6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

One of Lamb & Rich’s original townhouses in the West End-Collegiate Historic District is resolving to find a new owner in the New Year. The flexible 6,875-square-foot layout can either be a sprawling 6-8 bedroom single-family mansion, or a spacious quadruplex with a separate garden duplex rental. Add to that late 19th century original details and modern updates, and this could be the perfect home for anybody...with $10.9 million in their pocket.
Take a look inside here

December 5, 2014

Long Island City Tower Will Be Tallest Residential Skyscraper in NYC Outside of Manhattan

By Ondel Hylton

The tallest residential building in the outer boroughs is underway, and no, it's not going to be in boomtown Brooklyn, but rather along the rapidly evolving corridor of Queens Plaza in Long Island City. 42-12 28th Street will soar 57 stories from an 18,000-square-foot lot and will contain 447 luxury rental units. At its 635-foot projected height, it will be just 20 feet shy of the current outer borough tallest, One Court Square (the "Citi" building). Recently posted images on Goldstein Hill & West's revamped website reveal some new aspects of the project, including its ground-level street frontage and an "extensive" amenity package to include a swimming pool directly linked to an outdoor roof deck.
More details on the record-setting project

December 4, 2014

Walk This Way: How Observant Jews Shop for Real Estate with the Torah in Mind

By Lauren Price

Certain neighborhoods are becoming increasingly sought after by observant Jews—but in keeping with what is written in the Torah, apartment hunting can be a formidable undertaking. Observant Jews not only have to deal with New York City’s low vacancy rate but they need to find a home that, most importantly, is within walking distance to shul (synagogue) from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday and some Jewish holidays—owing to the fact that Sabbath obligations, of which there are a lot, do not allow one to drive a car. It goes against what’s written in the Torah to start or extinguish fires during the Sabbath, and, well, cars burn fuel. And by the way, this also means cooking only one, single, solitary item.
Find out more here

December 4, 2014

Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s Billionaire Businessman Father Sells Central Park West Pad for $7M

By Annie Doge

You likely know plenty about Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, but did you know her father is a very prominent, very wealthy businessman? William Louis-Dreyfus is the chairman of Louis Dreyfus Energy Services and the great grandson of Léopold Louis-Dreyfus, founder of the Louis Dreyfus Group. He has an estimated net worth of $3.4 billion, and just made an impressive $7.1 million on the sale of his Upper West Side co-op, according to city records released today. Unit 9C at 262 Central Park West is a three-bedroom apartment with ten large picture windows and panoramic views of Central Park. And the sleek interior must have been pretty impressive in person, as the selling price is well over the $6.75 million asking price.
Take a look around the Louis-Dreyfus home

December 4, 2014

Holiday Sparkle: Holiday Tree Alternatives with Modern Design Oopmh

By Michelle Cohen

If your ideas for decking the halls lean more toward Knoll, Eames and Adelman than red, gold and pine, you'll be happy to see that these non-traditional trees embody the winter holiday spirit with modern style. See what we've rounded up for you ahead!
More modern tree ideas this way

December 4, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Brooklyn Is the Least Affordable in the US; Bed-Stuy Townhouse Sale Breaks Record

Brooklyn has the least affordable housing in the US. [Bloomberg] A Bed-Stuy townhouse sells for a record-breaking $3M. [Brownstoner] 100% Sold Out: All of the homes at The Townhouses of Cobble Hill have been scooped up after less than a year. [6sqft inbox] Related breaks ground on the first residential tower at Hudson Yards. [NYDN] Images: […]

Real Estate Trends

December 4, 2014

Beautiful Flatiron Loft Shows NYC What Built-Ins Are Supposed to Look Like

By Rebecca Paul

It's not everyday that cool new listings pop up in the Flatiron District, but lucky for us today is an exception. We are pleased to bring you this stunning, new-to-the-market property that was recently renovated and transformed from a gorgeous three-bedroom loft into this fabulous two-bedroom apartment with home office and a massive 25 x 31-foot living room. Located at 15 West 17th Street, this home features many of the unit's original details, including exquisite exposed brick and hardwood floors.
Check out the rest of the home here

Distinctive Homes

December 4, 2014

Anmahian Winton Architects’ Red Rock House Is a Minimalist Berkshires Retreat

Plenty of New Yorkers have already begun weekend trips up to their second homes in the Berkshires, but once the snow starts falling all the winter-loving urbanites will really start making an exodus. And this estate in Red Rock, New York couldn't be any more perfect for a festive getaway. The work of Anmahian Winton Architects, the Red Rock House is a property made up of the main one-bedroom house and a combined guest house/garage. It's situated on a densely wooded, 16-acre site and was designed to work with the existing topography, taking advantage of the landscape, views, and daylight.
Tour the entire property

Architecture And Design

Distinctive Homes

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

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

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

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

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

SHOP THE LISTING: Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy's $9.75M West Village townhouse is an all-season urban refuge

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

For $2.7M, this Crown Heights townhouse is a brilliant bohemian paradise designed for living

For $32.5K/month, rent a five-story designer townhouse in Gramercy

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

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December 4, 2014

6sqft Gift Guide: Oyster Mushroom Log

Sure, we'd all love to be able to give our fungus-loving friends a nice, big truffle for the holidays (or even this $1 million beauty), but that's not really the most economical gift idea. So to cure our mushroom cravings, we've found the next best thing. The Oyster Mushroom Log from Williams-Sonoma is a hardwood log pre-inoculated with oyster mushroom spores. Just keep it damp and stored in a dark place, and the delicious mushrooms will sprout every two months for up to three years.
More on the culinary gift here

December 4, 2014

Daily Link Fix: The Long-Lost Islands of NYC; Get Your Christmas Tree Delivered

Here’s a fun list of eight long-lost islands that used to be part of NYC. [Curbed] Marsala is the 2015 Pantone color of the year. [Laughing Squid] NYCTrees is like Fresh Direct for Christmas Trees. The new service will deliver four- to ten-foot Fraser firs in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. [F’D in Park Slope] Know anything about an […]

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December 4, 2014

NYC Sees a 24 Percent Increase in Construction Loans, Especially in Brownstone Brooklyn

It's that time again when everyone starts looking back on the year as it comes to a close, but it's also the time to look ahead to the new year. We already know 2015 will bring a slew of new developments to the New York City skyline, and right on trend with that forecast, Bloomberg has reported that construction loans are up 24 percent in the city. On-the-rise neighborhoods like Bed-Stuy and Harlem are being aided by the construction loan boom, especially for the renovation of multi-family buildings. The loans, often well over $1 million, are appealing for gentrifying areas because they usually require borrowers to only begin making interest payments once the renovation is complete. For example, a Clinton Hill resident secured a $800,000 construction loan to renovate a century-old multi-family brownstone and estimates that the value of the home will more than double to at least $2.2 million after the renovation.
More information here

December 4, 2014

Lowline Underground Park Creators Want to Open “Lowline Lab,” a Research Hub and Exhibition Spot

Four years ago, likely inspired by the wildly successful High Line, architects James Ramsey and Dan Barasch revealed their plan to turn the forgotten historic trolley terminal below Delancey Street on the Lower East Side into a solar-powered underground park. By 2012, the Lowline had raised over $155,000 from 3,300 donors on Kickstarter, setting a record for the largest number of supporters for an urban design project on the platform. And now, with design competitions, support from elected officials, and planning studies under their belt, the Lowline team is aiming to complete negotiations with the MTA and the city by 2017, anticipating a 2018 opening. But the latest component of the $55 million project is the development by May 2015 of the "Lowline Lab," a year-round nucleus serving as a research hub and exhibition spot, and going by the success of their previous crowdfunding campaign, the team is once again reaching out to the public to fund the initiative.
More details on the Lowline Lab ahead

Architecture And Design

December 4, 2014

Remodeled Emery Roth Townhouse Returns, Asking $15M

For some reason, this remodeled five-story townhouse at 1145 Park Avenue couldn’t command its initial $18.9 million asking price. Now it has returned with a more appealing $14.9 million tag, and it’s hoping prospective buyers will be drawn to its carefully chosen high-end details and its bright, modern design.
Take a look at more photos, here

Distinctive Homes

December 3, 2014

Hudson Yards Observation Deck Will Offer a Death-Defying Way to Experience City Views

The idea of creating a glass observation deck is nothing new, but the Hudson Yards development wants to push the limits with a seemingly perilous glass-enclosed capsule 1,000 feet up in the sky. According to the NYP, the "thrill device" is modeled after the glass module located 350 feet above Royal Caribbean cruise ship Quantum of the Seas, but amped up with a tilting glass walkway. A detailed design of what will be the tallest observation deck in the city has yet to be revealed, but when Related Hudson Yards President Jay Cross spoke about it at the Young Men's/Women's Real Estate luncheon back in November, he said, “You can choose to pay for it separately and crap your pants.”
Find out more

December 3, 2014

Roman and Williams-Designed Brooklyn Brownstone is an Eclectic Mix of Curiosities

Interior design buffs are undoubtedly familiar with J. Crew Creative Director Jenna Lyons's former home; it was featured in countless magazines and blogs, hailed for its mix of traditional pieces with mid-century modern and pops of color. But in 2012, after a bidding war that included prospective buyers being asked to write personal essays, she sold the 19th century Park Slope pad for $4 million to Vince Clarke, founder of Depeche Mode, and his wife Tracy Martin, CEO of the Morbid Anatomy Museum. And needless to say, they gave the 4,000-square-foot home quite the overhaul, infusing it with a mix of historic styles and curious touches that could serve double duty in Martin's taxidermy-filled museum. The masterminds behind the transformation were Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch, the founders of design firm Roman and Williams, who created a home that looks like it was furnished in the last century. Their goal was to embrace the home’s historic details while achieving an idiosyncratic and moody approach.
Tour the curiosity-filled home here

December 3, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Why One WTC’s Transportation Hub Costs $4B; Walker Tower Combo Up for $44.5M

Why the Santiago Calatrava-designed transportation hub at One World Trade Center has gone so far over budget. [NYT] A Walker Tower combo is looking for a $44.5M sale. [WSJ] 551W21, the Norman Foster-designed luxury condo, gets its windows. [Field Condition] New York will receive $72M to put towards protecting bridges from floods. [Crain’s] A Park Slope […]

Real Estate Trends

December 3, 2014

6sqft Gift Guide: Nokero’s Solar Light Bulb with Phone Charger

Aren't we all a little sick of receiving holiday gifts that are completely useless and end up collecting dust in the junk drawer? Well, here's a gift idea that's extremely useful, but still an exciting product to unwrap, thanks to its sleek design and fun, bulbous shape. Nokero's solar lights are perfect for camping, traveling, or everyday use in a poorly-lit apartment. The Huron N222 (pictured above) can charge a cell phone while it illuminates an entire room, while the Start N182 is compact enough to fit in your pocket (hello, stocking stuffer) but strong enough to light up a small space.
More on Nokero's solar products here

Policy
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Andy Warhol Museum Coming to the Controversial Essex Crossing Development on the Bowery

Since 1994, the 88,000-square-foot Andy Warhol Museum has been one of Pittsburgh's main attractions, the largest museum in the country dedicated to a single artist. And though Warhol was born in Pittsburgh, he spent most of his formative years in New York City, a fact that has sparked plans for a satellite museum on the Bowery. In Miami for Art Basel, museum director Eric Shiner told The Observer last night that the Lower East Side museum would be 10,000 square feet and part of the controversial Essex Crossing development. Its anticipated opening is 2017.
More details here

Events & Things To Do

December 3, 2014

QUIZ: Can You Guess When This Building Was Constructed?

By Alyssa Alimurung

Modernism, neoclassical, deconstructivism, colonial. You may know your architectural styles, but what if a glassy building was really built in the early 1900s? Would that trip you up? This fun BuzzFeed Quiz rounds up a few tricky buildings whose styles differ from those of the decade in which they were actually constructed. See if you can figure out what was built when, ahead. […]

Architecture And Design

Brooklyn Artists Plan a Dance Party Funeral for Williamsburg

Funeral invitation via CHERYL

December 3, 2014

Brooklyn Artists Plan a Dance Party Funeral for Williamsburg

We've all been talking and writing about the "death" of Williamsburg for years now, and every time a new neighborhood is compared to it (i.e. Quooklyn) we begin the debate anew. But now the Brooklyn-based artists' collective CHERYL is taking matters into their own hands, hosting a dance party funeral in memoriam of the hip 'hood that once was. As the Daily News states, they're "dancing on Williamsburg's grave." The cause of death? "The cancer of mass gentrification and the proliferation of the luxury condo."
READ MORE

Events & Things To Do

December 3, 2014

How the Cost of One World Trade Center Compares to the World’s Most Expensive Skyscrapers

Don’t share this with Michael Kimmelman. The New York Times architecture critic who this past Sunday blasted the design of One World Trade for its excess will only find more fuel for his fire with this infographic visualizing the world’s most expensive buildings. The recently opened One WTC is not only the world’s priciest construction, but it outdoes its runners-up, Las Vegas’s Palazzo […]

Real Estate Trends

December 3, 2014

$2 Million Tribeca Loft Floats Like a Butterfly and Stings Like a Bee

A charming two-bedroom unit at Duane Park Lofts in Tribeca is back on the market, asking $2.095 million. This return marks the second price drop for the pad, which initially asked $2.5 million. The 1,350-square-foot loft has a floor plan that makes the most of its eastern exposures. Unfortunately that means the second bedroom is a windowless interior space, but quintessential loft features, a prime location and room for a second bathroom make this space worth a look.
More photos here

Distinctive Homes

95 Historic Sites in Jeopardy After Landmarks Commission Proposes Mass “De-Calendaring”

The currently calendared Pepsi sign in Long Island City via gigi_nyc via photopin cc

December 2, 2014

95 Historic Sites in Jeopardy After Landmarks Commission Proposes Mass “De-Calendaring”

Just a month before the year-long celebration of the landmarks law's 50th anniversary is set to commence, the preservation community was dealt what is perhaps its biggest blow since the demolition of Penn Station. The city's Landmarks Preservation Commission revealed in its public review meeting last Wednesday that it would de-calendar 95 historic sites and two historic districts throughout the five boroughs, removing the historic buildings and spaces from the landmarking to-do list and leaving them completely unprotected. Proponents of the plan argue that many places on the list have been there for 50 years, and their removal would free up the LPC's backlog. Preservationists dismiss this claim, citing that the fact that the historic sites have sat unlandmarked for so long is all the more reason this out-of-nowhere proposal is bad public policy. Some of the more high-profile locations under consideration include Long Island City’s Pepsi sign, Manhattan’s Bergdorf Goodman building, and Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.
More on the de-calendaring and what it means

December 2, 2014

ThyssenKrupp’s New Elevator Could Revolutionize Skyscraper Design with Its Horizontal Capabilities

We've been spending a lot of time lately looking at NYC's skyscraper boom and what's to come for our skyline. And if the soaring towers and geometric architecture continue, the traditional elevator is just not going to cut it. That's where ThyssenKrupp's new elevator innovation comes in. The cable-free, multi-car, multi-directional elevator operates with magnetic technology similar to that of Maglev trains. Each cabin runs on its own individual motor, and the "MULTI" elevator systems allows them to move both vertically and horizontally, creating the potential for multiple cabins to run on a single system.
More on the ground-breaking elevator here

Policy

December 2, 2014

You Can Now Tour Gramercy Park Without a Key, Thanks to Airbnb and Google Maps

For the vast majority of New Yorkers, the closest look they've gotten into Gramercy Park is peering through the perimeter wrought iron gates. As one of the most elite and inaccessible outdoor spaces in the city, only those who live in dwellings circling the park have keyed access via an annual fee. That is, until now. Thanks to a rule-breaking Airbnb-er, the world can now revel in the verdant splendor that is Gramercy Park.
Find out how this guy got all the snaps

Uncategorized

December 2, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Real Estate in 2015; Landmarks Turns Away Extell’s Park Avenue Tower Proposal

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

Real estate issues to keep an eye on in 2015. [TRD] Extell’s proposal for a 16-story building along Park Avenue has failed to pass Landmarks muster. [Curbed] Investors are lending $1.55B to the Plaza’s owner in order to lock in control of the hotel. Part of the money will also go towards bailing Plaza chairman Subrata Roy out […]

Real Estate Trends

THE 6SQFT SHOP

The best websites for buying and selling used furniture in NYC

The 6 best furniture rental companies in NYC

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Everything you need to know about using a guarantor in NYC

15 quintessential NYC gifts for the New Yorker in your life

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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

VIEW ALL

December 2, 2014

Fabrica718 Transforms Industrial Space into Cool Williamsburg Loft Perfect for Work and Play

By Rebecca Paul

Most New Yorkers are well aware that a short ride over the Williamsburg Bridge will put you in one of the hippest neighborhoods in the city. This cool pad, located on Jackson Street in Williamsburg, was previously outfitted for a manufacturing business, but was recently converted into a design office and residential loft. The design team responsible for the upgrade is Fabrica718, and their goal was to optimize the common spaces to account for all of their client's needs. The stylish new interior is the perfect combination of the hip and rustic styles that typify the surrounding neighborhood's attitude.
Check out the rest of the home

Learn How to Speak New York with This Fun New Web Tool

Kosciuszko? Joralemon? Schermerhorn?

December 2, 2014

Learn How to Speak New York with This Fun New Web Tool

If seeing these words leaves you red-faced and scratching your head, you can finally breathe easy knowing you'll no longer have to mumble "Shemer-hhhhherzz" into the phone when trying to give directions to your buddy. Popular radio heads such as NPR's Brian Lehrer, Amy Eddings of "All Things Considered" and news host Richard Hake lend their voices to a brand new WNYC-developed web app designed to teach even the most seasoned New Yorker how to pronounce all those mind-bending names marking our streets. Bonus: Learn how to pronounce "George Pataki."
Sound like you live here

City Living

December 2, 2014

6sqft Gift Guide: Neighborwoods Map Coasters

Coasters are definitely high on the list of "gifts for people who you don't know what to give," and if you're like us, you're always searching for sets that aren't the standard square cloths or round pieces of wood. So, we've found the perfect coasters--not only are they unique and visually appealing, but they have a personal touch. Neighborwoods Map Coasters were created by San Francisco graphic designer Aymie Spitzer, who has a passion for hand-lettered vernacular and antique maps. The cedar wood coasters celebrate the special neighborhoods of some of the country's biggest urban sites, including Manhattan and Brooklyn.
More on Neighborwoods Coasters here

December 2, 2014

Daily Link Fix: NYC Has a Lot More Trees Now Than 100 Years Ago; Astor Place Gets a Keith Haring Sculpture

Take a tour inside the Greenpoint home of Grace Bonney, founder of Design*Sponge. [BK Mag] A then-and-now photo comparison shows how many trees have been planted in NYC in the last century. [NY Times] Astor Place gets a Keith Haring sculpture. [EV Grieve] The Sturgeon Queens, a documentary about Russ & Daughters, premieres tonight on […]

Uncategorized

December 2, 2014

$7M Townhouse Is Available for Second Time in Half a Century

An exclusive four-story townhome on one of Manhattan’s most attractive blocks has just popped up on the market, asking literally $5 less than $7 million. The Renaissance Revival home was built in 1890 by McDowell & Henry and still retains its unique Eastlake style details with four original fireplaces, historic wood shutters, and a stained glass skylight over the stairs. And that’s just the beginning.
Take a closer look here

December 1, 2014

Chelsea Townhouse Gets an Upgrade with a 550-Square-Foot Glass and Steel Garden Extension

By Rebecca Paul

The renovation of this beautiful West Side property was made possible by the design team from Chelsea's very own respected architecture firm, Archi-Tectonics. This project included the addition of a garden extension, two floors, and a rooftop terrace. The client, who is a fashion designer, wanted the home to reflect a "textured" or layered approach in its design, and the cool, narrative style does just that. The contemporary renovation was completed in 2011, when the original 3,400-square-foot brownstone–also a New York City landmark–was extended by 550 feet with the addition of the new garden space to create a residence that was light and airy.
Take a look at the rest of the house

December 1, 2014

You May Have to Pry This $3.5M Dream Home from an Oscar Nominee’s Hands

Shopping for the holidays can get complicated. How do you pick just the right gift for someone? In a perfect world we could buy our loved ones gifts they could turn into whatever they wanted. Well, we’re not going to be doing your Christmas shopping this year, but we do have a listing that’s ready for its new owner to add his or her own personal stamp. We’re talking a fully gutted townhome in Murray Hill with all the renovation plans and permits already set and approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission and the Department of Buildings. So all you have to do is sit back and let your imagination do the rest.
Take a look at the possibilities, here

Distinctive Homes

December 1, 2014

ABC No Rio’s Graffiti-Covered Tenement Will Be Replaced with an Ultra-Modern “Passive House”

When ABC No Rio announced more than five years ago that they would be demolishing their building in favor of an updated facility, artists immediately began grieving over the impending loss of the cooperative's hardcore punk roots. Not much movement was made after that—only word that the artists would be going green with their renovation—but lo and behold, a new rendering revealed by Bowery Boogie shows us what will soon replace the artists' collective: a 9,000 square-foot, LEED-certified Passive House complete with exhibition and performance spaces, a green roof and a second floor terrace.
find out more here

December 1, 2014

Real Estate Wire: A Scathing Review of One WTC by the Times; Nearly 100 Sites to Be Removed from Landmarks Consideration

New York Times architecture critic Michael Kimmelman reviews the design of One World Trade Center. Kimmelman does not mince words. [NYT] 95 historic city sites will be removed from Landmarks consideration without any public consideration or input. [GVSHP] Construction on 56 Leonard is well underway and the building already looks as crazy as the rendering. [Field Condition] Sales begin at Tribeca’s […]

Real Estate Trends

December 1, 2014

Zaha Hadid Wants to Change Billboard Advertising with Her Signature Curves

Zaha Hadid has just unveiled one of her smallest structures to date: an advertising billboard featuring all the shiny swoops and curves that have come to define her architectural style. Though at first glance the design comes off as a little bulky, Hadid actually describes it as a “slim dynamic form” that makes way for public improvements such as a more open, safer, and de-cluttered sidewalk. Though the billboard is part of a proposal destined for West London, New Yorkers who love Hadid will appreciate her bold claim that the design will "create a new genre in the roadside advertising canon."
Take a closer look here

Architecture And Design

December 1, 2014

Beat the Winter Blues and Bring the Sunlight Inside with the Sunn Light

As soon as the clocks get set back in the fall, we can't help longing for sunny days and bright evenings. But we still have a long, dark winter ahead of us, so the new Sunn Light could be exactly what we need to help us beat the winter blues. The Sunn Light mimics the sun in that it continuously changes color and brightness with the sun's rhythm, thereby promoting healthy living and creating cheerful, vibrant indoor spaces. And when we say mimic, we're not kidding, as Sunn sets itself by what the sun is doing down to the minute.
More on the Sunn Light

Policy
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December 1, 2014

Daily Link Fix: All the Proposals for NYC Rivers; An Expandable Suitcase Perfect for Holiday Travel

A round-up of nine river-based proposals for NYC. [Web Urbanist] When traveling, doesn’t it always seem like your belongings multiply on the way back? There’s a suitcase for that. [Dornob] Here’s what Christmas shopping in New York looked like 100 years ago. [Ephemeral NY] If you miss having an entire house to decorate for the holidays, you […]

Uncategorized

December 1, 2014

Astronaut Richard Garriott’s Townhouse Hides Secret Passageways and Trick Bookcases

By Alyssa Alimurung

When he’s not flying to outer space or developing the next award-winning video game, Richard Garriott rests his head in his very normal-looking Murray Hill townhouse. When he purchased the five-story brownstone last year, he decided to add in his own special touches to make it his unique home-sweet-home. Take a tour through the secret passageways […]

December 1, 2014

This Map Shows the Holiday Craziness of NYC Airport Taxi Trips

Still recovering from a Thanksgiving travel fiasco? Or maybe you haven't even made it home yet. Either way, this map is probably not going to make you feel better. It's a visualization of taxi trips from NYC-area airports between Thanksgiving and New Year's. The project was inspired by a previous mapping endeavor, NYC Taxis: A Day in the Life, and was created by designers at ImageWork Technologies. They looked at taxi trips originating from JFK and LaGuardia in 2013, and even have a feature that allows users to filter the results by individual airline terminals.
More details ahead

December 1, 2014

10 Sullivan Street Leads Western Soho Residential Development

Back in June, units at 10 Sullivan Street in Soho hit the market. The 16-story, Cary Tamarkin-designed building is shaped like a mini Flatiron Building, and due to its height and scale, many consider it grossly out of place. But regardless of one's opinion, the scheduled completion of the triangular condo in late 2015 will cement western Soho's turn from primarily commercial to residential, a trend shared with adjacent neighborhood Hudson Square.
More on 10 Sullivan Street and western Soho's transformation

November 30, 2014

November’s 10 Most-Read Stories and This Week’s Features

November’s Top 10 Stories ESPN NFL Guru Adam Caplan Swaps Almost-Identical Tribeca Apartments New York Festival of Light Is Illuminating DUMBO Starting Tomorrow Night Fashion Stylist Scott Newkirk Goes Unplugged in His 14×14 Rough-Hewn Cabin INTERVIEW: Behind the Magic of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with Creative Director Wesley Whatley New York City’s Residential Skyscraper Boom: […]

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November 29, 2014

Julie Lansom’s Retro-Futuristic Sputnik Lamps Are Inspired by the First Russian Satellite Sent into Space

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

Julie Lansom is a versatile artist whose work happens between her camera and her Paris design studio. She focuses on the importance of colors and has a passion for authentic materials, as well as adding a hint of nostalgic charm for creating hand-made, functional crafts. We chose to feature her Sputnik Lamps because we love the intricate weaving process and mesmerizing shadow that amplifies her delicate work inspired by satellites.
Learn more about the retro-futuristic Sputnik Lamps

November 28, 2014

Long Island’s Green Dome is the Largest Geodesic Dome Home in the World

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

Measuring 70 feet in diameter and 45 feet high, Kevin Shea's spectacular dwelling is proudly the world’s largest geodesic dome home. Dubbed Long Island Green Dome, this LEED-certified building sets an example for both family life and sustainable living. The power comes courtesy of the wind and sun, and the home has trees growing inside and a lovely outdoor terraced garden made from recycled tires.
Learn more about this large geodesic home

The 74

201 East 74th Street

Lenox Hill

Gracious Upper East Side condos with Central Park and skyline views

2 beds starting at $3,380,000
3 beds starting at $4,850,000
5 beds starting at $11,950,000

Learn More

On Sale Now: An Unofficial Black Friday Bargain Hunt!

135 West 70th Street Penthouse BC; Listing photo Douglas Elliman.

November 28, 2014

On Sale Now: An Unofficial Black Friday Bargain Hunt!

By Michelle Cohen

Late November can be an anxious time for both buyers and sellers; unpleasant weather, family events and just plain seasonal shutdown mode can reduce the traffic at open houses to a trickle and get properties pulled off the market until after New Year’s Day or even springtime. Sellers may panic and prices get cut in the hopes of getting the deal done before year’s end; it’s a good time for intrepid buyers to stay in the game, though, because the competition factor is at a minimum. After reading about Leo DiCaprio who, like Macy’s, Wal-Mart and Kohl’s, jumped the gun on the traditional discount day by price-chopping his haute-holistic Delos Living penthouse, we rounded up some stellar dwellings that received significant markdowns just in time for the popular post-Thanksgiving Day shop-a-thon. So if you’re on the hunt–or you’ve got a two-bed-two-bath-with-killer-views-sized stocking to fill–check out our list of sale merch of the real estate persuasion that–we hope–won't require you to queue up at the crack of dawn.
10 more discounted deals that are better than lords a-leaping

November 26, 2014

New Yorker Spotlight: Behind the Magic of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with Creative Director Wesley Whatley

By Susan Cohen

For one day each year, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade transforms the streets of New York City into the ultimate stage for marching bands, dancers, floats, and of course, giant balloons. As we can all imagine, putting on a parade of this magnitude is no small task. And that's where Wesley Whatley, the Parade's creative director, comes in. Wesley is responsible for overseeing, developing and bringing the creative side of the event to life. His role requires vision, organization and a deep understanding of the parade's history and its importance to both the city and America. Along with his team, he ensures it's a magical event for spectators and television viewers. In anticipation of tomorrow's parade, we spoke with Wesley about selecting marching bands and performers, the logistics of organizing such a large event, and, on a personal note, what parades mean to him.
read the interview with Wesley here

November 26, 2014

Channel Your Inner Olympian in the Marble House Lap Pool for $18.95M

This sumptuous maisonette mansion in the American Express Carriage House appears to have had quite a time of it on the market over the past few years. It was listed earlier this year, merely a year and a half after selling in 2013, and now it’s back with the exact same $18.95 million price tag. That’s nothing if not persistent. The overlooked parcel in question is a 9,300-square-foot triplex with a 44-foot lap pool and a sauna, among other things. The unit was designed by its former owner Stuart Parr, who christened it the Marble House, presumably for its abundance of, well, marble. Whether prospective buyers will find the pad worthy of $2,038-per-square-foot has yet to be determined, but until then let’s take a moment to gawk at the sheer enormity and extravagance of the space.
Take a tour inside

Distinctive Homes

November 26, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Is Jersey City the Next Cultural Hub?; Landmarks Denies Glass Topper for Tammany Hall