Nearby McDonald’s Get Euro Makeover

Comparing 3rd quarter 2007 to 3rd quarter 2008, real estate prices around here have actually done pretty well, according to the Times.

Neighborhoods that experienced price drops include the Lower East Side and the East Village, where median prices fell 5.5 percent; and Carnegie Hill, where co-op prices decreased 7.2 percent. Median prices in Hamilton Heights and Morningside Heights dropped 30 percent, with sales decreasing to only 19 from 67 in 2007. In Washington Heights, median prices went down 6.3 percent, but the number of sales increased to 24 from 18 in 2007.

The neighborhoods that fared the best through the third quarter included Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue from 59th to 96th Streets, where median prices went up 35 percent. In Lincoln Square, an area between 57th and 72nd Streets from Central Park West to the Hudson River that is home to high-priced apartments in 15 Central Park West and the Time Warner Center, median co-op prices went up 18.6 percent and median condo prices went up 25 percent. Prices also rose in Lenox Hill, where median co-op prices went up 19 percent; and Chelsea, where median co-op and condo prices went up about 6 percent.

Other neighborhoods that experienced increases include Greenwich Village, where median prices for co-ops went up 3.9 percent; Union Square and the Gramercy area, where co-op prices went up 3.3 percent and condo prices went up 2.6 percent; and the Upper East Side, where median co-op prices went up 2.3 percent and condo prices went up 9.1 percent.

Soon to arrive on East 13th. St. in the former Blick Art Space is HGL Art. Here’s how they explain themselves:

“HGL ART provides support for parents/guardians by having children explore the World Art School through a fully immersive bilingual art curriculum focusing on the arts, dance, and music. The program is designed to alleviate the stress of finding courses or activities that provide both safety and a strong foundation for education and creativity. We know that every parent and child’s breaks and schedule vary which is why we offer semesterly admission for the courses and accompanied sessions for the weekend activities to accommodate whatever format works best.”

Check out this New York Times profile.

DOB has granted our request to start placing our concrete at 6am, which will allow us to finish this work earlier in the evening. We have 3 more instances like this until we finish our superstructure in early June.

Therefore, next week (April 30 to May 4), Superstructure work will continue at the 15th and 16th floor levels. Tuesday, May 1st and Friday, May 4th we will have a pour with a 6 am start time and similar end time, weather permitting. Deliveries for the internal systems of the building have been ongoing and will continue, although they should not greatly affect the flow of pedestrian and road traffic.

The following week (May 7 to May 11), we will continue superstructure concrete and slabs on the 17th floor and roof levels. Deliveries for the internal systems of the building have been ongoing and will continue, although they should not greatly affect the flow of pedestrian and road traffic.

This weekend the site will be closed.

A model apartment has been completed, and you can see it in all its glory here.

Here’s the latest rendering of the very expensive condos that will rise in the hole in the ground at 13th and 5th. Note there are only a few duplex apartments. They will be really pricey.