JDS Development's Michael Stern and CORE CEO Shaun Osher in a Walker Tower penthouse. Photo by Fred R. Conrad/New York Times.

We’ve received an incredible amount of interest in Walker Tower ever since we pulled back the curtain on this beautiful pre-war building last November. Today we can finally say more. As the New York Times reports in its Sunday edition — the story is online right now — the ultra-luxury condominium conversion of this Ralph Walker-designed Art Deco skyscraper in downtown Manhattan will soon be hitting the market through CORE at prices of around $3,000 per square foot, with penthouses approaching up to $10,000 per square foot. The average size of these massive homes, there are 53 in total, will be approximately 3,000 square feet. The building, located at 212 West 18th Street in Chelsea, is being developed by JDS Development and Property Markets Group, and the process of turning a 1929 telephone building into a 21st century residential icon is intricate and complicated. The Times‘ C.J. Hughes touches on the transformation:

Read the rest of this entry »

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 #507, which first aired on March 8, 2012. For more SNY recaps, click here.

In “Creative Tactics,” CORE Managing Director Emily Beare was forced to think outside the box to market a unique waterfront listing at 220 Riverside Boulevard, aka Trump Place. Naturally, Emily’s first instinct was to plan a fabulous open house for her fellow brokers, but the seller, Rebecca Clemente, informed Emily that Trump Place has a “no open houses” policy. Emily had to come up with another plan to get people in the door and decided to act fast.

To create a buzz around this 2,962-square foot beauty, Emily enlisted the help of event planner to the stars, Colin Cowie. After a quick trip to Colin’s office, they decided to throw an invite-only cocktail party to show off the apartment’s perfect entertaining layout. Emily knew that getting people to visit 220 Riverside wouldn’t be a problem if a signature Colin Cowie party was being held there. Colin and his team put together a one-of-a-kind event, perfectly tailored to the luxurious property. The party, complete with an electric rock violinist, was flawless, and had brokers pulling Emily in all directions to tour the apartment. After a successful party, it was no surprise that potential buyers were interested and that an offer was soon on the horizon.

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!

Read the rest of this entry »

In addition to the daily updates found on our blog, there are other great ways to keep in touch with all things CORE. What can we say? We’re a social (media) bunch. You can follow us on Twitter @CORE_RealEstate, for links to blog posts, real-time reports (like from “Selling New York” tapings, for example), and re-tweets from our agents. Also, please take a moment to “like” us on Facebook for more exclusive photos and content. And our favorite new toy is Pinterest, which we’re very excited about. You can find and follow us on the bookmarking site right here, or just click on the button below:

We hate to play favorites, but the world below 23rd Street will always be special to us. Beautiful spaces of all types are prevalent, and the energy of downtown Manhattan just can’t be duplicated. If you’re setting out on a search for the perfect Downtown pad, we’ve got some very different suggestions.

Where: 60 Beach Street, PH 2
Size: 3 bedrooms/3.5 bathrooms
Asking: $7,640,000
Listed by: Vickey Barron

With over 3,000 square feet flanked by two terraces, this penthouse duplex that has been expertly customized by its owner is currently one of the most exceptional TriBeCa properties on the market. It’s a turn-key dream home, in a fantastic setting. TriBeCa is known for its charming cobblestone blocks, and Beach Street is one of the neighborhood’s best. This building was built in 1930, and converted to luxury condominiums — amenities include a roof deck, fitness center, children’s playroom, bike storage, laundry room and pet spa — in 2007.

Read the rest of this entry »

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

CORE's Kristina Helb, Elizabeth Kee and Lindsee Silverstein in front of the famed slide.

A penthouse that can double as a playground? We knew a property as unique as our “slide listing” at 425 East 13th Street in the East Village (also known as the A Building) had to be marketed in an innovative way, and innovation is what we sought out. Last Thursday night, CORE held an influencers’ event in the much-talked-about penthouse, bringing together many of New York’s most creative minds in the unique space for a night of networking and wine tasting. The guest list was kept small, and the goal was to get the city’s tastemakers buzzing about the stunning property, which features a very sleek and custom design headlined by a Carsten Höller-eque steel slide connecting the two levels.

Among the attendees were fashion and marketing executives, start-up CEOs, interior designers and architects, magazine publishers and even a VP for the New York Knicks, who probably knows a few guys who appreciate high ceilings. A handful of prospective buyers also toured 2,400-square-foot, $3.99 million condominium throughout the night, which was captured by the “Selling New York” cameras for an upcoming episode. For a gallery of photos from the event, check out CORE’s Facebook page.

Where: 310 East 46th Street, 14-R
Size: 1 bedroom, 2 bathrooms
Asking: $999,000
Listed by: Ryan Fitzpatrick

We love a home that has the power to surprise, and this loft defies expectations in both location and style. Situated in the quiet enclave of Turtle Bay in Midtown East, where the list of neighbors includes the United Nations, this condop apartment feels like something you’d find in TriBeCa or SoHo, the traditional loft neighborhoods. Soaring 12-foot ceilings give the space great proportions, and in addition to the master bedroom, there’s a private sleeping loft reached by a custom-designed, cantilevered steel staircase. Downtown style, but in a location with East River and Chrysler Building views from the windows and private terrace? And for under $1 million? That’s where the TriBeCa and SoHo similarities end.

A sampling of last week’s press coverage of CORE and CORE properties.

“House of the Day”
Wall Street Journal
Step inside the sumptuously decorated pre-war Upper West Side co-op of bridal designer and self-described “glamour puss” Kenneth Pool. The apartment, at 55 West 95th Street (above), is listed by CORE’s Tom Postilio and Mickey Conlon.

“Ask a broker”
New York Daily News
CORE Senior Vice President Doug Bowen was on the Daily News’s hot seat last week. Read his Q&A to find out his tip for New York’s next hottest neighborhood, and why he calls himself a “Walloon.”

“Climate change: With warm weather brokers report an early spring activity bump”
The Real Deal
Does warm winter weather lead to a hot real estate season? The Real Deal investigates in its March issue, and CORE Managing Director Tom Postilio takes the temperature of the market.

“Reality bites: A history of reality TV and real estate”
The Real Deal
Also in the March issue of TRD is this entertaining history of New York City real estate converging with reality television, including CORE’s continued co-starring role on HGTV’s hit show, “Selling New York.”

With all the gray skies and bitter winds, we’ve been on a bit of an escapist’s kick lately. And looking ahead to spring, the daydreams of grilling and outdoor picnics with close friends are ramping up. The above photo isn’t helping our workplace productivity, but we had to share it. It comes from one of our favorite townhouses, 38 Bethune Street, in the heart of the West Village. There are two outdoor spaces measuring 1,600 square feet in total, and the house isn’t strictly limited to being a warm-weather fantasy. The $14.95 million townhouse has a wood-burning fireplace out back that can keep everyone toasty, even in February.

When location and quality come together, it’s a beautiful marriage. Call them trophy homes, perfect properties, or Manhattan’s most wanted. Just don’t call them in a month, because they probably won’t be around that long. Here are three listings on the market that are bound to make fans, fast.

Where: 422 East 72nd Street, 28/29C
Size: 4 bedrooms/3 bathrooms
Asking: $4,250,000
Listed by: Alison Abovsky and Kirk Rundhaug

The Upper East Side has a reputation as a family-friendly neighborhood, and this gorgeous duplex in a full-service condominium building has the perfect layout for a large brood. Add the turnkey condition, with a recently completed design and renovation by a renowned architect, and the appeal is easy to understand. Air and light make good Manhattan homes great, and this 2,900-square-foot space is filled with sunlight and boasts two balconies to take in excellent city views.

Read the rest of this entry »