With its outdoor pool, putting green, residents' lounge, screening room, etc., etc., the Crescent Club has already established itself as Long Island City's shining example of amenity overdrive. And now those lifestyle perks have been ratcheted up a notch, with a fitness center designed by Madonna babydaddy Carlos Leon. How do we know about the involvement of Lourdes' papa? There he is in the photo above, enjoying a smoothie at a recent Crescent Club party while Elliman's Avi Voda looks on. The story goes that Voda—who is handling sales in the building—and Leon are pals, so when the developer brought up the gym thing, Voda suggested Leon for the task. The 17-story building's gym will have iconic images of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Marilyn Monroe and others (but no Madonna?) on the walls, to inspire residents to burn off that burger they wolfed down at Water Taxi Beach. And to bang home the Carlos Leon connection...
Now that the Long Island City waterfront is charging Manhattan prices (albeit not the fancy parts), the Post looks beyond the tony enclave of Hunters Point and focuses on the boom in the landlocked areas—over by Queens Plaza and Court Square. Old Curbed favorites like Arris Lofts, Crescent Club and the terrifying Kimaya Lofts get shout-outs, but the puff piece is a little soft on compliments. In fact, some of them could be described as, dare we say, backhanded? For example: "Apart from the sprouting condos, there's not much these areas have to offer." What, strip clubs don't count as an amenity? But the best is saved for last, when Arris buyer Irma Zandi—chased off the Lower East Side because of its newfound hellishness—describes what drew her to LIC: "I got off the subway, I saw the [Arris Lofts] building, I saw the vast emptiness around it. I don't know, it really spoke to me." Let's just say we don't think Arris will be using "Enjoy our vast emptiness" as a marketing tagline anytime soon.
· Long Shot [NYP]
· Long Island City is Having an Identity Crisis [Curbed]
Now the Toll Brothers are just messing with us. Two weeks ago, it was the limited-edition PriceChop at Fifth Street Lofts. Last week, it was the whole building. And now this week, just to confuse matters more, the units' prices have been raised back to pre-chop levels, according to StreetEasy. We always knew Long Island City would drive us crazy, we just didn't know that the mission would have been accomplished so easily.
Meanwhile, there was also some PriceUpping at Crescent Club, long a Curbed favorite for its outdoor pool, project views and nice set of balls. What's up over at Queens Plaza? Well, we'll tell you. StreetEasy also showed increases on some two dozen or so units, just before a bunch of them went into the ol' "listings in contract" category. Curious. Curious...ly awesome, that is, which is precisely how we feel about Long Island City. Folks, we are feeling the heat.
· Feeling LIC's Heat, Part I: All Hail Duane Reade [Curbed]
· Feeling LIC's Heat, Part II: Panorama Edition [Curbed]
Simply put, a luxury development is not a luxury development without a swimming pool. Condo buyers may not use them, and the pools may drive monthly maintenance fees to ridiculous levels, but developers know that a private pool is an important marketing hook in the current high-stakes game of real estate development. These "lap pools" are supposed to be an exercise amenity, but for the most part they're sold as sexy playgrounds or relaxing getaways. The trend is so popular that it seems like every week we're posting renderings of a new development's private pool. And it got us thinking about which of these swimming holes cuts through the chlorine clutter and rises to the top. So, above is a photo gallery of our favorite new pools, ranked from 10 to 1. Many of the entries are renderings, which is why we're not calling these the "best." Who knows how these things will turn out? Instead, they are—for one reason or another—our favorites. Check it out, and let us know which ones we missed.
LAND OF BLUE STEEL—An alert Curbed reader has this reaction to the Times' recent profile of Manhattanville property owner and Columbia thwarter Nicholas Sprayregen: "Could you guys please do a write up/photo montage of all the ridiculous real estate images of investors / developers / brokers / etc. posing like this. For some godforsaken reason, everyone thinks it’s a great idea that makes them look like they invented the concept of real estate. For starters, I have been reading the Real Deal for about two years and I have yet to see an issue where a picture like this can’t be found." At right, the photo of Sprayregen next to a photo taken from this month's Real Deal. Consider us now on the lookout for "the pose."
WEST CHELSEA—High Line happenings, per a shilly tipster: "I recently heard that the former DIA Building at 548-554 West 22nd Street is being re-created into art galleries and residential penthouses added by Joseph Pell Lombardi, Architect. With this exhibition building, the DIA Foundation created West Chelsea as an art neighborhood. The lower floors will continue to be used for exhibition spaces and art galleries, only the penthouses will be residential. It is significant that Lombardi will continue to use the existing portion of the building for art, thus continuing to strengthen the district as an art neighborhood. The building is being completely renovated and restored. The river view penthouses will have an entrance separate from the galleries." [CurbedWire Inbox]
LONG ISLAND CITY—A Queensbridge defender is upset that—despite the view—the Crescent Club doesn't take advantage of its QB proximity in marketing materials: "Crescent Club in their on-line brochure sure as heck does not show Queensbridge, although showing PS1 and other further away places. QB has a Jamaican American restaurant that brings in people from NY County. QB Park also draws people from other boros for its summer concerts." Noted. [CurbedWire Inbox]
1) The Times reports that developers are getting rid of fancy amenities because construction costs have soared and buyers don't want to pay huge common charges. Even so, it seems like every new building still has them, from Crescent Club's putting green in Long Island City to Jasper's fireside pool lounge in Murray Hill to District's amenity overdrive down in the FiDi. We are perplexed! ['Back to Basics'/Lisa Keys]
2) Michael Andalaro is like a one-man gentrification army, and with wit like this, any neighborhood should be proud to get his money. On why he left Avenue B after 25 years: "On Thursday nights, it was like spring break in Orlando." On the South Bronx: "I flirted with SoBro for a while, but there is really no housing stock. The houses are so narrow that you have to go outside to change your mind." On his move to Bed-Stuy: "I always figure that a bleak or notorious neighborhood translates into cachet one day." Obvs, he found some actors, models and designers to live in his building. [Habitats/Dan Shaw]
MIDTOWN—Pictures and reports from the construction site at Fifth Avenue and 36th Street, which has confounded many, keep trickling in. Said one tipster: "The fence is finally down and work is finally progressing. I heard it was supposed to be a hotel." Said another: "The most unsecured construction site in Manhattan." [CurbedWire Inbox]
LONG ISLAND CITY—Apartments shmapartments, the Crescent Club is all about the putting green, and they know it. Says a tipster: "Passed by the Crescent Club sales office on Queens Plaza North in Long Island City today and picked up a free Crescent logo golf ball. I also took some shots of the kitchen and bathroom; they look pretty cool very club like." Those photos are after the jump. [CurbedWire Inbox]
CENTRAL PARK SOUTHISH—The owner of last week's PriceSpotter writes in to add some color: "You can see more on our own website. For 1 month I had it with a billion dollar broker...He was selling new construction @ huge prices. We came with a fab marketing plan. WE did not get him or his partner. We got the junior Go To Girl. All they did was put in online on NYtimes.com and announce Sunday open house only there. No advertising no effort on their part. In 1 month we had 2 people and 2 bids. I took over the marketing myself...immediately put it online @ the times and built my own website. Its an open listing and we are offering a 4% co broke. Also advertising internationally. We have been doing it for 1 week. Had a big broker open house with 40 brokers coming last week. This week they are already bringing customers. There are 8 advertisements online and you picked it up. In NYC Brokers do not share. They want you to sell low and buy high...our billion $ broker was fat and lazy..he was racking in the big bucks from sitting in expensive new construction. Now we have the entire city wanting to sell the property." Well alrighty then. [CurbedWire Inbox]
1) A Building: This slow-moving Upper East Village luxury condo development is perhaps the building we receive the most "what's up with that?" emails about. As you can see, the 13th Street side has seen lots of exterior progress since we last checked in, although we're still waiting for the touch of color promised in the building's renderings. The estimated completion date was May 2007 (oops!), but when you see our after-the-jump photo of the rear, 14th Street-touching building (the two are attached by a courtyard), you'll realize that May 2008 may be a stretch.
2) Crescent Club: Long Island City's hot dose of architect Karl Fischer has seen some big changes since we had a look at that putting green. The full website is now up, and it features what is certainly the greatest soundtrack of any new development website this year, and possibly ever. The song must have subliminal messages embedded in it, because 24 of the 36 released units are already in contract, per StreetEasy. Who knew LIC had so many golf fans?
A few years back, the Daily News reported that developer Ari Chitrik planned a 17-story development in Long Island City called Crescent Club at 41-17 Crescent Street, formerly the site of a Greek newspaper that has since moved to a new location. Back then, it was speculated that there would be "119 condos with a lap pool and a putting green in a landscaped back yard."
Flash forward to today, and construction is underway. However, approved plans from the Department of Buildings list 140 units. And a rendering on the project's website shows that the rooftop pool is still part of the plan. The Karl Fischer/Andres Escobar collaboration will contain a party room, screening room and gym, retail at ground level and room for 29 cars to park. Clubby! Marketing starts this Fall from Elliman.
The project description certainly sounds "different," but looking at the rendering, two things immediately pop out at—the jagged shape of the roof and the "bullseye" pattern on the facade. Looks like an abstract subliminal ad for Target stores. Hmmm. —QC
· Crescent Club [Official Site]
Comments
Now that the Long Island City waterfront is charging 
LAND OF BLUE STEEL—An alert Curbed reader has this reaction to the Times' 
1) The Times reports that developers are getting rid of fancy amenities because construction costs have soared and buyers don't want to pay huge common charges. Even so, it seems like every new building still has them, from Crescent Club's 
LONG ISLAND CITY—Apartments shmapartments, the Crescent Club is all about the 
