Catskill Home Prices Plunging

Here's what you can get for $279K

and it comes with 1.6 acres of land

Some sellers have had to reduce prices by a third or more which means that many house prices have dropped below $200,000. A Catskills real estate blog, blog.catskill4sale.com called the situation an “economic Armageddon.”

How bad is it? In November, Sullivan County’s largest brokerage, Yeager Realty, with 40 agents closed their offices, after a 24-year run because business is so bleak. The New York Times drills down and gives a better look at the current housing environment in the Catskills. NYT

This house is only $185K

5+ acres of land

Listings:
Top house: $279K in Woodstock / 4 bedrooms Westwood Realty
Bottom House: $185K in Barryville / 4 bedrooms David Knudsen

Super Model Gemma Ward in East Village

19 year old Gemma Ward

Letting people take your picture naked sure pays well these days. Super model Gemma Ward, who is Vogue magazine’s youngest-ever cover girl, paid $1,525,000 for a co-op unit at 232 East 6th Street over the summer. The three-bedroom, 1,600 sq. ft. co-op on is between Second and Third avenues and was originally three units. In the summer of 2005 an apartment two floors up sold for $290,000. If you go back a few more years it was one of those East Village tenement things…oh my how times change everything.

She was also seen dating Heath Ledger from time to time. Here are a few pictures from her new apartment.







And now that she lives in the EV. New York Magazine wanted to find out where she hangs out in the neighborhood.

NYM: What's the best meal you've eaten in New York?

Gemma: I have had my fair share of four-hour lunches at La Bottega at the Maritime Hotel, but it's a great hang and the margherita pizza is fantastic.

NYM: Where do you get your coffee?
Gemma: The Australian cafe Ruby's on Mott Street. You can't beat an Australian flat white.

NYM: What's hanging above your sofa?
Gemma: A collection of antique mirrors and pictures.

NYM: What do you hate most about living in New York?
Gemma: Sirens and rubbish trucks at five o'clock in the morning.

read the rest at NYM

Obama Loves People From Westchester

Geithner's house in Mamaroneck

Barack Obama seems to love Westchester. He has named Mamaroneck resident Timothy Geithner to be his treasury secretary. His chief of staff Rahm Emanuel attended Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville and one of Obama’s transition advisors Christopher Edley Jr. grew up in New Rochelle. Chappaqua resident Hillary Clinton is very likely to become Secretary of State and Bedford resident Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could possibly become Secretary of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Gordon Ramsey Jr.?

Gordon Ramsey seems right at home here in New York. First, he opened an awarding winning restaurant in midtown. Naturally he started looking for a place to live here in Gotham and he looked at a number of places in Chelsea.

Then things got interesting. News started pouring in that the bar at his midtown restaurant, The London, was a hot spot for hookers and Johns. That was followed up by a very public affair with his mistress.

In an attempt to divert attention from all of this bad press, we just found this video that suggests that his son is about to become the new celebrity chef in town. Move over dad...here comes junior.

Little Gordon - part 1

Condos with a 110% Money Back Guarantee

The View at East Coast

Now with the market in the gutter, and many gleaming new condominiums lingering on the market, the Rockrose Development Corporation has come up with a pitch to ease the fears of jittery buyers: a five-year money-back guarantee.

At the View at EastCoast, in Long Island City, just across the East River from Manhattan, Rockrose is offering — at least to the next batch of buyers who step up to sign contracts — a promise to buy back apartments in five years at 110 percent of the sales price.

Under the guarantee, on the fifth anniversary of the closing, buyers will have 90 days to return their apartments to Rockrose for 110 percent of the purchase price. However, the buyers will have to pay all closing costs, including transfer taxes and the sponsor’s legal fees.

The view from the west facing units

Gwyneth Paltrow at Home in the Hamptons

At home in The Hamptons

When asked by Gotham whether she feels "off duty" at her house in Amagansett, actress Gwyneth Paltrow says, "I work really hard there." She goes on to say that being there feels "like running an inn." Why? "We have a lot of guests, which is fantastic, but sometimes I feel so tired," Paltrow says. In fact, by this summer's end she had pneumonia. "I think I just overextended myself,"

Read the follow interview here: Gotham Magazine

We love this combination

The living room


my absolute FAVORITE


Apple's room

Master bedroom


Gwyneth's yoga and pilates studio

The Dining Room Where Buckley Reigned

The tables are still set at the Park Ave home of William F. Buckley Jr.

He is said to have hosted 1,200 formal events here

It was understood that one would take a cocktail in the Red Room before the servants came with the summons to dinner. So it went for more than 40 years in William F. Buckley Jr.’s dining room on Park Avenue and 73rd Street, the centerpiece of the grand conservative thinker’s Manhattan pied-à-terre. It is said that Mr. Buckley hosted 1,200 formal events there — extravagant evenings to complement the green silk walls and the chartreuse sateen leopard-print chairs.

from NYT

Tommy Hilfiger Married in Greenwich

Tommy Hilfiger Gets Married at his House in Greenwich
(p.s. the house is for sale)

Tommy Hilfiger married Dee Ocleppo in a secret wedding at his home in Greenwich. The couple had been dating for 3 years.

He bought the new-construction spec property in 2005 for $18,000,000. After moving in, he quickly put it back on the market for $22,000,000 The 20,000 sq ft, house goes by the name of “Stone Hill”. The mansion sits on four acres at 435 Round Hill Road in Greenwich and has some very nice details:

9 full baths
3 half baths
a tennis court
a basketball court

Stone Hill from the front gate

The pool

A view from the backyard

Take a look at the full listing: Sothebys Homes

Jennifer Connelly Closes in Prospect Park

Jennifer Connelly has finally closed on the sale of her 5,243 sq ft mansion at 17 Prospect Park West. We reported way back in June of the sale but it wasn’t finalized until November 17. She got a number that was very close to her asking price of $8,500,000.

The actress has lived there since 1989. After buying the house, it suffered “two massive floods that completely trashed the whole kitchen,” according to an interview with New York magazine in 2005. “Water coming out of the light fixtures. Pipes burst. Twice! They dispatched the fire department.” Even so, Connelly told the magazine that the house has “a nice backyard and a place for the bicycles.”

The following year, New York magazine described the house at 17 Prospect Park West as being “one of the most beautiful in all of Park Slope. Nestled on a shady corner opposite Prospect Park, it is distinguished without being ostentatious. Its Ionic columns and great arched windows seem typical rather than showy. The garden — the disrepair of which was once, Park Slope blogger tells me, a cause of consternation for some neighbors — is now a well-maintained torrent of tulips in varying shades of oxblood, peach, and white.”

We are not sure if she was naked for any of the open houses but that is none of our business.

Learn more about the sale: Jennifer Connelly

Our Favorite Food Writer

Even Our Favorite Food Writer Has a Tiny Apartment

Mark Bittman is the darling of The Times’ Dining section; a treasured sidekick of Batali and Vongerichten; and America’s foremost home cook, with a conscience. Pictured above in his 7' x 8' kitchen in his New York apartment.

Mark Bittman likes to shop at Fairway on 74th Street before heading 25 blocks uptown to his 1 bedroom apartment that he shares with Kelly Doe (also of the NY Times).

Outside of the tiny kitchen, the apartment is decorated in classic Upper West Side style with floor to ceiling bookshelves. He was born in Manhattan and grew up in Stuyvesant Town.

Read more: NYO

Bees in NYC

Bees play an important part in keeping this city alive and beautiful. You can still find fresh honey from New York City bees. Just don't tell the NYPD.

David Graves, owner of Berkshire Berries and one of Greenmarket’s Producers, keeps hives on some carefully selected roofs in New York City. From these hives he has been gathering and selling New York City honey for eleven years. Krissa

Legalize Beekeeping in NYC

Question: What do cities like Atlanta, Chicago, Portland, Paris, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, and Vancouver have that NYC does not?

Answer: Legalized beekeeping.

Bee keeping is currently illegal in New York City by way of The New York City Health Code, Section 161.01 Honeybees are garden heroes! Honeybees help gardens grow more fruit and vegetables and produce sweet honey. They are nature’s best pollinators and contribute to productive harvests in community gardens, public parks and nature centers.

Learn more and sign the petition at JustFood.org

US Seizes Terrorist Owned 650 Fifth Avenue

650 Fifth Avenue was built for the Shah of Iran

The United States Federal Government announced that it is seeking the forfeiture of a 40% interest in the 36 story office tower 650 Fifth Avenue at 52nd Street, alleging that the company which owns these shares is illegally transferring money to Iran, Hamas and other terrorist groups. The profits from this building are massive. This money have have been used to support anti US fighting in Iraq over the past 7 years.

We are shocked that it has taken so long for anyone in Washington to figure this out. Anyone who’s know’s their NYC history might be aware of the very public fact that the building was designed and built for the Shah of Iran in 1979. That is some pretty sad intelligence work considering that the NY Times did a number of stories on it during the time.

The NY Times also had a very interesting story about the odd business practices going on there in the early years. Here is the story from 1982. Didn’t this set off any alarms??? NYT

The remaining 60% of the building is owned by the Alavi Foundation

Lincoln Center Construction Update

Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center is set to reopen in February but it looks like they still have a lot of work to do. The larger Lincoln Center renovation redesign won't be complete until 2009/10. The current issue of Time Magazine takes a closer look at the history and the future this landmark performance art center. TIME

RECENT SALES: December 2008

Manhattan
FINANCIAL DISTRICT $1,096,306
99 John St.
Two-bedroom, two-bath condo, 1,153 square feet, with windowed kitchen, washer/dryer and high ceilings; building features doorman and gym. Common charges $702, taxes $292. Asking price $1,275,000, on market 13 weeks. Broker: Denise Rosner, Halstead Property

GREENWICH VILLAGE $585,000
250 Mercer St.
Prewar studio co-op, 640 square feet, with western exposure; building features doorman, garage, roof deck, laundry and storage. Maintenance $1,139, 70 percent tax-deductible. Asking price $625,000, on market two months. Broker: Laura Weinkam, The Corcoran Group

KIPS BAY $325,000
126 E. 30th St.
Prewar studio co-op in a townhouse, 350 square feet, with living room with mirrored walls and alcove kitchen with stainless-steel appliances. Maintenance $535, 52 percent tax-deductible. Asking price $325,000, on market four weeks. Broker: Robert Hicks, Weichert Realtors - Mazzeo Agency and Renee Fishman, Halstead Propery

UPPER EAST SIDE $610,000
400 E. 70th St.
One-bedroom, one-bath condo, 600 square feet, with new kitchen; building features doorman, garage, gym, laundry and storage. Common charges $413, taxes $465. Asking price $624,000, on market five weeks. Broker: Floriana Argento, Weichert Realtors - Mazzeo Agency

UPPER WEST SIDE $2,325,000
100 Riverside Blvd.
Three-bedroom, 3½-bath condo, 1,601 square feet, with Miele and Sub-Zero kitchen appliances, limestone baths and 1,218-square-foot terrace; building features doorman, garage, courtyard, gym, meeting room and playroom. Common charges $1,662, taxes $82, Asking price $2,325,000, on market 27 months. Broker: Jeff Nolan, The Corcoran Group

WEST VILLAGE $485,000
99 Bank St.
Studio co-op, 500 square feet, with home office, separate kitchen and floor-to-ceiling loft windows. Maintenance $691.20, 46 percent tax-deductible. Asking price $525,000, on market four weeks. Brokers: Brian Lewis and Gloria Macri, Halstead Property

Brooklyn
FORT GREENE $1,120,000
1 Hanson Place
Prewar two-bedroom, two-bath condo, 1,306 square feet, with living room with 16-foot ceilings and arched windows, open kitchen with lacquer cabinets, Viking appliances and dishwasher, walk-in closets and central AC; building features doorman, gym, storage and playroom. Common charges $856, taxes $246. Asking price $1,130,976, on market 30 weeks. Broker: Chris Benfante, The Corcoran Group

WILLIAMSBURG $540,000
170 N. 11th St.
One-bedroom, one-bath condo, 682 square feet, with washer/dryer, high ceilings and central AC; building features parking, roof deck and laundry. Common charges $121, taxes $33. Asking price $540,000, on market four weeks. Broker: Jordan Silver, The Developers Group

Queens
LONG ISLAND CITY $435,000
41-26 27th St.
One-bedroom, one-bath condo, 732 square feet, with renovated kitchen, renovated bath and hardwood floors; building features doorman, roof deck, gym, laundry, storage and live-in super. Asking price $455,000, on market 25 weeks. Common charges $37, taxes $26. Broker: Alan Shaker, The Developers Group

The Bronx
RIVERDALE $287,500
5800 Arlington Ave.
Two-bedroom, one-bath co-op, 800 square feet, with stainless-steel kitchen appliances and wall-to-wall carpeting; building features doorman, pool, gym and tennis courts. Maintenance $771, 50 percent tax-deductible. Asking price $299,000, on market 12 weeks. Brokers: Daniel Wright, Halstead Property and Weichert Realtors

Staten Island
HUGUENOT $540,000
763 Ionia Ave.
Three-bedroom, 2½-bath hi-Ranch, 2,052 square feet, with eat-in kitchen, washer/dryer, rec room, central AC, and garage. Taxes $3,559. Asking price $569,000, on market 41 days. Broker: Sari Kingsley Real Estate

Westchester
CORTLANDT MANOR $524,000
3 John Cava Lane
Four-bedroom, 2½-bath Colonial, 2,862 square feet, with living room, family room, fireplace, eat-in kitchen, sunroom, walk-in closets, basement with rec room, washer/dryer, deck and two-car garage. Taxes $12,473. Asking price $554,900, on market nine months. Brokers: Karyn Reichbach, Houlihan Lawrence and Grace Patalano, River Towns Realty

Kelly Ripa Talks About Her House

Not her kitchen!

Kelly Ripa confesses to the NY Post that at a certain point it becomes a necessity to be able to fix things yourself," "I've been married a long time, but when I was a single girl living in the city, there was a time I fixed everything myself."

Q: Tell us about your home and how you renovated it.

A: It was a two-year renovation, and I had to deal with the Landmarks [Preservation Commission] in order to get our building permit. They don't allow barriers or any kind of structures that change the look of the outside. You can't put just any permanent barriers up, so we did natural borders with strong trees around our house - all bamboo and hollies. When you are down on the street, it looks like a forest. When you look up, you would never know someone lives up there!

Q: What is your favorite room in your home and why?

A: The laundry room is my favorite room because I spend so much time there! Between my kids - who are 11, 7 and 5 - I'm always washing clothes. I really would like a chandelier in the room, and I asked my husband, Mark, to hang one. He just put a TV in there for me, and I love it!

Read the rest: NYP

Around the Water Cooler: January 3, 2009

State Senator Andrew J. Lanza is planning to introduce legislation to call for his borough to secede from the rest of New York City. (NYT)

Atlantic Yards Project Falling Apart, Gehry Fires Staff (WSJ)

Neighbors Helping to Build a Better Jackson Square (Chelsea Now)

"I'd say that 80% of all new developments across the city have been postponed or canceled," (NYDN)

People are living in nice houses for FREE because empty mansions don’t show well. (NYT)

Air Conditioned Beaches in Dubai

Versace, the renowned fashion house will create the world’s first refrigerated beach so that hotel guests can walk comfortably across the sand on scorching days. The beach will be next to the new Palazzo Versace Hotel. Summer temperatures in Dubai average 104 feenheight and can reach 122f so we imagine that it will be bot expensive to run and popular with their rich guests.

In order to pull this off, the beach will have a network of pipes beneath the sand containing a coolant that will absorb heat from the surface. Naturally, the swimming pool will be refrigerated too and there are also proposals to install giant blowers to waft a gentle breeze over the beach. (Treehuger via Curbed)

Palazzo Versace

Caroline Kennedy at Home in NYC

Caroline Kennedy has asked to become the next Senator for the state of New York. How much do we really know about her? This much is true: She is a real New Yorker. She was even born here.

Let’s take a quick look at her homes past and present. From age three until just after her sixth birthday she lived in the White House. After the assassination of her father in November 1963, she lived with her mother and brother in New York City residing in the penthouse apartment at 1040 Fifth Avenue.

She currently resides in a co-op located at 888 Park Avenue with her husband Ed Schlossberg. She has maintained a very private life inside of her Manhattan home but we did learn a little bit about the building’s co-op board.

Back in 2000, 888 Park's board voted to not to allow Bradley J. Wechsler, 49, co-chairman and co–chief executive of Imax Corporation, and his wife, Patti Newberger, into the building. They had gone into contract on a $13 million apartment and they had very powerful friends plus plenty of money in the bank. One report claimed that, "They were impeccable candidates.” No justification for the rejection was made

Now that is a tough co-op board.

888 Park Avenue as described by the NY Historicial Society:

This large and very handsome apartment building was erected in 1926 and converted to a cooperative in 1953. The richly decorated, red-brick facade with rope quoins and an interesting cornice is one of the most attractive on the Avenue. The building has a two-story limestone base and a very deep and impressive lobby. As of 1992 it had 48 apartments.
It was designed by Schwartz & Gross, whose other buildings on the Park Avenue include 470, 525, 885, 910, 911, 930, 941, 970, 983, 1045, 1070, 1095, 1125 and 1165.

DO YOU WANT TO BE HER NEIGHBOR?
We found one listing in her building. This apartment is also $13 million. We would suggest that you have ten times that amount of money in the bank before scheduling a walk-though.

Here’s the listing: Corcoran

Construction Done Right in Brooklyn

a new carriage house on Henry Street between 1st and 2nd Place in Brooklyn

before

after

See more photos and learn about the architect who made it happen.

Pardon Me for Asking

Photo credit: John Hatheway via Pardon Me for Asking