1) Chinatown: The latest development in the knock-off handbag and watch business is the mobile fake shop. Racked reports fake shops on wheels such as "a van parked on Baxter Street just north of Canal filled with faux designer bags." There isn't only one.
2) West Village: Over on a confusing stretch of Eighth Avenue, Steven Alan and Sergio Davila will return in August, Shoegasm is probably still alive but Coffee Sweet Heart's fate is very much unkown.
3) Chelsea: Do check out the pics of the Billion Dollar Babes' Vivienne Westwood Anglomania sale and there's still a few minutes left to hit it up before leaving town for the weekend.
The Trump clan is going after wealthy foreign buyers to inhabit (for 120 days per year) the Trump Soho condo-hotel, and yesterday they landed some ink in the UK's Sunday Times. First: the sales update. In February, the building was reported to be 53% sold. By April, that number hadn't changed. Now—and congrats to all three Trumplings forced to travel the world for this clunker—the reported sales figure is up to 60%. But let's move beyond that for now. Some foreign coverage presents the perfect opportunity for the Trumps and their associates to do a little wink-wink-nudge-nudge on the 120 days rule. Surprisingly, they are sticking to the script:
Trump SoHo is a so-called “hotel /condo” project. Buyers will own a hotel room but have the right to live there only 120 days a year. The rest of the time it will be rented out by the hotel, generating income for the investors. Property zoning laws mean that Trump SoHo owners will have to abide by the rule. No matter who the resident or how much has been paid, they will be barred from living there for more than 120 days a year, the Trumps insist.
1) There are more details on 61 Fifth Avenue, the former Schrafft's luncheonette (in a previous life) that was gutted by fire two years ago and then recently sold: "Now the architect Alta Indelman says she is working on a design for a 10-story apartment house with one triplex, three duplexes and ground-floor retailing. She said that she had considered trying to salvage some of the Schrafft's facade but that it was too far gone." Something tells us this one may not go down without a fight. [Streetscapes/Schrafft's]
2) With the luxury rental market softening, developers are offering incentives to lure new tenants. Not really news (see: The Ludlow), but new Curbed favorite Dwell on Wall is offering to pay brokers' fees and toss in two free months' rent, and fellow FiDi building 20 Exchange Place is paying brokers' fees, not asking for security deposits, adding one free month of rent and a pet spa appointment for Rover on move-in day. ['Luring Affluent Renters in Manhattan']
3) That Jersey City market better hold, because the developers who turned the American Can Company factory into the Canco Lofts are now planning to condoize the rest of the property. That means more than 1,100 new units being brought to market, on top of the 200 already put up for sale (60 have sold). Cross your fingers! [In the Region/'Ambitions Expand at Canco Lofts']
A new 7-story mini-tower housing a mere 5 condos will soon rise at 56 Spring. This one is sited on a street which offers everything from assiette de fromages all the way to zeppole, with assorted other things in between. This wee tower shows some facade switcheroo, which appears to be inspired by a Gravitram or possibly a Space Warp and comes from the mind of architect Arpad Baksa. It will nestle up next to 225 Lafayette Street, home of the $100,000 closet. Both are just east of the always busy intersection of Lafayette and Spring, down where Soho meets Nolita meets Little Italy meets Chinatown. The back side of 56 Spring will butt up against some terrific little gardens, hidden behind two old brick walkups facing onto Cleveland Place, one of which was sadly mauled and decapitated last summer. That broken bit of brickage is piled just across from the forlorn Lieutenant Petrosino Square, where recently ground was broken for a much-needed makeover. All said, whoever ends up residing at 56 Spring won't be able to complain about a lack of options, food or otherwise.
· Portfolio > On the Boards > 56 Spring [Arpad Baksa Architect website]
· Celebrity Real Estate Wrap: The $100,000 Closet [Curbed]
· Cleveland Place Construction Chronicles: Razing the Roof [Curbed]
No, not that skirt. And not that Trump. But since we have everyone's attention, please take note that the base of the almost legalTrump SoHocondo-cum-hotel is being dressed in a skirt of fitted glass with some of that metal mesh interlayer which we first revealed a while back. Colorwise, it looks like the Trump clan and Handel Architects have opted for a soft dove grey tone. Or should we say a pale sky blue? Maybe the hue was suggested by that kool joint around the corner. One thing seems clear: Ivanka's big brown eyes weren't the inspiration. Not that we'll hold that against her.
· CurbedWire: Trump Soho Legalized [Curbed]
· Trump Soho Under Glass: Revealing and Concealing [Curbed]
Soho Mews, which we'll go out on a limb and call the most expensive and pedigreed new development that no one is talking about, is looking abroad for buyers. From a press release: "As part of this ongoing cultural exchange, executives from Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group, the exclusive marketing and sales agent for Soho Mews, are visiting some of Europe’s most fashionable cities to provide insight about the flourishing real estate market in Lower Manhattan and its most cosmopolitan district, Soho. In collaboration with Domus Realty, on June 26th, Soho Mews will launch a summer international tour with an intimate cocktail reception for leading agents and prospective buyers at the Just Cavalli Café in Milan followed by a second event at the Hotel de Russie in Rome on June 30th." [BusinessWire]
MADISON SQUARE/FLATIRON—We are not heartless. We can enjoy some nice rainbow photographs as much as the next guy, especially when they involve the towers—completed and otherwise—of the Madison Square Park and Flatiron area. The pictures were snapped yesterday, and our photog writes: "Looks like the southern pot of gold is on the 20th floor of One Madison Park." Shouldn't the pot of gold be a bit higher, like, say, the $45 million penthouse? [CurbedWire Inbox]
EAST VILLAGE—The clock may be ticking on architect Robert Scarano's ability to do business in New York, but his Bowery tower at 52 East 4th Street chugs along. A press release just went out about the building's penthouse, and it's a keeper: "While the Bowery accommodated new immigrants in the late 1800s, then punk-rockers throughout the 1990s—now the Bowery is in for something new—luxury. 52E4's penthouse is the most valuable piece of property to ever hit the Bowery with a ticket price of $2600 per square foot for the 1317 square feet inside and 1000 square feet outside ... The common association with the Bowery traces back to tight conditions in former tenement houses during Ellis Island’s hey-day, but that’s all about to change." [CurbedWire Inbox]
SOHO—Writes an anonymous tipster, "Please post an anonymous tip: The corner property on the NW corner of Howard Street & Broadway is being considered for a hotel development site." Yes ma'am. Or sir. You'll never know! [CurbedWire Inbox]
And now the latest from Racked, covering retail from the sidewalks up.
1) Soho: Another day, another shopping line. Today's action is at the Botkier sale. Up to 70 percent off bags, shoes and wallets. Line up in an orderly fashion to the left.
2) Red Hook: It's on, as of 9AM yesterday. But after the Ikea shopping is over, it's time to get the goods home. Assuming, of course, a resident tired of giving directions doesn't grab a blunderbuss.
3) Park Slope: The boutique Bird is leaving Seventh Ave. for the hipper environs of Fifth Avenue. Markdowns through closing on July 28.
4) Chinatown: Brooklyn-based bag and accessory label Ananas is bringing its BK goodness to a pop-up shop on Canal Street.
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The Trump clan is going after wealthy foreign buyers to inhabit (for 120 days per year) the Trump Soho condo-hotel, and yesterday they landed some ink in the UK's 
