BioLight’s PizzaDome brings wood-fired pizza to your campground
August 23, 2016

BioLight’s PizzaDome brings wood-fired pizza to your campground

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While the majority of the NYC's five boroughs are a rough and tumble concrete jungle, just beyond the bridges, highways and waterways, city slickers can find solace in the tranquil forests of the northeast. However, there are some city conveniences, if given the option, we'd never want leave behind, and good pizza is definitely one of them. To add to their already cool roster of camping gadgetry, BioLight bring us "PizzaDome," the very first portable wood-fired pizza oven designed specifically for the campground.
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Penn Station’s archaic departure board to get a digital upgrade
August 23, 2016

Penn Station’s archaic departure board to get a digital upgrade

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Amtrak has plans to upgrade their main departure board located at Penn Station with new digital information screens. The idea behind the new departure screen is to provide passengers with clearer and detailed travel information. There will be several information screens placed throughout the concourse to improve the flow of passengers at the station. READ MORE […]

MAP: Know where the city is spraying for mosquitoes and where there’s potential for West Nile
August 23, 2016

MAP: Know where the city is spraying for mosquitoes and where there’s potential for West Nile

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Thankfully, the city has found no mosquitoes carrying Zika, however, as of August 11, they've found 141 mosquito traps with the West Nile virus. If this makes you worry about every itchy bite you've gotten, this handy (albeit stomach-turning) map series may ease some anxiety. The Department of Health has created the Protecting NYC From Mosquitoes maps that show where and how many pests have been trapped on average each week, and what species they are, as well as the locations of catch basins, backpack larvaciding, helicopter and truck spraying, and standing water violations.
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My 1400sqft: Photographer Sasha Maslov embraces DIY design in his Navy Yard loft

Our ongoing series “My sqft” checks out the homes of 6sqft’s friends, family and fellow New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to a photographer’s Brooklyn Navy Yard loft. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch!

August 23, 2016

My 1400sqft: Photographer Sasha Maslov embraces DIY design in his Navy Yard loft

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If you're a regular reader of the New York Times, Forbes or the Observer, you've probably found yourself lingering over one of Sasha Maslov's photographs. Over the last few years, the Ukranian-born photographer has focused his lens on everyone from Mary Lousie Parker, Elvis Costello, and Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen to notable economist Joseph Stiglitz and real estate mogul Douglas Durst. While Sasha's world appears to be all about capturing striking images of famous and fascinating people, his creativity extends well beyond the 2D format.  On the border of the Brooklyn Navy Yard is a 1,400-square-foot loft that's been custom-outfitted from corner to corner by Sasha himself. A self-taught craftsman, his hallway closet hides a compact woodshop that's allowed him to turn his once stark and wall-less apartment into a multi-room home filled with hidden storage and imaginative furniture. Sasha recently invited 6sqft to take a tour of his space, and let's just say if he ever decides to quit photography, he's definitely got a future in industrial design.
Inside Sasha's Navy Yard Home
Donald Trump quintuples rent on his own campaign office now that he’s seeing donations
August 23, 2016

Donald Trump quintuples rent on his own campaign office now that he’s seeing donations

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Now that he's finally raking in funds from donors as opposed to cheaply self-funding his own campaign, Donald Trump is loosening the purse strings. The first order of business comes at his very own Trump Tower campaign headquarters, where he's nearly quintupled the monthly rent. According to a Huffington Post review of Federal Election Commission filings, his campaign was paying $35,458 a month from last summer until up March. But in July, when the donations started coming in, that skyrocketed to $169,758. This came with a reduction of paid employees and consultants, from 197 to 172.
What's going on?
Housing lotto kicks off today for 27 Bed-Stuy/Ocean Hill apartments, from $834/month
August 23, 2016

Housing lotto kicks off today for 27 Bed-Stuy/Ocean Hill apartments, from $834/month

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As a subsection of Bed-Stuy—and with a location adjacent to rapidly gentrifying Bushwick—Ocean Hill has seen renewed interest from developers in the last few years. The approved rezoning of East New York in February has also given the neighborhood a big boost and brokers have started calling the area Brooklyn's "last frontier." As such, although the area median income remains very low ($35,000), home prices are quickly moving skyward and flipping is already in full effect. But not all is lost for those with lesser means. Starting today, qualifying NYC residents can apply for 27 newly constructed apartments at 1676 Broadway and 8 Rockaway Avenue. Apartments ranging from one- to three-bedrooms have been priced between $834 and $1,163 a month and are being offered to households earning between $30,000 and $63,000.
See more on if you qualify here
Rent this historic-meets-modern Cobble Hill carriage house for $8,500/month
August 23, 2016

Rent this historic-meets-modern Cobble Hill carriage house for $8,500/month

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There's nothing quite like a converted carriage house, from the plethora of historic details to the petite frames hiding often lofty interiors. This beauty at 413 Degraw Street in Cobble Hill, currently renting for $8,500 a month, is no exception. Built around the turn of the century, its brick facade is punctuated by the signature double-wide doors with a cast iron transom, along with arched dental moldings and a handsome cornice. Inside, it's indeed spacious, and though the modern updates are welcome, some of the design choices seem to clash with the historic nature of the home.
See the whole place

Distinctive Homes

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Local writer raising $150,000 to save Langston Hughes’ $3M Harlem townhouse
August 22, 2016

Local writer raising $150,000 to save Langston Hughes’ $3M Harlem townhouse

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Prolific writer and leader of the Harlem Renaissance Langston Hughes lived at 20 East 127th Street, an 1896 brownstone, in the 1950s and '60s, until he passed away in 1967. As Curbed notes, in more recent years, the ivy-covered, landmarked home has been plagued by lawsuits over its use and maintenance. The current owner listed it for $1.2 million in 2009, but it didn't sell even after the price was lowered in 2010. Today, it's estimated to be worth more than $3 million, though it's sitting vacant with its paint chipping. But local writer Renee Watson has big plans for the house that don't involve a multi-million-dollar sale that could potentially gut the interior, where Hughes' typewriter still sits on a shelf. CNN Money reports that she's launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise $150,000 to rent the home, renovate it, and turn it into a cultural center for Harlem-based artists.
Find out more
MAP: Find out what modern movies have been filmed on your street
August 22, 2016

MAP: Find out what modern movies have been filmed on your street

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Did you know that parts of "The Wolf of Wall Street" were shot in Fort Greene? Or that several stretches of Williamsburg appear in "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"? Filmed in NYC culls three years of NYC movie filming permits and funnels them into an interactive—and quite entertaining—map that's sure to get even the most jaded New Yorker "oh huh, that's cool" at least once. Created by Metrocosm, the map highlights an impressive 17,241 filming locations and 517 movies, a mix of blockbusters and B-movies among them.
more on the map here
Change the color of One WTC’s spire tonight; can NYC waterproof its subway?
August 22, 2016

Change the color of One WTC’s spire tonight; can NYC waterproof its subway?

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Tonight, you can change the color of One World Trade Center’s spire using a giant digital circuitboard in Brooklyn Bridge Park. [Untapped] The city has committed $91 million to revitalizing Far Rockaway. [Politico] Queens native Dalilah Muhammad was the first American to win gold in the women’s 400-meter hurdles. [NY Mag] Using $4 billion in federal funding, the MTA […]

Gawker founder Nick Denton can’t pay mortgage on Soho condo, needs renter approved
August 22, 2016

Gawker founder Nick Denton can’t pay mortgage on Soho condo, needs renter approved

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If you visit Gawker.com today, you'll see a final farewell that simply says "F— It," leading up to Univision's takeover of the media company later this month. But Gawker Media founder Nick Denton isn't so quick to throw in the towel in every aspect of his struggling empire; according to the Post, he's found a renter for who will fork over $12,500 a month for his $4.2 million Soho condo (in the same building where Kelly Ripa sold her penthouse at a $4.5 million discount). After publishing a sex video of him, Gawker was notoriously sued by Hulk Hogan, who won a $140 million settlement against the company, forcing Denton to file bankruptcy since he's personally liable for $10 million. So in May, he put his apartment at 76 Crosby Street on the market for $15,000 a month, the cost of his monthly mortgage payment that he now can't make, along with $3,400 in condo fees. But in order for the deal to go through, Denton needs a bankruptcy judge to approve the lease.
Check out the space
Reimagining Streit’s Matzo Factory on the Lower East Side: Two perspectives
August 22, 2016

Reimagining Streit’s Matzo Factory on the Lower East Side: Two perspectives

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The closing of Streit’s Matzo Factory last year was difficult for many long-time Lower East Siders to stomach. The factory was a near century-old institution that represented a bygone era untouched by gentrification. Unsurprisingly as a result, the condos designed to rise on the storied site have come under the scrutiny since their debut. But those grievances reveal just one side of the story. […]

How safe is NYC water?​ An expert weighs in
August 22, 2016

How safe is NYC water?​ An expert weighs in

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New York City’s been in the grips of some unforgiving heat and humidity this summer. One of the top tips for staying healthy during such severe weather (and always) is to stay hydrated by drinking a lot of water. And the city extended hours at many of its public pools to give folks as much […]

Off the avenue: Is Park Avenue losing its edge in the office market?
August 22, 2016

Off the avenue: Is Park Avenue losing its edge in the office market?

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Park Avenue has for decades been the office district of choice for many of the city's high-profile–and high-rent–corporations. But a recent Crain's article points to impending departures–such as the decision of investment firm Black Rock to decamp for new space in Hudson Yards or the World Trade Center, raising the question of whether the avenue's biggest office zone, from East 45th to East 59th streets, is falling out of favor with big-ticket business tenants. The city's office market is, without a doubt, changing. Industries like tech are growing and the financial industry is consolidating and in some cases downsizing its office space. The neighborhood, which charges the city's highest average rents, has been slow to catch up with the needs of new office tenants.
People moving out, people moving in
For $7M, spend the afterlife in a crypt at Nolita’s Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral
August 22, 2016

For $7M, spend the afterlife in a crypt at Nolita’s Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral

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When 6sqft learned of Manhattan's last two burial plots for sale at the New York Marble Cemetery for $350,000, we thought that was some steep real estate. But it looks like the Basilica of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral in Nolita has them beat, as the Post reports that the historic Mulberry Street location is opening "its 200-year-old crypt to the public for the first time — selling a six-person family vault in the catacombs for $7 million."
More on where you can spend the afterlife
Scarlett Johansson looks to the Cielo for an Upper East Side rental
August 22, 2016

Scarlett Johansson looks to the Cielo for an Upper East Side rental

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Scarlett Johansson, the all-time highest-grossing actress on the planet with movies that have pulled in over $3.3 billion, is reportedly looking for an Upper East Side home for herself, hubby Romain Dauriac and daughter Rose. Among the neighborhood's rental offerings to spark the actress's interest was a three-bedroom corner unit in the Cielo at 450 East 83rd Street, according to the Post. The 21st-floor pad offers enviable views and sunlight through floor-to-ceiling windows.
Take a look
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Bivouac offers free off-grid camping on a secret NYC rooftop
August 21, 2016

Bivouac offers free off-grid camping on a secret NYC rooftop

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While urban camping might sound like an oxymoron, there are some surprising options for roughing it in the city. Take for example Bivouac, a pop-up campsite on rotating, secret rooftops where you can wake up surrounded by Brooklyn's terraces or admiring Central Park from above--free of charge. Created by artist Thomas Stevenson, the site consists of six waterproof canvas tents with wooden frames and one-inch wool felt flooring for comfort and insulation. There's no electricity or internet to help guests disconnect from daily life, so all you have to do is book your stay in advance through Thomas (the "park ranger") and bring along a sleeping bag and food to share in a communal dinner.
Learn more about the rooftop camping project
Weekly highlights: Top picks from the 6sqft staff
August 20, 2016

Weekly highlights: Top picks from the 6sqft staff

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Food Network’s Ina Garten Buys Former House & Garden Editor’s Park Avenue Pad for $4.65M Live on the High Line for $596/Month, Lottery Launching for 75 Units at New West Chelsea Tower Hudson Heights’ Famed Cliffside ‘Pumpkin House’ Returns for $5.3M $700K Greenwich Village Studio Fits Maximum Storage Into 500 Square Feet Naomi Watts and […]

Art Nerd New York’s top event picks for the week- 8/18-8/24
August 20, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s top event picks for the week- 8/18-8/24

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In a city where hundreds of interesting happenings occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Art Nerd‘s philosophy is a combination of observation, participation, education and of course a party to create the ultimate well-rounded week. Jump ahead for Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer’s top picks for 6sqft readers! Battle through the end of summer heat by flexing your art muscles. The London Police lads present a new body of work at the art-friendly Quin Hotel, while curator Alfredo Martinez explores philosophies of Picasso at Amy Li Projects. Artist in residence Tracy O'Neill shares her progress at Mathew Gallery, and the Morbid Anatomy Museum explores Twin Peaks for a unique evening. All aboard the legendary drag festival Wigstock, which takes to the high seas this Friday. Mr. Brainwash comes to town for a massive Chelsea show, and Midnight Radio Show treats Bushwick to an evening of fairytales and puppets. Finally, bring a blanket to the beautiful Socrates Sculpture Park for a night of South American music, cuisine, and film.
More on all the best events this way
App-controlled toaster will sear emojis or the weather forecast onto your toast
August 19, 2016

App-controlled toaster will sear emojis or the weather forecast onto your toast

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Toast can be a bit boring, especially in the days of rainbow bagels and Eggs Benedict, but this app-controlled toaster offers quite a few ways to jazz up your standard morning bread. By working with bluetooth, not only can Toasteroid control the brownness of your toast from your smartphone, but its searing technology can print everything from weather forecasts, reminders, doodles, and emojis on your breakfast.
Find out more
Tour the American Copper Buildings’ skybridge and roof, first look at its floating lap pool
August 19, 2016

Tour the American Copper Buildings’ skybridge and roof, first look at its floating lap pool

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After last week's rush of news surrounding the American Copper Buildings--the launch of its affordable housing lottery for 160 units and the first reveal of its interior renderings--6sqft decided to take a tour inside the SHoP Architects-designed project. JDS Development Group's dancing East River towers have become best known for their copper facade (made up of 5,000 metal panels) and its three-story, amenity-filled skybridge that hovers 300 feet above the site at 626 First Avenue. Not only did we walk through the bridge, but we also took a peek at the buildings' already greening copper patina, had a first look at the lap pool on the 28th floor that will float between the towers, and also checked out the insane views from the roof.
See it all this way
Friday 5: Upper East Side elegance for less, buildings now offering free rent

Every Friday 6sqft is rounding up five of the best rental deals showcased on CityRealty.com’s newly launched no-fee rentals page, a space where house hunters can find the best concessions being offered by landlords across the city.

August 19, 2016

Friday 5: Upper East Side elegance for less, buildings now offering free rent

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The Upper East Side has long been one of Manhattan's most attractive neighborhoods, embodying a certain kind of elegance and convenience that's difficult to find in other parts of the city. Homes here are often situated just a short walk from Central Park; shopping, dining, museums, and entertainment are plentiful and in close reach; and quiet tree-lined streets highlighted by historic architecture provide for a picturesque backdrop that further elevate the offer. Ahead we spotlight a few of the best buildings on the Upper East Side currently offering free rent and more.
check out this week's deals here
Video: Take a gritty summertime subway ride to Coney Island–in 1987
August 19, 2016

Video: Take a gritty summertime subway ride to Coney Island–in 1987

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From the archives of '80s NYC nightlife videographer Nelson Sullivan comes this summertime classic video. Young Village Voice writer Michael Musto, artist Albert Crudo, and photographer Liz Lizard with her two kids in tow join Sullivan on the trip to Coney Island from Manhattan on a very different subway than we're used to today (h/t acapuck via Reddit). Their destination, too, won't look the least bit familiar to anyone who's visited the aforementioned beach destination in recent years, though there are many among us who fondly remember the beautiful decay of the boardwalk environs and the thrill of its garish attractions in the pre-MCU, pre Keyspan days. We never tire of checking out the graffiti-covered cars and fellow riders who probably only look more menacing. And at some moments if you don't look too hard, everything appears pretty much the same: The noise, the heat, the underground grit–and the fact that when it comes to fashion, everything a few decades old looks cool and new again.
Take a day trip to the '80s

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Car company MINI creates stylish, micro co-living concept
August 19, 2016

Car company MINI creates stylish, micro co-living concept

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Automotive manufacturer MINI began as a solution to a global oil crisis, and now the company is looking to address another major issue--a lack of attractive, affordable housing in urban settings. Not surprisingly, they've turned to a micro version of co-living. Called MINI LIVING, the installation showcases 323-square-foot apartments with fold-out shelving units that serve multiple purposes and blur the lines behind public and private in what they're calling a larger "micro-neighborhood."
Take a look around the space
‘Game of Thrones’ star Michiel Huisman conquers $2.2M Flatiron loft
August 19, 2016

‘Game of Thrones’ star Michiel Huisman conquers $2.2M Flatiron loft

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Dutch actor Michiel Huisman, well-known for his role as rugged lover/fighter Daario Naharis on HBO's "Game of Thrones," has purchased a big, sunny corner loft in the Macintyre Building at 874 Broadway in the Flatiron district for $2.2 million, according to Luxury Listings and city records. Like the character Huisman portrays, the two-level loft is charmingly rough at the edges yet undoubtedly handsome.
See the loft from more angles
John Legend and Chrissy Teigen sell stylish Nolita pad for $4M
August 19, 2016

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen sell stylish Nolita pad for $4M

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It's been 16 months since John Legend and Chrissy Teigen listed their uber-stylish Nolita loft for $4.5 million, and four months since they welcomed their baby daughter Luna into the world, and now the power couple is free to find a new family-friendly home as the Observer reports that their apartment has sold for $3.995 million. The couple purchased the apartment in 2012 for $2.5 million after selling their East Village condo at 52 East 4th Street for $2.7 million. They enlisted Don Stewart of Los Angeles–based firm Desiderata Design to complete the "dark, moody atmosphere," which is an attractive combo of cozy, industrial, and eclectic. Some of the unique design elements, in addition to the requisite piano nook, are a reclaimed wood wall, an Asian-inspired green silk bed spread, and a 19th century gilded leather screen on a bedroom wall.
Ogle more this way
‘Late Night’ host Seth Meyers nabs a Greenwich Village co-op for $7.5M
August 18, 2016

‘Late Night’ host Seth Meyers nabs a Greenwich Village co-op for $7.5M

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Funnyman Seth Meyers has just scored himself a sprawling duplex spread in Greenwich Village. According to city records released this afternoon, the comedian and his wife Alexi dropped $7.519M on the 3,200-square-foot co-op at 32 Washington Square West, a prewar construction that sits at the northwest corner of the beloved Washington Square Park. According to the listing, the apartment boasts five bedrooms, 4.5 baths, excellent light through its 26 windows, four exposures, two wood burning fireplaces, a chefs kitchen, a supersized living/dining room setup, and much much more. Incidentally, this apartment is no stranger to hosting A-list celebs. The home was previously owned by actress Mary Louise Parker—she sold the spacious pad for $7.75 million in 2013.
have a closer look inside
Stay in this demure off-grid cabin in the middle of the Catskills
August 18, 2016

Stay in this demure off-grid cabin in the middle of the Catskills

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This Catskills cabin is "glamping" at its finest—you're not quite roughing it, but you're still sleeping in the middle of the wilderness. The property, located on 20 acres that also holds a farm house, woods, meadow and two small ponds, is available for $120/night through Airbnb. The owners built this cabin to be totally off-grid: it's powered by solar lights, there's a composting toilet and a rain-water sink. It's a perfect escape for New Yorkers who'd like to unplug and unwind in the middle of nowhere.
Check out the property
VIDEO: The MTA tells all about dumping its subway cars in the Atlantic Ocean
August 18, 2016

VIDEO: The MTA tells all about dumping its subway cars in the Atlantic Ocean

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6sqft first learned about the MTA's interesting history of dumping old subway cars into the Atlantic Ocean through Stephen Mallon's insane photo series. The initiative began in late 2000 as a way to create artificial reefs and revive marine life along the Eastern seabed. Today, 2,400 cars now rest on the ocean floor in six states from New Jersey to Georgia, and we even got a peek inside them thanks to footage from novice divers at Express Water Sports, who lead scuba tours of the Bill Perry Reef system in Myrtle Beach, SC. Now, a video from the MTA itself (h/t Tracks) explains the history of the program, its financial viability, the environmental measures involved in the process, and some concerns about the reefs in the future.
Watch the full video here
Robert A.M. Stern’s 220 Central Park South now two-thirds erected
August 18, 2016

Robert A.M. Stern’s 220 Central Park South now two-thirds erected

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Robert A.M. Stern's latest Billionaires' Row blockbuster continues its rapid ascent into the sky. As CityRealty.com reports, 220 Central Park South (220 CPS) is now two-thirds of the way up, construction having knocked out about 600 feet of the tower's eventual 950-foot height. Application of the limestone cladding started in April and has thus far been installed across over one-third of the building. When finished in 2017, the two-winged skyscraper with its rare and direct Central Park South frontage will host 118 luxurious homes across 66 stories—and it will be one of the city's most expensive residences. Jump ahead to see more photos of all the work that's been completed.
More photos of the tower under construction here
LEESER Architecture dreams up an 80-story supertall for Downtown Brooklyn Macy’s site
August 18, 2016

LEESER Architecture dreams up an 80-story supertall for Downtown Brooklyn Macy’s site

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In April, initial details were released about Downtown Brooklyn's Macy's $100 million interior makeover, which included new columns, fluted ceilings, metal and glass entrance canopies, and video screens surrounding the escalators. This came after Tishman Speyer inked a $170 million deal with the department store in January, in which they'll remodel the 11-story Art Deco building's top five floors into offices. As part of the deal, Tishman also took control of the connecting Hoyt Street parking garage, a site that was speculated may give way to a supertall, mixed-use tower. Today, CityRealty.com posted a set of renderings from architecture firm LEESER showing a glassy tower rising from the existing department store. Although it is not the design being considered by Tishman Speyer, it does give us a taste of the type of modern development that could climb from the coveted DoBro address.
See more renderings
Kim and Kanye try to snag $30M Airbnb pad for free
August 18, 2016

Kim and Kanye try to snag $30M Airbnb pad for free

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Airbnb certainly doesn't mind giving celebs free lodgings; Kardashian satellites Kylie and Kendall Jenner recently stayed gratis in a Turks and Caicos villa hosted by the home share site in return for posting bikini-ed beach shots on social media, and now according to a report by the Post, Kim K. and hubby Kanye West have been in negotiations with the company to stay for $0 in a big-ticket Manhattan penthouse for several months this fall. A source at Airbnb told Page Six: “The plan would be for Kimye to live there for a few months for free, and Kim will post on social media about the apartment," with Airbnb picking up the tab for the listing.
Find out where they're looking
Cuomo wants to revive 421-a program with wage subsidies
August 18, 2016

Cuomo wants to revive 421-a program with wage subsidies

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One of the biggest snags in Mayor de Blasio's ambitious affordable housing plan (to add/preserve 200,000 such units over the next decade) has been his contention with Governor Cuomo over the city's 421-a program, which provides tax breaks for up to 25 years to new residential buildings that reserve at least 20 percent of units as affordable. The program expired in January, fueling concerns that permits for new rental units would drop as developers face skyrocketing land prices and be replaced with even more luxury condos. Now, after months of uncertainty, the Times reports that the Governor "has offered developers and union officials a wage subsidy for construction workers in the hopes of reviving [421-a]." His proposal was sent out as a single-page memo to residential developers on Tuesday night, presumably unbeknownst to de Blasio. Though it doesn't require union work force or prevailing wages, it does set a $65/hour minimum for projects south of 96th Street in Manhattan with 300 or more units and a $50/hour minimum for those of the same size along the Brooklyn and Queens waterfronts, $15 of which will be paid for by the state. These projects will be required to set aside 25 to 30 percent of units as below-market rate rentals.
More details ahead
For $887K in Prospect Heights, Chilled Out ‘Fuzzy Nap Zones’ for Non-Celebrities
August 18, 2016

For $887K in Prospect Heights, Chilled Out ‘Fuzzy Nap Zones’ for Non-Celebrities

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6sqft covered celeb mom/lifestyle guru Gwyneth Paltrow's infamous $14 million Tribeca loft with its luxurious lounge vibe and what she calls "fuzzy nap zones." Here in–arguably just as desirable–Prospect Heights, this surprisingly flexible two-plus-bedroom co-op at 130 Prospect Place is sun-filled and laid back, with plush chill-out zones of its own for a much less one percent-y price of $887,000. With 1,165 square feet of space, a brand new roof deck, and Prospect Park a few blocks away, this laid-back lair looks to be quite a catch.
Hang out, stay awhile
Prisma Coffeemaker Makes Cold Brew in Just 10 Minutes
August 17, 2016

Prisma Coffeemaker Makes Cold Brew in Just 10 Minutes

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Walk down any busy street in New York during the summer, and it seems like every other person is sipping an iced coffee. Over the past few years, the trend has shifted from the traditional cup of joe with some ice cubes to the more sophisticated cold brew, which is made by steeping grounds in cold or room temperature water for 12 to 24 hours to yield a more full-bodied, less-acidic coffee. Though tasty and a welcome caffeine boost, cold brew is often not the most economical (a regular-sized cup can easily set you back $5) and making your own can be an arduous task. This is where Prisma comes in (h/t Mental Floss). The cold brew coffeemaker from home appliance company FirstBuild can produce an entire carafe of the refreshing java in 10 minutes or less.
How do they do it?
Your First Look at 2016’s Open House New York Sites!
August 17, 2016

Your First Look at 2016’s Open House New York Sites!

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Here's a sneak peek at the more than 250 sites that have made it onto 2016's highly anticipated Open House New York Weekend (OHNY), a two-day festival where usually off limits buildings across the city's five boroughs open their doors to the public for tours, talks, and exploration. Now in its 14th year, OHNY has brought back a number of beloved locales to their roster, including the NY State Pavilion, the Brooklyn Army Terminal, City Hall and Google; they've also rounded up a number of brand-new spaces like the Metropolitan Opera House and the West Village's Westbeth Artists House. The full list won't be released for another few weeks, but we've got some of the highlights ahead.
More sites opening their doors this way
Connecticut Lighthouse up for Auction Could Be Transformed Into a Home
August 17, 2016

Connecticut Lighthouse up for Auction Could Be Transformed Into a Home

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There are just a select few opportunities to live in a lighthouse outside of New York City—$1.5 million could get you a red lighthouse upstate; $425,000 buys a lighthouse and tugboat in West Haven, CT. It's not everyday these properties come around, but the government is currently auctioning off six of its lighthouses and one, the Penfield Reefer Lighthouse, is located just 60 miles away from Midtown Manhattan.
It was built in the 1870s
How NJ Settled Donald Trump’s Casino Debt; Lineup Announced For Architecture and Design Film Festival
August 17, 2016

How NJ Settled Donald Trump’s Casino Debt; Lineup Announced For Architecture and Design Film Festival

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Investment firm bigwig Daren Metropoulos bought the Playboy mansion for $100 million, half the original asking price. [NYP] Tour this luxuriously sustainable new model apartment at Tribeca’s 60 White, which recycled 80 percent of its materials from the original structure. [Inhabitat] Donald Trump’s NJ casinos had a $30 million tax debt by 2010. But under Chris […]

POLL: Will the New York Wheel Revitalize Staten Island?
August 17, 2016

POLL: Will the New York Wheel Revitalize Staten Island?

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Though the New York Wheel got its first shipment of crane parts last month, its opening has been pushed back from late 2017 to April of 2018, reports DNAinfo. Construction on the $580 million Staten Island Ferris wheel is still on track to finish up next year, at which time it will resemble the renderings, but "the wheel requires rigorous testing and commissioning that must be conducted to the highest standards," said its CEO Rich Marin. This is not the first time the project has been delayed, and it's also been plagued by financial issues (it went $300 million over budget) and legal battles, but the developers are still optimistic. In fact, they're projecting that the attraction will be more lucrative than the Empire State Building’s observation deck and bring in more than four million visitors during its first year. But is a giant Ferris wheel enough to revitalize an entire borough, especially the one that's for so many years been the black sheep of NYC?
Share your opinion
Excavation Work Begins at One Vanderbilt, Follow Its Progress on Instagram
August 17, 2016

Excavation Work Begins at One Vanderbilt, Follow Its Progress on Instagram

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Last week, a $1.1 billion lawsuit against One Vanderbilt was settled, giving the green light to the 1,401-foot project. Investors at Grand Central Terminal led the suit, claiming that the tower would divest them of the value of their air rights if developer SL Green was was allowed to proceed with construction as it was cleared to do under the controversial Midtown East Rezoning. Now that it's been dismissed, NY Yimby reports that excavation work is underway at the site of Midtown's future tallest tower, at the corner of 42nd Street and Vanderbilt Avenue. And Curbed points out that architecture buffs can stay apprised of construction progress through the building's new Instagram page.
Check out some construction shots
Is NYC Really That Bike-Friendly?
August 17, 2016

Is NYC Really That Bike-Friendly?

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With CitiBike expanding deeper into NYC’s many neighborhoods and 70-plus miles of new and upgraded bike lanes added this year alone, it comes as no surprise that more and more New Yorkers are taking to the streets on two wheels. However, while things appear to be changing for the better, it may come as a surprise to many that when […]

Tenant Blacklists Stack the Deck Against Renters in an Already Unfair Equation

Image by Jorbasa Fotografie / Flickr 

August 17, 2016

Tenant Blacklists Stack the Deck Against Renters in an Already Unfair Equation

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In a tight market, landlord blacklists, where owners are called out for sleazy–or worse–practices may have little impact if renters are desperate to find living quarters. But at least they have a choice. The New York Times reports that “blacklists” containing names of tenants who have run afoul of landlords in the past have created a bias against potential tenants to the point where the home-hunters–even those with stellar credit, a clean record and a perfectly good explanation–feel they have no chance of finding an apartment anytime soon. Going beyond background and credit checks, a database known to housing advocates and lawyers as the tenant blacklist provides prospective landlords throughout the country with a means to, as the Times puts it, "weed out risky tenants." The list, however, is filled with errors and cases in which, for example, tenants legally withheld rent due to unlivable conditions and later won their cases. But without explanation, the list can make renting an apartment an impossibility.
Is this even legal?
Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber Swap Cute Amagansett Cottage for $5.4M Montauk Beachside Retreat
August 17, 2016

Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber Swap Cute Amagansett Cottage for $5.4M Montauk Beachside Retreat

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The hot Hollywood couple may be downsizing as far as the number of bedrooms they'll have, but they’re getting ocean views from everywhere in the house. As 6sqft reported, Watts and Schreiber put their stylish six-bedroom Amagansett cottage on the market for $6 million back in December. Now, 27East reports they’ve purchased a four-bedroom house further out on the Island in boho-trendy Montauk. The 3,600-square-foot home, for which the award-winning actors paid $5.4 million, sits on a half-acre across the street from the beach and abuts a 100-acre nature preserve. Similar to their former retreat, there's a heated gunite pool and pool house, a chef’s kitchen and garage parking.
Take a look inside this elegant beach house
Babe Ruth’s Former UWS Apartment Sells to ‘How I Met Your Mother’ Actress
August 16, 2016

Babe Ruth’s Former UWS Apartment Sells to ‘How I Met Your Mother’ Actress

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Though this Upper West Side apartment doesn't look like much, it's certainly racking up the celebrity accolades. At the end of his career, from 1929 to 1940, Babe Ruth and his family owned the entire seventh floor at 345 West 88th Street. At the time it boasted 11 rooms, but it's since been divided into two units. One unit, 7B, hit the market for $1,595,000 last August; the other, 7F, listed in February for $1,175,000. According to the Observer, the latter has sold for $1,130,000 to former "How I Met Your Mother" actress Ashley Williams and her husband, producer Neal Dodson.
See the full apartment
VIDEO: Watch One of NYC’s Largest Trees Get Taken Down and Turned Into Lumber
August 16, 2016

VIDEO: Watch One of NYC’s Largest Trees Get Taken Down and Turned Into Lumber

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When the Parks Department recently declared one of the city's largest trees dead (and therefore dangerous to those walking by), they turned to the experts at RE-CO BKLYN, a Ridgewood-based company that reclaims fallen NYC trees and produces live edge slabs and custom furniture. The circa 1870 European Elm tree lived in Prospect Park and was 75 feet high and more than seven feet in diameter with 18- and 24-inch limbs that were starting to break off in extreme weather events. But instead of simply ripping the tree up and dumping it in a landfill, Andrew Ullman, Brooklyn’s Director of Forestry, decided to enlist RE-CO to mill it and turn it into dry lumber that will be used to create a custom conference table for the NYC Parks Prospect Park offices.
Watch the full video here

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