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The Hamptons are increasingly a hotbed for crazy real estate offerings, from Andy Warhol's recently listed former compound now selling for $85 million to the teeny tiny trailer in Amagansett asking $1.2 million earlier this year. But now NPR reports that there's an 840-acre island just off the tip of Long Island complete with miles and miles of untouched shoreline, acres of undeveloped woods, a lighthouse and a ferry terminal that could go for as much as $1 billion when it hits the auction block. Oh, yes, and it's also contaminated with foot-and-mouth disease.
Find out more here

Distinctive Homes

September 8, 2015

See Brooklyn Before and After Gentrification in This New Photo Series

Brooklyn's hipsterization is pretty much widely accepted as fact at this point, but still not a day goes by without some article, essay or artwork pointing to how the neighborhood has lost its authenticity. The latest photo series to emerge documenting the substitution of the borough's street cred for artisinal goods and overpriced organic cocktails is Kristy Chatelain's "Brooklyn Changing." Though Chatelain isn't quite what you'd call a longtime New Yorker—she moved to Greenpoint from New Orleans in 2006—unlike the rants of her fellow new-era Brooklynites who bemoan how different things are since they moved in, her series comes off as a thoughtful study in just how quickly things changed in North Brooklyn over just five years.
More photos here

September 8, 2015

Hedge Fund Tycoon May Be the Buyer of $200M Penthouse at 220 Central Park South

We first got wind of the potentially record-setting penthouse listing at 220 Central Park South back in March, when it was reported that the unit could sell for between $150 and $175 million. In June, sources said that a Qatari billionaire was looking to combine multiple apartments in the Robert A.M. Stern-designed building to create a $250 million mega-penthouse. Then last month, the Post speculated that another high-profile buyer was Ken Griffin, the billionaire hedge fun tycoon who is currently in the midst of a messy divorce from wife Anne Dias-Griffin (she's asking for $1 million a month in child support). Now the paper reveals that it's Griffin who's looking to snatch up the $200 million+ penthouse in what's being called the "billionaire's bunker."
More details this way

Real Estate Trends

September 8, 2015

Handcrafted Organic Materials Meet Seamless Smart Home Tech in This $5.4M Village Loft

Loft lovers and perfectionists will covet this sprawling Greenwich Village condominium at 8 East 12th Street; it's both spacious and luxurious, boasting handcrafted organic materials in custom-designed interiors and switched-on, "smart home" creature comforts high and low. For your $5.4 million, you're getting location (near just about all the reasons you'd want to live downtown) and 2,330 square feet of painstakingly-created space for you to move in and enjoy. The current setup offers two bedrooms and 2.5 baths, but there's enough space here for any combination–and all the bells and whistles are already installed.
Take a look around...

Distinctive Homes

September 8, 2015

The Nordstrom Tower Loses Its Spire; What Parents Should Consider When Buying or Renting in NYC

The Nordstrom Tower will no longer have a spire. Sans the architectural adornment, its height will now reach 1,550 feet. [Curbed] So you’ve decided that urban living is right for your family? Here are some things to consider when looking for a place to buy or rent. [BrickUnderground] A glass shortage is sending construction costs sky-high and causing […]

Real Estate Trends

September 8, 2015

Hand-Printed Poster of the Empire State Building Is a History Lesson and Art Piece in One

The Empire State Building has a long and torrid history and is arguably the most iconic piece of New York Architecture to date, with both native New Yorkers and tourists alike looking to the towering mega-structure as a symbol of man's ingenuity and achievement. That being said, who wouldn't want to adorn their walls with this cool graphic poster of the Empire State Building from designer Taylor Doolittle? In addition to an illustration of the cherished building, this poster will fill your days with useful trivia, as it also includes a slew of facts about the building's history and legacy.
Find out how to get your own print

September 8, 2015

Soren Rose Studio’s Tribeca Loft Interior Design Contrasts the Old and New of New York City

When approached with the redesign of a Tribeca loft, the architects at Soren Rose Studio found themselves with the ideal canvas to work their magic. Perfectly primed with large windows, double height ceilings and plenty of square footage to flex their creativity, they used the generous space to fashion a playful, fresh take on contemporary New York City style. Here, white walls and lightly colored wood flooring run throughout the space enhancing the home's open airy feel, while the monochromatic space is broken up by boldly colored accent walls, modern furniture and painterly graphic artwork.
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Distinctive Homes

September 8, 2015

Historic Brooklyn Heights Site May Be Redeveloped Into 40-Story Condominium

By Ondel Hylton

Concept studies by the design firm SRA Architecture + Engineering (SRAA+E) reveal that an existing five-story commercial building in Downtown Brooklyn may be redeveloped into a dramatic retail and condominium tower. The prominent 19,000-square-foot, triangular site at 205 Montague Street is located at the gateway of Brooklyn Heights and currently holds a 1960s-era marble and glass office-retail building that was picked up by Joseph Cayre's Midtown Equities back in 2010. In 2012, the development firm filed permits doubling the building's size, envisioning a 100-unit residence that would convert the structure's three upper levels into apartments and add another six stories above. The permits, also filed by SRAA+E, were never approved, but in 2012 an insider told the Brooklyn Eagle, “an awful lot more can be built than what's in the Buildings Department plans." Midtown Equities, who is also busy rebuilding the Empire Stores in Brooklyn Bridge Park, could not be reached for comment.
Find out more about this possible project

Distinctive Homes

Bethenny Frankel lists her Bridgehampton property for $6M

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

Every inch of this $1.8M Fieldston home was hand-crafted by an artist resident

An artist's Upper East Side condo is a palace-sized riot of joyful color for $8.75M

This $25M Greenwich Village townhouse has been an artist's refuge for well over a century

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

For $25M, a Flatiron penthouse in a golden cupola, with Manhattan at your feet

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

For $1.45M, this barrel-fronted Bay Ridge home offers three floors for living and lots of outdoor space

$4.5M Central Park West duplex in Hotel des Artistes gets color just right

VIEW ALL

September 8, 2015

Elegant and Historic Carnegie Hill Townhouse Asks $7.45 Million

Carnegie Hill, a neighborhood of the Upper East Side, is known for its good bones—much of the area lies within historic districts and is dominated by brownstones, townhouses, mansions and museums. This particular property, at 121 East 91st Street, is located on a leafy and residential block of impressive architecture. The townhouse, built at the turn of the century, is no less impressive. It's been well-maintained from the outside and well-modernized from within. It is now on the market for $7.45 million after selling for $4.4 million back in 2003.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

September 8, 2015

What It’s Like to Ride the Subway for 14 Hours; City’s First Food and Drink Museum to Open in Williamsburg

Mapping the 900 million Wi-Fi signals in the world’s biggest cities. [Business Insider] The Museum of Food and Drink is opening its first permanent space, called Mofad Lab, in Williamsburg this October. [NY Times] Here’s what it’s like to the ride the longest known subway route — 54.6 miles, 54 transfers, 13 hours and 48 minutes. [WNYC] Time Warner […]

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Rendering of the revamped Tin Building via SHoP Architects

September 8, 2015

New South Street Seaport Will Be the City’s Next Foodie Destination by 2017

Perhaps spearheaded by the Smorgasburg foodie culture, putting multiple local food vendors in one place has become a recipe for success in NYC development projects. There's the Hudson Eats food hall at office-filled Brookfield Place, the forthcoming food court by Anthony Bourdain at Pier 57, Danny Meyer's possible giant food hall at Hudson Yards, the 55-vendor Dekalb Market Hall planned for Downtown Brooklyn's City Point, and the food hall at Sunset Park's Industry City, to name just a few. So it comes as no surprise that the South Street Seaport redevelopment will boast not one, but two massive food halls. The Post reports that none other than three Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten (ABC Kitchen, the Mercer Kitchen, and JoJo are just a few of his famed restaurants) will be spearheading the foodie revolution at the Howard Hughes Corporation's $1.5 billion mega-development. According to the paper, "The great chef and his business partner Phil Suarez have signed a lease/partnership contract with NYSE-listed Hughes to launch two major Seaport projects — a 40,000 square-foot, seafood-themed marketplace inside the Tin Building and a 10,000 square-foot restaurant in a rebuilt Pier 17." Both are expected to open in 2017.
Find out more right here

September 8, 2015

First Look at the Gibraltar, Newest Addition to the Greenpoint Waterfront

By Heather Cooper Vivares

Another residential building has been called to join the ranks of the Greenpoint waterfront. Located at 160 West Street, the six-story condo is known as the Gibraltar. Permits filed a year ago claimed 13 apartments and 16,198 square feet, but according to developer Saddle Rock Equities, it will house 14 apartments over 20,000 square feet. Designed by architect Joe Eisner, the bulky grey building stands out for its oversized balconies and abundance of rooftop space.
More on the development and new renderings

September 6, 2015

Add This Awesome All-Season Igloo to Your Outdoor Oasis

By Ondel Hylton and Heather Cooper Vivares

We're always seeking out cool ways to escape the city, but we're also constantly on the lookout for items that will enhance our city living—and the Garden Igloo certainly falls within this category. This awesome multipurpose geodesic dome was designed both as a winter garden and a summer canopy. It's lightweight and comes with easy, step-by-step instruction, no tools necessary. What better way to enjoy your outdoor space in the colder months of fall and winter than to be chilling outside in your very own Garden Igloo?
READ MORE

First Look at Rawlings Architects’ 20-Story Mixed-Use Murray Hill Building

Elevation of the new building (L); the current site (R)

September 6, 2015

First Look at Rawlings Architects’ 20-Story Mixed-Use Murray Hill Building

Charles Blaichman’s CB Developers have begun construction on a 20-story mixed-use building directly adjacent to their nearly finished rental tower the Frontier. Located at 210 East 39th Street, the building is designed by Rawlings Architects in conjunction with the grey metal and glass Frontier next door. The project is replacing a small townhouse owned by the Kingdom of Lesotho; the small African country contributed its property as a joint venture with the developers, and they will receive a commercial unit within the building's lower three floors to use as a mission.
More details ahead

September 5, 2015

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks From the 6sqft Staff

Liza Minnelli Makes an $8.4M Sale on Her Upper East Side Apartment Miraculously Unscathed by Time, This Historic Wooden UES Townhouse Seeks Tenants The UWS Apartment Babe Ruth Once Called Home Is Selling for $1.595M Interactive Map Shows Where and When to Find Fall Foliage at Its Peak Taylor Swift May Be the Reason Sir […]

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September 4, 2015

PBDW Architects Add a Dramatic Rear Conservatory to This Greenwich Village Townhouse

The scope of this beautiful Greenwich Village Townhouse renovation, completed back in 2003 by PBDW Architects, was massive, but from what we can see, totally worth it. It included adding complete structural reinforcement and new building systems. Additionally, the home's exterior and interior spaces were fully restored, and a new garden and conservatory was added to the back of the building.
See the full renovation

New Yorker Spotlight: Ira Block Photographs World Treasures for National Geographic

Ira with a camel and a local in the desert of Morocco, © Connor Dugan

September 4, 2015

New Yorker Spotlight: Ira Block Photographs World Treasures for National Geographic

By Susan Cohen

When Ira Block leaves his New York City apartment for work, he might find himself on the way to Bhutan or Mongolia. As a photojournalist who has covered more than 30 stories for National Geographic magazine and National Geographic Traveler, Ira travels the world photographing some of its greatest marvels. He's captured everything from far-off landscapes to people and animals to discoveries made at archaeology sites. In between trips to Asia, Ira spends time photographing baseball in Cuba. The project has afforded him the opportunity to catch the country on the cusp of change. His first images showing Cuba's passion for the sport, mixed in with its beautiful but complex landscape, are on display at the Sports Center at Chelsea Piers. We recently spoke with Ira about traveling the globe for work and how his career and passion have shaped his relationship with New York.
Our interview with Ira right this way

For $2.65M This Corner Tribeca Loft Has Classic Bones, Snappy Interiors and Windows Galore

This classic Tribeca loft at 2 Hubert Street gives you a corner spot with walls of windows, a traditional-meets-modern custom renovation, a private elevator, closet space, and great original details reworked to accommodate daily life. Though this is a busy corner near the highway entrance, that description fits much of the neighborhood, and, in a way, it adds to the unique industrial feel when taken together with these big-shouldered loft buildings. Built in 1890, 2 Hubert–also known as 151 Hudson Street–is an intimate eight-unit loft condominium building. For $2.65 million, you don't get a lot of space at 1,222 square feet, but the layout could certainly be reconfigured, and it is, indeed, a two-bedroom apartment in Manhattan's most expensive residential neighborhood. And the charmingly updated interiors are a definite plus for anyone who wants to move in and get right down to the business of living.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

September 4, 2015

Infographic: Here’s How Much Every State Contributes to the U.S. Economy

Would you guess that Texas has a bigger or smaller economy than New York? Which state would you say is the smallest contributor to our nation's $17.3 trillion GDP? This fascinating chart created by HowMuch.net breaks down the relative economic value of each state (in 2014 dollars) into one digestible diagram that's sure to start a conversation—if not offer a whole new respect for states like Florida and New Jersey.
Get a more detailed look here

Uncategorized

September 4, 2015

Out in Southampton, a Restored 1740s English Barn Asks $2.4 Million

Forgot Hamptons beach houses–try farmhouses instead. Pictured above is an original 1740s barn that sits on 3.7 acres of land in Sagaponack, a village of Southampton. The structure's intact posts and beams are an example of the traditional English barn design, construction that was brought over by English settlers. The architecture has been meticulously restored and slightly altered to accommodate living spaces. The result? A truly unique residence surrounded by beautiful land and a pool. Start saving your pennies, as it is now on the market asking $2.4 million.
See more

September 4, 2015

Minimal Furniture Gets Dressed Up with Handmade Mexican Textiles by Daniel Valero

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

Architect Daniel Valero recently teamed up with a group of Mexican craftsmen to develop a stylish collection that blends minimal furniture with handmade textiles. Dubbed Mestiz, the line consists of skeletal wooden pieces that are dressed up with textured cloths. In addition to serving as decorative and functional objects, the furniture range provides employment for locals and keeps traditional craft alive.
Learn more about these dressed-up designs

In the 19th Century Men Who Didn’t Pay Alimony Went to the Ludlow Street Jail

Ludlow Street Jail (L) and men playing billiards inside (R), via NYPL

September 4, 2015

In the 19th Century Men Who Didn’t Pay Alimony Went to the Ludlow Street Jail

Public shaming of cheaters was around long before the Ashley Madison scandal. In fact, in the 19th century, men who divorced their wives and didn't pay alimony were sent straight to jail. Atlas Obscura uncovered the fascinating history of the Ludlow Street Jail, New York City's federal prison on Ludlow and Broome Streets. Built in 1862, the jail mostly held debtors, but it also was where men who cheated on their alimony payments ended up, thus turning the "prison" into a glorified clubhouse for divorced men known as the New York Alimony Club. In addition to cigar smoking and unsavory jokes, the Ludlow Street Jail became known for back-door deals, rampant corruption, and the baffling semi-imprisonment of Boss Tweed.
Get the full story

History

September 4, 2015

Which Subway Stations Are the Crappiest?; Pound It to Cross the Street

This map shows the top ten subway stations in each borough with the highest share of “structural components not in state of good repair.” Only 16 percent of the city’s 467 subway stations are considered in good repair. [Gothamist] Here’s what happens when you only eat from NYC street carts for a week. [Thrillist] Instead of pushing […]

Uncategorized

September 3, 2015

Miraculously Unscathed by Time, This Historic Wooden UES Townhouse Seeks Tenants

Townhouses available for rent have a way of seeming decadent and dreamy, the perfect home for a collective of friends or a lucky city family. Their monthly bill is often but a dream for many as well, and this Upper East Side home asking $18,500 a month is no exception; the house itself, however, is quite exceptional. The amazingly preserved home at 120 East 92nd Street, as well as its neighbor at number 122, and a third, a block over at number 160, comprise a trio of wooden houses built between 1859 and 1871, before the city sprung up on all sides. This collection of dainty wooden houses presents an utterly charming shock of nostalgia amid the brick, stone and steel of Manhattan's Upper East. One of the last wood-frame houses to be built in Manhattan, the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission called 120 East 92nd "...a delightful surprise. Time and change have passed it by." But change, in this case, has been good: The three-story, four-bedroom home's longtime owners have renovated it for comfort and livability–and preserved it with the utmost care; it boasts every modern convenience while keeping its historic beauty.
Take a look inside this rare historic home

September 3, 2015

Get All Your Local Foodie News in This New Interactive Map

If you're a regular 6sqft reader you know that real estate and architecture news here in NYC moves at the speed of light. Projects change architects overnight; celebrities are constantly buying and selling their multi-million-dollar pads; and it seems like everyday there's a new development announcement. The gastronomy crowd can make the same claim, though, as restaurants constantly open and close, chefs come in and out, and the food of the moment goes from cronut to fried chicken sandwich in a matter of days. To help foodies stay up on their news, Blockfeed, a news app that uses geographic location to determine one's feed, has created the Food News in NYC map, a five-borough interactive platform that provides local food happenings (h/t DNAinfo). According to the site, "This map frees you to explore the last 60 days of food news in NYC, amounting to roughly 3,000 articles about new restaurants, festivals, pop-ups, nightlife, and more."
More on the map

Food & Dining

September 3, 2015

Here’s How Many Calories You’ll Burn if You Walk, Jog, or Cycle Instead of Taking the Subway

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

Looking to shed a few pounds after all the summer cookouts and outdoor happy hours? Perhaps you should consider ditching the old Metrocard and traveling by foot or bicycle instead. To put into perspective just how fit this will get you, the folks over at Treated have calculated how many calories you'll burn by walking, jogging, and cycling between subway stops. As Curbed notes, the analysis provides calorie info for every single subway stop and also charts the longest stops, which unsurprisingly are mostly over bridges, and the shortest stops, mostly located in lower Manhattan.
See the full map and calorie charts here

THE 6SQFT SHOP

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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

VIEW ALL

September 3, 2015

Law & Order’s Christopher Meloni Sells Midtown Apartment; NY’s Top 10 Building Sales

Karim Rashid‘s former Chelsea townhouse is getting a glamorous update that involves no neon. [NYP] Law & Order star Chris Meloni has finally unloaded his Midtown apartment. The unit at the Park Imperial has been on the market for more than three years. [NYDN] The top ten NY buildings to fetch top dollar. [TRD] Forget […]

Real Estate Trends

September 3, 2015

BSC Architecture’s Graft House Stitches Together a Modern Upside Down Design

This rectangularly shaped house was originally built in the mid-1960s and is situated at the top of a natural knoll in Lloyd Neck, New York. The home's current design could be described as "upside down" since the private bedroom areas are located on the ground floor and the public areas above. Its recent renovation was completed in 2008 by BSC Architecture and was cleverly named the Graft House after their unique design approach.
Find out how this modern home came to be

Architecture And Design

September 3, 2015

Designer Wyatt Little Adds Wit and Whimsy to His Planters

Earlier today, we brought you the ten best plants for apartment dwellers. But now you need somewhere to put your greenery, and we love the idea of incorporating dry humor and edgy design into the items we select to decorate our homes. Wyatt Little, a Texas-based product designer, takes an unorthodox approach to design, using uncomfortable and unfortunate life experiences and translating them into physical products everybody can relate to. His planters range from shoes hanging on power lines to Slinkies, but they maintain an artistic beauty that would work well with any piece of greenery.
See more of these fun planters

September 3, 2015

VIDEO: What Ever Happened to This 1927 Parallel Parking Solution?

If you don't have the bucks to fork over for a parking garage, having a car in the city can be quite the debacle thanks to alternate side of the street parking, indecipherable street signs, and the wrath of the meter maid. There's also the challenge of physically getting into the parking spot, which usually requires several attempts at parallel parking. But this 1927 video shows a car with wheels that turn sideways, making urban parallel parking a no brainer.
Watch the video

Image via Field Condition

September 3, 2015

Leaks and Alignment Issues Plaguing Atlantic Yards’ B2 Tower Were More Severe Than Reported

When it was announced that Brooklyn would be host to the world's tallest prefab tower, many believed that a new era of construction was upon us. Called the B2 Tower, the building would rise as stacked 32-story structure, affording all the perks of a conventional edifice, but be quick and inexpensive to build. But as it has been well-documented, the project, announced way back in 2012, has been a major flop. Stricken with delays and countless lawsuits flying left and right, the building today has only reached about half of its height. So where did things go so wrong? A fascinating piece by the Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park Report's Norman Oder on City Limits provides some incredible insight into the project that has failed to deliver on just about every promise put forward.
READ MORE

September 3, 2015

Williamsburg Mural Is a Timeline of Serena Williams’ Career; A Literal Food Map of the U.S.

How Google’s logo has changed over the years. [Mental Floss] A new Williamsburg mural commissioned by Gatorade depicts 21 of Serena Williams‘ grand slam victories. [BK Mag] Welcome to New Pork. This father-son duo created a “pun-fueled food map of the U.S.” [My Modern Met] Is Stagg and Putnam the real name of a Brooklyn restaurant? Is […]

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Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 9/3-9/9

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!

September 3, 2015

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 9/3-9/9

By Lori Zimmer

If you're staying in the city over this long Labor Day weekend, start September off right by giving in to your cultural lust. Head to Times Square to sample the newest art film for #MidnightMoment or kick off the reopening of galleries with DUMBO's first Thursday Gallery Walk of the season. Sample artist Boy Kong's museum-influenced show at Gitler and the Affordable Art Fair, or hit up one of the Metropolitan Opera's free screenings al fresco outside of Lincoln Center. You can also experience Washington Square Park as Jackson Pollock did with the annual outdoor art exhibition, and combine two things you never thought would mix at the Public Address Gallery: conceptual art and karaoke. And don't forget the long-standing multi-cultural tradition of the epic West Indian-American Day Carnival and Parade (bring feathers and glitter!).
All the best events to check out here

Events & Things To Do

Village Green West, Alfa Development’s Chelsea Condominium, Nears Completion

Rendering via Alfa Development and Kutnicki Bernstein Architects (L); Current construction shot via CityRealty (R)

September 3, 2015

Village Green West, Alfa Development’s Chelsea Condominium, Nears Completion

By Ondel Hylton

The finishing touches are being applied to Alfa Development's environmentally sensitive and industrially evocative condominium Village Green West. According to CityRealty, only two if its 27 units are are currently up for grabs, with at least 18 already in contract. Alfa's 12-story mid-block building is centrally positioned at 245 West 14th Street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues at the crossroads of Chelsea, the West Village, and the Meatpacking District. The Michael Namer-led development team purchased the 5,200-square-foot development site in 2012 for $14.65 million.
More details on the project here

September 3, 2015

Four-Floor Stunner with a ‘Secret Garden’ Asks $11,000 a Month in Fort Greene

Here is Brooklyn brownstone living at its finest. The historic 1880s townhouse at 139 South Oxford Street, located in the very brownstone-heavy neighborhood of Fort Greene, is a good blend of historic details and modern conveniences. It's got a very special landscaped backyard, a renovated kitchen, and a staircase to die for. It's split up as a two-family home, and the upper four floors are now on the rental market asking $11,000 a month. That's nearly 3,000 square feet of living space, with four bedrooms, two full bathrooms, two half bathrooms and even additional basement storage! That's a lot of brownstone goodness right there.
See it all

September 2, 2015

Taylor Swift May Be the Reason Sir Ian McKellen Got Evicted From His Tribeca Apartment

By Annie Doge

Taylor Swift may have been named NYC's Global Welcome Ambassador, but she doesn't seem to be too welcoming to her neighbors at 155 Franklin Street in Tribeca. First, it was widely speculated that Orlando Bloom listed his apartment there just five months after moving in because of the pop princess's mobs of fans and "Girl Squad" activities (Bloom sold the apartment in less than a month). Now, actor Sir Ian McKellen is claiming that Swift had him evicted from the building, reports the Guardian.
Find out the whole story

Celebrities

Liza Minnelli Makes an $8.4M Sale on Her Upper East Side Apartment

Image courtesy of Tim Macdonald

September 2, 2015

Liza Minnelli Makes an $8.4M Sale on Her Upper East Side Apartment

And it is indeed all that jazz. Legendary actress and singer Liza Minnelli has just sold her co-op at the Imperial House at 150 East 69th Street, reports The Real Deal. City records filed yesterday afternoon show that the star struck an $8.372 million deal with New York socialites Robert Beyer and Loren Pack. The 21st floor showstopper was designed by Timothy Macdonald, who created a tranquil and versatile living environment for Minnelli that could easily be reconfigured for entertaining. The apartment's walls are also adorned with plenty of Broadway memorabilia and an incredible Andy Warhol tribute to her mother, Judy Garland.
more inside minnelli's home here

September 2, 2015

Get a Personalized Pattern by Punching Your Address Into This App

Nope, this isn't some kind of spam mail scheme. Called A Place to Departure, this incredible app harnesses the power of Google Maps and pairs it with a clever algorithm to generate a pattern, unique to you, based on your location. With results ranging from leafy designs to Rubik's cube-like motifs, you're likely to find yourself inputting your entire address book before you know it.
Find out more here

September 2, 2015

Giant LEGO Blocks Let You Build Anything from a Coffee Table to an Entire Room

We've seen our fair share of adult LEGO projects, including architecturally themed sets of blocks, a full scale model of New York City, and even an entire bedroom made of 20,000 of the colorful modules. But none of these endeavors have quite the versatility of EverBlock, giant LEGOs that can be used to build tables, chairs, walls, and even full rooms and structures. As the company explains, "Anything you've constructed can be taken apart and re-assembled again, and the pieces can be re-used to build other objects, making EverBlock a unique green building method."
READ MORE

September 2, 2015

Bed-Stuy Brownstone With Its Historic Details Intact Asks $1.9 Million

The days of finding an affordable historic brownstone in Brooklyn are long gone. Today, brownstones–like this one at 348 Gates Avenue in Bed-Stuy–are priced into the millions. Because the home has much of its historic interior details intact, like mantles, high ceilings and the original hardwood floors, it's especially pricey for the neighborhood, with an asking price of $1.9 million. It's also in a convenient area of the neighborhood, bordering Clinton Hill and off the main drag of Franklin Avenue. So, will this brownstone achieve its high ask?
See more to decide

September 2, 2015

Andy Rooney’s Apartment Sells for $2.23M; Why Trump Is a Great Developer

Even if he doesn’t become president, Trump remains a great NY developer. [NYP] The late Andy Rooney’s UWS apartment has finally sold for $2.385M, below ask. [WSJ] New views of the South Street Seaport’s 60-story condo building. [Curbed] East Harlem residents put pressure on NYCHA to remove toxic mold at the Clinton Houses. [DNA Info] […]

Real Estate Trends

September 2, 2015

Find Historic Brownstone Warmth and Manhattan Convenience at This Chelsea Duplex Rental

It's hard to resist historic brownstone interiors with their high ceilings, graceful plaster molding and tall townhouse windows. Living on two floors of a townhouse feels pretty much like you've got a whole house to yourselves. Throw in a wood-burning fireplace–and, even better, a tasteful renovation–and we can't imagine a better place to settle in and get ready for winter. Just one flight up, this gorgeous three-bedroom duplex at 322 West 20th Street is on the rental market for $9,800 a month; at 1,800 square feet, it's not house-sized, but it beats the average Manhattan apartment by a city mile–and many a sleek downtown duplex rents for as much or more.
Take a look inside this pretty brownstone apartment

Distinctive Homes

September 2, 2015

VIDEO: Riding the Subway in the 1940s Wasn’t Much Different From Today

Here's a picture of the New York City subway–mobs of commuters crowding the platforms; train cars filled to the brim; passengers blocking the train doors; people walking while reading the paper, oblivious to their surroundings. Sounds like your commute this morning, right? But believe it or not, we're describing the subway from the 1940s. Unearthed today by Gothamist, this video from the New York Transit Museum archives shows just how little things have changed in the past 75 years.
Watch the video here

September 2, 2015

World’s First Rooftop Vineyard Opening in Brooklyn; UES Starbucks to Start Serving Booze

Located in Brooklyn’s Navy Yard, Rooftop Reds is the world’s first rooftop vineyard, and it’s opening this month. [Business Insider] A visual history of NYC cabs, from the early 1900s to today. [Gothamist] Adult coloring books are all the rage right now. Check out these free adult coloring maps. [Maps Mania] Perhaps as a way […]

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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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September 2, 2015

POLL: Would You Apply for an ‘Affordable’ $1,500/Month Studio in My Micro NY?

Yesterday, we reported that My Micro NY, the city’s first micro apartment complex, was accepting applications for its affordable units, which account for 22 of the building’s 55 studios. Located at 335 East 27th Street on the border of Gramercy and Kips Bay, the building has units that range in size from 260 to 360 square feet. One person […]

September 2, 2015

Karl Fischer-Designed Tower to Replace Beekman Place’s Piscane Seafood Building

By Ondel Hylton

Piscane Seafood, one of the oldest remaining fish markets in the city, closed this spring, and its humble 19th-century home at 940 First Avenue will be replaced by a 14-story residential building. According to permits filed with the city's Department of Buildings yesterday, the narrow 25-foot-wide lot will give rise to a 141-foot-tall tower developed by Brooklyn-based CS Real Estate Group and designed by the often-maligned architect Karl Fischer. The building will provide a commercial storefront at ground level and thirteen floor-through units above, likely condominiums.
More details ahead

New Developments

September 1, 2015

NYC’s First Micro Apartment Complex Now Accepting Applications, Units $950/Month

We knew this day was quickly approaching; just a couple of months ago, we reported that My Micro NY (also known as Carmel Place), the city's first micro apartment complex, was fully stacked, reaching its 120-foot height at 335 East 27th Street on the border of Gramercy and Kips Bay. Now, Brick Underground reports that the $17 million development began accepting applications this morning for its 260- to 360-square-foot affordable studios. According to the site, the available units are "11 $950/month studios for one person earning between $34,526 and $48,350, or two people making between $34,526 and $55,250; and three $1,492/month studios for one person making between $53,109 and $78,650, or two people making between $53,109 and $89,830."
Find out how to apply here

September 1, 2015

Modern Two-Bedroom in Williamsburg Comes With a Dreamy Outdoor Space

If you're on the hunt for a modern condo unit (and aren't shopping on a strict budget), Williamsburg is one Brooklyn neighborhood that is full of them. Here's the top-floor unit at 317 South 4th Street, a boutique condo with four total units—a two-bedroom, two-bathroom on the market for $1.45 million. The floor-through apartment has all modern finishes, lots of glass, a private balcony and even a 700-square-foot roof garden.
See more of it

September 1, 2015

Live in the City’s First Crowdfunded Condo Tower; Staten Island Making Million Dollar Penthouse Sales