SoHo 'Gallery' Showcases Adoptable Cats And Dogs

“Take me to your tiny home” reads a sign hanging above a rather luxurious-looking cat-lounge. “I leap tall buildings in a single bound,” adorns a topmost cubby, garnished with a black and white cat. 

If you want to kick it with some Instagram-worthy cuties this weekend, go no further than Manhattan's new Pet Adoption Center that opened on Tuesday at 307 West Broadway. 

The state-of-the art facility showcases adoptable animals from nine local and regional organizations, including the Animal Cares Centers of NYC (ACC) “in a gallery style setting.” They get the full-treatment until they get new homes.

It also has a 24-hour nursery devoted entirely to bottle-feeding the most vulnerable of the homeless pet population and a neo-natal unit designed for newborns rejected by their mothers—very common during the summer, “kitten season.”

The Pet Adoption Center, led by the Best Friends Animal Society and a coalition of nearly 1,800 animal activist organizations, is committed to a furthering a “no-kill” philosophy and was established to raise awareness of the nearly 5,500 dogs and cats in the U.S. sent to permanent slumber every day.

It's a "mission control center" to educate visitors and spread the word about implementing a national policy for a 90 percent save-rate by 2025. The current national average is 69 percent.

“New York has done an incredible job and been on the verge of being a no kill city,” said Elizabeth Jensen, executive director of Best Friends Animal Society. “In 2004, New York had a less than 50 percent save rate, and finished 2016 with a save rate of 89 percent which is incredible.”

The Pet Adoption Center is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Ralph Lauren Closing Flagship Store

Ralph Lauren announced Tuesday that it will close its flagship store on Fifth Avenue and 55th Street, citing falling revenue and rising rents. As reported by the New York Times, the company, which opened this location in 2014, plans to reorganize by investing more in their online stores. Keeping afloat a business on New York City’s most expensive shopping strip is not a problem unique to Ralph Lauren; Kenneth Cole, Juicy Couture, and H&M have also recently closed their doors. Soaring rents, plus a drop in tourism, has lead to an increase in vacant space along Fifth Avenue.

While rents continue to skyrocket for a square foot of retail space on Fifth Avenue, with an average asking price almost $2,900 per square foot, these companies also have to deal with e-commerce and fewer tourists to spend money in their brick-and-mortar stores. According to the Times, “From 49th to 60th Streets, the availability rate of leases — one gauge of turnover — reached 15.9 percent at the end of last year, up from 6.1 percent five years earlier.” Plus, as 6sqft previously learned, New York City officials expected a drop in tourism from foreigners after President Trump first announced his travel ban, a decline for the first time in seven years. This could play a significant role in the city’s overall economy, as foreign tourists tend to spend more than domestic travelers.

Shares of Ralph Lauren fell nearly 4.5 percent, closing at $77.74 on Tuesday, the biggest same-day drop in two months. In the most recent quarter, Ralph Lauren’s total revenue fell more than 12 percent to $1.7 billion and the company has cut 1,000 jobs and also plans on closing 50 stores by the end of this fiscal year.

Closing the flagship store comes after an announcement in February that chief executive Stefan Larsson was leaving the company, due to “creative differences.” Larsson’s job included leading the company’s reinvention by focusing on more creative designs that would be produced faster. Ralph Lauren’s Polo store officially closes April 15, but its seven other stores in the city remain open.

[Via New York Times]

159 Madison Avenue, Unit 11I

159 Madison Avenue, Unit 11I

MIDTOWN, MANHATTAN

Offered At $450,000

Studio  |  1 Bath  |  Co-op

Maintenance: $1,389/ mo.

 

This sunny studio offers loft-like living space, great storage and coveted co-op amenities in the perfect Midtown South neighborhood.

Take in warm western light, hardwood floors and extra-tall ceilings in this wide-open studio offering a flexible floor plan ready to accommodate generous living and sleeping areas. The open kitchen is outfitted with full-size appliances and plenty of cabinet space, while the breakfast bar provides convenient seating for casual dining. An oversized bathroom with dressing area and walk-in closet round out this comfortable home, ideal for full-time or pied-à-terre use.

159 Madison is a handsome prewar co-op building offering a full time doorman, storage, laundry on every floor, plus a beautifully landscaped roof deck. The well-maintained co-op has a renovated lobby and hallways, and offers storage units placed on each floor (at an additional fee, subject to availability). Guarantors, co-purchasers, parents buying for children, pied-à-terres and dogs up to 40 pounds allowed with board approval. Surrounded by the Kips Bay, Murray Hill and buzzy NoMad neighborhoods, the location represents the best of Manhattan living with great restaurants, shops and entertainment at every turn. Madison Square Park is 10 minutes south and Bryant Park is 10 minutes north, providing easy access to open space and a full calendar of outdoor events. Access to transportation is superb thanks to 6, N/Q/R/W, B/D/F/M and PATH trains all nearby.

Tyra Banks' Enormous Duplex On The Market For $17.5M

Two years ago, Tyra Banks put her gigantic Battery Park City pad on the rental market for $50,000 a month, but the Times now reports that she’s decided to part ways with it completely, listing the 7,000-square-foot Riverhouse duplex for $17.5 million. Banks, who welcomed her first child last year, is spending most of her time at her homes in Los Angeles and Northern California since her new makeup line is headquartered in LA and both of her hosting gigs–for “America’s Got Talent” and “America’s Next Top Model”–also film there. She did, however, tell the Times that she’ll miss “the feeling of having a home in the sky.”

The condo was was originally four separate units on the 22nd and 23rd floors, which Banks bought in 2009 for $10.3 million. She then embarked on a massive renovation, which didn’t sit so well with her neighbors due to “ear-rattling drilling” and paint fumes. She outfitted the home with “rich fabrics, textured wall coverings, exotic wood details and ornate light fixtures” to make it feel like less of an apartment and more like “a single-family home with finishes and an experience like one would have in the Hamptons or even in an estate in Los Angeles,” she told the Times in an email. She also made sure to configure the apartment for “maximum privacy” with various wings to accommodate staff, business associates, and family.

The new owner (or renter–the home is still available for $50,000/month) will get five bedrooms, eight bathrooms, several kitchens and kitchenettes, a gym, hair salon, and amazing Hudson River and Statue of Liberty views. Other details include oak panel flooring, a banquet table that Banks said was designed to look like “a booth at a Michelin-starred restaurant,” and a mirrored dressing room.

They’ll also have access to the all the amenities (a yoga studio, fitness center, and saltwater lap pool, to name a few) at the eco-friendly Riverhouse, where Leonardo DiCaprio is also a resident. Though, Tyra did divulge that she’s never run into Leo in the building: “He was always that elusive spirit that so many people talked about. I’ll miss my houseguests trying to spot you in our building.”

The Monthly Update - April 2017

So, where is the market headed?

This is the question on the mind of every buyer and seller in the market today. On the one hand, there are plenty of encouraging signs from all over the media and blogosphere. The broker-coveted Oshlan Luxury Market Report, for example, noted last week that 330 contracts at the $4 million-plus price point were signed in the first quarter, a 33 percent increase over the same period in 2016. But (and there always seems to be a "but" in this market), the average days on market is over 390 days with a 7 percent drop from the original asking price. Sellers were probably willing to negotiate even further given the average days the properties spent on the market in this price point.

Where the high end market goes the rest will follow, right? Not necessarily. We are finding our higher end listings, while popular with appointments, are a bit slower to receive offers given the amount of inventory, again, that's borne out by Oshlan reported average days on market. This is in stark contrast to our "affordable" inventory, which can see as many as 18-20 buyers at each open house and offers within the first or second week. Even though we saw the Fed vote to raise interest rates last month, there was actually a slight dip in rates at the consumer level, which is a likely a contributing factor for the strong response for the more affordably priced homes in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Well, that and the fact that inventory in that sector is limited and not likely to grow any time soon.

Whether high-end or affordable, there is no real answer to the question, "So, where is the market headed?" But — and I’ve harped on this a thousand times before — the current market is so price sensitive that the placement of your asking price relative to other listings in the area can be the difference of selling in 3 days or 300 days.

Looking Back At What Closed...

The 2,649 total closings in the first quarter was down 11% year-over-year. This decrease was related to weak contract activity in 4Q16 (down 12% Y-o-Y), which was attributable to high asking prices and the uncertainty regarding the U.S. presidential election. New development closings continued to decline this quarter (down 20% Y-o-Y), though it should be noted that they are not indicative of the current market due to their delayed and often clustered closing schedules. The median closing price of condos decreased 6% year-over-year to $1.7M but the median closing price of co-ops increased slightly by 1% to $778K.

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Discovery’s ‘Cash Cab’ Trivia Show Is Coming Back

The Discovery Channel hasn’t debuted new episodes of “Cash Cab” since 2012, but that is now planned to change later this year.

The Hollywood Reporter just exclusively reported that Discovery is working on new episodes that will feature guest hosts from “the worlds of comedy, film and TV” as the drivers. Original host and driver Ben Bailey will apparently not be returning. The network has yet to announce a main host for the show.

Comedian David Steinberg (who has directed episodes of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and produced various comedy specials) will executive produce.

For those unfamiliar with the original series, “Cash Cab” is a game show from 2005 where passengers in a taxi try to answer trivia questions before they reach their destination. Contestants could earn hundreds of dollars by answering these prompts correctly.

The original show had a bit of controversy when former contestants came forward to reveal the premise was faked. Rather than the cash cab randomly picking up unsuspecting passengers as the show implies, producers would cast contestants beforehand. The money exchange between the contestants and host at the end of their rides was also apparently staged, as the show would mail the contestants checks afterward.

These are certainly not egregious falsehoods, but the magic of hoping you could be picked up by the cash cab at any moment in New York was gone.

At least a couple of the original producers from All3 Media’s Lion USA, Tony Tackaberry and Allison Corn, are back to executive produce again.

It remains unclear if the new “Cash Cab” will be formatted similarly to the original or if there will be changes to the game show’s model. 

The Cost Of Exporting Trash From NYC Is Going To Soar

As the population of New York City continues to rise, so does the amount of garbage lining its sidewalks. But getting all this trash out of sight is not an insignificant expense. As the Post reports, a new study by the city’s Independent Budget Office (IBO) has found that the price of exporting trash is swelling and there appears to be little remedy in sight.

The report, released last week, found that the annual bill for waste export rose to $316 million in 2015, from around $300 million from 2010-2014. In 2021, two more marine transfer stations will open (of four total; one is open is Queens), and that figure will turn into $421 million annually.

Moreover, the IBO found that long-term waste contracts that use marine transfer stations to process trash and ship it away from the city have become more expensive per ton than short-term contracts that use local landfill space. Under long-term contracts, exporting trash to landfills increased from $63.39 in 2007 to $129.81 in 2016. Long-term contracts were initially employed to save money and protect against the price fluctuations of short-term contracts—they were also the main driver for building additional marine transfer stations.

The report does say that per-ton-costs for the marine transfer station contracts are likely to stabilize or decline as they process more trash, but it’s also noted that “Over the next few years, however, as the remaining stations begin to operate, the city’s per-ton waste export costs will likely continue to be higher than the existing short-term contracts they replace.”

In response to this uptick, Mayor de Blasio has included additional funding for the Department of Sanitation in his preliminary four-year budget. In all, about $89 million will be added to the sanitation department’s budget from 2018-2021. The mayor, however, added no new funding for 2017.

Despite rising costs, the city continues to make clean streets a priority. As 6sqft previously covered, the city’s sanitation department spent $58.2 million last year to keep the streets clean, an increase from the $49.5 million spent the previous year. The budget included expanded routes, the addition of more workers to empty sidewalk trash cans, and added Sunday service. Last year, Staten Island got its first street sweeper.

First Look Waterline Square’s Trio Of Towers

Last month, we announced that construction of GID Development Group’s three-building master plan along the Upper West Side waterfront is on the rise. Named Waterline Square, the ambitious-in-design megaproject enlists three high-profile architecture firms for each of the buildings: Rafael Viñoly Architects, Richard Meier & Partners and Kohn Pedersen Fox. Now the development team has unveiled the trio of designers that will shape the interiors: Champalimaud, Yabu Pushelberg and Groves & Co.

One Waterline Square is being designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Richard Meier and will rise 36 stories tall from the superblock’s southwest corner at West 59th. International-designer Champalimaud is in charge of the 288-unit building’s interiors. Per the press release, “Champalimaud sought to marry the precision of Meier’s exterior with great warmth.” The two finish palettes: white and a natural toned selection, celebrate the individual character of each home and showcase high ceilings, enormous windows, and a rich selection of handpicked materials from around the world. The studio’s other local works include the condominiums at the Kent, the Chamberlain and 12 East 88th Street.

Two Waterline Square is being designed the internationally-prolific firm of Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF). The cascading two-towered building will be the master plan’s largest and hold 696 residential units along its 38 floors. Acclaimed boutique hotel and hospitality duo, Yabu Pushelberg are refining the buildings’ spaces. Two modern finish palettes are offered for the homes, either light or dark, with each enhancing the refined sense within the light-filled residences. Yabu Pushelberg is best known in the city for their cozy and comforting interiors at One57’s Park Hyatt New York.

Three Waterline Square is being designed by 432 Park Avenue-designer Rafael Vinoly Architects. The 34-story building’s sculpted crystalline form will be surrounded by green space and accommodate 244 units. Interiors designed by Groves & Co showcase dramatic views of the park, river and city. Like its two peers, buyers can choose between two finish palettes: oak or ash. Positioned near the center of the master plan, the building will

Sales at Waterline Square are officially planned to launch in the coming months and delivery is projected in 2019. Waterline Square is the ambitious culmination of the 77-acre Riverside South Master Plan that has been more than 50 years in the making. Waterline Square’s towers will provide 1,132 high-end condo and rental homes in a variety of configurations and finished. The residences will be benefitted by gracious views of the Manhattan skyline and Hudson River along with 100,000 square feet of "sports, leisure and lifestyle" amenity spaces. Buffering the towers will be a three-acre park designed by Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects that will contain groves of trees, walking paths, a great lawn, a playground and water features.

‘Fearless Girl’ Statue Will Remain On Wall Street For Another Year

The drumbeat for making the statue of Fearless Girl a permanent fixture in Lower Manhattan continues. Over the weekend, Mayor Bill de Blasio said the bronze statue of the little girl staring down the Wall Street bull, which had been installed to celebrate International Women’s Day, will remain through February 2018. But that hasn’t satisfied several female elected officials, who have continued to insist the empowering symbol should remain forever.

Bioswales Face Backlash From City Residents

While you may have never heard of the term “bioswale,” you have probably seen these curbside gardens throughout the city. A bioswale, or rain garden, is a pit dug into the sidewalk that’s been filled with rocky soil and shrubbery. These gardens absorb polluted stormwater and prevent runoff that could seep into waterways through the sewer system. Despite being an effective solution to water pollution, the New York Times reports that some city residents are crying out against find bioswales, calling them unattractive, messy, and hotbeds for trash and pests.

As storms become more frequent because of climate change, and especially in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection has recognized the need for even more bioswales. The city’s sewer system is combined, meaning when a storm comes, rainfall mixes with raw sewage water flowing from homes and buildings. If it rains a lot, the waste overflows untreated into local waterways, like the Bronx River, Flushing Bay, Gowanus Canal, Jamaica Bay and Newtown Creek. Each bioswale costs about $26,000 to build, and as part of the city’s $1.5 billion investment in green infrastructure, over 3,000 bioswales have been created in parts of Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. The city is considering placing some in Manhattan.

Critics of the bioswales say not only are they an eyesore in the neighborhood, but they create mud pits perfect for mosquito breeding (the city, however, says the pits drain within 48 hours). Even city official Tony Avella, a Democratic state senator, has voiced his opposition to bioswales. Avella, who represents Queens, has held a couple of anti-bioswale rallies, criticizing the city’s lack of communication with community groups. Last summer, he filed a petition to opt-out of bioswales, and in January of this year, Avella said he wanted to fully opt-out of the program, foregoing soil testing completely.

“I understand the logic,” Avella said. “But that doesn’t mean that anytime you think you have a good idea, you have the right to roll over everybody and do it. This is a democracy, not a dictatorship.”

The city plans to continue constructing bioswales, but resistance from locals has led to some changes. Now, residents can choose between swales that either look like lawn grass or ones hidden under concrete. Plus, the city is in the process of hiring more than two dozen workers to maintain the bioswales and dispose of any garbage.

Eric A. Goldstein, the New York City Environment Director for the Natural Defense Council told the Times: “New Yorkers often object to changes in their neighborhoods. But rebelling against the city paying to green up local streets, is really something else.”

Ellen DeGeneres Lists California Estate For $45M

Ellen DeGeneres may be best known for her talk show and her role in “Finding Dory” and “Finding Nemo,” but the comedian really should be known for her house flipping.

After selling her Hollywood Hills home (for the second time) for $10 million in August, and listing her home near the Los Angeles Country Club for $7 million in October, she and her wife Portia de Rossi are now listing their grandest property yet; a 17-acre estate in Montecito, Santa Barbara for $45 million.

The couple bought the house in 2013 for $26.5 million, according to the Wall Street Journal, and put a lot of money into renovating it (including buying the two adjacent properties). They used stone excavated from the property to build an entertaining pavilion, which comes with a sun room, dining room and outdoor kitchen with a pizza kitchen.

Perched in the hills Santa Barbara, the main house is 10,500 square feet, and has six bedrooms, six bathrooms and two half bathrooms. There are nine fireplaces, 18-century tiles, rustic beams, many libraries, two swimming pools and a tennis court

Artist Who Created Wall Street’s ‘Charging Bull’ Angered By ‘Fearless Girl’ Statue

The creator of the iconic Wall Street “Charging Bull” is snorting mad over the appearance of the bull’s new companion, artist Kristen Visbal’s bronze “Fearless Girl” statue. 76-year-old Arturo di Modica, the artist who made the iconic sculpture that, like its young challenger, was installed in the wee hours, says the girl is “an advertising trick,” reports MarketWatch.

Di Modica sculpted the 7,100-pound bronze bull and installed it without permission as a gift to the city in 1989, intending for it to symbolize virilty after the 1987 stock-market crash had robbed the Street of some of its thunder. The defiant young girl in high tops was installed by international asset management company State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) just ahead of International Women’s Day on March 7 to bring attention to the need for more women on corporate boards–and for more female business leaders in general, as 6sqft previously reported.

The septuagenarian Sicilian immigrant said “Women, girls, that’s great, but that’s not what that (my sculpture) is. I put it there for art. My bull is a symbol for America. My bull is a symbol of prosperity and for strength.” Though Di Modica has profited from the licensing (he owns the copyright) of New York’s second most-popular sculptural attraction after the Statue of Liberty, he feels it’s not fair to compare his artistic contribution to the finance company’s “corporate marketing effort.” Di Modica’s main point is that the 50-inch girl changes the context of the bull, recasting it as an oppressor.

The new statue’s temporary permit expires on April 2, but there is a movement afoot to make it permanent; online petitions and local elected officials are at work on a campaign to keep the “Fearless Girl,” which now has its own Twitter page and hashtag, in place.

Swale Floating Park Returns This Spring

With spring officially here, it’s the perfect time to visit your favorite park. While there are plenty to choose from, there’s only one that floats on water. As reported by Time Out, Swale, the collaborative “floating food forest,” which let visitors pick free produce last summer, is back with an updated design: a floating apple orchard and perennial garden. In a collaboration with Strongbow, the newly designed barge will set sail throughout Manhattan waters, hitting Hudson River Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, and Concrete Plant Park.

Last summer’s Swale was built on a 130- by 40-foot floating platform and contained an edible garden. Its goal was to function as both a sculpture and a way of providing free healthy food to NYC residents. The artist behind Swale, Mary Mattingly, works in sculpture and photography that focuses on environmental, economic, and political change. In 2014, Mary created a partially-submerged houseboat on the Delaware river called WetLand that served as artists’ residences.

The new floating apple orchard and perennial garden begins its tour at Hudson River Park, Pier 25 from April 20 through June 15. Next, it will hit Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 6 from June 15 through August 1, and finally, it will conclude at Concrete Plant Park in the Bronx from August 1 through November 15.

30 Contracts Signed At $4M And Up

The city’s luxury residential market in 2017 still looks to be in pretty decent shape, with 30 contracts signed in the over-$4 million market last week.

The total sales volume for the week was $201.4 million, according to the weekly report from Olshan Realty.

Out of the 37 contracts signed, 23 were for condominiums (with an average asking price of $6.6 million). Six contracts were on co-ops ($7 million) and one contract was signed for a townhouse asking $9.5 million. The average discount from original ask to last asking price was 7 percent.

Last week, the top contract was on unit 11 at Anbau Enterprises’ 207 West 79th Street. The five-bedroom apartment was last asking $12.5 million. It spans 4,205 square feet and features a south-facing “great room” with seven casement-style windows that offer “classic Upper West Side Views.” Anbau’s development was approved by the New York State Attorney General’s Office in November, and the developer is shooting for a $142.8 million sellout.

The no. 2 contract was on a co-op at 19A at Emory Roth-designed 875 Fifth Avenue, asking $11 million — down from the original price of $13.2 million when it was first listed in July 2014. The unit is a combination of two apartments, and features two bedrooms, four bathrooms and a 44-foot terrace, the listing shows.

According to Olshan, the median asking price was $5.9 million and average days on market was 306. In the third week of March last year, 24 contracts were signed with a median asking price of $5.7 million.

Recent figures from city brokerages show a boost in the city’s luxury market. A report from Stribling & Associates last week found the number of contracts signed on properties priced over $5 million so far in 2017 jumped 29 percent year-over-year.  [Olshan] — Miriam Hall

100 West 12th Street, Unit 4J

100 West 12th Street, Unit 4J

WEST VILLAGE, MANHATTAN

1.5 Bed  |  1 Bath  |  Co-op

Offered At $1,039,000

Maintenance:  $1,892 / mo.  |   Part-Time Doorman 

full listing here
 

Welcome home to a renovated, oversized one-bedroom in the perfect Greenwich Village location! Situated on quiet and quaint West 12th street, the apartment features large living spaces, great storage and modern updates.

No detail has been spared in this home's careful renovation. The large windowed kitchen is the perfect combination of country style and downtown chic with great cabinetry, Caesarstone countertops and a striking glass-tiled backsplash surrounding full-size stainless steel appliances. The large living room and dining area offer plenty of room for entertaining and relaxing, with a portion of the living room currently configured with French doors to accommodate a nursery. The original layout can easily be restored at the owner’s expense.

The extra-large bedroom features big windows facing north and west, a wall of closets and plenty of room for a king bed and furniture, while the sleek renovated bathroom includes spa-like tile and fixtures and a sunny window. Storage and organization will never be an issue in this well-planned abode with a total of five closets designed by California Closets completing the floor plan.

The Mark Twain is a well-run, intimate co-op offering a part-time doorman, full-time maintenance staff, laundry room, bike and residents' storage, plus brand-new hallways and lobby. The pet-friendly building allows co-purchasing and subletting but pied-à-terres are not permitted. Ideally situated at the crossroads of Greenwich Village, West Village, Chelsea and Union Square, the location simply cannot be beat. Some of the best restaurants, shopping and gourmet food stores are just a short stroll away and access to transportation is unbelievable with B/D/F/M, L, 1/2/3, A/C/E, 4/5/6, N/Q/R/W and PATH trains all nearby.

Massive Target store coming to Midtown

Big-box retailer Target is continuing its increasing expansion throughout the five boroughs with another smaller-format store, this time in a huge location: According to the New York Post, the chain is planning a 43,000-square-foot outpost on 34th Street, right across from the Macy’s flagship store.

In just the past few months alone, Target has announced plans for three new stores in the city—in Midwood, Hell’s Kitchen, and the East Village—along with opening its “flexible-format” (i.e. smaller and aimed at city dwellers) store in Brooklyn’s City Point megaproject. The Midtown store will be smaller than that Brooklyn location, and will share space with a Foot Locker and a Sephora.

Given the location—in one of the city’s most tourist-filled areas, and close to Penn Station—it’s unsurprising that Target wants to target out-of-towners with this particular outpost. (One way they’ll do that: grab-and-go food options will be located near an entrance on 33rd Street, closer to where people would enter Penn Station.) The bi-level store will sell the usual things you’d expect from Target—clothes, inexpensive housewares, beauty products, etc.—and will also have a CVS pharmacy.

It’s not like there isn’t competition for Target in this particular area: there’s a Kmart just a block away (and right next to one of Penn’s many entrances), along with retailers like Jack’s, a discount store on 33rd Street. But it doesn’t seem like the company is worried: “It speaks to the strength of the location because today in New York City, if the retailers can’t make money, they won’t take the location,” Anthony Malkin, the CEO of Empire Realty Trust (which brokered the deal), told the Post.

Assuming all goes according to plan, the store will open in October of this year.

ICYMI MetroCard Fare Hike Started Sunday

In case you missed it because you've been blissfully ignoring it, the latest MTA fare hike goes into effect this Sunday, with increases coming to weekly and monthly MetroCards. For now, the price of a single ride ticket will remain at $2.75.

Under the new plan, which was approved by the agency in January, a 7-day pass will cost $32, up from $31, while the 7-day express bus and unlimited subway pass will increase to $59.50 from $57.50. Additionally, the unlimited monthly pass will increase from $116.50 to $121—up nearly 4 percent.

Following the vote, MTA Chairman Tom Prendergast noted that the decision to keep single-rides unchanged "benefits riders who pay cash on the bus or load less than a round trip on a MetroCard, and are more likely to be low-income riders." Other board members argued that the freeze on the base fare only seemed desirable, and that the plan to increase the cost of a single ride to $3.00 would actually benefit riders through a higher bonus.

In any case, the cost of taking the train will increase on Sunday, a biannual tradition like congressional elections or torrential flooding. Meanwhile, subway conditions are deteriorating, and Governor Cuomo's proposed executive budget includes a $65 million cut in state contributions to the MTA (despite his promise five years ago that he wouldn't do this, in exchange for cutting one of the MTA's primary revenue streams).

Is it sustainable to continue taking away funding streams from the cash-strapped MTA while sticking riders with the bill? Probably not, according to at least one MTA board member.

"If you take [these] fare hikes to their eventual conclusions, at some point there will be a $10 fare and $50 tolls," said board member Andrew Albert, a Transit Riders Council appointee, back in January.

Until then, here's a nifty little calculator that'll help you get an even number of rides on your MetroCard under the new rates. 

11 Cool Online Stores For Home Decor

In the age of Amazon, shopping for great design online has never been easier. Here, we've rounded up a handful of our favorite sites offering something special when it comes to home decor and design. From handcrafted artisanal chairs to sleek ceramic objects 3D printed on-demand, the eclectic wares in these online stores are worth a look (or at least an open tab).

Unison

Specializing in bright and bold textiles, Unison teams up with independent designers and artists for unique prints. Their excellent selection of bedding even extends to playful, modern designs for kids.

Ollie Box

This micro-apartment spin-off takes the guesswork out of mixing and matching housewares. The company's curated sets of tableware and home goods are the main draw, but the site also offers single items and chic removable wallpaper.

Bulletin

An online and brick-and-mortar marketplace for independent designers, Bulletin sells everything from high-design quilts to art prints, furniture, and soap. The curated selection and simple site design make perusing the store a pleasure.

The Citizenry

Traveling all over the world, The Citizenry partners with local makers to create items of high-quality modern design -- including furniture, textiles, lamps, and decor -- that are far from generic. Everything in the store is a handcrafted limited edition.

Kwambio

Kwambio offers high-end decor and jewelry items created by emerging designers and 3D-printed on-demand. But if you're thinking cheap plastic trinkets, you're wrong. The chic and playful objects sold on the site are made of ceramic or a variety of metals.

Coming Soon

This New York-based design store has an online component almost as compelling as visiting their brick-and-mortar location. The store mixes vintage finds with new designs, but all their items have a colorful quirkiness with an undeniable pull.

Collyer's Mansion

Based in Brooklyn, Collyer's Mansion offers a collection of eco-friendly and sustainably made wares with a global flair. Selling everything from furniture to art and accessories, the eclectic online store is worth checking out.

A+R

A+R

Chock full of playful modern furniture from designers all over the globe, A+R is a great place to branch out from your typical design classics. The store prides itself on showcasing new work from top designers with a strong aesthetic.

Momosan Shop

This curated collection of finely crafted housewares is hand selected by Momosan founder Momoko Mizutani. Each object’s simplicity and quality workmanship evokes a traditional Japanese aesthetic with modern flair.

Maison Numen

Every object in Maison Numen’s collection was chosen for the story it tells, from the production process or object's cultural origin to the tale of its creator. The inaugural collection features sustainable, fair-trade, and handmade housewares from Venezuela, Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, and Colombia.

Beklina

This color-loving, California-based shop has everything from housewares to jewelry and clothes. The selection of Moroccan rugs and eclectic decor is particularly look-worthy.

108 East 66th Street, Unit 3B

108 East 66th Street, Unit 3B

Upper East Side, MANHATTAN

1 Bed  |  1 Bath  |  Co-op

Offered At $859,000

Maintenance: $1,251/ mo.

 

This rarely available, endlessly charming pre-war one-bedroom, just two blocks from Central Park and tucked a short 300 feet in from Iconic Park Avenue is the perfect city home in the heart of Lenox Hill. 
This quiet and serene newly renovated apartment is the ideal escape after a busy day in the city. Enter through the gracious foyer to be greeted by an open kitchen, dining area and wide open living room. Everything in this apartment has been carefully and beautifully renovated from top to bottom with new doors, and crafted crown molding. The kitchen is well-stocked with a stainless steel Liebherr refrigerator, a Bertazzoni gas stove with Miele vented hood, and GE Profile dishwasher. The bedroom has sunny windows facing south, wall to wall custom built in closets and a newly renovated en suite bathroom. As an added bonus, washer dryers are permitted in the apartment with board approval. From the moment you walk into the pristine lobby, you will want to call this lovely building your home or Pied-à-terre.

Built in 1926, 108 East 66th Street is a handsome brick building located within the Upper East Side Historic District. The self-managed co-op features just two apartments per floor and offers laundry, virtual doorman and a part-time superintendent. Set in prime Lenox Hill, you're surrounded by one of the best neighborhood's in the world. The historic Seventh Regiment Armory offers a full calendar of events and exhibits directly across the street, while the renowned boutiques of Madison Avenue and beautiful Park Avenue vistas are within blocks. Central Park is minutes away, putting the Central Park Zoo and Wollman Rink just beyond your doorstep The nearby 6 train and cross town bus offers excellent access to the rest of the city. ** Furniture also being sold if interested**

Full Listing Here

255 Years Ago, The First Recorded St. Patrick’s Day Parade Was Held In NYC

Sure, New York has plenty of interesting history, but who would have thought the first recorded St. Patrick’s Day parade was held not in Ireland, but in our fair city? It was on March 17, 1762, 255 years ago and 14 years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, that Irish soldiers serving in the British army marched to honor the Catholic feast day of St. Patrick, their country’s patron saint. With Irish immigrants flocking to the United States, and in large numbers to New York, in the mid-19th century, the parade became an annual tradition and spread elsewhere in the country.

The parade in 1904 at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street via NYPL

Though the parade itself and sources like the History Channel cite 1762 as the first parade, other outlets note the following year. Bowery Boogie, for example, writes:

Many books and archived newspaper articles cite March 17, 1763 as the first St. Patrick’s Day celebration–claiming it was held not as a parade, but as a breakfast meeting at the Crown and Thistle Inn on Whitehall Street. Then in 1779, the annual breakfast turned into a staged parade where “400 Irish volunteers marched behind a British band from Lower Broadway to a tavern on the Bowery.”

I guess we can’t be 100% certain on the parade’s founding date, but we are sure that it’s the largest Saint Patrick’s Day parade and the oldest civilian parade in the world.

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