his Fourth Avenue studio, April 1946. Harry Bowden, photographer. Harry Bowden papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.Via The Willem de Kooning Foundation. (R)

September 21, 2017

From Willem de Kooning’s loft to the threat of the wrecking ball: The history of 827-831 Broadway

Underneath the lyrical and much-admired sherbet-colored facades of the twin lofts at 827-831 Broadway lies a New York tale like no other. Incorporating snuff, sewing machines, and cigar store Indians; Abstract Expressionists; and the “antique dealer to the stars,” it also involves real estate and big money, and the very real threat of the wrecking ball. Ahead, explore the one-of-a-kind past of these buildings, which most notably served as the home to world-famous artist Willem de Kooning, and learn about the fight to preserve them not only for their architectural merit but unique cultural history.
Get the entire history

September 21, 2017

15 best spots to celebrate Oktoberfest in and around New York City

As the weather cools and the fall foliage blooms, there is no better way to welcome autumn than listening to live music, drinking authentic German beer, and eating bratwurst and giant pretzels. Munich comes to New York City with tons of Oktoberfest events starting this month throughout the five boroughs, including some just a little further out of town. Celebrate Bavarian culture this year with events like traditional pig roasts, ceremonial keg tappings, "oompah" bands, stein-holding competitions and much more. Ahead, revel in the tradition of Oktoberfest and find the 15 best spots to grab authentic brews and brats this season with 6sqft's guide.
Beers and Brats this way

Events & Things To Do

Live in Long Island City’s luxurious rental tower, the Hayden, from $947/month

Rendering of the Hayden, courtesy of Rockrose Development

September 21, 2017

Live in Long Island City’s luxurious rental tower, the Hayden, from $947/month

The second batch of affordable apartments is now available at the Hayden, a 50-story, 924-unit highrise in the blossoming neighborhood of Long Island City in Queens. Designed by SCLE Architects, the building at 43-25 Hunter Street features amenities like a fitness center, yoga room, basketball court, rooftop solarium, screening room, library and more. Qualifying New Yorkers earning between $34,355 and $57,240 can apply for $947 per month studios, $1,017 per month one-bedrooms and the $1,230 per month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

September 21, 2017

Eight months after opening, Second Avenue Subway still doesn’t have its safety certificate

When the Second Avenue Subway opened this past New Year's Day, it was nothing short of a miracle. Not only had the $4 billion infrastructure project been 100 years in the making but in the months leading up to its deadline, there was much talk about delays related to the system’s “rigorous testing schedule" not being met. As it turns out, the testing wasn't met; the Times tells us that when the train opened on January 1st, "the fire alarm system was still being tested and more than 17,000 defects found during inspections had not been fixed." And eight months later, the train is still operating under a temporary safety certificate.
Get all the details

Five Manhattan West. Rendering via Millerhare.

September 21, 2017

Amazon inks deal for 360,000 square feet of NYC office space at 5 Manhattan West

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced today that tech giant Amazon will be growing its presence in New York City. The company just signed a lease for a 359,000-square-foot administrative office at Five Manhattan West, Brookfield Property Partners' 16-story, 1.8 million-square-foot Skidmore, Owings & Merrill-designed building located on Tenth Avenue between 31st and 33rd Streets. The new addition is expected to create 2,000 new jobs in finance, sales, marketing, and information technology. The offices will be the main New York location for Amazon Advertising, which handles sales, marketing, product, design, engineering and more. "We're excited to expand our presence in New York–we have always found great talent here," said Paul Kotas, Amazon's Senior Vice President of Worldwide Advertising.
Find out more

New Developments

September 21, 2017

Historic beauty shines through lush design in this $3.5M Prospect Heights Neo-Gothic townhouse

Given the renovation fever that has swept the city's historic neighborhoods, it sometimes seems rare to see a home like this one, built at the turn century in a Neo-Gothic style, that retains its grandeur after being designed and remodeled into a picture of 21st century city living perfection. This four-story Prospect Heights townhouse at 577 Carlton Avenue, currently asking $3.495 million, has retained its historic details, while color, texture and inspired design decisions elevate it above many of its more ordinary brownstone Brooklyn neighbors.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

Distinctive Homes

For $5.1M, this pretty Gramercy condo comes with a key to the private park

For $32.5K/month, rent a five-story designer townhouse in Gramercy

For $5.5M, this Flatiron condo with four-bedroom potential is a prize for loft-lovers

For $1.45M, this barrel-fronted Bay Ridge home offers three floors for living and lots of outdoor space

An artist's Upper East Side condo is a palace-sized riot of joyful color for $8.75M

For $1.65M, this Prospect Heights pre-war co-op can expand to hold a classic six

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

A world traveler's Catskills haven is now a $2M mountaintop home

Every inch of this $1.8M Fieldston home was hand-crafted by an artist resident

Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi lists Chelsea condo for $5.9M

VIEW ALL

VIDEO: The story behind Port Authority’s secret public piano

Adrian Untermyer plaing the piano, via Sing for Hope

September 20, 2017

VIDEO: The story behind Port Authority’s secret public piano

Smack in the middle of the busiest bus terminal in the world is a funky, rainbow piano. Located on a platform that was once the terminal's operations control center but is now the Port Authority Bus Terminal Performing Arts Stage, the piano arrived last year via a collaboration with the nonprofit Sing for Hope. But the idea for this public performance opportunity is thanks to pianist and preservationist Adrian Untermyer, who originally saw pianos in train stations in Paris and thought it would be a great way to bring "light and joy and music to a space that we all know but may not particularly love." In the video ahead, Adrian tells us how his proposal became a reality and why Port Authority deserved a piano.
Watch 6sqft's video here

The most rainfall ever recorded in NYC fell on September 23, 1882

A rainy NYC day, photo courtesy of dalioPhoto on Flickr

September 20, 2017

The most rainfall ever recorded in NYC fell on September 23, 1882

While it appears New York City avoided much of Hurricane Jose’s wrath this week, experiencing only slight showers and mild winds, New Yorkers weren't as lucky on an autumn day in 1882. According to the National Weather Service, Sept. 23, 1882 is considered the rainiest day in New York City's history, with 8.28 inches of rainfall recorded (h/t NY Times). As a Times article reported from the record-setting wet event: “Umbrellas were useless, and most of the thin rubber over-garments proved of little service in excluding the drenching, penetrating streams which hit the wayfarer from above and below, and, for that matter, in front and behind as well."
More this way

Massive penthouse in the Woolworth Building’s iconic copper ‘Pinnacle’ lists for $110M

Rendering of the Pinnacle via Williams New York

September 20, 2017

Massive penthouse in the Woolworth Building’s iconic copper ‘Pinnacle’ lists for $110M

When the neo-Gothic Woolworth Building was erected in 1913 as the world's tallest building, it cost a total of $13.5 million. Now, 104 years and a partial condo conversion later, its massive, seven-story penthouse has hit the market for an exorbitant $110 million. The Wall Street Journal first got wind of the not-yet-public listing, which could be the most expensive sale ever downtown, far surpassing the current $50.9 million record at Chelsea’s Walker Tower. Dubbed the Pinnacle for its location in the 792-foot tower's iconic green copper crown, the penthouse will encompass 9,710 square feet and boast a private elevator, 24-foot ceilings, a 400-square-foot open observatory, and views in every direction, from the World Trade Center to New Jersey to the East River.
More details ahead

Distinctive Homes

First look at Halletts Point’s phase two reveals pair of blocky, glass towers

Rendering of Halletts Point’s second set of buildings pulled from construction site, courtesy of The Durst Organization

September 20, 2017

First look at Halletts Point’s phase two reveals pair of blocky, glass towers

Construction of the Durst Organization’s first development outside of Manhattan, Halletts Point, a $1.5 billion waterfront development in Astoria, is moving full speed ahead. As CityRealty learned, new renderings hanging outside of the construction site reveal two blocky towers covered in glass, with rows of balconies at their corners. Earlier this month, construction topped out on the project’s first two towers at 26-01 1st Street, designed by Dattner Architects. Now, work has officially begun on the second pair of buildings at 26-02 1st Street and 26-40 1st Street.
Find out more

September 20, 2017

$1.55M garden duplex in Gramercy stands out with 1920s tin ceilings

Tin ceilings aren't uncommon in prewar New York apartments, but they're usually painted over white. This prewar garden duplex, at the Gramercy Park cooperative 224 East 18th Street, is featuring bold, silver ceilings on its main floor--an original design element of the 1920s townhouse. A more recent renovation transformed the apartment from a two bedroom into a one bedroom with a den/media room downstairs. There's also access to a private backyard garden. The ask comes in at $1.55 million.
Check out both floors

Distinctive Homes

First 15 Hudson Yards penthouse hits the market for $32M

Interior at Penthouse 88B at 15 Hudson Yards. Rendering courtesy of Related-Oxford.

September 20, 2017

First 15 Hudson Yards penthouse hits the market for $32M

The sleek 910-foot-tall tower at 15 Hudson Yards has held the attention of real estate and skyline watchers since construction began last spring. Just listed for $32 million is penthouse 88B, the first of the building’s four penthouses to arrive on the market. The suitably stunning 5,161-square-foot duplex home sits on the building's 88th floor near its crown. And even in a city filled with penthouses, several things make this one unique.
This way for more renderings and a floor plan

September 19, 2017

Williamsburg townhouse gets a ‘mullet’ reno with business in front and a party out back

Yes, you heard that right--the architects characterized this East Williamsburg townhouse renovation as having "a mullet strategy" of a "business/historically correct approach in the front and a party/modern attitude toward the back." The architects, BFDO, were tasked with restoring the facade of a historic wood frame house, while also modernizing and expanding it. The result? A pleasing blend of older historic details with a brightness and openness not often on display in a Brooklyn townhouse.
Check it out

Over 1,000 museums nationwide will offer free admission this Saturday

The Bartlow-Pell Mansion Museum in the Bronx, photo courtesy of Richard Warren via NYC & Company

September 19, 2017

Over 1,000 museums nationwide will offer free admission this Saturday

It’s that time of the year again! Smithsonian Magazine is hosting its annual “Museum Day Live!” event which provides free admission to over one thousand museums, art galleries and historic homes across the country on one day only: Saturday, Sept. 23. In New York City alone, 25 institutions and educational spaces are open to the public at no charge.
More details here

Fifth Avenue from the Metropolitan. Image: Wiki Commons.

September 19, 2017

How Fifth Avenue bigwigs kept New York City from getting a new address system

Finding addresses on most of Manhattan's streets and avenues is a pretty easy task in most places. Cross streets make sense thanks to the decimal system-based numbering that began in 1861, when each street block between two major avenues was assigned a set of 100 numbers. And we have this nifty algorithm for avenues, right? It all works...except when it doesn't. And we've spent centuries trying to tame the city into an easy equation. But there are always outliers–and we always wonder why. If you look on the address algorithm chart, Fifth Avenue doesn't fit easily into the "all" category. This is nothing new: According to The New York Times, in 1940 the Avenue of legend nixed a plan to renumber avenue addresses throughout the city because its wealthy business bigwigs didn't want to have to change their letterhead.
Find out more

History

Richard Meier’s first NYC skyscraper tops out, clad in black glass

Along the East River just south of the United Nations, Pritzker Prize-winner Richard Meier’s 42-story, 460-foot-tall tower has officially topped out, CityRealty learned. Developed by Sheldon Solow’s East River Realty Development, the skyscraper at 685 First Avenue has an all-black, glassy facade to offer residents privacy and create a uniform appearance on the outside. Upon completion in 2018, the Turtle Bay residential tower will feature 556 rental and condominium apartments, with incredible panoramic waterfront views.
More this way

September 19, 2017

The best day trips this fall, from cemetery tours to historic mansions to corn mazes

These pretty-much-perfect months are a great time to escape the city, and with so many fun, scenic, and informative offerings nearby, you can go for the day and not have to worry about spending money on lodging. To help plan your autumn itinerary, 6sqft has put together a list of the best day trips outside of New York. From touring the Rockefeller estate in Tarrytown to a lantern-lit cemetery tour in Sleepy Hollow, we've got you history buffs covered. And for those looking for some more traditional fall fun, there's fall foliage at Bear Mountain's Oktoberfest, apple and pumpkin picking in New Jersey, and artistically carved jack o' lanterns on Long Island.
Click here for 6sqft's full list of fall day trips

Study says Mayor de Blasio’s affordable housing plan ignores low-income New Yorkers

Photo via Wiki Commons

September 19, 2017

Study says Mayor de Blasio’s affordable housing plan ignores low-income New Yorkers

Despite making affordable housing a policy priority, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s plan falls short for the poorest New Yorkers, a new study says. The report, released by the Real Affordability for All (RAFA) coalition last week, says low- and moderate-income households across the city face a worsening affordability crisis (h/t DNAinfo). Although the city’s lowest earners experience the largest gap between incomes and housing costs, de Blasio’s affordable housing plan, which aims to develop or preserve 200,000 affordable units over 10 years, sets aside more units for middle-income households than low-income ones.
Find out more

New Rockaloo app lets you reserve private bathrooms throughout NYC

Image via Rockaloo/App Store

September 19, 2017

New Rockaloo app lets you reserve private bathrooms throughout NYC

We don't all remember mom's wise advice to "go before you leave the house" as often as we should. And once we're out there, the prospects for finding a restroom in the city when we need one can be, at best, a crapshoot. Which is where a new app called Rockaloo comes in. According to Time Out, for a small fee, it allows users to buy a pass to restrooms at private businesses across New York City, giving them the opportunity to reserve a time slot to do their private business without having to wait in line. (Are we taking the sharing economy just a little too far?)
Let's take a loo...k

City Living

September 19, 2017

Massive, stunning East Village condo with a similarly impressive roof deck is renting for $10K a month

Looking for a huge, dramatic living space right in the heart of the East Village? It's right here, at 175 East 2nd Street, but it'll cost a cool $10,000 a month. This one-bedroom condo now up for rent spans 1,450 square feet and comes with a 1,247-square-foot roof deck. That's a ton of space, and all of it is dripping in unique, super trendy details: 11-foot ceilings with the original wooden ceiling beams, exposed brick, a fireplace and a long skylight over a renovated kitchen. Chic furniture and artwork fills all the open living space, and the apartment comes with the option to move into it furnished.
You'll be tempted to move in

Distinctive Homes

September 18, 2017

Former NBA player and coach Phil Jackson lists historic Osborne co-op for $5M

By Annie Doge

Shortly after taking over as president of the Knicks in 2014, NBA legend Phil Jackson rewarded himself with a gorgeous, historic apartment at The Osborne. But now that he's left the team (he and the Knicks "mutually parted ways" in June after a disagreement over player Carmelo Anthony's status) and lost his $12 million/year contract, he's decided to also part ways with the Billionaires' Row residence. Curbed reports that Jackson listed the three-bedroom apartment for $4,950,000, barely above the $4,895,000 that he bought it for.
Take a look

Apply for five affordable apartments in East Harlem, from $867/month

The East Harlem neighborhood, via Wikipedia

September 18, 2017

Apply for five affordable apartments in East Harlem, from $867/month

Applications are now being accepted for five newly constructed, affordable units at 230 East 124th Street in the Manhattan neighborhood of East Harlem. Located between Third and Second Avenues, the six-floor building features 20 apartments. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 60 percent of the area median income can apply for the units that range from a $867 per month studio to a $1,123 per month two-bedroom.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

September 18, 2017

Map shows how many years of life a house costs, and in NYC the numbers aren’t pretty

New Yorkers know that taking on a mortgage in the city is no easy feat. But a recent map shows that, compared to the rest of the country, we'll spend many more years than most everyone else (except San Franciscans) in our attempts to pay it off. This map, which measures "mortgage magnitude," looked at the median local income and median local home value to show the relative affordability of property in each US county. The value of the average property was then expressed in the number of years salary it costs. In some counties, a house will only set you back a total of one year's pay. But as you move out toward costal cities like New York, that number gets dramatically higher.
Here's how many years New Yorkers should expect

Affordable Housing

September 18, 2017

Jersey City’s Harborside boardwalk to get $75M makeover and new food hall

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

Over the past two decades, the Jersey City waterfront has seen a huge boom in both residential and commercial development, revealing an entirely new skyline of tall, glassy towers. And now real estate investor Mack-Cali wants to embrace this waterfront location in the way that new large-scale developments are doing in Manhattan (Waterline Square) and Brooklyn (Domino Sugar Factory). The firm's $75 million plan will piggyback on next month's opening of a new New York Waterway ferry station there and transform the waterfront promenade in front of their 4.3 million-square-foot Harborside office complex into a "one-of-a-kind cultural district" that will include a beer garden, European-style food hall known as The Marketplace, and the Harborside Atrium, an interconnected series of pedestrian routes and lobbies throughout the buildings that will also serve as cultural event space.
READ MORE

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 Ways to Decorate an Exposed Brick Wall Without Drilling

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

VIEW ALL

Trump is claiming a $45K tax break by calling Trump Tower his primary residence

Photo of Trump Tower courtesy of Krystal T’s Flickr

September 18, 2017

Trump is claiming a $45K tax break by calling Trump Tower his primary residence

While this week marks just the third time President Donald Trump has visited New York City since his January inauguration, property taxes he filed after the election designate Trump Tower as his primary residence. As the Real Deal reported, Trump will save $45,000 by calling his penthouse his main home, utilizing a tax credit known as the “coop condo abatement.” The credit can be used by owner-occupied co-ops and condos and takes off 28.1 percent of property taxes for the unit. Because of the tax abatement, the president has saved a little under $200,000 on his taxes over the last five years.
More this way

In New York City, how much space is too little?

Image © James Karla Murray / 6sqft

September 18, 2017

In New York City, how much space is too little?

By Cait Etherington

Walking through Union Square in late August, it was difficult to miss the new advertising campaign for Breather. Breather is just the latest space-by-the-hour option for New Yorkers who are in desperate need of space, even if it is simply a small room barely large enough to accommodate two chairs and a table. Of course, Breather isn’t the only company now selling space-by-the-hour to city residents. The market for shared workspaces also continues to grow, providing a growing army of local freelancers with access to desks and even soundproof telephone booths where it is possible to talk to clients without explaining a barking dog or screaming baby in the background. That so many New Yorkers are willing to pay anywhere from $40 to $100 per hour for a small room where it is possible to have a thought or make a phone call without distraction may appear to offer profound evidence of the city’s space crisis. But are New Yorkers really lacking space, or is our sense of space simply unrealistic? Are we just too precious about the space needed to live and work?
read more here

Refugees are renting out Trump’s childhood home during this week’s UN General Assembly

Photo courtesy of Laffey Fine Homes from a previous listing

September 18, 2017

Refugees are renting out Trump’s childhood home during this week’s UN General Assembly

With President Donald Trump back in New York City for the United Nations General Assembly this week, a group of refugees is staying at the president’s childhood home, renting the Queens property through Airbnb. The Jamacia Estates home at 85-15 Wareham Place is being rented by Oxfam, an anti-poverty organization, to bring attention to the refugee crisis (h/t NY Post). The group invited four refugees to talk with journalists at the rental, highlighting their concern with Trump’s travel ban on people from six Muslim-majority countries and all refugees that was introduced in January. After facing multiple legal challenges, the Supreme Court allowed the refugee policy to remain temporarily, but justices will hear arguments about the travel ban on Oct. 10.
Find out more

September 18, 2017

‘Late Night’ host Seth Meyers lists one of his Village apartments for $4.5M

By Annie Doge

Seth Meyers seems to be taking a "closer look" at his West Village real estate holdings, as Mansion Global reports that that the "Late Night" host has listed a condo that he owns with his wife Alexi at 302 West 12th Street for $4.5 million. They bought the unit, a lovely little two-bedroom spread, for $3.5 million in 2013, but last summer they dropped $7.5 million on a much larger, five-bedroom co-op at 32 Washington Square West, which, interestingly, was previously owned by actress Mary Louise Parker.
READ MORE

September 18, 2017

‘American Horror Story’ actor Denis O’Hare lists Fort Greene carriage house condo for $1.6M

Actor Denis O'Hare might be known for taking roles in creepy shows like "American Horror Story" and "True Blood," but his Fort Greene home is anything but. He bought the unique duplex at 159 Carlton Avenue, a landmarked 2,015-square-foot carriage house that was once the Feuchtwanger Stable, for just $175,000 in 1998 when he was still acting on Broadway (h/t WSJ). Over the past 19 years, his husband, interior designer Hugo Redwood, completely renovated the condo, preserving its amazing arched windows that once allowed horses and carriages to enter but creating a more open, loft-like space. And it's now on the market for $1,595,000.
Check out the layout

September 17, 2017

Asking $7.8M, this 1845 West Village townhouse has been renovated and decorated with timeless style

The kitchen may be in the cellar, but this 2,400-square-foot townhouse at 154 West 11th Street in the lovely western reaches of Greenwich Village keeps every inch of interior space clean, bright and airy. At 20 feet wide with three (legit) floors, it's understandable why so much thought was put into making sure space was used wisely. Built in 1845 and surrounded by its historic brethren in the Greenwich Village Historic District, the three-bedroom home has been lovingly restored and made ready for modern family life from to its walnut-stained oak floors and four wood-burning fireplaces to its charming garden.
Explore every floor

Distinctive Homes

FREE RENT: This week’s roundup of NYC rental news

Images (L to R): TWENTY EXCHANGE, THE PARIS, 25 MONROE PLACE and VANTAGE

September 16, 2017

FREE RENT: This week’s roundup of NYC rental news

By Ondel Hylton

Images (L to R): TWENTY EXCHANGE, THE PARIS, 25 MONROE PLACE and VANTAGE Upper West Side Rentals: At the Paris New York, the Lobby Sets the Tone [link] Leasing Begins at 293 Hawthorne in PLG; Listings Offer One Month of Free Rent [link] 44 Kent: Brand New No Fee Apartments at Begin Leasing at Greenpoint […]

Real Estate Trends

Waitlist opens for middle-income apartments near Lincoln Center

One Columbus Place via Brodsky

September 15, 2017

Waitlist opens for middle-income apartments near Lincoln Center

Back in April, 6sqft shared an open waitlist for low-income units at the Brodsky Organization's One Columbus Place. The mid-90s tower, located at the amazing intersection of Lincoln Center, Central Park, and the Upper West Side, has 700 total apartments, with 179 reserved as below-market rate. The second batch of affordable units, these set aside for middle-income New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income, are now also accepting applications for a 7,500-name waitlist for future vacancies. They range from $2,116/month studios to $2,733/month two-bedrooms, compared to the building's market-rate listings that range from $3,200/month studios to $6,300/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify and how to get your name on the list

Affordable Housing

OTD in 1954, Marilyn Monroe’s dress famously flew up above a random NYC subway grate

The iconic shot of Marilyn Monroe via Wikimedia; subway via Steven Pisano/flickr cc

September 15, 2017

OTD in 1954, Marilyn Monroe’s dress famously flew up above a random NYC subway grate

Sixty-three years ago today, one of the most iconic moments in cinematic history happened on the corner of Lexington Avenue and 52nd Street, above a gritty subway grate. On September 15, 1954, Marilyn Monroe’s white halter dress blew up over her hips while filming "The Seven Year Itch." The shot was taken after midnight, with thousands of fans looking at the Hollywood starlet standing on the grate, with the uptown 6 train running underneath. While the scene appears effortless, it took roughly three hours to film and 14 takes to get it just right. Despite the multiple takes, the scene was later re-shot in California, with the original shots used just for ads.
More this way

New rental project brands Jersey City nabe as ‘Soho West’

Rendering via Soho Lofts

September 15, 2017

New rental project brands Jersey City nabe as ‘Soho West’

Now that most of Brooklyn has been acronym-ized, developers are moving their marketing magic across state lines. First reported by Curbed, the latest moniker comes to us via developer Manhattan Building Company's "neighborhood concept" Soho West, so dubbed because it's south of Hoboken and west of NYC. The 'nabe name is part of their two-phase project. The first, The Cast Iron lofts, debuted 387 rentals and 20,000 square feet of hipster-fied retail (think a yoga studio, bilingual pre-school, and nonprofit theater) last year, and the second, Soho Lofts, will be ready next month. This rental will have 377 "industrial-inspired" residences starting in the $2,000/month range, as well as "resort-style" amenities such as an infinity pool with private cabanas, 10-person sauna, Zen garden, and an arcade lounge.
Get a look inside

Explore 1980s NYC street by street with this interactive map

The East Village in the 1980s

September 15, 2017

Explore 1980s NYC street by street with this interactive map

From Broadway to Bowery, 1980s New York City was a very different place compared to today's manicured metropolis. Courtesy of Maps Mania, the 80s.NYC street map picks up where the Finance Department of New York City left off. In the mid ‘80s the bureau photographed every single building in the five boroughs in order to accurately assess building taxes and estimate property taxes. Brandon Liu and Jeremy Lechtzin have finessed this trove of photographic information into a nifty map that allows users to travel the city's streets in the bad old 1980s with a map-based street view for an easy-to-browse glimpse of the streetscape 30 years ago. You can browse by location by clicking anywhere on the map for vintage street views on that spot, or type in an address. For more context there are curated “stories” that provide historical background where it’s available (and interesting).
Check out the map

History

Tri-State Trail proposal would connect New York, New Jersey and Connecticut with 1,650 miles of trails

Pochuck Creek, photo via Pixabay

September 15, 2017

Tri-State Trail proposal would connect New York, New Jersey and Connecticut with 1,650 miles of trails

The NY-NJ-CT region features hundreds of parks and landscapes, from the Catskills and Pinelands to the beaches of Jersey and Long Island. Despite all of this open space, these recreational spots are disjointed from each other and from the communities that would use them. To better connect the parks to one another and to residents, the Regional Plan Association (RPA) has released a new proposal that calls for a Tri-State Trail network, linking 1,650 miles of biking, hiking, and walking trails in the greater New York region. The trail network would put over 8 million of the area’s residents within a half-mile of a trail, increasing access by 25 percent. It would put over 80 percent of today’s residents, or roughly 18.6 million, within just two miles of a trail.
Find out more

The Urban Lens: Zach Gross layers current and historic views of Penn Station

6sqft’s series The Urban Lens invites photographers to share work exploring a theme or a place within New York City. In this installment, photographer Zach Gross presents his series “Penn Station.” Are you a photographer who’d like to see your work featured on The Urban Lens? Get in touch with us at [email protected].

September 15, 2017

The Urban Lens: Zach Gross layers current and historic views of Penn Station

The original Penn Station, a Beaux-Arts masterpiece completed by McKim, Mead & White in 1910, evoked the kind of grandeur one would expect upon arriving in one of the greatest cities in the world, complete with a grand facade made of massive Corinthian columns and a 15-story waiting room with a steel and glass roof. This structure was demolished in 1964 and replaced with our present version, lacking any of the architectural merit or civic design of its predecessor. But recent years have sparked a renewed interest in transforming the station into an updated and better functional transit hub, falling under a $1.6 billion plan from Governor Cuomo. Well aware of both the history and future of Penn Station, photographer Zach Gross recently completed a unique series that layers historic imagery of the site with contemporary photos. He feels that, though the station is currently dysfunctional, "there’s still hope for a grand, more unified and uplifting structure," and it's this hopeful sentiment that shines through in his work.
Hear more from Zach and see his photo series

September 15, 2017

Malba mansion with views of the Whitestone Bridge and its own wood-fired pizza oven asks $8.8M

You'll have to go all the way to the northernmost part of New York City to find a 12,000-square-foot mansion on a 16,000-square-foot lot. But here it is, at 3 Point Crescent in Malba, Queens. The sprawling seven-bedroom, nine-bathroom home has all sorts of interior flourishes--including plenty of mahogany--and the property comes with direct views of the Whitestone Bridge. There are lots of other perks too, like a seven car driveway, temperature controlled wine room, 40-foot pool and a wood-fired oven in the basement. The entire package is up for grabs at an ask of $8.795 million.
Take the very grand tour

Distinctive Homes

September 14, 2017

Billionaire sports team owner gets $17M discount on Upper East Side mega-mansion

A massive Upper East Side single-family townhouse at 50 East 69th Street was just wrestled off the market for an equally monumental $45 million, sources have told the New York Post. Joshua Harris, co-founder of Apollo Global Management, owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and part owner of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, just bought the 21,070-square-foot house, which was listed at $72 million last September and reduced to $59 million in June. The 44-foot-wide limestone-clad building, known as the Dommerich Mansion, was built in 1917 in a neo-French classic style by architect Henry C. Pelton for Otto Louis Dommerich, who ran his family's family cotton business. It was most recently being used as a cosmetic surgery facility.
More details this way

A rendering of 666 Fifth Avenue, courtesy of Kushner Companies/Zaha Hadid Architects

September 14, 2017

Problems at 666 Fifth Avenue tower linked to Jared Kushner’s White House role

By Andrew Berman of Village Preservation

In 2007, Kushner Companies purchased a 41-story tower in Midtown for $1.8 billion, which was the most expensive real estate deal ever in the U.S. at the time. The transaction of 666 Fifth Avenue, coordinated by Jared Kushner, now a senior advisor to President Donald Trump, was ill-timed, making the purchase just before the economic recession. As the Washington Post reported, the Fifth Avenue project is one of the most financially troubled for Kushner Cos., with one-fourth of office space empty, and its lease revenue not covering monthly interest payments. While Kushner has divested his stake in the property to avoid conflicts of interest, the property's value has dropped and foreign entities have withdrawn financial support. Currently, Kushner’s dealings are under investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller, as part of the broader investigation into Russian collusion with the Trump campaign.
Find out more

How Alphabet City’s ‘milk laboratory’ led to modern pasteurization

Nathan Straus’ First Milk Depot, opened in the summer of 1893, courtesy of the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library, Columbia University

September 14, 2017

How Alphabet City’s ‘milk laboratory’ led to modern pasteurization

The utilitarian building at 151 Avenue C between 9th and 10th Streets would hardly elicit a second glance from the casual passerby today. But its unassuming looks belie the incredible story of how Gilded Age science and philanthropy converged here to save thousands of children’s lives. In the 1800s, intestinal infections and diseases like tuberculosis caused by bad milk was running rampant in the city's child population, especially in poor communities like the Lower East Side. To combat the problem, Macy's co-owner Nathan Straus instituted a program to make pasteurized milk affordable or even free. And on Avenue C, he set up a “milk laboratory” to test the dairy and distribute millions of bottles.
The whole history here

History

September 14, 2017

Everything about this $495K Yorkville co-op is done just right–including the price

This adorable one-bedroom co-op at 326 East 73rd Street shows what designer talent can do for a small apartment. High ceilings, white oak floors, and a great Upper East Side location don't hurt matters much, while the stylish and well-appointed kitchen, elegant lighting, and reclaimed wood accents make this space seem like a find indeed. There are also quartz countertops, glass French doors, big closets, and plenty of sun to enjoy, and we're guessing a new owner will be doing just that, very soon.
More small-space style, this way

Distinctive Homes

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

712-foot observation tower proposed for Central Park would also clean the reservoir

Rendering via DFA

September 14, 2017

712-foot observation tower proposed for Central Park would also clean the reservoir

Local creative studio DFA is proposing a 712-foot public observation tower in Central Park that would double as a sustainable filtration system to clean the decommissioned and hazardous Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir and turn it into a non-toxic, useable freshwater pond. The firm says their idea is "in response to [the] growing demand for public bird’s eye views in the world’s tallest cities and an increasing need for innovative environmental cleanup strategies." Though meant to be temporary, the prefabricated tower would be the world's tallest timber structure if completed, featuring a 56-foot-wide viewing platform and a glass oculus that showcases the tower's functional elements.
All the details and renderings ahead

September 14, 2017

Ben Affleck scopes out Mark Wahlberg’s former 15 Central Park West rental, now asking $39K/month

By Annie Doge

It's been over two years since newly single Ben Affleck started apartment hunting in NYC, and now that he has a new love interest, he's back at it. The Post reports that the actor and girlfriend Lindsay Shookus, a “Saturday Night Live” producer, checked out unit 26C in the Robert A.M. Stern-designed, celeb-filled 15 Central Park West. The three-bedroom unit, asking $39,000 a month, was rented by Mark Wahlberg in 2009 for $32,000 a month; Alex Rodriguez also bid on the unit last year, despite being banned from the building for allegedly hosting too many prostitutes while renting another apartment. Not known for any partying antics, Affleck will likely have better luck should he want to move forward with living in the city's most expensive condo.
See more of the apartment

Could the new Amazon headquarters be in Sunset Park’s Industry City?

Photo courtesy of Industry City

September 14, 2017

Could the new Amazon headquarters be in Sunset Park’s Industry City?

After Amazon announced last week plans to build a second corporate headquarters in North America, the competition among cities hoping to be chosen remains fierce. The company’s proposed headquarters, called HQ2, would bring $5 billion in initial city investment and 50,000 new jobs, making it very appealing for most cities. According to Crain’s, a group of landlords in Brooklyn is working together to pitch Amazon the borough’s many office properties, including space in Industry City, a massive 6.5 million square-foot complex in Sunset Park. Proposals are due by Oct. 19 and Amazon is expected to make a decision by next year.
Find out more

Policy

Barry Diller pulls the plug on $250M Pier 55 offshore park

Photo: Pier 55, Inc./Heatherwick Studio.

September 14, 2017

Barry Diller pulls the plug on $250M Pier 55 offshore park

Barry Diller, the billionaire chairman of IAC, announced he's killing the $250 million project that promised to bring a futuristic offshore park and cultural site to the Hudson River's dilapidated Pier 54. 6sqft previously covered the unfolding saga of the ill-fated project, known as Pier 55 (or sometimes as "Diller Park"), as opposing factions continually blocked its progress and were eventually revealed to be funded by prominent New York real estate developer Douglas Durst. According to the New York Times, Diller said Wednesday that his commitment to build the undulating pier would be coming to an end—an inglorious one for a bold plan that some, and certainly Diller himself, saw as a new Manhattan waterfront icon to rival the nearby High Line.
Find out more

‘Bodega’ mobile pantries want to replace your local convenience store

Image via Bodega

September 13, 2017

‘Bodega’ mobile pantries want to replace your local convenience store