The living room: impeccable, but bland.

As a broker, it must be hard to stay in love with just one apartment. Every day, you see so many stunning views, so many living rooms that flow gracefully into open chef's kitchens, so many spa deep soaking tubs and rain showers. It must be especially difficult when you have two brokers living under the same roof, like Raphael and Claudine De Niro, who've shared a Soho loft since 2009.

Indeed, something else has must have caught the couple's wandering eyes, as they're leaving their three-bedroom, 2.5-bath loft at 497 Greenwich Street. City records show that the couple sold their seventh-floor spread to Alexander Lasry for $3.45 million. Not bad considering that the De Niros paid $2.9 million, but we'd expect no less from a pair of brokers (it was listed at $3.7 million).

The kitchen is also faultless.

In fact, the entire De Niro clan has been keen to offload real estate recently. Raphael's pa Robert sold his West Village townhouse for $9.5 million this July. (Raphael brokered the deal, of course). City records don't show any new buys under the name of De Niro pere or fils, but we assume the clan isn't packing it in altogether.

But what of the De Niros' poor jilted loft, listed with Mr. De Niro's Douglas Elliman colleague Sara Dai? What were its shortcomings? How did it fail to live up to the De Niros' expectations?

It couldn't have been the architect, as the apartment was the work of Dutch luminary Winka Dubbledam. And it couldn't have been size. At 2,541 square feet, the condo offered plenty of room to stretch out, as well as a private balcony and terrace and oversized floor-to-ceiling windows to keep the occupants from feeling cooped up. The bathroom was likewise blameless, being both "massive" and "spa-like" and featuring dual sinks and an air-jet Jacuzzi bathtub.

The worst thing that you could say about the place is that it looks almost too unobjectionable, too blandly perfect. Maybe the De Niros fell in love with something more unusual, or more unpredictable, or most likely, bigger, better and, most importantly, more expensive—something befitting a former rising star in the world of residential real estate, a man who is now at the top.

kvelsey@observer.com

Almost back to work. (Daily News)

After being the victim of a cruel prank by Harlem teenagers—dropping a shopping cart off of a shopping center—Marion Hedges will be returning to her real estate post at Prudential Douglas Elliman after recovery. A co-worker at Douglas Elliman, Margarita Barrera, told the Real Deal that she will back to work as soon as her injuries permit.

Hedges was thrown into a coma after the incidence and reportedly "had to relearn her name after regaining consciousness."

The road to recovery will be long and arduous, a spokesperson for Mrs. Hedges told the Real Deal. She later confirmed interest in returning to the real estate market.

Despite suffering brain damage and the loss of vision in her left eye, Mrs. Hedges told news organizations on Wednesday that she forgives the teenagers. Mrs. Hedges has also expressed interest to meet the boy, Achilles Baskin, who tried to persuade the other two to not push the cart over the side of the structure.

The most devastating part is that the assailants showed little signs of remorse. Not Ms. Hedges. If we were in the market for a broker—a species not always known for its kindness and honesty—we know who we would call.

mewing@observer.com

The Flatiron District, one of many suggested "hot" "new" neighborhoods.

Benjamin Fox, a retail broker who has made a name for himself by spotting new neighborhoods before both competitors and youthful trendspotters, was recently leaving an event near 35th Street and 10th Avenue, not too far from the Hudson Yards development site, when he saw pedestrians packing sidewalks in the late-night hours. In that, Mr. Fox saw retail promise.

“I am almost tempted to say that there are no more emerging neighborhoods in New York City,” said Mr. Fox, an executive vice president at Massey Knakal. “[But] I was amazed at the amount of pedestrian traffic on those streets. A year or two ago, you could lie dead on the street and no one would notice your body until the next morning.”

From the far West Side in Manhattan, to the spillover crowds of Williamsburg that have helped revive Bushwick in Brooklyn, retailers and their brokers are breathing new life into existing neighborhoods, many of them long discovered.  Brokers interviewed for this article, in fact, pointed to the Flatiron district and the Upper East Side as “hot” areas.

“It’s sad to say or scary to say, but if you go up and stand outside the Shake Shack on the Upper East Side on a Saturday or Sunday around noon, the line is astronomical,” said Patrick Breslin, an executive vice president of retail at Studley, who also noted an array of new retail leases from H&M and the French perfume company La Fontaine. “It’s unbelievable.”

Meanwhile, with the Hudson Yards development and the Larry Silverstein-spearheaded World Trade Center retail complex slated to open in 2015, retailers and brokers believe that with new space will come bigger retail possibilities.

Mall operator the Westfield Group will launch its 365,000-square-foot retail space in 2015. The project will be linked up with pedestrians-only walkways that are sure to bring retailers desired foot traffic—especially in a place (Lower Manhattan, near the 9/11 attack site) that will attract a chunk of the 45 million tourists who visit the city each year.  Last June, Brookfield Properties unveiled its plans for a $250 million retail redevelopment at the World Financial Center. Given its proximity to Hudson River Park and the new Fulton Street Transit center, foot traffic into the redevelopment will certainly be high.

“Downtown clearly will be back,” said Jeffrey Roseman, executive president with Newmark Knight Frank.

Venture farther north to Hudson Square and you have Trump Soho, increased residential development and an active local office leasing market to thank for improving prospects for future retail growth. Although retail is slow to catch up with the other developments it will be only a matter of time before it does, brokers said.

“The Hudson Square area has just been growing exponentially,” said John Gomes, an executive vice president at Prudential Douglas Elliman.

“We’re almost just at that tipping point of starting to see the emergence that I think is going to have a real mushrooming effect once retail has caught on to the fact that there are people who are ready to explore the neighborhood,” said Amy Williamson, vice president of sales at the Prodigy Group. Retail is slowly coming around.

The area boasts 35,000 office workers and averages a daytime population of 55,000 people, according to the Hudson Square Business Improvement District.

If the area gets more residential development approved—Trinity Real Estate is apparently looking to get the area rezoned to turn some manufacturing space into residential—then it will no longer be “under-retailed,” said Hudson Square Business Improvement District president Ellen Baer during an interview with The Commercial Observer.

“My best retail strategy is to make this a 24/7 community,” she added.

drosen@observer.com

The century-old, family-run luxury leather goods company--founded in 1893, to be exact--will rub elbows with fellow swanky retailers Vera Wang, Stubbs & Wootton and Yves Delorme Linens at the 987 Madison Avenue hotel.

Perrin Paris will occupy 550 square feet of ground level and lobby retail space previously occupied by Edith Weber, an antique jeweler.

Perrin Paris signed a five year lease at $1060 per square foot.

Faith Hope Consolo and Joseph Aquino, Chairman and Executive Vice President of Prudential Douglas Elliman's Retail Group, respectively, represented Perrin Paris. Judson Realty represented The Carlyle Hotel in the transaction.
"This will be their US flagship," said Ms. Consolo.

Perrin Paris' latest deal is further proof that Madison Avenue is restoring its luster as a go-to destination for luxury brands, she added.

"Everybody is mad for Madison Avenue. A year ago it was nothing now it's everything," said Ms. Consolo, who predicts rents to be back to pre-Recession levels at the end of 2012.

Perrin Paris already has stores on North Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills and on rue des Petits Champs in its native Paris.

Having its new NYC flagship was an "essential" move, said Mr. Aquino in a statement.

"Perrin Paris would do well anywhere along Madison Avenue, but locating it in the Carlyle Hotel will provide an instant, international customer base," he added.

DRosen@Observer.com

In addition to reading out the proclamation, Ms. Herman unveiled a Douglas Elliman Way street sign, which the brokerage has applied to the city to have installed on the corner outside their office, 57th and Madison. (The operation actually got its start about 10 blocks south.)

"I think he is one of the most important New Yorkers, because he basically created the real estate industry as we know it today," Ms. Herman told The Observer over champagne and cupcakes after the event.

All photos by Gotham Photo Company.

mchaban [at] observer.com | @MC_NYC

Marion Hedges

Philanthropist and Prudential Elliman real estate broker Marion Hedges is in critical condition after a vicious prank by two Harlem teens, the Post reports. Ms. Hedges was buying Halloween candy at Target when the pair pushed a shopping cart off a four story ledge, knocking Ms. Hedges to the ground as her young son screamed.

A doctor who happened to be passing by gave Ms. Hedges CPR for a full minute before she became responsive. Rushed to the hospital, Ms. Hedges is currently in a medically induced coma.

Two twelve-year-old suspects, Jeovanni Rosario and Raymond Hernandez, were apprehended and reportedly showed little remorse. "The pint-sized perps were smiling, telling jokes and laughing with each other after they were taken into custody," according to the Post. Earlier in the afternoon the kids had been dumping Slushees off the railing and onto the walkway below.

According to her Prudential Elliman bio, Ms. Hedges is a native of Manhattan and attended Spence in her early days before graduating from Barnard College. Her "Closed Transactions" page lists several Upper East Side addresses, primarily two and three bedroom properties.

eknutsen@observer.com

Tony Carbonetti

For decades, Dorrian's has stood sentry on the Upper East Side, the quintessential prepster hangout and high schoolers' mecca. Carol Dorrian Carbonetti, daughter of the bar's proprietor Jack Dorrian, has lived not so very far away with her politico husband, Tony Carbonetti. But unlike the bar that has watched over many a debauched youth, the Carbonettis are on the move. The couple has sold their uptown digs at 52 East 72nd Street.

While Ms. Carbonetti's family has made their fortune promoting vice, Mr. Carbonetti spent years cracking down on it as Mayor Rudy Giuliani's longtime chief of staff. Mr. Carbonetti later followed his fearless leader, taking a top post at Giuliani Partners and helping engineer his failed bid for the White House in 2008.

Although they didn’t quite get the asking price, the Carbonettis did well for themselves. City records show they bought the property as two separate units, paying $1.9 million for 3A in 2006, and $695,000 for 3B in 2007. They came out on top, selling both apartments for $3.85 million, slightly less than the $3.99 million ask but still a handy $1.25 million profit. The Carbonettis must be glad the place sold, as it sat on the market for over a year before entering contract.

Claremont House.

The 18-story condo building, known as Claremont House, was built in 1986 in fine faux prewar style. Contrary to what one might expect, a listing from Douglas Elliman broker Dolly Lenz notes that the Carbonettis never combined the spread. “Currently configured as two separate apartments, they can be combined to create a full floor home with approximately 2,300 sqft,” her listing states. Currently the spread therefore includes both a kitchen and a kitchenette, in addition to two living rooms.

The combined space is marketed as a four-bedroom, 4.5-bath apartment, which comes complete with a 302-square-foot living room (the main one), a library (ideal for late night Republican strategizing)  and a small balcony off the master bedroom, from which to watch the kids stumble home.

eknutsen@observer.com

19 Charlton Street

The estate of esteemed music writer Joan Peyser has sold her West Village townhouse at 19 Charlton Street. Peyser passed away in April of this year, and the 23-foot wide Greek Revival home was promptly put on the market.

According to a listing from Douglas Elliman's Leslie Mason, the home was in Ms. Peyser's family for a full fifty years. While we don't know what they originally paid for the home, it was undoubtedly a tiny fraction of the $8.6 million the estate made off the sale.

Tour this musical gem >>

Located on the longest row of Federal/Greek Revival townhouses in the city, the area has a distinctly Old New York feel. "This 1840’s townhouse is elegant, with beautiful and generously scaled rooms on every floor," Ms. Mason's listing boasts.

The property is in pristine condition, with original details throughout. The home features a giant living room with enough space for your very own baby grand. Other highlights include a windowed "tea-porch" and a spacious back garden. With 7 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms and a full 8 wood burning fireplaces, the townhouse has more than enough room for  a family of any size.

The buyer purchased anonymously under an LLC. We're crossing our fingers that it's not Octomom.

eknutsen@observer.com

Would cost you a lot more in Manhattan. (Photo: CORE)

Your basic Brooklyn apartment will get you a chic interior and hardwood floors, but little room for a kitchen table.

"Where do you put a kitchen table? Does no one eat around a table in New York?," asked one potential buyer on Sunday. He noted that he likes to sit down for family dinners.

The broker at the condo—at 188 Woodpoint Road in Williamsburg—explained that residents would, in fact, eat at the kitchen counter, which had two barstools that stood in front of it.

Williamsburg is no West Village, but space is still tight here. This apartment is asking $475,000 for 907 square feet—a price that is only $5,000 shy of the median sales price of a Brooklyn apartment, according to the Douglas Elliman-Miller Samuel report released last week.

Unit 2A has two bedrooms, one bathroom and a living room that blurs with the kitchen area. The dark hardwood floors, neutral walls, stainless steel kitchen appliances and marble (at least it looks like marble) countertops make the apartment look very sleek and modern, but there isn't a lot of room if you're planning on bringing the kids.

On the plus side, the neighborhood is coming into its own with a more developed Graham Avenue, which is right around the corner and complete with restaurants, stores and bars.

"I've lived in this neighborhood for six years and I've seen Graham Avenue change and transform," said Ivana Nikolic, a broker for the apartment. "You don't have to go all the way to Bedford Avenue anymore."

And location is everything—the apartment is in Brooklyn, meaning it's much cheaper than a comparable one in Manhattan, but still close enough to the L train to make the commute into the city bearable.

And for about a third of the price as your average Manhattan apartment, the distance might be worth it. Especially for this area. The second-quarter  report also showed sales in Williamsburg surged to 402 units, up from 127 units in the same period last year.

The Edge, a rendering.

Surprise, surprise—the new Douglas Elliman and Miller Samuel report shows that North Brooklyn home sales have more than tripled during the past year, which is just further evidence of expansion in an area that's growing in popularity with the young people.

Sales in North Brooklyn, which includes Williamsburg and Greenpoint, went from 127 units at this time last year to 402 units in the second quarter of 2011, a significant increase that could partly be attributed to trendy new condo development The Edge. The complex has 565 units and, according to its website, is more than 50 percent sold.

Jonathan Miller, author of the report, agreed with us (that made us feel smart!) that The Edge could have a part in the major sales increase.

"Certainly, that's part of it; just in general across the board there's been a real uptick in new development sales," Mr. Miller said "One out of four sales in Brooklyn are new development sales."

And now is the time to buy, apparently: the median sales price in North Brooklyn is down 4.3 percent from this time last year, settling at $560,000. Mr. Miller does not think this is indicative of a trend, but says it might just depend on what type of properties are on the market (condos at The Edge range in price from $455,000 to $2.735 million).

"The pricing has been bouncing around over the last year, it's been fluctuating from a low of $492,000 to a high of $638,000, so we're right in the middle," he said. "It's been bouncing around and it's sort of subject to the shift in the mix of what's available. ... The credit condition and climate condition hasn't changed, this seems to be independent of that."

pengel@observer.com