Rebirth of the Cabana, New York Style

NYC Apartment Agent: Summer in the City

New Yorkers are not just shopping for apartments this summer. They’re also increasingly buying their own private pads on the roofs of their buildings. — “Cabana craze: Sales of rooftop space on the rise as economy improves, weather warms,” The Real Deal, July 1, 2011.

NEW YORK — As you can tell by the near-record temperatures on the subway platforms, summer has arrived.

Many of you are fortunate enough to be able to escape the city on the weekends. When I hear the word “cabana,” my mind is instantly transformed to the beach. I think of that classic movie “The Flamingo Kid,” I picture the waves and the card games, the men with way too much jewelry, the women wearing bathing suits that are way too small and children running around and playing everywhere you look. Often these cabanas were shared by two or three families so as to offset the cost of approximately $10,000 for the summer.

No surprise: In typical Manhattan fashion, the cabana has been reborn.

Luxury, high-rise condominiums all over the city are now selling cabanas on the roof of their buildings.  These small oases in the sky over Manhattan often come with running water, gas and barbecues … everything you need to enjoy the summer without ever leaving the city.

One small detail, however: Cabana prices begin at $50,000 and can be as much as $200,000.

No, that was not a typo.

Below is a fun article that goes into a bit more detail. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. And, as always, if you or someone you know is thinking about buying, selling or renting property in the city, please let me know.

“Cabana craze: Sales of rooftop space on the rise as economy improves, weather warms.”