1) 253-259 East 72nd Street and its 30 residents are directly in the path of the Second Avenue Subway, meaning they will eventually be forced from their apartments. The tenants understand the need for the subway line, but are pessimistic about the MTA's ability to find them replacement apartments in the neighborhood. Well, every tenant except for newly arrived Jenner Smith, a 23-year-old investment banker who says, "I could move anywhere, and it wouldn’t really make a difference." [Caught in the Headlights/Gregory Beyer]
2) Finding a new apartment is painful enough without having to bring all of your belongings with you. Many tenants simply leave possessions behind in their old apartment for the new inhabitant. These items range from HDTV's to more adult items, like whips and porno collections. Broker Stephen S. Perlo was embarrassed to discover a 3 foot stack of adult magazines and body oils on a final walk through, but the client was thrilled, saying "‘Oh, no, I love this — I have to replenish my supply." Oh the things we leave behind. [What Gets Left Behind/Teri Karush Rogers]
3) When Beau Frank was finally ready to buy an apartment, he knew that his ideal home may not exist in Manhattan. Luckily, he had done a little research into the other boroughs, saying that, "from what I'd heard, Brooklyn was an O.K. place. I knew nothing about it, so I went off word of mouth." Frank also hired a broker, Lior Barak, who was clued into his apartment needs. Barak explains, "he is a hip guy; he needs to be in prime Williamsburg." Right. Frank settled on a 1,300-square-foot garden duplex at Roebling Square for for $750,000 and couldn't be happier, saying "It is like the Wild, Wild West. There is so much going up it is unbelievable." [Joyce Cohen/The Hunt]
4) Mansueto Ventures, Seven World Trade Center's third tenant, have moved in and they couldn't be happier. Mansueto, the publishers of Inc. and Fast Company, looked at 50 buildings throughout the city and chose Larry Silverstein's first rebuilt WTC tower. Highlights include an open work floor and dramatic 360 degree views of the New York City skyline. The interior design was easy according to architect James G. Phillips, who recalls, "the mandate was to do nothing to interfere. Just bring it inside." [Square Feet/Claire Wilson]
5) Peter Obletz was the original Friend of the High Line, long before the fancy buildings and music festivals arrived. Obletz, a train fanatic, actually purchased the High Line from then owner Conrail in 1984 for a whopping $10. He then carefully refurbished two rail cars and hosted lavish dinner parties for friends and esteemed guests while living next door in a concrete block railroad building. The new Friends of the Highline have picked up Obletz's mission, with Joshua David explaining, "There is something poetic and moving about following in the footsteps of someone you never knew who was passionate about some of the same things you are." [The Charming Gadfly/John Freeman Gill]