Tag: 111 Murray

Luxury Developments Bring Trophy Homes Downtown

Post author By Ellen Johnson
Post date July 25, 2017

For some time now, luxury home buyers have been taking their searches Downtown. Luxury apartments, or “trophy” homes, are no longer solely centralized around ares like Central Park and the Upper East Side. Downtown has become, over the years, a new it location.

“Generally, trophy properties are those that feature exceptional qualities of architecture, design, lifestyle amenities, location and views,” said Emily Sertic, a Douglas Elliman agent. “In New York, even as Downtown Manhattan greatly expands its collection of trophy properties, the percentage of homes with all of these characteristics is limited.”

Continuing to usher in this trend of the Downtown trophy home is the Witkoff Group who, along with Fisher Brothers and New Valley, is currently developing a new luxury residential tower. Upon completion, this 54-story glass skyscraper at 111 Murray in TriBeCa will play home to 145 luxury condos. It’s shaping up to be one of Downtown’s tallest and most prominent residential buildings.

It’s properties like this one at 111 Murray that bring buyers Downtown to experience luxurious amenities, shopping, dining and all the best this area has to offer. Destinations like Brookfield Place beckon both visitors and permanent residents.

“Brookfield Place has established itself as a major ‘Downtown destination’ and valued neighborhood amenity with global retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Hermes, Gucci and Bottega Veneta, not to mention world class dining from restaurants like Sant Ambroeus, which recently announced plans to open in 2018,” Sertic said.

111 Murray is already seventy percent sold.

Sertic has witnessed the migration Downtown since its inception. She’s now director of sales at 111 Murray, after experiencing a slew of buyers wanting to head south.

“We’ve seen a new audience of buyers who, before the retail and dining additions, would not have made this move previously,” Sertic said. “Now these types of buyers are also swayed by major art institutions like The Whitney, the highly anticipated Performing Arts Centre at the World Trade Center and the advent of the High Line which essentially integrates many of Downtown’s most popular neighborhoods.”

The development at 111 Murray is to be 433,800 square feet. The condos will offer spectacular Manhattan views, including a stunning proximity to the Freedom Tower, a preview of which can be viewed here. The development’s website also offers a map of TriBeCa’s hottest spots, including restaurants, stores, schools and hotels.

For more information about this development, visit 111 Murray. And if you’re interested in learning more about other luxury Downtown developments like 150 Charles and 10 Madison Square, visit Witkoff’s website.

Photos courtesy of 111 Murray

Tags 111 Murray, 111 Murray Street, Brookfield Place, douglas elliman, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, downtown luxury living, luxury homes, trophy homes

Living NYC Real Estate

5 New Downtown Developments

Post author By Ellen Johnson
Post date July 24, 2017

The Downtown landscape is constantly growing, evolving and heightening. With new developments popping up all over the lower half of Manhattan, it can be hard to keep track. New buildings and developments are in the works in neighborhoods all over the Downtown. Here are the ones to keep an eye out for over the next few years as they strengthen our iconic skyline.

111 Murray

Photo courtesy of 111 Murray

This cylindrical building is set to hit the Downtown skyline soon. Nestled in TriBeCa, these luxury condos are already more than seventy percent sold. Featuring 145 condominium residences, 111 Murray will be one of Downtown’s tallest residential buildings. The 54-story skyscraper is designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox. It’s sure to become one of the most recognizable buildings in the sky.

“The residences open up in all directions, as if the spaces are expanding,” said Gene Kohn of Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates. “They really are homes in the sky.”

Ace Hotel

Photo courtesy of Ace Hotel

This development at 225 Bowery has sent architecture hounds into a frenzy. While Ace Hotel has yet to confirm this project’s existence, the Department of Buildings signage outside the construction site promises a spring 2018 opening. Either way, the renderings seem to imply a stylish new addition to the Lower East Side scape. The hotel will feature 200 guest rooms and a balcony with city views.

30 Hudson Yards

Photo courtesy of Hudson Yards

This new office building development is perhaps one of the most anticipated in New York City at this moment. Soon to tower over the corner of 33rd Street and 10th Avenue is 30 Hudson Yards, a whopping 2.6 million square foot building. The project is set to be complete in 2019 and will stand 1,296 feet tall, making it the second tallest office building in New York City. Time Warner Inc. has dibs on 1.5 million square feet of the building, and will house 5,000 of its employees there.

2 World Trade Center

Photo courtesy of World Trade Center

This stunning building will soon call 200 Greenwich St. home. 2 World Trade Center will be the sister building to 1 World Trade Center and will replace the the original Two World Trade Center that was destroyed in the September 11 attacks. Construction is on hold currently, but plans are still intact. The building will be 80 stories tall. A vital piece of Downtown history, the World Trade Center is continuously expanding.

25 Park Row

Photo courtesy of L&M Developments

The Financial District has a new building in the works. The COOKFOX architects designed tower will bring 110 apartments to Downtown and will stand 45 stories tall. Additionally, it holds 55,000 square feet of retail as well. Construction is expected to wrap in 2020, at which time the tower will stand tall at 25 Park Row.

Tags 111 Murray, 2 world trade, 30 hudson yards, ace hotel, downtown buildings, downtown developments, Downtown Skyline, Hudson Yards, lower east side, world trade center

Business Real Estate

Biophilia: An Urban Necessity

Post author By Darren Sukenik
Post date December 21, 2016

Biophilia is the human need to connect with and be surrounded by nature. I like to say that “urban biophilia” is the city dwellers’ need to connect with nature in order to maintain their sanity in all the hustle and bustle of New York City. The mere existence of greenery and open parks is based on true human need for nature. The fact that green space can be aesthetically pleasing is an additional perk! Biophilia is especially important in a cityscape where we crave a sense of psychological calm, a zen moment, here in the city.

According to the theory of Biophilic Urban Acupuncture (BUA), biophilic interventions in specific urban places can help improve people’s moods, connect people to place and help improve mental health. In fact, BUA is proven to be more effective in dense cities versus suburban places as urban dwellers will be walking to transit, work, shopping and restaurants.

Downtown, we’re seeing a rise in biophilic interventions. Most notably, and quite literally, with the revival of The High Line into one of the city’s most celebrated parks. Originally created as a railroad to transport goods in 1934, today The High Line has been preserved and repurposed with grass, wildflowers and sustainability in mind. The result is an open-air, lush escape floating above Manhattan’s concrete jungle.

Over on the east side of the island is a subterranean park in development called The Lowline. The Lowline will incorporate innovative solar technology that will be used not only to illuminate the historic trolley terminal on the Lower East Side, but also to showcase a variety of beautiful plants and vegetation meant to connect man and nature below our busy city streets. The vision is a stunning underground park, providing a beautiful respite and a cultural attraction in one of the world’s most dense, exciting urban environments.

Additionally, Brookfield Place features The Winter Garden Atrium, a 10-story glass vaulted pavilion housing various plants, trees and flowers. Currently, New Yorkers can enjoy an exhibit of palm trees in the middle of winter. The Winter Garden Atrium regularly hosts concerts, ballets and symphonies, bringing together the celebration of art with the innate desire for nature.

Biophilic intervention does not only take place in the shape of parks within urban environments either. Biophilic design has grown increasingly popular, and increasingly expected, in new developments as well.

In fact, across the county, landscape architects are being asked to create outdoor spaces — through rooftops and beyond — that are beautiful and sustainable. Environmental standards have proven to be important to buyers since they provide residents with mental benefits as a result of easy access to fresh air and sunlight. For this reason, as developers work to carefully curate buildings with green design elements and amenities that buyers truly appreciate, the inclusion of nature to the space is essential.

For example, the developers of 111 Murray Street tapped the expertise of landscape architect Edmund Hollander for the residents-only garden, and interior designer David Rockwell for the building’s next-level amenity spaces. Together the designers seamlessly integrate organic natural materials and the finest craftsmanship to appeal to all of the senses.

150 Charles Street brings an exquisite outdoor oasis to the heart of the West Village. The private green space of this project has grown to become the main focus of the project, and many buyers top incentive for purchasing.

In SoHo, a former chocolate factory has been reimagined into the new development, XOCO 325. The new condominium features a striking cast-aluminum façade with vertical gardens over a glass curtain wall, and integrates green living into the project’s design. In addition to vegetation scaling the building, XOCO 325 will also offer residents a private garden, green rooftop system and green cleaning program.

Beyond being beneficial to one’s mental wellbeing, urban greenspace is a profitable investment as well. With advances in technology creating efficient materials from refined, flexible goods, developers have seen a decrease in upfront cost, and as a result a quicker return on investment, making green initiatives more accessible.

Embracing biophilia in urban environments is a trend here to stay so watch out for more greenery to sprout about in and around Manhattan.