Midtown

Extell secures density bonus for 71-story mixed-use project at Wellington Hotel site

Rendering of proposed tower at 871 7th Avenue. Credit: NYC CPC

June 23, 2026

Extell secures density bonus for 71-story mixed-use project at Wellington Hotel site

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Extell Development last week secured a zoning bonus from the city required for the firm's proposed 1,130-foot-tall tower at the site of Midtown’s former Wellington Hotel. The City Planning Commission last week granted the project at 871 7th Avenue a nearly 120,000-square-foot density bonus; in exchange, Extell will upgrade the nearby 50th Street subway station to be fully accessible. The approval allows for the project to expand by 20 percent, transforming it from a 27-story hotel into a 71-story mixed-use tower with 130 residential units and 156 hotel rooms. As first reported by Crain's, the expansion utilizes the city’s Zoning for Accessibility (ZFA) program, which offers density bonuses to developers in exchange for transit improvements.
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Bryant Park to host Knicks watch party for Game 3

Knicks Finals watch party at Summerstage in Central Park for Game 1 of NBA Finals. Credit: NY KNICKS/MSG SPORTS.

June 8, 2026

Bryant Park to host Knicks watch party for Game 3

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Bryant Park will host a Knicks watch party on Monday after the usual event outside of Madison Square Garden was canceled due to heightened security for President Donald Trump, who is attending the game. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that the Midtown park will be showing Game 3 of the NBA Finals for 5,000 fans. The event is free to attend, but registration is required. You can sign up for a spot starting at 12 p.m. here.
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Build your own $18.75M trophy penthouse under a copper rooftop overlooking Central Park

Credit: SPAN Architecture

June 4, 2026

Build your own $18.75M trophy penthouse under a copper rooftop overlooking Central Park

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You'd think a 9,000-square-foot, three-story penthouse would be too big to hide, but this mega-trophy property has the unique distinction of being tucked beneath the iconic copper mansard rooftop of Hampshire House at 150 Central Park South. It must have been pretty well hidden, because a 2020 auction of the pricy co-op property at $40 million appears to have had no takers, as 6sqft previously reported. Now asking $18.75 million, the currently unbuilt residential space heads to auction once again, starting June 30. With unobstructed Central Park views already in place, the property comes with approved plans by SPAN Architecture, giving the new owner a chance to create a bespoke sky palace in a skyline-defining spot.
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Food hall at former Lord & Taylor building to open this month

Credit: Young Skeletons

June 3, 2026

Food hall at former Lord & Taylor building to open this month

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The food hall at Fifth Avenue's landmarked Lord & Taylor building will finally open later this month, making the historic Midtown property accessible to the public for the first time since the department store closed in 2019. Shaver Hall, a 35,000-square-foot dining and entertainment destination, will open on the ground floor on June 26, featuring 11 chef-curated eateries, three full-service restaurants, and live entertainment. Amazon purchased the 1914 building in 2020 and converted it into the company's largest corporate office space in the city, which opened in 2023.
plan a visit
Mamdani restarts plan for 34th Street busway that Trump halted

Credit: NYC DOT

June 2, 2026

Mamdani restarts plan for 34th Street busway that Trump halted

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Plans to turn Manhattan's 34th Street into a dedicated busway are back on. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the city's Department of Transportation (DOT) on Tuesday announced that work will restart on the busway, which will cover just over a mile of the corridor from Third to Ninth Avenues. Plans for the busway, which aims to increase speeds for buses that currently move as slowly as 3 miles per hour, were first announced by former Mayor Eric Adams last May, but were halted a few months later after threats from President Trump's administration.
details here
Macy’s Flower Show returns to Herald Square celebrating America’s gardens

All photos courtesy of Macy’s, Inc.

April 30, 2026

Macy’s Flower Show returns to Herald Square celebrating America’s gardens

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The annual Macy’s Flower Show opened last week in Herald Square, transforming the famed department store's flagship with lush floral art that celebrates America's gardens. In its 51st year, the event features regional botanicals and large-scale displays designed to highlight the country’s diverse floral landscapes. Running through May 10, this year’s show also includes a partnership with Valentino Beauty, which is presenting an exhibit that transports guests to a reimagined Roman palazzo, complete with immersive fragrance experiences, stunning floral arrangements, and other striking design elements.
see it here
David Bowie’s former Central Park South home asks $4.95M

Photo Credit: Eitan Gamliely

April 23, 2026

David Bowie’s former Central Park South home asks $4.95M

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This $4.95 million, three-bedroom condo at 160 Central Park South was the one-time home of rock icon David Bowie and model Iman, and views of the park and Manhattan from its windows are just as iconic. Built in 1929, the Essex House is the rare Art Deco residence that offers condominium convenience and privacy suitable for 21st-century rock royalty.
Take the tour
New Times Square observation deck offers unique NYC views, 19 floors above Broadway

Photo courtesy of One Times Square

April 8, 2026

New Times Square observation deck offers unique NYC views, 19 floors above Broadway

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You've probably never seen Times Square like this before. One Times Square, home of the New Year's Eve Ball, opened a new observation deck this week that puts visitors 19 floors above Broadway, at the center of one of the world's most iconic destinations. Dubbed the Times Square Skywalk, the new experience provides a unique perspective of the city from a 360-degree wraparound viewing deck, offering peeks of both rivers, Central Park, and the crowds below. The skywalk is part of a broader $500 million redevelopment of One Times Square, which opens up most of the building to the public for the first time in 50 years.
see the views
Two-story Midtown South building to become 32-story tower with 95 apartments

30 West 37th Street © 2022 Google

March 31, 2026

Two-story Midtown South building to become 32-story tower with 95 apartments

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A vacant two-story Midtown South commercial building will become a 32-story residential tower, marking the first permits filed in New York City for a high-density development under new zoning laws. On Monday, Sioni Group filed plans to construct a 95-unit apartment building at 28 West 37th Street, the commercial building the group applied to demolish in February, according to Crain’s. The project is the first to take advantage of the R-12 high-density zoning, introduced after the state lifted the floor area ratio (FAR) cap to allow greater residential density.
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Rolex to open 30-story David Chipperfield-designed office tower on Fifth Avenue this fall

Images courtesy of Rolex

March 30, 2026

Rolex to open 30-story David Chipperfield-designed office tower on Fifth Avenue this fall

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Rolex on Monday announced its new 30-story flagship at 665 Fifth Avenue will open this fall. Inspired by the watch brand's signature fluted bezel, the building, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Sir David Chipperfield, will feature a stacked facade with four terraces at each step-back. The 165,000-square-foot building will include a multi-level Rolex retail space, topped by office floors and additional retail tenants, along with amenities such as a restaurant and event space.
see the design
NYC to revamp six more blocks of Broadway by 2031

Credit: Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

March 3, 2026

NYC to revamp six more blocks of Broadway by 2031

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New York City is pressing ahead with its transformation of Broadway into a pedestrian-focused corridor, with plans to redesign six additional blocks by 2031. According to a Department of Transportation (DOT) presentation to Manhattan Community Board 5 last month, the $156 million expansion will upgrade Broadway between 21st and 27th Streets with permanent concrete plazas, widened sidewalks, and improved bike lanes. The project builds on the city’s broader "Broadway Vision" initiative, launched in March 2023 to improve safety and reduce vehicle traffic along the heavily traveled corridor.
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Rare Sistine Chapel drawing on display in NYC ahead of auction

All photos by Touhey Photography, unless noted otherwise

January 29, 2026

Rare Sistine Chapel drawing on display in NYC ahead of auction

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New Yorkers can view a recently discovered Michelangelo draft, later reflected in the Sistine Chapel, during a free exhibition ahead of its auction next week. On view through February 5 at Christie’s New York at 20 Rockefeller Plaza, the newly identified drawing—a study for the right foot of the Libyan Sibyl—is the first unrecorded study for the famed ceiling ever to come to auction and one of only about 10 Michelangelo drawings known to be in private hands. The work will be auctioned off as part of Christie’s Old Master Drawings sale, with an estimated price tag of $1.5 million to $2 million.
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Extell to purchase Park Ave development site

Streetview of 405 Park Avenue © 2024 Google

January 26, 2026

Extell to purchase Park Ave development site

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Extell Development’s Manhattan expansion continues as the firm moves to acquire a prime Midtown site and air rights from an adjacent synagogue. On Sunday, Gary Barnett's firm entered a contract to purchase 405–415 Park Avenue and air rights from Central Synagogue, as first reported by The Promote. The company is also reportedly negotiating to acquire the adjacent office building at 110 East 55th Street, which, combined with the Park Avenue site, could become a major new mixed-use or office development in Midtown.
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Former Midtown hotel to become 579 affordable apartments

Photos courtesy of Slate Property Group unless otherwise noted.

December 22, 2025

Former Midtown hotel to become 579 affordable apartments

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A former Midtown hotel is slated to become a permanently affordable housing building with nearly 600 units. On Monday, Slate Property Group and Breaking Ground announced the acquisition of the Stewart Hotel at 371 Seventh Avenue, which will be converted into 579 affordable apartments for low-income households and formerly homeless individuals. The purchase underscores an emerging strategy to address the city’s housing crisis by converting underused hotels into affordable housing, following the opening last week of the city’s first such development at the former JFK Hilton in South Jamaica, Queens.
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The history of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, a NYC holiday tradition

The 1931 tree, courtesy of Tishman Speyer

December 3, 2025

The history of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, a NYC holiday tradition

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The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, considered the "worldwide symbol of Christmas," will be lit on Wednesday, marking the 93rd tree lighting ceremony. Ahead, learn about the history of the iconic spruce, from its start as a modest Depression-era pick-me-up for Rockefeller Center construction workers to World War regulations to its current 900-pound Swarovski star.
More on the history here
Extell to buy $36M in air rights from Midtown’s St. Thomas church

Streetview of 678 Fifth Avenue © 2024 Google

November 17, 2025

Extell to buy $36M in air rights from Midtown’s St. Thomas church

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Extell Development has bought $36 million in air rights from a historic Midtown church as it continues to assemble large development sites across the neighborhood. According to Crain's, the developer has entered into a contract to acquire 123,000 square feet of air rights from the landmarked St. Thomas Church at 678 Fifth Avenue. It’s unclear which project Extell plans to use the rights for, but the firm is working on several nearby projects, including the former Wellington Hotel site and 655 Madison Avenue.
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Holiday open streets will return to Fifth Avenue for just one Sunday

Credit: Fifth Avenue Association

November 10, 2025

Holiday open streets will return to Fifth Avenue for just one Sunday

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A large stretch of Fifth Avenue will once again be closed to vehicles for the holidays—but just for one day. The Fifth Avenue Association announced that Holiday Open Streets will return on Sunday, December 14, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., turning the iconic corridor between 47th and 57th Streets into a pedestrian-centric, holiday-themed promenade. The event, held across three Sundays in 2022 and 2023, was reduced to a single day in 2024, and will remain so in 2025 due to “logistical challenges” tied to increased security at Trump Tower, according to Gothamist.
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MTA completes five-year Grand Central-42nd Street station upgrades

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

October 29, 2025

MTA completes five-year Grand Central-42nd Street station upgrades

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After five years of work, the MTA has completed its long-awaited rehabilitation of three subway stations beneath 42nd Street in Midtown. The MTA on Tuesday announced the completion of the Grand Central–42nd Street Circulation Improvement Project, an effort that upgraded the Times Square, Bryant Park, and Grand Central subway stations to improve accessibility and ease congestion for roughly 400,000 daily riders. Enhancements include new and widened staircases, additional escalators, and a 20 percent expansion of mezzanine floor space.
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This year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree hails from upstate NY

Photo courtesy of Tishman Speyer

October 27, 2025

This year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree hails from upstate NY

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The towering spruce that will serve as this year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, standing at the heart of New York City's holiday celebrations, has been revealed. Found upstate in East Greenbush, the 75-foot-tall tree will be cut down on Thursday, November 6, and make its journey to Manhattan, arriving on Saturday, November 8. After it’s adorned with tens of thousands of twinkling lights and crowned with its iconic Swarovski star, the annual tree lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, December 3.
details here
Bryant Park’s Winter Village is now open for the season

Photos by Colin Miller

October 24, 2025

Bryant Park’s Winter Village is now open for the season

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One of New York City’s most cherished holiday attractions has officially opened in Midtown, kicking off the season’s festivities. On Friday, the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park returned for its 24th season, bringing the city's only free-admission ice skating, a rinkside food hall and bar, and an open-air holiday market with more than 180 vendors to the beloved public space. The Winter Village is open through March 1, 2026.
'tis the season
Extell proposes 71-story mixed-use tower with 130 apartments at Wellington Hotel site

Hotel Wellington. Photo by Jazz Guy via WikiCommons

October 24, 2025

Extell proposes 71-story mixed-use tower with 130 apartments at Wellington Hotel site

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Extell Development wants to nearly triple the height of its proposed tower at the site of Midtown's former Wellington Hotel and make it residential. As first spotted by Crain's, Gary Barnett's firm filed plans with the Department of City Planning this month seeking to expand its project at 871 7th Avenue from a 27-story hotel to a 71-story mixed-use tower with 130 residential units, likely condos, and 156 hotel rooms. Extell is pitching upgrades to the nearby 50th Street subway station in exchange for a zoning bonus to allow for the 1,050-foot-tall tower.
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City halts 34th Street busway after threats from Trump
October 20, 2025

City halts 34th Street busway after threats from Trump

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New York City halted a plan to add a busway to Manhattan's 34th Street after the Trump administration threatened to withhold federal funding for other projects. Unveiled by the city's Department of Transportation in May, the project adds a dedicated bus lane for a 1.1-mile stretch of the busy corridor, from Third to Ninth Avenues, as a way to speed up notoriously slow bus service. Last week, Federal Highway Administration Administrator Sean McMaster said the agency had several concerns with the busway, including the absence of a plan "to accommodate truckers" and "maintain access for emergency vehicles."
details here
Prada plans Fifth Avenue skyscraper with ultra-luxury apartments

Streetview of 720-725 Fifth Avenue © Google 2025

October 17, 2025

Prada plans Fifth Avenue skyscraper with ultra-luxury apartments

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Prada is teaming up with Related to build a mixed-use skyscraper at 720-724 Fifth Avenue, with a store on the ground level and office space and luxury apartments above, as first reported by Commercial Observer. The building may be attached to the Aman New York, a 26-story hotel-condo next door, and share the gilded tower's flashy amenities.
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Midtown office tower to become 107 studio apartments, first major conversion under rezoning

Streetview of 29 West 35th Street, © Google 2025

October 8, 2025

Midtown office tower to become 107 studio apartments, first major conversion under rezoning

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An underutilized Midtown office building is set to become over 100 studio apartments in its next life. Infinite Global Real Estate and Buttonwood Development, in partnership with 400 Capital Management, have acquired 29 West 35th Street, with plans to turn the 12-story tower into a rental building. The project marks the first major office-to-residential conversion in the neighborhood following the Midtown South rezoning, approved by the City Council this summer.
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Louis Vuitton files plans for 25-story Fifth Avenue flagship

Photo © Ondel Hylton

September 15, 2025

Louis Vuitton files plans for 25-story Fifth Avenue flagship

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Louis Vuitton wants to make its Fifth Avenue flagship even more luxurious. Just in time for New York Fashion Week, LVMH has filed plans with the Department of City Planning (DCP) to construct a 25-story tower at 1 East 57th Street, replacing the existing 20-story building. The proposed project would rise 485 feet and feature a 10-story flagship store, a cafe and terrace with Central Park views, public exhibition space, a luxury spa, a top-floor bar and garden, and other upscale amenities.
details here
City landmarks five Garment District buildings ahead of major changes in Midtown

The Furcraft Building on West 30th Street. All photos courtesy of the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission.

August 12, 2025

City landmarks five Garment District buildings ahead of major changes in Midtown

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Midtown South could look a lot different in the coming years, with a neighborhood rezoning imminent, but at least five buildings will remain protected. The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) on Tuesday voted to designate five buildings that not only are unique architecturally, but also reflect the development of the Garment District and the importance of the fashion industry to New York City. The designation comes as the City Council prepares to vote on the Midtown South Mixed-Use plan this week.
details this way
NYC’s Dominican Day Parade: What you need to know

Photo by S Pakhrin on Wikimedia

August 8, 2025

NYC’s Dominican Day Parade: What you need to know

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Colorful parade floats, vibrant costumes, and lively music will return to Midtown this Sunday for the 43rd annual National Dominican Day Parade. Celebrating New York City’s Dominican community—the largest in the country—the event features a festive procession with beautiful costumes, traditional food, dance, and more. Taking place on August 10, this year's theme is "Unidos en Cultura y Tradicion (United in Culture and Tradition)," honoring Dominican heritage in the Dominican Republic, the United States, and abroad, with Dominican-American baseball player Nelson Cruz serving as the grand marshal.
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