The New York Apartment Blog

A sample of Pursuit‘s findings include:

Searches for apartments nationwide grew 23% in 2020 during the peak COVID months. From 2020 to 2021, searches grew an additional 17% resulting in a 44% total increase from 2019 to 2021. We call this “the Great Migration.”

New York apartment searches grew by nearly 17% from 2019 to 2020 and an additional 15% in 2021 representing a total increase of nearly 35% from 2019 to 2021

Searches for apartments in Manhattan show Studio and 1 bedroom apartments went down during prime covid period, indicating that those looking for apartments in manhattan wanted more space. As we moved into 2021, search activity for all apartment apartment types went up significantly.

Searches for Brooklyn apartment seem to follow the same trend with Studio apartments being less searched during 2020 and rebounding significantly in 2021. Brooklyn also did not see any decrease in 1 bedroom apartment searches, which have been rising for the last two years.

Over the prime COVID period, searches for apartments with outdoor space surged 92% nationally. The trend continued, with an additional 26% increase in searches for outdoor space in 2021. A 143% increase overall from 2019 to 2021.

If you would like to know more or have Pursuit create a custom real estate advertising study for your business, please contact:

Ross Anderson

[email protected]

Midtown West is slated to add another huge residential project to its fast expanding neighborhood.  While recent luxury rental additions have sprung up in the area, including Silver Towers (1360 units), MiMA (hotel + 800 units) and Mercedes House (850 units), this new project is a slight deviation from the norm.

While Gotham West (name subject to change upon arrival) will provide the Hell’s Kitchen area with luxury market rate units, more than half of the 1,263 units will be income-restricted rental apartments.  In fact, this project represents the largest-ever affordable project undertaken in New York by a private developer, according to a spokesman for the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, which previously controlled the site.

Breaking ground this summer, the project is expected to open in 2013. The project will take up nearly an entire block from 44th to 45th and from 10th to 11th.

The developers, Gotham Organization, Inc., have allotted 556 luxury units to be located on the site’s western side.  Ranging from floors 7 to 31, the units will be arranged in a single U-shaped building which David Picket, the president of the Gotham Organization, said was chosen to diversity the streetscape and “give it a little delicacy”.

While rent has yet to be determined for these units, area market-rate one bedrooms , on high floors with sweeping views, average $4000/month. 25 Condos will also be built in the 40,000-square-foot former elementary school on 45th street.  No design or price information is available yet.

The remainder of the apartments will be available at a reduced rent and reserved for qualifying families who make below a certain income level, with three tiers of eligibility.  While the $520 million project has qualified for tax-exempt bonds from New York’s Housing Finance Agency, Gotham will still contribute $200 million of its own financing.

The majority of the affordable units will be located at midblock between 44th and 45th while others will be sprinkled among the market-rate apartments on the western side.  An additional 243 apartments will be in a pair of 14 story towers on the eastern side.

Amenities for all units include stainless-steel appliances and granite counters.  The midblock boasts a landscaped, Wi-Fi-enabled two-level private courtyard.  Market-rate units will get wooden strip flooring while affordable units will have parquet.  There is also a 15,000-square-foot retail space on the western side, with rumors of a specialty food store becoming its future occupant.

Although this site was condemned by the city over 40 years ago, megadevelopment is the trend for the future.  With the influx of housing, this transitioning neighborhood should hold strong and becoming a more stable area for developments, both luxury and affordable alike.

111 Kent, a 62-unit rental building in Williamsburg Brooklyn, hit the market late last month to an incredible demand. With nearly two weeks on the market, 111 Kent has already leased more than 50% of the units.

Though the building is across the river, it features all of the high-end amenities & features that are found in Manhattan residences: condo-quality finishes, a finished common roof with jaw-dropping waterfront views, an outdoor pool with views of the Williamsburg Bridge, a resident lounge with TV, X-Box360 with Kinect control, a resident-only Private Gym with yoga, pilates and P90X studio, storage space, bike storage, underground parking garage and a doorman.

Each unit features floor to ceiling windows, 9-foot plus ceilings, distressed white oak floors, private outdoor space (select units), VDO intercom system, walk-in closets (select units), Bosch & KitchenAid Stainless Steel Aplliances, Quartz counter tops, custom cabinets in white glossy and dark wood finishes.

Prices start at $2,949 per month for a one bedroom, $3,595 per month for a two bedroom and $6,918 for a three bedroom.

The creator of Time Warner Center, The Caledonia, and Superior Ink, has successfully launched another Manhattan urban destination. MiMA, a 63-story glass tower located at 450 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues, joins Related Companies impeccable roster of residential dwellings.

Following the successful launch of the building’s spring and summer inventory, including residences up to the 41st floor, which are nearly fully leased, Related is proud to introduce its fall inventory, with homes on floors 42 to 50. The residences on MiMA’s uppermost floors offer 360 degree views that are truly awe-inspiring. To the south, residents cannot only see the tip of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty, but the Atlantic Ocean. Views to the north include the George Washington Bridge, Central Park, and the Time Warner Center itself.

“This past summer we saw an accelerated rate of leasing in the lower portion of the building, with a very strong demand for high-end rental homes,” said Daria Salusbury, Senior Vice President of Related, who leads the company’s luxury residential leasing operations. “MiMA’s unprecedented amenity package, unrivaled views, superior services, inspired architecture and contemporary design has really resonated with a value-driven marketplace and resulted in our ability to command rents at over $75 per square foot. MiMA has been enthusiastically embraced by residents who continue to be drawn to MiMA’s over an acre of amenities and the full lifestyle experience it offers, and we expect to continue exceeding expectations with the leasing of our fall inventory.”

Named after its location in the middle of Manhattan, MiMA features M Club, a sprawling 44,000 square feet of health, recreation and entertainment amenities. In addition to the city’s first resident-only, onsite Equinox fitness club, the building offers a full court basketball court and a 60-foot glass enclosed lap pool. Another first is Dog City, a full service grooming and day care center for pets. The residents-only professionally staffed pet spa with indoor and outdoor play areas offers grooming and training facilities, in-home feeding, walking services, scheduled play dates, and more.

In all there are three lushly landscaped outdoor terraces with private dining pods and barbeque facilities encompassing over 14,000 square feet of outdoor space, two party rooms and catering kitchens, outdoor and indoor screening rooms, and an Internet café and business center equipped with iMac computers and a coffee bar. In addition, there is a club room and residents’ lounge with a cozy island fireplace, a fully equipped game room with billiards and card tables and electronic gaming, and bicycle and resident storage.

Related’s acclaimed commitment to service is again evidenced at MiMA and encompasses every detail that makes a residence a home. Personal assistants, a 24-hour concierge, doorman and on-site valet are just the beginning. MiMA residents have a move-in coordinator to handle every last detail from choosing the best moving service to handling utility and technology set-up. Renters can utilize electronic payment or pay their rent via credit cards and earn valuable rewards.

MiMA is also home to the Signature Center, which, when it opens next spring, will offer three Frank Gehry-designed theaters for Off-Broadway productions. Besides the more than 650 homes, MiMA is bringing to the block YOTEL New York, an innovative hotel designed by David Rockwell and SoftRoom, and several top-flight retail outlets to the emerging neighborhood. MiMA is also within a short walking distance of the N,Q,R,1,2,3,7,A,C and E subway lines.

TF Cornerstone, the leading real estate development and acquisition company announces their collaboration with apple seeds to redesign the children’s playroom at the luxury residential rental 2 Gold St. This will be TF Cornerstone’s second collaboration with apple seeds, the first being a family-friendly amenity space being designed and built at TF Cornerstone’s new luxury building at 4545 Center Blvd., Long Island City.  The newly designed play space will be launched August 18th.

TF Cornerstone and apple seeds children’s playroom launch event at 2 Gold Street

apple seeds redesigned a spacious on-site children’s playroom for the luxury rental located in the  heart of the Financial District. The playroom will contain many of the same children’s museum-quality permanent exhibits found at the apple seeds flagship location (10 West 25th Street), including their “construction city” with Lego tables, “the neighborhood” with taxi and deli, “the park” with shape-sorter flower garden and infant-geared crawling area, plus much more focusing on constructive and imaginative play and large and fine motor skill development.

Mother and son playing ball at the launch event

“We have many families at 2 Gold Street and we want them to enjoy and benefit from a well thought-out and creatively designed space for the children,” said Sofia Estevez, Executive Vice President of TF Cornerstone. “Revamping the children’s playroom at 2 Gold Street made sense for the building and we wanted to do it in the best possible way. Having already established a relationship with apple seeds and seeing the great work they do and how they meticulously design their spaces sealed the deal for us,” she adds.

Father and daughter playing on the slide

“It’s been a pleasure working with TF Cornerstone and we are delighted to be creating a second children’s playroom for another building,” said apple seeds Co-Founder Bobby Berna.  “It’s impressive that developers like TF Cornerstone are including modernized children’s playrooms and are thinking about the whole family when building these new developments,” he adds.

Children’s mini playhouse

apple seeds Representatives

2 Gold Street parents stop by to check out the new children’s playroom

Kids playing on the Lego table at 2 Gold Street

Following the exceptionally successful springtime release of studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom rentals on the lower floors of Eight Spruce Street, the focus moves skyward, to floors  40 through 76 with larger, family-friendly two-and-three bedroom residences, featuring unique layouts, expansive views and elegant finishes.

Frank Gehry and Bruce Ratner toast Gehry’s “love letter to New York City,” to applause from 150 specialty brokers, including Nancy Packes (far right) , and Scott Hustis and Mark Jovanovic of Corcoran.

During a sunset event held this Tuesday, July 26th, over 150 specialty brokers got their first look at New York by Gehry‘s upper floor apartments-floors 40 through 76- presented by developer Bruce Ratner and architect Frank Gehry. The party showcased a terraced three-bedroom model unit on the 52nd floor with expansive views of the city.  Guests enjoyed skyline panoramas featuring the Empire State Building to the North, the Freedom Tower and Hudson River to the West, and the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges to the East.  Guests also toured the building’s newly opened, 22,000sf of amenity spaces and new model apartments on the 45th floor.

This broker preview event was catered by renowned chef David Bouley, featuring selections from his newest venture, Lower Manhattan’s acclaimed eatery, Brushstroke, a much-anticipated culinary collaboration with Japan’s Tsuji Institute.

Gehry’s Design Vision, Inside and Out

In a rare arrangement, Frank Gehry not only designed the building’s exhilarating façade but all of the interiors and amenity spaces, curating all finishes and fixtures, and styling the building’s 20 model apartments. The artist’s hand is in evidence throughout Eight Spruce Street–from the striking sculptural concierge desk in the lobby to the screening room’s free-form amphitheater-style seating in the amenity space, constructed in Gehry’s signature honey-colored vertical grain Douglas Fir.

“I designed a building I would want to live in as a New Yorker.” Said Frank Gehry, “You could say this is my love letter to New York City. I’m thrilled we were able to do it in Lower Manhattan, which allowed me to be part of something so meaningful—to stand with this building’s neighbors, the residents and businesses of this neighborhood. We worked together over the past seven years to create a new icon for Lower Manhattan.”

Bruce C. Ratner, Chairman and CEO of Forest City Ratner Companies said, “There is a reason Frank Gehry is considered the world’s best architect, and we know from the enthusiastic response we’ve received that people from around the world want to experience Frank’s singular vision of a beautiful, functional, New York City lifestyle. Our residents are excited and proud to live here, and it’s been extremely rewarding to collaborate with Frank to bring his ideas to life.”

Fern Lazar of Lazar Partners, MaryAnne Gilmartin of Forest City Ratner Companies, and Cecile Le Goff enjoy the master bedroom’s view of the landmark Woolworth building.

Resort-like Amenities in a Rental Building

Residents of New York by Gehry have exclusive access to a host of lifestyle services extending from a full-service concierge, on-site valet services to health, wellness, social, and entertainment amenities across 22,000 square-feet of indoor and outdoor space. A 6th floor Grilling Terrace with stunning views of the Woolworth building is outfitted with dining cabanas, picnic tables and café seating. The adjacent Game Room with billiard tables, gaming consoles and golf simulators is furnished with custom seating by Frank Gehry. On the 7th floor, a 50-foot sky-lit swimming pool is surrounded by fully-retracting glass doors, creating a seamless expanse of indoor and outdoor spaces that includes a wraparound sundeck.

Overlooking City Hall Park to the north, a large Drawing Room with a grand piano is adjacent to a Private Dining Room which can be reserved for resident events and serviced from a Chef’s Demonstration and Catering Kitchen. A Spa Treatment Suite and state-of-the-art Fitness Center with views of the Brooklyn Bridge are located on the 7th floor, with Group Fitness, Pilates and Private Training Studios on the 8th floor.  A Tweens’ Den and a Children’s Playroom are outfitted with games and toys to engage younger residents in the building. A Screening Room features Gehry-designed amphitheater seating and a Library with a well-curated collection of books and periodicals has seating nooks and reading tables for quiet enjoyment.

The amenity spaces are alive with robust programming tailored to tenant interests. Golfers can arrange a workshop with a top teaching professional. The pool hosts safety swim classes for children. The Fitness Center offers top tier personal training, Pilates instruction and Golden Gloves-winning boxing instruction. Post-workout, treatment rooms await those seeking world-class massages and facials. In addition to a speaking program in the Drawing Room and films in the Screening Room, the Chef’s Kitchen will be a venue for events presided over by some of the culinary world’s biggest names. Kids can look forward to weekly story-time and take part in art and music classes. The Tween’s Den is perfect for Gossip Girl Mondays, Rock Band Fridays and more.

Specialty brokers enjoy the 52nd floor terrace and views over the East River to Brooklyn.

Kelly Elivo of CitiHabitats and sister Ever Elivo share a moment by the bay window in the deluxe master bedroom.

Frank Gehry contemplates the extraordinary vistas from the 51st floor living room bay windows created by the building’s undulating stainless steel façade.

All photos by Philip Greenberg

Last evening, EXIT ART hosted a terrace party at TF Cornerstone – 505 West 37^th, bringing drinks, music, live silkscreening by GMSH and music by Birdlips.  The most exciting part of this event (next to the beautiful weather & uber-luxurious Midtown West rental building) was the Biomega Copenhagen Bike Bedazzled for EXIT ART by David Byrne!  The lucky winner of this bike will definitely be turning heads this summer!

Located on 10th Avenue and 37th Street, 505W37 is a highlight of Hudson Yards.  A pedestrian via and tree-lined boulevard are planned for the area next to the building, and the northernmost third of the High Line elevated railway loops around the neighborhood. Hudson Yards is a pedestrian friendly neighborhood, making it easy to get to the local parks such as Bryant, DeWitt Clinton and the Hudson River Park, as well as other popular destinations including Chelsea Pier, Rockefeller Center and the Javits Center. This vibrant area is quickly becoming one of New York City’s most exciting neighborhoods with new restaurants, cultural attractions and boutique shops popping up every day.

505W37 is almost completely leased after just one year on the market. For more information, please visit www.505w37.com or call 877.505.3737 to speak with a leasing agent or to schedule a tour of the amenity spaces at 505W37.

The Continental, the new 53-story luxury rental tower located at 885 Sixth Ave., is already more than 85 percent leased and has just opened the final phase of the building’s 15,000-square-foot amenity space on the heels of unveiling its penthouses. The building began leasing in mid-January.

The Continental’s penthouse collection includes 18 sprawling two-bedroom, two-bath residences on the top six floors of the building. Top-of-the-line finishes may be found in all residences throughout the 336-unit tower, and the penthouses exclusively offer gourmet kitchens with glass mosaic tile backsplash, quarter-sawn walnut cabinetry and stainless steel wine coolers. Spa-like penthouse baths feature Crema Ella marble walls and floor tiles, polished vanities and San’t Agastino porcelain tile flooring in the second baths. Five penthouses were immediately rented upon their release, and prices for the remaining penthouse apartments range from $7,500 per month to more than $10,000 per month.

All residences at the Costas Kondylis- and Goldstein Hill & West Architects-designed building, situated on the corner of Sixth Avenue and 32nd Street, feature floor-to-ceiling tinted windows offering stunning city views, high ceilings, white oak flooring throughout, and washers and dryers in every apartment.

“We released the penthouses earlier than planned due to a significant interest we have received for these residences over the last month,” said Cliff Finn, managing director of new development marketing for Citi Habitats Marketing Group, the exclusive marketing and leasing agent for The Continental. “The response has been overwhelmingly positive.  Tenants and prospective renters alike have been blown away by the completed amenity spaces now ready for their enjoyment.”

The second and final phase of amenities within the 15,000-square-foot space has just been completed and has opened to residents, including the entertaining chef’s catering kitchen for residents to easily host private social events, a Wi-Fi-enabled gaming lounge with billiards and LCD displays, fireplace seating area, and a landscaped garden terrace where residents can relax, eat and drink outdoors.

Residents also enjoy the exclusive American Leisure-managed Continental Club & Spa, featuring a 50-foot indoor infinity-edge lap swimming pool with heated hydrotherapy spa, set within a double-height, glass-enclosed atrium with lounge chairs. This is the only swimming pool in a rental building on the Sixth Avenue Corridor. A health club with a fitness and cardio center, yoga studio, his-and-hers locker rooms and his-and-hers treatment rooms, is also available.

In addition to the entertainment lounge, there is a 48th floor skydeck furnished with lounge chairs. Other amenities include a full-service Abigail Michaels concierge, 24-hour doorman, BuildingLink and Whirld Cleaners. Parking and bicycle storage are also available onsite.

The Continental is comprised of studio, one-bedroom, one-bedroom with home office, and two-bedroom apartments starting on the ninth floor. The building’s lobby, amenity space and garage may be found on the lower floors. Monthly rental prices start from approximately $3,300 to more than $10,000.

The heat has officially taken over New York City and those of us looking for a new place to call home are most likely looking for a home with a pool.  We thought that we would help narrow your search down and give you some of the city’s best!

The Ashley

Included in The Ashley’s 40,000 square feet of amenities by La Palestra is a 75-foot indoor swimming pool that could make even the most affluent New Yorker weak in the knees. The building has two 5,600-square-foot apartments with set-back terraces and private swimming pools, if you like a more intimate setting.  Also on the Upper West Side, you will also find the four season salt water pool at Columbus Square.

Next up?  Head to Midtown and kick your feet through The Continental’s 50-foot, luxurious, heated infinity edge pool with spectacular views and natural lighting through the glass-encased atrium that will make you feel like you are almost outside.

New York by Gehry

Downtown is the much abuzz New York by Gehry. On the 7th floor a 50-foot swimming pool is set within a skylit space surrounded by a series of glass doors that retract fully, creating a seamless expanse of indoor and outdoor spaces from the pool to the wraparound sundeck.  With the progress on 1 World Trade and Conde Nast’s future move to Lower Manhattan, this building is perfect for renters looking to be in a quickly growing neighborhood.

Which building do you think has the best pool?

TF Cornerstone proudly co-sponsored the first annual cocktail fundraising event for New York Abandoned Angels Rescue (NYAAR) pet charity. The benefit was hosted at Hudson Yards’ luxury residential 505W37 in the building’s Hudson River Club.

More than 200 guests attended the event, including Grammy Award winner, singer and songwriter Roberta Flack, Chef Kerry Heffernan, TV Newscaster George Whipple, DJ Phoenix and TF Cornerstone’s principle K. Thomas Elghanayan along with his spouse and charity co-chair Madeline Hult-Elghanayan. Guests enjoyed a special performance by Roberta Flack as well as live music, wine, and delicious hors d’oeuvres while bidding on items from the silent auction.

Attendees also had the opportunity to meet several rescued dogs that were available for adoption and fostering. All proceeds of the fundraiser will directly support the work of New York Abandoned Angels Rescue (NYAAR).

NY Abandoned Angels Rescue (NYAAR) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the rescue and re-homing of Cocker Spaniels and other dog breeds in need of loving forever homes. NYARR will not reject any dog due to age or health reasons and often accepts dogs with temperament and/or medical issues. The rescue relies solely on donations whether through adoptions or the generosity of the public to help pay for the veterinary care of sick, physically disabled, and behaviorally challenged dogs. To date, NYAAR has rescued over 1,500 dogs.