6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

Spend a Sunday on the Upper West Side with Bill Nye the Science Guy. [NYT] Tidal House is a solar-powered, floating residence that uses retractable legs to defy climate change. [Inhabitat] If you hate furniture shopping this all-in-one living room may be for you. [Fast Co. Design] Photographer Mitch Boyer Photoshopped his dachshund in giant […]

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June 22, 2016

Britney Spears’ Former Noho Penthouse Returns As a $24K/Month Rental

Britney Spears' old Noho penthouse at 14 East 4th Street (the Silk Building) is making a go on the market "one more time." The Observer noticed that the 4,400-square-foot apartment, which hit the market for $7.6 million at the beginning of the year, has returned as a $24,000 a month rental. Though the four-floor spread is large and lovely, it's had quite a "toxic" sales history.
Take a look around

June 22, 2016

Dapper Duplex Loft in an Iconic Noho Cast Iron Building Asks $6.2M

The Robbins & Appleton Building at 1 Bond Street in Noho is considered by some to be among the most attractive cast-iron buildings in the city and definitely one of the neighborhood's handsomest. Built in 1877 and designed by architect Stephen Decatur Hatch in the Second Empire style, the iconic structure with the tall, slanted blue mansard roof was first used to manufacture watch cases. Designated a city landmark in 1979 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, the building was converted to residential loft condominiums in 1988. A while back, 6sqft offered a peek inside one of those covetable lofts, an eclectic collaboration between James Dixon Architect and interior designer Carolina George that combines a chic, modern look with luxurious touches and quirky highlights. That top-floor duplex is now on the market asking $6.2 million. The interiors of this two-bedroom, 2,500-square-foot condo aren't what you might expect to see in an historic Noho loft. Though there are 17-foot ceilings, big loft widows and a massive skylight, the renovation filled the space with bold and colorful decorative highlights along with modern conveniences. Though not pictured, this sixth-floor penthouse also comes with unconnected private roof space.
More bold and colorful interiors this way

Distinctive Homes

My 1200sqft: Inside Summer Rayne Oakes’ Williamsburg Oasis Filled With 500+ Plants

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 Summer Rayne Oakes’ plant-filled Williamsburg loft. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch!

June 21, 2016

My 1200sqft: Inside Summer Rayne Oakes’ Williamsburg Oasis Filled With 500+ Plants

As far as multi-hyphenate models go, Summer Rayne Oakes may be the most impressive we've come across. More than being a cover beauty, Summer is also a writer, businesswoman, activist, chef (she's working on her first cookbook), and an ecologist by training (she graduated from Cornell with degrees in Environmental Science and Entomology). Unsurprisingly, this overachiever's multifaceted talents touch ever corner of her life, including the space she's called home for the past 11 years. On the top floor of an unassuming Williamsburg building is a 1200-square-foot loft that's been transformed into a veritable jungle with over 500 plants (and 150 species) and a handful of exotic insects, including African millipedes and Madagascar hissing cockroaches (they're confined to a terrarium, if you're wondering). While her home at first glance appears to be dominated by plants, Summer's space is also decorated with dreamy touches, carefully curated vignettes, and furniture she's built with her father using wood found on the street. Ahead Summer takes us through her unique loft and gives us some insight into the work she's done, her perspective on her changing neighborhood, as well as some tips for raising plants in the city.
Inside Summer's unbelievable home this way

‘House of Cards’ Star Robin Wright Snags a West Village Penthouse for $3.025M

Update 6/23: 6sqft incorrectly reported that actress Robin Wright purchased this co-op. The actual buyer is a homonymous (and similarly wealthy) woman. An insider tells us that the actress owns a home in the Soho/Nolita area

June 21, 2016

‘House of Cards’ Star Robin Wright Snags a West Village Penthouse for $3.025M

In addition to being able to boast about her leading role on the hit Netflix series "House of Cards," actress Robin Wright may soon be bragging about her latest real estate purchase, a five-room penthouse stunner located at 171 West 12th Street. According to city records released today, it appears that Wright has paid $3.025 million for a newly renovated pad inside a classic prewar in the heart of the West Village. Listing records show that the co-op was last priced at $2.495 million in March, which is considerably lower than the closing price. So is this penthouse really worth its premium? You be the judge...
Have a closer look inside here

June 21, 2016

Sleep in a Cozy, Converted Taxi in Long Island City for Just $39 a Night

Here's your chance to sleep in a yellow cab without worrying about the meter. A listing has popped up on Airbnb for a "cozy one-of-a-kind NYC taxi van" that's been "renovated into swanky living quarters." This renovation outfitted the vehicle with a full-size bed that comes with soft pillows and bright yellow sheets (how fitting), a portable wireless air conditioner, and, according to the reviews, a couple bottles of Fiji Water. The $39/night price tag also covers the Long Island City location with views of the Manhattan skyline that's walking distance to a bathroom and cafes with WiFi.
Find out more about these unusual accommodations

21 Elephants Walked Across the Newly-Opened Brooklyn Bridge to Prove Its Safety

Photo via Wiki Commons

June 21, 2016

21 Elephants Walked Across the Newly-Opened Brooklyn Bridge to Prove Its Safety

In May of 1883, the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge was big international news. The bridge had been under construction for 13 years, and its unveiling was a highly anticipated event. Showman P.T. Barnum, never one to turn down a PR opportunity, offered authorities a novel way to show–and show off–the safety of the new bridge: He’d walk his troupe of elephants across it. At first, his proposal was rejected. But in 1884, after a woman fell on the side stairs on the Manhattan side, causing a stampede that killed 12 people and making others wary that the bridge would collapse, Barnum’s “elephant walk” (the subject of a June, 2004 New Yorker cover) happened. It was to the amazement of New Yorkers who happened to catch the sight of 21 elephants, 7 camels, and 10 dromedaries (basically furry camels) trekking from the bottom of Cortlandt Street across the illuminated arches of the bridge, with Barnum’s celebrated seven-ton African elephant Jumbo bringing up the rear.
Read more

History

June 21, 2016

The King of FiDi: Developer Nathan Berman Talks Transforming Downtown and 443 Greenwich

He’s been called the King of FiDi with over 2200 apartments under his management. The founder and principal of Metro Loft Management, Nathan Berman specializes in transforming landmark office buildings into luxury rentals. He recently acquired the leasehold for 20 Broad Street, the former New York Stock Exchange building, and plans to convert it to white-glove rental […]

Distinctive Homes

Minetta Lane townhouse with an 83-foot rock climbing wall asks $20M

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

For $8.5M, this Gramercy townhouse is a slender slice of reclaimed history

This six-story $13.9M Upper West Side townhouse has all of life's luxuries under one roof, with an elevator to get there

A Victoria's Secret model's angelic East Village flat with a solarium and terrace asks $2.9M

This $5.6M Tribeca condo in a former spice-grinding factory brings warmth to loft proportions

For $3.25M, this compact Boerum Hill townhouse goes beyond the condo alternative with three levels and a yard

$11M historic West Village home offers the privacy, parking, and outdoor space you'd find in a suburban subdivision

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

$65M Sutton Place penthouse is highest on East Side waterfront

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June 21, 2016

Booken Transforms Your Reading Material Into a Useful Table

By now, everyone has jumped on the bandwagon of organizing bookshelves by spine color. And while we love the look, it's refreshing to see a new, inventive way to display one's reading material. Booken was designed by Yael Mer & Shay Alkalay of Raw Edges as a way to exhibit the book "as an object that becomes material." It's the horizontal version of the traditional bookcase, and with the books hanging by their spines, they create a visually interesting and purposeful console table that doubles as a library.
Find out more

June 21, 2016

Pretty Top-Floor Co-Op With its Own Roof Deck Asks $1.2M in Park Slope

Park Slope is known for its pretty real estate, and this top-floor co-op at 656 Carroll Street is no exception. Decked out with a wood-burning fireplace, arched doorways, exposed brick and stained glass, this is a one-of-a-kind interior that matches the historic vibe in the rest of the neighborhood. And it's all topped by a private roof deck offering 360-degree views of Brooklyn and the Manhattan skyline.
See more this way

Distinctive Homes

June 21, 2016

Great Pyramid of Giza Is Asymmetrical; Apple Will Now ‘Emojifi’ Your Texts

Take a deep breath, perfectionists. It’s just been discovered that the Great Pyramid of Giza is longer by 14.1 centimters on its west side. [National Geographic] Millennials rank their dream city, and New York is number one. [Reddit] Apple released a new feature that will “highlight all the emojifiable words” in a text. [NYT] Surprise, surprise. The Second […]

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June 21, 2016

Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent Sell Greenwich Village Penthouse for $9.8M

Interior design couple Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent listed their pristine Greenwich Village penthouse in November of last year for $10.5 million. Though they undertook a beautiful update (which was featured as the cover story in last September's issue of Architectural Digest), this was a steep increase, so it's not a total surprise that the selling price came in slightly lower at $9.8 million. According to the Observer, the buyer is "financier-slash-jewelry designer" Charles de Viel Castel.
Take a look around the designer digs

June 21, 2016

Tribeca Triplex Penthouse With Rooftop Hot Tub Swaps Astroturf for Ipe Wood and Asks $8M

When the tricked-out three-bedroom triplex atop 16 Warren Street sold in 2014 for $5.1 million after languishing on the market with a price that had unceremoniously tumbled from the then-brand-new condo's original 2008 ask of $9.175 million, “Million Dollar Listing New York” star Fredrik Eklund did the deal and shouted it from the (internet) rooftops. Fast forward a mere two years: The home's current owners have slid the sleek penthouse back onto the market for $7.995 million. That doesn’t seem out of line for a Tribeca penthouse, and it’s still lower than the 2008 ask, so perhaps the sellers want to be sure they don’t repeat the home’s last held-over performance. With 3,381 square feet of interior space (which looks like it's had a modernizing update), a terrace with views of the neighborhood's twinkling lights around every turn and a big hot tub a-bubbling on the fully-loaded rooftop deck (now with less astroturf, more ipe wood than in the earlier listing) we doubt they'll have to wait six years to make a sale.
Tour the triplex this way

Distinctive Homes

June 20, 2016

Donald Trump’s Secret ‘Public’ Gardens Gave Him Extra Height at Trump Tower

In light of his media-circus presidential campaign, there seems to be endless exposes about Donald Trump's past real estate drama. From his failed attempt to own the Empire State Building to a lost battle with China over two bi-coastal skyscrapers, the Donald's development empire has very often skirted the rules. The latest saga dates back to 1979, when, as Crain's uncovers, Trump struck a deal with the city for a zoning variance to build an extra 200,000 square feet, or 20 stories, at Trump Tower. In return, he agreed to create a public atrium, as well as 15,000 square feet of public gardens. But these gardens, which yielded almost all of the 244,000 square feet of office and residential space that Trump still owns in the tower (worth roughly $530 million), are hidden, hard to access, and not maintained.
The full story, right this way

June 20, 2016

Ben Stiller Buys a $15M West Village Pad at Celeb-Favorite 150 Charles Street

Ben Stiller and wife Christine Taylor are the latest A-listers to pick up a pad at the West Village's luxury condominium 150 Charles Street. As the Observer reports, the couple paid $15.31 million for a 3,395-square-foot, full-floor spread with gorgeous Hudson River views. They'll be joining other big names at the address, including supermodel Irina Shayk, who bought a $6 million apartment in February, Jon Bon Jovi, who paid $12.88 million for a 10-room spread in September, and famed fashion photographer Steven Klein, who dropped $12.5 million on a unit in March.
More on their new digs

June 20, 2016

Nine L Train-Adjacent Affordable Apartments Up for Grabs in Williamsburg, From $882

Starting tomorrow, qualifying New Yorkers can begin applying for nine brand new below-market pads in hipster Williamsburg, right off the G/L Metropolitan/Lorimer stop and in proximity to neighborhood standbys like Union Pool, Mccarren Park, and that bagel shop that birthed the cragel and rainbow bagel. Located at 11 Jackson Street (also known as 15 Jackson Street), affordable units are being priced at $882 for a studio, $945 for a one-bedroom, and $1134 for a two-bedroom. Currently, there aren't any market-rate units available (the last rented out just days ago) and it's worth noting that no-fee two-bedrooms have been going for upwards of $3,250 a month—meaning these are some very nice apartments.
find out if you qualify here

Affordable Housing

June 20, 2016

This Hive Lets Urbanites Raise Bees in Style

When 6sqft interviewed beekeeper and founder of Andrew's Honey Andrew Coté, he described how when he first started beekeeping in the city he placed his beehives wherever he could -- "on top of the bridge cafe in the Financial District, community gardens, friends’ rooftops or balconies." Though he now has an entire system of rooftop hives, other New Yorkers looking to get buzzing can still employ his small-scale take on apiculture. It was with this urban beekeeper in mind that German illustrator Maria Emmrich designed her modular Manufaktur Eins, which takes up less room than a standard hive. Designboom notes that it "combines the natural needs of the insects and the ergonomic requirements of the beekeepers" to create a stylish way to raise honeybees anywhere from a balcony to a garden.
More on this design-friendly beehive

Historic Prospect Heights Rowhouse, Asking $12,500/Month, Has All Its Woodwork Intact

William H. Reynolds may not be a recognizable name in New York City history today, but back in his day he was known as an influential real estate developer, politician, and entrepreneur who developed much of Prospect Heights. He is responsible for this lovely townhouse at 323 Sterling Place, located right off Grand Army Plaza. Over the years much of the interior has been preserved, so the home feels like a time machine taking you back to the days Reynolds was building up the neighborhood.
Take an interior tour

Distinctive Homes

June 20, 2016

The Speed of a MetroCard Swipe; Alamo Cube Returns This Week to Astor Place

According to the MTA, the average speed of a MetroCard swipe is 10 to 40 inches per second. [NYT] After being in safekeeping for 19 months, the Alamo cube is returning to Astor Place this Wednesday. [EV Grieve] A new startup wants to bring power napping to the office. [Time] Will the Water Street rezoning destroy […]

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June 20, 2016

Chelsea Townhouse Has Lots of Wood, Brick and Sunshine and a Leafy Garden for $18K/Month

The term used in the listing to describe this renovated four-bedroom townhouse in the residential midst of bustling Chelsea is "intelligently modernized," and it fits. The 3,600-square-foot townhouse at 240 West 21st Street, built in 1840, has, like most of its kind, a long and storied history; constructed as a family home (in this case for the well-to-do Hanks family) it saw generations of residents through the best and worst of times. But unlike some, this particular residence has emerged once more as a spacious and comfortable single-family home with more perks than quirks and is now on the rental market for $18,000 a month. Summer is a fine time to enjoy its sun-dappled leafy back yard and private upper deck. A hip loft-style kitchen and lots of brick set the interiors apart from some of its historic counterparts, and a slightly unusual layout means the living room is in the back–where the sunshine is.
Check out the rest of the house

Distinctive Homes

June 19, 2016

Architect Paul Ochs Custom Designed Every Inch of His Soho Penthouse, Asking $2M

When architect and interior designer Paul Ochs purchased this penthouse at 2 Charlton Street in the '90s, the neighborhood, on the border of Soho and the West Village, was much different. But it doesn't seem like two decades of changes have made him any less fond of it, the same being true for his apartment, as 6sqft learned when he provided a tour of the space, currently on the market for $1,975,000. Ochs custom designed every element of the home, from the polished concrete floors to the hidden bed that was added when he and his wife welcomed their son.
See the rest of the space

Distinctive Homes

June 18, 2016

Leasing Launches at Luna LIC, Offering Free Month Rent With Units Starting at $1,962

By Ondel Hylton

Luna LIC has kicked off leasing on its 124 rental homes priced a fraction less than similar units in Manhattan. Situated one subway stop from Midtown at 42-15 Crescent Street within the Queens Plaza section of Long Island City, the leasing team for a limited time is offering a month's free rent and no broker's fee for incoming lease signors. Current availabilities specify net effective rents beginning at $1,962/month for studios, $2,399 for one-bedrooms and $3,599 for two-bedrooms.
Find out what these prices get you

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June 18, 2016

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks From the 6sqft Staff

Landmarks Approves Roman Abramovich’s $80M UES Makeshift Mansion Taylor Swift Staying in a $40K/Month Village House During Tribeca Penthouse Renovations Design Teams Propose Inflatable Tunnel, New Train Lines As Solutions to L Train Shutdown Developer Wants to Erect the World’s Tallest Free-Fall Ride Atop Penn Station Lottery Launches for 10 Brand New Theater District Apartments, […]

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June 17, 2016

Gwyneth Paltrow Shares Pictures of $13M Tribeca Penthouse on Her Blog Goop

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

When 6sqft wrote about Gwyneth Paltrow's $14.25 million Tribeca penthouse, listed in March, the only interior photos available were slightly blurry, outdated versions from the designer Roman and Williams. But now, perhaps in an attempt to unload the 4,400-square-foot loft (she also reduced the price to $12.85 million), Gwyneth herself has published beautiful images of the home on her blog Goop. First spotted by Time, they showcase the space's famous fuzzy nap zones, as well as "artisanal" details like a swing in the living room made of an antique Indian door and a master bed "so enormous that sheets had to be custom-made."
See all the photos

June 17, 2016

Shigeru Ban’s Cast Iron House Tops Out, Raises the Bar for Tribeca Penthouses

By Ondel Hylton

Few intersections of New York come close to perfection, but the corner of Shigeru Ban's latest New York endeavor at Franklin and Broadway sure comes close. Long anchored by the exquisite 134-year-old James White Building at 361 Broadway, one would assume that a modern penthouse addition could only diminish the neo-Grecian beauty. Not so here. A rehabilitation, conversion, and enlargement spearheaded by Knightsbridge Properties seeks to produce an end sum that will at least be neutral and surely harmonious. Named Cast Iron House by Ban himself, the 13-unit condominium development is a marriage of old, new and timeless, and it reminds us of the incredible sophistication and beauty our city can possess when the bottom line fades. As a sequel to his Metal Shutter Houses in West Chelsea, Ban and design partner Dean Maltz carve eleven airy residences within the sumptuously detailed and impeccably restored 1882 Tribeca cast iron building and float a pair of glass and steel penthouses above.
Get a look inside these magnificent penthouses

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June 17, 2016

Lotto Kicks Off for Four Affordable Apartments in Bushwick Building with Rooftop Dog Walk

Starting Monday, NYC's Housing Connect will begin accepting applications for four brand new apartments located in an upscale, four-story, 20-unit apartment complex at 83 Bushwick Place. Rents will start at $947 for one-bedrooms and $1,071 for two-bedrooms. The building has been designed by architect Ariel Aufgang and developed by Slate Properties, and unlike other more recent constructions in the area, units have been sized for growing families opposed to younger singles looking for studio rentals. Among the perks offered are a rooftop dog walk and luxury-level finishes, according to previous reports. A convenient location a block from the Montrose L train station serves as another major draw.
Find out if you qualify here

Affordable Housing

June 17, 2016

Spotlight: New York Croquet Club’s Peter Timmins Brings the Game to Central Park

By Susan Cohen

If you head west on the road that winds by the Sheep Meadow in Central Park, there's a good chance you'll see New Yorkers dressed in white, playing croquet on a stretch of green lawn. Yes, the sport associated with tea parties and country clubs has a home in New York thanks to the New York Croquet Club. But the club’s dedicated members are not playing the typical backyard version. Instead, they're playing American Six-Wicket Croquet, an iteration of the sport played in the United States that exists on the croquet spectrum alongside the internationally played Association Rules as well as the widely popular Golf Croquet. American Six-Wicket is an intense game that's full of strategy, as players try to maneuver balls with their mallets in ways that are hard for those unfamiliar with the sport to imagine. At the New York Croquet Club’s helm is Peter Timmins, an ambassador for the sport in New York City. Peter tells everyone he meets to give croquet a try at one of the club’s free Monday evening clinics, which is exactly how he was first introduced to it. 6sqft recently spoke with Peter to learn about the complexities and excitement of croquet and why there is nothing better than playing the sport in Central Park.
Read the full interview here

June 17, 2016

$13M Historic Greenwich Village Townhouse Might Keep You From Moving to the Suburbs

At 22 feet wide and situated in one of Manhattan's most coveted historic neighborhoods, this four-story 1910 Greek Revival townhouse at 34 West 11th Street has all the charm and turnkey convenience buyers battle over. With interiors that could be taken straight from a suburban estate or a Junior League show house, a back yard, and six bedrooms for the whole family, thoughts of a move to the genteel suburbs could end right here–assuming you've got the big-city bank account to cover the $13 million ask. For added bragging rights, the house was the official residence of the chancellor of New York University from 1966 to 1973.
Tour the house

Distinctive Homes

Con Ed Will Offer Rooftop Solar Panels to 300 NYC Homes

Image via 350.org flickr

June 17, 2016

Con Ed Will Offer Rooftop Solar Panels to 300 NYC Homes

Con Edison announced Monday that the utility company will offer solar panels and batteries to 300 Brooklyn and Queens homes as part of a plan to create a virtual power plant for the city's power grid, as the company outlines in a "Clean Virtual Power Plant" implementation plan (pdf). Quartz reports that Con Ed, partnered with solar-panel manufacturer Sunpower and energy storage company SunVerge, plans to use these “grid assets” as backup power and as a source of electricity and balancing services for the grid. Residential Con Ed customers will be able to lease the solar and lithium-ion battery systems from the power company for a small fee that will appear on their bill. There is currently no net metering method in place for the homeowners to sell power back to the grid as some individual solar panel users do, though ConEd says that if the project is successful it will allow suppliers/aggregators of solar rooftop and battery systems to sell to the grid.
Find out how it works

June 17, 2016

Furnished Noho Rental Outfitted by Renowned Designer Asks $14K/Month

If you're dropping $14,000 a month on a furnished rental, it may as well be by a professional designer. That's what the listing promises for 27 Great Jones Street, a sprawling two-bedroom Noho loft that's on the market. The 2,000-square-foot apartment, it says, is owned by a renowned designer that has masterfully decorated it. And it's true, the furniture and decor certainly compliment lofty details like exposed brick and 16-foot beamed ceilings.
See more this way

Distinctive Homes

June 17, 2016

Two Chances to Live in Trendy Bushwick for $947/Month

You know you've hit gold when your apartment is just three blocks away from Roberta's, and the city is offering two lucky renters the chance to live in this trendy Bushwick location for just $947 a month. Starting today, single persons earning between $32,469 and $38,100 annually and two-person households earning between $32,469 and $43,500 can apply for these units at 103 Varet Street through an affordable housing lottery. The four-story new construction building has a roof deck and laundry room, and units feature stainless appliances and dishwashers, hardwood floors, and marble bathrooms.
More info

Affordable Housing

June 17, 2016

190 Bowery Losing All Its Graffiti Except One Tag; Are MTA Ads Elitist?

Owner Aby Rosen is removing all of 190 Bowery‘s famous graffiti this weekend except for one tag by noted artist NEKST. [Mass Appeal] Go inside John Leguizamo’s West Village brownstone. [NYT] Have you ever noticed the nondescript “Tie Guy” in the MTA’s Courtesy Counts ads? One man thinks he “represents the the wealthy elite in […]

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June 16, 2016

New Renderings of Extell’s Central Park Tower Emphasize Design and Record Height

A new set of images of the world's upcoming tallest residential tower have been uncovered, these better revealing the cantilevering silhouette of the 1,550-foot supertall and how it will relate to the skyline of Central Park South. The images of the Central Park Tower (née Nordstrom Tower) were first spotted by NY Yimby and are part of official EB-5 Immigrant Investor program materials posted online and provided by developer Extell. As such, they confirm that the supertall will indeed no longer have the spire, a feature which would have brought the tower to 1,775 feet and just a foot shy of One World Trade. The materials also reveal that the tower is being marketed with a height of 133 floors (the actual count is just 95, though some units like the 17,000-square-foot three-story penthouse have ceilings that stretch well beyond the standard) and 179 luxury residential units.
more here

June 16, 2016

Marilyn Monroe’s Former Sutton Place Penthouse Is on the Market for $6.75M

The sprawling two-bedroom East Side penthouse that was once home to screen icon Marilyn Monroe and third husband Arthur Miller is for sale asking $6.75 million, the New York Post reports. This chic and elegant condo atop 444 East 57th Street, just off Sutton Place, was home to a star-studded list of 20th century residents, topped by the tempestuous Monroe and Miller when the latter was writing "The Misfits" (1961), the last play in which the troubled star would appear. The iconic pad definitely looks the part, with a recent total renovation within, postcard views of the 59th Street Bridge, East River and city skyline, and over 3,000 square feet of soiree-ready outdoor terrace space. Those same terraces have witnessed glittering parties that drew luminaries of the day from Cary Grant to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor; other celebrity residents included fashion designer Bill Blass, singer Bobby Short and Sweden's Princess Madeleine.
Elegant interiors and amazing views this way

The MTA Joins Forces With Arup Engineers to Build Quieter Subway Stations

Artist’s impression of one of the Second Avenue subway’s 16 new stations

June 16, 2016

The MTA Joins Forces With Arup Engineers to Build Quieter Subway Stations

While the New York City subway system has improved by leaps and bounds since the days of squealing graffiti-covered, crime-riddled trains, stations are still an unpleasant reality. Between the grime, stench, heat and noise of oncoming trains (which in turn makes it impossible to hear indecipherable, possibly important announcements), by the time the actual train shows up we've had our share of city cacophony. The good news is that an engineering firm is working with the MTA to create the amazing possibility of quieter subway stations, Wired reports. The challenge of quieting the din lies in the fact that a subway station has to be "incredibly strong, graffiti-proof, soot-resistant, human bodily waste-resistant,” according to Alex Case, an architectural acoustician with the University of Massachusetts Lowell. This indestructible infrastructure by nature creates an echo chamber that amplifies the racket. Engineering firm Arup has been hired by the MTA to improve the acoustics of the new Second Avenue line, the first phase of which–a stretch of track that lies 10 stories below the Upper East Side–is scheduled to open this December, with 8.5 miles and 16 new stations on the way when the line is complete.
Find out how they're doing it

June 16, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week – 6/16-6/22

By Lori Zimmer

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! Get sexy with art twice this week, with House of Yes's LUST event where art, erotica, performance and food combine, or bust out your best clam shell bra for the 34th annual Mermaid Day Parade in Coney Island. Get schooled by some of the world's best creatives during the Awwwards Festival, learn how to focus your career with Hope McGrath, then get into the mind of threeASFOUR's Ange for an artist talk at Untitled. The International Print Center gears up for their Summer Show, and Williams Carmona reflects on Cuba at HG Contemporary. With summer here, the French Films on the Green are back, with free screenings each week in parks across the 5 boroughs.
More on all the best events this way

Events & Things To Do

June 16, 2016

POLL: Do You Prefer Bjarke Ingels’ Wave-Like Tower or the Free-Fall Ride for Penn Station?

While Governor Cuomo is busy trying to make his plans for $3 billion in renovations at Penn Station a reality, developers are hot to come up with a new design for 2 Penn Plaza, the tower directly above the station and Madison Square Garden. Vornado Realty Trust, who owns roughly nine million square feet around Penn Station including 2 Penn Plaza, released renderings in March for a glassy, wave-like tower by starchitect of the moment Bjarke Ingels. The concept is quite a departure from the current, stale state of the site, but yesterday an even more futuristic idea came to the table. Brooklyn Capital Partners tapped AE Superlab to create a plan for the world's tallest free-fall tower ride above the station. "Halo," as it would be called, would rise 1,200 feet from the roof, have 11 cars, and move as quickly as 100 miles per hour, giving it a top-to-base free fall of about six seconds. BIG's design wouldn't change much in the way of 2 Penn Plaza's current configuration, but it would create more retail space at the base. Halo, though it would cost $637 million to build, claims it would bring in up to $38 million a year for the state. Since Brooklyn Capital is contending with Vornado Realty Trust and Related Companies to upgrade the space, we want to know which of these ideas you think is a better fit.
Vote for your choice!

Real Estate Trends

June 16, 2016

One Month Free at 76 North 4th Street, Steel Factory Turned Rental in Williamsburg

For the renter looking for a balance between Williamsburg's old warehouse buildings and its newer luxury development, the Lewis Steel Building beckons. This 83-unit rental was co-developed by Cayuga Capital and Jake Toll, the son of the developer behind Toll Brothers. They transformed a 1930s steel factory into modern apartments while keeping the 13-foot ceilings, exposed beams and factory-sized windows intact. Leasing launched last year and there are now six apartments left, ranging from a $3,117/month one-bedroom to a $5,683/month three-bedroom. And for any renters who pick up the remaining apartments, they're getting the first month of rent free.
Take a look around

June 16, 2016

Barnard College Moves Ahead with New Teaching and Learning Center Designed by SOM

By Dejah Mcgibbon

After much deliberation, Barnard College's administration announced plans last year to build a new teaching and learning center at the heart of its four-acre campus in Morningside Heights. Now with demolition of the former library nearly complete, groundwork and excavation for the new 11-story structure will soon begin. The upcoming 128,000-square-foot interdisciplinary building is being designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and will incorporate several tiers of terraces to increase outdoor access for students and faculty. The 189-foot-tall structure aspires to become the college's hub of academic and intellectual life and will feature an updated and expanded library, a digital commons with five teaching labs, and a computational science center that will connect to the adjacent Altschul Hall. All three of the resources will utilize new media and digital technologies to enhance student learning methods.
More details ahead

June 16, 2016

Durst Teaches Tenants About Composting; City Island Getting First Major Development in 15 Years

“A Bronx Tale” is coming to Broadway and will be directed by Robert De Niro. [NYDN] The Durst Organization has created a voluntary composting program for its office tenants with the goal of reducing food waste at landfills (which it’s done by 20 percent). [WSJ] City Island is getting its first major condo development in 15 years. […]

Uncategorized

June 16, 2016

After 14 Months, Demi Moore Reduces Price of San Remo Penthouse by $16M

Last April, Demi Moore listed her triplex penthouse at celeb-favorite the San Remo for a jaw-dropping $75 million. She bought the 7,000-square-foot, 17-room Central Park West residence in 1990 with ex-husband Bruce Willis and then proceeded to update it in a "Southwestern Mission motif dominated by cherry wood." But after 14 months on the market, The Real Deal reports that the actress has slashed the asking price by $16 million, bringing it down to $59 million.
Take a look around

June 15, 2016

Lighting Science’s Fred Maxik Discusses How to Use Interior Light to Improve Sleep and Health

Studies have shown that getting a good night's sleep is critical to keeping one's self happy, healthy and fully functioning. But with advances in technology, modern humans have increasingly found themselves typing and swiping into the wee hours of the night without any regard for what time it is. Unfortunately, exposure to light before bed can have serious negative effects on our body, messing with our circadian rhythms and suppressing our ability to produce melatonin—the hormone that controls our sleep and wake cycles. But beyond feeling tired and irritable the next day, not getting enough sleep also has tremendous long-term effects that include, but are certainly not limited to, depression, immune stress, weight gain, premature aging and disease. Luckily, there are researchers out there harnessing the power of the light spectrum to engineer light bulbs that work with our bodies and environment, rather than against them. To help urban dwellers sleep better, we tapped Lighting Science Group founder and Chief Technology Officer Fred Maxik to learn more about the challenges we face when it comes to city and indoor light, as well as for some tips on how to improve health, productivity, sleep, and even happiness by simply switching bulbs. Lighting Science is one of the world’s leading LED manufacturers and they've worked with everyone from NASA to national sports teams to the creators of the Lowline Underground Park.
Learn more about what lighting is best for your home and health here

June 15, 2016

Developer Wants to Erect the World’s Tallest Free-Fall Ride Atop Penn Station

Observation decks boasting panoramic city views have been to date the way to add a "thrill-seeking" element to new developments, but here's a new proposal that really wants visitors to throw their arms up in excitement. As the Daily News first reports, two Brooklyn developers want to turn the top of Penn Station into the world's tallest free-fall tower ride, an idea that would be developed alongside all the renovations planned for the outdated transit hub. "Halo," as it would be called, is the work of AE Superlab and would rise an incredible 1,200 feet from the roof of Madison Square, or be tacked onto the back of the adjacent Farley Post Office, which is slated to be converted into a waiting hall to support expanding station. And in addition to Halo's towering height (to put that 1,200 feet in perspective, the Empire State Building is 1,250 feet at its parapet), the ride's 11 cars would boast adjustable speeds. Cars could be modified to move as quickly as 100 miles per hour giving it a top-to-base free fall of about six seconds.
find out more here

222 LES Tower + Lofts

222 East Broadway

Lower East Side

Art Deco romance meets 21st-century convenience

Studios starting at $799,000
1 bed starting at $1,100,000
2 beds starting at $1,955,000
3 beds starting at $2,875,000

Learn More

June 15, 2016

Design Teams Propose Inflatable Tunnel, New Train Lines As Solutions to L Train Shutdown

Among the proposals gaining steam to mitigate the imminent L train shutdown are the East River Skyway, an aerial gondola system that would run along the Brooklyn waterfront and into Manhattan, and a car-free 14th Street. But the Van Alen Institute wanted to open the brainstorming to the wider public. As part of their "L Train Shutdown Charrette," this past Sunday, six interdisciplinary design teams who were selected as finalists presented their creative and fanciful proposals, including everything from a floating inflatable tunnel to an all-access transportation pass called Lemonade Line. The winning design "Transient Transit – Revitalizing Industrial Infrastructure" comes from Kohn Pedersen Fox and Happold Engineering, who propose utilizing Newtown Creek for a water shuttle and the LIRR freight tracks for passenger service.
More on the winner and some of the notable honorable mentions

June 15, 2016

LaGuardia Airport Overhaul Will Cost More Than $7B, Cuomo Releases New Renderings

Since Governor Cuomo announced his plans last July for LaGuardia Airport's long-awaited revamp, the price tag has been set at $4 billion, but yesterday at a groundbreaking for the project, that number rose to a whopping $7 billion, reports The Real Deal. Alongside Vice President Biden, the Governor explained that phase one, which includes the replacement of the Central Terminal Building (Terminal B), will carry the $4 billion cost, while the redevelopment of Delta's Terminals C and D will require another $3 billion. And that's not all; the new AirTrain and 24-hour ferry service will require even more funds. Aside from the updated cost estimates, Tuesday's affair also brought new details and renderings.
See them all here

June 15, 2016

Historic Home Upgraded by High-End Furniture Designer Asks $2.995M in Bed-Stuy

588 Madison Street is a French Neo-Grec brownstone built in 1889 by the architect William Godfrey. While the single-family, Bed-Stuy home is steeped in history, a recent owner has brought it stylishly into modern day. The owner/developer, a principle at the design firm KGBL, specializes in designing high-end furniture. Here, they played off the existing historic details to add some unique, modern touches. And the mashup of historic and modern is asking nearly $3 million.
Take a look

Distinctive Homes

June 15, 2016

Construction Kicks Off on a Pair of Condo Buildings in the Columbia Street Waterfront District

By Ondel Hylton

Avery Hall Investments and co-developer OTL Enterprises are forging ahead with the development of pair of understated five-story condominium buildings at 161-163 Columbia Street in Cobble Hill's Columbia Street Waterfront District. The team picked up the lots in 2014 through a unique deal with the nonprofit Carroll Gardens Association where proceeds of the sale would be used to preserve below-market rate rents for 28 units on the street and possibly develop 70 more affordable units in nearby Red Hook.
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June 15, 2016

Millennials Should Live in Philadelphia; Boozy Sunday Brunch Can Now Start at 10am