6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

By Ondel Hylton and Julian Friedman

In a 1932 article in Modern Mechanix magazine, the design of this three-story Long Island “skyscraper house” was touted as the “latest in homes,” with an all-metal frame and glass walls. What the story doesn’t mention is that this little house in the ‘burbs was designed as a case study home by noted architects Albert Frey (who spent his early years in Le Corbusier's studio) and A. Lawrence Kocher. Known as the Aluminaire House, this diminutive dwelling is among the earliest examples of European-inspired modern architecture in the eastern U.S.. It was included by Philip Johnson in a MoMA exhibit in 1931 that later became the manifesto for the International Style of architecture–one of only six American buildings in the show to exemplify the style. With the Coachella music festival in the recent spotlight, visions of Palm Springs-style desert homes have been popping up at every turn, and though this little skyscraper house couldn't be further away geographically, its co-creator Albert Frey is known for establishing the "desert modernism" style exemplified in those iconic Palm Springs homes. And as with many ideas in the ultra-creative 1930s, the construction of this Modernist gem in 1931 was well ahead of its time.
Find out more about the story and future of Aluminaire House

Architecture And Design

April 25, 2016

First Look StudiosC’s Bed Stuy Rental Underway at 1875 Atlantic Avenue

Over the next decade, Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue will likely continue its transformation from high-speed deathtrap to high-density residential boulevard. With more than a dozen projects already taking shape near its western extents, such as the 16-tower Pacific Park project, Cobble Hill's LICH redevelopment, and a pair of towers at Brooklyn Bridge Park, it's not difficult to imagine infill developments progressing eastward, rising from the acres of underutilized land along the ten-mile artery. And in East New York, the City Council just approved a rezoning of the neighborhood that allows for 10- to 14-story apartment blocks to rise along Atlantic Avenue. In Bedford-Stuyvesant, in between the two much-discussed areas, StudiosC Architects has crafted an eight-story apartment block at 1875 Atlantic Avenue, which will contain 118 rental units.
Get all the details on the building

April 25, 2016

Tricked Out Reno by DB Studio Features Six-Story Staircase, Basketball Court and Home Theater

Renovated by Studio DB, this single-family Manhattan dwelling is a modern design modeled after the needs of a young family where a massive section of the house is dedicated to entertainment and recreation—perfect for keeping three young boys out of trouble. The building dates back to 1888, and its rich history creates a contrasting backdrop for the home's contemporary and functional design. The structure was once a grocery distribution center and has been transformed into an opulent living space designed around a continuous stair atrium that visually and physically connects the home's six above- ground levels. The layout also maximizes daylight within, and the effect is amplified by two large skylights and the upper level's glass flooring.
Check it all out

April 25, 2016

Award-Winning Contemporary Townhouse on the Columbia Street Waterfront Asks $3M

The Columbia Street Waterfront is a quiet and historic waterfront enclave, just west of Cobble Hill, that's filled with small businesses and lined with cobblestone streets. Despite it's old-time Brooklyn vibe, it's home to at least one very contemporary townhouse at 48 Tiffany Place. The single-family, three-story home underwent a reno in 2013 and recently won the Remodelista Considered Design Award for its unique and dramatic interior.
See more

Distinctive Homes

April 25, 2016

An Architect’s Guide to ‘Game of Thrones;’ Biking in NYC for Nervous Nellies

Go on an architectural tour through “Game of Thrones” Seven Kingdoms and beyond. [Architizer] A nervous biker’s guide to cycling in NYC. [NYT] Here’s the first renderings of Rafael Viñoly’s new office building/car dealership in Hell’s Kitchen. [Curbed] Say goodbye to taxi cab partitions. [NYP] Gowanus’ Whole Foods-adjacent Coignet Building has finally shed its sidewalk shed and construction […]

Uncategorized

April 25, 2016

VIDEO: Visit ’93 New York City in High-Tech HD

Ancient history doesn't look like it used to. Instead of grainy footage or shaky home video, we can enjoy this pretty early demo HD video to reminisce about streets filled with people who weren't looking at little tiny screens. Remember those days? This 1993 video takes a wander through a few of the city's favorite photo ops (Times Square, Central Park, the East Village and the East Third Street Hell's Angels' back yard).
Watch the video

History

April 25, 2016

FiDi Residents Get the Largest Tax Returns in the City, According to the IRS

It's time for Uncle Sam to start writing tax refund checks, and according to the IRS he'll be shelling out the most in the Financial District. As the Post reports, "One-percenters living in the Financial District have the highest taxable income, the biggest tax bills and get the largest refunds in New York City." Though zip codes 10012 and 10013 (which make up parts of the West Village, Soho, Tribeca and the Lower East Side) are the most expensive in terms of real estate, it's FiDi's 10005 that is the richest in terms of earnings. The average annual taxable income for residents here is $948,979, and they pay $254,835 in taxes and get refunded $74,079.
Which other neighborhoods topped the list?

City Living

Live Near the Newly Opened High Bridge for $975/Month

Photo by Shinya Suzuki / Flickr

April 25, 2016

Live Near the Newly Opened High Bridge for $975/Month

The latest in a wave of recent affordable housing lotteries includes six buildings in the Bronx -- three in High Bridge, right near the newly opened and much-hyped overpass, and three farther east in Soundview. All together there are 20 newly constructed units up for grabs (though it's not clear how many are at each address), ranging from $975/month studios to $1,709/month three-bedrooms.
More details ahead

Affordable Housing

Distinctive Homes

Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi lists Chelsea condo for $5.9M

Bethenny Frankel lists her Bridgehampton property for $6M

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

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

Andy Cohen lists West Village duplex for $14M

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

From rental income to solar panels, this $3.5M Bed-Stuy brownstone checks all the boxes

For $1.5M, get (way) off the grid in Gilded Age style on your own private island in Alexandria Bay

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

This $1.5M Ansonia Court co-op is an old-school classic loft in prime Park Slope

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April 24, 2016

CCS Architecture’s Watermill Residence Is a Modernist Starter Home in the Hamptons

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

If you think the Hamptons is only for Hollywood stars who can afford the glitz and glamour of life, you might want to look at the summertime playground's hidden gems like CCS Architecture's Watermill Residence. The modest retreat was designed for a developer who wanted to sell property to new buyers at a moderate price level. A perfect starter home, it offers a down-to-earth vibe thanks to the architects' simplicity and casual modernist taste.
Learn more about this casual retreat

Architecture And Design

April 23, 2016

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks From the 6sqft Staff

LPC Approves Brooklyn’s First 1,000+ Foot Tower; New Renderings and Details Donald Trump’s Failed and Fraught Attempt to Own the Empire State Building SHoP’s East River Towers Named American Copper Buildings; Go Inside Their Skybridge Live Across the Street From Michelle Williams in Ditmas Park for $679K How Long Should You Wait For the Subway […]

Uncategorized

April 22, 2016

Marc Jacobs President Lists Fashion-Forward Village Townhouse for $17M

One of several fabulous and fancy Greenwich Village townhouses owned by Marc Jacobs' friend and business partner Robert Duffy is back on the market. Duffy purchased the 3,800-square-foot, four-story 1839 brick home at 62 West 12th Street for $10.25 million in 2013. The brick beauty has been thoroughly modernized with attention paid to the aesthetics and function of every detail, from the massive steel-framed glass wall separating the ground floor from the rear garden to the fact that there’s an elevator to get you there from upstairs. Despite having all the comforts of home, the house has retained much of its architectural integrity and pre-war charm.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

April 22, 2016

Artist Hopes to Raise $25K to Build a Pedestrian Bridge from Red Hook to Governors Island

From her back window on Columbia Street in Brooklyn, artist Nancy Nowacek could see Governors Island and Buttermilk Channel (the strait connecting Brooklyn to the island), and it seemed incredibly close. In fact, it's the equivalent of only about four city blocks away. So since 2012, Nowacek has been working on her vision of building Citizen Bridge over New York Harbor, a floating modular pedestrian bridge over the 1,400-foot span from Red Hook to Governor's Island. In what is currently planned as a one-day-only event, she sees Citizen Bridge as a completely new way to experience New York City harbor, rather than seeing it from the shore, from a bridge above, or from a boat. As noted by Mental Floss, Nowacek has turned to Kickstarter to raise money for a pilot phase. The project's goal of $25,000 would fund a proof-of-concept, which is the final phase before launching for real. So far, they've prototyped seven bridge designs in full-scale sections.
Find out more about this plan to walk on water

Architecture And Design

April 22, 2016

Live in a Swanky Former East Village Synagogue for $30K a Month

Just in time for Passover, this historic East Village synagogue turned residence has reappeared on the rental market. Known as the 8th Street Shul, there was a long battle to keep the building preserved as a synagogue after it was damaged by a fire in 1982. Ultimately, the building, at 317 East 8th Street, was turned over to real estate interests and converted into a single-family luxury home. It's been on the rental market before, asking $25,000 a month, and now it's back at a higher price.
Some of the synagogue details remain

April 22, 2016

Construction Update: Perch Harlem, NYC’s First Market-Rate Passive House, Shows Some Skin

By Ondel Hylton

Work on the city's first market-rate Passive House, Perch Harlem, is moving apace, and just in time for Earth Day, a bit of construction netting was taken down, giving passersby a glimpse of its super-insulated white exterior (good for heat deflection) and seamless rectangular windows. The seven-story structure rises midblock at 542 West 153rd Street and recently topped out in January. When finished later this year, its 34 units will boast superior workmanship, low energy bills and exceptional indoor air quality. The project's developers, the Synapse Development Group with Taurus Investment Holdings, purchased the 10,000-square-foot former parking lot back in 2013 and have been growing their Perch brand of buildings that strive to provide environmentally low-impact living and community-oriented design.
READ MORE

April 22, 2016

Karim Rashid’s Bump Is an All-In-One Charging Device That Can’t Get Tangled

By Ondel Hylton and Julian Friedman

Being away from a power cord or charger has become a source of great anxiety, and colorful product designer/architect Karim Rashid has a new device to solve some of the problems associated with our cord-ridden lives. He and partners Richard Smiedt and Phil King recently created a new company called Push and Shove. Their first product is called Bump, a wall charger and power bank that includes a one-meter cable housed perfectly in a compact frame, eliminating the tangled mess of power cords. It's bulbous shape is reflective of Rashid's longline of "blobjects," a term he coined to describe his effort to soften our physical landscape.
More on Bump

April 22, 2016

First Look at StudiosC’s Boutique Condominium Underway at 187 Bridge Street

Within Downtown Brooklyn's detached island of urbanity between the Manhattan Bridge on-ramp and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, local architecture firm StudiosC has designed a modestly scaled, ground-up condominium at the corner of Bridge and Nassau Streets. Re-approved plans filed by the architect of record Karl Fischer detail an eight-story building with 12,000 square feet of gross floor area.
More details ahead

April 22, 2016

The Met Struggles While MoMA Gets $100M; Illustrated Bodega Cats

This week, MoMA received a $100 million gift for an expansion and renovation, while the Met owned up to serious financial issues and possible staff cuts, a sign of today’s preference for contemporary art. [NYT] A Bed-Stuy artist created an illustrated series of bodega cats around Brooklyn. [DNAinfo] Germany installed traffic lights on the ground to prevent […]

Uncategorized

Looking at New York’s Growing Collection of LEED and Passive House Constructions

By Diane Pham

While other parts of the country continue to debate the validity of climate change, architects and developers in New York City have been ramping up their sustainability cred and erecting buildings that think beyond ROI. From luxury condos to public housing to individual homes, green buildings are on the rise across the city. Ahead, CityRealty goes over what it […]

April 22, 2016

Spotlight: The Wall Street Journal’s Jason Gay Talks Sports and Rules for Life in NYC

By Susan Cohen

New Yorkers tend to have go-to writers who they read day in and day out -- with their morning coffee, on the subway, or winding down after a long day. For many, Jason Gay is on this team of journalists. As a sports columnist for The Wall Street Journal, he regularly provides sports coverage, insights, and opinions for the paper's readership. He writes extensively about specific players and teams, but also pens features that touch upon the human aspects and humor that can be found on and off the court. Jason has become known for his funny rule-centric columns, including the very popular "The 32 Rules of Thanksgiving Touch Football" and "The 27 Rules of Conquering the Gym." This passion for rules took shape as a book, "Little Victories: Perfect Rules for Imperfect Living," which takes seemingly banal topics -- parenthood, exercise, office life, travel, and the holidays -- and celebrates how the smallest accomplishments in life are often the most meaningful. 6sqft recently spoke to Jason about sports, writing for the Journal, and how "Yankees World Championships are like real estate closings."
Read the interview with Jason

April 22, 2016

Rendering, Details Revealed for Glassy Condos Replacing Streit’s Matzo Factory

If you're getting ready for this evening's seder, you've likely picked up a box of matzo, and chances are pretty good that your unleavened bread comes from Streit's. For 90 years the company produced matzo at the rate of almost 900 pounds an hour at 150 Rivington Street, but in early 2015 news hit that the country's last family-owned matzo factory would be relocating to Rockland County. Developer Cogswell Realty bought the site for $31 million, embarking on plans for a condominium, and today, ironically timed with the first day of Passover, the first rendering of the project has been revealed. The image was published in a New York Times article about Lower East Side institutions being replaced by condos. Design-build firm Gluck+ are the architects, and they've created a fairly standard, seven-story, glass box with some planted terraces along the top-floor setbacks. Though the design lacks any reference to the iconic business, the developers have said they plan to include Streit's memorabilia in the lobby.
This way for pricing details

April 21, 2016

100architects Propose a Vertical Park Made of Stacked Glass Pods for Times Square

Shanghai-based architecture firm 100architects noticed how New Yorkers are always trying to get out of Times Square as fast as possible, which made them wonder if there was a way to engage people in the urban setting without them having to deal with the chaos at street level. That's where their proposal for Vertical Times comes in (h/t Architizer). The 180-foot-tall tower is a stack of six cylindrical glass pods along a central column that "multiplies the intended space for public recreation in a vertical way." Within these spaces would be a carousel, ball pit, hammock plaza, sky garden, restaurant, and bar.
Get the rest of the details

Architecture And Design

April 21, 2016

$1.4M Co-op in Jackie Onassis’ UES Childhood Building Looks Exactly Like You’d Imagine

It doesn't get much more classic Upper East Side than this two-bedroom, sixth-floor co-op on a quietly elegant street just off Park Avenue. The limestone-anchored 1928 building at 125 East 74th Street, designed by Lafayette A. Goldstone, as the NY Post informs us, was the early childhood home of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Unit 6A in this pretty prewar building is on the market for $1.39 million. Famous associations aside, the gracious layout of the apartment, which started out having eight rooms and was reconfigured to its current five-room state, looks to be a pretty good deal for the price given its size and location.
See more of this elegant aerie

April 21, 2016

Ansonia Loft With Exposed Wood Beams and Big Brick-Framed Windows Asks $1.9M

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

While keeping its turn-of-the-century industrial charm, this three-bedroom duplex loft was given an architect's renovation, with both details and space arranged to accommodate modern family life. The Ansonia Court Clock Factory at 420 12th Street may be a loft among the brownstones of Park Slope, but the co-op complex is a favorite in the area. A pretty central courtyard, warm-yet-industrial loft apartments and a laid-back, convenient South Slope location make homes here unique and sought-after. Residents generally put their own stamp on their own brick-clad lofts, and this three-bedroom duplex is no exception. The $1.9 million price tag does seem like a lot for the real space, and the co-op lacks the amenities of a full-service building, but people truly love the Ansonia's charm, so we're guessing this duplex will do pretty well.
Explore the lovely loft

Distinctive Homes

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week – 4/21-4/24

Image via Chinatown Soup

April 21, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week – 4/21-4/24

By Lori Zimmer

Image via Chinatown Soup 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! This week, check out the latest hotel to get turned onto art when London's Pure Evil starts his residency at The Quin, or discover tomorrow's art star at Hunter's MFA exhibition. Julia Biasi brings her energetic paintings to Brilliant Champions, Chinatown Soup opens up for a panel discussion, and Jasmin Charles starts a residency at Catinca Tabacaru (with a lot of performances and programming). Go big and take the train to Hudson for 24-Drone, an immersive sound experience, or dedicate your Saturday night to the Guggenheim, where Matthew Barney, Fischerspooner and Elmgreen & Dragset will join others to discuss pairings. Round it out with a chance to learn pottery throwing (while drinking) for a good cause.
more on all the best events this way

Events & Things To Do

April 21, 2016

First Domino Sugar Refinery Tower at 325 Kent Avenue Now Rising Above Williamsburg

By Ondel Hylton

After breaking ground last spring, the first tower of Two Trees' three million-square-foot Domino Sugar Refinery Master Plan has finally lifted out of the ground. Addressed 325 Kent Avenue (Site E), the 400,000-square-foot building rises one block inland from the East River waterfront and the remaining five parcels of the master plan. The future 16-story, 189-foot-tall project covers three-quarters of its block bound by Kent and Wythe Avenues and South 3rd and 4th Streets. All in all, the two-winged tower will hold a whopping 522 rental units, making it the second largest residential building in Williamsburg after the also-in-construction 2 North 6th Street.
Find out more about the development

April 21, 2016

‘Gilmore Girls’ Alexis Bledel and ‘Mad Men’ Hubby Sell Brooklyn Heights Penthouse for $1.3M

By Annie Doge

The media frenzy surrounding the "Gilmore Girls" Netflix revival is hard at work trying to predict which love interest Rory will end up with. In real life, though, Alexis Bledel is already settled down with husband Vincent Kartheiser (Pete Campbell from "Mad Men"), and the pair just unloaded their classy Brooklyn Heights co-op, according to the Post. The couple first listed the duplex penthouse at 105 Montague Street last year for $1,560,000, slightly higher than the $1,325,000 sale price. The one-bedroom spread with a 500-square-foot roof deck was meticulously renovated and boasts lots of custom built-ins, a myriad of eclectic light fixtures, and a very Restoration Hardware-esque furniture selection.
See the whole place

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VIEW ALL

April 21, 2016

Nola Money Jar Is Stylish Home Decor that Helps You Save Both Cash and Coin

Everybody knows that New York City is an expensive place to live, and collecting coins will help to put every cent to good use. However, in order to save some real dough, paper bills need to be a part of the mix, and these decorative money jars, also known as Nola, from Italian product designer Giulio Iacchetti account for both coins and bank notes.
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April 21, 2016

Enjoy the Sunlight Inside and Out at This $1M Clinton Hill Co-op

By Ondel Hylton and Julian Friedman

If you're the type of apartment dweller who wants their living space flooded in light, look no further than this Clinton Hill co-op at 451 Clinton Avenue. The two-bedroom unit comes from a prewar, landmarked building that offers gracious floorplans with nice big rooms. Large windows are nearly everywhere you turn, with views out onto the treetops. This apartment is probably looking picture-perfect with the sun out in full force this week.
See the interior

Distinctive Homes

April 21, 2016

Checking in on Adam America’s Trio of Developments on a Single Boerum Hill Block

At the southern edge of Boerum Hill, where the quaint brownstone enclave meets Park Slope and Gowanus, a trio of sleek residential buildings is taking shape by developer Adam America Real Estate. Along a single block, bound by Third and Fourth Avenues and Baltic and Warren Streets, the Brooklyn-centric firm is busy constructing a 31-unit condo building at Six Ten Warren, a 70-unit rental at 595 Baltic Street, and a 21-unit rental 577 Baltic Street. 6sqft visited the block to see how construction is progressing and put together all the renderings and details for the projects.
Check it all out right here

April 21, 2016

The Making of New York’s Greenest School; Floorplans of Your Favorite TV Shows

A Tim Burton-themed bar called Beetle House is opening in the East Village. [EV Grieve] Bjarke Ingels named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People. [ArchDaily] PS 62 on Staten Island’s South Shore is the city’s first net-zero-energy school, one of the first of its kind in the country. See how SOM designed the structure. [Medium] […]

Uncategorized

April 20, 2016

SHoP’s East River Towers Named American Copper Buildings; Go Inside Their Skybridge

We've been referring to SHoP Architects' pair of East River rental buildings at 626 First Avenue as the "dancing towers," but now that they've shimmied up to their full 470- and 540-foot heights, they've been officially named with a more mature moniker, the American Copper Buildings. First reported by Curbed, the title is "a nod to the 5,000 metal panels that make up the facade," which weigh in at a whopping 2,100 tons. In addition, developer JDS has released a teaser site and a fresh set of renderings that finally show the interior of the three-story, amenity-filled skybridge.
Get a look inside

April 20, 2016

How Long Should You Wait For the Subway Before Giving Up?

To wait or not to wait, that is the question that engineer Erik Bernhardsson answered in his recent analysis of the MTA's real-time API. In his post titled NY Subway Math he determined that if you're in a hurry, you should only wait for a train to arrive for 11 minutes (h/t Technically). At this point, the chance that there's a serious delay begins to rise. As he notes, "The interesting conclusion is that after about five minutes, the longer you wait, the longer you will have to wait. If you waited for 15 minutes, the median additional waiting time is another 8 minutes. But 8 minutes later if the train still hasn’t come, the median additional waiting time is now another 12 minutes.”
More on the conclusion

April 20, 2016

Skyline Wars: Brooklyn Enters the Supertall Race

By Carter B. Horsley

Carter Uncut brings New York City’s latest development news under the critical eye of resident architecture critic Carter B. Horsley. Here, Carter brings us his fifth installment of “Skyline Wars,” a series that examines the explosive and unprecedented supertall phenomenon that is transforming the city’s silhouette. In this post Carter looks at Brooklyn's once demure skyline, soon to be Manhattan's rival. Downtown Brooklyn has had a modest but pleasant skyline highlighted by the 350-foot-high Court & Remsen Building and the 343-foot-high great ornate terraces of 75 Livingston Street, both erected in 1926, and the 462-foot-high flat top of the 1927 Montague Court Building. The borough’s tallest building, however, was the great 514-foot-high dome of the 1929 Williamsburg Savings Bank Tower, now known as One Hanson Place, a bit removed to the east from Downtown Brooklyn. It remained as the borough’s tallest for a very long time, from 1929 until 2009. A flurry of new towers in recent years has significantly enlarged Brooklyn’s skyline. Since 2008, nine new towers higher than 359 feet have sprouted there, in large part as a result of a rezoning by the city in 2007. A few other towers have also given its riverfront an impressive frontage. Whereas in the past the vast majority of towers were clustered about Borough Hall downtown, now there are several clusters with some around the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the former Williamsburg Savings Bank Tower and some around the Williamsburg riverfront.
more on Brooklyn's skyline here

April 20, 2016

$9.5M LES Carriage House With a Waterfall Was Once the Home of a German Sausage Dynasty

If you think the Lower East Side has turned into a big sausage party, check out this listing–you'll see it's nothing new. The unassuming brick building at 170 Eldridge Street has written in peeling paint across the top of one of the loading bays "Office of / S. Oppenheimer" and "S. Oppenheimer." Dating from somewhere between 1875 and 1879, this is considered by some to be the city's oldest painted signage. The sausage casing distributor was started in Chicago by Sigmund Oppenheimer, who emigrated from Mannheim, Germany in 1868 and flourished for nearly a century, with offices worldwide and a New York presence that began in the 1870s at this address and later expanded to 96 Pearl Street and elsewhere in the city. Since 1996, the property has been a rare and fascinating mixed-use townhouse for restaurateur Georges Forgeois, whose enduring establishments (Jules Bistro, Cafe Noir, Bar Tabac) are standout destinations in their respective neighborhoods. Forgeois' brother, Dany, purchased the property in 1996 for $200,000 and later transferred ownership to Georges, according to records, in 2012. The home was listed in November for $12 million and just got a broker change and a price chop to $9.5M.
Find out more and take a look inside

April 20, 2016

Thor/General Growth File Permits to Add New Office Space Atop Fifth Avenue’s Upcoming ‘Coach House’

By Ondel Hylton

Part of its overall marketing plan to reinvent itself, Coach has leased space at 685 Fifth Avenue for a new flagship location to be called "Coach House." As outlined in new DOB filings and renderings, the luxury retailer will occupy a three-story corner portion at the base of the building, amounting to 23,400 square feet. As part of the property's transformation, floor area from the lower levels will be removed and redistributed to the top of the 20-story building, providing five new floors of office space and raising the building's height from 227 feet to 292 feet.
Watch the marketing video for the project

New Developments

April 20, 2016

Nendo’s Minimalist Line of Pet Lifestyle Products Is Designed to Match Your Decor

Nendo, a well-known Japanese design studio, has taken a minimalist approach to the current trend of pet furniture and lifestyle goods that we can't get enough of. Their line of pet products, appropriately titled Cubic Pet Goods includes a dog house, soft toy, ceramic bowls and of course a ball. Each piece in the collection was carefully selected to coincide with dog's need and human's desire for aesthetic quality.
READ MORE

April 20, 2016

Relieve Yourself on a Gold Toilet at the Guggenheim; New York’s Coffee Evolution

Breaking down the $4 billion price tag of the World Trade Center Transportation Hub. [TRD] The city’s new LED streetlights are “robbing nighttime of its romance.” [NY Mag] Famed artist Maurizio Cattelan announced his retirement in 2011, but now he’s back with a new sculpture — a solid-gold toilet that will be installed for actual use […]

Uncategorized

April 20, 2016

POLL: Would You Be Okay With the MTA Installing Audio Surveillance?

Have you ever noticed those signs on a train or bus that say “video and audio systems in use?” If not, you might want to start paying closer attention, because the notifications are actually warning you, the rider. NPR took a closer look at the use of video and audio surveillance on public transportation, the latter of […]

April 20, 2016

‘Wolf of Wall Street’ Apartment With a Tricked-Out Private Garage Asks $25M

By Ondel Hylton and Dana Schulz

This Tribeca property isn't the kind that hits the market everyday. It belongs to Alan Wilzig, who was a character in "The Wolf of Wall Street," introducing Leonardo DiCaprio's character to the woman who becomes his wife. Wilzig is an entrepreneur and semi-professional racecar driver, meaning that his three-story, 6,500-square-foot condo at 7 Hubert Street comes with a very tricked-out garage. This unit has been on and off the market since 2014, asking as much as $44 million, and now it's down to $24,885,000.
Take a tour

Distinctive Homes

April 19, 2016

LPC Approves Brooklyn’s First 1,000+ Foot Tower; New Renderings and Details

Brooklyn is finally getting a new skyscraper development worthy of its 2.6 million populace. Today, the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved SHoP Architects' vision for 9 DeKalb Avenue, a rehabilitation of the landmarked Dime Saving Bank that will marry it with a dramatic, supertall skyscraper behind, the first 1,000+ foot building to arrive in the borough. The Beaux-Arts banking hall, which is both an interior and exterior landmark, hosted a J.P. Morgan Chase branch up until last year. Now, its new owners, Michael Stern's JDS Development and the Chetrit Group, plan to transform the hall into a public and retail space that will complement their new tower. To bring back more of the building's grandeur, its exterior and interior spaces will be restored, and to accommodate the tower behind, the team is calling for the demolition of two nondescript one- and five-story rear annexes, which will then allow for a grand entrance to the skyscraper and a public through-space. The LPC was enamored with the project, calling it "flawless" and "enlightened urbanism at its best," as well as touting that it "improved the vision of this historic landmark." One commissioner even went so far as to say "It's similar to the Parthenon sitting on the Acropolis." The LPC had only a few minor modifications, the most notable being that the teller cages be retained until the team can show a plan detailing how the retail tenant (there will only be one) will use the space.
Get a look at all the presentation materials

April 19, 2016

Live the Park Slope Brownstone Life in This Regal Rental for $17.5K/Month, Sauna Included

In the coveted environs of north Park Slope, steps from Prospect Park on a pretty tree-lined and landmarked block, this Brooklyn townhouse beauty at 594 Second Street has all the historic details homeowners here work so diligently to preserve, yet with every modern comfort in place. Understated luxuries–like tall french doors that open out to a landscaped garden, two decks, three wood-burning fireplaces, a sauna, an upstairs family room and a laundry room make this historic house a home–albeit an expensive one. Starting in July, you can rent this regal residence for an equally regal $17,500 a month (furnished or unfurnished).
Tour the townhouse

April 19, 2016

Yankees Commentator and Former Pitcher David Cone Scores $8M Greenwich Lane Pad

By Annie Doge

David Cone, former MLB pitcher (you might remember that perfect game he threw for the Yankees in '99) and current Yankees commentator for the YES Network, has scored an $8.1 million apartment at the Greenwich Lane, according to city records. This is slightly up from the $7.97 million ask. The four-bedroom spread takes up more than 2,800 square feet and features a private balcony, beamed ceilings, northern and southern exposures, and a luxurious master suite.
Check out the impressive floorplan

April 19, 2016

Spring House Tour Round Up: 10 Chances to Get Inside the Most Spectacular Residences!

It's finally time to start planning outdoor activities, and what better way to enjoy spring in NYC than strolling around picturesque neighborhoods while getting a special look inside some of their most spectacular dwellings. House tour season is kicking off on May 1st with the Greenwich Village Society's annual event, followed by nine other tours from standard historic house 'hoods like Fort Greene and Park Slope to more under-the-radar gems like the secret gardens of Hoboken and the Victorian beauties of Flatbush. Whatever your budget and preferred architectural style, there's a tour for you ahead.
All the house tour info ahead

April 19, 2016

This Map Visualizes Manhattan As a (Unimpressive) Mountain

The Manhattan skyline is inarguably getting taller and taller, and when we look up at the towering behemoths surrounding us, it's easy to feel completely dwarfed. But this man-made landscape pales in comparison to the soaring heights of many natural wonders. That's where this cool visualization from Vivid Maps comes in. "If Manhattan was a mountain..." uses the height of the city's buildings and plots them as a mountain topography map, using actual geologic monikers like Greenwich Valley, One World Trade Center Peak, and Bellevue Plateau. As you can see, save for the Financial District and Billionaires' Row areas, Manhattan mountain is actually quite unimpressive.
Get a look a the full map

Uncategorized

Spring + Thompson

83 Thompson Street

Soho

Loft-like residences in Soho designed by Selldorf Architects

2 beds starting at $4,975,000
4 beds starting at $14,850,000

Learn More

April 19, 2016

Creator of the Lowline Designed a Secret Door in This Sleek Tribeca Rental

James Ramsey is the man behind Raad Studio, the design firm well known for its proposal to build out the Lowline on the Lower East Side. The firm is also known for its kooky, unique interiors, and it's given this two-bedroom apartment at Tribeca's 151 Hudson Street plenty of personality. Prewar details are paired with contemporary features like a glass-walled wet bar, built-in shelving, and even a custom bookcase that hides a secret door into one of the bedrooms.
Check it out

Distinctive Homes

April 19, 2016

26 Bushwick Homes to Be Vacated During M Train Work; Can You Legally Take Selfies While Voting?

This website turns your Instagram photos into customized adult coloring books. [Mashable] Dozens of Bushwick homes will have to be vacated for six to 10 months for work on the M train line. The MTA says it “provide suitable accommodations, relocation assistance and compensation.” [DNAinfo] The history of the Forward Building–from labor citadel to luxury condos. [Forward] […]

Uncategorized

April 19, 2016

Transport Beer on Your Bike With This Hip Leather Growler Satchel

For many New Yorkers bicycles are their main mode of transportation, and with the summer months ahead we welcome any addition to the bike-arsenal that'll help us stay cool, and in this case also look cool. This hip leather satchel from Pedal Happy Designs makes it super easy to transport your favorite growler anywhere in the city -- bikes and beers here we come!
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April 19, 2016

Jessica Chastain’s Lovely Greenwich Village Duplex Now on the Market for $1.8M

By Annie Doge

Jessica Chastain put her former digs at 250 Mercer Street on the rental market for $11,500 a month back in September. But it looks like now she's trying to unload the Greenwich Village duplex for good, as the Observer reports that the apartment has been re-listed for sale at $1.8 million. Chastain bought the 1,284-square-foot home in 2012 for $1.2 million, so she's not turning that much of a profit, but considering she bought a $5.1 million residence at the historic Osborne last year (that once belonged to Leonard Bernstein), we'd say this isn't much of an issue.
Take a tour

April 19, 2016

Annual Subway Ridership Hits 1.7 Billion, Highest Since 1948