Ultra Rare

SKY PALACE LIKE NO OTHER!

Located on the 49th floor of one of Manhattan's most luxurious, full-service condominiums, this spectacular full-floor home has been meticulously renovated to the most exacting standards.  

Floor to ceiling windows throughout the residence capture unparalleled 360 degree views of Central Park, the Hudson to East River, the Atlantic Ocean, and outstanding open city views. Spanning 5,678 square feet, this 11-room home has a gracious layout, incorporating four bedrooms and four and a half baths. The entertaining rooms include a sundrenched 38-foot corner living room, an elegant 22-foot dining room. There is also a 22-foot corner family room and a state-of-the- art screening room/media room (which could also serve as a 4th bedroom).

A professional Chef's kitchen has top-of-the-line appliances and includes a large breakfast room which could easily seat 12 people.

 

The vast corner master suite has a windowed study, two voluminous walk-in closets, and the master bath has Bain Ultra Jacuzzi tub, double sinks, double steam room. Two additional bedrooms may be found in the Eastern wing of the home. There are also separate staff quarters along with a full bath. The home has pristine oak flooring, a Crestron system, a state-of-the-art sound system, and 9-zone central air-conditioning as well as a separate laundry room. 

 

The Bristol Plaza was built in 1987 by New York's world renowned Millstein family, considered to be one of the most respected and well known real estate developers in the United States. This 50-story white-glove condominium offers residents the highest levels of service, security and privacy. Residents enjoy a circular private driveway, offering direct access to the building's lobby. Amenities include full-time doormen, concierge service, valet, and optional housekeeping services. A fully-equipped fitness center is also available to residents, featuring a 50-foot pool, weight room, massage room, spa area and steam room. The building also has business/conference meeting rooms, a lounge and an impressive roof-deck. In addition, the Bristol Plaza also has an extended stay hotel which is attached to the building.

  

Please contact for pricing and to arrange a viewing.

Irving Place Penthouse Duplex...

A rare chance at history and serenity in the midst of it all!

Stretched over 27 vertical feet of the top two floors of this prime Gramercy Park co-op, the opportunity to create a townhouse in the sky beckons. Plans are in place to create a dramatic duplex residence with 3-bedrooms, 2-baths and 2-half-baths. In addition, the proposed floorplan includes a sweeping floating staircase, new fenestration, a laundry room and abundant closet space.

The plan retains the home's two existing wood-burning fireplaces, which imbue the living room and master bedroom suite with warmth and ambience. The solarium and terrace with panoramic city and park views on the upper floor will also remain intact. Dramatic in any incarnation, the architectural plans included in the sale capitalize on the space's three exposures and uncommonly grand ceiling heights, but can easily be customized to suit the most exacting tastes. This is a rare opportunity to create a thoroughly unique space within one of Manhattan's most coveted addresses.

Bask in the renderings and floor plan and contemplate what awaits...

A penthouse oasis in SoHo NYC

Of course I am here to keep you drooling with anticipation. So today we will get a sneak peak at one of the most unique penthouses in the entire city right now. This is a rarity in that it is a doorman elevator building with all amenities, but the apartment itself has more outdoor space than many apartments in town. This is an amazing property unlike anything else in the world. There are great loft spaces, townhouses, towns, even islands and such to purchase across the globe. To secure a penthouse of these proportions, in the heart of the city many refer to as the center of the universe, in central Tribeca no less, is monumental. This is over 7000 sf of space within and 4000 sf of PRIVATE outdoor space. The full service building is made by the same Architect of the famed Dakota and the internationally acclaimed Plaza. The building also offers a gym and business conference center. The home is unmistakably unique as it offers a private glass enclosed penthouse designed by Alan Ritchie. There is a massive living room, dining room and BILLIARDS room that all spill out onto the private 35ft rooftop pool for this home. There is a fully stocked caterer’s kitchen with sub-zero wine fridge for up to 300 bottles. This is a property that will make the world sit up and not only take notice, but give you a standing ovation and demand an encore!!! I have seen $125K/mth rentals and $16M penthouse apartments. This one takes the cake for sure!

As always, stay tuned for more mind blowing spaces in NYC!

Denise Rich's Fifth Ave Penthouse

There are many properties in the world. Few have the decadence and opulence of this magnificently designed place on Fifth Avenue here in Manhattan.

Trophy Properties in NYC Pt 1

There is no shortage of quality property in this city. The surrounding areas may be suffering, but the prime areas are only just beginning to see real returns to glory. Properties that were temporarily off of the market (T.O.M) have now made returns and have even higher asking prices than originally. To satisfy your thirst for some apartment debauchery after a bit of a layoff, take a gander at this wonderful home which I recently visited, currently on the market in Tribeca for $16M. It is a truly one of a kind home with multiple private roof-top decks, automated dinner table, master bed, Crestron control system, movie projection and all sorts of other bells and whistles to numerous to list.

There are not many penthouses like this in the entire city right now. Stay tuned and I'll find something else to try and top this!

Brooklyn's Finest

So you want to be near the city, but don't want all of the congestion and drama? Do you need more space and the feeling of a real neighborhood? Are there not enough trees on Park Avenue for your tastes? This is the best of Brooklyn.

There are many places and then there are exceptional spaces. This is indeed quite an exceptional space. Situated on scenic Hicks Street just steps from the Brooklyn Promenade, this is a rare opportunity for one of the entire city's best neighborhoods and a fantastic amount of space.

This is where Park Avenue meets Brooklyn Heights. There are magical river views from the fifty foot long loft style Living Room. You are located in Brooklyn Heights premier Co-op residence. Of course there is a 24-hour manned elevator in beautiful prewar building steps from Montague Street. The owners have spared no expense renovating this three bedroom, three bathroom home complete with wood burning fireplace. The kitchen is totally state of the art with the finest of finishes throughout.

Please inquire for pricing or for a viewing with at least 24 hours notice.

Rookie or Veteran?

You are here looking for a home. You call or email about a specific place that's the DREAM home on the perfect tree lined street, only to not get an address, hear that it's rented or if you are lucky, get taken to a box facing a brick wall.

This is the most in demand market to find a home and the busiest time of year for rentals is approaching fast. The vacancy rate is under 1% again. To put that it in perspective, for every one building with 100 apartments in it, you MAY be able to sublet a room from someone within.

To move is an important decision. Likely one of the more important ones you are likely to make in the next three to four years. To do this and not choose wisely the target of attack is like throwing dice against a wall. Is that really how to chose a home?

There are over 27,000 licensed real estate salespersons in this city. Each year there are about 10,000 transactions. The amount of new agents that actually last in this business is less than 10%. This brings to mind an interesting question.

Would you buy a car from a pizza-maker? Get a haircut from your bank teller?

That's the likely result when you put your trust in an inexperienced agent. He/She will likey be in another industry when you are looking to purchase in two or three years IF that agent can even find you and secure the right place.

If that's what you want to spend your time doing, then you can do that without a broker and save the fee if you are able to find a place. This is not the time of year to risk losing the perfect place because someone wants to show you what they want you to see and not take you to what you are telling them you want.

A broker earns the fee for much more than just how many places they show you. A good broker earns the fee for showing you less places that are ALL viable options based off of your needs. There is no way that a rookie can do this without the proper inventory knowledge. There are many managements, co-op/condo owners and developers to choose from. Too many apartments to list that turn over before they can even be listed during this time of year.

The essential functions when using a broker for a rental are to save you time in the initial search, securing the apartment by having the neccessary documentation, saving money over the course of the initial year or two by finding that gem that is NOT available to the public and PERHAPS a below market rent. This is among the many other hats (pun not intended if you know me) we wear. (Board package and interview preparation, relationships with owners/landlords/supers/porters, knowledge of areas for those relocating and other networking possibilities).

Take time to really think about your search for a home and remain open minded about the possiblities. This city is a cornucopia of experiences for you to delve into. Make sure that you are not being led by someone with no sense of the realities in this marketplace.

The Fall of the Wall?

Here in NYC, we live in a housing market that already has low supply and high demand. Thereforre the rents are above average when compared to the rest of the country. To offset this and find a way to reap the benefits of living in Manhattan, many renters when looking for doorman buildings, have resorted to putting up temporary pressurized walls to create second or third bedrooms. This makes a $3500 one bedroom now affordable for two young professionals who can really only afford $1700 per month in rent.

This will soon be a thing of the past. This year, many landlords are no longer allowing walls to be erected and many are even going so far as to having existing walls removed. What many are being told, which is in compliance with a Department of Buildings code, is that they can only put up a partition or shelving unit which results in obviously, less privacy. The effect of this is massive, as many new tenants in the city rely on doorman buildings for the obvious benefits of security, as well as the convenience of on site staff for everything from repairs to package/dry cleaning reception. Few are the new hires who can come right out of college and afford a $3500 one bedroom at 40 times the monthly rent on thier own.

Many renters are now being forced to consider other areas of the city such as Washington Heights, Harlem, Long Island City and Brooklyn in order to get the same luxury at a more affordable price. The old "boundaries" of what was once deemed a safe area to live are being pushed further and further outwards and upwards with each week.

Want to live in Manhattan and get a doorman? Find a roomate!

Hey all,

I had to take a month off from writing during my birthday month. It's still quite busy although not the usual frenetic pace the summer yields. Here is a post that is quite relevant for the time and market we are currently in.

This is the time of year where people can usually get the best deals. If they are new to the city and feel the need for a doorman building, the landlords are offering more concessions this year than I have seen over the last four years. If you click on the title of this post, you will see the most recent market report for this year on the average rental rate.

The rents are not dropping as much as people think. The only size apartment that has dropped across the board is a one bedroom. This makes for an interesting situation. While many landlords are no longer allowing temporary walls to convert the apartments into a two bedroom, the ones that still are will yield some great options.

No matter how you slice it, the average person needs to spend between $1800-$3000 to live in the city these days. Occasionally, there are some options to be had for less if you sacrifice a little living space in the apartment or location of the building.
I am finding some convertible apartments in doorman buildings from $2500-$2850. However, there are only 7 in the entire city right now. Generally, to do this you will find more results in the $2800-$3800 range.

It's always best to have one roommate rather than two. Think of the old saying, "too many cooks in the kitchen". It can delay the process and cause you to lose that perfect place if all parties are not on the same page with needs, viewing times and paperwork. The link will show you what the averages are, but with a crafty veteran like me on your side, we may be able to negotiate a better deal if your timing is right!