TF Cornerstone & NY Abandoned Angels Rescue Charity Host First Annual Cocktail Fundraiser at 505 W 37th Street

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.

Pet-Friendly Pick of the Month – Archstone Chelsea

Directly in between the Fashion District and the West Village, the Archstone Chelsea, 800 6th Avenue, is where you want to be. Noteworthy amenities include an attended lobby, on-site attended garage, a rooftop sky deck offering views of the West Village & Empire State Building, a private health club, outdoor patio deck with bocce courts and seating, and a special events lounge with full kitchen and wet bar. On-site services include in-house valet offering dry cleaning, laundry, apartment cleaning, and tailoring and shoe repair.

It’s what’s on the inside that counts. Loft residences with 16-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows, bamboo floorings and custom lighting. Then there are gourmet kitchens where you will see imperial white granite countertops and designer two-tone maple custom cabinetry. The bathrooms feature Daino Royale marble vanities with cherry wood, chrome bases, and stainless steel sinks.

What’s on the outside? Plenty. Macy’s Herald Square, Chelsea Piers Sports Complex, Chelsea Market, Cafeteria, 7th Avenue Fashion District, the Empire State Building, Madison Square Park, and shopping & dining in the West Village. If that’s not enough, you are minutes away from the Village and Meat Packing District. Easy access to the PATH train and the 1, 2, 9, N, Q, R and W subway lines.

Now, the part you’ve been waiting for: Archstone Chelsea is cat & dog-friendly!  You are allowed two pets with a total maximum weight of 45 lbs. with a $1,000 pet deposit per apartment.

Bonus-Archstone expects to purchase more than 14.6 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of renewable energy for electrical usage at 12 of its Archstone New York City apartment communities. That’s the equivalent of taking more than 4,000 taxi cabs off the streets for a month! The energy, purchased from Green Mountain Energy, will power the communities’ lobbies and other common areas such as laundry rooms, and exterior lighting. It’s just one of the ways we make apartment living greener for the environment.

175 Kent Ave – Williamsburg Apartments

Located a paper planes throw across the pond from Manhattan is the brand new waterfront building 175 Kent. Located in the Williamsburg sector of Brooklyn, it offers the same trendy way of life as Manhattan at a portion of the cost. With a magnificent waterfront view of Manhattan, 175 Kent offers modern living in an area of renowned for its elegance, social scene and posh lifestyle.

Solid oak flooring throughout, with wall-to-floor windows make the Manhattan skyline a static guest, with some units offering a private balcony to enhance the experience. The kitchens feature Caesarstone countertops, brushed stainless LG appliances and custom cabinetry in every residence. The bathroom contends spas with a Kohler sink, black granite floor tiles, and soaking tubs.

Amenity features include a concierge, state-of-art bi-level fitness center including yoga and free-weight systems, a landscape interior courtyard garden, and a 14,000 sq. ft. rooftop lounge with liberating views of the renowned skyline. Also, a gaming room/lounge with kitchen area for whenever you want to throw a shindig with you and your good mates.

175 Kent is in the middle of all that Williamsburg has to offer—shops, restaurants, clubs, entertainment and bars. East River State Park and McCarren Park are both in close proximity to the building. Manhattan is only minutes away on the L Train Bedford Avenue stop.
Best of all, the first month is free!

Pet-Friendly Pick of the Month-MiMA

Set to open this month at 450-460 W42nd Street between 9th & 10th Avenue, MiMA is the newest luxury addition to Midtown Manhattan’s skyline.  Designed by one of the world’s leading architecture and design firms, Arquitectonica, this 63-story glass wall residential tower features 50 floors of luxury rentals, 151 tower condominiums, plus a new 669-room Yotel.  Not just for living, this building also features exciting new retail and dining experiences and the all-new Frank Gehry designed Signature Theatre Center.

Residences

When you walk into MiMA, you will feel David Rockwell’s design sophistication every direction that you turn, from the double-height wood and glass lobby, the furnished corridors and the finishing touches in each residence.

Amenities

M Club at MiMA is the ultimate residential amenity. Totaling over 44,000 square feet, M Club provides an array of health, recreation and entertainment facilities including three landscaped outdoor terraces, a full-size indoor basketball and volleyball court, heated lap pool, residents-only fitness center by Equinox, indoor screening room, private party rooms, catering kitchen, tech center, game room with billiards and Wii.  The furnished, landscaped, outdoor terrace, sitting at the top of the city, makes you feel like you are miles away from hustle & bustle.

Pet-Friendly

When looking for a pet-friendly space, you want to ask the specifics, i.e. what animals are allowed, if there is a weight-limit, etc.  At MiMA, both dogs (under 50 lbs & no aggressive breeds) and cats are allowed.

One amenity that is perfect for the dog-owners is “Dog City”-a fully-equipped, professionally-staffed pet spa that features an indoor and outdoor play space.  It also includes a wash, dry and groom facilities, on and off-site vet care, pet training, scheduled dog walks and pet play dates.

Location

In the middle of it all (literally), MiMA is situated in the heart of Manhattan.  Theatres, phenomenal restaurants, nightlife, indoor/outdoor markets, museums, shopping and parks are all at your fingertips!  Bowlmor Lanes Times Square, Bryant park, Hudson River Park and Theatre Row are a few of the cultural highlights that are in your backyard.

New York by Gehry Update: Rental Gallery and Model Units Now Open!

With the opening of its 37th Floor Rental Gallery, prospective residents of New York by Gehry are invited to tour 18 model units showcasing Gehry-designed interiors that take rental apartment living to elegant new heights. Rising to 870 feet, Frank Gehry’s first skyscraper, the 76-story New York by Gehry, with its stainless steel cladding shaped to look like draped fabric, is now the tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere, and an inspired addition to the Lower Manhattan skyline.

New York by Gehry

Architecturally, Gehry’s design carries the drama of the exterior curtain wall movement into residents’ private spaces, the building’s folds result in some 200 unique apartment layouts from which to choose. Where the façade undulates outward, large free-form bay windows that change location from floor to floor make the most of the building’s unique site, allowing for unobstructed panoramic views in every direction.

“This building pays homage to New York City,” said Frank Gehry, “I wanted to create something with humanity to it, in the tradition of other NYC buildings, celebrating both the vibrancy of life here and the quiet moments of contemplation within it. For me, the design has always been focused on creating a high quality of life for the people who will be living inside the building. The bay windows give all of the units wonderful light and the feeling of ‘stepping into space’-of being embraced by New York energy and vitality. Designing the interiors gave me a real connection to the people who will be making their homes here. I hope they like it.”

The New York by Gehry leasing and marketing team, Citi Habitats Marketing Group led by Cliff Finn, and Nancy Packes, Inc. led by Nancy Packes, is right in sync with Frank Gehry’s vision of this No Fee Apartment tower as an extraordinary living space. They believe this vibrant “vertical city,” with its game-changing cachet and thoughtful interior design is arriving on the luxury rental marketplace at the perfect time, poised to meet a healthy demand.

The building’s Rental Gallery showcases some of its magnificent 360˚ vistas. On display are over a dozen of the scores of study models from which the final design evolved, and a signed wall-sized image of Gehry’s first “napkin sketch” of New York by Gehry. Both the Rental Gallery and the 18 studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom model units now on view feature Gehry furniture and other custom curated décor.

In addition to New York by Gehry’s resort-like amenities, residents will enjoy No Fee Apartmentthe high style of interiors designed by the architect himself—from the striking sculptural concierge desk in the lobby to the apartment and amenity spaces’ high-end fixtures and finishes. These include white oak flooring, paneling and cabinetry crafted in Gehry’s signature honey-colored vertical grain Douglas Fir and Gehry-designed residential entry door handles and hardware. Frank Gehry praised the developer, Forest City Ratner Companies, for championing his aesthetic choices at every turn.

Said Bruce C. Ratner, Chairman and CEO of Forest City Ratner Companies, “This was a dream collaboration for everyone involved. We knew that Frank’s first-ever tower would transform the city’s skyline, and felt it was critical that the entire building bear the indelible Frank Gehry imprint. We’re thrilled we were able to realize Frank’s vision and achieve a level of excellence that raises the bar.”

Residents of New York by Gehry will have exclusive access to a 24-hour doorman, a porte cochère for vehicles, a full-service concierge, and 22,000 square feet of health, wellness, social, and entertainment amenity spaces. 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 is furnished with custom seating by Frank Gehry. On the 7th floor, a 50-foot swimming pool in a sky-lit space 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. Both 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. The 8th floor offers Group Fitness, Pilates and Private Training Studios as well as a Library, a Tweens’ Den, a Children’s Playroom, and a Screening Room with Gehry-designed amphitheatre seating.

Another highlight of New York by Gehry is its ground floor outdoor open space, two beautifully-landscaped public plazas totaling 15,000-square-feet, designed by Field Operations, the creative force behind Manhattan’s High Line, in collaboration with Dutch horticulturist Piet Oudolf, who collaborated with Gehry on Chicago’s Millennium Park. The mixed-use development also includes a five-story, 100,000-square-foot public school, the first ever built in New York City on private land, as well as doctors offices for physicians associated with New York Downtown Hospital. There will also be 1,300 square feet of neighborhood-oriented ground-floor retail space and 26,000 square feet of below-grade parking for 175 cars for hospital use.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit www.NewYorkbyGehry.com.

New York by Gehry-8 Spruce Street: A Gehry Sculpture for Rent

This February’s opening of New York by Gehry is one of the most anticipated building launches Manhattan has had in years!  At 870 feet tall, New York by Gehry is the tallest residential tower in the Western Hemisphere and is a transformative and singularly identifiable addition to the iconic Manhattan skyline. For his first residential commission in New York City, master architect Frank Gehry has modernized the design language of the classic Manhattan high-rise and carried his distinctive aesthetic throughout the building’s interior residential and amenity spaces.

No Fee Apartment

It was Mr. Gehry’s innovative approach to the incorporation of bay windows that led to the No Fee Apartment building’s dynamic silhouette and an exceptional variety of panoramic views from its residences. By shifting the bay windows from floor-to-floor and adjusting their configuration for each residence, he has given residents the opportunity to, as he puts it, “step into space.” The exterior impact of Mr. Gehry’s bay window design solution was that the No Fee Apartment building appeared as though it had been draped in fabric, an effect he further accentuated in his shaping of the façade’s stainless steel panels. In addition to providing sculptural intrigue, the vertical arcs of bay windows allow reflections of natural light to alter the image of the No Fee Apartment building throughout the day.

Set just north of Manhattan’s Financial District near the Brooklyn Bridge, New York by Gehry is just short walk from a variety of dynamic neighborhoods, including Tribeca, Chinatown, and the South Street Seaport. It is also within two blocks of a dozen subway lines that make all areas of New York City easily accessible.

Residents enter New York by Gehry via a porte cochère between Spruce and Beekman Streets that fronts an 11,500 square-foot plaza. In the lobby a custom Frank Gehry designed sculptural concierge desk resonates with the fluidity of the building’s architectural style and complements the lobby’s honey-colored vertical grain Douglas Fir walls.

New York by GehryAmenities

Residents have exclusive access to 22,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor health, wellness, social, and entertainment amenity spaces. These amenities, together with an extensive range of concierge and lifestyle services, offer residents an experience found only in world-class hotels and resorts.

Residences

Mr. Gehry’s design resulted in hundreds of unique floor plans that manifest the potential that the dynamic exterior wall movement offers to residents’ private spaces, and indicate the level of attention given to every detail of the interior experience. In the places where the façade undulates, the residential windows also move out into space – into the apex of the folds – creating free-form bay windows that are fitted with seating or left open to accommodate uniquely shaped dining or reading niches.

Views

Views from inside the building’s residences and amenity spaces include an intimate perspective on the Woolworth Building to the west, the Hudson River’s piers and parks, and all five East River bridges as well as iconic midtown skyscrapers, including the Empire State and Chrysler buildings. Panoramic views farther north include Central Park and the George Washington Bridge. To the south and east Manhattan is seen in the context of the New York Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean.

Architect

Frank Gehry is perhaps the most celebrated and well-known practicing architect in the world today. He has been the recipient of dozens of awards recognizing excellence in architecture, including, in 1989, the most prestigious one in his field, the Pritzker Architecture Prize, which honors “significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture.” Mr. Gehry’s commissions, including The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Bilbao, Spain, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and the Nationale-Nederlanden Building in Prague, Czech Republic (known as “The Dancing House”), instantly raise the profile of the cities in which they are located. New York by Gehry, which was commissioned by Forest City Ratner Companies, is Mr. Gehry’s second project in New York City; his first, completed in 2007, is the Inter-Active Corporation (IAC) Headquarters, located in Manhattan’s West Chelsea neighborhood. Mr. Gehry’s IAC has been credited with attracting other exceptional architects to residential and commercial projects in this dynamically evolving area.

Over the past five decades, under Mr. Gehry’s creative direction, Gehry Partners, LLP has designed public and private buildings in North America, Europe, and Asia. Hallmarks of Mr. Gehry’s work include a particular focus on creating spaces that are comfortable to the people who use them, and that exist well within the larger context and culture of their location. The firm’s approach to design is one in which the client becomes fully engaged in the process, making each project a true collaboration.