The Real Deal on the town

<i>Sarah Jessica Parker's Greenwich Village leftovers, Robert A.M. Stern at 1280 Fifth Avenue, spa treatments at 55 Thompson and the launch of the East River Ferry </i>


The Real Deal
was on the party circuit this week, soaking in the New York City views from Dumbo to Harlem. We feted the launch of the East River Ferry, got our spa on with the folks from Trump Soho at nearby rental building 55 Thompson Street, followed Robert A.M. Stern to 1280 Fifth Avenue and, for a moment, envisioned ourselves in Sarah Jessica Parker’s high-heeled shoes, as we checked out the Greenwich Village townhouse she once sought to buy.

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Over at 16 East 10th Street, the Pen & Brush Society’s 8,475-square-foot townhouse, we were eager to see the home that was almost good enough for Carrie Bradshaw.

The 25-foot-wide-property was recently reintroduced to the market by Prudential Douglas Elliman’s Patrick Gavin and Robert Haberman after would-have-been buyers Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick backed out of a deal in favor of the house two doors down.

Built in 1848, the home has been maintained over the years by Pen & Brush but, as Gavin freely admitted, could definitely stand some modernization. Gavin also told us he believes a single-family residential user could get the best value out of the property, and expects that its buyer will ultimately embark on a gut renovation project.

The home is still asking $14.9 million, with potential Parker-Broderick sightings included.

The soiree was held in conjunction with Pen & Brush’s “Is it Fine Art? Does It Matter?” art show, and as is often the case nowadays, HGTV was on hand to document the event. We’re told “Selling New York” director Evan Eames was checking out the property for an upcoming episode, and a casting director was also there scouting talent for upcoming real estate shows on the network.  — Sarabeth Sanders

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Two hundred brokers from 36 firms came out in force Tuesday night for a party at flashy East Harlem condo 1280 Fifth Avenue. The Real Deal showed up hoping to strike up a conversation with legendary architect Robert A.M. Stern but left sorely disappointed. Stern had left the building before we arrived.

There was still plenty of prosecco and green olive-kebabs to keep us happy.

A quick exchange with developer Bruce Brickman revealed that the building is trying to become more broker-friendly and has started a new commission model — 5 percent for every contract after a broker’s first contract at 4 percent.

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Patrick Smith, director of sales for the building, revealed that 15 percent of the condos are now in contract.

We’ll meet again, Mr. Stern. — Katherine Clarke

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On Wednesday evening, The Real Deal made the rounds at 55 Thompson Street, Manhattan Skyline’s Tunnel Garage-turned-luxury rental building in Soho.

The event was intended to introduce the building’s recently-completed townhouse, which is on offer for $35,000 a month. But the real draw was on the building’s second-floor landscaped garden, where staffers from the nearby Trump Soho’s Spa at Trump were on hand to dole out massages, manicures and facials.

Laurie Zucker and Carole Bloom of Manhattan Skyline told us that the building is hovering just above 90 percent leased, but that their newest project, Flatiron’s Story House condominium, isn’t quite ready to officially hit the market.

No worries, developers, we’re totally in for that launch party whenever it does happen, so long as our Trump masseuse makes a reprise appearance. — Sarabeth Sanders

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The weather held out last night at Dumbo’s Fulton Ferry Landing, where guests of New York Waterway’s new East River Ferry launch party dodged in and out of a well-stocked tent of hors d’oeurves and cocktails as they waited on line to take the spin around the harbor.

Ferry rides will ultimately cost $4 per person, but they’re free through next week. The event was co-sponsored by Brooklyn Tourism, Lonely Planet and the Dumbo Improvement District. — Sarabeth Sanders