As we begin a new year together, step back and remember why New York City has been and is one of the most exciting and vibrant cities in the world. There is magic everywhere hence the draw by millions to live or visit this great city. With a population of over 8.5 million and over 60 million tourists, the Big Apple continues to have major influence and impact on the world’s economy. New York has one of the most robust talent pools influencing architecture, music, food, art, fashion, healthcare, science legal, technology and media. According to Money Inc the top 20 employers in New York City are investing in modernizing NYC infrastructure, green space and cultural presence. The Partnership for New York City formed out of the merger of two organizations: the New York Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the New York City Partnership mission is to “enhance the economy of the five boroughs of New York City and maintain the city’s position as the global center of commerce, culture and innovation.
“If New York state were a country, it would be the 11th largest in the world by GDP. A scale that demands cross-sector collaboration to unlock the city’s full economic potential. The Partnership for New York City represents the city’s business leadership and its largest private sector employers. Statewide, our members employ 1.5 million New Yorkers and contribute nearly one-fifth of the state’s gross product. We work together with government, labor and the nonprofit sector to promote economic growth and maintain the city’s position as a global center of commerce and innovation.
Through the Partnership Fund for New York City, the Partnership contributes directly to projects that create jobs, improve economically distressed communities and stimulate new business creation.” – Partnership for New York City Leadership
Reflect upon that first moment of awe when you arrived and connected into the electric energy and rhythm of the city. Some amazing reasons to love NYC: 1. The Parks, 2. The Museums and Galleries, 3. The Culinary Life, 4. Broadway and Off-Broadway Theater, 5. Museums, 6. Job Opportunities, 7. To Get Lost, 8. The Freedom, 9. Cultural Diversity, 10. Fear of Missing Out, 11. the Music, 12. The New York City Marathon, 13. Romance at or looking up at the Empire State Building, 14. Riding Staten Island Ferry, 15. Rowing a Boat on Lake in Central Park, 16. Status symbol, 17. The Challenge to Say “I did it”. If you make it in NYC you can make it anywhere, 18. The skyscrapers, 19. The celebrity appeal, 20. The hustle bustle, 21. The New York Public Library, 22. Watching History in the Making, 23. Riding the Subway, 24. Walking Over the Brooklyn Bridge, 25. Watching the boats and the tall ships at South Street Seaport, 26. Finding and walking on Belgian Block Streets, 27. Lady Liberty, 28. The changing skyline. The list and our imagination of NYC are endless…
As a result of the “Up and Down” of the world events and economy on our mind 24/7 we forget the wonders and appeal of this great city. It’s time to Believe. Set-down roots and become participants in building upon the Big Apple’s next chapter.
In today’s rapidly changing and unreliable global environment, liquidity appeals to many investors. Even with real estate a relative bargain, a large segment of prospective buyers would rather wait and see. While they may be unconvinced about the longer term prospects of New York’s residential housing stock, I am not. Over the (almost) 40 years I have been in this business, through up cycles and down, the intrinsic worth in owning a piece of New York has never seemed in doubt to me. Markets rise and fall, but a home of your own in the world’s greatest city is priceless. – Fred Peters
This month’s Culturally Inclined features the Upper West Side. Join me in exploring music and cultural venues beyond Lincoln Center, discover great brunch eateries, learn about the history of Lincoln Center and about the iconic and land-marked buildings of impressive architecture, dance centers, museums to visit, where to pamper yourself, and the real estate market snapshot of the area. The Upper West Side has a lot to offer and so much to see and enjoy.
Winter Tree Walk: The North Woods
This special guided tree walk will offer visitors an opportunity to learn about the landscapes, easy tips for identifying trees using bark, buds, leaf scars, and other characteristics. Conservancy Guides will lead this walk from the Pool through the North Woods’ Ravine. – Sunday, January 20th – 11AM
Winter Jam Festival
Winter Jam is a free winter festival chock-full of events for New Yorkers of all ages. The NYC Parks and Recreation event includes ice-skating, sledding, snowboarding, grub and more, so get ready to join New Yorkers for one of the best things to do in winter. Winter Jam Festival is Saturday, January 27th from 11AM to 3PM.
The Upper West Side architecture new and old is breathtaking and worth examining. Situated across the street from the ABC News television studios on the Upper West Side is the site of 50 West 66th Street. Just off of Columbus Avenue, the future 775-foot high residential tower will be the tallest on the Upper West Side when complete. It is being designed by Snohetta and developed by Extell. To address critical STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) challenges the American Museum of Natural History is building the new Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education and Innovation. The Gilder Center is designed by Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang Architects. Ralph Appelbaum of Ralph Appelbaum Associates is designing the exhibition experiences, and the landscape architecture firm is Reed Hilderbrand (READ MORE).
This building boom we are witnessing in New York City is reminiscent of the Gilded Age (1885 to 1910) where unprecedented industrial and economic growth and the new subway line led to construction of lavish mansions, and other residential and commercial buildings on the Upper West Side along Riverside Blvd, Broadway, the oldest north/south main street, Amsterdam and Columbus Avenue overlooking Central Park. These older buildings are worth admiring and some of these Upper West Side Buildings of this era have recently been re-imagined by award winning architects, designers and developers.
A small guide for you to discover these majestic buildings: 1. The Dakota” – 1 West 72nd Street erected in 1884 architect Henry Janeway Hardenbergh, The San Remo – 145 Central Park West architect Emery Roth & Sons a Greek inspired two twin 27-story towers, co-operative apartment building opened in 1930, 3. The Beresford -211 Central Park West architect Emery Roth & Sons completed a month prior to the stock market crash in 1929, 4. Hotel des Artistes – 1 West 67th Street architect George Pollard built in 1917, 5. The Gainsborough – 222 Central Park South architect Charles Buckham built in 1905, 6. The Majestic – 115 Central Park West built architect Irwin S. Chanin and French associate Jacques Delamarre built in 1932 in the art deco style is a twin-towered skyscraper housing cooperative, 7. The Eldorado – 300 Central Park West architect Emery Roth & Sons in collaboration with Margon & Holder built in 1930. “The futuristic sculptural detailing of the El Dorado, as well as its geometric ornament and patterns and its contrasting materials and textures, make it one of the finest Art Deco structures in the city. The towers are terminated by ornamented setbacks with abstract geometric spires that have been compared to Flash Gordon finials,” observed Steven Ruttenbaum in his definitive study of Emery Roth: “Mansions in the Clouds, the Skyscraper Palazzi of Emery Roth,” Balsam Press Inc., 1986, 8. The Kenilworth – 151 Central Park West architect Townsend, Steinle and Haskell, 9. The Prasada – 50 Central Park West – Architect: Charles W. Romeyn and Henry R. Wynne 12 story Beaux Arts building, 10. The Belmore, 11. The Astor – 235 West 75th Street commissioned by William Waldorf Astor in 1901, updated with the addition of a third tower in 1914, and recently restored by the venerable design firm of Pembrooke & Ives, 12. Chatsworth – 350 West 71st Street Architect: John E. Scharsmitha Beaux Arts buildings re-envisioned by ingenious designers Pembrooke & Ives located at the foot of West 72nd Street, overlooking the Hudson River and Riverside Park. The eight-story annex was built two years after the 12-story main building; the two are distinctively separate except for a unifying limestone base, 13. The Ansonia – 2109 Broadway, 14. The Apthorp – 390 West End Avenue, 15. The Dorilton – 171 West 71st Street a Beaux Arts building by architects Jane & Leo and completed in 1902, 16. The Belnord – 225 West 86th Street reinvented by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, 16. 555 West End Avenue, a recongizable landmark within the Riverside-West End Historic District, the redbrak and limeston building was designed by William A. Boring in English Collegiate Gothic style and completed in 1908 and its original pupose was a private school. Tamarkin Co. meticulously restored the Beaux-Arts gem into sumptous spaces with breath-taking character, craftsmanship with extraordinary volume and scale. The Each voluminous condo residence has been reconfigured with an old-world sense of craftsmanship’ comprising 13 duplex apartment ranging from 3 to 5 berooms with twelve foot ceilings.
The Upper West Side New Developments seem endless. 1. The Chamberlain – 269 West 87th Street a luxury condo building inspired by homes of the 1920’s and 1930’s developed by Simon Baron Development and Quadrum Global, architect FXFowel and interior designer and Alexandra Champalimaud creating a bespoke gem. 2. Waterline Square – 10 Riverside Boulevard | 30 Riverside Boulevard, and 635 West 59th Street three large towers on five-acres overlooking the Hudson River and comprises a breathtaking full amenity package. The rock star roster of starchitects–Richard Meier and Partners, Rafael Viñoly Architects, and Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates–have created an impressive mini city. 3. 378 West End Avenue, the former historic site of the Collegiate School will be reimagined with 58-62 new condominiums. The existing buildings at the site will be demolished, and a 19-story structure will rise at 378 West End Avenue and be joined with a new 12-story building that will rise at 260-262 West 78th Street. Alchemy is partnering with South Korean investment bank, Daishin Securities, to develop the condo, and it has retained the services of COOKFOX Architects for the design. 4. 214 West 72nd Street with 21 stories and 20 full floor apartment averaging 1,50 square feet is expected to be completed in Spring of 2020. 5. 212 West 95th Street (Dahlia) is a new condo development by Certes Partners and United Management Corp currently under construction at 212 West 95th Street, New York. The development is scheduled for completion in 2020. Dahlia will be 19th stories with a total of 38 units | 2 apartments per floor. 6. 350 West 71st Street is a boutique residence currently under construction with thirty-eight modern homes by DNA Development and architect/interior designer DXA Studio. The development is scheduled for completion in 2019. 7. 250 West 81st Street a timeless creation by Robert A.M. Stern of 31 residences. 8. 200 Amsterdam a new classical building situated between Lincoln Center and Central Park, a 52-story luxury condominium designed by Elkus Manfredi. 1- to 5-bedroom Upper West Side condos. 9. 207 West 75th Street developed by Opal Holdings and designed by Jeffrey Cole Architects to accommodate high-end contemporary living. Consisting of six full-floor residences each featuring private outdoor space. 10. 207 West 79th Street, a 13-story with 19 residences designed by Morris Adjmi architects and developer/builder Anbau.
P.S. Check out an Upper West Side Restaurant during Restaurant Week
“I love New York, even though it isn’t mine, the way something has to be, a tree or a street or a house, something, anyway, that belongs to me because I belong to it.” ― Truman Capote
“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love!” – Hamilton Wright Mabie
“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety. Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in. Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense. This new day is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on the yesterdays.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
