December 17, 2025
What Up Family?!
Welcome to The Edit with Aaron Seawood, a lifestyle letter serving a weekly dose of real estate, culture, and wisdom—all in three minutes or less. Let’s dive in.
Real Estate Remix
Manhattan’s Garage Makeover
With residential sites in Manhattan increasingly scarce, developers are turning decrepit parking garages into prime real estate. Take 125 Perry Street in the West Village: once a no-frills garage, it’s now rising as a boutique condo with seven ultraluxury units, including a $57.5M penthouse.
Separately, nonprofits like the West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing are replacing old garages with affordable apartments for seniors and formerly homeless New Yorkers. In a city where land is scarce, Manhattan’s old garages are proving that one man’s parking lot can become another’s home.
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P.S. This week I’m updating several clients on their home values (to see how much equity they’ve gained). If you’d like an update on yours, reply HOME VALUE and I’ll prepare a report for you!
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NYC Insider: What’s Happening This Week
For Music Lovers: Two Ways to Do December Right
If your idea of a perfect December night involves great acoustics and a little drama, start at Madison Square Garden, where Andrea Bocelli returns for two holiday performances. Expect soaring vocals and grand orchestration. In my humble opinion, that justifies dressing up on a weeknight.
Prefer something more intimate? Candlelight reimagines classical music with a string quartet performing seasonal favorites inside a glowing, candle-filled venue. It’s equal parts concert and mood, romantic and cozy.
Andrea Bocelli
December 17–18, 2025 | Madison Square Garden
Candlelight
December 21, 2025 | Sony Hall, 235 W 46th St
Weekly Gem 💎
Move Without Explaining
After the storm.
After the stillness.
After the space between…
comes the moment where you start moving again.
Not loudly.
Not for approval.
Not to convince anyone of who you’ve become.
This is the phase where explanations dilute the power.
Where talking too much leaks energy.
Where your alignment speaks before you do.
You don’t need to narrate the upgrade.
You don’t need consensus.
You don’t need to justify the calm, the clarity, or the choices that now feel obvious.
Let your movement be the message.
Let your boundaries do the talking.
Let your consistency introduce the new you.
This week, trust the quiet confidence.
When it’s real, it doesn’t announce itself.
It just moves.
Family: If my weekly gem isn’t enough, I’m Broadcasting from the Bright Side every day. If you need encouragement, a place to be heard, or someone to remind you of your greatness, please call me at 646.699.3969. You’re not alone. I got you.
The Best Home on the Market This Week
Here’s a special listing that caught my eye that I think you should consider if you’re in the market. I’m prioritizing quality, soul, and a space that truly speaks.
Listed by Christian Emmanuel, Ari Harkov and Warner Lewis
472 West 143rd Street
$4,695,000 7 Beds / 5 Baths Hamilton Heights
This restored 1896 Gothic-style townhouse pairs old-New-York architecture with modern refinement in the heart of Hamilton Heights. Designed by John P. Leo and set on a leafy block tied to Alexander Hamilton’s former estate, the 5,300-square-foot, two-family home blends original fireplaces, carved woodwork, and historic staircases with wide-plank oak floors, marble finishes, smart climate control, and European-inspired design. A loft-like parlor floor, sun-filled primary suite, multiple outdoor spaces, and a separate garden apartment for income or flexibility complete a rare uptown offering, just two express stops from Midtown.
🔑 Best Features
- 1896 Gothic architecture with fully updated electric, mechanical, and smart climate control
- 30+ feet of open living and dining, anchored by exposed brick and a preserved staircase
- South-facing with Breccia marble island, Thermador range, historic fireplace, and 11-foot ceilings
- Landscaped garden, private terrace, and roof access with landmark church views
- Separate 1,500+ sq. ft. two-bedroom apartment with private entry and garden access
Hamilton Heights continues to be one of Manhattan’s best-kept secrets.
Before you go…
🎁 Uncover last minute gifts and exquisite handmade treasures.
🥘 A rave review for a dish at Ha’s Snack Bar after landing a resy.
🎙️ An homage to the Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey.
🏢 There’s a new mixed-use tower on Billionaire’s Row causing a stir.
🍽️ A beloved eatery in Soho marks a half century!
🏘️ Twin Cities, two strategies, and one clear lesson for New York housing.
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Looking to Buy, Sell, or Rent? Let’s talk.
Like I ask GOD every day, who can we help next?