Manhattan

Media giant Rupert Murdoch is in contract to purchase a full-floor co-op on Billionaires' Row. As first reported by the Wall Street Journal, the News Corp founder bought a 6,500-square-foot apartment on the 27th floor of the Hampshire House that was last listed for $30,000,000; the final sales price has not been made public. The seven-bedroom, five-bathroom residence was the longtime home of late hedge-fund magnate Julian H. Robertson Jr. and famed philanthropist Alice Tully.
Details here

Full LIRR service begins at Grand Central Madison

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermnan / MTA on Flickr

February 27, 2023

Full LIRR service begins at Grand Central Madison

Grand Central Madison finally opened with full Long Island Rail Road service on Monday, with a totally new schedule for commuters and a 41 percent increase in service levels. Starting February 27, an additional 271 LIRR trains per day have been added to the system for a total of up to 936 trains per day; 296 of these trains will be traveling to and from Grand Central Madison, with the remaining to Penn Station. According to officials, the new terminal will make commutes for LIRR riders up to 40 minutes shorter.
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Manhattan apartments are bigger now than a decade ago

Photo by Goh Rhy Yan on Unsplash

February 23, 2023

Manhattan apartments are bigger now than a decade ago

Believe it or not, new apartments in Manhattan are getting bigger. Despite being notorious for its small, compact apartments, Manhattan rentals actually gained an average of 19 square feet since 2013, an increase of 3 percent, according to new data released this week by RentCafe. The borough is an outlier when looking at the rest of the country, where newly constructed units continue to shrink in size, and even compared to other parts of New York City. The average space of new rentals in Brooklyn and Queens decreased by seven percent over the last decade, costing renters roughly 45 square feet.
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Real Estate Trends

This $1.3M Upper East Side co-op has a secret powder room tucked behind a library wall

Photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group

February 23, 2023

This $1.3M Upper East Side co-op has a secret powder room tucked behind a library wall

This classic one-bedroom-plus-loft co-op at 71 East 77th Street, asking $1,295,000, has definitely seen the benefits of a designer and architect. Rooms retain their gracious pre-war proportions and high beamed ceilings, plus extras like closets and an entry foyer. The living room offers a wood-burning fireplace and there are one-and-a-half baths–including a secret powder room tucked behind a library bookshelf wall. The comfort factor is up-to-date, with central A/C and a renovated kitchen and bathrooms.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

Michelin-starred Chef Gabriel Kreuther to run two restaurants at Hudson Yards’ Spiral tower

Rendering courtesy of Tishman Speyer

February 22, 2023

Michelin-starred Chef Gabriel Kreuther to run two restaurants at Hudson Yards’ Spiral tower

A starchitect-designed office tower in Hudson Yards will offer cuisine curated by a Michelin-starred chef. The Spiral, the 66-story building designed by Bjarke Ingels, will be home to two new dining concepts created by Gabriel Kreuther, known for his eponymous restaurant near Bryant Park, developer Tishman Speyer announced Wednesday. Kreuther will operate a full-service restaurant and an all-day cafe serving breakfast and lunch; both are expected to open next year.
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Food & Dining

Skinny Upper East Side townhouse with literary ties asks $4M

All photos courtesy of Eitan Gamliely for Sotheby’s International Realty

February 22, 2023

Skinny Upper East Side townhouse with literary ties asks $4M

A 19th-century Italianate-style house on the Upper East Side with New York political and literary ties hit the market this week. Constructed in 1867, the red brick townhouse at 255 East 78th Street was once home to State Sen. John Gilmore Boyd and most recently, cultural critic John Leonard, who died in 2008. While the narrow property is just 14 feet wide, the home measures nearly 2,700 square feet across four levels, plus there's a basement, rear deck, garden, and air rights to add two more floors. The townhouse is currently available for $3,995,000.
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Distinctive Homes

Your guide to Nomad: A new chapter for a historic Manhattan neighborhood

Photo by Jeffrey Zeldman on Flickr

February 22, 2023

Your guide to Nomad: A new chapter for a historic Manhattan neighborhood

No matter how old or established they may be, New York City neighborhoods are in a constant state of change. With each new chapter, boundaries shift and new architecture and commerce arrive. The Manhattan neighborhood known as Nomad (for its location north of Madison Square Park) is a fine example. Nomad became a top residential choice, as well as an international dining destination and an all-around rising star, at the beginning of the 21st century. The neighborhood stretches from approximately 25th Street to 30th Street between Sixth and Lexington Avenues, but the bounty that surrounds it in the neighborhoods of Chelsea, Midtown, Union Square, and Gramercy knows no bounds.
What to do and see, and where to live in Nomad

Events & Things To Do

Design perfection and ideal location meet in this $1.25M pre-war Gramercy co-op

Photo credit: Douglas Elliman Realty

February 21, 2023

Design perfection and ideal location meet in this $1.25M pre-war Gramercy co-op

This stunningly-designed high-floor one-bedroom home in a pre-war building is surrounded by beauty, inside and out. The Art Deco building at 235 East 22nd Street, known as Gramercy House, is just two blocks from Gramercy Park, near Union Square, Nomad, the East Village, Midtown, and more. Southern light, stunning city views–and a wood-burning fireplace–make this jewel-box co-op, asking $1,250,000, a tempting choice for anyone seeking visual inspiration and creature comforts in a renovated and move-in-ready package.
Explore this classic Gramercy co-op

Distinctive Homes

In an UWS studio building, $4.4M co-op has original stained glass and 17-foot ceilings

Photo credit: Tim Waltman for Sotheby’s International Realty

February 17, 2023

In an UWS studio building, $4.4M co-op has original stained glass and 17-foot ceilings

On a stretch of West 67th Street just off Central Park, there are eight buildings that were constructed over a century ago by artists looking for live-work spaces. Located within what is now known as the West 67th Street Artists' Colony Historic District, the studio buildings have apartments with soaring windows that stream in natural light and double-height living rooms that also function as studio space. A two-bedroom co-op is now available at 27 West 67th Street, one of the first artist studio buildings to be constructed on this block. Asking $4,400,000, the duplex boasts original stained glass windows, a wood-burning fireplace, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, and the unique New York City prestige that comes with the address.
See it here

Distinctive Homes

See the Garment District’s new Big Button sculpture

Photo © 6sqft

February 16, 2023

See the Garment District’s new Big Button sculpture

The Garment District's iconic button & needle sculpture has been replaced with a new, permanent art installation. The Garment District Alliance on Thursday unveiled the new Big Button sculpture on the corner of Fashion Avenue and 39th Street. Designed by Local Projects and UAP Company, the sculpture measures 28 feet tall and has a 15-foot diameter aluminum button with a bright yellow automotive finish and a 32-foot brushed stainless steel needle, honoring the neighborhood's rich history in the world of fashion.
See the button

Events & Things To Do

Central Park’s iconic Loeb Boathouse set to reopen this summer

Photo by Ajay Suresh via Wikimedia Commons

February 16, 2023

Central Park’s iconic Loeb Boathouse set to reopen this summer

After closing its doors last year, the iconic Loeb Boathouse in Central Park will reopen this summer with a new operator. Mayor Eric Adams and the city's Parks Department on Thursday announced Legends Hospitality, the group that operates at Yankee Stadium and One World Observatory, has been selected to manage the Boathouse as part of a 10-year lease. If the contract is approved by the city's Franchise and Concession Review Committee next month, the venue could be open to the public as early as June.
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A mini version of NYC’s Hippo Ballerina sculpture is now in Turtle Bay

Photos courtesy of Cavalier Galleries

February 16, 2023

A mini version of NYC’s Hippo Ballerina sculpture is now in Turtle Bay

A smaller version of New York City's Hippo Ballerina sculpture debuted this week in Turtle Bay. Created by Danish artist Bjørn Okholm Skaarup, Hippo Ballerina is a 15-foot-tall sculpture that has been seen over the years in front of Grand Central Terminal, the Flatiron Building, and Lincoln Center. The new mini sculpture, along with Hippo Ballerina, pirouette and Rhino Harlequin, pirouette, can now be found in front of the skyscraper at 885 Second Avenue in Midtown through March 2024.
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Events & Things To Do

Vornado pauses plan to redevelop area around Penn Station

Rendering courtesy of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office

February 16, 2023

Vornado pauses plan to redevelop area around Penn Station

The plan to redevelop the area around Penn Station with several new skyscrapers is officially on hold. During a conference call this week, Steven Roth, the chief executive officer at Vornado Realty Trust, the developer behind the project, said new construction is "almost impossible" because of current market conditions, as Crain's first reported.
Details here

Policy

New website explores the forgotten NYC neighborhood of San Juan Hill

San Juan Hill neighborhood, 1939.Lee Sievan (1907-1990). Museum of the City of New York. 92.70.1. Gift and © Howard Sieven, Executor of the Estate of Lee Sievan

February 15, 2023

New website explores the forgotten NYC neighborhood of San Juan Hill

Once home to New York City's largest Black population, Manhattan's San Juan Hill neighborhood no longer exists. The diverse working-class neighborhood was razed during the 1950s to make way for the Lincoln Center campus. This week the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts unveiled a new digital resource dedicated to San Juan Hill as a way to explore the history of the neighborhood and ensure that its legacy, and the people who lived there, are remembered. The "Legacies of San Juan Hill" website includes essays, historic images, articles, maps, and other archival content.
Learn more here

History

Take a tour of a duplex penthouse at Jean Nouvel’s tower above MoMA

Image courtesy of Evan Joseph

February 15, 2023

Take a tour of a duplex penthouse at Jean Nouvel’s tower above MoMA

New images of a fully-furnished penthouse atop Pritzker-Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel's tower 53 West 53 were released this week, showing off the one-of-a-kind duplex apartment's soaring ceiling heights, expansive living spaces, and breathtaking views of Central Park and the city skyline. The four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bathroom penthouse was designed by Fox-Nahem Associates in collaboration with Elle Decor and spans nearly 8,000 square feet across the 76th and 77th floors of the Midtown Manhattan skyscraper. Although this penthouse is not currently on the market, the identical unit above it, Penthouse 78, is available for $64,730,000.
Take a look around

$2.15M Greenwich Village ‘junior four’ has an enclosed terrace for year-round sunshine

Photos courtesy of Jeff Nolan for The Corcoran Group

February 15, 2023

$2.15M Greenwich Village ‘junior four’ has an enclosed terrace for year-round sunshine

A renovated co-op along an iconic stretch of Fifth Avenue in Greenwich Village is available for $2,150,000. Located on the eighth floor of the co-op The Brevoort, this "junior four," a one-bedroom with an alcove area that can be converted into a second bedroom or other space, features a flexible floor plan, Washington Square Park views, and a cozy, sun-drenched enclosed terrace.
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Distinctive Homes

Renovated pedestrian and bike path opens on north side of George Washington Bridge

All photos courtesy of PANYNJ

February 14, 2023

Renovated pedestrian and bike path opens on north side of George Washington Bridge

The pedestrian and bike path on the north side of the George Washington Bridge opened on Tuesday following a renovation and accessibility upgrades. The project, led by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, included widening approach paths, bigger entry plazas, and removing stairs that prevented access to cyclists and users with mobility challenges. The upgraded north walk also features two new viewing platforms, one on the New York side and one on the New Jersey side.
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Transit

February 14, 2023

Only known surviving ‘colored’ school in Manhattan may become a New York City landmark

The only known surviving school building that exclusively served African Americans in Manhattan may soon become a New York City landmark. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to calendar the former Colored School No. 4 in Chelsea, a public school open to only Black students and staff from 1860 to 1894. Located at 128 West 17th Street, the nearly 175-year-old building is associated with a number of significant figures from the Civil War through the Post-Reconstruction era.
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Policy

Tours of NYC’s old City Hall subway station return this spring

Photos © James and Karla Murray

February 14, 2023

Tours of NYC’s old City Hall subway station return this spring

After a three-year pandemic hiatus, in-person tours of New York City's abandoned City Hall subway station are returning this spring. The station, which is where the first ever subway ride departed in 1904, has been decommissioned since the 1940s. The New York Transit Museum has exclusive access to the station and offers 90-minute tours that explore its ornate vaulted Guastavino tiled ceilings, chandeliers, and skylights. Tickets will go on sale this March and are only available to members of the museum.
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A planted glass atrium leads to huge private roof deck at this $6.25M Tribeca penthouse

All photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

February 14, 2023

A planted glass atrium leads to huge private roof deck at this $6.25M Tribeca penthouse

Not only is the private roof deck of this New York City penthouse spectacular, but the trip up to it is too. Found atop the boutique condominium at 12 Warren Street in Tribeca, the apartment features a glass atrium full of plants with a staircase that leads to the rooftop, which also wows with roughly 1,425 square feet and open exposures. Listed for $6,250,000, the full-floor penthouse has two bedrooms, stunning city views, and a modern style in every room.
See inside

Distinctive Homes

New luxury rental on the Lower East Side launches lottery for 95 mixed-income units, from $710/month

Rendering courtesy of Dattner Architects

February 13, 2023

New luxury rental on the Lower East Side launches lottery for 95 mixed-income units, from $710/month

Applications are now being accepted for 95 mixed-income units at a new development on the Lower East Side. Located at 55 Suffolk Street, The Suffolk rises 30 stories, contains 378 total residences, and boasts amenities like a rooftop pool, outdoor terrace, and fitness club. New Yorkers earning 40, 50, and 100 percent of the area median income can apply for the available apartments, priced between $710/month for studios and $2,810/month for three-bedrooms.
Do you qualify?

Affordable Housing

This $7M Sutton Place co-op honors the pre-war building’s Rosario Candela design

Photo credit: Evan Joseph

February 8, 2023

This $7M Sutton Place co-op honors the pre-war building’s Rosario Candela design

The 1928 co-op at 447 East 57th Street in quietly elegant Sutton Place is about as classic pre-war Manhattan as it gets. The 15-story building, designed by notable architect Rosario Candela, contains only 23 apartments, and this available sprawling four-bedroom co-op occupies the entire top floor. Asking $6,950,000, the nine-room residence is currently home to architect Stephen Corelli, who redesigned the space with an eye to Candela's legacy, while installing 21st-century amenities and timeless style.
Tour this Sutton Place home

Distinctive Homes

February 7, 2023

Proposed 13-story Soho building designed by Morris Adjmi is first to need LPC approval after rezoning

A New York City developer on Monday unveiled plans for the first development in Soho under new zoning rules approved by the city in 2021. United American Land (UAL) announced a proposal for a 13-story mixed-use building with 100 units of housing at 277 Canal Street, a landmarked three-story building on the corner of Broadway. The Landmarks Preservation Commission is expected to begin its review process of the project this summer, as Commercial Observer first reported.
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Lower East Side icon Economy Candy is opening new store in Chelsea Market

Photo of Economy Candy on Rivington Street by Cory Doctorow on Flickr

February 6, 2023

Lower East Side icon Economy Candy is opening new store in Chelsea Market

New York City's oldest retail candy shop is expanding for the first time in its over 85-year history. Economy Candy, which has been satisfying sweet tooths on the Lower East Side since 1937, will open a new location in Chelsea Market this week. Called "A Taste of Economy Candy," the store is a mini version of the original sweet shop, offering a selection of vintage treats and classic candies on rotation every month.
Sweet deets here

Uncategorized

New food hall at Hudson River Park’s Pier 57 announces full vendor lineup

Image courtesy of S9 Architecture

February 3, 2023

New food hall at Hudson River Park’s Pier 57 announces full vendor lineup

Market 57, New York City's newest food hall, is set to open this spring at Pier 57 at 15th Street in Hudson River Park. Curated by the culinary nonprofit organization James Beard Foundation (JBF) in cooperation with developer Jamestown, the new waterfront dining destination announced its full vendor list this week. With support from Google, the new food hall hopes to be an incubator for emerging culinary and entrepreneurial talent that has traditionally been underrepresented in the culinary industry, with a focus on women- and BIPOC-owned dining destinations.
See who's serving at Pier 57

Food & Dining

For $5.7M, this renovated Soho loft has the layout and luxurious finishes of a townhouse

Photo credit: Evan Joseph for The Corcoran Group

February 3, 2023

For $5.7M, this renovated Soho loft has the layout and luxurious finishes of a townhouse