Exciting Development Happening….In Staten Island!

Staten Island is the latest borough to see a surge in waterfront redevelopment.  Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens have all seen their fair share of projects ranging from Extell’s various projects on the Upper West Side to TF Cornerstone in Long Island City.  Waterfront property throughout New York City has seen a brilliant resurgence over the last two decades.  Like all redevelopment, things have not been equally distributed. Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan have taken the largest share of the pot, but  It appears that the tables are turning, or at least they are trying to.

Staten Island has long been known as the least desirable borough, even when compared to New Jersey.  For those of you who do not remember, Mayor Bloomberg advocated for these redevelopment plans a few years back.  Now they are starting to really take shape.  A 630-foot ferris wheel, 190-room hotel, and massive outlet mall are all expected to open in 2016.  Take a look at Empire Outlet’s “Future of Staten Island Video” for a better look at what is currently in the works just a ferry ride away from Manhattan.

Fulton Transit Station (Finally) Set To Open Monday, 11/10 at 5PM.

After more than a decade of planning, the 10-line, 300,000+ daily passenger station is set to open its doors.  The station is set to open just days after One World Trade welcomed its first 175 Conde Nast employees this past Monday.

Things are really starting to take shape in the forever developing Financial District.  I cannot wait to see the neighborhood change over the next year.  Finally, long delayed projects will begin pumping new and creative life into the suit and tie dominated area.  The creative rebirth of Lower Manhattan is upon us!

(Photos via Curbed)

 

 

The Next Brooklyn?

The largest population shift since the rise of suburbia has begun!  Americans, young (especially young…) and old alike are moving back into cities at higher rates.  Whether it’s New York, Los Angeles, or even Kansas City, the city is the place to be.  The repopulation of America’s urban core has led to massive gentrification on a scale never seen before.

Brooklyn Baby!  This borough is the poster child for urban redevelopment.  The rise of neighborhoods like Williamsburg, Bushwick, DUMBO, and so many more, have quickly transformed desolate and often abandoned city blocks into reinvented breeding grounds for the creative class.  While Brooklyn was the first, it certainly will not be the last urban neighborhood to rise from the ashes.

The Real Deal published a great article looking into this phenomenon and asks what’s next.  Whether it’s “Brooklyn by the Bay,” Center City, Philadelphia, or a growing list of other cities, this article helps explain the real estate shifts occuring in this country, and gives great insight in to what is to come.  Take a look at the full article here.

PHOTO: Supertall & Super-Luxurious – 57th Street’s Development Boom

Million Dollar Marble For Billionaire Developer Gary Barnett

Take a quick look inside the Italian quarry where One57’s marble originated from. Super high standards for New York’s newest super-tall skyscraper.

What New York May Look Like In 2033

These are all planned developments that have either started construction, or are well into the stages of development/planning.  Very cool things headed to this city – Penn Station may be a little bit of a stretch among others, but the general idea is heading in the right direction.

Four 1000+ Ft. Buildings Are Changing New York’s 57th Street Skyline

A year ago today, the world watched as a crane dangled hundreds of feet above 57th Street. Today, the nearly complete One57 stands as a testament of luxury construction. Three more buildings are planned for the street. These buildings will not only change the real estate market, but they will change the skyline too. Take a look at this graphic for a more detailed look at the buildings.

Brooklyn Set To Welcome Its First Sephora

Downtown Brooklyn is seeing a steady stream of name brand retailers infiltrate the very granola neighborhood.  Sephora set their eyes on the area a few months ago when the cosmetic chain announce they will be setting up their first Brooklyn shop some time this year.  That day has finally come.  The store announced it will be handing out a handful of goodies to the first 100+ customers who make it to the opening this Friday.  

 

This store, along with Whole Foods, JCrew, Urban Outfitters, (and even Mamouns) now see Manhattan’s ugly stepsister as a lucrative investment/growth opportunity.  It appears that soon, there will absolutely no reason for Brooklynites to commute to Manhattan for the modern luxuries they have become so accustomed to.

 

Check out the complete details via Racked.com

A Look Inside The Newest World Trade Center Tower

The World Trade Center complex is once again inching toward completion.  7 World Trade was Larry Silverstein’s first completed development on the hollow ground.  This 47-story, 743 ft. tall glass tower has slowly started to see some new neighbors move back into the hood.  One World trade, which is slated for a completion date within the next few months, has lately claimed so much fame after topping out slightly before Hurricane Sandy.  While two other projects remain stalled (the developer is not moving forward until having committed tenants), a third building has quietly climbed 978 feet up into the sky.

The Real Deal went on a behind the scenes tour of the new building.  The photos below have been taken from the article which can be read in full detail here.  4 World Trade is scheduled to before the end of the year.  

New York Times: The History of the High-Rise

http://www.nytimes.com/projects/2013/high-rise/?smid=fb-nytimes&WT.z_sma=OT_ASH_20131008

This Times Op-Doc section has created an amazing (and visually stunning) rundown on the history of the skyscraper. The series looks more so how construction has changed from a social and cultural standpoint rather than an architectural one. This prove to be particarlly effective in showing the changes taking place in the out of control New York real estate market. In an age when a condo is going to set you back hundreds of thousands of dollars, there has to be a humane answer facing the quickly vanishing urban middle class.