2011–A Promising Year Ahead

A Brief Look Back and a Welcome to What’s Ahead In just a few hours, we’ll welcome in a New Year. I’ve always liked the sound of that–a New Year. The term translates, to most of us, as new beginnings. The New Year brings an opportunity to look back and reflect on what we did right and what we could have done better. With that knowledge, we may resolve to take a chance, improve a work or personal situation and/or embark on a new path entirely. Statistics show that... Read More

The Rushmore – Riverside South’s Luxury Living

The Rushmore in Manhattan is an Upper West Side condo development that’s located at 80 Riverside Boulevard. Completed in 2008, Gary Barnett of Extell who developed such top-notch New York City condo residences such as The Avery Condominiums, The Lucida and Orion, brings the same vision to these incredible residences. The Rushmore exceeds expectations. Designed by the architectural firm of Costas Kondylis and Partners who also designed the Avery and several of Donald Trump’s... Read More

A Christmas Story – Traditions, Events and Everything Else

Holiday Shops at Bryent Park >> From www.bryantpark.org It’s the time of year when we’re all in full swing and anticipation of the season. Whether you celebrate the holiday (most Americans do, according to a 2004 Fox News Poll–96 percent), it’s the time of year when we all slow down, look back at the past year and reflect on what’s most important in our lives. By the way, that same poll revealed that 40 percent of women and 41 percent of men plan to eat and drink... Read More

The Residences at Jumeirah Essex House – Newly-Designed Manhattan Luxury Condos Within a Historic Landmark Hotel

The Residences at Jumeirah Essex House - Entrance The recently-renovated Jumeirah Essex House is a part of the National Trust for Historic Hotels of America and is a 44-story luxury hotel/condo building. Located on 160 Central Park South and built in 1929 it was formerly known as the Park Tower. Its six-story, neon red sign was erected in 1932 in celebration of its reopening and new ownership/name and has been there ever since, rising above Central Park. Known for decades for... Read More

The Housing Market in the Coming Year — Dire News or Too Much Information?

I don’t know about you, but it’s distressing to hear negative news about the housing market. For the past two or three years, we’ve heard that type of information and how people are “underwater” in their mortgages. Is it all true or are we victims of information overload? Yes, there are certain areas of the country that are still suffering from a down housing market. A recent Crain’s article reported that “Nevada leads the nation in negative equity as 67% of... Read More

AZURE ANNOUNCES 12 CLOSINGS IN THE LAST 60 DAYS – Building Inventory Reduced By $34.45 Million

Azure - 333 East 91st Street - Upper East Side Azure, the new 128-unit luxury building at 333 East 91st Street on the Upper East Side, has announced 12 closings in the last 60 days. These closings, along with other sold units and additional contracts in place, represent more than $34 million in sales inventory. In addition, 12 new contracts were recently sent out for signature. “There has been greater demand for larger apartments on the Upper East Side in recent months, especially... Read More

Christmas Window Shopping in New York City

The City Lights Up as Department Stores Display Their Christmas Creations If you live or have visited New York City this time of year, you know what happens after Thanksgiving. There’s Rockefeller Center’s tree lighting ceremony, then department stores go all out to catch your attention with beautiful Christmas scenes. CBS Sunday Morning dedicated a segment to this New York tradition and I thought I’d dedicate a blog to it as well. Barney’s takes recycling to a new... Read More

The Brompton – A “Stylishly Proper” Upper East Side Apartment Building in Yorkville

The Brompton was developed by Related Companies, who also developed some of New York’s most expensive real estate, including the Time Warner Center. This 22-story limestone building on 205 East 85th Street has Gothic-inspired architecture and its corner location houses 160 plus apartments; from a 550-foot square foot studio to a five-bedroom with over 4,500 square feet. Active sales listings range from from $584.5K to $8.5 million. Borrowing its name from an exclusive neighborhood... Read More

AZURE ARRANGES $145 MILLION FINANCING

HSBC Financing to Strengthen the Upper East Side Luxury. Residential Building’s Successful Sales Efforts Azure, the spacious 34-story luxury residential building at 333 East 91st Street at First Avenue on the Upper East Side, has arranged a new financing facility of $145.1 million from HSBC and its participating lenders. A joint venture between The Mattone Group and The DeMatteis Organizations, Azure recently welcomed its first residents. The sponsors have also successfully... Read More

15 Central Park West – Manhattan’s Limestone Treasure Representing Prewar Elegance and Fine Living

If you live in New York City, you’ve probably walked by 15 Central Park West, a Manhattan luxury apartment building. Developed by Arthur and William Zeckendorf, these two brothers come from a family with big ideas in real estate and urban development. According to an article in The New York Observer, their grandfather, a real estate mogul, only fault “lay in being years ahead of his time.” He built several landmark developments in the city and Long Island, as well as... Read More