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Sorry, Brooklyn Heights Did Not Set a Property Value Record

There’s been a lot of excitement in various forums since Curbed reported that a “Brooklyn Heights penthouse” sold for $20 million, a record for any residential property in the Borough of Brooklyn. Oddly, the New York Post story Curbed cites gives the correct location of the penthouse: Brooklyn Bridge Park. The Penthouse sits atop Quay Tower, seen in your correspondent’s photo, taken from the Promenade, looming over One Brooklyn Bridge Park. It’s what’…

Top 5 Stories on Brownstoner This Week: Backyard Design, Affordable Housing in Greenpoint

Affordable Housing Lottery Opens for 31 Units in Greenpoint, Starting at $1,288 a Month An affordable housing lottery has opened for 31 newly constructed units in an eight-story building at 12 Eckford Street in Greenpoint. The building, constructed after a number of lots were combined, is known as the 470 Manhattan… Read More >The post Top 5 Stories on Brownstoner This Week: Backyard Design, Affordable Housing in Greenpoint appeared first on Brownstoner.

Stanley Chera, titan of NYC retail, dies of coronavirus

Stanley I. Chera, who parlayed his father’s Brooklyn department store business into one of New York real estate’s biggest retail empires, reaped huge rewards from the city’s emergence as a global shopping destination and used his wealth and connections to play kingmaker for Donald Trump, has died from complications of the coronavirus, making him the most high-profile industry casualty of the global pandemic. Chera’s death on April 11 was confirmed to The Real Deal by

What You Need to Know About Reverse Mortgages

Before you sign any papers, it’s very important that you understand everything you need to know about Reverse Mortgages. Seniors, are you having trouble getting through retirement? Have you’ve heard about Reverse Mortgages and how other seniors have pulled the equity out of their homes to help them get through retirement? Does all this Reverse Mortgage information confuse you? It’s important to understand what a Reverse Mortgage is as well as the benefits and risks of this type of loan before you sign any papers. Banks offer information on these types of loans, but you may find…

De Blasio calls for rent freeze for NYC’s rent-stabilized tenants

Max Touhey The city’s nearly 1 million rent-stabilized units may be subject to rent increases this year Amid calls for New York City to freeze or suspend rents for the duration of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the city will move forward with determining the hikes (or lack thereof) its nearly 1 million rent-stabilized apartments. During a press conference, Mayor Bill de Blasio said that the Rent Guidelines Board’s review process, which determines annual rent increases for the 1 million stabilized apartments in the city, will proceed as normal, albeit remotely. However, he called on the RGB to enact a rent freeze instead of raising costs for New Yorkers. “Look at the facts: The greatest economic crisis in generations, thousands of New Yorkers …

Top 5 Stories on Brownstoner This Week: A Serene Park Slope Apartment, Planning for a New Fence

The Insider: Serene Vibe, Farmhouse-Style Kitchen Transform Park Slope Railroad Apartment One of the owners of a vintage row house, which had long been a down-at-the-heels rental building, chose the bright top floor as a home for herself and her two children. She hired Warwick, N.Y.-based designer Elizabeth Aurandt of Mercer… Read More >The post Top 5 Stories on Brownstoner This Week: A Serene Park Slope Apartment, Planning for a New Fence appeared first on Brownstoner.

Brooklyn landlord voluntarily waives April rents at all 18 properties

Mario Salerno isn’t the only good landlord in the city of New York, but he’s quickly becoming one of the most well-known. Salerno waived rents for all 80 tenants in all 18 of his apartment buildings — no questions asked — to ease the financial pressure felt by many in the age of coronavirus, according to the New York Times. Residents found signs from Salerno posted near their buildings’ front doors informing them that he

How to Work Together as a Team and Get Through a Crisis

Now’s the time to work together as a team and get through our current situation. Be kind. Stay home. And call your friends, family members, and neighbors. When a crisis strikes, working quickly to get ahead of it is key. And working together as a team is the quickest way to work through any crisis because together we’re stronger. Everyone responds differently to a crisis. But we all have different and unique abilities. That’s why we need to work together! Together we complement each other’s strengths to manage and get through tough times. But how exactly, do we …

‘Do I pay rent or do I have money to live?’

Renters are facing economic uncertainty because of the COVID-19 pandemic. | Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images New York City renters are grappling with tough decisions and mulling rent strikes amid the coronavirus pandemic On the first of every month, Eduardo, a graphic designer, walks the three blocks from his Astoria apartment building and drops his rent check for $2,100/month into his landlord’s mailbox. But on April 1, there was no check. Work has dried up, and a new roommate who was set to move into Eduardo’s two-bedroom apartment pushed back his plans. That left him with an impossible choice: …

BHA Annual Meeting: BQE, Clark Street Station, Empty Storefronts, and More

Wednesday’s Brooklyn Heights Association annual meeting began with a summary, by BHA President Martha Bakos Dietz, of BHA’s accomplishments during the previous year.  First among these was the apparent elimination of the city Department of Transportation’s plan to demolish the Brooklyn Heights Promenade and replace it with a temporary six lane highway. Both the expert panel appointed by Mayor de Blasio and the City Council have now rejected that plan. Still, Ms. Bakos Dietz said, there is work to be done. The BHA has joined with…

Arts and Crafts Kinko House in Crown Heights With Built-ins, Juliet Balcony Asks $1.625 Million

This is an unusual one, an Arts and Crafts duplex house in the Crown Heights North III Historic District overflowing with exterior charm and original interior details. Located at 1040 Sterling Place, it is one of the early examples of a specific duplex house design known as the Kinko Duplex… Read More >The post Arts and Crafts Kinko House in Crown Heights With Built-ins, Juliet Balcony Asks $1.625 Million appeared first on Brownstoner.

These small US cities have exploding luxury markets

The shift from the nation’s top markets to secondary markets is accelerating. Coldwell Banker’s “State of Luxury 2020� report picked out several secondary markets to watch alongside some larger markets that still have room to grow, according to Inman. The top markets to watch are Boise, Idaho; Charlotte, North Carolina; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Fort Worth, Texas. The list was based on an analysis of job and population growth against sales-price-to-list-price ratios, days

How Much Should You Offer for a Fixer-Upper?

Don’t make an offer on a fixer-upper until you’ve counted the cost of the renovations it needs first! Are you thinking about buying a fixer-upper? Can you really afford to buy it and fix it up, too? How much will fixing it up really cost you? These are key questions that need to be answered. It’s extremely important that you assess the real cost before you buy it. For without that information, you won’t know how much to offer for a fixer-upper. But don’t fret…

Gorgeous loft in Brooklyn’s old Eagle Warehouse building wants $2.35M

Photos: Donna Dotan, courtesy of Compass The breathtaking unit has a dazzling clock that offers views of the Brooklyn Bridge New Yorkers have many real estate dreams, like living in a West Village townhouse, or owning a brownstone in Park Slope—or, you know, being able to afford anything in this city. But what about living behind a historic clock with waterfront views? One such breathtaking apartment within a historic Old Fulton Street building has just hit the market, asking $2.35 million, Mansion Global first reported. The 1,260-square-foot…

Focus on Brooklyn Designers: What’s New at ICFF 2014

The International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF)—one of the centerpiece events of New York City’s design week— opens to the public on Tuesday, May 20th at Jacob K. Javits Center in Manhattan. Last Saturday, I visited the fair and caught up with some of the Brooklyn designers who are exhibiting and were featured in our book Design Brooklyn. ********** Pelle, founded by Jean and Oliver Pelle, has a studio located in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Recently, they put together a new catalog of their design…

Bay Ridge Bungalow With Pool and Garage, Plus Three Others to See, Starting at $1.3 Million

This weekend’s open house picks remind us of coming warmer days, including an early 20th century house in Bay Ridge with an above-ground backyard pool and deck, and another nearby with a front porch, both around $1.53 million. We also have a Greek Revival four-story brick townhouse in Boerum Hill… Read More >The post Bay Ridge Bungalow With Pool and Garage, Plus Three Others to See, Starting at $1.3 Million appeared first on Brownstoner.

Fredrik Eklund talks LA condos, the mega-luxury market and patience

“Million Dollar Listings� star broker and recent Los Angeles transplant Fredrik Eklund says condominiums are the new wave in his new West Coast home, where mansions in the hills have been the default in the luxury stratosphere. The Douglas Elliman broker told Mansion Global that new projects in L.A.’s tony neighborhoods like Beverly Hills are presenting new options for buyers. Eklund is selling units at the recently built 8899 Beverly building. “Vertical living didn’t used

What I Really Love About Brooklyn, New York

I love my home in Brooklyn, New York! Since February is all about love, let’s talk about it. Our love for the place we call home, that is. I am a Brooklyn native, a Brooklynite who speaks Brooklynese. This iconic NYC borough has been home to me for 62 years. And here’s what I really love about Brooklyn, New York, my home. About Brooklyn, New York There are many reasons to love Brooklyn, New York: colorful assortment of people, culture, food, activities to enjoy! Size Of…

Brooklyn Heights Association Annual Meeting Wednesday Evening, February 26

The Brooklyn Heights Association will have its 2020 Annual Meeting this coming Wednesday evening, February 26 at Founders Hall, St. Francis College, 180 Remsen Street (between Clinton and Court).  The meeting starts at 7:00, but you’re advised to come early. Last year’s meeting was standing room only for later arrivals. All are invited; you need not be a BHA member to attend.This year’s meeting will feature a panel discussion, followed by Q&A from the audience, on the problem of empty storefronts and how to keep…

In Morningside Heights, a community wants to plan its own future

Caroline Spivack/Curbed NY The Council is crafting a plan with uptown locals in what could be a “new pathâ€� for neighborhood rezonings When Robert F. Stern looks at a 33-story condo tower rising on West 122nd Street, the longtime Morningside Heights resident sees a missed opportunity. That neo-Gothic-inspired building, the Vandewater, includes 183 apartments billed as the “height of luxury,â€� with multi-million dollar price tags to match. Though it stands out from the Manhattan neighborhood’s mostly low- to mid-rise buildings, it complies with the existing zoning (which hasn’t been touched since 1961) and was not required to go through the city’s seven-month public review process—and thus, didn’t come with extra community benefits like affordable housing. The Vandewater, which …