RE:CAP
A roundup of real estate-related happenings last month Compiled by Ann Imperatore
LUXE Developer Ofer Yardeni warns: the residential market is in a bubble that is about to pop! Also, called the High Line “completely overrated.”
Spotted in an UES Gristedes: Real estate developer/billionaire John Catsimatidis’ promotional bottled water from his 2013 NYC Mayoral run, being pulled out as an out-of-date product. We thought Trump had the RE-water market nailed.
This garden’s no party: Massive opposition to Frick expansion — due to proposed destruction of the Russell Page-designed Viewing Garden and the Reception Hall Pavilion, as well as the added construction of a 106-foot-high addition, equivalent to an 11-story building, in its place ... Guess the grass might remain greener on the other side.
Real Estate Marketing Blog (RealEstateMarketingBlog.org) suggests agents allow potential buyers to “try before they buy” a property, by making it an Airbnbtype situation, allowing prospective buyers to indulge in a slumber party at the listing.
Many of NYC’s biggest real estate players honored beloved Cushman & Wakefield broker Glenn Markman — a leading advocate for Brooklyn’s growth — upon his untimely passing, at his recent funeral.
Billions near Bryant Park — Ivanhoe Cambridge to buy Blackstone’s 1095 Sixth Avenue for $2.25B — the priciest sale of a single building since the GM building traded in 2008 for $2.8B.
Two paws up! The launch party for the firstever onsite 9,000-square-foot pet services amenity, known as The SPOT Experience (see what they did right there?) at Silver Towers at 620 West 42nd Street had everything. This BYOD event (Bring Your Own Dog) included: attendance by 102 people and 26 dogs, treats, prizes & animals up for adoption...
Pier 55 gets $130M bid to create a Fantasy Island, which will feature entertainment “programmed” by top showbiz talent led by Oscar-winning producer Scott Rudin.
Speaking of voyeurs and “private acts in bathrooms,” pay $8,000 a month to live at 14 E. 4th Street with a transparentwalled bathroom. Agent Natasha Zhuravsky of Citi Habitats: “The view is stunning!! … And available for private viewings.” We bet it is … on both counts. Ryan Serhant launches Upper East Side’s newest boutique condominium, 554 East 82nd Street, anchored by Carl Schurz Park and Gracie Mansion, on a MDLNY taping, with the maisonette already in contract!
WIN
FAIL
Idea #1: Let Them Try Before They Buy
Even though we are pretty sure “quant” can’t be used as a verb.
Little-known NYC cult, Congregation for the Light — dubbed the “Cult Next Door” — exposed at 160 E. 35th St. Worst part? Multi-million-dollar property is totally tax-exempt! Talk about selling one’s soul to the devil, deluxe real estateedition!
Can’t keep our eyes off this nerdy, yet fascinating Tumblr called “I Quant NY” at iquantny.tumblr.com. Says the site: “Every data set that the city releases tells a story. This blog is all about telling those stories, one data set at a time.”
Landlord installs cam to spy on tenant. Michel Kadoe — one of the two defendants named in the suit — denied the allegations, which included gathering at least 70 videos with hidden cameras of the young tenant involved in private acts in her bedroom and bathroom.
...and an appearance from Benjy Bronk (a SPOT client) and Elisa Jordana, both from the Howard Stern Show.
But the racy agent head shot by Zhuravsky (former Rookie of the Year) though!
In other “animals gone wild” news, pets continue to photobomb listings … and we love it. Everyday is #caturday in this lovely 135 Hicks Street library pic from Urban Compass. .
Tenant rents 1,600 square foot 2-bedroom duplex WITH A BACKYARD in the West Village for only $10/mo … and is now accused in a suit of tricking his dementia-addled landlord at 12 Minetta St. into a 50-year lease.
TRD launches Instagram page
Record 500+ pack MSG Theatre for “Real Estate Fight Night” — a mixed martial arts event hosted by Kensington Vanguard, Sahara Group and Alto Investments — to cheer on real estate pro and amateur Muay Thai master Chris Kwiatkowski of J.D. Carlisle.
These literal low-rent signs on poles throughout York Avenue from Keller Williams. These Rapid Realty-inspired tattoos.
Preet Bharara saves woman and her pit bull from eviction: The East River Housing management company had hoped to boot the mentally ill Grand Street resident and her service animal, but apparently they had barked up the wrong tree.
LOW RENT 118 December 2014 www.TheRealDeal.com
L+M Development, Bell Urban, HPD, HDC and partners celebrate the opening of Utica Place — 100 percent affordable housing for veterans and families in Crown Heights; the $26.5 million development will provide 87 new homes for low-income families, including 26 units for U.S. vets.