From the listing of James Whale’s former abode to a Philippe Starck–designed condo, there’s always plenty happening in the world of real estate. In this roundup, AD PRO has everything you need to know.
On the Market
The former Los Feliz home of director James Whale hits the market for $7.245 million
A Los Feliz estate that was once home to James Whale, the director behind early horror classics including Frankenstein, The Old Dark House, The Invisible Man, and The Bride of Frankenstein, is on the market for $7.245 million. Dubbed Villa Collina, the Mediterranean Revival mansion was originally designed by architect Henry Harwood Hewitt for Olympic gold medalist Clement E. Smoot.
The four-bedroom, four-bathroom Tuscan-style manse recently underwent an extensive renovation but retains many classic details like hand-made tiles, arched doorways, and French doors and windows that allow views of nearby Griffith Observatory, the Los Feliz hillsides, and downtown LA’s skyline. A guest apartment that doubles as an oversized spa sits separately on the half-acre lot, which also includes a tiled swimming pool, a deck with a sauna, expansive lounge areas overlooking the city, and numerous gardens and lawns lined with mature Italian cypress trees. The listing is being held by Nourmand & Associates agent Konstantine Valissarakos and Richard Yohon at Sotheby’s.
A Pacific Palisades abode that once caught the eye of J.Lo and Ben Affleck lists for $30 million
An almost-forever home of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck resurfaced for sale earlier this month, according to Robb Report. Lopez and Affleck, who got married a little over a year ago, had a wild ride finding their current Beverly Hills home, entering and pulling out of escrow together three times. This home was in that set—but the couple ultimately did not move forward with the purchase. Instead of the $34.5 million they entered into escrow with, it’s now available for the taking at a discounted $29.89 million.
The recently built Ken Ungar–designed transitional-style manse stands at 15,000 square feet and sports seven bedrooms, three bathrooms, four half-bathrooms, and six three-quarter bathrooms, according to listing agents Sam Palmer and Blair Chang at The Agency. (Gary Glass with Christie’s AKG also holds the listing.) The property has all the trappings to keep a homeowner happy, A-lister or not: A porte cochere and motor court greet guests upon arrival to the home, leading to a grand foyer as well as a spacious living and dining room on the ground floor. An open chef’s kitchen has dual islands and a service pantry attached. Other highlights of the home include a wet bar, study, theater, wine cellar, gym, spa, elevator, large back porch, and pool. A separate, fully equipped two-story guesthouse with a one-car garage also sits on the premises.
A South Beach triplex with starchitect credentials lists for $54.5 million
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French-born designer Philippe Starck has had a prodigious career, devising iconic buildings, interiors, yachts, and chairs—and now homebuyers have the opportunity to own a particularly plum piece of that legacy. Compass recently listed a sprawling triplex apartment at the Icon South Beach, a 40-story tower by Starck, for $54.5 million. The digs, which sit a stone’s throw from some of the city’s most attractive beaches, span 9,000 square feet—not including an additional whopping 11,000 square feet of outdoor space on a private rooftop. (That alfresco oasis comes complete with a saltwater pool and terraces on two levels.)
The six-bedroom, seven-and-a-half bathroom waterfront pad features a private interior elevator, two family rooms, and two wine cellars. It also boasts some of the most spectacular panoramic views in SoFi, an area defined mostly by historic low-rise buildings. Floor-to-ceiling windows line a double-height living area; a dining room sits nearby. Two separate staircases—one of them spiral—both have clear balustrades and lead to the second floor, where rooms are enclosed by glass walls that flood each room with light and afford generous views of the outdoors.
Liz Hogan and Stephanie Roy of Compass hold the listing.
Sales Launch
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A Morris Adjmi–designed building opens sales
On November 8, Quadrum Global (the developers behind Arlo Hotels) publicly launched listings for The Huron, a soon-to-be-completed waterfront condominium building in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. According to the developer, the double towers—whose façade and interiors are designed by acclaimed architecture firm Morris Adjmi Architects—soft-launched in 2022 and received $100 million in sales even before specific residences were available.
“We debuted The Huron against a backdrop of rising interest rates and a comedown from the historically unprecedented post-pandemic real estate market; yet we have continued to surpass all sales expectations,” says Jared White, senior vice president of Quadrum Global.
Prices start at $750,000 for studios, but the building also offers one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. Buyers have their pick of condominiums with ceiling heights ranging from nine-and-a-half feet up to almost 15 feet. The building also has more than 24,000 square feet of private outdoor space spread across its 67 residences.
Greenpoint’s industrial past plays a major role in the building’s aesthetic, according to Adjmi. “Industrial Greenpoint inspired the design of The Huron, from our oversized casement windows to showcase spectacular waterfront views of New York City to the brick podium and texture of the façade,” he says.
Amenities will be located across 30,000 square feet on the first two floors, and will include a fitness center, sauna, 50-foot saltwater pool, lounge, dining room, coworking space, an indoor and outdoor children’s playground, and areas for cookouts and and outdoor movies. Serhant is leading sales and marketing efforts.
Milestone
A dual-tower residence at a Gowanus Superfund site tops out
A 21-story project that plans to bring waterfront living to Brooklyn’s most well-known Superfund site topped out earlier this month. Named Society Brooklyn and Sackett Place, the two mixed-use towers will accommodate over 500 units across 600,000 square feet along the Gowanus Canal when they open in 2025, and will include a public park and esplanade.
Back in 2010, the highly polluted Gowanus Canal was declared a Superfund site due to the dumping of industrial waste and sewage into the waterway starting in the 1800s. Since then, a remediation plan has been conceived and put into effect: In 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency began removal of a planned 581,000 cubic yards of hazardous sediment from the canal’s floor and is in the process of constructing two underground storage tanks that will restrict up to 12 million gallons of sewage from flowing into the canal during floods and rainstorms.
The residential project is part of a rezoning plan that will bring thousands of new apartments to the neighborhood and will include 57,300 square feet of retail space, with a section dedicated to local artisans and maker studios that center sustainability. Society Brooklyn, located at 267 Bond Street, will offer studios, one-, and two-bedroom units; meanwhile Sackett, at 498-510 Sackett Street, will deliver one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences. Amenities listed for Society Brooklyn include a lobby restaurant and bar, sky pool deck, fitness center, and a coworking space. The project is being developed by Property Markets Group and private equity firm Carlyle, and SLCE Architects are handling the design. Twenty-five percent of the units are carded for the city’s Mandatory Inclusionary Housing Program.
Need to Know
Waldorf Astoria and B&B Italia team up for exclusive furnishings for New York Tower
Waldorf Astoria Residences New York on Park Avenue, a chic enclave designed by AD100 honoree Jean-Louis Deniot and set to open in late 2024, recently announced a partnership with B&B Italia to bring exclusive furniture collections to residents. Through the arrangement, residents at the landmarked building can opt for Waldorf Astoria Furnished Residences curated by B&B Italia, with options of two different color schemes: Chiaro, for those who prefer a cool palette, or Scuro for owners seeking a warm finish.
In addition to the elegant furniture B&B Italia is known for, residents will have access to stylish accents and accessories, including lighting fixtures, linens and towels, wall coverings, table treatments, kitchen serving ware and glassware, curated artwork, and even books to be delivered turnkey.
“Fully furnished turnkey residences are increasingly in demand in the luxury real estate market,” says Carolyn Sebba, senior director of sales and marketing of real estate development for Dajia US, the developer of the Waldorf Astoria Residences New York. “With these exclusive offerings and signature interior design services from B&B Italia, our residents, many of whom own multiple homes throughout the world, will have a seamless experience from their first design choice, as they enjoy the elevated lifestyle and services from the Waldorf Astoria Residences New York.”
The legendary hotel closed for a facelift and interior renovations in 2017. The renewed towers will provide 375 new luxury residences in addition to hotel suites and rooms, with more than 50,000 square feet of amenities ranging from health and wellness to entertaining and business spaces.
