The Real Deal New York

From the March issue: The future may be unclear — specifically, the future façades of new chic condo buildings. As the price for glass increases and the economy and housing market waver, some developers are looking to use less expensive alternative materials as they design new buildings. “[Glass] is great in a booming sales market when prices are going through the roof, but when you have a market like today, when prices are higher, it’s a more difficult market to sell apartments, and developers have to find ways to cut costs,” said David Maundrell, the president of Brooklyn-based brokerage firm Aptsandlofts.com. Tom Graham, the senior community manager leading a Jersey City project for K. Hovnanian Homes, a national homebuilder, said through a spokeswoman that costs for glass have skyrocketed.