6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

The go-to move for building taller than zoning allows is snatching up some air rights, but at 180 East 88th Street in Yorkville, developer DDG Partners found an obscure loophole to increase their building's height. Back in 2014, as the Times explains, DDG received approvals to slice off a four-foot-wide lot from the 30-foot-deep site. This became an official taxable lot, but because it provided a buffer between the building and the street, it allowed the building to avoid typical zoning for structures touching the street, rising to its 521-foot height (60 feet taller than would have been permitted otherwise) and having its entrance on Third Avenue. Now that the motive has become clear, local residents and elected officials are not happy, and adding fuel to the fire is the fact that DDG contributed at least $19,900 to Mayor Bill de Blasio.
The full story ahead

May 23, 2016

Alexander Wang Lists Luxuriously Moody Tribeca Loft for $3.75M

After six years in residence, the in-demand downtown designer is selling the loft he purchased from fellow fashionista, former New York Times Style writer Holly Brubach (h/t Curbed). With the help of maverick decorator Ryan Korban, Wang renovated the classic warehouse-turned-co-op at 39 Worth Street with opulent-chic accents like black fur, zebra rugs and mirrored wall panels, and opened up walled spaces to return the loft its open-space roots. The result, as far as lofts go, is a pretty well laid-out example, with creature comforts a busy design professional needs–plus luxurious finishes. Yet it doesn’t lose any of the open and adventurous character that defines a historic Tribeca loft space. The Parsons-grad-made-good purchased the unit for $2 million in 2010 and hopes to sell it for a $3.75 million.
See more of the loft

May 23, 2016

Bjarke Ingels Designed the VIA57 Chair As an Homage to His West Side Tetrahedron

For those of us who love the unusual shape and dramatic angles of Bjarke Ingels' famed VIA 57 WEST tetrahedron, but aren't in the market to pay $3,800 a month for a one-bedroom (or didn't qualify for the building's affordable housing lottery), there's now a way to bring a piece of the starchitecture into our own homes. Dezeen reveals the VIA57 chair, designed by Ingels for furniture brand Fritz Hansen along with KiBiSi to mark the completion of the pyramid-shaped building. "The rotated corners allow a variety of social configurations while also evoking the tetrahedronical geometry of its parent architecture," he explains.
More this way

May 23, 2016

‘All My Plants Are Dead’ Tote Bag Lets Black Thumbs Laugh Off Their Misfortunes

With spring in full swing, farmers markets and corner bodegas are teeming with plants, begging bright-eyed New Yorkers to take a pot or two home with them. While some of these verdant gems will enjoy a long-lasting life within their new indoor confines, a larger percentage will end up a droopy mess or a dried up skeleton of their former self. If you're one of those whose plants have been (or you know will be) doomed to such unsightly fate, don't let your black thumb ruin your day; instead take it all in stride and wear your private shame like a badge of honor for all to see.
more this way

May 23, 2016

This $25K/Month Tribeca Rental Claims to Be Better than the Hamptons

Memorial Day weekend is approaching, signaling that time in New York when people start decamping for the Hamptons as much as possible. But this summer rental, at 17 Jay Street in Tribeca, is asking that you stay. "Forget the Hamptons," the listing says, "Spend June through Labor Day in this serene and utterly charming duplex penthouse loft featuring a spacious 3BR layout, with two fireplaces and three lovely decked terraces!" Three terraces may not be as good as the beach, but it's definitely not shabby for a New York City apartment.
See all the outdoor space

Distinctive Homes

May 23, 2016

Own a Piece of the ‘Mad Men’ Set; Pommes Frites Opens New Location

At least 1,500 props from the set of “Mad Men” are up for auction starting today. [NYT] Following a deal between the MTA and the publishers of amNY and Metro, free newspaper hawkers will no longer be in subway stations. [WNYC] 14 months after the East Village’s deadly gas explosion that destroyed Pommes Frites, the beloved Belgian-style fry cafe […]

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May 23, 2016

Browse the Catalog of Joan Rivers’ Prized Possessions Headed for Auction Next Month

As 6sqft previously detailed, when the beloved comedian Joan Rivers passed away in 2014, she left behind a lavish Upper East Side penthouse packed with a collection of glittering designer gowns, gilded furnishings, jewelry and collected items that reflected a lifetime love of pretty things. Rivers herself once described the decor of the 5,100-square-foot triplex as “Louis XIV meets Fred and Ginger.” Christie's has issued a catalog listing the opulent collections of Rivers' home that will be included in the live auction, scheduled for June 22 with viewing times beginning June 17. Items from Harry Winston, Tiffany's and Fabergé will join art and small personal items–like Bob Mackie gowns, a silver Tiffany & Co. water bowl engraved "Spike” and a silk pagoda dog bed (h/t Curbed).
Find out more about the auction

May 23, 2016

For a Limited Time, Related Offering One Month Free in New Upper East Side Rental The Easton

Not quite ready to buy a condo, but still want to feel like you're living in one? For a limited time, the Related Companies is offering one month free at their newest upscale rental The Easton, located at 205 East 92nd Street. The 36-story development is located at the boundary of the Carnegie Hill and Yorkville neighborhoods on the Upper East Side and is loaded with all the amenities, thoughtful layouts, and meticulous craftsmanship typical of many new high-end condominiums.
Find out more

Distinctive Homes

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

An art historian's Village loft with pieces by Ai Weiwei and more asks $4.2M

Color, texture, and pre-war details define this decorator's dream of a $4.85M Village co-op

Watch the seasons of Central Park change from this $3.4M top-floor Upper West Side co-op

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

For $6.5M, this Sutton Place townhouse can be three apartments, one modernist mansion, or anything in between

For $5.5M, this Flatiron condo with four-bedroom potential is a prize for loft-lovers

Bill Murray's former Snedens Landing home asks $3.7M

A grown-up townhouse with a Bushwick address–and a koi pond–asks $2M

For $700K, this parkside Brooklyn co-op adds dramatic design details to classic pre-war bones

VIEW ALL

May 22, 2016

CWB Architects Build a Modern Asian-Inspired Beach House in Southampton

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

Back in 2004, a client with a taste for traveling approached CWB Architects to design a beach house with a distinctly Asian flavor, styled after houses he’d seen in Thailand and Japan. The result is this stunning, appropriately-dubbed 'Thai Style Southampton' home, which stands on stilts above a wetland. In addition to verandas, pointed gable roofs and Mahogany interiors, the charming home features a splendid view out to the Atlantic Ocean.
Learn more about this stunning Thai-home

May 21, 2016

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks From the 6sqft Staff

Jennifer Lawrence Scopes Out a $17.5M Duplex Penthouse in Tribeca Madison Equities Files Permit for 1,115-Foot Supertall Condo in the Financial District Glenwood’s Newest Lincoln Center-Adjacent Tower Starts Leasing With Discounted Rents Controversial Lower East Side Waterfront May Get Even More Tall Towers New Studies Show Historic Preservation Doesn’t Cause Gentrification Woes Richard Meier Flips […]

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Infographic: How NYC’s Supertalls Compare in Height and Girth to Global Towers

Gray silhouettes from left to right: Shanghai World Financial Center, CTF Finance Centre, One WTC, Lotte World Tower, Mecca Royal Clock Tower, Shanghai Tower, Burj Khalifa. Click link here to enlarge >>

May 20, 2016

Infographic: How NYC’s Supertalls Compare in Height and Girth to Global Towers

As the Skyscraper Museum so aptly writes, "Tall and BIG are not the same thing." Echoing 6sqft's recent post on global supertalls, the infographic above illustrates how when the height of New York's tallest towers are stacked up against the sky-high constructions abroad (and 1 WTC), our city's skyscrapers truly are "runts on the world's stage." The image also reveals that not only do these towers lack significantly in height, but also in girth. This means what really makes the design of all of New York's new skyscrapers so unique is not how tall they are, but rather, how slender they are.
more on all that here

May 20, 2016

Strand Bookstore Owner Lists Elegant 1848 Gramercy Townhouse for $7.5M

If you're a lover of timelessly elegant Manhattan living and you're lucky enough to live in Gramercy, you probably love your home just that much more. And if your Gramercy spot is anything like this classically lovely townhouse at 236 East 19th Street, on the market for $7.5 million, we'd say that's a bit like hitting the jackpot. Built in 1848, the four-story Anglo-Italianate home was owned by the Baer family from the 1860s until the current owner, Nancy Bass Wyden, co-owner of the famous Strand bookstore, purchased it for $4,700,000 in 2011. We're guessing Mrs. Wyden—she co-owns the store with her father, Fred Bass, whose father, Ben, founded the Strand in 1927—may be selling the house to spend more time in Oregon with her husband, Senator Ron Wyden, who is that state's senior U.S. senator. The couple have several small children, and if the house looks this good we'd say it must be child-proof. There's a luxurious wood-paneled library–fitting for the first family of one of the city's most iconic bookstores–and though there's plenty of play space and five bedrooms, the home's intricate historic details have been restored beautifully with added finishes (like walls of glass and several private outdoor spaces) for modern-day livability.
Take the tour

May 20, 2016

REVEALED: First Look at Downtown Brooklyn’s New Office Tower at 540 Fulton Street

Downtown Brooklyn and its Fulton Street Mall lost a bit of its soul late last year with the demolition of an ornate 1891 Romanesque-Reviaval gem at 540 Fulton Street. Prior to being cleared, the two-story structure held a jumble of small retailers that included a jewelry exchange, Metro King Sushi & Teriyaki and a Lucille Roberts. When the building was finished 125 years ago, it rose three floors with its first tenant being F.W Woolworth's "five-and-dime store," their first Downtown Brooklyn location. Now with the slate wiped clean, what's envisioned to rise from the 18,531-square-foot lot near the corner of Flatbush Avenue Extension is a 19-story, 200,000-square-foot office block developed by the real estate investment and management firm Jenel Management. A new building application was filed with the Department of Building's last April, listing Marvel Architects as the applicant of record. The proposed building's podium will contain three levels of retail space from the cellar to the second level, and 17 floors of office space above.
find out more here

New Developments

May 20, 2016

Spotlight: Frank Cullen Wants to Teach You the Joys of Surfing at Rockaway Beach

By Susan Cohen

While temperatures outside are still a bit chilly, New York’s devoted wetsuit-clad surfers at Rockaway Beach are not deterred. Right now they have plenty of room in the water, but in the next few weeks there will be a bit more traffic when the busy summer crowds arrive at this popular surf spot. Amongst the experienced longboarders and shortboarders, there will be a fair number of newbies who'll be starting their surfing journey under the guidance of Frank Cullen and the New York Surf School. Frank has deep roots at Rockaway Beach. He first began surfing with the local guys during summers and later founded the New York Surf School there. When not out teaching kids and adults how to catch a wave, Frank is also a real estate broker working in Rockaway and parts of Brooklyn. Given his connection to the beach as a surfer and local resident, while also dabbling in local real estate, it goes without saying that he possesses a unique perspective on the changes taking place at Rockaway Beach. 6sqft recently spoke with Frank to find out more about surfing at Rockaway Beach, the New York Surf School, and to find out how he thinks the neighborhood will continue to change in the coming years.
read the interview here

May 20, 2016

Apply for Four Affordable Apartments in East Williamsburg, From $947/Month

Starting Tuesday, four brand new affordable apartments will up for grabs through the city's Housing Connect program. Located in quickly hipsterfying East Williamburg, the building at 30-42 Orient Avenue is sited kitty corner to Cooper Park and is made up of two constructions housing a total of 18 units. For those who qualify, there are two one-bedrooms available with a rent of $947/month, and two two-bedrooms going for $1,072/month. The building is also conveniently located just few blocks from the Graham stop on the L Train, and the B24 and B43 buses also serve the area.
more details here

Affordable Housing

May 20, 2016

Live on Half a Floor of a Stately Limestone Mansion in Fort Greene for $1.1M

This Victorian mansion, a limestone beauty at 26 South Oxford Street in Fort Greene, is so spacious that you can fit an entire two-bedroom, two-bathroom co-op on just half of one floor. (There are eight units in the mansion total.) Now on the market for $1.1 million, the apartment boasts quirky, modern upgrades to the historic interior with details like carved woodwork and a beautiful bay window in tact.
See more

40 Percent of Manhattan’s Buildings Would Be Unbuildable Today

720 Park Avenue could not be built today. Image via Google Maps

May 20, 2016

40 Percent of Manhattan’s Buildings Would Be Unbuildable Today

Many feel that the city's current construction boom is unprecedented, but while towers may be reaching new heights, according to a new report by architecture firm KPF, nearly three-quarters of the city's existing square footage was actually built between the 1900s and 1930s. More interestingly, The Times points out that forty percent of the buildings that currently make up Manhattan could not be built today because they break at least one zoning code violation—among which include being too tall, having too many residential units, or having too much commercial space.
find out more here

Chelsea Clinton’s Former Fifth Avenue Home Hits the Market; Why New Yorkers Always Wear Black

Chelsea Clinton and her husband Marc Mezvinsky’s former home at the Grand Madison at 225 Fifth Avenue is now for sale asking $6M. [6sqft inbox] Why the New Yorker uniform has always been black-on-black-on-black. [New York Magazine] End Bike to Work Week with a summer Friday and head out to these best bike routes in each […]

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May 20, 2016

Bed-Stuy’s The MYNT Offering One Month Free on New Leases

In the thriving Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, the recently finished rental building named The MYNT is offering one month free on 12-month leases for select apartments. Currently, two no-fee units are complying with the offer: Unit 4J is a three-bed, two-bath spanning 1,200 square feet is available for a net effective rent of $3,484/month, and two floors above, unit 6J is a two-bed/two-bath available for a net effective rent of $3,117/month.
find out more about the deal here

Richard Meier Flips Favored Palette from Ivory to Ebony for Developer Pal’s Turtle Bay Tower

Photo: Rendering of 685 First Avenue designed by architect Richard Meier for developer Sheldon Solow VIZE/RICHARD MEIER & PARTNERS ARCHITECTS

May 19, 2016

Richard Meier Flips Favored Palette from Ivory to Ebony for Developer Pal’s Turtle Bay Tower

Pritzker Prize-winning architect Richard Meier has long been known for his modestly-scaled building designs with exteriors on the whiter side of pale. But for developer Sheldon Solow's new 42-story 556-unit residential building, currently under construction at East 39th Street and First Avenue on Manhattan's East Side, the New York Five starchitect will be designing a tower of black glass. The developer will be unveiling a residential tower, Meier's tallest and largest in New York City, according to the Wall Street Journal, that will consist of a rectangular slab with a recessed niche above the midsection, "a polished specimen of neo-Modernist simplicty" in typical Meier fashion–except it will be clad in glassy black. The mix seems to perfectly represent a collaboration between old friends and East Hampton near-neighbors Meier and Solow, who has pointed out that "All my buildings are black."
Find out more about the new rental, condo and commercial project

May 19, 2016

Jennifer Lawrence Scopes Out a $17.5M Duplex Penthouse in Tribeca

By Annie Doge

It's been about a year since Jennifer Lawrence first started her house hunt, and according to The Post, the starlet is showing no signs of giving up on finding the home of her dreams. Gimme Shelter writes that J.Law was just spotted checking out a $17.49 million penthouse in Tribeca's 140 Franklin Street. According to the listing, the sprawling pad is "intelligently designed and exceptionally renovated" spanning two stories of the building with more than 4,000 feet of interior space and 1,640 square feet of private outdoor terrace. The pre-war 1887 building itself is described as "ultra-discreet" with full-time doorman, on-site staff and just 12 loft residences; A perfect arrangement for an A-lister with a taste for eight-figure apartments.
Have a closer look inside this stunning home

May 19, 2016

Madison Equities Files Permit for 1,115-Foot Supertall Condo in the Financial District

Madison Equities and Pizzarotti Group filed a new building application yesterday to construct a 1,115-foot supertall skyscraper at 45 Broad Street in the heart of the Financial District. When finished, reportedly in 2018 (good luck with that), the tower will be the second tallest building in lower Manhattan after 1 WTC, and the sixth tallest in the city. As detailed by the application, the tower will comprise 371,634 gross square-feet of floor area spread across 66 floors. Listed are 150 units, a bit less than the 245 condo-residences Pizzarotti CEO, Rance MacFarland said there would be earlier this year. Supposedly, the building will cater to "entry- and mid-level buyers" with relatively conservative prices of below $2,000 per square foot on average. To afford the maximum amount of residences with coveted views of the harbor and the skyline, apartments will begin on the 15th floor where they are configured at four-units per floor up to the 33rd level. Floors 35-51, 53,55 and 57 will have three units per floor and floors 52, 54, and 58 just two units. Floors 61 and 62 will host two duplex aeries and the uppermost residential floor, 62, will house a single full floor penthouse that will be the highest residence in hemisphere outside of Billionaires' Row. Amenities on the lower, view-deprived floors will include a 60-foot indoor lap pool, a gym, a garden, a pet spa, a game room, bike room and other entertainment areas.
find out more here

May 19, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week – 5/19-5/25

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! There's a new Martin Puryear sculpture to enjoy during your lunch hour outside at Madison Square Park, debuting this week through January. Also this week, check out the Surrealist paintings of Eric Helvie at the High Line Loft, Ian Strange's takeover of suburban Ohio homes on the Bowery, or the late Kirk Magnus' epic sculpture at James Cohan. Head to the Bronx on Saturday for the graffiti-meets-Scandinavian sensibility of Rubin415, or join the art crowd in Soho for a photoshoot that will become a massive mural by stencil artist Logan Hicks. Cap it all off by treating yourself to the Spring Fling at the beautiful Bowery Hotel, which will benefit the Lower East Side Girls Club.
More on all the best events this way

Events & Things To Do

May 19, 2016

Alcove Studio Asking $465K in Gramercy Packs in the Prewar Charm

Just because an apartment is small doesn't mean it can't have lots of personality. That's the case for this alcove studio at The Gramercy House, a co-op at 235 East 22nd Street in Gramercy Park. The building itself makes quite a statement; it was designed by architects George and Edward Blum in 1931 as an impressive Art Deco apartment building. Historic interior details have managed to carry over into this apartment, with moldings, hardwood floors and even a corner wood-burning fireplace.
Take a look

Distinctive Homes

May 19, 2016

‘Amalgamated’ Vases Are Made From Hundreds of Pencils Glued Together

By Rebecca Paul

Pencils are used in a variety of applications and can be a powerful tool of expression for people who associate themselves with the written word or visual arts. "Amalgamated" is a collection of vases from Finnish designer Tuomas Markunpoika in collaboration with Gallery FUMI and Faber-Castell, created to explore the relationship between the mass produced "tool" and the potential individualism it facilitates. By repurposing the objects as raw material, this project aims to provide commentary about how the pencil when being used for its intended purpose, goes unnoticed.
READ MORE

May 19, 2016

Trump Stars in MTA Courtesy Counts Posters; The Lucky Lady That Gets to Walk Henry the Tortoise

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

Looks like Trump sucks at following subway etiquette. Street artists, Major Bigtime have been sticking his face on the Courtesy Counts posters in the train. [PIX 11] Avocado toast for $21. In Williamsburg. Obviously. [Brooklyn Magazine] Remember this Craigslist ad seeking a tortoise walker and how basically everyone applied for the job? Meet the lucky gal that […]

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THE 6SQFT SHOP

The best websites for buying and selling used furniture in NYC

The 6 best furniture rental companies in NYC

8 best places in NYC to thrift for home goods

Everything you need to know about using a guarantor in NYC

15 quintessential NYC gifts for the New Yorker in your life

New York City's best holiday markets of 2023

Raising chickens in NYC: Laws, tips, and everything else you need to know

10 Ways to Decorate an Exposed Brick Wall Without Drilling

Snag the Greenest Seat in Town: Gufram's 1972 Pratone Chair is Shaped Like a Patch of Grass

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Rendering of 45 Park Place via Williams New York (L); Aerial view of 45 Park Place in the downtown skyline created by CityRealty

May 19, 2016

45 Park Place Condos on ‘Ground Zero Mosque’ Site Will Move Forward With $219M Loan

Soho Properties has received $219 million in construction loans for a $174 million luxury condominium project at 45 Park Place in Tribeca, according to a statement from Manhattan developer Sharif El-Gamal, The Real Deal reports. The deal was funded by the London branch of Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank) and Kuwait-based Warba Bank, with Saudi investment firm MASIC providing a $45 million mezzanine loan and Italian bank Intesa Sanpaolo serving as documentation agent. The developer had previously secured $33 million in financing from Madison Realty Capital in 2014. The funding will be used for the residential tower and an Islamic cultural museum to be built next door at 51 Park Place. The condo project, to be designed by SOMA Architects, will be a 665-foot, 43-story tower with 50 high-end apartments, including two penthouses on the top four floors. Ismael Leyva Architects is listed as the architect of record.
Find out more

May 19, 2016

This $499K Fort Greene Studio in a Former Bank Has Location, Amenities and Killer Views

Recognizable from what seems like miles away by its iconic clock tower, One Hanson Place was built in 1927 as the Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower. Converted to 175 residential condominiums in 2006, it has been called "the finest landmarked skyscraper in Brooklyn and one of the best Art Deco towers in New York City." With its prime Fort Greene location in the BAM cultural district and at a crossroads where several great Brooklyn neighborhoods meet, interiors feature loft-like details, and building amenities include a gym, lots of additional storage and a sky lounge and terraces with even more dizzying city views (just to name a few). The flexibility of condo ownership makes apartments in the building a good investment, too. This well-configured studio may not be large, but it has the same prewar loft details and modern finishes as any unit in the building; what it also has–something much larger units may not–is soaring city views from the 14th floor of Brooklyn's tallest landmarked building.
See it all, this way

Distinctive Homes

May 19, 2016

Fisher Brothers’ Curving Rental Tower at 225 East 39th Street Reaches Full Height

By Julian Friedman

Without a hitch, Fisher Brothers' parking garage-crushing development at 225 East 39th Street has ascended to its full 395-foot structural height. More pause-worthy is that its reflective curtain wall has climbed high enough to show us how its reflective skin will accentuate its gracefully curving form. The 36-story high-rise is situated at the boundary of residential Murray Hill and the skyscraper canyons of Midtown East.
more one the progress here

May 18, 2016

This $3.6M South Slope ‘Kangaroo’ Townhouse Has a Second Unit Cleverly Tucked in Front

Though it's not too common, this isn't the first time we've seen a two-unit townhouse bust out of the usual set of configurations and tuck a rental unit up front, kangaroo-like, and wrap the rest of the house around it—especially in new construction or gut-renovated homes. It's a seemingly complicated setup, so do yourself a favor now and look at the floor plan below; You'll understand the (presumably) space- and privacy-optimizing wizardry much more quickly and be able to move on to admiring the cool features of this 5,974-square-foot new-construction townhouse at 297 16th Street in south Park Slope. $3.595 million buys a huge main house with four bedrooms, a yard and a deck, plus a two bedroom duplex to rent out for (according to the listing) $45k a year or stash your in-laws, teenagers or shoe collection.
See how they did it, this way

Distinctive Homes

May 18, 2016

Only One Unit Remains at Long Island City’s Baker House, Now Offering Two Months Free Rent

Not all of Long Island City's new developments are gargantuan or fully encased in glass. One such anomaly is Ranger Properties' recently opened rental building called the Baker House. Replacing a building that housed the Bakers Union Local 3, the development rises a modest nine floors within the human-scaled confines of the Dutch Kills section of the neighborhood, the 47,000 square-foot building was designed by Fogarty Finger Architects and boasts a tasteful exterior of red brick, metal and staggered floor to ceiling glass windows. Inside are 48 light-bathed apartments ranging from studios to two-bedroom layouts. Remarkably, after debuting on the market just earlier this year, the leasing agents at Modern Spaces have all but one of the units accounted for. The sole remaining home is a 700 square-foot, one-bedrooms, one-bathroom on the eighth floor, priced at a net-effective rent of $2,529/month. All residences are outfitted with white oak hardwood floors, Carrara marble baths, and open kitchens with Pedini cabinets and Bosch appliances.
find out more here

May 18, 2016

Study: Is NYC ‘Youthful’ Enough to Keep Millennials From Leaving?

Yet another survey on the fascinating habits of millennials comes to us via Gothamist, this time taking a closer look at where that generation’s critical masses are migrating en masse, and why. The Youthful Cities Global Millenial Survey by the data jocks at Decode interviewed 15,000 millennials in 34 cities throughout the world, then divided the results by continent. The study focused on the idea that millennials were more likely to be satisfied enough to remain in their current city if it's perceived as a "youthful city." Some criteria for this magical metric include a government that listens to the concerns of young people, access to fulfilling jobs, safety, healthy residents and access to health services, good post-secondary education programs and clean green space. North American respondents saw affordability as the top concern, followed by employment, safety, and decent public transportation. The survey shows that millennials see "a direct link between having a youthful city–a dynamic, curious, open, inventive, connected and playful city–and economic and financial benefits, including higher employment rates, more jobs, a stronger economy and a thriving environment for small business and entrepreneurship."
We're happier, but less employed

May 18, 2016

Video: ‘Degentrify America’ Takes on the Issue of Gentrification in Five Minutes

The definition of gentrification may be difficult to pin down, but filmmaker Nelson George is attempting to do so in his five-minute short "Degentrify America." In the film, George melds together national headlines with interviews and animation to paint a picture that has become all too familiar in metropolitan areas across the country. Most notable, however, is the appearance of Crown Heights resident and co-founder of the Crown Heights Tenants Union, Donna Mossman, who speaks candidly about the evictions, injustice and other ills that come with this particular kind of change. Crown Heights recently ranked #8 on NYU’s Furman Center's report of New York's 15 fastest gentrifying neighborhoods.
Watch the short film here

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Interview: CetraRuddy Founder, Nancy Ruddy, Discusses Her Firm’s Notable New York Works

Image courtesy of CetraRuddy

May 18, 2016

Interview: CetraRuddy Founder, Nancy Ruddy, Discusses Her Firm’s Notable New York Works

One architectural name dominating the new development scene is CetraRuddy. Nancy Ruddy and her husband Jon Cetra formed the firm back in 1987, and over the decades that followed the pair built an architectural powerhouse that’s erected countless buildings across the globe. But while their breadth of work touches everything from the educational to hospitality to […]

May 18, 2016

Seaport Loft Owned by Yankees Ops Director Matches Warehouse Details With Luxe Finishes

This South Street Seaport loft, at 272 Water Street, certainly hasn't abandoned its history. It still retains details of the former warehouse building and boasts an undeniably lofty interior. But it's also been decked out with plenty of high-end finishes, like new plank floors and a custom wood and steel staircase leading to a lofted bedroom. The owner and renovator (per Curbed) is the Director of Team Operations for the New York Yankees, who travels so often he only enjoys the space about half the year. Likely why he's just listed the home for $1.595.
See the rest of his pad

Distinctive Homes

The World Trade Center’s Elevated Liberty Park Will Open This Summer

Construction image via Port Authority

May 18, 2016

The World Trade Center’s Elevated Liberty Park Will Open This Summer

The city will cut the ribbon on another landscaped elevated this park this summer with the opening of the World Trade Center's Liberty Park—although no exact opening date has been pinned down, reports DNA Info. The park, which will measure just over an acre and rise 25 feet, is sited next to the Santiago Calatrava-designed St. Nicholas National Shrine (still under construction) and will provide an overhead view of the 9/11 Memorial and a leafy pocket of respite for FiDi workers, dwellers and tourists alike. But more practically, the park will give way to a pleasant pedestrian connection across West Street, on top of hiding the entrance to the WTC's security hub that sits beneath.
See more here

Architecture And Design

May 18, 2016

Prospect Park Employs Goats to Eat Weeds; The F Express Train Will Run Again This Summer

Brooklyn Brewery will be opening up a beer garden, brewing facility, and restaurant in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. [Gothamist] Ditch the toxic pesticide: Prospect Park will be hiring eight weed-eating goats to feast on the poison ivy, English Ivy, and goutweed that have taken over parts of the park. [WNYC] There are many places you can buy art in […]

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May 17, 2016

Lottery Launches for 29 Affordable Units at Extell’s 70 Charlton in West Soho, From $833/Month

It's not too often that affordable housing opportunities arise in prime downtown areas like West Soho, but starting tomorrow, 70 Charlton Street will begin accepting applications for 29 of its below-market-rate apartments. The Beyer Blinder Belle-designed building is of the luxury persuasion, developed by none other than Extell. In total there are 116 residences; 92 are high-end co-ops (currently priced between $1.6M and $7.1M) with interiors crafted by Workshop/APD in one building, and the rest affordable units situated in a connected building. According to the Housing Connect website, studios will start at $833/month, one-bedrooms will go for $895/month and two-bedrooms for $1,082/month.
Find out if you qualify here

Affordable Housing

May 17, 2016

Craigslist Hookup: Craig Newmark Buys $5.9 Million Village Townhouse Co-op

Craig Newmark, entrepreneur and founder of now-legendary swap site Craigslist, recently purchased a three-bedroom Greenwich Village duplex according to city records, reports The Real Deal. Newmark, who started the now-international site in San Francisco in 1995, and his wife, Eileen, bought the co-op, which occupies the first two floors of a gorgeous 1845 red brick townhouse-turned-three-unit-co-op on West 9th Street, for $5.9 million; it was last listed at $5.25M.
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Celebrities

May 17, 2016

Clever Pour-Over Coffee Maker Poses As a Decorative Water Tower

Pour-over coffee makers are most-definitely favored by coffee connoisseurs, loved by those obsessed with the nuances that each bean carries. While the craft is considered cool, the large, bulbous glass vessels used during the process are hardly such. To improve the design of this method, Damon Ahola created TOWER, a single-serving pour-over coffee maker that masquerades as a decorative water tower—"the epitome of the New York City skyline," says Ahola.
Find out more here

May 17, 2016

Glenwood’s Newest Lincoln Center-Adjacent Tower Starts Leasing With Discounted Rents

When we last checked in on Glenwood Management's latest rental development at 175 West 60th Street, the 48-story, 533-foot tall building had just topped-out and launched its affordable housing lottery offering apartments priced as low as $566/month. Now, the team has jump-started leasing on the building's 205 market-rate residences. Dubbed The Encore—likely due to its proximity to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and the tower being Glenwood's second foray on Fordham University's Lincoln Square campus superblock (Hawthorn Park was the first)—the building is centrally positioned at the meeting of Midtown West and Upper West Side. According to Glenwood, occupancy for the upscale rentals will begin on July 1, and early lease-signors, for a limited time, can capture net-effective rents of $3,483/month for alcove studios, $4,790/month for one-bedrooms, and two-bedrooms starting at $7,297/month.
more details this way

May 17, 2016

Live On Artist Hannes Bend’s Boat for Under $300/Month – Tow It Wherever You Want

Now that we know it is very possible to live a (reasonably) comfortable life on a 200-square-foot boat with your significant other and a dog, there's no reason to pass up this opportunity to stretch out on a 28-foot sailboat for next to nothing. As Brokelyn first reports, artist Hannes Bend, is offering up his Bronx-docked boat up to anyone who wants to live a seafaring life—with the convenience of the city just handful of subway lines and stops away, of course—pretty much for free.
more details on how to move in here

May 17, 2016

Tour Eli Zabar’s Yorkville Rooftop Greenhouses; Automated Selfie Stick Features Lights and Fans

Here’s how to wash every kind of tote bag. [Racked] A selfie stick with built-in studio lights and fans for perfect wind-blown-Beyonce-hair. [Mashable] Tour Eli Zabar’s rooftop greenhouse gardens in Yorkville. [92nd Street Y] Ralph Modica, Compass broker and creator of Burgopoly, is hosting Williamsburg Terrace Tour two nights this week. Peek inside 20 homes […]

Uncategorized

May 17, 2016

This $3M Duplex Townhouse Was Carved Out of a 1902 Waterworks Building in Brooklyn Heights

If you're looking for a home that feels like a townhouse, co-op and loft all rolled into one, this Brooklyn Heights property may be your best bet. It's located at 25 Joralemon Street, a waterworks building constructed in 1902. It has since been converted into six co-ops, each laid out like duplex "townhouse" units. All six townhouses have their own separate entrance and a unique floorplan, with this one boasting a totally lofty aesthetic.
There's also a private courtyard entrance

Distinctive Homes

520 Fifth Avenue

Midtown West

Live at the center of NYC

1 beds starting at $2,445,000
2 beds starting at $3,435,000
3 beds starting at $6,775,000

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May 17, 2016

The History of the Roosevelt Island Tramway

By Rebecca Paul

In honor of the Roosevelt Island Tramway's 40th anniversary today, we've pulled this wonderful piece on the history of the high-flying gondola system from our archives. Commuting in New York City, whether for work or pleasure, is rarely an enjoyable experience. However, for some tourists and lucky city dwellers, the Roosevelt Island Tramway provides a delightful, high-flying travel alternative to the standard, and sometimes miserable, modes of NYC public transport. Running across the East River, this aerial tramway brings commuters to and from Roosevelt Island and Manhattan’s Upper East Side, and has carried over 26 million passengers since opening in 1976. It is one of the few forms of mass transit in New York City not operated by the MTA, but it still costs the same as the bus or subway and can be paid for with your NYC metro card. Like most things in our historic port town, both the tramway and the commute between Manhattan and Roosevelt Island has a history, and this one includes bridge elevators, high-rise rescue missions and French ski lifts.
More on how the Roosevelt Island tramway came to be

May 17, 2016

Map Mashup: The NYC Subway System Gets Re-Stylized as The London Tube

Pretty much everyone can appreciate a good map, and many of us are downright obsessed. Then there’s Cameron Booth, who has devoted a serious amount of his time to interweaving maps to transit systems all around the world with one another. The Portland, OR-based (by way of Syndey, Australia) graphic designer tweaks and reimagines the world's city transit maps on his blog; Booth has also helped test and create map apps for cities throughout the world. You could think of it as a way to travel everywhere at once, while not leaving home (as long as you stay within the bounds of this virtual transit system). Booth has tried his hand at versions of the transit systems of Paris and Portland, major U.S. highway routes and Amtrak train maps, and it’s both a graphic delight and an eye-opening way to see how cities’ transit systems get you from point a to point b. Take, for example, his project that combines the London tube diagram with the New York City subway system map.
Get a closer look at the maps

Transit

May 17, 2016

Live in Park Slope Without Giving Up Modern in This $1.45M Designer Duplex

If your dream of New York City living means clean, contemporary lines, sleek finishes, lots of white and pops of bright, but your life–or your budget–is in the land of brick and brownstone, head south a bit and you'll find that this chic duplex, asking $1.45M, might be just right. While this two-bedroom condo at 349 16th Street in Park Slope may not be super-spacious–it comes in at just under 1,000 square feet–a 300-square-foot private wrap-around patio definitely adds more to life than just square footage. For a single person or couple seeking enough room for frequent guests, the layout really clicks; it could also work as a starter home for a young family that can't yet claim the adjective "growing," or empty nesters-to-be with a frequently-visiting fledgling.
See more upstairs, downstairs and outside

Distinctive Homes

May 16, 2016

New Studies Show Historic Preservation Doesn’t Cause Gentrification Woes

The city's preservation groups have reported that the results of a series of studies, prompted by the 50th anniversary of the city's Landmarks Law, have put some numbers behind the claim that landmarking doesn't harm, and may actually improve, the economic balance of neighborhood development and growth. According to Simeon Bankoff, executive director of the Historic Districts Council, "This is the first time which preservationists–who tend to be from the humanities and subsequently math-averse–have put real data behind anecdotes." The combined reports represent the most comprehensive study to date of the impacts of historic preservation in New York City.
Find out what the numbers say

Policy

Controversial Lower East Side Waterfront May Get Even More Tall Towers

One Manhattan Square on the left, the JDS/SHoP Project in the center. The above image, created by CityRealty, depicts the possible massing of the new towers if built to 50 stories; No official design has been released

May 16, 2016

Controversial Lower East Side Waterfront May Get Even More Tall Towers