Units at Trump’s 11 Manhattan Condo Buildings Are Still Selling at a Premium
July 22, 2016

Units at Trump’s 11 Manhattan Condo Buildings Are Still Selling at a Premium

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Historically, the Trump brand has boosted sales prices at Manhattan condos. Since 2005, units in the Donald's buildings have sold for an average of 31 percent more than other NYC condos. But with his beyond-contentious presidential run, it's been unclear if his real estate empire would take a hit in a city where 70 percent of registered voters are Democrats. New data brought to us by MarketWatch, however, shows that he's "still king of New York." According to an analysis by CityRealty.com of 2016 sales data at Trump's 11 Manhattan condos, these units sold for an average of $1,974 a square foot, compared with $1,873 for all other condos, a five percent advantage that was also echoed in 2015.
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Juno Jeon’s Bedside Table Has Scales That Act Like a Living Creature
July 22, 2016

Juno Jeon’s Bedside Table Has Scales That Act Like a Living Creature

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We interact with our furniture everyday--when we sit on a couch or open a drawer--but most of the time we don't even think about it. To make those interactions more visible (and fun) designer Juno Jeon creates ordinary objects with a surprising twist. One example is Pull Me to Life, a wooden bedside table complete with scales that react when in use.
Learn more about this piece
Spotlight: John D’Agostino Wants You to Go Wild for the Staten Island Yankees
July 22, 2016

Spotlight: John D’Agostino Wants You to Go Wild for the Staten Island Yankees

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New York is fortunate to not only have two Major League Baseball teams, but two Minor League teams—the Mets-affiliated Brooklyn Cyclones and the Yankees-affiliated Staten Island Yankees. The latter is based right near the Staten Island Ferry in St. George, and for 15 years, it's been a team for Yankees players who are tuning up after rehab or future Major League players to get their start. Unlike the Major Leagues, the SI team has a shorter season that runs from mid-June until September, and the focus at games is all about the entertainment factor. This is where John D'Agostino comes in. John grew up a Staten Island Yankees fan, but now serves as the team’s Director of Entertainment, where he's responsible for making sure every game has a range of fun programming that gets fans laughing and cheering. 6sqft recently spoke with John to learn all about baseball on Staten Island and why more New Yorkers should hop on the ferry and head to a game!
Read the interview here
Local Pols Say Port Authority’s $10B Bus Terminal Plan Is a Hot Mess
July 22, 2016

Local Pols Say Port Authority’s $10B Bus Terminal Plan Is a Hot Mess

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A request to put the brakes on a $10 billion plan for a new West Side bus terminal and rethink the process with more input from local officials and the public was rebuffed by the Port Authority chairman, reports Crain’s. Rep. Jerrold Nadler and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer were joined by Deputy Mayor Anthony Shorris, state Sen. Brad Hoylman, Assembly members Richard Gottfried and Linda Rosenthal and Councilman Corey Johnson in backing the effort to slow the Port Authority's call to move ahead with a design competition to get ideas for the West Side plan. The controversy emerged after a board meeting on Thursday. "We’re not going to defer the design and deliverability study,” was the reply from John Degnan, the New Jersey-appointed chairman, amid concerns that the new terminal will necessitate the seizure of private property using eminent domain, threaten area homes, small businesses and other organizations and belch more carbon from a larger fleet of buses into the air in an area that already "runs afoul of federal air-quality standards."
Find out what the fuss is all about
See Day and Night Views From 1,400 Feet in the Air at 432 Park!
July 21, 2016

See Day and Night Views From 1,400 Feet in the Air at 432 Park!

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Earlier today, 6sqft brought you flashy new renderings of the amenity spaces at 432 Park Avenue. The reveal came with a link to the official building website, which has a section offering jaw-dropping photos that showcase the views from the 1,396-foot tower, the tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere. As the site notes, they span from the Hudson River to the East River, from Westchester to Brooklyn, and from Central Park to the Atlantic Ocean.
See them all here
432 Park Reveals Renderings of Rafael Viñoly-Designed Amenity Spaces
July 21, 2016

432 Park Reveals Renderings of Rafael Viñoly-Designed Amenity Spaces

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To date, 46 of the 106 residences at 432 Park Avenue, the tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere, have sold. And perhaps in an attempt to sweaten the deal for those remaining, which now includes rentals, the sales team has released renderings of the swanky amenity spaces, also designed by the building's starchitect Rafael Viñoly. In addition to views of the indoor swimming pool, billiards room and library, fitness center, massage treatment room, and movie theater, the press release brings fresh details on the restaurant, which will be open only to residents and their guests.
See all the renderings here
Unpretentious Beach House by Space Exploration Is a Perfect Retreat For a Creative City Pair
July 21, 2016

Unpretentious Beach House by Space Exploration Is a Perfect Retreat For a Creative City Pair

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Understandably busy creative couple Elisa Restrepo, co-founder of the luxurious minimalist shoe label Dieppa Restrepo, and restaurateur Dylan Dodd (Karasu, Walter’s, Walter Foods, and Barrio Chino) turned to Brooklyn architects Space Exploration to transform their three-story split-level house in the laid-back (though lately less so) surfing village of Montauk. 6sqft has featured the firm's work before, and they've done another fine job creating an un-fussy and livable space with white and pale woods, earthy textiles and plenty of natural light. The house underwent a full gut remodel, including extensive landscaping, which took a year, but looks completely worth the effort.
Summer serenity this way
Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week- 7/21-7/27
July 21, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week- 7/21-7/27

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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! The wall made famous by Keith Haring, now known as the Bowery Wall, gets a fresh coat of paint this week- head down to check out the process of photorealist stencil artist Logan Hicks. The Gallery@Spring opens its doors for a rare look at New York Fashion from the Time LIFE archives, and the irrepressible No Wave performance artists host a night of seedy New York storytelling at the Django. The High Line finally lets visitors stay late to experience a night of illuminated art works, and do-gooders Beauty For Freedom are hosting an art party to benefit young women in India. Be sure to catch a pop up exhibition and book release by Iranian brothers and stencil artists Icy & Sot, and take in a powerful show by female artists at the Untitled Space.
More on all the best events this way

Distinctive Homes

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Trendy, ‘Affordable’ Food Hall and Beer Garden Headed to the South Bronx

Image: View Grand Concourse via photopin (license)

July 21, 2016

Trendy, ‘Affordable’ Food Hall and Beer Garden Headed to the South Bronx

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Controversial South Bronx Developer Keith Rubenstein of Somerset Partners has purchased a 16,000-square-foot warehouse (expandable to 30,000 square feet) at 9 Bruckner Boulevard for $7.5 million and intends to create a Gansevoort Market-style food hall called Bruckner Market, reports The Real Deal. According to the developer, who purchased two other South Bronx waterfront sites last year, the space will offer a fresh food market, kiosks and restaurants and may have a beer garden, though he made a point of addressing how the new addition will affect the community: “It will provide great food and beverage options at affordable prices for the existing community and new community.”
Find out more
Live in a Charming Midtown Co-op Just Off Billionaires’ Row For $449K
July 21, 2016

Live in a Charming Midtown Co-op Just Off Billionaires’ Row For $449K

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For a rare low-six-figure price, this one-bedroom co-op shares a neighborhood with the big-ticket buyers at One57 and 15 Central Park West, as well as easy access to the same great perks, like Lincoln Center, Central Park, the Time Warner Center and lots of theater options. While it might have a lot less interior space, the fourth-floor walk up at 431 West 54th Street looks bright, quiet and comfortable, and might just cost less per month than most rentals in the area. Just north of vibrant Hell's Kitchen, the neighborhood is a growing residential favorite on its own with buyers and renters who love Manhattan living.
Get a look at this find
Transportation Coalition Wants NYC to Fix Failing Bus Service
July 21, 2016

Transportation Coalition Wants NYC to Fix Failing Bus Service

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On the heels of Governor Cuomo's major announcement that the MTA will build 1,025 new subway cars and modernize 31 of the city’s more than 400 stations, some New Yorkers are hoping to turn the attention to buses instead of trains. The NYC Bus Turnaround Coalition, which the Wall Street Journal notes is a newly formed partnership of transit advocacy groups, hopes to fix "a broken system plagued by outdated routes and slow, unreliable service." Since 2002, subway usage has increased by nearly 25 percent, while bus ridership has decreased by 16 percent. And between 2010 and 2015 alone the system lost 46 million riders. In response, the group released a report titled "Turnaround: Fixing New York City’s Buses" that calls for more bus lanes and bus-boarding islands, queue-jump lanes (additional bus lanes at intersections that would allow buses to bypass lines of vehicles at red lights), reconfigured bus routes, and implementing "tap-and-go" far collection at all bus doors.
Find out more
Versace’s Former Mansion Gets $55K/Month Price Cut; The Seafood Restaurants of City Island
July 21, 2016

Versace’s Former Mansion Gets $55K/Month Price Cut; The Seafood Restaurants of City Island

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The opulent UES mansion once home to Versace listed for for $120,000/month in April, but it’s now been reduced to $65,000. [Curbed] Here’s a dining guide to the seafood utopia of City Island. [Gothamist] New York Times architecture critic Michael Kimmelman talks tall buildings, Greenwich Village, and his crusade for a 21st century transportation hub. [Common Edge] […]

MoMA Has Already Raised $650M for Renovation and Expansion, And More Is Coming

Rendering of MoMA renovation Via Diller Scofidio + Renfro

July 20, 2016

MoMA Has Already Raised $650M for Renovation and Expansion, And More Is Coming

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Just this week, it came to light that the Metropolitan Museum of Art may lay off as many as 100 employees as part of efforts to cut its $30 million deficit. As the New York Times previously explored, the struggling state of the Met exemplifies a shift in the art world towards modern and contemporary art. And standing as a true testament to this is MoMA's current financial status. The midtown museum has already raised $650 million towards its fundraising campaign, far exceeding the $450 million needed for its planned renovation and addition of three new gallery floors. In addition, they'll also sell $280 million of tax-exempt bonds "to raise money for the project and refinance debt as borrowing costs drop to the lowest on record," reports Crain's.
More details ahead
New Photos of NYC’s First Residential Urban Farm at Urby Staten Island
July 20, 2016

New Photos of NYC’s First Residential Urban Farm at Urby Staten Island

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Urban farms are nothing new to NYC, but the first one at a residential building is taking shape at Staten Island's Urby. The $250 million, 900-unit rental development is located on the borough's North Shore waterfront, just minutes from the ferry, and is a collaboration between Ironstate Development and Dutch architecture and design firm Concrete. There will be 35,000 square feet of retail space, and though the units are quite nice and modern, it's the health-centric amenities that really set this LEED-certified project apart. Urby will offer an outdoor pool, a two-story fitness center, filtered communal well, landscaped courtyards with fire pits, a rooftop apiary with beehives, a 300-car garage with electric car chargers, and access to a waterfront esplanade. In the food department, there's one of the city's largest urban farms, which is employing New York's first farmer-in-residence, as well as an on-site bodega, cafe, and communal test kitchen.
Check it all out
Landmarks Tells BKSK Architects to Cut Height of Proposed Eight-Story UWS Resi Building
July 20, 2016

Landmarks Tells BKSK Architects to Cut Height of Proposed Eight-Story UWS Resi Building

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It's back to the drawing board for BKSK Architects, reports CityRealty.com. At yesterday's LPC meeting, architects Harry Kendall and Todd Poisson presented BKSK's proposal for a new seven-unit residential building at 466-468 Columbus in the Central Park West Historic District being developed by the Roe Corporation. The project would require the demo of an innocuous three-story brick building dating back to 1894 (the existing building facade was updated in 2006), replacing it with an even taller masonry building with a facade punctuated by terra cotta louvers and topped with a modern cornice. The building would also host two retail units on its ground floor and an eighth-floor setback that would give the penthouse a private terrace. While the LPC had no issue with knocking down the existing building, they were less keen on some of the other items.
More here
MAP: NYC’s Rental Concessions on the Rise, See Where Landlords Are Offering Deals
July 20, 2016

MAP: NYC’s Rental Concessions on the Rise, See Where Landlords Are Offering Deals

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“There’s some crazy stuff going on in New York.” David Neithercut, President and CEO of Equity Residential, told Bloomberg in April during the company’s Q1 Earnings Call. COO David Santee sums up why: “We had to join the concession party to close deals.” Equity Residential is following a growing trend of many other New York City landlords, and is doing so out of necessity. They are under immense pressure to keep their buildings full in the face of increasing vacancy rates. According to the June 2016 Elliman Report, in Manhattan, “The vacancy rate rose from 2.07 percent to 2.3 percent when compared to the same month a year ago, and is the highest vacancy rate for June in four years.” The report also notes that the median rental price is up 2.2 percent since last June, and the number of new leases is up 33.5 percent as tenants continue to push back against increases applied at the time of renewal. Tenants were offered concessions on 9.7 percent of all new leases, up from 3.9 percent last June. While this has become a point of stress for landlords (Equity Residential alone gave an estimated $600,000 in concessions during the first quarter), as you may have guessed, this is great news for prospective renters.
Find out more here
You Could Say This Four-Bedroom Village Co-op Is About $1M Per Bedroom–With Room to Spare
July 20, 2016

You Could Say This Four-Bedroom Village Co-op Is About $1M Per Bedroom–With Room to Spare

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For starters, there's a mudroom–it's right across from the laundry room. And an underground garage. There are some bedrooms, maybe four, maybe less–or more...how many do you need? Suburban sprawl isn't a problem at all when it's inside your apartment, and the apartment is on a tree-lined West Village block. You could say this $4 million home in a boutique co-op residence at 247 West 12th Street known as Greenwich House rings in at $1 million per bedroom, with some room to spare.
Take a look around this expensive-but-adaptable living space
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45 Years Ago, Evel Knievel Jumped Across 10 Cars in Madison Square Garden
July 20, 2016

45 Years Ago, Evel Knievel Jumped Across 10 Cars in Madison Square Garden

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A 1971 issue of the New Yorker described Evel Knievel as "a thirty-two-year-old native of Butte, Montana, who makes his living by riding a motorcycle at high speed up a wood-and-steel ramp, off the top, and into the air, with the intention of landing it on another ramp some distance away." Today, we're all familiar with the images of videos of the famed daredevil jumping over things on his Harley, but 45 years ago, Knievel was making his first trip to NYC. Madison Square Garden was hosting an event called the Auto Thrill Show, and as part of it, Knievel jumped over 10 vehicles, nine cars and one van--the max that could fit in the space--to a crowd "worked up to a point of high tension, apprehension, and excitement." These feelings weren't based on the length of the jump (he had set a world record earlier that year when he made it over 19 cars in Ontario, California), but rather the mere 75 feet of concrete between the end of the takeoff ramp and the beginning of the landing.
So what happened?
POLL: Are You Happy With Governor Cuomo’s Planned Subway Changes?
July 20, 2016

POLL: Are You Happy With Governor Cuomo’s Planned Subway Changes?

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On Monday, as 6sqft reported, Governor Cuomo unveiled the MTA's "plans to build 1,025 new subway cars, and to modernize 31 of the city’s more than 400 stations." Most of the new fleet will be of the open-gangway format, and they'll boast wider doors, Wi-fi, USB ports, better lighting, cell service, security cameras, full color digital information displays, and a new blue and gold color palette that represents New York's state colors. Since the upgrades are part of the $27 billion capital plan that was approved in May, some critics are questioning whether the changes are more cosmetic and brag-worthy, rather than functional. But the city explains that the design of the new cars will help alleviate overcrowding, thereby reducing delays. What do you think--can the MTA do better?
Cast your vote here
Pricing Revealed for Essex Crossing’s SHoP-Designed Condo Tower
July 19, 2016

Pricing Revealed for Essex Crossing’s SHoP-Designed Condo Tower

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Though Essex Crossing will bring 1.65 million square feet of residential, community, and commercial space to the Lower East Side, only one of the 10 sites will offer condos--242 Broome Street. Located at Site One, the SHoP Architects-designed tower is currently getting its foundation poured, and along with this groundbreaking comes a sales website with new details on the project, reports CityRealty.com. The 14-story building will have a five-story base to house retail and commercial tenants and a bowling alley from Splitsville Luxury Lanes. On the fifth floor will be a cultural space (the Andy Warhol Museum previously planned to open an outpost here) and rooftop sculpture garden. Above will be 55 one- to three-bedroom condos, 11 of which will be affordable. Tentative pricing for the market-rate units ranges from $1,275,000 to $7,000,000, according to the latest edition of Elliman Magazine (the brokerage will be handling sales).
More details this way
$4.5M Industrial Tribeca Loft Is Both Cavernous and Airy
July 19, 2016

$4.5M Industrial Tribeca Loft Is Both Cavernous and Airy

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The adjectives "cavernous" and "airy" don't usually go together, but a gut renovation at this Tribeca loft created an industrial-chic space that manages to feel bright and open while retaining its dark, underground moodiness. Located at the 19th century building 55 North Moore Street, the two-bedroom home boasts historic details like exposed wood ceilings, brick walls, and steel columns, along with more modern touches such as the amazing skylight made of frosted glass blocks. The loft last sold in 2004 for $1.78 million, and after the reno, the owners thought they could pick up a cool $10.6 million last year. The price has now dropped significantly to $4.5 million, however.
Take a look around this incredible home
Court Says Work Can Proceed at Barry Diller’s Futuristic Offshore Park
July 19, 2016

Court Says Work Can Proceed at Barry Diller’s Futuristic Offshore Park

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At the end of last month, an appellate court issued an injunction that said work must temporarily stop at Barry Diller's Pier 55 until at least September when opponents of the futuristic offshore park (who claimed it had gone through inadequate environmental impact evaluations) could present their case again. But The Real Deal reports today that work has resumed much sooner than expected, as an appeals court lifted the stop work order yesterday.
Find out more
Delivering a New Future to Bronx General Post Office While Honoring Its Past

Image courtesy of Studio V Architecture

July 19, 2016

Delivering a New Future to Bronx General Post Office While Honoring Its Past

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Blocks away from the Harlem River waterfront and the 15-acre Mill Pond Park, with easy access to public transportation and serving a vibrant community of college students, office and medical workers, and working-class families, sits the nearly 80-year old landmarked Bronx General Post Office. Acquired in 2014 by developer Young Woo & Associates and the Bristol Group as part of the postal service’s plan to pare down its real estate holdings, the building’s bold yet tasteful transformation promises to be a showcase for the borough’s long awaited rebirth. Though its glory years as the primary sorting, storage and processing hub for the majority of mail coming to and from the Bronx have long gone, the government was careful to ensure that its new life would be worthy of its storied history—and its neighborhood inhabitants. After a thoughtful and lengthy RFP process, developer Young Woo was selected to bring his vision—what he's described as "a crossroads for community, commerce and culture"—to the 175,00-square-foot facility, and he hired STUDIO V Architecture, a firm with extensive experience in adaptive reuse, to help achieve it.
Read more on their approach to this unique project here
New Self-Driving Bus in Amsterdam Makes the MTA’s Transit Plan Look Dated
July 19, 2016

New Self-Driving Bus in Amsterdam Makes the MTA’s Transit Plan Look Dated

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While New York City is patting itself on the back for pushing through a subway design that offers eight more inches of door space and an open-gangway format, over in the Netherlands, folks are celebrating the Future Bus, a self-driving bus created by Mercedes-Benz. Per The Verge, the Future Bus has just completed a 20 kilometer (roughly 12.5 miles) drive that took it from Amsterdam's Schipol Airport to the town of Haarlem (fun side note: Harlem the nabe takes its name from this municipality) along a route that included a number of tight bends, tunnels, and traffic lights.
more on this technology here
This Montauk Beach House by Ghislaine Viñas Could Be in Malibu or Miami
July 19, 2016

This Montauk Beach House by Ghislaine Viñas Could Be in Malibu or Miami

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It's definitely beach season, and it's refreshing to get a peek at homes filled with ocean breezes. The playful and colorful interiors created by Ghislaine Viñas Interior Design have transformed city lofts and townhouses–but her paintbox palette works just as well, it turns out, by the sea. From the outside, this Montauk getaway for a New York City family is a classic East End beach house, but Ghislaine's irreverent way of mixing color and mid-20th-century modern and eclectic styles gives this laid-back home a vibe that's also part Malibu hideaway, part Miami chic.
See how well color works with sand and surf

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Controversial Toronto Politician Appointed Director of Brooklyn-Queens Streetcar
July 19, 2016

Controversial Toronto Politician Appointed Director of Brooklyn-Queens Streetcar

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The Post is calling him the "Canadian Anthony Weiner," and it's just been announced that he's the new Director of the Brooklyn-Queens Streetcar. Adam Giambrone ran for mayor of Toronto in 2010, but had to drop out after leaked text messages ousted him in an affair with a 19-year-old college student. Sex scandal aside, the 39-year-old is a former Toronto city councilor, a position that allowed him to chair the Toronto Transit Commission from 2006 to 2010. During that time, he advocated for a network of suburban streetcars called Transit City. It was shot down by Mayor Rob Ford, but construction has since begun on portions of it. According to NY Mag, Giambrone then went on to serve as a traveling light-rail expert in Montreal and Milwaukee.
What will he be doing here in NYC?
This $4,750/Month Park Slope Townhouse Duplex Feels Like a Home
July 19, 2016

This $4,750/Month Park Slope Townhouse Duplex Feels Like a Home

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We're not sure what it is about this two-bedroom duplex occupying the top two floors of a lovely South Slope townhouse at 215 13th Street; like the neighborhood, it's laid-back rather than fancy, but the 1,200-square-foot rental looks like it has everything you'd need to move right in and make yourself at home. Asking $4,750 a month, the duplex includes a big, bright kitchen for gathering and cooking, a charming rear deck for outdoor chilling, a bath and a half for not having to climb stairs to use the baño, office space, big closets and a washer-dryer.
Take a look around
New High-Tech Subway Station and Car Designs Unveiled by Governor Cuomo
July 18, 2016

New High-Tech Subway Station and Car Designs Unveiled by Governor Cuomo

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Straphangers rejoice! As unveiled by Governor Cuomo at the NYC Transit Museum in Brooklyn today, the MTA has announced plans to build 1,025 new subway cars, and to modernize 31 of the city's more than 400 stations. In addition to the majority of these cars taking on the globally-favored "open car end" format, they will also boast wider doors, Wi-fi, USB ports, improved lighting, cell service, full color digital information displays, security cameras for passenger safety, and interestingly, a new color palette—yes, Cuomo has also taken to branding the cars in New York's state colors, blue and gold.
Welcome to the 21st Century, new york city
Where I Work: Inside prop stylist Courtney Dawley’s quirky, colorful Greenpoint workspace
July 18, 2016

Where I Work: Inside prop stylist Courtney Dawley’s quirky, colorful Greenpoint workspace

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For some New Yorkers, bargain hunting is a fun weekend hobby, but stylist, designer and creator of Found By a Prop Stylist Courtney Dawley has taken the casual pastime and transformed it into her career. Courtney's keen eye for a deal and her ability to curate the unlikely into cohesive collections of modern nostalgia were the seeds for her thriving online shop and style website. Courtney also transforms many of her vintage finds into stylish and functional pieces for the home, ranging from antique painted planters to vintage mugs up-cycled into stylish candles. 6sqft recently visited Courtney at her Greenpoint studio and home, and, in addition to photographing the fun and eclectic space, we learned about how she got into collecting vintage objects, her personal design aesthetic and new collection, and the best spots nearby for vintage finds.
Get it all right here
Huge Tax Disparities Along Central Park Become Visuals in Architectural Art Installation

“Section 581” by SITU Studio, Photograph by Patrick Mandeville

July 18, 2016

Huge Tax Disparities Along Central Park Become Visuals in Architectural Art Installation

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"Section 581" by SITU Studio, Photograph by Patrick Mandeville Billionaires get off nearly tax-free and billions go uncollected due to flaws in the way the city assesses property value. As part of a new exhibit at the Storefront for Art and Architecture in Soho, interdisciplinary architecture firm SITU Studio created visual representations of these inequities in one of their most glaring examples: the buildings along Central Park. New York City's property tax structure assigns higher real property taxes to renters than it does to the infamous absentee owners of the trophy condos on Billionaires’ Row, short-changing the city of millions in annual revenue, according to CityLab. The acrylic bands in the SITU models show the disparity between the taxed value of these properties and the sky-high amounts they’d actually sell for.
Find out how the state law is giving billionaires a free lunch
Beyond the Four Seasons: Aby Rosen Talks Maintenance and Costs at the Seagram Building
July 18, 2016

Beyond the Four Seasons: Aby Rosen Talks Maintenance and Costs at the Seagram Building

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On Saturday night, after what seems like an eternity of speculation followed by lamentation, the iconic Four Seasons hosted its last dinner. Last summer, Seagram Building owner Aby Rosen of RFR Realty chose not to renew the iconic restuarant's lease, and even before this, he faced criticism when he removed Picasso's largest ever work, Le Tricorne, from the space. But despite the constant contention, the developer is speaking out, hoping to get a little credit for the work and money he has put into the office building. "I see myself as a custodian," he told the Times, referring to the fact that it costs RFR an estimated 20 percent more to maintain the landmarked structure than it would a typical tower of the same size and age. But experts say this is par for the course when one willingly purchases a designated building, which Rosen did in 2000 for $379 million.
Rosen breaks down the specifics
Shipping Crates Inspired These Simple Wooden Wardrobes By Sigurd Larsen
July 18, 2016

Shipping Crates Inspired These Simple Wooden Wardrobes By Sigurd Larsen

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Living efficiently in a studio apartment has many challenges, but one of the biggest gripes, especially for women, is where to stock all those clothes. If your home lacks a Carrie Bradshaw-esque walk-in closet, these custom-made pieces by architect Sigurd Larsen may work wonders. They take inspiration from the wooden shipping crates typically used to transport or store large, heavy or awkward items, and can also double as attractive room dividers.
Learn more about this wooden wardrobe
Abandoned Rockaways Building Gets Spray Painted; The Rise of the Inflatable Swan
July 18, 2016

Abandoned Rockaways Building Gets Spray Painted; The Rise of the Inflatable Swan

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Artist Katharina Grosse spray painted the abandoned aquatics building in Rockaway as an art installation that looks at the recovery since Hurricane Sandy. [designboom] As phone books stop being printed, recycling companies see more tonnage disappear from their waste stream. [Crain’s] See how much your first NYC apartment would cost today. [DNAinfo] The inflatable swan […]

Plans Filed for Condo/Cultural Building in West Chelsea by the Late Zaha Hadid
July 18, 2016

Plans Filed for Condo/Cultural Building in West Chelsea by the Late Zaha Hadid

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At the beginning of June, 6sqft reported that the Moinian Group would be moving ahead with a project at 220 Eleventh Avenue in Chelsea that they had collaborated on over a year ago with the late Zaha Hadid. This is located just three blocks away from the starchitect's only other New York Commission at 520 West 28th Street along the High Line. At the time, the developer announced that the new building will be "a collection of signature loft-like condominium residences, a collection of penthouses and a cultural institution to establish itself as the hub of the world renowned art district that is West Chelsea." Yimby has now revealed that Moinian filed official permits for the 11-story structure, which will boast 40 large condos, a museum, and a restaurant.
More details right this way
$4M UES Limestone Mansion Duplex Wows With Tiffany Windows, a Fireplace and an Elevator
July 18, 2016

$4M UES Limestone Mansion Duplex Wows With Tiffany Windows, a Fireplace and an Elevator

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The elegant carved limestone mansion at 35 East 68th Street on the Upper East Side is quite a standout, even in a neighborhood filled with historic architecture. 6sqft previously featured another duplex in the 13,000-square-foot Beaux Arts beauty that was built as a private residence for physician Dr. Edward Kellogg and grain fortune heiress Mary Dows by Carrere & Hastings, the architecture firm who designed the Frick Collection and the New York Public Library. The landmarked mansion was converted into an eight-unit co-op apartment building, seven of which appeared on the market together last year for $34 million; but it looks like a sale never happened. Now another three-bedroom duplex is for sale, asking $3.95 million. Unlike the other listing, the home's grand historic details are very much in evidence, from the gorgeous oak paneled living room with 14-foot ceilings to Tiffany stained glass windows and a wood-burning fireplace–complemented by a modern custom kitchen and accessible by an elevator.
Tour this grand historic home
Starting Today, 20 Affordable Units Up For Grabs Throughout the Bronx

100 West 174th Street in University Heights (L); Locations of all three buildings (R)

July 18, 2016

Starting Today, 20 Affordable Units Up For Grabs Throughout the Bronx

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Beginning today, New Yorkers earning 60 percent of the AMI can apply for 20 brand new, affordable units in University Heights (at 100 West 174th Street and 1636-1640 University Avenue) and the East Bronx (at 1167 Stratford Avenue). The apartments are one-bedrooms for $980/month, two-bedrooms for $1,183/month, and three-bedrooms for $1,359/month. The buildings have on-site supers, and units feature energy efficient appliances, sleek modern kitchens and baths, and hardwood floors.
Find out if you qualify
Stay in a Funky 1930s Catskills Farmhouse (Yoga Room Included) for $125/Night
July 17, 2016

Stay in a Funky 1930s Catskills Farmhouse (Yoga Room Included) for $125/Night

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Just in case a tiny cabin with an outdoor kitchen, a geodesic dome, or a 1950s trailer aren't your thing, you can still enjoy an unconventional country getaway at a Woodbridge, NY farmhouse where a suite of colorful upstairs rooms awaits. Part of a fascinating property 90 miles from New York City known as the Outlier Inn, the farmhouse, available on Airbnb, includes three bedrooms (available by room for $125 per night, or you can rent the entire apartment) and a yoga room. You'll also find sheep, goats, alpaca, bunnies and other sweater-bearing critters whose furry coats (with no harm done besides a haircut) get spun into winter accessories in an on-site fiber-arts workshop space, a full-service recording studio, a greenhouse with seasonal produce for sale and a pond on the 12-acre property, plus a nearby lake, hiking trails and park.
Check out the rooms in this just-right farmhouse
First Look at Williamsburg’s Tallest Building Not Planned Along the Waterfront
July 16, 2016

First Look at Williamsburg’s Tallest Building Not Planned Along the Waterfront

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"Avid church and factory convertor" Yoel Werzberger and Watermark Capital Group are building a 19-story, 230-foot residential building in the heart of Williamsburg at 321 Wythe Avenue, reports CityRealty.com, and it'll be the tallest tower in the neighborhood not along its waterfront. The site was formerly a parking lot and single-story church owned by the Parish of Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, who also owns an acre of property on the block between Wythe and Berry Streets. The struggling church entered a long-term lease deal with Watermark last year that will allow them to erect a residential tower while making payments to the Parish that begin at $2.1 annually.
More info this way
Weekly Highlights: Top Picks From the 6sqft Staff
July 16, 2016

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks From the 6sqft Staff

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Get a Peek at the Modernist Treasures Headed for the Four Seasons Restaurant Auction Lottery Opens Tomorrow for 300 Affordable Rentals at Pacific Park Brooklyn Mark Cuban Opening Upscale Movie Theater at Bjarke Ingels’ Via 57 West VIDEO: Drone Footage Shows Rare Views of North Brother Island’s Abandoned Buildings 151 Affordable Apartments Up For Grabs […]

Jamaica Estates Home Where Donald Trump Grew Up Asks $1.65M
July 15, 2016

Jamaica Estates Home Where Donald Trump Grew Up Asks $1.65M

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A common question about Donald Trump is "Where did he come from?" and this new listing for his childhood home in Queens may be one piece of the puzzle. Newsday reports that the Jamaica Estates home in which the presidential hopeful lived as a young boy has hit the market for $1.65 million. The six-bedroom tudor home at 85-15 Wareham Place is listed as his address on his 1946 birth certificate (he was born at nearby Jamaica Hospital) and is located in an affluent enclave where the average sales price is around $2 million according to DNAinfo.
More on Trump's beginnings
Waitlist Opens For Studios at Upper West Side’s Trinity House, Starting at $432/Month
July 15, 2016

Waitlist Opens For Studios at Upper West Side’s Trinity House, Starting at $432/Month

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Trinity House is a 199-unit rental building at 100 West 92nd Street on the Upper West Side, just a block away from Central Park. It was built in 1968 by the Trinity School, which occupies the first three floors, as a Mitchell-Lama development. As 6sqft previously explained, this affordable housing program "was created in 1955 to provide affordable rental and cooperative housing to moderate- and middle-income families. These buildings are privately owned, but are under contract with New York state to keep prices affordable. Owners of these buildings receive tax abatements and low-interest mortgages." Back in 2013, Trinity House made headlines when the school received approvals from the city for a rent hike of up to 13 percent, more than three times the standard increase for rent-stabilized units that year. However, units have still remained affordable, and a 750-name waitlist has just opened for studio apartments that range from $432 to $503 a month for one- and two-person households earning between $17,263 and $90,625 a year.
Find out more this way
The World’s First Escalator Was Installed in Coney Island 120 Years Ago
July 15, 2016

The World’s First Escalator Was Installed in Coney Island 120 Years Ago

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When you think of Coney Island, cutting edge technology probably doesn't come to mind. But more than a century ago, this little enclave of amusement and thrills was where the world's very first working escalator was installed. In 1896, engineer Jesse W. Reno brought his patented "Endless Conveyor Elevator" (though he called it the "inclined elevator") to the Old Iron Pier at Coney Island. Reno's invention stretched a mere seven feet angled at 25-degrees, and instead of steps, the escalator used a conveyor-like belt fashioned with cast-iron cleats for traction. The Coney Island installation is said to have carried over 75,000 patrons over its two-week residency.
FInd out more here
Parker Posey Unloads Her $1.45M Greenwich Village Co-op in Less Than Two Months
July 15, 2016

Parker Posey Unloads Her $1.45M Greenwich Village Co-op in Less Than Two Months

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Parker Posey caught people's attention when she posed in the listing photos for her Greenwich Village co-op at 30 Fifth Avenue. Take a look at the indie actress, who is currently celebrating the release of her new film "Café Society," lounging in her bedroom, reading Mary Louise Parker’s “Dear Mr. You” along with her Bichon Frise Gracie. Though unusual, the tactic must've worked, because the Observer reports that in less than two months the $1.45 million pad has gone into contract.
See the rest of the apartment
Friday Five: 5 Upscale Manhattan Buildings Offering Free Rent and Gift Cards

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

July 15, 2016

Friday Five: 5 Upscale Manhattan Buildings Offering Free Rent and Gift Cards

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A new week means a slew of new rental deals being offered across the city. Today we're focusing on upscale rentals in Manhattan, scanning the island from top to bottom, from the Upper East Side to FiDi, for the most generous of rental concessions. Standouts ahead include one month’s free rent and a $1,000 MasterCard gift card at a Robert A.M. Stern-designed Tribeca tower, and two months of free rent on beautiful new rentals in Yorkville.
5 of the Best deals here
The New York Wheel Gets Its First Shipment of Crane Parts

Work at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, via Scott Ettin for DNAinfo

July 15, 2016

The New York Wheel Gets Its First Shipment of Crane Parts

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Sunset Park was recently named one of the 15 coolest neighborhoods in the country, due in large part to the burgeoning success of Industry City and the Bush Terminal Park. And in addition to its booming creative sector, the 'hood can now include a revival of its shipping industry on its growing list of assets. As DNAinfo reports, on June 28th a cargo ship from Denmark carrying large crane parts for construction of Staten Island's New York Wheel arrived at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT), where it was docked for five days with around 30 union longshoreman moving the cargo. This was the first shipment to the site in more than 10 years, revitalizing it as "a working maritime port facility" that will hopefully create hundreds of jobs.
Find out more
MetroCard Creators Look to Tap-and-Go Tech; Basquiat’s Former Noho Home Gets a Plaque
July 15, 2016

MetroCard Creators Look to Tap-and-Go Tech; Basquiat’s Former Noho Home Gets a Plaque

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The creator of the MetroCard, who’s also responsible for Chicago’s Ventra Card and London’s Oyster Card, hopes to create a new payment system for the NYC subway. [WNYC] Keith Olberman sold his Trump Place condo in just three months. He listed it in opposition to the presidential candidate. [Curbed] The Noho loft building where painter and sculptor Jean-Michel Basquiat […]

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