Here’s a first look at One Murray Park at 11-25 45th Avenue, the first condominium on Long Island City’s Murray Park (also known as Murray Playground), and the first new condominium to hit the LIC market in more than a year. CORE’s Doron Zwickel will bring the 45-unit building — consisting of 10 studio, 25 one-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom apartments — to the market next month. Designed by SoHo-based architecture firm Fogarty Finger and built by a team consisting of veteran Long Island City developer Shuster Development & Management and TerraMax Development, One Murray Park will be an anchor on tree-lined 45th Avenue, offering residents a recently renovated park right at their doorstep. Construction is nearly complete, and closings are slated to take place in late summer. Studios will be priced from the low $300Ks, one-bedrooms from the mid-$400Ks, and two-bedrooms from the low $700Ks.

(more…)

What is Chelsea’s most stylish new building? According to the New York Daily News, it’s 305W16, the art-infused residential building at Eighth Avenue and 16th Street where CORE is the exclusive sales and marketing firm. The paper’s full-page story today sings the praises of 305W16, and not without reason. As reported by Curbed earlier this week, the 53-unit building has reached the 75% in contract and sold mark, a great achievement in what is typically a slow season for real estate. Curbed also has the first photos of the latest model apartment at 305W16 (one of which can be seen above), a two-bedroom/two-bathroom unit on the second floor with a lovely private terrace priced at $1.35 million.

The building has seen brisk sales activity in February, and now that the press is taking notice, we asked CORE’s Maggie Kent what all the fuss is about. Here’s what she told us:

Traffic to the building has really been excellent lately, and for most people these are their return visits. Inventory in Manhattan is low and buyers recognize that this is a great value, and with only a handful of apartments left, people who want to be in the building are making their moves. They’re responding to the product, the location, and the fact that it’s new. And with the weather this winter being on our side, the rooftop is getting a huge response, and the apartments with private outdoor space are seeing a lot of interest.

Plus, as the Daily News noted, “It doesn’t hurt to be a few feet from the Google building.” For a current list of availability in the building, click here.

It’s been a hot winter for The Cammeyer, the beautiful loft building at 650 Sixth Avenue in Chelsea’s historic Ladies’ Mile District that is one of CORE’s top new developments. Built in 1892 and once home to the world’s largest shoe store, the 67-condominium project is now 80% sold, the CORE Blog can reveal. While sales continue at a brisk pace in the building, The Cammeyer is also getting attention for making a grand entrance–literally. Interior Design magazine has an interesting story about the evolution of lobby design in Manhattan real estate. “The boutique lobby, a new subspecies, has invaded,” ID writes, and The Cammeyer, with a lobby designed by architect Eran Chen of ODA, is spotlighted. Check out Chen’s explanation for the lobby’s look: (more…)

Note: Interior photo is from a model apartment.

Location, location, location the old mantra goes, which is perfect for a building like 305W16, sitting on the edge of three exciting neighborhoods: Chelsea, the Meatpacking District and the West Village. The brand new 53-unit building, where CORE is the exclusive sales and marketing agent, is now over 70% sold and in contract, and move-ins have begun. But that doesn’t make 305W16 an old story. In fact, one of the newest listings, for apartment #6B, is also one of the best — just ask the building’s buyers. Every similar apartment in this line has already sold. What’s the secret? The one-bedroom apartment is in the rear of the building, and the back of 305W16 looks out over a lovely park, which means apartments are flooded with light. Additionally, #6B boasts a 25-foot-long private terrace, a rarity for a one-bedroom home. Plus, the price tag is under a million bucks, which means this new listing might not last long. See the floorplan below, or head to the 305W16 website for more photos and info. (more…)

The New York Condo Blog is the latest publication to take notice of the transformation going on around Central Park along Upper Fifth Avenue, and they spoke with CORE founder and CEO Shaun Osher about the changes, as well as CORE’s new luxury development in the neighborhood, 1280 Fifth Avenue. Here’s Osher’s response to a question about the “stigma” surrounding properties above 96th Street on the Upper East Side:

Manhattan neighborhoods are always evolving. 96th Street is an antiquated border that once denoted the northern boundary of the Upper East Side. Central Park is just as lush and green above 96th Street as it is below, and the architecture is equally as impressive. Both developers and savvy buyers recognize the value of having a Fifth Avenue address with direct park views, access to Central Park and presence along Museum Mile. It is that opportunity that is driving the growth along Upper Fifth Avenue, the newest in a long line of well-known neighborhoods that have evolved such as the Upper West Side, Chelsea, SoHo, and the Meatpacking District – all neighborhoods that are now among the most coveted in New York City.

“Opportunity” is a key word. As the Financial Times wrote, prices on Upper Fifth can be 25% to 50% below what’s asked south of 96th Street. For a look at some listings at 1280 Fifth, click here.

HGTV’s “Selling New York” follows CORE agents as they navigate the country’s most competitive—and compelling—real estate market. Here’s our behind-the-scenes look at Episode 409, which first aired on December 15, 2011. For more SNY recaps, click here.

L-R: CORE's Shaun Osher and Doron Zwickel discuss pricing with 83 Franklin developer Francis Moezinia.

In “Big Decisions and Fast Deadlines,” CORE CEO Shaun Osher and top broker Doron Zwickel collaborated with developer Francis Moezinia of Rex Properties to bring a luxury rental building at 83 Franklin Street in Manhattan’s TriBeCa neighborhood to the market. The building’s high ceilings, high-end amenities and condo-like finishes made it a rarity in the Manhattan rental market, and pricing the apartments was tricky. Doron had to tour over a dozen other luxury rental apartments in the neighborhood in order to come up with competitive pricing for each of 83 Franklin’s 11 units.

Working with a hands-on developer isn’t always easy—and Shaun and Doron acted as the “voice of reason” when it came to identifying the perfect price range. While Francis was expecting around $9,000/month for the first apartments, it was ultimately decided that starting low at $8,500 would be the best way to get renters in quickly. According to Shaun, pricing is more of an art than a science, and it all worked out. A low-key open house event brought in a crop of candidates, and four weeks later 9 of the 11 units were rented — all for above the asking prices.

Keep on reading for some exclusive behind-the-scenes information about what didn’t make it into last night’s episode of “Selling New York” and what happened after the cameras stopped rolling!

(more…)

A model apartment with Central Park views at 1280 Fifth Avenue.

SoHo was once “transitional.” So was TriBeCa. And the same goes for West Chelsea (remember the days before the High Line?), Madison Square Park and even the West Village. The point is that Manhattan neighborhoods are always evolving, and well-informed real estate buyers can end up making very wise investments if they put down roots in a neighborhood on the verge of something big. Which is exactly what excited us about getting involved at 1280 Fifth Avenue, and the Financial Times seems to agree. The paper took a trip to upper Fifth Avenue over the weekend and was amazed by the value available at a Robert A.M. Stern-designed building right on Central Park that happens to be a few blocks past the traditional border of the Upper East Side’s ritzy Carnegie Hill neighborhood. The FT wrote:

(more…)

Last week it was revealed that CORE has taken over the sales and marketing at 1280 Fifth Avenue, the new Robert A.M. Stern-designed condo tower above the Museum for African Art on Central Park. The building, with direct park views, a wide variety of layouts and amenities including parking, 24-hour concierge service and a rooftop swimming pool, offers an impressive list of qualities to buyers currently searching the Manhattan new-development market for a unique place to call home. We asked CORE founder and CEO Shaun Osher — who will be overseeing the sales effort — to answer a few questions about the project:

What will CORE bring to 1280 Fifth Avenue to highlight the building’s special features?
1280 Fifth is one of the best new projects to come to market over the past 5 years. It has all of the attributes a buyer could want in a new development property. One of the hottest neighborhoods. A 5th Avenue address. The best views of Central Park. Every amenity one could want. A developer who has a stellar reputation. One of the most renowned residential architects of our generation. A price point that is not available anywhere else on 5th Avenue and the Park. We will educate buyers on these qualities.

What would buyers be surprised to find out about the development?
Really, it’s the proximity to everything. A 5th Avenue address has more to offer than just Central Park at your doorstep, though that’s obviously an incredible benefit. It’s such a convenient location.

(more…)

Over the years CORE has established itself as the market leader in new development sales, and that shows no signs of slowing as the New York City real estate world heads into what promises to be an exciting 2012. This month has already seen continued strong sales at 305W16 and the dramatic unveiling of Walker Tower, and now CORE is thrilled to announce that it will handle all sales and marketing efforts at the Robert A.M. Stern-designed 1280 Fifth Avenue effective immediately. The Real Deal just broke the news that the 116-unit Central Park condominium tower, developed by Brickman, has been taken over by CORE, and Tom Postilio, Natalie Rakowski and Parul Brahmbhatt — under the direction of CORE CEO Shaun Osher — will be steering the sales effort.

A brand new “modern traditionalist” collection of residences sitting atop the future Museum for African Art, the 21-story 1280 Fifth Avenue completes Fifth Avenue’s famed Museum Mile, serving as the northern border of a stretch that includes cultural landmarks like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim Museum. Add those artistic surroundings to timeless architecture and staggering Central Park views that only a Fifth Avenue address can provide, and it’s no secret why 1280 Fifth Avenue will be a desired place to call home. “We’re incredibly excited to lead this development,” said Shaun Osher. “1280 Fifth Avenue offers unparalleled architecture, layout and design – set in one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in New York City.”

The building has studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom homes as well as penthouses ranging up to 2,118 square feet, and the units are ready for occupancy. Amenities include a rooftop swimming pool, children’s play room, residents’ lounge, catering kitchen and private dining room, and prices range from $595,000 to approximately $3.25 million. For more on the building, click here.

“Meet Walker Tower, the Newest Pre-war Building in Town”
New York Observer (11/14)
CORE’s newest development is Walker Tower, and news of the building was broken on the CORE Blog. The Observer followed that up with a look at the Chelsea building’s pre-war credentials. The weekly writes, “So if you’re looking for a new pad and want the pre-war facade without the pre-war maintenance fees, this might be a good place to start.” At right is an undated archival photo of Walker Tower.

“Chelsea’s Sleeping Giant Remade as Luxury Condos With 14-Foot Ceilings”
Curbed (11/14)
Curbed also jumped on the Walker Tower news early, cementing the building’s status as a spring blockbuster-to-be. Here’s a taste: “One of the more remarkable features is its lofty ceiling heights—since each floor is nearly 15′ tall, the whole building looms over its neighbors, affording gobsmacking panoramic views to the south, west and north.”

“$849,000 for an 1830s 1BR With a Very Cozy Footprint”
Curbed (11/11)
For its “Six Digit Club” feature, highlighting the best listings priced under $1 million, Curbed took a look at Ivana Tagliamonte’s co-op listing at 47-49 King Street, which is a landmarked 1830s Federal-style brick rowhouse. Wrote Curbed, “OMG, cute.” We concur.