6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

During the Harlem Renaissance, some of the greatest black jazz musicians, poets, artists and writers of all time emerged in New York City between the 1920s and 30s. Thanks to an animated map acquired by Yale's Rare Book and Manuscript Library, we can get a sense of the vibrant nightlife of Harlem during this time in history (h/t Slate). This original pen-and-brush map was drawn by Elmer Simms Campbell, one of the first commercially successful, and syndicated, African-American cartoonists in the country. The map faces southwest, bound by 110th Street, and highlights the main attractions on Lenox and Seventh Avenues.
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History

May 5, 2017

The Urban Lens: ‘Zombie City’ exposes distracted New Yorkers in a gentrifying city

By Dana Schulz

6sqft’s ongoing series The Urban Lens invites photographers to share work exploring a theme or a place within New York City. In this installment, fine art and portrait photographer James Maher exposes the changing face of NYC post 9/11. Are you a photographer who’d like to see your work featured on The Urban Lens? Get in touch with us at [email protected]. It all started at the University of Madison in Wisconsin with a surprisingly successful fake ID "business," which was James Maher's first introduction to portraiture and Photoshop. After moving back to his hometown of New York post-graduation, Maher studied at the International Center for Photography, assisted commercial photographers, and became a certified tour guide, exploring the architecture and streetscapes of the city. In 2006, he opened his own photography business, combining his varied interests, which also come through in his black-and-white series "Luxury for Lease," where New Yorkers are captured candidly against the background of New York. In it, Maher exposes how quickly things changed in the years after 9/11; instead of coming for "acceptance and freedom" and "a culture of creativity," wealthy persons from the suburbs and elsewhere began to move back "with an insatiable appetite." By snapping photos of distracted New Yorkers, many of whom are zombie-fied staring at their phones, Maher examines the "disconnection, hyper-gentrification, conformity, and consumerism" that's infiltrated our streets.
See the series here

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

Images (L to R): Sky, 605 West 42nd Street, Harlem 125, 69 East 125th Street, The Parkline, 626 Flatbush Avenue and 4540 Center Boulevard

May 5, 2017

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

By Ondel Hylton

Get Ready for Summer: Hells Kitchen High-Rise with Two Outdoor Pools Leasing with 1 Month Free [link] A Discussion with Winston Fisher on HOUSE39; Midtown’s “Best in Class” Tower Now Offering Two Mos. Free Rent [link] New Harlem Rentals Debut on 125th Street; Apartments from $1,994/Month [link] Live Near Prospect Park at The Parkline with […]

Real Estate Trends

May 5, 2017

Score a middle-income apartment in Harlem, from $1,900/month

Applications are now being accepted for middle-income units at Beacon Mews, an affordable housing building located in Harlem, just a block away from the Harlem River and the Madison Avenue Bridge into the Bronx. Amenities at 34 West 139th Street include a doorman, fitness center and spacious community courtyard, and the building is currently offering $1,900/month one-bedrooms, $2,350/month two-bedroom, and $2,600/month two-bedrooms with a terrace. These units, however, are reserved for households earning between $67,098 to $238,500 annually.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

May 5, 2017

Fabulously flexible East Village duplex can be whatever you want it to be for $3M

This unique and dramatic two-bedrooom East Village duplex at 125 East 12th Street might not be quite as awe-inspiring as this East Village pad that has a retractable facade, but with its 16-foot ceilings, massive wall of windows and flexible spaces in every direction it reminds us a little of why these customized lofts are so cool. That other super-tall air-loft sold for $2.4 million three years ago; this one's asking $2.995 million right now. The latter has a lot more space, central air, a roof deck, an elevator and a doorman–and it's in a very cool-looking 1900-era loft building called The Zachary, which is pretty impressive all on its own.
Have a look

Distinctive Homes

May 4, 2017

Live in Parker Posey’s former East Village co-op for $2M

Before moving to a very classic Greenwich Village co-op (which she sold last summer for $1.45 million), actress Parker Posey lived in a much more trendy space in the East Village. In fact, she lived in the same building, 119 East 10th Street, as fellow indie darling Chloe Sevigny who sold her pad in 2013. Posey made the move much earlier, in 2008, when she offloaded the loft-like apartment for $1.3 million. It's now back on the market for $2 million, sporting a loft-like vibe (open layout, exposed brick and ceilings beams) and an eclectic collection of hip furniture and art.
Get a look around

May 4, 2017

Terra cotta figures that adorned building demolished for One Vanderbilt construction seek a new home

A rescued collection of terra cotta building facade figures–including naked cherubs, smiling porpoises and the head of Neptune–that once adorned an 18-story office building next to Grand Central Station are in need of a new home. The building was demolished to make way for the under-construction One Vanderbilt skyscraper; at the urging of New York Landmarks Conservancy Chair Lloyd Zuckerberg, the new building's developer, SL Green Realty Corp., saved the three terra cotta panels from the facade of 51 East 42nd Street. Warren and Wetmore, the building's architects, also designed the station.
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May 4, 2017

$1.25M loft-like apartment comes from a landmark townhouse on West End Avenue

This apartment boasts lofty vibes inside but comes from a historic landmarked townhouse of the Upper West Side. Located at 357 West End Avenue, a Lamb and Rich-designed corner property, this two-bedroom apartment sits on the top floor. Bad news: it looks like it's a walk-up. There's also good news, as the high ceilings make way for open loft space with a window and an operating skylight--the perfect bonus space for an office or library. After last selling in 2013 for $914,500, the apartment is now trying its hand asking $1.25 million.
More photos this way

Distinctive Homes

Distinctive Homes

For $2.5M, this laid-back Ditmas Park home is historic, lovely and livable

$1.4M Fort Greene co-op has a sprawling solarium, a charming parlor and just a hint of loft

$7.2M penthouse is most expensive sponsor sale in Williamsburg

$1.95M Turtle Bay co-op feels like a modern cabin in the middle of Manhattan

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

Andy Warhol's 1960s Upper East Side home is for rent asking $22K a month

This $8.75M Village townhouse is a downtown dream home with an elevator, three terraces, and a rooftop office suite

$4M gets you the whole renovated Boerum Hill townhouse package, with a bi-level backyard

This $6M Arts & Crafts estate is like having your own private summer camp in the Hamptons

For $3M, this two-family Crown Heights townhouse fills every available inch of space with great style

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May 4, 2017

Connecticut Georgian estate where Harry Houdini hung out is up for auction for $4.75M

An incredible Georgian estate in Ridgefield, Connecticut is up for auction at an asking price of $4.75 million. The 10-bedroom mansion at 162 Old West Mountain Road, also known as Sunset Hall, was owned 100 years ago by Harry Houdini’s brother, Dr. Leopold Weiss, and it's said that the magician practiced his underwater escapes in the pool. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places and sits on nearly seven acres of land with sweeping views of the Long Island Sound and Catskill Mountains. As the New York Post learned, it also has quite the celebrity pedigree. It was originally built in 1912 for U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain James Stokes and was subsequently owned by the Brooklyn beer baron Samuel Rubel and famed actor Robert Vaughn; and after WWII, it was considered for an official site of the United Nations.
Find out more

May 4, 2017

Art Nerd New York’s top event picks for the week – 5/4-5/10

By Lori Zimmer

In a city where hundreds of interesting events occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Ahead Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer shares her top picks for 6sqft readers! Another art fair week is descending onto New York, bringing in collectors, artists, and galleries from every corner of the globe. This year’s Frieze week is a little more chill than last year’s—the fair itself has shortened by a day, and several of the satellite fairs have declined to make a reappearance. However, despite a scaled down event, there are plenty of additional options to fill your social calendar, including sister fairs CONTEXT and Art New York, and a show entirely made up of immersive installations curated by SPRING/BREAK in Brooklyn. For those who are more into design and architecture, the Collective Design Fair opens with the very best from the fusion of the art and design worlds, while Times Square gives us a glimpse into the terrifying vision that Robert Moses had for Lower Manhattan through a new animation.
More on all the best events this way

Events & Things To Do

Developer turns marketing new condos into a three-ring circus, complete with life-sized zoo animals

Photo: DBOX for Macklowe Properties

May 4, 2017

Developer turns marketing new condos into a three-ring circus, complete with life-sized zoo animals

Harry Macklowe, the P.T. Barnum of developers and never one to miss a chance to nibble the tallest branches, has found an 18-foot fiberglass giraffe (plus elephants and rhinos) to do just that. And not to be outdone by the live giraffe used in marketing a Rem Koolhaas (the P.T. Barnum of starchitects, if you will) building outside Paris (Or by Richard Pandiscio’s now-retired beaver) Macklowe has decided that an entire life-sized safari of zoo animals is just the thing to remind people that the vast terraces at his new glass-walled condo at 200 East 59th Street with a “Miami Beach look” are big enough to house an entire circus, the Wall Street Journal reports. Macklowe said the idea was born in a staff meeting where said terraces were touted, and that the critters were sourced in Southampton, NY.
Step right up for more

New Developments

May 4, 2017

After a bidding war, Diane Kruger unloads super-stylish East Village pad for $1.1M

Actress, model, and fashionista Diane Kruger sold her unsurprisingly stylish East Village pad for $1.1 million, higher than the $985,000 listing price. The Post tells us that a 12-offer bidding war ensued, likely due to the myriad of charming features--expansive exposed brick walls, a renovated modern kitchen, and lovely outdoor terrace--and the prime location at 315 East 12th Street, between booming 1st and 2nd Avenues.
Take a look around

May 4, 2017

Mark Ruffalo sells charming Carroll Gardens townhouse at a loss

Academy-award winner Mark Ruffalo sold his townhouse at 319 Sackett Street in Carroll Gardens for $3.125 million last month, according to LLNYC, which he bought in 2015 for a higher price of $3.5 million. The home offers four bedrooms, several fireplaces, and an expansive blue stone garden. Ruffalo recently checked out a $10 million Upper West Side brownstone that underwent a contemporary renovation.
See inside of the beautiful Brooklyn townhouse

May 4, 2017

Williamsburg townhouse with a colorful Scandi-funk interior asks $3.75M

According to records, half of a certain early-aughts Danish dance-pop duo is selling this Scandi-funk-a-licious modern masterpiece of a 19th-century townhouse at 267 Berry Street, right in the middle of prime Williamsburg near the shores of the East River. The four-story, single-family brick townhouse spans 3,300 not-at-all-square feet and comes with some cool details like an open sunroom leading to a lovely roof deck, colorful minimalist kitchen, music room and media room, and master suite that spans an entire top floor. Even better, lots of original details have been preserved and invited to the party, which will set you back $3.75 million.
Move your feet this way for more

Distinctive Homes

May 3, 2017

Bowerbird architects create a custom nest in a Boerum Hill loft with details in steel and reclaimed wood

"Everything evolves," begins the mission statement by architecture and design firm Bowerbird, explaining how their namesake (the bowerbird) evolved to design and decorate its home with an eye for detail. The firm explores the idea that good design and creativity similarly "does not spring forth in a single moment of inspired genius;" they work to produce an uncommon solution for each undertaking. Evolved design is definitely in effect in this Boerum Hill loft, resulting in a home with a fresh look that leaves crowded, overdone design and cold, unfinished lofts in the dust. Rooms are polished, elegant and comfortable without being fussy. And natural and reclaimed details aren’t contrived, but rather fit in well with the former factory’s big-shouldered loft bones.
See more of this timeless loft design

May 3, 2017

EVENT: Two food-centric tours explore the history and culture of the East Village

By 6sqft

When we point the finger at gentrifying neighborhoods, the East Village often gets a lot of heat thanks to its quickly climbing rents, shift from a more diverse population (today, roughly 40 percent of the ‘hood is between the ages of 20 and 34), and loss of small businesses. And though this final fact is certainly true, especially as it pertains to eateries (just this past year we said goodbye to Angelica Kitchen, The Redhead, and Lanza's), the East Vill still has a wealth of independent restaurants that pay homage to its rich immigrant history as well as a crop of new establishments that are sensitive to the community and represent the new wave of foodie culture. This weekend, two events will explore the past and future of the East Village through its food establishments--a walking tour led by 6sqft's Senior Editor Dana Schulz for GVSHP will take you through the Italian, Ukrainian/Eastern European, and Indian history and A Taste of 7th Street will offer a self-guided chance to taste samplings from 10 local favorites.
more details here

May 3, 2017

Sting’s futuristic-meets-classic 15 Central Park West penthouse hits the market for $56M

British rocker Sting and his wife Trudie Styler have listed their chic duplex at the Robert A.M. Stern-designed 15 Central Park West for $56 million (h/t WSJ). The couple purchased the 16th- and 17th-floor penthouse for about $27 million in 2008, and then enlisted architecture and interior design firm SheltonMindel to combine the units and transform them into a "unique home" that includes two custom sculptural spiral staircases and a double-sided spiral gas fireplace that was inspired by the Fibonacci Spiral. Last summer, the couple was in negotiations to buy another Stern condo at 220 Central Park South, one of NYC's most expensive apartment buildings, and now that they "need more space to accommodate their growing family" the time may be ripe to do so.
See it all

$3M home in the urban suburb of Prospect Park South is a freestanding beauty

Want to live in a gorgeous suburban enclave that's attracted the likes of Michelle Williams? Then look no further than Prospect Park South, a neighborhood designed, as developer Dean Alford put it, to "illustrate how much natural beauty can be incorporated within the rectangular limits of the city." The landscaping and the homes have remained intact since this area was constructed more than 100 years ago, including this home built in 1907. Designed by the architect Arlington Isham, it's a Simplified Free Colonial style house with an enclosed porch and plenty of period details. For this escape into the finer pastures of Brooklyn, it will cost a cool $3 million.
This way for interior pictures

May 3, 2017

City to develop 2,400 new affordable housing units in East Harlem

Mayor de Blasio and his administration have made progress in meeting their goal of building 200,000 affordable units over the span of a decade, as 21,963 new units were added in 2016, the most in 27 years. However, there continues to be a shortage in East Harlem. Out of the nearly 20,000 affordable units, the city brought to all five boroughs, just 249 units have been built in East Harlem, according to a new report by the Department of Housing and Preservation Development (HPD). To better accommodate these residents, the city plans on expediting the construction of 2,400 units of affordable housing over the next few years, as DNA Info reported.
Find out more

May 3, 2017

VIDEO: Robert Moses talks about roads, parks and city traffic in 1953

By Rebecca Paul

Robert Moses, the "master builder," was arguably the most influential individual in the development of New York City's politics and physical structure. He's widely known for his hand in creating New York State's massive parkway network (he built 13 expressways through NYC) and erecting large public housing complexes in low-scale neighborhoods (many of which were segregated), and has therefore been named as the source of many of the city's gentrification and urban decline issues still present today. Regardless of this criticism, his breath of knowledge and experience was unparalleled (we can also thank him for Lincoln Center, Jones Beach, and countless public swimming pools) and is the subject of this 15-minute television program called Longines Chronoscope that aired in 1953, at the height of his heyday.
Watch the video here

History

May 3, 2017

$825K Gramercy studio has 325 square feet of private outdoor space, great views included

If you're stuck on the idea of living in Manhattan, in a super-desirable neighborhood near just about everything great, but you're on a budget of under $1 million, you're probably checking out studios. And if you're good with studio living, this gorgeous little pre-war co-op at 1 Rutherford Place in Gramercy Park would be hard to turn down. Besides being in a lovely building and possessed of custom details like a wall of steel and glass, you get a private outdoor terrace that's almost as big as the apartment itself.
Check it out

Distinctive Homes

May 2, 2017

This quaint worker’s cottage could be your upstate retreat for just $165K

This humble cottage could be your upstate escape this summer for just $165,000. It's located in Kinderhook, a town known for its charming downtown and historic sites that include the Martin Van Buren National Historic Site. The home, a former cottage built for the town's cotton mill workers, is located at 4 Railroad Avenue--a short walk from Kinderhook's downtown. It's a modest abode with two bedrooms, one bathroom, and some lovely interior details.
Take a look inside

Distinctive Homes

May 2, 2017

Acclaimed novelist Jonathan Safran Foer lists lovely Boerum Hill townhouse for $10.4M

Award-winning novelist Jonathan Safran Foer, author of "Everything Is Illuminated" and "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close," has listed his brownstone at 374 Pacific Street in Boerum Hill for $10.4 million, according to Variety. When his first book in ten years, "Here I am," was published last year, the Times referred to it as "often brilliant, always original but sometimes problematic," and though we can't find anything at all problematic about this 1899 Greek Revival residence, the former two accolades certainly apply. It was brilliantly renovated to include a three-story atrium cut through its core and a full rear wall of kitchen windows that overlook the private garden, and it's full of original touches like a charming mix of mid-century-modern and rustic furniture and plenty of built-in bookshelves (of course). Perhaps all of this, plus the fact that there's a separate garden floor apartment, is why Foer thinks he can double his profits after paying $5.4 million for it just a few years ago.
Take the full tour

May 2, 2017

Apply for 50 affordable units in the Bronx’s Mt. Eden, from $558/month

Located in the Mount Eden neighborhood of the South Bronx, this affordable housing building at 1561 Walton Avenue sits just off the Grand Concourse and a block south of the Cross-Bronx Expressway. The 11-story residence contains 60 units total and includes an on-site manager, rear patio, laundry, and storage space for bikes, as well as on-site college application assistance and work-readiness training. Applications are currently being accepted for 50 of the units, ranging from $558/month one-bedrooms to $1,740/month three-bedrooms for those earning 40, 50, 60, or 80 percent of the area median income.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

May 2, 2017

Nearly 80 percent of subway escalators and elevators don’t receive necessary maintenance

The reason behind the incessant breakdown of the subway’s escalators and elevators? Nearly 80 percent of them do not receive the necessary maintenance by the MTA. After an 18-month audit, City Comptroller Scott Stringer’s office found that in a random sample of 65 out of the city’s 407 total escalators and elevators, about 50 had not undergone any preventative maintenance service. As reported by the Wall Street Journal, only 20 percent of machines sampled by the comptroller’s office received the scheduled maintenance on time.
Find out more

May 2, 2017

EVENT: Learn about the history of Tudor City, its micro-apartments, and its struggle to save its parks

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

Can you locate Tudor City on a map? Did you know it was a development used to clear out undesirable slums along the waterfront? Have you heard it contains more than 2,200 apartments smaller than 400 square feet—"the antique mother load of micro-living"? As far as New York City's hidden gems go, Tudor City is a neighborhood that is often overlooked. But if you're one who is interested in history, architecture, urban design, or all of the above, this verdant east side enclave is one that deserves at least an hour or two of exploration. On May 5th, 6th and 7th you'll get a chance delve deep into the history of this incredible 11-building development, as local historian and activist Brian K. Thompson leads several free public tours through early 20th-century development.
more details here

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My 850sqft: DJ and influencer Isaac Hindin-Miller opts for Mid-Century modern in his Alphabet City home

6sqft’s ongoing series “My sqft” checks out the homes of New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to the Alphabet City apartment of style blogger and DJ Isaac Hindin-Miller. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch!

May 2, 2017

My 850sqft: DJ and influencer Isaac Hindin-Miller opts for Mid-Century modern in his Alphabet City home

For DJ and influencer Isaac Hindin-Miller, style comes easy. The native New Zealander has been a fixture in the fashion world for nearly a decade, working for top menswear brands and writing for publications like the Business of Fashion, Man Repeller, and GQ. Unsurprisingly, his success has brought him to every corner of the world, and his day-to-day is one that most of us can only dream of. But while Isaac's life has revolved around all that is beautiful, it wasn't until a couple of years ago that his style started to carry over into his home. In 2015, Isaac's roommate left their apartment in Alphabet City, and instead of hunting for another body to fill the space, he jumped on the opportunity to turn the two-bedroom into an Instagram-ready home. Ahead, tour his once uninspiring 850-square-foot apartment, now a bright and airy top-floor escape outfitted with soft-hued Mid-century modern furniture, framed art, and lots of plants!
more inside Isaac's apartment here

May 2, 2017

Mapping New York City’s 280 miles of scaffolding

Sidewalk sheds, or scaffolding, are so pervasive in New York City they almost become part of a neighborhood’s landscape. While used to protect people from falling debris, scaffolding continues to be an omnipresent eyesore that blocks sunlight and views, attracts crime and slows foot traffic. Now, thanks to a new map by the city’s Department of Buildings, residents can explore more than 7,700 sidewalk sheds, each labeled with a color-coded dot highlighting the reason for its construction, its age, and its size. As the New York Times covered, there are currently 280 miles of sidewalk scaffolding in front of 7,752 buildings in the city (way up from the 190 miles we covered just a little over a year ago), which is enough to encircle Manhattan nearly nine times.
Find out more

Live around the corner from Penn Station for $833/month

Rendering via GHWA (L); Construction topped off as of September 2016 via CityRealty (R)

May 2, 2017

Live around the corner from Penn Station for $833/month

By Dana Schulz

That might not sound like the most enticing location, but with Chelsea's galleries nearby, Nomad's booming restaurant and fitness scene just a five- or 10-minute walk away, and Hudson Yards shaping up to the northwest, this newly constructed building at 221 West 29th Street might have more to offer than you'd think. And as of tomorrow, those earning 60 percent of the area median income can apply for 19 units here through the city's affordable housing lottery, ranging from $833/month studios to $1,082/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

May 2, 2017

Congress budget deal will reimburse NYC for Trump Tower security in ‘protection package’ split with Florida

Congress agreed to a budget deal Sunday night that allocates money to pay New York City back for funds spent on protecting Trump Tower, reports the New York Daily News. The bipartisan agreement creates a $68 million "protection package," which will reportedly be split with Florida, where Trump's Palm Beach Mar-a-Lago mansion serves as his vacation home.
Find out more

May 2, 2017

On the market since 2009, $36.5M Upper East Side mansion has just about everything but a buyer

This undeniably grand home of pale carved limestone in the Beaux Arts style, designed by turn-of-the-20th-century architects Clinton & Russell, is in its element on what's known as the most valuable corridor on the Upper East Side just across from Central Park. And unlike many of its kind, the interiors of the 25-foot-wide, 11,500-square-foot mansion at 7 East 67th Street are neither overly opulent and intimidating nor tastelessly renovated. There's an elevator, gym, double-height library, two grand staircases, and decks and terraces around every turn. Why, then, has this home been seeking a buyer since 2009? It's certainly possible that when other houses like this are asking less than half its current price of $36.5 million, an ask of $37 million nearly a decade ago that hopped to $49.5, fell to $42.5, and steadily dropped since then might have less appeal for buyers when the choices are many.
Take the tour, from the gym to the roof deck

Distinctive Homes

May 1, 2017

Recently renovated three-bedroom pad in an 1844 West Village townhouse asks $2.7M

Morton Street--a five-block stretch between Bleecker and the Hudson River Greenway--is one of the best streets of the West Village. It's full of great architecture and historic townhouses, like this one at 44 Morton. The Greek Revival townhouse, built in 1844 and now landmarked, sits at the "turn" in the middle of street as it approaches Seventh Avenue. (According to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, it's the earliest house built on this side of the block.) The property has been broken up into four condos, and this one is asking $2.7 million. Once occupied by the Nobel Prize laureate Josef Brodsky, it was recently renovated into quite the charming three-and-a-half-bedroom pad.
Take a look around

Distinctive Homes

Target to open at Essex Crossing in the Lower East Side

Rendering of LES Target courtesy of Beyer Blinder Belle

May 1, 2017

Target to open at Essex Crossing in the Lower East Side

New York City is experiencing a Target-takeover. The retailer has just signed a lease to open a 22,500 square-foot store in the Lower East Side at Essex Crossing, a 1.9 million-square-foot development stretching across several Manhattan blocks. As the Wall Street Journal reports, the new store will be located on the second floor of 145 Clinton Street, a 15-floor tower currently under construction. A Trader Joe’s supermarket will be on the lower level and apartments will be housed above.
Find out more

May 1, 2017

NYC’s Citywide ferry service officially sets sail today!

The much-anticipated NYC Ferry service begins today, lessening the commute to Manhattan for many outer borough residents. The first commuter ferry took off from the new Rockaway route at 5:30 a.m. Monday, picked up more passengers at Sunset Park and then arrived in Lower Manhattan in just about one hour. Newly renovated ferries will also launch today on the East River Route, which services Midtown and Financial District communities. On Sunday, Mayor de Blasio held a christening ceremony and took the first ferry ride from the Rockaways to Wall Street.
Find out more

NYC anticipated to become a major hub for self-driving cars

Image of Uber’s self-driving vehicle via Nathan Ingraham for Engadget

May 1, 2017

NYC anticipated to become a major hub for self-driving cars

On top of plans to roll out flying taxis in NYC within five years, ride-hailing company Uber, in addition to many similar companies, hopes to make driverless cars next on their list of proposals. As reported by Crain’s, shared driverless vehicles could account for a quarter of all miles driven in the U.S. by 2030. Since the cars would be shared, driverless and electric, the low-cost would allow many people to give up their personal cars, especially in densely populated cities. New Yorkers own fewer vehicles than residents in any other U.S. city, making it the biggest market for ride-hail services as well as the perfect guinea pig for companies to test driverless vehicles.
Find out more

May 1, 2017

Asking $14.8M, this renovated 1875 townhouse on the Upper East Side might be just a little too perfect

Perfectly situated in the we-never-heard-of-it-either Treadwell Farms Historic District on the Upper East Side, this $14.79 million townhouse at 215 East 61st Street, originally built in 1875, survived a two-year renovation and emerged as a "seamlessly cohesive modern home encased within historic architecture." Within are five stories plus a finished basement and an elevator to navigate them. Five exterior spaces were created to match, including a bluestone-paved landscaped garden with a cedar fence, an automatic watering and lighting system, a sound system and a gas grill.
Take the five-story elevator tour

April 30, 2017

$1.095M duplex in a Park Slope brownstone boasts intricate stained glass and inlaid wood floors

This Park Slope duplex is located just one block from Prospect Park and Grand Army Plaza, and chock full of prewar details inside. Taking up two floors of a historic brownstone at 85 8th Avenue, the rooms are lined with detailed stained glass, the original moldings, hardwood floors with an incredible walnut inlay, and painted brick walls. In the wintertime there's a working fireplace, and for the summer there's a private deck. For such a dreamy Park Slope offering, something that's sure to make old house lovers swoon, it'll cost $1.095 million.
Now see inside

Distinctive Homes

April 30, 2017

This $1.3M converted barn in Garrison, NY hails from the horse and buggy era with the modern feel of a loft

Tucked away amid the dirt roads and country atmosphere of Garrison, NY, fifty miles from Manhattan in Putnam county, this 1840s brick carriage house at 65 Indian Brook Road is the kind of home you rarely find in either city or hamlet. The 4,000 square-foot, three-bedroom home (h/t Circa), asking $1.295 million, has open loft-like proportions, hand hewn beams, a cozy wood-burning stove and high ceilings, with modern details like floor-to-ceiling glass, central air and a gunite pool off the back patio.
Take the tour, and check out the pool

April 29, 2017

A unique 19th-century Hudson Valley home can be yours for $485,000

A beautiful 19th-century clapboard home in Millbrook, New York recently hit the market at an asking price of $485,000. The three bedroom, three bathroom home at 41 Elm Drive was built in 1890 and its original clapboard has been painted a fresh white color. Located on a quiet street in the Hudson Valley, this home, which offers an impressive example of 19th-century architecture, also includes a two-story barn.
See the 19th century pad here

April 28, 2017

Five million dead in Queens: The history of New York City’s ‘cemetery belt’

You may have noticed when driving from Queens to Brooklyn that at some point you find yourself surrounded by a sea of headstones in every direction. The city's "cemetery belt"–reportedly visible from space–stretches for two and a half miles along the Queens/Brooklyn border and is so populous that there are more than twice as many dead people in Queens than living ones. What's up with this cemetery city?
Find out why the dead outnumber the living in Queens

History

Philip Johnson’s iconic New York State Pavilion to undergo $14.25M renovation

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

April 28, 2017

Philip Johnson’s iconic New York State Pavilion to undergo $14.25M renovation

The iconic New York State Pavilion in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park is set to undergo a $14.25 million renovation funded by the city. As first reported by the Queens Chronicle, repairs of the monument will begin next spring, which will include some structural conservation work and electrical and architectural improvements. The pavilion, which was originally designed for the 1964 World’s Fair by Philip Johnson and Lev Zetlin, has been ignored for the past few decades, largely in part because of the city’s failure to find the money for repairs.
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Architecture And Design

April 28, 2017

Nearly 900 affordable housing apartments are currently empty

An investigation by Public Advocate Letitia James’ office found that nearly 40 percent, or 884, of the 2,322 apartments in the Tenant Interim Lease (TIL) program sit unoccupied. After hearing multiple complaints from constituents at town halls, the public advocate’s office launched a full review of the program and discovered it does not meet its goal of providing New Yorkers with self-sufficient, low-income rentals (h/t NY Post). Even more shocking, at one TIL building on 615 West 150th Street, tenants had to move out in 1996 for what was supposed to be a two-year renovation. Per a policy briefing by the public advocate, they still have not been able to return to the units, and their possessions are locked up without access.
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Images (L to R): 461 Dean Street, AIRE, 26 West Street and Henry Hall

April 28, 2017

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

By Ondel Hylton

Images (L to R): 461 Dean Street, AIRE, 26 West Street and Henry Hall 30-Story Hudson Yards Rental Opens with Unobstructed Views, Apartments from $3,200/Month + 1 Month Free [link] Views Galore at Top-Notch Tribeca Rental, Now Leasing with 1 Month Free [link] World’s Tallest Modular Building Now Leasing with 2 Months Free [link] Leasing […]

Real Estate Trends

The 74

201 East 74th Street

Lenox Hill

Gracious Upper East Side condos with Central Park and skyline views

2 beds starting at $3,380,000
3 beds starting at $4,850,000
5 beds starting at $11,950,000

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Waitlist reopens for affordable apartments at two rentals near Lincoln Center, from $613/month

One Columbus Place via Brodsky

April 28, 2017

Waitlist reopens for affordable apartments at two rentals near Lincoln Center, from $613/month

One Columbus Place via Brodsky Qualifying New Yorkers aching to be in the thick of the city's performing arts scene now have an opportunity to join the waitlist for two Midtown West rental towers: One Columbus Place and 55-75 West End Avenue. The NYCHDC is currently accepting applications for studio and one-bedrooms priced at $613 and $659, respectively. The towers, both developed by the Brodsky Organization in the mid-90s, boast not only a fantastic location close to Columbus Circle, Central Park, and Lincoln Center, but also come with great perks like roof decks, swimming pools, laundry facilities, gyms, and concierge and doorman service.
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Affordable Housing

April 28, 2017

Port Authority Bus Terminal unlikely to be built anew; gets updated timeline

After multiple feuds, budget concerns and delays, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey may have finally reached an agreement on a timeline to replace or renovate the bus terminal. As the Associated Press reports, the plan to replace the Port Authority Bus Terminal has shifted attention back to the existing midtown Manhattan, instead of relocating it one block west. Board members of the bi-state agency said a study of the original site will be finished by the end of July to determine the cost and schedule of renovation. Following that study, an environmental review is expected later this year, which could take about two years. Construction cannot begin until the review is completed.
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April 28, 2017

For $6.25M this classy classic 7 on Beekman Place has gorgeous bones and river views

Occupying the full fourth floor of the Campanile building at 450 East 52nd Street amid the understated old Manhattan elegance of Beekman Place on the East River, this renovated 3,000-square-foot three-bedroom home offers stunning river views from every room. The stately co-op building was the Mayfair Yacht Club until 1933 and later home to Greta Garbo, Rex Harrison, H.J. Heinz, Mary Martin and the Rothschilds among others. The apartment's rich original details have been impeccably maintained, while every modern luxury has been painstakingly added.
Check out these rooms with a view

Distinctive Homes

April 28, 2017

Shop and nosh your way through 20 of NYC’s best flea and food markets

With spring weather in full effect, the city's flea and food markets roll out the red carpet and the irresistible edibles, and it's pretty likely there's one happening near you. The shop-and-snack mecca Brooklyn Flea has changed locations yet again, a night market returns in Queens and antiquing, arts and local maker standbys in all corners of Manhattan offer more of what you didn't know you couldn't live without. The goods may be odd, but they're out there, and the list below rounds up 20 of the city's top food and flea picks. Just don't blame us for the tchotchke overload—or the calories.
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Events & Things To Do

April 27, 2017

Park Slope townhouse Barack Obama once called home asks $4.3M