1) Since buying it for just over $31 million in 2005, Len Blavatnik—no stranger to megadeals both rumored and real—has let the 75-foot-wide mansion at 2 East 63rd Street (right) sit empty and become decrepit. A far cry from the "Roman villa" it used to be. [Streetscapes/Christopher Gray]

2) The strangest part of this tale of how a pair of models came to settle in Greenpoint is that they left Williamsburg because it "had already become saturated with want-to-be artists, and sort of a fashion parade on Bedford Street." That's right, models think the Bedford (Avenue, by the way) fashion scene is ridiculous. [Habitats/Celia Barbour]

3) Maspeth, Queens, long a Curbed staff pick for a neighborhood that will eventually be overrun by development, is proud of its status as a "double ticket" community, meaning it's a bus ride to a subway ride to Manhattan. But be afraid, Maspethians, because after Bushwick and Ridgewood, you're next. [Living In/Gregory Beyer]

4) A look into the life of retail broker queen Faith Hope Consolo reveals that the bank boom may be over, drug stores are the new banks and Danny Meyer may be eying Harlem. Though that may just be a little buzz-building on the FHC's part. [The City]

5) A young couple has their sights set on a starter home in Westchester, so what in God's name brings them to a new construction condo in Jersey City? Surely it's not the $30,000 parking spots. [The Hunt/Joyce Cohen]

6) Stories like this have been everywhere lately, but for some reason, reading about how Grand Theft Auto's Liberty City compares to the real New York never gets old. We hear the Dukes waterfront is going to be huge! [The City]

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We've heard our share of Toll Brothers discussions in the context of Manhattan and Brooklyn, but today we travel across the river to Jersey City where the final stages of a development fight over the Powerhouse Arts District are playing out. Earlier this year, the Toll Brothers got unanimous approval from the local planning board to put up three high rises in the district. The development--which will include buildings of 30, 35 and 40 stories--apparently tosses the original plan for the Arts District in the trash, although it will include a 550-seat theater. One of the issues is the fate of the historic Manischewitz matzo factory, which local preservationists want saved (the Tolls will save two walls of the building).

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SOHO—Donald Trump may have had a fairly crappy day on the PR front for the Trump Soho condo hotel, but the Department of Buildings delivered him some goods. It has "partially rescinded" the Stop Work Order "to allow the general contractor, Bovis Lend Lease, to proceed with construction of the new building in phases." So, work can resume from the 23rd Floor down, but "construction on the upper portion of the building and crane operations remain prohibited at this time." Also, DOB will "maintain a daily presence at the site to verify that all authorized remedial work is in compliance with site safety measures" and workers are getting more safety training. The Stop Work Order was issued after the fatal accident on the 42nd floor. No worries: things falling from the 23rd floor have less distance to travel. [CurbedWire Inbox]

EDGEWATER—It's now possible to join a rent-to-own program at The Peninsula at City Place on what is "New Jersey's Gold Coast." The 201-unit condo is allowing buyers to apply a full year of rent toward the down payment and secure a 12 month lock rate. Monthly rents for the program range from $1,795 for a 1BR to $2,525 for a 2BR, with the 1BRs sell for $420K. All this time, we thought Williamsburg was the Gold Coast. [CurbedWire Inbox]

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1) In a story that we're only 60% sure is not an April Fool's gag, the Times reports that many New Jersey garbage dumps are being redeveloped into hotels, mall and residential buildings. For example, the Hilton at right is going up in a Dover landfill. Reminds us of a joke we heard: Hey, what's the biggest dump in New Jersey? New Jersey. Hi-yo! [In the Region/Antoinette Martin]

2) The city's 59 community boards are bracing for budget cuts, which will probably total $9,995 to $15,690 and take effect July 1. Great, now they'll be even more cranky when David Bouley tries to open a restaurant! [The City/Alex Mindlin]

3) So, what are brokers doing to get that commission in these tense times? Painting, buying flowers, and in some cases, sticking addresses on trash cans. ['That 6% Is Getting Harder to Earn'/Hope Reeves]

4) This week's Living In gives the spotlight treatment to Turtle Bay, a topical choice given the complaints of overdevelopment that followed the fatal crane collapse in the neighborhood a couple of weeks ago. Not surprisingly, you have to compete with foreign governments to get your hands on the good stuff. [Living In/C.J. Hughes]

5) An adorable young couple wants to stay close to family but also needs space for their sick cats, so they look to upgrade in Bensonhurst, Sheepshead Bay or Midwood. In the end, it comes down to her ability to negotiate in Russian. Which neighborhood will win?! [The Hunt/Joyce Cohen]

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CHELSEA—When last we checked in on our good friend YVES in Chelsea, there was a big rat helping it to celebrate Chinese New Year. No rat today, but a tipster sent pics showing that all the YVES glass is coming along. [CurbedWire Inbox]

JERSEY CITY—Across the Hudson River a press release proclaims "a telling show of the tremendous buzz surrounding Canco Lofts." What would that be? About half of the building's 100 lofts are now sold out and the grand opening was...on February 23. [CurbedWire Inbox]

FORT GREENE—Given that the poor G Train needs all the help it can get, it's only fair to note that someone has started an online petition drive to call for it to be connected to other trains at Atlantic Terminal at Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues. As the email says, "it would improve many lives across Brooklyn and Queens." Duly noted. [CurbedWire Inbox]

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JERSEY CITY—St. Vincent's may have a super-controversial plan on the table to build new luxury housing in Greenwich Village, but in the meantime, the hospital is sending some staff to shack up in New Jersey. Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers—an umbrella organization of several healthcare facilities—signed a 15-year lease with SK Properties for 65 apartments in Grove Pointe, a 30-story luxury rental complex in Jersey City. The total cost is $34 million. Hospital personnel living together in a luxury apartment building? Somebody get ABC on the line! [CurbedWire Inbox]

HARLEM—The trouble at the Dwyer on 123rd Street and St. Nicholas Avenue continues. Writes a buyer, "In January 2006 we put a deposit down on a condo at the to-be-built Dwyer. The prospectus gave a move-in date of January, 2007. We didn't believe the 1/07 move-in date and guessed it would more likely be 7/07. Here it is almost March 08 and the developer still cannot or will not affirm a solid move-in date, after several vaguely promised (and missed) deadlines. Several of my fellow would-be neighbors (and the development sold out almost immediately, without any sales promotions, all word of mouth as far as I can tell) are getting screwed because they've locked in mortgages, have moving dates from their current apartments, etc. [CurbedWire Inbox]

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1) The Blackstone Group managing director who bought the last three remaining apartments in the Trump World Tower near the UN for $34.3 million has gone back to the ATM. Chinh E. Chu wants more, so he is purchasing 1,200-square-feet of roof space for an additional $5 million. Things that are terrifying: private roof decks 70 floors the street. [Big Deal/Josh Barbanel]

2) The rising costs of real estate taxes, insurance, payroll, fuel, water and sewers mean that the old standard of $1 in maintenance fees for every square foot of living space is long gone. Over the past five years, Manhattan co-op maintenance fees are up 30%, and condo fees are up 38%. ['Maintenance Fees: Up, Up, Up'/Teri Karush Rogers]

3) The historic and lovely strip of rowhouses in Bed-Stuy on Agate Court are now being messed with because of a developer's shenanigans in the backyard. Will a landmarking come to the rescue? [Streetscapes/Christopher Gray]

4) Roosevelt Islanders are actually trying to have a say in matters regarding their silly little island. Democracy-loving hippies! [The City/Alex Mindlin]

5) After flirting with East Williamsburg and Bushwick but experiencing disappointment in what $400,000 will get you, a couple of green real estate rookies decide to head to the land of shattered dreams: Jersey City. Said one gentleman of his first trip to JC, "People were actually smiling and saying hi. A lady asked if I was lost and needed help. It seemed so sweet." [The Hunt/Joyce Cohen]

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That humongous Ferris wheel in the Jersey Meadowlands at the Xanadu development is going to be the "Pepsi Globe." The 10-year naming rights deal went for a reported $100 million and the big wheel's being promoted as "an instant landmark." The announcement says that "Pepsi will offer unique interactive experiences during the Pepsi Globe ride" and that the ride will last 25 minutes and "offer sweeping vistas of the New York skyline and the Hudson River." Each of the 26 glass-enclosed capsules will hold 20 people. We're not sure what an interactive Pepsi experience is, other than soda machines and ads, but we'll guess that the few residents that live in the area and were already pissed about the big wheel are going to be less happy now looking at one of the world's biggest Pepsi signs. All we can say is, another lost opportunity, Mr. Jobs. The iGlobe would have rocked.
· Wheel of Fortune [NYP]
· “The Pepsi Globe,” America’s Largest Ferris Wheel [Business Wire]
· Jersey's Whacky Xanadu Getting Some Spin [Curbed]

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The biggest Ferris wheel in the country is definitely reason for us to take a look across the Hudson River this morning. The Post reports that the big $2 billion Xanadu entertainment complex in the Meadowlands will be getting a 286 foot tall Ferris Wheel, beating out one in Dallas, which is only 213 feet tall. The wheel's going next to the shopping and entertainment complex, which will have a 780-foot indoor ski slope and an indoor lake. The completion date is actually set for November. Everybody loves a Ferris wheel, right? Wrong. Some residents to the west are complaining that it will mess with the view of Manhattan and say the developers are "like bullies from another neighborhood." They've even got their own website to fight the power behind the wheel. The wheel was going to be 400 feet, but the FAA put it on a diet.
· Big Wheel Rides High in Jersey [NYP]
· Save the Skyline, Stop the Wheel [savetheskyline.com]
· Xanadu [meadowlandsxanadu.com]