Another Supertall on Billionaires Row; ‘Friends’ Star Offloads Penthouse

New Sustainable Development Debuts in New York 

A new sustainability-focused condominium development, built to exceed the stringent Passive House energy-efficiency standards, has debuted in Manhattan, with prices for its seven floor-through residences starting at $10.74 million. Charlotte of the Upper West Side, at 470 Columbus Avenue, is designed by BKSK Architects and employs engineering that helps reduce the building’s dependence on heating and cooling systems while providing superior air quality. The residences, from ELLE Decor A-List designer Alyssa Kapito, feature 20-by-47-foot open kitchens, four bedrooms with ensuite baths, laundry rooms with energy-efficient Miele appliances, and smart home touches like Lutron lighting systems. The building’s duplex penthouse is currently listed for $17.5 million.

“Friends” Star Offloads Los Angeles Penthouse for $21.6 Million

Actor Matthew Perry, who played Chandler Bing on the hit sitcom “Friends,” has sold the Century City penthouse he purchased in 2017, Realtor.com reports. Perry brought in $21.6 million for the 9,300-square-foot, four-bedroom home at The Century. Interior designer LM Pagano worked with the actor on the 40th-floor residence, which features four terraces, views over Los Angeles, and a screening room. The condominium also comes with four parking spaces and access to building amenities like valet parking, a pool, and a gym.

Another Supertall May Come to Manhattan’s Billionaires Row 

Public records sleuth New York YIMBY has spotted filings for a new supertall tower on 57th Street in New York, aka Billionaires Row. While not much is known yet about 41-47 West 57th Street, the filings indicate that, if approved, the building would rise roughly 1,100 feet, or 63 floors, and feature 119 residential units, a 158-room hotel, and a restaurant. According to YIMBY, the structure would be the tallest building between SHoP Architects’ 111 West 57th Street and Rafael Viñoly’s 432 Park Avenue. A preliminary rendering by OMA shows off a tapered design, similar to the nearby 111 West 57th Street.

Austin Draws Californians Looking for Quality of Life and Space

During the pandemic, Austin, Texas, made waves as the unlikely real estate hot spot for new commercial endeavors. The city is now experiencing a residential real estate boom. In May 2021, the metro area’s median sales price hit an all-time high of $465,000, with high-end home prices up 24 percent from 2020—the largest increase anywhere in the country. 

Among the reasons for the boom, according to the New York Times in covering the move of three actresses from Los Angeles to Austin, is the decentralization of Hollywood (and other workplaces) by the pandemic. But Austin has long been courting residents of the expensive coastal state: 90,000 Californians moved to Texas in 2018 and 2019. Although housing costs are lower in Austin than they are in Los Angeles, the competition is cutthroat; some properties are going into all-cash bidding wars with between 40 and 60 offers. “It’s a challenge because we’re competing with people moving from out-of-state, and there’s just not a lot of inventory on the market,” Scott Michaels, an Austin real estate agent, told the Times.

Northwest Penthouse at 40 Bleecker Trades for $18.9 Million

The 4,094-square-foot Penthouse D of 40 Bleecker, a condominium development in NoHo, has sold for $18.9 million. According to the deed, the sale of the sponsor unit to an anonymous LLC also included a parking space. The five-bedroom, five-and-a-half bathroom penthouse is spread over two floors and features 1,755 square feet of private outdoor space. Interior designer Ryan Korban imbued the residence with timeless, modern interiors, including a custom kitchen with Brutalist-inspired features, a tailor-made bronze vanity in the powder room, and a double-sided gas fireplace in the primary suite. Available residences in the building start at $4.5 million for a 1,506-square-foot two-bedroom home.