LAWN BOWLING?

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Bowling is an amenity offered at one of the hottest new conversions in Manhattan's financial district, the Philippe Starck building at 15 Broad (jump here to see my listing). Going one further, it will be lawn bowling for the 27-story Skyscape condominium in Minneapolis. Developer Paul Duncin of Tandem Developers plans a 3,000-square-foot planted lawn located off the building's lounge, spa and workout area.

Adi Shamir, of the non-profit group Van Allen Institute, feels the trend toward 'Green' roof gardens give the buildings "a kind of ethos in the city that has to do with making it beautiful and vibrant through architectural intervention. That's a big change" he says, "and a big deal."

The article by Ashea Ebeling of Forbes.com features the Skidmore, Owings & Merrill forest being planned for 101 Warren Street in Tribeca. Costs were an extra $3 million but half the units sold in the first eight weeks. Jump here for the entire story.

ARE WE IN A BUYER'S MARKET OR SHOULD WE RENT?

Curious about when you should not buy real estate? Do you think renting is for suckers? If we are now in a 'Buyer's Market,' exactly what does that mean and what should your strategy be if you're thinking of buying?

For answers to these questions and much more great reading about real estate, go to Dan Melson's blog Searchlight Crusade and read on. Great powerful stuff for the consumer, whether you're a seller, buyer or renting.

IS BOYMELGREEN GOING TO BALE IN QUEENS?

Writing for the "The Queens Tribune," Brian Rafferty is reporting Queens is rife with rumors that Boymelgreen is shopping the RKO Keith's theater property on Northern Boulevard. His reps are not denying or confirming. Sounds a lot like the big Miami trim down. Jump here for the full report.

BUSH'S HOME STATE HIGHEST IN FORECLOSURES

Realty Trac, an online marketplace for foreclosure propeties is reporting that the foreclosure rate for mortagages on homes in four Texas cities are the highest in the nation. They are reporting the top ten cities are Indianapolis, Dallas, Atlanta, Denver, Austin, Houston, Memphis, Stockton, Salt Lake City and San Antonio. This is the second quarter in a row for San Antonio to make the top ten list. Jump here for ReatlyTrac's full press release.

ARCHITECT OF THE WEEK - OSLO, NORWAY

Designed by Jarmund / Vigsnaes Architects and located in Oslo, Norway. This private home is set perpendicular on the east bank of a river valley to maximize views. I'm told the color was chosen to match the client's temperament. Jump here for details.

The excellent photography by Nils Petter Dale / nispe@datho.no

WHAT YOUR NY REAL ESTATE DOLLAR WILL BUY IN CRETE

How about a summer get-away in Crete? It was the center of Minoan civilization, the oldest in Europe, the largest Greek island and fifth largest in the Mediterranean Sea. You can browse the archeological sites in Knossos, historical castles and several beautiful gorges. Etymology on gorgeous not lost here.

Back to the property, overlooking the Mediterranean, single story, six bedrooms, approximately 3768 square feet, asking $1,272,500 USD. Jump here for more photos and info. I don't believe the two beauties at the pool are included and for goodness sake, is it a world-wide habitual faux pas for real estates brokers, leaving the toilet seat up?

Represented by Faros Real Estate.

RECENT PROPERTY TRANSFERS

Selected May-June Condo Closings Downtown

ADDRESS - CLOSING DATE - PRICE - SQ FT - $PER SF
41 N Moore - 6/06 $1,812,480 - 1400 sf / $1295 sf
429 Greenwich St - 6/06 $3,375,000 - 2372 sf / $1423 sf (includes parking space)
175 W 12th St - 6/06 $550,000 - 460 sf / $1196 sf
71 Hudson - 6/06 $1,900,000 - 2036 sf / $933 sf
175 W 12th St - 6/06 $550,000 - 483 sf / $1139 sf
99 Reade St - 5/06 $1,700,000 - 1183 sf + 350 sf exterior /$1252*
505 Greenwich St - 6/06 $1,641,930 - 1279 sf /$1284 sf
48 Laight St 6/06 - $1,300,000 - 1400 sf /$929 sf
126 University Pl - 5/06 $2,300,000 - 1935 sf /$1187 sf

* An accepted method of pricing outdoor square feet is using half of the total exterior plus total interior. Thus in this case I used 1183 + 175 (1/2 the exterior) to get a total of 1358 square feet.

CHANGING REAL ESTATE MARKET?

Another great article from Jonathan Miller's blog Matrix. He talks about ". . . the only significant transactional evidence of a changing market to date has been lower number of sales but not lower prices." Jump here for the whole story.

TRIBECA ICON NOW SUPER LUXE LOFTS

Cheers to Teddy's and . . . . oh the memories . . . . and the best Margarita's to be found downtown!

TRIBECA GETS NEW LUXE RENTAL BUILDINGS

At the site of our revered Teddy's emerges a luxury new rental building at 219 West Broadway, five or six units $24,000 and up and from what I hear . . . really super DELUXE!!

The Boymelgreen/Leviev aka Africa Israel Development rental building at 88 Leonard Street will be managed by Rose Associates and is scheduled to go on the market in 2007. They had been planning for this summer. Oh how these things stretch out!

CALLING ALL MANHATTAN STARCHITECTS

Will one of you Manhattan starchitects/developers please provide Charles Jencks, one of your rooftops to create one of his zen-like artworks?

Credit for photo to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh, one of my favorite cities in the world, by the way.

INCENTIVES OFFERED BY SPONSORS

Here is the best yet in my opinion - a four day stay at Wyndham Sugar Bay Hotel and Spa in St Thomas including airfare, 3% commission on first sale (usually 2.5%) 4% on each additional unit you sell and receive 1% of that commission when contract is signed. (usually nothing until closing which can be up to two years!). Hey, airfare, a free place to stay, then just take the ferry over to St John every day, which is beautiful, to hell with St Thomas! This is offered from the Atelier on W 42nd Street.

INTEREST RATES - WILL THEY OR WON'T THEY ?

Will the Feds raise or hold on the interest rates when they meet tomorrow? Read the excellent article by Jonathan Miller in his blog "Matrix" here. You might have to scroll down the page to the article entitled "Fed is Looking Down the Road . . . '

PORSCHE BOXSTER

Sweet music . . . Car of the Day!