Since 2001, probably wasnt a year I was more curious about before it started then the one we are about to begin. Among friends its a major subject this holiday season - what will the city look, feel, party like?

Its now pretty much official that new construction in Gotham, unless already far underway, is at a standstill. That, coupled with the recent passage of the East Village "downzoning", has saved the LES any further indignaties of scale and saved MANY buildings, at least for another few years. Blessed Be!

That coupled with shrinking rents (as so many co-ops and condos are taken off the sales market and become rentals) and commercial rents would point to a new Golden Age in NYC - a la "Take Back The Night" - coming soon in 2009-10.

From todays nytimes.com, this satire has more than one correct prediction in it methinks..

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12...ity/28drea.html?_r=1

quote:

The number of hedge fund billionaires under the age of 30 is likely to decrease.

Whatever New Yorkers may think of this demographic class — studies show that people not in it tend to resent those in it — the disappearance of 20-somethings earning $500 million and up per year betting that United States industries will collapse could have a “dampening effect” on the New York economy.

In for a “rough go” could be $8,000 bottles of 1982 Château Pétrus, NetJets, the private aircraft fleet, Maybach luxury automobile sales, Emperor’s Club V.I.P. escorts, rentals of 40-foot long Hummer stretch limousines, $70 million Fifth Avenue pieds-à-terre and sales of $6,000 shower curtains, according to the Institute of Conspicuously Consuming Youths (ICCY).

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Chi Chi,

Prediction:
The grotesquely wealthy will keep spending while NYPD has to beef up the 'prevent a shantytown' patrol at the pocket parks.

Prediction:
There will be no takers for the $10,000 a month duplex rental in the crappilybuilt former condo across the street from me while my madman landlord will have a waiting list for the $1,500 a month market rate 500 sq ft studios in his five floor walk up -and the wating list will be all the people who used to pay maintenance fees across the street.

Prediction:
The studios will each be occupied by two and a half families.

Happy 2009 muthaboards

rents are coming dow n in UWS and harlem. theres a lot of buzz now about rent falling 10 to 20% or more by summer. if that happens its about peeps we like movin back and some of the greedy shaftin landlords OUT

Happy 20009. It is finally time to celebrate the return of Harris Pankin to the Motherboards.

hello testing one two three, is this mike on?

Oh what an exciting kick off to 2009.

New York will be a ghost town Feb, 27th to March 8th. Everyone is coming to Daytona Beach.