June 29, 2016

25 Feet Above Street Level, World Trade Center’s Liberty Park Opens Today

The World Trade Center's Liberty Park, the new one-acre public park at 25 feet above ground level spanning Liberty Street between West and Greenwich Streets, opens today. NYYimby reports that the park is getting the last few finishing touches in preparation for its grand opening dedication ceremony. As part of the landscape design by Joseph E. Brown of architectural and engineering firm Aecom, a 300-foot-long "living wall" composed of 826 panels of varying plant types is a highlight of the new park, which also functions as a pleasant disguise for the entrance to the WTC’s security hub that sits beneath.
More of what you'll find in the new park
June 29, 2016

Lottery Opens for 41 Units at Related’s Hudson Square Rental, Starting at $788/Month

If living right near the Holland Tunnel doesn't bother you, here are 41 low-income apartments on the border of Tribeca and Soho in a brand-new rental building from the Related Companies. 261 Hudson Street is in the up-and-coming Hudson Square neighborhood and was constructed as an 80-20 building through the city's Robert A.M. Stern Architects, it has 12 stories and 201 units total. The affordable apartments include $788/month studios, $847 one-bedrooms, and $1,025 two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
June 29, 2016

JDS and SHoP’s Cherry Street Tower Will Be Taller Than Expected, May Reach 1,000 Feet

Back in April, the power team of JDS Development and SHoP Architects unveiled plans for a 900-foot, 77-story rental building at 247 Cherry Street in the Two Bridges area of the Lower East Side. This neighborhood has become controversial for a recent influx of sky-high development; 247 Cherry will rise directly next to Extell's 850-foot One Manhattan Square and not far from two 50-story towers at 265-275 Cherry Street. Its 900-foot height would've made it the tallest tower between Midtown and Downtown, but left it 100 feet shy of the supertall status JDS and SHoP are known for (the duo is responsible for the 1,438-foot-tall 111 West 57th Street and 9 DeKalb Avenue, Brooklyn’s first 1,000+ foot tower). However, Bowery Boogie reports today that the height may actually be at or above 1,000 feet, rising 80 stories.
More details ahead
June 29, 2016

Trump vs. Clinton: How the Design of Their Merchandise Stacks Up

On the political front, Hillary is racking in donation dollars, while Donald Trump's campaign had a mere $1.3 million to its name as of May 31st. But what about their swag? T-shirts, mugs, bumper stickers, tote bags. Sure, online purchases won't sway either campaign significantly, but it's interesting to look at how the polar-opposite presidential candidates are marketing themselves through merchandise. 6sqft compared the goods from both camps, and found that while Hillary's merchandise is much more colorful, playful, and plentiful, and even features designer collabs, the Donald sticks to his message and caters to a very specific audience.
See how the merch stacks up
June 29, 2016

A 32-Foot Long Living Room with Exposed Brick Dominates This Hell’s Kitchen Loft Rental

When you're tasked with decorating a 32-foot-long living room, you know you've made it in the world. Luckily such a room, located at this Hell's Kitchen apartment up for rent at 529 Ninth Avenue, is lined with exposed brick which lends it plenty of character. This lofty top-floor apartment is 1,200 square feet, with its own private roof deck. For all that space, it's going to cost $4,800 a month.
Take a look inside
June 29, 2016

POLL: Is Sunset Park One of the 15 Coolest Neighborhoods in America?

Move over Bushwick and Williamsburg, Sunset Park is the new cool kid in the borough. Curbed shared a report from Cushman & Wakefield that names the 100 coolest streets in the country, and coming in among the top 15 neighborhoods is Sunset Park, "where boxes and independents co-exist." The report points to a bohemian exodus from Williamsburg, which has become more mainstream and pricey. And though hipsters are moving to 'hoods like Bed Stuy and Crown Heights, Sunset Park outdoes them with a unique type of retail growth and creative sector thanks to the Bush Terminal Park and Industry City. The millennial population is about 27 percent and the average household income is $81,529.
Let us know if you agree with this analysis
June 29, 2016

Pool Season Has Commenced; Buy $8 Bowls of Cereal in Times Square

On July 1st and 2nd, Lyft is offering rides in the “Ghostbusters” Ecto-1 car. [Metro] The city’s 55 outdoor pools open today! [DNAinfo] Kellogg’s teamed up with Milk Bar chef Christina Tosi and restaurant professional Anthony Rudolf on an all-day cereal bar in Times Square that will have automat-style dispensers. [Eater] Here are six of America’s most dangerous […]

June 29, 2016

Cool $1.075M Heights Co-op Shows You Can Have Prewar Charm and Waterfront Views

This stylish two-bedroom co-op at 32 Willow Place in Brooklyn Heights does a great job of proving that all waterfront apartments don't need to be in tall towers. Located on the top floor of a historic limestone and brick (walk-up, unfortunately) building in one of the city's loveliest waterfront neighborhoods, this renovated two-bedroom co-op offers a dedicated gated parking spot, river views, modern design and pre-war charm in what–according to the listing–Details magazine called "the coolest apartment in Brooklyn," for $1.075 million.
Take a look around
June 28, 2016

Cost of Living Calculator Shows Just How Much Cheaper It Is to Live in Other U.S. Cities

The results of a recent annual survey ranked New York as the city with the 11th highest cost of living in the world, the only U.S. city to crack the top 25 and jumping five spots from the past two years, according to NBC News. It's this increasingly burdensome financial state that causes many New Yorkers to relocate -- whether they want to start saving or just plain can't afford the skyrocketing rents and lifestyle anymore. But figuring out where to go next can be the hard part if you really want to make the most of your move. That's where the idea for the Cost of Living Calculator came from. The handy tool from Pay Scale uses your salary, job title, current location, and the city where you're considering a move to show the cost of living difference, as well as how much you'll need to earn in the new location to maintain your current standard of living.
READ MORE
June 28, 2016

New Law Aims to Protect Small Businesses From Landlord Harassment

It seems that every day we're hearing of small businesses being forced to move or shut down altogether due to rising rents in just about every corner of the city. Even icons like St. Mark's Bookshop and Other Music have packed it in after years at their well-loved locations. And new businesses have an even tougher road ahead, trying to gain a foothold in changing neighborhoods where landlords hope change brings high-paying tenants. There are a number of grassroots efforts in the works to help businesses gain and maintain a foothold when faced with skyrocketing rents and challenging regulatory hurdles–and more help may be on the way. DNAInfo reports that Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to sign legislation Tuesday that prevents harassment of commercial tenants by greedy landlords. Advocates hope the new law will make it less difficult for small businesses to thrive and grow.
Find out how the new law protects small business tenants
June 28, 2016

Tribeca Triplex With Original Keith Haring Mural Returns for $13M

This Tribeca triplex is a treasure for many reasons. Its size, for one; it occupies an insane 8,000 square feet of the classic, landmarked American Thread Building (among the first of Tribeca's luxury condo conversions) at 260 West Broadway. Possibly the most memorable reason is an original Keith Haring mural, made in 1978 during the late artist's days at SVA when the space was a student gallery, painted on a curving wall of the apartment’s main-floor entry gallery. Priced at a treasure-worthy $13 million, it isn’t the property’s first time to this rodeo. As with downtown Manhattan, this amazing loft has seen quite a few changes in the new millennium. The three-story unit was previously listed as #mais and #1/2C; the three story “maisonette” is TH1 in its newest incarnation.
Tour this fabulous loft
June 28, 2016

Sales Begin at Jardim, Isay Weinfeld’s Serene High Line-Adjacent Oasis

For those longing for Hamptons serenity without leaving Manhattan, Isay Weinfeld has designed a condominium for you. Sales officially kicked-off last week for the Brazilian architect's first New York commission, which has aptly been named Jardim for its leafy oasis in the heart of hard-edged West Chelsea. The homes are divided among two 11-story fraternal buildings that come dressed in a textually rich skin of cast-concrete interrupted by elongated ribbons of glass. Thirty-six light-filled homes frame the lushly planted, multi-level courtyard designed by Future Green Studio. And like all Manhattan real estate surrounding coveted greenery, the units come at a premium. Asking prices for the three currently available homes stand at $2,475 per square foot, according to CityRealty. The lowest priced abode is a 2,218-square-foot three-bedroom on the fourth floor going for $4.25 million; another three-bedroom on the third floor has an ask of $4.25 million; and a four-bedroom on the seventh floor has an ask of $7.55 million.
find out more here
June 28, 2016

Furbo: An Interactive Dog Camera That Lets You Talk to Your Pet and Dispense Treats

Pet cams are nothing new, but imagine instead of simply sitting at your desk monitoring your dog, you could reward him for good behavior or even talk to him? All that and more is available through Furbo, "an interactive dog camera with a connected app that lets you see, talk, and even give treats to your dog when you're away." The device comes from Seattle-based startup Tomofun and works using two-way audio, wide-angle live HD video streaming, barking alerts, and an interactive treat tosser, all controlled through a simple app.
Find out how it works
June 28, 2016

Former Soho Loft of Artist Bill Alpert Hits the Market for $3.1M

Here's a rare opportunity to own a Soho loft that was the longtime home of an artist--most of the artist apartments of the 60s and 70s have since changed hands. This apartment at 64 Grand Street belonged to Bill Alpert, who was known for his abstract paintings and lived here from 1967 until his death last year. It is very much a raw space, with the original hardwood floors, exposed ceiling pipes, a fire escape view and walls high enough to hang nothing but artwork. We can't imagine the price for it back in 1968, but now it's asking just a hair over $3 million.
Take a tour
June 28, 2016

New Report Says 56 Percent of 2015’s Airbnb Listings Were Illegal

Last week, both houses of the New York City legislature passed a bill that would fine advertisers of illegal short-term rentals on Airbnb up to $7,500. Current state law dictates that an apartment can't be rented out for less than 30 days if the lease holder isn't present. And a new report from two housing advocacy groups -- MFY Legal Services and Housing Conservation Coordinators -- shows that of Airbnb's 51,397 listings in 2015, 28,765, or 56 percent, fell into this illegal camp. Of those, 8,058 units were considered "impact listings," homes that "are rented out for brief periods for more than a third of a year, making them virtual hotels," according to the Post.
More findings
June 27, 2016

58 Chances to Live in a Morris Adjmi-Designed Flatiron Building for as Low as $913/Month

The latest project to come online from contextual king Morris Adjmi is an 18-story, block-through building at 7 West 21st Street in the Flatiron District. The two-tower design features a shared second-floor courtyard with ground-floor lobby and retail space. The lower facade is made of stone while the middle and upper portions are glazed terracotta. There are 288 rental apartments, 20 percent of which are reserved for households with a combined annual income of up to 60 percent of the area median income. These 58 units, created through the city's 421-a program, include $913/month studios, $980 one-bedrooms, $1,183 two-bedrooms, and $1,359 three-bedrooms. In addition to a stellar location, these affordable prices come with a 24-hour doorman, landscaped garden, roof terrace, game room, fitness center and virtual golf, media lounge and video game room. For an additional fee there's also a 200-car underground parking garage.
Find out if you qualify
Pitch a story icon Know of something cool happening in New York? Let us know:
June 27, 2016

Gramercy Tudor Castle Co-op, Now Twice the Size, Is Back for $6.25M

Built in 1929 and designed by architecture firm Schwartz & Gross, the landmarked 16-story building at 44 Gramercy Park North is "distinguished and eclectic," according to architecture critic Carter Horsley. Those adjectives certainly describe this out-of-the-ordinary home currently listed at $6.25 million, which 6sqft covered previously, marveling at the co-op's elaborate "Downton Abbey"-esque Tudor stylings. The sprawling 12th floor apartment was the residence of the building's owner/developer, so no expense was spared in its creation, which explains Neo-Gothic details like a limestone arch and casement windows, terra-cotta panels and brickwork. The home's current owners have lived here nearly 50 years. In its newest incarnation the apartment's listing offers a combination of units 12A and 12D, turning the size of this Gramercy aerie from grand to palatial at 2,500 square feet, claiming the largest amount of frontage (88 feet) facing south onto Gramercy Park through 14 enormous handcrafted stained glass windows. And the two-in-one situation looks like quite a find for the buyer who likes options.
Check out the amazing original details
June 27, 2016

Is the City’s New Ferry System Expansion Plan Full of Holes?

The new city-wide ferry system, scheduled to launch in summer 2017, has been lauded for creating 150 new jobs and spurring development in places like Astoria where it will shuttle the neighborhood’s transit-challenged residents to Manhattan for the cost of a MetroCard swipe. But will an unrealistic time frame and poor management choices and planning cause the Mayor's ambitious ferry plan to run aground? Maritime industry insider Tom Fox explains his concerns in an op-ed for Crain's.
What could possibly go wrong?
June 27, 2016

Interview: COOKFOX Partner Brandon Specketer on Biophilia’s Role in Building Design

You’ve certainly heard of LEED and Passive House in architecture, but what about biophilia? For COOKFOX, adding nature to a building and all the elements that surround it is a no-brainer. They strongly believe that humans have a deep, innate connection and love of nature, and in an urbanscape, they only way we can live fulfilled lives […]

June 27, 2016

New Renderings Show Supertall Status for Rafael Viñoly’s 125 Greenwich Street

The new mixed-use tower to rise at 125 Greenwich Street will indeed be adding another supertall to the Financial District’s skyline. New renderings confirm a final height exceeding 1,000 feet, inching the tower above the the 977-foot 4 World Trade Center nearby at 150 Greenwich Street, according to YIMBY. 6sqft previously reported on the progress of the slender tower-to-be, designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects and developed by a joint venture comprised of Michael Shvo, Bizzi + Partners Development, and Howard Lorber’s Vector Group that will offer a limited collection of condominium residences with unparalleled views of the lower Manhattan skyline and beyond.
Check out the new renderings
June 27, 2016

New Owners May Close Waldorf Astoria for Three Years for 1,100-Room Condo Conversion

Hilton Worldwide Holdings, who had owned the landmarked Waldorf Astoria since 1972, agreed in October 2014 to sell the 1,413-room hotel to Beijing-based financial and insurance company Anbang Insurance Group for $1.95 billion. The deal closed the following February, along with plans from the new owners to convert part of the Art Deco building into luxury condos, and now the Wall Street Journal brings additional details on the conversion. The overhaul, which could close the property for up to three years and cost upwards of $1 billion, would convert as many as 1,100 hotel rooms to condos, with the hotel portion featuring between 300 and 500 luxury guest rooms. Currently, the hotel employs about 1,500 people, but this major decline in hotel rooms will eliminate hundreds of jobs. Sources say Anbang and Hilton have already reached severance agreements totaling at least $100 million.
More details ahead
June 27, 2016

Matt Lauer Paid $36M for Richard Gere’s Hamptons Estate

Richard Gere has been trying to sell his 6.3-acre North Haven compound since 2013, when it was first listed for $65 million. Last week, reports of a $36.5 million sale came through, and the Post has revealed that Matt Lauer is the buyer. The "Today" news anchor will be getting a waterfront pool and pond, basketball court, 240-foot-long deep-water dock, island-inspired tea house, and a private beach, along with the 12-bedroom main house. Lauer, who's notorious for taking a private helicopter back and forth from the city to the Hamptons, also owns a 40-acre farm in Water Mill (where he recently had some beef with his neighbors) and is selling another Sag Harbor home.
Check out his latest acquisition
June 27, 2016

Financial District Loft Rental Comes With Its Own 800-Square-Foot Patio

Located in the Financial District, just one block from the South Street Seaport, is this 1,800-square-foot pre-war duplex with a very cool private patio. The building at 324 Pearl Street was built in 1888 as a warehouse, so the apartment now boasts 14-foot ceilings, exposed brick and lots of open space. Even the patio has a lofty vibe, surrounded by greenery against more brick. Although this is a condo, you can now rent it for $6,495 a month.
See the entire pad
June 26, 2016

Boaz Gilad’s Bed-Stuy Rental Marcí Begins Leasing With $1,846/Month Studios

Another one of Boaz Gilad's reported 40+ Brooklyn projects has met the finish line with leasing kicking off at the Marcí in Bedford-Stuyvestant. Rising eight floors from the corner of Marcy Avenue and Kosciusko Street, the 35,000-square-foot project presents an inoffensive Rubik's Cube design hashed up by Franklyn Estrella Architects. Inside are 41 studio, one- and two-bedroom no-fee apartments. Pricing of the building's seven active units are rather affordable for new construction, with available units ranging from $1,846/month studios, $2,862/month one-bedrooms, and $2,723/month two-bedrooms.
More on the building
June 25, 2016

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks From the 6sqft Staff

Donald Trump’s Secret ‘Public’ Gardens Gave Him Extra Height at Trump Tower Buy Christie Brinkley’s 21-Acre Hamptons Estate for $30M Sleep in a Cozy, Converted Taxi in Long Island City for Just $39 a Night Take in the Views From Extell’s 850-Foot-Tall One Manhattan Square Massive Maya Lin-Designed Tribeca Townhouse Gets Thumbs Up From Landmarks […]

June 24, 2016

Will the Brexit Vote Drive Up NYC Real Estate?

The vote by Britain to leave the European Union has shocked and confused the world to say the least. In addition to the political ramifications (Prime Minister David Cameron announced he will step down in October), the financial outcomes are staggering. The pound has already plummeted to its lowest level since 1985, with investors turning to the dollar and the yen and the entire European stock market dropping, according to reports from the Times. Though the Bank of England has earmarked roughly $344 million for potential stability measures, the world seems unsure of how the Brexit decision will affect international markets long term. London is currently one of the top locations for foreign real estate investment, but in the face of an uncertain future, Crain's presents the assertion that the vote could drive up real estate in New York City as "investors look for safe havens against the threat of a global recession."
More here
June 24, 2016

One of Only Three East Coast Joseph Eichler Homes Is Selling for $490K

The listing says this undeniably out-of-the-ordinary home at 130 Grotke Road in a wooded Rockland County, NY community is "Not for everyone except you!" Which means Eichler fans and modern house lovers will want to take note: This could be your chance to scoop up a modern classic for half the price of its California counterparts. 6sqft previously featured the rare trio of East Coast Eichlers and the story of their rise to popularity during the dawn of the American suburban heyday—and plans to expand to the East Coast starting with three homes in the quiet community of Chestnut Ridge. Inevitably weather conditions and other factors led to a decision to return the focus to the West, but those three homes have not only endured—they have encouraged a community of modern architecture lovers to grow around them. One of those three homes—a four-plus-bedroom, 2,000-square-foot 1962 slate grey beauty—is now on the market for $489,900.
Tour this unique modernist gem
June 24, 2016

Spotlight: Kristin Heckler Delivers Bouquets on Wheels at Uprooted Flower Truck

In a city where ever-rising rents often hamper potential small business owners from opening a storefront, mobile retail has become a popular alternative. Food trucks certainly led the way over the last few years, but the business model has spread beyond the culinary world and now includes a flower shop on wheels. A year ago, Ashley Custer and Kristin Heckler introduced New York to Uprooted Flower Truck. The business parks in neighborhoods around Manhattan to sell their New York-inspired, hand-tied bouquets available in three sizes: studio, loft, and penthouse. The driving force behind Uprooted is to not only bring flowers directly to New Yorkers, but to help people engage with and hopefully gain a deeper appreciation for them. 6sqft recently spoke with Kristin to learn more about this budding business and how it’s developing a unique identity in the city.
Read our interview with Kristin
June 24, 2016

New Renderings Show Rooftop and Courtyards at ODA’s Massive Rheingold Brewery Project

In March of 2015, the cube-happy architects at ODA revealed their design for 10 Montieth Street, part of Bushwick's 10-block Bushwick's Rheingold Brewery site. The 400,000-square-foot, 400-unit rental building from the Rabsky Group has a bow-tie shape with a sloping zig-zagging green roof and amenity-laden courtyard. Last week, renderings were released for a second project from ODA at the Rheingold site, this one with developer All Year Management. Inspired by a "European Village" and dubbed Bushwick II, this rental one ups 10 Montieth; it will encompass one million square feet over two city blocks and have 800-900 units, as well as an entire system of interconnecting courtyards and common spaces that break from the street grid, an 18,000-square-foot central park, and a 60,000-square-foot rooftop with an urban farm and recreational spaces including a pool. Dezeen has uncovered additional renderings of Bushwick II that showcase these outdoor spaces, and they do not disappoint.
More details and renderings ahead
June 24, 2016

For Just $30, the AeroPress Coffee Maker Might Be the Next Big Thing in Brewing

Espresso machines can cost thousands, and traditional drip coffee pots (we're looking at you Mr. Coffee), while inexpensive, can often yield a subpar cup of Joe. But a $30 coffee maker is well on its way to providing a happy medium for caffeine aficionados. Business Insider took a look at the AeroPress coffee maker from Aerobie, which uses an airtight plunger to push coffee or espresso through the filter. The company claims its success is in the product's ability to brew under "ideal conditions"--proper temperature, total immersion, and rapid filtering.
Find out more
June 24, 2016

$1M Murray Hill Co-op Features 15-Foot Barrel Ceiling With Terracotta Tiles

Having high ceilings is a common feature of many New York apartments, but this is something different: the 15-foot-tall, barrel ceiling that's lined with terra cotta tiles in this co-op for sale at 372 5th Avenue, in Murray Hill. It's a stunning feature of the one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment, and a lofted bedroom means you get to enjoy the ceiling from up close. The apartment comes from an 11-story co-op that was built for clothing store Best & Co back in 1910.
See the ceiling up close
June 24, 2016

Ride the Coney Island Cyclone for Free This Weekend!

If visiting Coney Island has long been on your list of NYC to-dos, this weekend might be the best weekend to head down to the famed beach and boardwalk. On top of what will be gorgeous weather, per the Coney Island Blog, the amusement park’s iconic wooden roller coaster will be offering FREE rides to 89 thrill-seekers. The roller […]

June 24, 2016

Affordable Housing Lottery Begins for Two Brand-New Bronx Buildings, Starting at $833/Month

In the Mount Hope section of the Bronx, two under-construction buildings have kicked off a combined housing lottery  granting qualified renters the chance to snag nine $833/month studios, 12 $895/month one-bedrooms, and 34 $945/month two-bedrooms. The two buildings are located a half mile apart on opposite sides of the Grand Concourse and are being developed by the Walison Group under the alias 280 East Burnside Associates L.P. Newman Design Group (NDG Architects) are the designers of the two 11-story buildings, penning the mundane blocky masses with exteriors finished in red brick and stucco. The 2247 Walton Avenue building is situated midblock between East 182nd and East 183rd streets contains a total of 50 apartments, while the 280 East Burnside building rises between Ryer and Anthony Avenues and houses 40 apartments.
Find out if you qualify here
June 23, 2016

Take in the Views From Extell’s 823-Foot-Tall One Manhattan Square

Two Bridges, the area on the border of the Lower East Side and Chinatown, is seeing a wave of new, sky-high development, including a 900-foot tower from supertall team JDS and SHoP Architects and perhaps two 50-story buildings from L+M Partners. But the controversial surge in construction started with One Manhattan Square, an 823-foot tower from Extell. In anticipation of the 80-story condo building hitting the market this September, the developer has released a flashy new video that shows the sparkling Adamson Associates Architects-designed exterior, as well as the sweeping views from the upper floors. But as Curbed, who first spotted the video, notes, it ignores its potential supertall neighbors to make a point of just how much much it towers over its surroundings.
Watch the full video here
June 23, 2016

Buy Christie Brinkley’s 21-Acre Hamptons Estate for $30M

Newsday reports that Christie Brinkley is looking to unload her massive, 20-acre Bridgehampton estate for $29.5 million. Known as Tower Hill for its 50-foot turret, the home was built in 1891 and was scooped up by the supermodel in 1998. Her ex-husband, architect Peter Cook, restored the home, but it's been on and off the market with no luck since 2002. It was originally listed for $25 million, but after the couple's split in 2007, Brinkley re-listed it for $30 million. The main gambrel-style house, which was built with "475 tons of local rock," has 11 bedrooms, and there's also an art studio, gym, pool, tennis court, greenhouse conservatory, four-car heated garage, and four-bedroom guesthouse.
More on the sale here
June 23, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week – 6/23-6/29

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! Celebrate Pride Month with a Rubin Museum tour, by dressing as the Wizard of Oz at the McKittrick Hotel, or by joining Luke Neocamp at TransPecos for his video trilogy release. If you're Hamptons-bound, take in some international art at the annual Art Hamptons Art Fair. Free French Films continue in Greenpoint with Luc Besson's Subway this Friday, and adult storytellers share a little show and tell at Roger Smith Hotel. Finally, come meet me and enjoy Peter Gronquist's work at Joseph Gross Gallery!
More on all the best events this way
June 23, 2016

Live in Tennessee Williams’ Former East Side Townhouse for $1.85M

This three-bedroom duplex at 151 East 37th Street with three fireplaces, skyline views and exclusive roof rights, listed at $1.849 million, has the added cachet of being in the townhouse where famed playwright Tennessee Williams lived in the 1940s (h/t New York Post) before the debut of "The Glass Menagerie" on Broadway. More historic firepower: The house was built in 1860 by President Martin Van Buren as a home for his daughter. A 1940 postcard from the scribe to his father describes the well-known strategy of living with roommates to defer steep housing costs in NYC: "Settled in lovely new apt., 151 E. 37 St. 3 big rooms and other a roof with skyline & view of river for $18.50 (3 of us) each (per month)..."
Have a look at the apartment
June 23, 2016

$2M Upper East Side Co-Op Boasts a Marble Mantle from the Plaza Hotel

When your home boasts a marble mantlepiece that originally belonged to the Plaza Hotel, you know you've got something special. Such an item can be found at this prewar co-op, on the market for $1.995 million at the Lenox Hill building 333 East 68th Street. The owner, a former Saks Fifth Avenue executive, took on the designer Lindsay Coral Harper to gut renovate it. She transformed a traditional two-bedroom co-op was into a luxurious bachelorette pad that melds new luxury finishes with restored historic details.
See more
June 23, 2016

New Renderings of South Street Seaport’s Fulton Market Revamp From SHoP Architects

Though they didn't have much luck with their controversial tower at the Seaport, SHoP Architects and the Howard Hughes Corporation have gotten approvals for their revamp of the historic, 1983 Fulton Market Building. Yimby reports that on Tuesday, the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved the revised design for the building's exterior, which alters the signage from the original 2014 proposal. To show how the signs will look, SHoP prepared several new renderings of the site.
See them all here
June 23, 2016

$2.25M Carroll Gardens Carriage House Has Three Floors, Two Terraces and One Parking Spot

This unassuming brick carriage house at 164 West 9th Street is tucked into the gentrified-industrial corner of south Brooklyn where Carroll Gardens meets Gowanus. The 2,100-square-foot townhouse has been thoroughly renovated and infused with enough charm to make it a nice turnkey option for a buyer who's looking for a condo alternative–for $2.25 million. Interiors have been given modern upgrades like central AC, all new mechanicals, and attractive finishes, and a curb cut makes parking easy, a rare gift in busy Brooklyn.
See the whole house
June 22, 2016

Massive Maya Lin-Designed Tribeca Townhouse Gets Thumbs Up From Landmarks

While better known for its manufacturing buildings converted to retreats of discreet loft living, Tribeca is ushering in a mini-Gilded Age of mega-modern townhouses that are rising from the neighborhood's modicum of narrow lots. Yesterday, the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved Maya Lin Studio's design of a five-story, 20,000-square-foot single-family mansion at 11 Hubert Street that will use the structural bones of an existing three-floor commercial building and add more than 6,000 square feet of floor area throughout. The nondescript commercial structure is a vestige of a never-finished 1980's residential project that Lin, in collaboration with architects Bialosky + Partners, hope to rectify.
More details this way
June 22, 2016

City Will Allow Landlords to Convert Lower Manhattan Public Spaces to Retail

6sqft recently covered the controversial proposal by the Alliance for Downtown New York (ADNY), the Department of City Planning (DCP), and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC), to change zoning laws to allow property owners in the Water Street Subdistrict of lower Manhattan–at One New York Plaza, for example–to bring in retail tenants like restaurants and clothing stores in exchange for making improvements and upgrades to the public plazas and arcades adjacent to their buildings. Crains reports that the City Council passed a bill Tuesday that would allow the Financial District landlords to convert the public corridors in front of 20 buildings in the Water Street corridor to retail shops. The public corridors, which cover ten blocks, were created when the Water Street buildings that abut them were built. Building developers agreed to create the public arcades and walkways in exchange for more buildable square footage.
Read more
June 22, 2016

‘Violently’ Ringing Door Bell Served As Home Security in the Early 1900s

Image via Paleofuture Long before there was technology like Ring with its motion detecting sensors and live streaming videos, New Yorkers and other folks took to keeping their homes safe with much more rudimentary measures like the nickel-plated door alarm seen above. Paleofuture spotted an ad for the nifty little battery- and wire-free device in a 1906 issue of "Literary Digest." Set off by "the slightest bit of pressure," the door stop alarm claims to provide "Absolute protection from burglars and sneak thieves." What more could you ask for for just $1?
more here
June 22, 2016

Parlor-Floor Apartment With Four Palladian Windows Asks $1.2 Million Off Central Park

If you're going to live on any floor of a New York City townhouse, it may as well be the parlor floor as it's usually considered the crown jewel of the home. This $1.2 million co-op occupies 1,000 square feet of an historic brownstone building at 61 West 68th Street. The exposed brick interior takes full advantage of the massive Palladian windows that line the apartment. The location, right off Central Park West, is nothing to scoff about either.
Check out the interior

Our Mission

More than just current events, here you'll learn about the places, people, and ideas that are shaping your city.