1) A renovation on West 15th Street has sparked a battle royal between the developers and their neighbors. The problem? Tearing down a quaint row house in order to build a 7 story building topped off with an insane triplex that extends over the neighboring building, which just happens to be owned and occupied by said developer. If you think this design is special, you will definitely appreciate their current home, which comes complete with a two-story indoor waterfall and a mock up of the Yangtze River! Paging the Hideous desk. [Fred A. Bernstein/Not in My Front Yard]
2) Two of The Onion's ad sales reps decide to take their work friendship to the next level and become roommates, only to find out their tastes may make them incompatible. Before their blossoming relationship fell apart, they located a 5 room railroad on Withers Street for $1,800 a month, equally satisfying them both. [Joyce Cohen/The Hunt]
3) Developers understand standard condos won't make their Financial District projects successful. It's going to take amenities, and said developers will stop at nothing to destroy, or at least top, their competition. The major players in the game include Swig's 25 Broad, the Setai, Ms. Amy Sacco and District, and of course The Beaver. Expect the one-upsmanship to continue until someone agrees to commit murder to guarantee a closing. [C.J. Hughes/Posting]
4) The battle over the Manhattan House conversion has moved from the Upper East Side to Manhattan Supreme Court. But instead of the tenants going after the hated developers, this time it's the developers who are suing each other as problems continue at the most expensive conversion ever. A judge has ruled that Jerry O'Connor and Richard Kalikow have 30 days to decide who will buy who out, and it looks like O'Connor has staked himself to an early lead. [Braden Keil/NY Post]
5) Construction is almost finished on Ariel East and West, Extell's dueling Upper West Side Towers, but neighborhood residents are still depressed about the changing skyline. Extell President Gary Barnett, who isn't known to shy away from an argument, responds, "We're developers. We'll develop any height that makes sense." [Jim Rasenberger/NY Times]