234 East 35th Street, Unit 4

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234 East 35th Street, Unit 4

MIDTOWN EAST, MANHATTAN

2 Bed  |  1 Bath  |  Co-op

Offered At $760,000

MM: $1,472/Mo.

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Enjoy incredible comfort and ease in this meticulously renovated two-bedroom, one-bathroom home in a boutique Murray Hill cooperative.

Beautifully updated from top to bottom, you'll enjoy premium finishes and designer touches throughout this bright abode. Refinished hardwood floors and sky-high ceilings amplify light and air in the large corner living room featuring a wall of convenient closets, windows on two exposures and a stunning stone fireplace. Head to the windowed black-and-white kitchen to find great cabinetry and a full suite of top-notch stainless steel appliances, including a dishwasher and built-in microwave. Bedrooms are spacious with designer lighting and large closets, and the gorgeous bathroom features floor-to-ceiling tile, a glassed-in tub/shower and a modern vanity.

234 East 35th Street is a handsome brick building situated mid-block on a tree-lined Murray Hill street. This boutique co-op's generous board policies permit pets and subletting after two years of ownership, with approval. Featuring easy access to NoMad, the Flatiron District, Midtown and Kips Bay, the immediate area is filled with great shopping, dining and nightlife. Trader Joe's, Fairway and the AMC 15 theater are all nearby. Grand Central Terminal puts 4/5/6, 7, S and Metro-North trains minutes away, and the 34th Street Ferry Landing and Midtown Tunnel provide easy access to Queens, Brooklyn and beyond.

The Monthly Update - May 2019

Be Prepared for Rejection

Here’s a phenomenon worth considering: Co-op board rejections and non-granted waivers in condominiums based on price are far more commonplace in a buyer’s market than in a seller’s market. As a result, we are currently seeing multiple buyers forced to inflate the contract prices of the property they’re purchasing, followed by applying some sort of credit at the closing table, just so boards will give their stamp of approval or grant the required waiver.

Is this practice legal – that is debatable. But frankly, co-op boards have been doing this for years now. In Westchester, the local government recently passed a law that requires co-op boards to disclose the reason why they’ve turned down a potential purchase applicant. In New York City, however, that is certainly not the case. And if you think you’re safe purchasing a condo instead, waivers are frequently not granted for properties that show a less-than-desirable selling price. At The Hoffman Team’s most recent Monday morning meeting, a veteran of Wells Fargo with 20 years in the business told us that in just the last six months, he’s seen at least three waivers that were not granted in condominiums because of low asking prices. In fact, the condo boards decided to exercise their right of first refusal and purchase the units themselves — at a bargain, of course.

The fact is that in a buyer’s market with rapidly descending property values, co-ops and condos feel it’s necessary to “protect” their building's value by artificially inflating the price of contracts. Cash deals are the easiest to do this with as there is no limitation on the “seller's credit” back to the buyer. However, if you’re financing, all major banks will allow just 6 percent of the sale value to be credited back to the buyer — it’s called a closing credit.

The bottom line is this: We’re seeing more and more board rejections and failure to grant waivers based on price, so it’s imperative to understand that a low sales price could be rejected by the building. Yes, it’s completely unfair and should be remedied, but in today’s market, it currently goes on without regulation.

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COMPASS News

And the Webby Goes to...

Compass is delighted to be the recipient of this year's Webby Award for Best Real Estate Website! We're honored that our digital destination is helping clients like you find their place in the world every day.

Read more here.

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Compass Welcomes Stribling

We're excited to announce that Stribling & Associates has joined our growing team in the New York area! Sharing our values of collaboration, culture, and entrepreneurship, their team will be a welcome addition to the Compass family.

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Compass.com Has a New Look

We've revamped our homepage and added even more functionality to make it easier than ever to find homes you'll love. Click over today to check out properties in your area that you won't find anywhere else!

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Local Events

Five Boro Craft Beer Fest 

May 18, 2019 (4 to 9 p.m.)

Support local breweries at the Five Boro Craft Beer fest! With beer from 50+ craft breweries in the NYC area, the festival also features food from local restaurants and music by three bands. Located at the The Well in Brooklyn for age 21+, buy tickets here.

Shakespeare in the Park

May 21 - Aug. 11, 2019

An iconic NYC summer staple, Shakespeare in the Park returns on May 21st with the opening of Much Ado About Nothing. 

Hosted at Delacorte Theater in Central Park, patrons can attend by either paying to be a “supporter” or can get free tickets by joining a lottery or waiting in line. Click here for more info.

Fleet Week NYC 2019

May 22 - May 27, 2019

Ahoy, sailors! Fleet Week NYC 2019 honors the members of the United States Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps. Every year, the weeklong party kicks off with the Parade of Ships—a flotilla of visiting vessels and tall ships that cruise along the Hudson river—and continues with military demonstrations, a Memorial Day ceremony and more outstanding things to do around some great New York attractions.

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Manhattan Intersection Permanently Renamed To Honor ‘Sesame Street’

The city has officially renamed the intersection of West 63rd Street and Broadway in Manhattan “Sesame Street,” to honor the beloved educational program’s 50th anniversary. As part of a year-long celebration, Mayor Bill de Blasio was joined by Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Oscar, Elmo and other members of the “Sesame” crew at a renaming ceremony at the bustling West Side corner–the location of the Sesame Workshop offices. “We’re here because we believe in what Sesame Street means today and what it’s meant for half-a-century, what it’s done for our children.”

Mayor de Blasio spoke of the show’s focus on diversity of all kinds, at a time when such representation was rare, by reminding the assembled crowd that “the show made a choice long before most of the media had done it to show all of us, to represent all the people that make up our society, to show black and brown faces, young and old, male and female, and everyone on an equal footing. For my children that was profoundly important. My children, growing up in a multiracial family, to see the whole world presented through Sesame Street, was part of their growth, was part of how they gained a sense of their place in the world.”

In 2009, the city temporarily renamed a street to celebrate the show’s 40th anniversary, but this time the new street sign will stay put. The program is seen in 150 countries around the world, according to NBCNew York. A Starbucks-enhanced block near the rarified environs of Lincoln Center may not be what we envision when we’re trying to get to “Sesame Street,” but as the mayor put it, “There is also something beautiful for us watching when they were young to see our own city, even our own neighborhood portrayed in Sesame Street. And you cannot take the New York City out of Sesame Street, can you?

155 West 68th Street, Unit 1128/1127

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155 West 68th Street, Unit 1128/1127

UPPER WEST SIDE, MANHATTAN

2 Bed  |  2 Bath  | ~1,330 SqFt. |  Condo | Doorman

Offered At $2,199,000

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This rarely available 2 bedroom, 2 bath plus home office in the Dorchester Towers has been tastefully renovated throughout. The new kitchen offers a beautiful open concept with ample counter space, stainless steel appliances, soft close cabinets, and an abundance of storage. Adjacent to the kitchen is the large living room and dining area that gets flooded with natural sunlight from the eastern exposure with open city views. Both bathrooms are draped with marble walls and floors. Theensuite bathroom and the two spaciously built out walk in closets help enhance your experience of living in your king sized master suite with sliding doors that combine the bedroom plus the home office. Enjoy the convenience and a experience delivered through the full time building staff, which includes concierge and doorman, who will help you out of your car when being dropped off at the building’s porte-cochère. The building also features a fitness room, business conference room, package room, and the convenience of management on the premises.

Conveniently located moments away from destinations such as Lincoln Center Theater, Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Central Park, Tavern on the Green, Jean-Georges Restaurant, Levain Bakery, The Julliard School, Trader Joes, Express/Local Subway lines: 1,2,3, Equinox and other health clubs.

 

Grand Central Terminal’s Departure Boards Are Going Digital

Grand Central got a questionable makeover yesterday when one half of the retro Departures board was switched to digital displays. The controversial upgrade has been in the works since March and is part of Metro-North’s Way Ahead initiative which will replace the station’s gate boards, digital track indicators, departure monitors and platform displays with a new, modern system that promises brighter, easier-to-read, and more accurate displays that can help curb congestion in the busy terminal.

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Commuters have been largely critical of the change, which swapped the nostalgic Art Deco-inspired signage for a still hard-to-read blue gradient background and sans serif font. But there’s actually not a lot of history lost in the process.

Grand Central’s displays have been digital since 1996 when the original, split-flap Solari boards were replaced by an LED display made by the same company and designed to maintain the look of the analog version.

In a letter to the editor published in the New York Times in 1996, Patricia G. Horan wrote: “On July 17 the classic whirring departure board was removed from its time-honored place atop the ticket windows…On the day the old board disappeared I was standing next to a Metro-North conductor who stared at the gaping space and muttered, “Now I know why they waited for Jackie O.’s demise to do this.” Horan later added, “they’re destroying the very Grand Central Terminal they talked us into believing they’re preserving.”

The same upgrade hit Penn Station in 2016 when the Amtrak Departures board was replaced with smaller digital displays, inspiring strong reactions from the public. In addition, all of the stops along the Metro-North lost their Solari displays years ago in favor of digital ones. Even though the change isn’t surprising, it’s hard to look at the bright new boards and not feel like it’s the end of an era.

Via Twitter

NEW PRICE - 60 Sutton Place South, Unit 2HS

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60 Sutton Place South, Unit 2HS

SUTTON PLACE, MANHATTAN

1 Bed  |  1 Bath  |  Co-op | Doorman

Now Offered At $695,000

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Make lush garden views your daily backdrop in this gorgeous garden-level, one-bedroom, one-bathroom co-op home in highly sought-after Sutton Place.

Lined with oversized windows framing the building's private gardens, entire apartment fronting a secured roof garden. This spacious abode is filled with sunlight and has a rare and desirable indoor-outdoor ambiance. The outdoor wonderland, brimming with magnolias and hydrangeas paired with some architectural ingenuity produces a strikingly quiet and beautiful sanctuary that imparts a feeling of seclusion and tranquility. As a purely decorative space, the garden allows no foot traffic to interrupt your peaceful views or privacy. Tall ceilings and hardwood floors frame the bright and airy living and dining room which is large enough to configure a second bedroom out of and the adjacent kitchen offers tons of cabinet space and a convenient service entrance. The generously sized bedroom easily accommodates a king-size bed, and the windowed nook is an ideal spot for reading or lounging. Draped in Italian marble, the en suite bathroom is an upscale oasis, and four large closets placed conveniently throughout the home ensure storage will never be a concern.

60 Sutton Place South is a full service postwar cooperative boasting a circular driveway and porte-cochere entry. Residents of the pet-friendly building enjoy full-time doorman and concierge service, live-in superintendent, onsite parking garage, gym, storage, and bike room.

Located in one of New York City's most desirable enclaves, this fine neighborhood enjoys both residential tranquility and spectacular convenience. Dining, shopping, and services line the nearby streets of Midtown East, and the U.N. is just five blocks south. Situated directly across from the Sutton Place Park green, this lovely home is inches away from breathtaking East River views and outdoor space. Enjoy miles of uninterrupted waterfront paths for walking, running or biking along East River Promenade, or head under the 59th Street Bridge to find two well-maintained dog runs. Transportation is effortless from this accessible neighborhood with E, M and 6 trains and multiple bus lines nearby.

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321 East 54th Street, Unit 4A

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321 East 54th Street, Unit 4A

SUTTON PLACE, MANHATTAN

1 Bed  |  1 Bath  |  Co-op | Part-Time Doorman

Offered At $575,000

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Surround yourself in gorgeous period detail and fantastic closet space in this roomy and bright one-bedroom, one-bathroom co-op home in coveted Sutton Place.

Soaring beamed ceilings, handsome hardwood floors and sunny south-facing windows greet you in this approximately 750-square-foot abode. The living room provides a generous footprint for living and dining areas, while the oversized kitchen — accessible from both the entry and living room — has been beautifully equipped with a Gaggenau oven, Fisher & Paykel refrigerator, long granite countertops and timeless black-and-white tile. Another window here emphasizes the home's near-limitless sunshine. The king-size bedroom includes a wall of closets and open sky views, and the large bathroom features classic tile, painted tin ceilings and an oversized tub/shower. Two more hall closets and another in the foyer ensure that storage will never be a concern in this handsome prewar home.

321 East 54th Street is a breathtaking 1929 brick building featuring stunning limestone and wrought-iron details. This well-maintained cooperative offers part-time doorman service from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week, live-in superintendent, a huge laundry room, resident storage, bike room and a glorious roof deck with stunning skyline views. Generous board policies permit pieds-à-terre, subletting after two years and cats. Sorry, no dogs.

Located in desirable Sutton Place, with immediate access to both the Upper East Side and Midtown, New York's best shops, services and restaurants surround the neighborhood. Whole Foods Market is three blocks away, world-class luxury shopping lines nearby 57th Street, and Michelin-starred restaurants, like Aquavit and The Modern, are within blocks. Enjoy glorious waterfront outdoor space along the East River promenade. Abundant transportation options include E, M/F, 4/5/6 and N/Q/R/W trains all nearby.

Macy’s May Build A Skyscraper Above Its Flagship Store

Classic retailer Macy’s Inc. is in early talks with the city about the possibility of building an 800-foot-tall office tower above the company’s Herald Square flagship location, Bloomberg reports. The retail brand, which has a 10-story office tower under construction atop its downtown Brooklyn store, is looking at ways to leverage its prime real estate in the bustling midtown crossroads. In this case, the tower would be used as office space for other companies.

The company is considering a 1.2 million-square-foot (111,500-square-meter) office tower that would probably require zoning changes around the property to allow for a height of 800 feet. It is estimated that the office tower would mean an additional 6,000 people would be heading for Herald Square to work.

Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer has confirmed that she met with the retailer late last month about the office tower plan. Brewer said in a statement, “Such a major addition of square footage to the area will require major public improvements to the streets and sidewalks that surround the Herald Square neighborhood, and I look forward to Macy’s contributions to ensure that this part of Midtown and the Garment Center sees relief.”

The iconic flagship, opened in 1902 and expanded in 1924, was the world’s largest retail store until 2009 when it was one-upped by a South Korean department store. The new tower would sit above the older building with an entrance on 35th Street according to reports.

Macy’s CEO Jeffrey Gennette said on a February conference call with investors that the company is planning to work with city officials and community stakeholders to find a way to “unlock additional real estate value,” with more news to come later this year, and that the plans won’t stop the company from planning “a number of exciting enhancements” at the retail space this year. Gennette said, “Over the last year and a half, we have been working closely with a team of land-use, development and design experts to produce a menu of economically viable redevelopment alternatives. These could densify the real estate with complementary uses and will certainly preserve the store and enhance the customer experience.”

[Via Bloomberg]

340 East 64th Street, Unit 4G

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340 East 64th Street, Unit 4G

UPPER EAST SIDE, MANHATTAN

Conv. 3 Bed  |  2.5 Bath  |  Co-op | Doorman

Offered At $1,600,000

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Bring your contractor and create the phenomenal convertible three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom home of your dreams in a revered, full-service Lenox Hill condominium.

Spanning a luxurious 1,461 square feet in one of St. Tropez's most desirable, and rarely available, floorplans, this immense home offers an incredibly flexible layout ready to suit your exact needs. Currently configured as a two-bedroom, two-bathroom, this unit can easily accommodate the addition of a bedroom in the spacious dining alcove. The massive walk-in closet near the entry includes washer-dryer hookups, making it an ideal location for a powder room addition as other G-line residents have done. (See alternate floorplan for specifics.)

This coveted layout includes wide windows framing lovely treetop neighborhood views to the north and east. There are tall ceilings throughout, a gracious foyer entry and the bright windowed kitchen is big enough for full-size appliances and ample cabinetry. The expansive master suite features an en suite bathroom and three generous closets, including two walk-ins, and the second bedroom is positioned conveniently across from the full guest bathroom. Central heat and air ensure year-round comfort in this fine Upper East Side abode.

Built in 1964, St. Tropez has the notable distinction of being New York City's very first condominium. Today, the pet-friendly red brick building continues to delight residents with updated common areas, full-time doorman and concierge service, live-in superintendent, a fitness center, heated swimming pool, children's playroom, bike room, on-site parking garage and a dazzling roof deck.

Located on a tree-lined Lenox Hill block, you'll enjoy the perfect combination of residential tranquility and easy accessibility. Great shopping, dining and nightlife line every nearby street, and Central Park and the East River promenade provide extraordinary outdoor space and recreation. Transportation is effortless with F, N/Q/R/W and 4/5/6 trains all nearby.

There is a special assessment of $410.34/mo. 

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19 Contracts Signed At $4M+ Last Week

LUXURY MARKET REPORT 2019

Report on Contracts Signed
Manhattan Residential Properties
$4 Million and Above

April 15-21, 2019

19 Contracts Signed

Nineteen contracts were signed last week at $4 million and above, a decent Easter Week total when you consider the rocky state of the Manhattan luxury market.

The No.1 contract was 10B at 150 Charles Street, asking $14.95 million--and sold in only 98 days. The condo has 3,395 square feet including 4 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. A 26-foot great room, master suite, and library face the Hudson River. The owner purchased the unit off of floorplans in February 2013 and closed 3 years later for $13,275,554. Amenities include concierge, garage, fitness center, a 75-foot pool, a children’s playroom, and 33,000 square feet of landscaped garden space.

The No. 2 contract was PH3A at 1965 Broadway, asking $13.5 million. This unit in the Grand Millennium condo has 3,358 square feet including 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, 2 terraces, and Central Park and Hudson River views. A 22’ x 28’ living room with a fireplace opens onto 30-foot terrace. The apartment needs to be renovated.

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Plans For Second-Tallest Building In The Western Hemisphere Move Forward

Just one month after closing on 5 East 51st Street, a six-floor rental across the street from St. Patrick’s Cathedral, developer Harry Macklowe has filed demolition permits with the city, as CityRealty reported. This move brings Macklowe one step closer to realizing his vision for Tower Fifth, a 1,556-foot office tower that, if approved, will become the second-tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, surpassing Macklowe’s own 432 Park Avenue and coming in just short of One World Trade Center. (Tower Fifth’s roofline would actually be 216 feet above One World Trade Center’s but since its mast brings the building’s official height to 1,776 feet it would retain the title of the city’s tallest building.)

As The New York Times pointed out earlier this year, building Tower Fifth will involve a lengthy process due to its proximity to five landmarked buildings, including Rockefeller Center and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Alongside permission from the Landmarks Preservation Commission, Macklowe will also need to go through the city’s ULURP process to transfer air rights from St. Patrick’s. Since Tower Fifth is planned to be 66 percent larger than current zoning allows, Macklowe will require special permits, zoning approvals, and zoning changes to push the process forward. If approved, Tower Fifth would become Manhattan’s 18th supertall—a tower taller than 980 feet—that has been constructed since 2008.

As 6sqft previously reported, Macklowe Properties has tapped Gensler with Adamson Associates Architects for the design. The facade will be wrapped in a Closed Cavity system capable of reducing solar heat gain by more than 70 percent—the first of its kind in North America. The building would feature an 85-foot-high glass lobby framing St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Above the lobby, there would be shops, a food hall, and a public auditorium made of glass, overlooking the landmark. Tenant space would measure 960,000 square feet throughout the office floors, according to the architects. Amenities will include a lap pool, yoga room, and a multi-level running track.

Once complete, the building will also boast the city’s tallest observatory, from which apparently visitors will be able to descend via a 60-foot transparent corkscrew slide.

Despite the obstacles ahead, Macklowe is confident he will get another chance to redefine the city’s skyline. “Tall buildings are a reality,” he told the Times. “The days of restrictions on buildings are really over. This is a building that’s never been built before, a 21st-century building.”

[Via CityRealty]

17 Contracts Signed At $4M+ Last Week

LUXURY MARKET REPORT 2019

Report on Contracts Signed
Manhattan Residential Properties
$4 Million and Above

April 8-14, 2019

17 Contracts Signed

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Seventeen contracts were signed last week at $4 million and above, a disappointing total for the prime selling season of the year.

Stat Geek Alert: Only 3 condos were sold by developers, and of the 6 townhouses that went to contract, five were in the East 70s and 80s between Lexington and Park Avenues—and averaged under $10 million.

The No. 1 contract was PH905 at 1 West 67th Street, asking $11.995 million, reduced from $19 million when it was listed in June 2017. This triplex co-op has 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 3 powder rooms, and a 55-foot great room with over 18-foot ceilings. The top-floor master suite is surrounded by an 827-square-foot terrace. The unit is in the Hotel des Artistes, which was designed in 1917 and gained popularity with artists and actors. Amenities include doormen, a swimming pool, two workout rooms, squash court, roof garden, and the Leopard at Des Artistes restaurant.

The No. 2 contract was a townhouse at 182 East 75th Street, asking $11.5 million, reduced by $495,000 when it went on the market in March 2018. The 4-story, 18-foot-wide house has 5,850 square feet including 5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, a powder room, and an elevator. It was purchased for $9.28 million in May 2015 and then renovated.

400 East 77th Street, Unit 15K

400 East 77th Street, Unit 15K

UPPER EAST SIDE, MANHATTAN

3 Bed  |  2 Bath  |  Co-op | Doorman

Offered At $1,250,000

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With a spacious light and bright layout and gorgeous updates, this three-bedroom, two-bathroom co-op is the perfect high-floor haven in coveted Lenox Hill.

Spanning approximately 1,300 square feet with wide windows facing north and west, this corner home makes glorious light and endless open-sky views your constant companion. The inviting foyer is lined with roomy closets, while ahead, the huge living room stretches more than 28 feet long, providing elegant dimensions for seating and dining areas. Stunning hardwood floors pave the space, and an abundance of tall art walls welcome your collection. The convenient walk-through kitchen is stocked with top-notch stainless steel appliances, including a fully vented Jenn-Air range with convection oven, a Bosch dishwasher and a Sub-Zero refrigerator.

Head to the large master bedroom to take in eastern views, two closets and a renovated en suite bathroom with gleaming white tile and a walk-in shower. The adjacent bedroom features three more closets, ensuring storage will never be a concern here, and the second updated bathroom is positioned in the hallway. A converted third bedroom — accessible from both the kitchen and living room — could serve equally nicely as a media room or home office. Central air ensures year-round comfort in this serene Lenox Hill home.

Emery Towers is a classic white-brick postwar co-op where residents enjoy 24-hour doorman service, live-in superintendent and porters, modern laundry facilities with Wi-Fi, residents' storage and an on-site parking garage. Generous board policies permit pets and pieds-à-terre.

Located at the corner of First Avenue and 77th Street in desirable Lenox Hill, the best of the Upper East Side living can be found right outside this centrally located home. Abundant dining, nightlife and shopping are found in every direction. Central Park, John Jay Park and the East River Esplanade provide fantastic outdoor space, while the shops of Madison Avenue and the revered institutions of Fifth Avenue's Museum Mile await just a few blocks away. The Q and 6 trains and ample bus service provide effortless access to the rest of the city.

The NYPL Is Rolling Out The Bookmobile This Summer

It’s National Library Week, and the New York Public Library has taken the opportunity to announce that it will be expanding its presence in New York City’s neighborhoods this summer in the form of three new bookmobiles. The mobile libraries are headed to communities in the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island.

The three new bookmobiles–the first of which will undergo testing this month and begin service in the Bronx by June–are expected to hit the streets by fall. The rolling libraries inhabit 20-foot-long Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans sporting bright red paint and the iconic New York Public Library lion logo. Inside, 1,000 books that have been requested for checkout or are available for curbside browsing await. Two library staff members will be accompanying each bookmobile to aid with return or renewal and to help New Yorkers sign up for library cards and receive reference and reader services.

The bookmobile program was designed to supplement service when branches are temporarily closed for much-needed renovations and improvements–such as in the Bronx community impacted by the one-year closure of the Grand Concourse Library. Beyond supplemental service, the mobile libraries will also visit local schools, senior centers and high-traffic areas to engage the community and expand library service beyond the walls of local branches. The schedule and location of the bookmobiles will be available beginning this summer on the Library’s website and via social media.

The city-funded mobile libraries may be the first of their kind to serve the public in decades, but “book vans,” “bookwagons” and “traveling libraries” were used by the library throughout its 124-year history to bring books and information directly into the city’s communities.

New York Public Library Interim Chief Branch Library Officer Caryl Matute said in a statement, “We are so excited to roll out the next generation of New York Public Library Bookmobiles, which will allow us to take our books and services on the road and directly to New Yorkers in communities across our system. One of the best parts of being a librarian is engaging with New Yorkers, and this mobile library will give us new opportunities to do just that. We know that when kids and adults see the bookmobile coming, they’ll get excited to indulge in their next read, and we can’t wait to get started.”

325 Lexington Avenue, Unit 9C

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325 Lexington Avenue, Unit 9C

MURRAY HILL, MANHATTAN

Studio  |  1 Bath  |  Condo | Doorman | Roof Top | Gym

Offered At $921,000

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Premium finishes and breathtaking views make this a not-to-be-missed studio haven in a full-service Murray Hill condominium building.

 

A full wall of west-facing, floor-to-ceiling windows invites glorious light and open-sky views into the luxurious 500-square-foot studio. Wide-plank floors and soaring 10-foot-tall ceilings add designer style, while the fantastic layout ensures plenty of room for relaxed living and storage space. The sleek kitchen is the picture of modern minimalism and effortless functionality thanks to its striking walnut cabinetry, snow white quartz countertops and integrated appliances by Liebherr, Bosch and Bertazzoni. The bathroom is a spa-inspired escape lined with swaths of Calacatta marble, a chic floating vanity and relaxing rain shower. A massive walk-in closet, in-unit stacked washer-dryer and central air round out this beautiful home's abundant appeal.

Built in 2014, 325 Lexington is a modern condominium tower offering fantastic amenities and services. Residents of the pet-friendly, modern building enjoy 24-hour doorman service, on-site resident manager, a state-of-the-art fitness center and a stunning roof deck surrounded by iconic Manhattan skyline and river views.

Located on the corner of 39th Street and Lex, this Murray Hill home offers fantastic proximity to nearby shopping, dining and services along with great access to Midtown, Kips Bay and NoMad. Grand Central Station and Bryant Park are each just four blocks away, and transportation is unbeatable with S, 4/5/6, 7, B/D/F/M and Metro-North trains plus the 34th Street Ferry Landing and Midtown Tunnel all nearby.

14-Screen Regal Theater Opens at Essex Crossing - LES

The Lower East Side has a new movie theater. The Regal Essex Crossing opened on Saturday at 129 Delancey Street, as part of the nine-site project being developed by the Delancey Street Associates. The new theater contains 14 screens and enough space for 1,200 seats, which all recline and feature footrests.

According to Regal, the theater is equipped with “state-of-the-art cinema technology” to create an improved moviegoing experience. “We’re really excited about this new location in Manhattan and know moviegoers will love reclining while watching the latest blockbusters,” Richard Grover, the vice president of communications at Regal, said in a press release.

The theater is within a 26-story rental tower, dubbed The Essex, which launched earlier this year. Designed by Handel Architects, the rental features 98 units, a rooftop terrace, and a sixth-floor garden with hammocks, an urban farm, and grills.

The building, which sits next to the F/M/J/Z subway lines, also is home to the relocated Essex Street Market and the first phase of the Market Line, which will hold a combined 150 vendors.

The Regal adds a big mainstream theater to the Lower East Side neighborhood, which currently has a handful of indie film-focused cinemas. The area’s beloved, 1889-built Landmark’s Sunshine Cinema on East Houston Street closed its doors last year to make way for a glassy office building.

“When we began planning Essex Crossing, a movie theatre was high on Lower East Side residents’ list of needed community resources,” Andrew Katz, a partner at Delancey Street Associates and principal at the Prusik Group, said.

155 East 76th Street, Unit 7E

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155 East 76th Street, Unit 7E

UPPER EAST SIDE, MANHATTAN

2 Bed  |  2 Bath  |  Co-op | Doorman

Offered At $1,375,000

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Estate Sale. Perfect opportunity to create your dream home in the prestigious Queen Anne. South facing and flooded with sunlight, this huge 2 bedroom 2 bathroom has a separate dining area and comes with storage. W/D is also allowed with board approval. Enjoy direct southern views of the steeple and cupola of the landmarked St. Jean Baptiste Church across the way. Full service building including 24 hour doorman, live-in super, landscaped roof deck with open city views, fitness center, children's play room, bike storage, central laundry and garage. Pets friendly and No flip tax. Subletting allowed on case by case basis with board approval. Special assessment of $152.63 in place until Dec 2021. One block from 6 train on Lexington Ave and a stones throw from either Central Park or East Rive esplanade.

Service Changes No All Subway Lines Except The 6 & L This Weekend

It wouldn’t be the weekend without a more-than-fair share of MTA service changes, and that time of the week is upon us once again. Per usual, a number of trains will be skipping stops, running via wonky routes and with delays. See the full damage below.

1 trains skip 168 Street in both directions.

2 trains will run local in both directions between 96 Street and 14 Street in Manhattan. The Flatbush Avenue-bound 2 and 5 platform at Winthrop Street will be closed through July 2019. 2 trains will run every 12 minutes this weekend.

3 trains run local in both directions between 96 Street and 14 Street in Manhattan. There won’t be any 3 service between 148 Street and Times Square-42 Street, you’ll have to take a 2 or a free shuttle bus.

Woodlawn-bound 4 trains skip 183 Street, Fordham Road, Kingsbridge Road and Bedford Park Blvd in the Bronx. 4 trains run every 16 minutes between Burnside Avenue and Woodlawn in the Bronx. Some uptown 4 trains skip 170 Street, Mt Eden Avenue, and 176 Street.

In addition to the Eastchester-bound 5 platform at Gun Hill Road being closed (it will continue to be through September), Eastchester-bound 5 trains will also skip Morris Park, Pelham Pkwy and Baychester Avenue in the Bronx.

Uptown A and C trains skip Spring Street, 23 Street and 50 Street in Manhattan.

E trains run via the F in both directions between 21 Street-Queensbridge and 2 Avenue, which will be the last stop. E trains run will run local in both directions between 71 Avenue and the 21 Street-Queensbridge F station in Queens.

D trains will run via the N in both directions between 36 Street and Stillwell Avenue. Coney Island-bound D trains skip Union Street, 4 Avenue-9 Street, Prospect Avenue and 25 Street in Brooklyn. The 62 Street/New Utrecht Avenue Station D, N transfer passageway continues to be closed due to elevator repairs. D trains will run every 12 minutes.

F trains run local in both directions between 21 Street-Queensbridge and 71 Avenue in Queens. Downtown F trains skip 23 Street and 14 Street in Manhattan.

The M isn’t running between Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn and Essex Street in Manhattan, take the J or hop on a free shuttle bus.

There will be no N service between Ditmars Blvd and Queensboro Plaza, but you can take a free shuttle bus instead. The Coney Island-bound N platforms at Fort Hamilton Pkwy, New Utrecht Avenue, 18 Avenue, and 20 Avenue are temporarily closed. Coney Island-bound Ntrains will skip Union Street, 4 Avenue-9 Street, Prospect Avenue and 25 Street in Brooklyn. Downtown N trains skip 49 Street in Manhattan. N trains will run every 12 minutes.

Downtown Q and R trains skip 49 Street in Manhattan. Q trains run approximately every 10 minutes this weekend.

Bay Ridge-bound R trains skip Union Street, 4 Avenue-9 Street, Prospect Avenue and 25 Street in Brooklyn.

J service between Hewes Street in Brooklyn and Broad Street in Manhattan will be replaced by free shuttle buses, 4, 6, E, and F trains this weekend. The 111 Street J stop is temporarily closed.

Heads up, from Monday April 8 to May 6, Court Square-bound G trains will skip Flushing Avenue in Brooklyn. There won’t be any G service between Bedford-Nostrand Avenues in Brooklyn and Court Square in Queens this weekend, hop on a shuttle bus instead.

Per the whims of the MTA, there will probably be other problems, and the problems stated above are subject to change and worsen.

Dean & Deluca Debuts A New Fast Food Concept

Dean & DeLuca has unveiled a new concept—separate from the renowned gourmet market—which seeks to slow down fast food consumption and highlight the artistry that goes into preparing food. STAGE, which opened yesterday at 29 Ninth Avenue in the Meatpacking District, was designed by the German architecture firm Büro Ole Scheeren. It transforms the typical buffet counter into a theatrical space that allows customers to interact with staff and watch their food being prepared.

The titular STAGE refers to a freestanding food counter comprised of two horizontal volumes of mirrored stainless steel. One floats above the other to carve out an illuminated center which acts as a dramatic backdrop for the food and staff—the act of preparing food becomes a theatric experience. The reflective stainless steel surfaces mirror the space around it, creating a unique dialogue with its environment and opening up a strategy for possible expansion into more locations.

“Food—its creation, presentation, and enjoyment—is one of the most important shared human experiences. However, in this instance we are working at the one end of the spectrum that is by definition the least social: fast food,” says Ole Scheeren. “I conceived STAGE as a social magnet, as a spectacular futuristic showpiece that attracts and brings people together and encourages interaction between the people making and the people consuming food. In this way, it has a fundamental social and human ambition.”

STAGE will be open all day, serving sandwiches during the daytime and switching to dinner entrees in the evening. Across from the central island is a coffee and pastry bar which will serve wine and beer at night.

Joel Dean, Giorgio DeLuca, and Jack Ceglic opened the first Dean & DeLuca store in Soho in 1977. “Their original store was a veritable ‘Wunderkammer’ full of drama and surprises,” says Scheeren. “Their passion for what they did, combined with a deeply personal view of the qualities of food, its cultural relevance, and connection to other art forms—from opera, to visual art and display—inspired a whole generation of New Yorkers.”

In recent years, its high-end vision has struggled to compete with chains like Whole Foods. DeLuca sold most of the company to Pace Development Corporation in 2014 and there are only four remaining markets in Manhattan.

NYC Becomes First City In The US To Adopt Congestion Pricing

Drivers traveling in the busiest parts of Manhattan will be charged an extra fee under a new initiative approved by state lawmakers Sunday. The first of its kind in the country, the “Central Business District Tolling” program installs electronic tolling devices on the perimeter of a zone that covers all neighborhoods south of 60th Street in the borough, with the exception of the West Side Highway and FDR Drive. While details for the program remain unclear, including how much it will cost drivers, the congestion fees will not be implemented until 2021.

The new policy is part of the $175 billion fiscal year 2020 budget deal reached between the New York State Legislature and Gov. Andrew Cuomo over the weekend. According to the agreement, revenue from the tolls will help fund the cash-strapped Metropolitan Transportation Authority, as well as reduce traffic in the city’s busiest areas.

Eighty percent of the funds will be directed to the subway and bus network, with 10 percent each going to the Long Island Rail Road and the Metro-North Railroad, the New York Timesreported. Vehicles will only be charged once per day and tolls will be variable. To reach the $1 billion annually raised from the program, a task force convened by Cuomo last year said fees could cost cars nearly $12 one way and trucks more than $25.

Emergency vehicles and drivers with disabilities will be exempt from the fees. Credits will also be offered for those who live within the tolled district and for those who earn less than $60,000 per year.

A taxi surcharge went into effect in February, with a fee of $2.50 for yellow cabs and $2.75 for other for-hire vehicles. This raised the minimum taxi care to $5.80, and the minimum cost for services like Uber, to $10.75. A coalition of drivers in January sued to stop the fees, but a judge gave it the green light a month later.

The congestion pricing plan will be operated and maintained by the MTA’s Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA). The agency will also create a six-member Traffic Mobility Review Board to come up with the “tolls, exemptions, and credits” for the program.

Some say the review board, which will have commissioners appointed by the MTA, gives suburban representatives a louder voice on setting the congestion fees and variables than city representatives.

Nicole Gelinas, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute, tweeted on Sunday: “A new panel that the MTA will appoint, and that includes only one city rep OKed by the MTA, is now in charge of city traffic. By statute, suburban reps outnumber city reps 2:1. This is a revenue grab from the city, not congestion-management plan.”

The budget also involves a reorganization of the MTA, which Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio called for in a joint plan released in February. The overhaul must be developed by the agency by June. The reforms to the MTA also force the agency to undergo an independent forensic audit, as well as requires major construction projects to be reviewed by outside experts.