6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

$12.5M Upper East Side penthouse has 3,500 square feet of outdoor space

Photo credit: VHT Studios

January 8, 2021

$12.5M Upper East Side penthouse has 3,500 square feet of outdoor space

Normally, our eyes widen at an apartment that measures 3,455 square feet inside, but this Upper East Side penthouse offers that much space outside. It comes in the form of one massive wrap-around terrace on the main level plus a smaller terrace off the upper-level bedroom suite. If that wasn't enough, the interior measures a whopping 4,020 square feet, including five bedrooms, a dining room that can seat 30, a massive skylight, and floor-to-ceiling glass windows wrapping around, and more. Located at 45 East 66th Street, it's asking $12.5 million.
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Distinctive Homes

For $5.2M, this 13-acre Connecticut compound has a lodge-style home, guest cottage, and greenhouse

All photos courtesy of Borgatta Photography

January 7, 2021

For $5.2M, this 13-acre Connecticut compound has a lodge-style home, guest cottage, and greenhouse

By Devin Gannon

In Fairfield County, a 13-acre compound with a grand six-bedroom main residence, guest cottage, greenhouse, and a barn-style detached garage is now on the market for $5.195 million. Known as Byebrook, the sprawling property at 232 Newtown Turnpike was once home to late New York City real estate mogul Lawrence Wien, who used the property as a hunting lodge, as Westport News first reported. Surrounded by nature, the estate sits along the Saugatuck River and is near the Devil's Den Nature Preserve, while still being just a 75-minute drive to Midtown Manhattan.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

New looks for the Taystee Lab Building, a life science campus opening in Harlem

All renderings courtesy of Janus Property Company

January 7, 2021

New looks for the Taystee Lab Building, a life science campus opening in Harlem

By Devin Gannon

As the construction of New York City's newest life science building nears completion, we're getting a fresh look at the innovative structure. Developed by the Janus Property Company, the 11-story Taystee Lab Building is part of the Manhattanville Factory District, a West Harlem neighborhood once full of breweries and factories that is now being transformed into a modern commercial and office hub. The 350,000-square-foot Taystee Lab Building, named after the bread bakery that once occupied the site, will provide mixed-use space for life science, academic, and creative tenants.
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New Developments

220 Central Park South is the best-selling NYC condo by a long shot

220 Central Park South as seen in May. Photo by Jim.henderson (cropped) via Wikimedia Commons

January 7, 2021

220 Central Park South is the best-selling NYC condo by a long shot

By Dana Schulz

In a year where the number of real estate sales dropped significantly in New York City, it was a few top-tier new developments that kept things afloat. According to the CityRealty 100 report—an index comprised of the top 100 condominium buildings in Manhattan—this includes closings in 15 Hudson Yards, The Park Loggia, and Waterline Square. It also includes 220 Central Park South, which accounted for the top 22 sales during the 12 month period of this report and had a total of $1.52 billion in cumulative sales in 46 units.
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Real Estate Trends

IKEA’s first small-format location opens in Queens

All photos courtesy of IKEA

January 7, 2021

IKEA’s first small-format location opens in Queens

By Devin Gannon

The first small-format IKEA in the United States will open in Queens this month. The retailer, known for its affordable flat-pack furniture, will take up 115,000 square feet at a shopping mall in Rego Park. Expected to open sometime in early January, the new store is the third IKEA in New York City, joining existing locations in Red Hook and on the Upper East Side.
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Uncategorized

A gated driveway and six bedrooms complete this $2.6M family-friendly home in Prospect Park South

Listing photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

January 7, 2021

A gated driveway and six bedrooms complete this $2.6M family-friendly home in Prospect Park South

By Dana Schulz

The single-family homes in Prospect Park South often offer a suburban-like living experience right in Brooklyn, and this charmer at 169 Stratford Road is no exception. Built in 1899 and listed for $2,595,000, the 2,844-square-foot house has six bedrooms, a front porch, side porch, a rear deck and lovely backyard, and even a gated driveway.
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Distinctive Homes

Kushner’s controversial One Journal Square project receives approval to bring 1,700 units to Jersey City

All renderings by Woods Bagot

January 6, 2021

Kushner’s controversial One Journal Square project receives approval to bring 1,700 units to Jersey City

By Devin Gannon

After sitting vacant for over a decade, a large site in Jersey City's Journal Square will soon be home to two 710-foot towers with over 1,700 units of housing. The Jersey City Planning Board on Tuesday approved Kushner Companies' controversial One Journal Square project, signaling the beginning of the end of this development saga. The approval came after the city and the developer reached a settlement agreement last October over a lawsuit filed in 2018 against the city by Kushner Companies, run by the family of White House advisor Jared Kushner, that claimed officials stalled the project over "anti-Trump" sentiment.
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New Developments

Trader Joe’s set to open at major new 125th Street project in Harlem

Rendering credit: Beyer Blinder Belle

January 6, 2021

Trader Joe’s set to open at major new 125th Street project in Harlem

By Dana Schulz

Trader Joe's will join Target at a major new mixed-use development in Harlem. It will be the grocery store's 13th location in New York City. The $242 million project is known as the Urban League Empowerment Center, as it will be home to a new headquarters for the National Urban League and the state’s first civil rights museum. It will also include 170 affordable and mixed-income apartments and office space for local nonprofits.
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New Developments

Construction set to begin at huge South Bronx complex with Universal Hip Hop Museum

Rendering courtesy of S9 Architecture

January 6, 2021

Construction set to begin at huge South Bronx complex with Universal Hip Hop Museum

By Devin Gannon

Construction of the South Bronx mixed-use project that will have over 1,000 units of housing, a waterfront esplanade, and a permanent home for the Universal Hip Hop Museum is set to begin in the coming weeks. Developed by L+M Development Partners, Type A Projects, BronxWorks, and the city of New York in a public-private partnership, the project, known as Bronx Point, secured $349 million in financing last week. S9 Architecture is leading the design of the 22-story development, with the publicly-accessible open space along the Harlem River designed by Marvel Architects and Abel Bainnson Butz.
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Distinctive Homes

For $3.3M, this historic Brooklyn Heights home comes with condo convenience

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

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

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

This $3.6M Spuyten Duyvil home is a tranquil refuge indoors and out, within New York City limits

For $17M, this eco-friendly Brooklyn Heights Passive House went from beige to bold

For $995K, this two-bedroom Park Slope condo is a breath of fresh air

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

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

This $3.15M co-op embodies East Village cool, all grown up

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Sutton Place studio is a retro retreat for $450K

Photo Credit: Eitan Gamliely for Sotheby’s International Realty

January 6, 2021

Sutton Place studio is a retro retreat for $450K

By Dana Schulz

The current owner of this Sutton Place studio really wanted to harken back to the building's 1950s origins. Located at the 40 Sutton Place condominium, the 461-square-foot abode is full of mid-century furnishings, pop-art decor, and a very convenient Murphy bed. Add three closets, a high-end open kitchen, and a lovely foyer, and the $450,000 price tag feels just right.
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Distinctive Homes

See new renderings of controversial South Street Seaport towers and museum expansion

All renderings courtesy of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill / Howard Hughes Corporation

January 5, 2021

See new renderings of controversial South Street Seaport towers and museum expansion

By Devin Gannon

Plans to construct two 470-foot towers and expand a museum in the historic South Street Seaport neighborhood were met with mixed feedback during a public Landmarks Preservation Commission hearing on Tuesday. The Howard Hughes Corporation presented a proposal for a $1.4 billion mixed-use project consisting of rentals, condos, and office space at 250 Water Street, as well as a new building for the South Street Seaport Museum at 89 South Street. While those in favor of the project say it will bring much-needed affordable housing to a neighborhood that has almost none and help the museum stay open, opponents claim the project is out of scale with the rest of the district. New renderings of the proposed expanded museum show plans for a copper-clad exterior, flexible gallery space, an outdoor terrace, and a connection to the historic structure.
More here

All photos © Brake Through Media

January 5, 2021

Tom Fruin’s famous colorful glass house sculptures arrive in Meatpacking District

By Dana Schulz

American sculptor Tom Fruin has brought his famous "Icon" series to Gansevoort Plaza in the Meatpacking District. The installation, which is a welcome dose of color in the cold winter months, consists of one large "house" and seven smaller "satellite homes," all made in the artist's signature stained glass-esque design. During the day, the sun shines through the glass, casting colorful refelections, and at night, the pieces project multi-colored LED lights onto the cobblestone plaza.
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Events & Things To Do

January 5, 2021

Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen unload Tribeca condo for $37M

By Dana Schulz

Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen have long maintained a home in New York City, but now that the NFL quarterback has taken up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they're consolidating a bit. As the Post first spotted, the couple has sold their Tribeca apartment for $36,800,000 million, according to property records. Brady and supermodel Bündchen bought the five-bedroom, 12th-floor pad in Robert A.M. Stern's 70 Vestry Street in 2018 for $25.5 million pad. Just last month, though, they bought a smaller unit on the same floor for $3.5 million, which will presumably now serve as their NYC pied-à-terre.
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After 20 years, Sarah Jessica Parker sells West Village townhouse for $15M

General photo of Charles Street by Spencer Means via Flickr cc

January 5, 2021

After 20 years, Sarah Jessica Parker sells West Village townhouse for $15M

By Dana Schulz

As was first spotted by the Wall Street Journal, Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick have sold one of their West Village townhouses for $15 million, according to property records. The couple bought the home on Charles Street in 2000 for just $2,995,000. This time last year, the rumor mill said that they'd been trying to sell the property off-market, as they were living in this home while construction took place combining two adjacent townhouses on West 11th Street that Parker and Broderick bought for $34.5 million in 2016.
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You can buy Gem Spa’s iconic storefront sign, egg cream machines

All photos courtesy of Gem Spa

January 4, 2021

You can buy Gem Spa’s iconic storefront sign, egg cream machines

By Devin Gannon

While you can no longer order an egg cream at Gem Spa in the East Village, which closed its doors for good in May, you can own a piece of the legendary institution. The landmark newsstand, which has been located on the corner of St. Marks Place and Second Avenue for a century, is auctioning off iconic memorabilia and signage from the store, including its bright yellow storefront sign, egg cream equipment, and gates with designs by the artist Paul Kostabi. The auction has been extended to January 7 at 10 p.m.
Details this way

City Living

New York City has administered just 25% of COVID vaccine allocation

Mayor de Blasio attends first vaccinations at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst in Queens last month. Photo by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

January 4, 2021

New York City has administered just 25% of COVID vaccine allocation

By Dana Schulz

The latest city-state discrepancy comes in the form of vaccine distribution. Last week, Mayor de Blasio announced his goal of administering one million COVID-19 vaccine doses by the end of January. However, in a press conference today, Governor Cuomo turned attention to New York City, as their 11 publicly run hospitals have administered just 31 percent of their vaccine allocation. And on a whole, the city has administered a mere 25 percent of those doses received, according to its own vaccine tracker.
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Policy

January 4, 2021

Running from NYC to Canada, 750-mile Empire State Trail is now complete

By Devin Gannon

The longest multi-use state trail in the United States officially opened in New York last week. Running from New York City north to Canada and from Albany to Buffalo along the Erie Canal, the 750-mile Empire State Trail offers off-road trails for cyclists, hikers, runners, cross-country skiers, and snow-shoers. The Trail, which connects 20 regional trails to create a continuous statewide route, will be open year-round.
More here

Uncategorized

For just $620K, this modern Jersey City Heights condo has three bedrooms and private parking

Photo credit: Visual Marketing and Design

January 4, 2021

For just $620K, this modern Jersey City Heights condo has three bedrooms and private parking

By Dana Schulz

The Heights section of Jersey City is definitely up-and-coming, with plenty of awesome restaurants and parks, but it's still more affordable than the Downtown part of town. Case in point, this three-bedroom condo at 209 Hutton Street. It occupies the first floor of a modern townhouse and has three bedrooms, a backyard, and private parking (a rarity even across the Hudson), and it's asking just $620,000.
See the whole place

Distinctive Homes

NYC wants to offer renters alternatives to lump-sum security deposits

By Devin Gannon

Before lawmakers passed sweeping rent reform legislation in 2019, New York City renters moving to a new apartment paid a hefty lump sum, typically including an application fee, broker fee, and a security deposit. With the new law limiting application fees to $20 (and broker fees next on the chopping block), city officials are now looking to make it even easier to move into a new home. The city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the Housing Development Corporation last week issued a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) seeking companies that would provide alternatives to paying a security deposit all at once at city-financed affordable properties.
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Policy

Listing photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

January 4, 2021

Tulip columns and marble floors complete the mid-century look at this $2M Midtown East co-op

By Dana Schulz

This two-bedroom apartment is located at the Ritz Tower at 465 Park Avenue in Midtown East. Though this is a classic pre-war co-op, designed by Emery Roth nonetheless, this particular high-floor unit has been transformed into a groovy mid-century home, complete with tulip columns, white marble floors, and period-specific decor. Asking $1,995,000, it also boasts incredible northern, southern, and western views through its 14 windows, along with two outdoor terraces.
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Distinctive Homes

See inside the new light-filled Moynihan Train Hall

Photo © Max Touhey

December 30, 2020

See inside the new light-filled Moynihan Train Hall

By Devin Gannon

As one of the few bright spots during a very dark time in New York, the new Moynihan Train Hall opens to the public on Friday. The new transit hub expands Penn Station into the landmarked James A. Farley Post Office Building on Eighth Avenue, increasing capacity at the busiest railroad station in the country by 50 percent. On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo celebrated the opening of Moynihan Train Hall, which was inspired by the design of the original Penn Station that was demolished in the 1960s. Ahead, get a look inside the new train hall, including the 92-foot-high massive skylights that total one acre and the new waiting areas for the Long Island Rail Road and Amtrak.
Get the details

December 30, 2020

The prettiest pre-war apartments in NYC you can rent for less than $5K/month

By Devin Gannon

We’ve all admired six-figure New York City homes from a digital distance, saving listings that are way beyond our wallet’s reach. 6sqft has an entire column dedicated to these types of properties, in fact. But with median net effective rents still down compared to last year, especially in Manhattan, a dream rental property isn’t so unattainable these days. We're rounding up the prettiest pre-war pads--most of which have classic details like high ceilings, decorative moldings, and custom woodwork--on the rental market for less than $5,000/month. From a classic six apartment in Washington Heights to a one-bedroom in a full-service white-glove building on Park Avenue, these homes are full of early 20th-century charm.
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Distinctive Homes

Before Times Square: Celebrating New Year’s in old New York

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. (1878). New-Year’S-Day In New Amsterdam. Courtesy of NYPL Digital Collections

December 30, 2020

Before Times Square: Celebrating New Year’s in old New York

By Lucie Levine

Every year on December 31, the eyes of the world turn to Times Square. New Yorkers and revelers worldwide have been ringing in the New Year from 42nd Street since 1904 when Adolf Ochs christened the opening of the New York Times building on what was then Longacre Square with a New Year's celebration complete with midnight fireworks. In 1907, Ochs began dropping a ball from the flagpole of the Times Tower, and a tradition for the ages was set in motion. But long before Ochs and his proclivity for pyrotechnics, New Yorkers had been ringing in the New Year with traditions both dignified and debauched. From the George Washington and the old Dutch custom of “Calling,” to the rancorous tooting of tin horns, one thing is clear, New York has always gone to town for the New Year.
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December 29, 2020

In Woodstock, a round house on 400 acres with panoramic mountain views asks $2.7M

By Devin Gannon

A mountaintop round house in Woodstock has hit the market for $2.7 million. Located on nearly 400 acres atop the Ticetonyk Mountain, the property at 229 Cold Brook Road offers incredible views from nearly every room. The custom home with cedar shake siding contains four bedrooms, four baths, a wrap-around sundeck and covered porch, and south-facing solar panels.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

NYC extends Open Storefronts program through next fall

Photo by ozgecan on Flickr

December 29, 2020

NYC extends Open Storefronts program through next fall

By Devin Gannon

New York City's Open Storefronts program, which allows small businesses to use outdoor space in front of their stores to sell goods, has been extended through the fall of next year. Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday signed an executive order extending the program, which was originally expected to end December 31, through September 30, 2021. The program will also expand the number of restaurants and retail stores that can use sidewalks to sell take-out. "We think that's going to help them as they fight to survive in this environment," de Blasio said Tuesday.
Details here

Photo by Daniel Lee on Unsplash

December 29, 2020

New York bans most evictions until May

By Devin Gannon

During a special session on Monday, the New York Legislature passed emergency legislation that temporarily blocks most eviction proceedings until May 1. The eviction moratorium, which Gov. Andrew Cuomo first put in place in March because of the coronavirus pandemic, was last extended through the end of the year. Signed by the governor on Monday night, the new law freezes evictions for tenants and prevents foreclosures for homeowners who have endured hardships related to COVID-19.
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Policy

THE 6SQFT SHOP

The best websites for buying and selling used furniture in NYC

The 6 best furniture rental companies in NYC

8 best places in NYC to thrift for home goods

Everything you need to know about using a guarantor in NYC

15 quintessential NYC gifts for the New Yorker in your life

New York City's best holiday markets of 2023

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

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

10 best plants for apartment dwellers

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

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$449K Gramercy studio is sleek and sophisticated

Photo credit: Vistabee

December 29, 2020

$449K Gramercy studio is sleek and sophisticated

By Dana Schulz

Though this Gramercy Park apartment is a studio, the bedroom is in a separate nook and there are 11-foot ceilings, making for a seemingly much larger space. Located at the Foundry at 310 East 23rd Street, a converted factory building that's now a 136-unit condop, it's asking $449,000 and has been completely renovated into a sleek, contemporary home.
See more here

Distinctive Homes

NY healthcare providers who fraudulently distribute COVID vaccine could lose license, be fined $1M

Dr. Michelle Chester of Northwell Health in Queens prepares to administer the first coronavirus vaccine in New York State; Photo: Scott Heins for the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Flickr

December 28, 2020

NY healthcare providers who fraudulently distribute COVID vaccine could lose license, be fined $1M

By Devin Gannon

Healthcare providers in New York who are found to have violated the law regarding the distribution of the coronavirus vaccine could lose their license, be fined up to $1 million, and face possible prison time, under a new executive order Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday. The order comes after reports of a network of urgent care centers in New York City provided vaccines to people not considered a priority by the state. The first phase of distribution includes high-risk hospital workers, nursing home residents, nursing home staff, followed by all long-term and congregate care residents and staff, EMS workers, other health care workers, coroners, and medical examiners.
Get the details

Policy

NYC’s new Moynihan Train Hall will open January 1

Credit: SOM/ Office of Governor Cuomo on Flickr

December 28, 2020

NYC’s new Moynihan Train Hall will open January 1

By Devin Gannon

The long-awaited new Moynihan Train Hall will be completed on December 31 with trains operating the next day, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Sunday. The $1.6 billion project expands the existing Penn Station into the historic James A. Farley Post Office Building on Eighth Avenue and is part of a new mixed-use transit hub with office space and retail at the site. Named for the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, the new train hall is expected to increase the cramped concourse space at Penn Station by 50 percent.
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A special outdoor dining pavilion in Harlem supports Black-owned businesses

Parklet designed by Brandt:Haferd for The Row and Alibi Lounge. All photos by New Kingston Media

December 28, 2020

A special outdoor dining pavilion in Harlem supports Black-owned businesses

By Dana Schulz

The stately brick homes lining West 138th and 139th Streets between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and Frederick Douglass Boulevards are known as Strivers' Row. The historic Harlem enclave was once home to prominent, wealthy African-American performers, artists, and professionals. More than 100 years later, the neighborhood is once again leading the community with a new outdoor dining and recreation corridor that supports Black-owned businesses. Called the Renaissance Pavilion at Strivers’ Row, the winterized outdoor setup will help local businesses and restaurants serve customers safely through April of next year.
More details here

Food & Dining

For under $1M, this Greenwich Village co-op is 19th-century charm meets modern living

Photo credit: Evan Joseph Studio

December 28, 2020

For under $1M, this Greenwich Village co-op is 19th-century charm meets modern living

By Dana Schulz

This Greenwich Village co-op at 111 West 11th Street was built in 1873, and though the building's 20 units have been beautifully modernized, some still retain their historic details. This one-bedroom unit, for example, is anchored by the original wood-burning fireplace. Asking $995,000, the apartment has an open and sunny layout, complete with a contemporary kitchen and an office alcove.
Have a look around

Distinctive Homes

NYC launches online COVID-19 vaccine tracker

Mayor Bill de Blasio observes vaccinations for healthcare workers at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst. Elmhurst, Queens. Wednesday, December 16, 2020. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

December 23, 2020

NYC launches online COVID-19 vaccine tracker

By Devin Gannon

New York City this week launched a new online tool that tracks the number of people given the coronavirus vaccine each day. As part of the city's Vaccine Command Center, which opened earlier this month to provide real-time troubleshooting and response for vaccination sites, the website features up-to-date information regarding the number of vaccines reserved by the government for the city and delivered, as well as the number of people who have received doses.
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Policy

The Village Voice is coming back next month

Photo (cropped) of the Village Voice’s Cooper Square offices by Ajay Suresh via Wikimedia Commons

December 23, 2020

The Village Voice is coming back next month

By Dana Schulz

In August of 2018, after 63 years as a NYC icon, The Village Voice folded. But in some good news for local journalism, the New York Times reports today that the Voice will "[rise] from the dead." Brian Calle, chief executive of Street Media which owns LA Weekly, has acquired the publication from its current owner Peter Barbey. Calle said he will start publishing online content next month, with a quarterly print edition set to launch in March. He also said he hopes to re-hire former Voice staffers.
More details here

City Living

Over 1,000 NYC chain stores have closed this past year, the biggest drop in a decade

Photo by Peter Burka on Flickr

December 23, 2020

Over 1,000 NYC chain stores have closed this past year, the biggest drop in a decade

By Devin Gannon

More than 1,000 chain stores in New York City have closed over the past year, the largest year-over-year decline in over a decade. According to the Center for an Urban Future's annual "State of the Chains" report, nearly one out of every seven chain retailers open at this time last year is now closed, due to the coronavirus pandemic coupled with the continued growth of e-commerce. Even Dunkin', the city's largest retailer, closed 18 locations in 2020, the first time the coffee chain experienced a decline since CUF began tracking chains 13 years ago.
Get the details

Botanical and bohemian vibes create a serene space at this $1.8M Williamsburg three-bedroom

Photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group

December 23, 2020

Botanical and bohemian vibes create a serene space at this $1.8M Williamsburg three-bedroom

By Dana Schulz

Right across from McCarren Park in Williamsburg is the modern condominium 20 Bayard Street, notable for the fact that every unit has gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows. This three-bedroom apartment on the 10th floor is one that has a full-wall, curved window with views of the skyline, as well as a rear balcony. Add to that the abundance of plants and subtle bohemian vibe, and the 1,312-square-foot home is a serene escape, currently listed for $1,779,000.
Look around

Distinctive Homes

$1.7M cliffside Colonial in Nyack has a two-story watchtower facing the Hudson River

Photos courtesy of Jump Visuals for Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty

December 22, 2020

$1.7M cliffside Colonial in Nyack has a two-story watchtower facing the Hudson River

By Devin Gannon

Near a cliffside overlooking the Hudson River, a Colonial-style home is on the market for $1.695 million. The property at 57 Tweed Boulevard is located just south of Nyack, a village in the Hudson Valley about 20 miles from New York City. Surrounded by wooded state parks, mountains, and water, the home's two-story turret-like watchtower is perfect for taking in all of those scenic views.
See inside

Distinctive Homes

The famous ‘2021’ numerals have arrived in Times Square

All photos courtesy of Times Square Alliance

December 22, 2020

The famous ‘2021’ numerals have arrived in Times Square

By Dana Schulz

2021 has arrived in Times Square. The famous, seven-foot numerals are in the plaza for folks to see up-close and take photos with before they're placed on top of One Times Square underneath the famous New Year's Eve ball. The four numbers use a total of 526 LED bulbs and will be in the Times Square Plaza between 46th and 47th Streets until tomorrow at noon.
Find out more here

Events & Things To Do

In a win for the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, de Blasio says he opposes Crown Heights high-rise towers

Rendering: NYC Department of City Planning

December 22, 2020

In a win for the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, de Blasio says he opposes Crown Heights high-rise towers

By Devin Gannon

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday announced his opposition to two controversial high-rise towers proposed for a Crown Heights lot across from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. As first reported by Gothamist, the mayor said the project would "harm the research and educational work carried out by one of this city’s prized cultural institutions."
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Real Estate Trends

For $4.4M, this unique Prospect Park West townhouse has a private driveway and garage

Photo Credit: Compass/Michael J. Franco

December 22, 2020

For $4.4M, this unique Prospect Park West townhouse has a private driveway and garage

By Dana Schulz

Just on appearances, this Park Slope townhouse stands out, with its unique neo-Federal style. But it's also rare for the fact that it comes with a private driveway and garage. Located at 15 Prospect Park West, the location's not too shabby, either. The home has four bedrooms, a finished basement, a backyard, and a roof deck, and it's asking $4,400,000.
See more here

Distinctive Homes

December 21, 2020

Inside Casey Rubber Stamps: How this tiny rubber stamp shop has survived for 41 years in NYC

By James and Karla Murray

Tucked away on East 11th Street between First and Second Avenues is a small rubber stamp shop, which, according to the small sign in its window, is "closed when not open" and "open when not closed." Casey Rubber Stamps is filled from floor to ceiling with rubber stamps that have all been handmade by John Casey and his two team members. John Casey is originally from Cork, Ireland and first founded his shop in 1979 on Seventh Avenue South in the West Village. He moved the shop to the East Village 19 years ago but still makes his stamps the old-school way with a negative, a plate, and a mold process that is both more time consuming and expensive than newer methods involving liquid polymer materials or laser cutting. Ahead, go behind the scenes to see how all the amazing rubber stamps are made, tour the interior and workspace, and learn about the shop's history from John Casey.
All that right here

Where I Work

Funding for MTA and Broadway included in latest federal COVID relief bill

Photo by (vincent desjardins) on Flickr

December 21, 2020

Funding for MTA and Broadway included in latest federal COVID relief bill

By Devin Gannon

Congress on Sunday reached an agreement on a $900 billion emergency coronavirus relief package, roughly nine months after the first stimulus was signed into law. The package is expected to provide one-time direct payments of $600 to most taxpayers and provide an additional $300 per week to those unemployed. In some positive news for New York, the stimulus deal also includes $4 billion to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Save Our Stages bill, which provides funding for live performance venues, comedy clubs, and Broadway. Congress could vote on the package as early as Monday.
Learn more here

Finnerty’s, popular Bay Area sports bar in the East Village, has permanently closed

The bar on opening day, courtesy of Finnerty’s

December 21, 2020

Finnerty’s, popular Bay Area sports bar in the East Village, has permanently closed

By Dana Schulz

Considered New York City's unofficial San Francisco sports bar, Finnerty's announced this morning that it's permanently closing its East Village location. For the past 11 years, the Irish pub on Second Avenue has been a go-to spot for Giants and 49ers fans, even hosting the Giant's World Series trophy three times. "The pandemic, along with being unable to reach an agreement with our landlord, forced our hand. There just wasn’t any way forward for us," said Finnerty's owners Dieter Seelig and Brian Stapleton.
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These are the books New Yorkers borrowed the most from the library in 2020

Photo credit: Jonathan Blanc / NYPL

December 21, 2020

These are the books New Yorkers borrowed the most from the library in 2020

By Devin Gannon

During an unusually tough year full of challenges, including the coronavirus pandemic, an election, and racial justice issues, New Yorkers relied on books to not only stay informed but to find comfort. The city's three public library systems on Monday released their top checkouts of 2020 lists. At the New York Public Library, which includes branches in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island, the most borrowed book of the year was Brit Bennett's The Vanishing Half. In Brooklyn, the top checkout was How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi and in Queens, The Guardians by John Grisham.
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City Living

Clinton Hill’s majestic Pfizer mansion returns for $9.2M

Listing images courtesy of Douglas Elliman

December 21, 2020

Clinton Hill’s majestic Pfizer mansion returns for $9.2M

By Dana Schulz

A little over a year ago, we featured this townhouse, one of the most incredible in Brooklyn, when it lowered its asking price to $10 million after first listing for $13.5 million in 2018. It's now returned for an even more reduced price of $9.2 million. Located at 280 Washington Avenue in Clinton Hill, the 10,000-square-foot Queen Anne mansion is not notable just for its opulent interiors but for the fact that it was built in 1887 for Charles Erhart, co-founder of the Pfizer pharmaceutical company and brother-in-law to Charles Pfizer. The home's current owner is a designer and undertook a magnificent renovation that retained historic details like an original Otis elevator, moldings and woodwork galore, and stained glass, as well as added modern upgrades like a sunken "speakeasy" party room, wine cellar, and meticulously landscaped backyard.
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Spring + Thompson

83 Thompson Street

Soho

Loft-like residences in Soho designed by Selldorf Architects

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For $1.2M, a 19th-century Hudson Valley castle with Tiffany fixtures and river views

All photos courtesy of RMC Real Estate Photography for Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty

December 18, 2020

For $1.2M, a 19th-century Hudson Valley castle with Tiffany fixtures and river views

By Devin Gannon

In New Windsor, a 19th-century stone castle is on the market for $1.225 million. Located on two acres of land overlooking the Hudson River, the Roe Brewster Castle at 11 Oak Ridge Drive was constructed in 1870 and features fixtures designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The 8,400-square-foot estate has six bedrooms and seven baths but has operated as a multi-family rental property.
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Mixed-use proposal for Long Island City would have a residential village, a waterfront pool, and oyster beds

All renderings by CAZA

December 18, 2020

Mixed-use proposal for Long Island City would have a residential village, a waterfront pool, and oyster beds

By Dana Schulz

First spotted by CityRealty, this mixed-use proposal for the Long Island City waterfront is part futuristic, part industrial, and part sustainable. The architects at Brooklyn-based studio CAZA conceptualized a plan for a swath of land just north of the site that was almost home to Amazon. Called Long Island City Oyster, their development would include an office tower, residential tower, and low-scale residential village. More distinctly, it would also include year-round indoor and amenities such as a waterfront ice skating rink that converts into a pool, a restored oyster-bed wetland, a sandy beach, and a ferry landing.
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Architecture And Design

Atlantic City is auctioning off chance to blow up Trump’s former casino

Photo by Shinya Suzuki on Flickr

December 18, 2020

Atlantic City is auctioning off chance to blow up Trump’s former casino

By Devin Gannon

You can bid farewell to Donald Trump's one-term presidency by bidding on the rights to blow up one of his former buildings. Atlantic City is auctioning off the chance to press the button that will implode the shuttered Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino, Mayor Marty Small announced on Thursday. Plans to demolish the building, which has sat empty since closing in 2014, have been in the works for years. Money raised in the auction will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City, the mayor said.
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Uncategorized

For $800K, this Yorkville penthouse has roomy interiors and a wrap-around terrace

Listing images courtesy of Douglas Elliman

December 18, 2020

For $800K, this Yorkville penthouse has roomy interiors and a wrap-around terrace

By Dana Schulz

For well under $1 million, you're getting a lot of bang for your buck here. Not only is the one-bedroom spacious and elegant, but it has a 450-square-foot, wrap-around terrace. Located at 515 East 85th Street in Yorkville, the co-op building is just steps from Carl Schurz Park and a quick walk to the Second Avenue Subway at 86th Street.
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Distinctive Homes

Candice Bergen lists cottage-style country estate in the Hamptons for $18M

Photos courtesy of Compass

December 17, 2020

Candice Bergen lists cottage-style country estate in the Hamptons for $18M

By Devin Gannon

Actress Candice Bergen is selling her six-bedroom East Hamptons estate for $18 million. The impressive 4,500-square-foot cottage-style home is located at 72 Lily Pond Lane, just a block from the beach. As first reported by the New York Post, the cedar-shingled home was reimagined in 2004 by late architect Jacque Robertson. The year-round oasis features a stunning wraparound porch, in-ground pool, flower gardens, and a separate guest house.
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