Hello friends!

 

Spring is here! Spring is here! Spring is here! I figure if I yell it enough, Mother Nature will hear me and start sending us that good good weather! Spring is the busiest season in New York Real estate and the loveliest time to be in the city. We are definitively seeing pops in the market with a ton more activity, let's all hope it leads to more deals for buyers and sellers. 

 

This season of fresh new beginning seems like the perfect time to finally reveal the new development I've been dropping hints about! I'm thrilled to introduce 3E3, a beautifully curated collection of homes in the heart of my beloved Bowery. Check out more about the development below. Right now, this cutting-edge industrial chic development is a #compasscomingsoon listing, but we will be set to show in early April. Let me know if you want to come in for a sneak peek! 

 

Speaking of cutting-edge, in this month's news, we'll take a look at forward-thinking ideas for addressing climate change and transit woes. And I've offered up some great ideas for city strolls — the perfect way to soak in the warmer weather and colorful blossoms of the spring season. And please please reach out for any of your real estate needs or questions. 

 

Introducing 3E3, a beautifully designed collection of homes offering a bold take on modern luxury in the city's most avant-garde neighborhood — The Bowery. 

 

Each full-floor home feature walls of windows, white oak radiant heat flooring throughout the entire apartment and soaring exposed concrete ceilings. Exquisite open kitchens include custom black walnut cabinetry, soapstone countertops and top-of-the-line appliances by Miele, Wolf and Sub-Zero. Vented in-unit LG washer/dryers and premium fixtures add effortless luxury and ease. Each residence comes with private storage and is eligible for the Cooperative and Condominium Property Tax Abatement. 

 

Located at East 3rd Street right off of Bowery, #3E3rd sits at the nexus of bustling Downtown chic, where the East Village, The Bowery, NoHo, SoHo, Nolita and Lower East Side collide. From your early-morning fitness routine to a late-night underground concert, the city's premier boutiques, cultural destinations, dining and nightlife venues await, just steps from your front door. 

Our first release is Unit 3 at 3 East 3rd Street, a stunning three-bedroom, three-bathroom with a full wall of windows capturing breathtaking southern views over the Bowery. Spanning 1,866 square feet, you'll enjoy a sprawling great room, open kitchen, massive master suite and spacious secondary bedrooms. Contact me today for more information about this stellar new addition to The Bowery landscape.

As Superstorm Sandy powerfully demonstrated, much of the city is vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Lower Manhattan, in particular, is prone to flooding which has led to a new $10 billion plan from Mayor Di Blasio to make Manhattan bigger. Love him or hate him, this is an interesting plan that could easily be unaffordable for the city, but I love big bold ideas!

 

In a series of "resilience" projects, Di Blasio is proposing a southern extension of the island in the form of a 500-foot berm that would rise above predicted sea levels, thus protecting downtown from flooding. A master plan will be completed by the city over the next two years that will establish a new public-benefit corporation to finance, manage and construct the project. 

 

By the end of the year, autonomous vehicles will be a reality in New York City thanks to a plan to introduce the cars as part of a Brooklyn Navy Yards shuttle service. Launched by Boston-based startup Optimus Ride, the shuttle will run in closed loops on private roads within the Navy Yard providing transportation for the 8,500 people who work there as well as for future passengers of East River Ferry service, which should open nearby soon.

 

This limited introduction of self-piloted cars is significant in New York City where testing of autonomous vehicles is highly regulated (and requires a police escort). However, many legislators are placing a higher priority on fixing the city's public transit system versus supporting the introduction of driverless cars above ground. 

When visitors come to NYC and ask me what to do I ALWAYS say WALK, WALK WALK! Why am I yelling? Sorry about the all caps, but I love walking, so let me give you a bit of advice on walking NYC! From Brighton Beach to The Bronx, there is no shortage of gorgeous strolls to add to your springtime calendar. In fact, Curbed has mapped a baker's dozen warm weather walks, with each granting a new perspective on the city we see every day.

 

History buffs will want to head to Clinton Hill to take in more than a 150 years of architectural styles or venture up to High Bridge to walk along the city's oldest (and recently restored) bridge. For that seaside vibe, the boardwalks along Coney Island and Brighton Beach are top-notch, and the Belt Parkway Esplanade offers a fresh take on the harbor from a new (to many) vantage points. And, for the many, many city dwellers who've never even stepped foot in Staten Island (shout out to my biz partner Jon Cella), Wolfe's Pond Park offers a chance to see why the district is called "the greenest borough."