Roosevelt Island’s colorful Manhattan Park Pool Club is back and open to the public
August 11, 2020

Roosevelt Island’s colorful Manhattan Park Pool Club is back and open to the public

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A playful art installation has returned to Manhattan Park, a waterfront rental on Roosevelt Island. Every summer since 2015, an artist is selected to transform the building's pool deck with a dazzling 8,500-square-foot mural. This year, as part of a partnership with Corcoran New Developments, Pliskin Architecture, K&Co, and Manhattan Park, artist Alex Proba from Studio Proba designed the sixth annual pop-up mural, with a mix of colorful shapes and forms spread out across the outdoor space.
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Creative touches and a charming patio set this $2.2M Park Slope loft apart

Photos by Allyson Lubow, courtesy of The Corcoran Group

August 11, 2020

Creative touches and a charming patio set this $2.2M Park Slope loft apart

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Buildings like this one, Ansonia Court, are full of lofts will all the classic details--beamed ceilings, exposed brick, and cast iron accents. And though this unit is no different, its creative touches and charming little patio give it a bit of extra selling power. Listed for $2,180,000, the three-bedroom Park Slope co-op is spread over two floors and has bright, cheerful rooms.
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There’s a basement basketball court at this $35M Upper West Side brownstone

Listing photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

August 10, 2020

There’s a basement basketball court at this $35M Upper West Side brownstone

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And that's just the beginning. In addition to a basketball court in the basement, this $35 million Upper West Side brownstone has 21 rooms, four outdoor spaces, a wine cellar, and a personal gym. The home at 32 West 76th Street just came out of a multi-year renovation that left it with and some serious contemporary flair and nearly 11,000 square feet of indoor living space.
See it all here
MTA wants Apple to make it easier for users to unlock iPhones with masks on

Sally Librera, Senior Vice President of Subways, distributing free face masks to transit customers on July 23; Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

August 10, 2020

MTA wants Apple to make it easier for users to unlock iPhones with masks on

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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Sunday asked Apple to develop a more simplistic face-recognition system to prevent riders from removing face coverings to unlock their smartphones while commuting. An update to the company's Face ID feature is currently in the works, but in a letter to CEO Tim Cook, MTA Chair Pat Foye requested the technology be expedited. "We urge Apple to accelerate the deployment of new technologies and solutions that further protect customers in the era of COVID-19," Foye wrote, according to the Associated Press.
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David Chang, Tom Colicchio, and others propose ‘Safe and Just Reopening Plan’ for restaurants

Photo by Marcus Herzberg from Pexels

August 10, 2020

David Chang, Tom Colicchio, and others propose ‘Safe and Just Reopening Plan’ for restaurants

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Despite the outward success of outdoor dining, New York City's restaurant industry is struggling. A report from the NYC Hospitality Alliance found that 83 percent of restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and event venues did not pay their full July rent, and last week, unemployed Americans lost the $600 bonus to their unemployment checks. And with indoor dining on hold indefinitely, there seems to be no clear path forward. This is why nearly 50 restaurant owners in the city, including David Chang, Tom Collichio, and Danny Meyer, have penned a letter to Governor Cuomo outlining their four-part "Safe and Just Reopening Plan" that most notably calls for eliminating the tipped minimum wage.
Learn about the whole plan here
$695K Upper East Side one-bedroom has a terrace twice as large as the apartment

Listing photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

August 10, 2020

$695K Upper East Side one-bedroom has a terrace twice as large as the apartment

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The interior of this one-bedroom Upper East Side condo measures a not-too-shabby 719 square feet, but the amazing terrace is nearly twice that size at 1,100 square feet. It's set up with four separate areas for meditating, lounging, dining, and even playing ping pong. Located at 400 East 90th Street, the apartment was recently listed for $695,000.
Lots more to see
UrbanSpace will open a new food hall at Union Square tech hub

Rendering of Zero Irving courtesy of RAL Development Services

August 7, 2020

UrbanSpace will open a new food hall at Union Square tech hub

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Pioneering food hall operator Urbanspace is opening its latest outpost at Union Square reports the NY Post. They've leased 10,000 square feet at Zero Irving, the contested tech hub on 14th Street that will serve as office space, a technology training center and incubator, co-working spaces, and an event space when it opens in the first half of 2021.
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Schools cleared to open in all New York regions

Via Pixabay

August 7, 2020

Schools cleared to open in all New York regions

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Every school district in New York can open in September for-in person instruction, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Friday. Last month, the governor said schools can open in a region if it is in phase four of reopening and if the daily infection rate remains at or below 5 percent over a 14-day average. If the infection rate spikes above 9 percent over a 7-day average, schools will close, Cuomo said.
Get the details
NYC financed over 30,000 affordable homes this fiscal year

Co-op City’s 15,000 apartments will remain affordable for another three decades; Photo by David L Roush on Wikimedia

August 7, 2020

NYC financed over 30,000 affordable homes this fiscal year

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Co-op City's 15,000 apartments will remain affordable for another three decades; Photo by David L Roush on Wikimedia The city has financed 30,023 affordable homes in the fiscal year 2020, with more than half of the homes serving families earning less than $52,000, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Wednesday. Of the homes financed, 23,520 were preserved and 6,503 were new construction. The milestone comes as the mayor's ambitious plan to preserve and build 300,000 affordable homes by 2026 is facing delays thanks to the pandemic, which has forced the city to cut funding for new affordable housing projects.
More here

Distinctive Homes

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$3.45M Nomad loft is full of tech and bold design

Photo credit: Eytan Weber and Evan Joseph

August 7, 2020

$3.45M Nomad loft is full of tech and bold design

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We hate to use the term millennial, but for that younger generation with the means to buy a luxury condo, this Nomad home has all the stylish design, tech features, and outdoor space that would be on the checklist. Located at 76 Madison Avenue and just listed for $3,450,000, the two-bedroom apartment was renovated by renowned NYC and NOLA firm Brockschmidt & Coleman, and it has everything from hidden televisions to app-controlled lighting and shades.
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Sales launch at new Prospect Park-facing condo tower, from $2.4M

Renderings courtesy of Binyan Studios

August 7, 2020

Sales launch at new Prospect Park-facing condo tower, from $2.4M

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A condo building across from Prospect Park in Brooklyn launched sales this week, with two-bedrooms starting at $2.395 million. Located next to landmarked Grand Army Plaza, One Prospect Park West in Park Slope was built in 1925 and once served as a hotel for the Knights of Columbus and later as a senior home. Developer Sugar Hill Capital Partners is converting the historic 10-story building into a luxury condominium with 64 residences with 40 unique floor plans.
Get the details
New York’s eviction moratorium extended by one month

Photo by Goh Rhy Yan on Unsplash

August 6, 2020

New York’s eviction moratorium extended by one month

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The statewide moratorium on eviction has been extended another month, offering temporary relief to thousands of New Yorkers at risk of losing their homes. The order was set to expire midnight on Thursday, but Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order extending the rule to September 4. The New York State Unified Court System is expected to announce on Thursday whether it will follow the mandate and issue new guidance on evictions.
More here
New downtown Jersey City rental will have a ‘Miami-inspired resort’ on its rooftop

Rendering by Pax Brooklyn

August 6, 2020

New downtown Jersey City rental will have a ‘Miami-inspired resort’ on its rooftop

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DVORA 175 is a new 148-unit rental building coming to Jersey City, and just like a lot of the luxury rentals springing up in the area, it has a rooftop pool, this one with a "Miami-inspired resort" vibe, according to a press lease. The 14-story building at 175 Second Street is located in what's known as the Powerhouse Arts District, a section of downtown full of old warehouse buildings. Though pricing has not yet been released, leasing will kick off next month with initial occupancy slated for October.
More on the development here
$5.9M penthouse is Asbury Park’s most expensive home ever sold

Rendering courtesy of Binyan Studios

August 6, 2020

$5.9M penthouse is Asbury Park’s most expensive home ever sold

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A penthouse in Asbury Park that was listed for $5.9 million just closed, becoming the most expensive home ever sold in the Jersey Shore town. Located at the 17-story Asbury Ocean Club, the duplex penthouse contains four bedrooms, four bathrooms, and boasts roughly 2,300 square feet of outdoor space, which comes in the form of a wrap-around terrace, sunroom, and outdoor kitchen.
More here
Sunny Chelsea studio has everything you need for $435K

Listing photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

August 6, 2020

Sunny Chelsea studio has everything you need for $435K

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If you're on a budget but still want to be a homeowner, sometimes a studio is your best bet. And this lovely place at 451 West 22nd Street in Chelsea has just about everything you'd want in a starter home despite its tiny footprint. The sunny south-facing studio feels even brighter thanks to high ceilings, and it maximizes space with a built-in Murphy bed and a full wall of closets.
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Krispy Kreme opens in Harlem with NYC’s first doughnut hot light
August 6, 2020

Krispy Kreme opens in Harlem with NYC’s first doughnut hot light

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There are a few things Krispy Kreme is known for--its melt-in-your-mouth glazed doughnuts, paper hats, and its "hot light," which lights up to show customers that doughnuts are hot out of the oven. This week, they opened their latest NYC outpost at 319 West 125th Street in Harlem, and it features the city's very first hot light. The shop will serve these right-off-the-line doughnuts at a production rate of more than 100 per hour.
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Historic Connecticut estate built by the man behind the Empire State Building lists for $8.3M

All photos courtesy of Houlihan Lawrence

August 5, 2020

Historic Connecticut estate built by the man behind the Empire State Building lists for $8.3M

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This sprawling English Manor-style estate in Greenwich, Connecticut was built in 1928 by Paul Starrett, one of the main developers behind the Empire State Building and the Plaza. Set on nearly three acres, the seven-bedroom home has grand interiors, romantic landscaping, and a gorgeous pool. It's just hit the market for $8,295,000.
Have a look around here
NYC is setting up COVID checkpoints at major entry points to enforce 14-day quarantine

Photo by Eepeng Cheong on Unsplash

August 5, 2020

NYC is setting up COVID checkpoints at major entry points to enforce 14-day quarantine

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New York City will set up "COVID-19 checkpoints" at key entry points this week to ensure compliance with the state's quarantine requirements, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Wednesday. Travelers to New York from 35 states currently on the travel advisory list, which includes places with 10 infections per 100,000 residents on a seven-day rolling average, must quarantine for 14 days. Starting Wednesday, the Sheriff's Office will be deployed at bridges, tunnels, and busy transit hubs to remind visitors of the mandatory quarantine. The new initiative comes as about 20 percent of new coronavirus cases in New York City are from people traveling in from other states, according to Dr. Ted Long, head of the Test & Trace Corps.
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This sidewalk ‘front porch’ was designed to help students return to school in COVID times

Brooklyn Laboratory Charter Schools/SITU/WXY

August 5, 2020

This sidewalk ‘front porch’ was designed to help students return to school in COVID times

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The list of anxieties surrounding a return to school for students and their parents is seemingly endless, but the architects at SITU and WXY have designed an outdoor lobby that they hope can help alleviate some of this stress. Built upon the work of design-forward scaffolding firm Urban Umbrella, the "Front Porch" concept has been installed at the Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School to "allow students and faculty to be protected from the elements while queuing to enter, while hand sanitizing and having their temperatures taken," according to a press release.
Find out more
Eataly’s flowery rooftop to reopen with DIY gin drinks and summer dishes

Photo courtesy of Eataly

August 5, 2020

Eataly’s flowery rooftop to reopen with DIY gin drinks and summer dishes

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Eataly's 14th-floor rooftop in the Flatiron District has been transformed into a blooming greenhouse. Opening on Friday, Serra Fiorita by Birreria will bring Italian summer to Manhattan with a seasonal menu, build-your-own gin drinks, and a flowery decor inspired by a 3D paper book. Tables will be distanced, capacity will be limited, and reservations can be made on OpenTable to avoid crowding.
More here
Leasing kicks off at Essex Crossing’s largest building, with rentals from $3,000/month

Renderings courtesy QuallsBenson/ visuals

August 5, 2020

Leasing kicks off at Essex Crossing’s largest building, with rentals from $3,000/month

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Leasing launched on Wednesday for 142 apartments at the Lower East Side's Essex Crossing development. The Artisan, located at 180 Broome Street, is the largest building at the nine-site project and contains office and retail space, as well as access to the ground-floor Market Line. Pricing starts at $3,000/month for studios, $4,000/month for one-bedrooms,$6,000/month for two-bedrooms, and $8,000 for three-bedrooms.
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This $4M modern Seaport loft is actually in an 18th-century building

Listing photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

August 5, 2020

This $4M modern Seaport loft is actually in an 18th-century building

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One of the fun things about New York City's architecture is how hidden its history can be. Take for example 130 Beekman Street in the South Street Seaport Historic District. The five-story building was actually built in 1798, but it's undergone several renovations over the years, and its condo units are completely modern. Just listed for $3,995,000 is the building's crown jewel, a three-bedroom, top-floor loft with two beautiful outdoor spaces.
Look around
Apply for 15 affordable apartments off Williamsburg’s Metropolitan Avenue, from $818/month

Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit

August 4, 2020

Apply for 15 affordable apartments off Williamsburg’s Metropolitan Avenue, from $818/month

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A housing lottery launched this week for 15 affordable apartments in Williamsburg. The rental at 31 Ainslie Street is currently accepting applications from New Yorkers earning 60 percent of the area median income, or an annual household income of between $28,286 and $73,680. Just steps from the Metropolitan G and L trains, the building is near a number of notable bars, restaurants, and vintage shops.
Do you qualify?
$1.5M Boerum Hill beauty has a backyard sanctuary and barnyard-chic interiors

Image Credit: Alex Mahgoub/Compass

August 4, 2020

$1.5M Boerum Hill beauty has a backyard sanctuary and barnyard-chic interiors

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This duplex at 50 3rd Avenue in Boerum Hill definitely looks like it could've been designed by Chip and Joanna Gaines. Though we're pretty sure they didn't travel to Brooklyn to design this two-bedroom condo, it has plenty of their famous "modern farmhouse" design elements, most notably reclaimed wood on the walls and ceiling. The aesthetic is carried over to the backyard, where twinkly lights and climbing vines set the stage for a true outdoor oasis. The apartment has just listed for $1,474,000.
Take the tour
Radio City cancels the Rockettes this Christmas

Photo by Kevin Poh via Flickr cc

August 4, 2020

Radio City cancels the Rockettes this Christmas

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In a not-surprising announcement, Radio City Music Hall says they will not put on their famous Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes this year, the first time since 1933. The decision comes after Broadway said it will stay dark for the rest of the year and other venues like the Met Opera, Lincoln Center, NYC Ballet, and Carnegie Hall cancelled the rest of their 2020 seasons. As NBC New York noted, the Rockettes typically rehearse for more than 200 hours leading up to the show's November debut.
More details here
Since March, thousands of small businesses in NYC have closed for good

Photo by Peter Burka on Flickr

August 4, 2020

Since March, thousands of small businesses in NYC have closed for good

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New York City small businesses are barely hanging on. More than 2,800 have closed permanently since March 1, the New York Times reported. And when the pandemic eventually subsides, as many as one-third of the city's 230,000 small businesses may not reopen, according to a report from the Partnership for New York City. Despite the city reaching the final and fourth phase of reopening, the distribution of millions of dollars in aid, and creative measures to help shops survive, thousands of businesses remain at risk.
Find out more
You can lounge and dine at a rooftop ‘lawn’ at the South Street Seaport

Photo of The Greens courtesy of The Howard Hughes Corporation

August 4, 2020

You can lounge and dine at a rooftop ‘lawn’ at the South Street Seaport

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Social distancing guidelines have definitely gotten restaurants to be extra creative, like The Rooftop at Pier 17 which has just opened a new dining experience where guests can book one of 28 "mini-lawns." Called The Greens, the experience has transformed the South Street Seaport rooftop venue into private cabana-style plots, each of which can accommodate eight guests.
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THE 6SQFT SHOP

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Here’s what Facebook’s huge new office will look like at Midtown’s former Farley Post Office

Rendering courtesy of Vornado Realty Trust

August 4, 2020

Here’s what Facebook’s huge new office will look like at Midtown’s former Farley Post Office

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Facebook has signed a lease for 730,000 square feet at the former James A. Farley Post Office, a Midtown landmark currently being converted into a mixed-use building, Vornado Realty Trust announced Monday. Reports of the deal first surfaced last December, but the coronavirus pandemic put into question the need for massive office space with thousands of workers. But Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the deal shows New York's resilience as the city recovers from the crisis. "Vornado's and Facebook's investment in New York and commitment to further putting down roots here - even in the midst of a global pandemic - is a signal to the world that our brightest days are still ahead and we are open for business," Cuomo said in a statement. "This public-private partnership fortifies New York as an international center of innovation."
Find out more
Jennifer Lawrence sells Upper East Side penthouse at a $6M loss

All photos courtesy of Compass

August 4, 2020

Jennifer Lawrence sells Upper East Side penthouse at a $6M loss

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In 2016, Jennifer Lawrence picked up a $15.6 million penthouse on the Upper East Side. She must have really wanted to offload it, because last summer, she listed it for $15,450,000 and dropped it to $12 million earlier this month. According to city property records, the Oscar-winning actress ultimately sold the home at 400 East 67th Street for $9,900,000, taking a nearly $6 million loss. Listing agent Pamela D'Arc of Compass declined to comment on the sale.
Go inside
After original church was destroyed on 9/11, construction restarts at new St. Nicholas Shrine

All photos courtesy of Governor Andrew Cuomo/Flickr

August 3, 2020

After original church was destroyed on 9/11, construction restarts at new St. Nicholas Shrine

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It's been nearly 20 years since St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine was lost in the attacks on 9/11, but today, Governor Cuomo announced the restart of construction on the new Santiago Calatrava-designed church. Work originally began in 2015, but stalled in late 2017 when the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America ran out of funding.
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Katz’s Deli launches its own local delivery service

Photo courtesy of Lower East Side Partnership

August 3, 2020

Katz’s Deli launches its own local delivery service

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Last month, Katz's Delicatessen opened for outdoor dining for the first time in its 132-year history. And last week, the legendary Lower East Side eatery launched its own local delivery service, dodging the excessive fees charged by third-party companies. As first reported by the Bowery Boogie, diners can order from Katz's classic menu directly from their website, including pastrami and corned beef sandwiches, matzoh ball soup, and square potato knishes.
More details here
De Blasio says outdoor dining will return to NYC next summer

Outdoor dining on West 71st Street between Central Park West and Columbus. Photo by 6sqft.

August 3, 2020

De Blasio says outdoor dining will return to NYC next summer

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In a press conference this morning, Mayor de Blasio announced that the city's popular Open Restaurants program will return on June 1, 2021, if not earlier in the spring. He recently expanded this year's outdoor dining program through October 31 after it was found to be successful and safe and after the state indefinitely postponed indoor dining in New York City. De Blasio said that an estimated 80,000 jobs from more than 9,000 participating businesses have been saved since the program launched on June 22 when the city entered phase two of reopening.
More details ahead
See the 193 new Rockefeller Center flags designed by the public

Courtesy of Tishman Speyer

August 3, 2020

See the 193 new Rockefeller Center flags designed by the public

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The iconic flags that surround the Rink at Rockefeller Center got a makeover over the weekend. Public art initiative "The Flag Project" opened on Saturday with 193 new flags designed by the public, as well as a number of well-known artists and designers. Led by Tishman Speyer, the installation aims to celebrate New York City as the city continues its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Find out more
NYC’s latest set of outdoor dining open streets includes 13 blocks on the Upper West Side

Open streets outdoor dining along West 47th Street, photo by CityRealty

August 3, 2020

NYC’s latest set of outdoor dining open streets includes 13 blocks on the Upper West Side

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Open streets outdoor dining along West 47th Street, photo by CityRealty On Friday, Mayor de Blasio announced that an additional 15 locations would be closing to traffic and opening their streets for outdoor dining through a combination of the city's Open Streets and Open Restaurants programs. This brings the total to 62 participating streets. Some of the latest include 13 blocks along Amsterdam Avenue on the Upper West Side, another stretch in Chinatown, Koreatown, a few in Noho/Soho, and five blocks along Vanderbilt Avenue in Prospect Heights. Since restaurants were first able to open for outdoor dining when phase two began on June 22, more than 9,500 have signed on to participate.
The full list of open streets
Outdoor dining comes to two NYC food halls

The Market Line Patio; Credit: Greater Studio

August 3, 2020

Outdoor dining comes to two NYC food halls

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With nearly 10,000 New York City restaurants open for outdoor dining, now even food halls are getting in on the Open Restaurants program. The Market Line at Essex Crossing on Friday opened a spacious outdoor patio and a menu made up of a mix of vendors from the Lower East Side food hall. And Time Out Market will reopen its fifth-floor rooftop and seating along the waterfront in Dumbo this week.
Find out more
Queens County Farm Museum reopens this weekend with first-ever site-specific art installation

Photo credit: Aaron Asis

July 31, 2020

Queens County Farm Museum reopens this weekend with first-ever site-specific art installation

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The Queens County Farm Museum is set to reopen its 47 acres to the public on Sunday after temporarily closing in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. Along with the reopening, Queens Farm will also unveil its first-ever site-specific art installation: Cover Crop by the artist Aaron Asis. The half-acre artwork includes a "planted composition" with crisscrossing paths, letting visitors discover the farm's cover crops, including sweet peas, buckwheat, and rye.
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Lottery opens for 45 affordable units at supportive rental near Crotona Park, from $748/month

Photo via Wikimedia

July 31, 2020

Lottery opens for 45 affordable units at supportive rental near Crotona Park, from $748/month

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Applications are now being accepted for 45 affordable apartments at a new supportive residential building in the Claremont Village section of the South Bronx. Located at 3500 Park Avenue a half-mile from Crotona Park, the seven-story development sets aside some studios for homeless veterans with disabilities, chronically homeless adults with mental illness, and homeless seniors with disabilities. The remaining apartments, now available through the housing lottery, are designated for low-income seniors and families that earn 50 and 60 percent of the area median income.
Find out if you qualify
For $5.25M, you can own a modernist ‘House at Sagaponac’ in the Hamptons
July 31, 2020

For $5.25M, you can own a modernist ‘House at Sagaponac’ in the Hamptons

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Designed by Calvin Tsao and Zack McKown of renowned contemporary firm Tsao & McKown Architects, this residence is one of the original Houses at Sagaponac, a modernist development conceived in the early 2000s by developer Harry "Coco" Brown and architect Richard Meier. The original plan was for 32 homes to be built by different prominent architects, but after Brown's death and the recession, only eight were completed, making them even more special. This five-bedroom home utilizes moveable glass walls and oversized windows to take in views of the surrounding greenery and incredible 60-foot pool and sun deck.
The full tour ahead
For $3M, this Williamsburg townhouse was designed as an airy artist’s home

Photo credit: DDReps

July 31, 2020

For $3M, this Williamsburg townhouse was designed as an airy artist’s home

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At first look, you might assume that this townhouse at 580 Driggs Avenue in North Williamsburg is new construction, but it was actually built in 1899 and completely gut renovated inside and out in 2019. The "custom artist's home," as the listing calls it, was designed as "an airy open layout and plenty of room to spread out, work from home, or relax on the roof deck or in the garden." Listed for $2,950,000, it's just over 2,300 square feet and has four bedrooms.
See the whole place
Powerful photos show the COVID-19 crisis through the eyes of New Yorkers

Photograph by Ximena Exhague, @ximena_exhague

July 30, 2020

Powerful photos show the COVID-19 crisis through the eyes of New Yorkers

By
The Museum of the City of New York will reopen on Saturday with a stunning new outdoor installation. The first phase of the museum's New York Responds project includes a photo exhibit depicting life in New York City in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests that kicked off in May and continue today. On view starting August 1, the powerful photographs have been installed at the Upper East Side museum's terrace and balustrade.
See it here
‘No end in sight’: How NYC is dealing with the growing hunger crisis

City Harvest driver Ramon Vargas, July 17, 2020, in New York. Photo by Jason DeCrow for City Harvest

July 30, 2020

‘No end in sight’: How NYC is dealing with the growing hunger crisis

By
While the spread of the coronavirus in New York is waning, another crisis shows no signs of slowing. The number of people experiencing food insecurity in New York City continues to grow, with a projected increase of 38 percent this year compared to 2018. In response, nonprofits like City Harvest, the city's largest food rescue organization, have tremendously scaled up their operations to meet demand. The group has rescued more than 42 million pounds of food since March, a 92 percent increase from the same period last year.
Learn more
Second Empire brownstone in Fort Greene has been beautifully restored for $4M

Photo credit: Gamut Photos

July 30, 2020

Second Empire brownstone in Fort Greene has been beautifully restored for $4M

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There's something very romantic about this brownstone at 374 Vanderbilt Avenue in Fort Greene. The interiors have been beautifully preserved and the home modernized, but not so much so that it's lost its old-world charm. The five-bedroom Second Empire townhouse was built in 1899 and is part of the Fort Greene Historic District. It's asking $3,995,000, and has a studio apartment in the basement level for added income.
See the whole place
MTA installs free mask dispensers inside buses

Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit

July 30, 2020

MTA installs free mask dispensers inside buses

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In a continued effort to COVID-proof public transportation, the MTA has installed mask dispensers at the entrance to city buses. The pilot program is now on 100 buses in the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island, and it will expand to 400 buses in all five boroughs by next month. The free surgical mask dispensers--each of which holds 50 masks and will be refilled daily--are mounted at the front door of express buses and at the front and rear doors of SBS and local buses. Masks are required to ride any bus or subway.
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Chinatown’s historic Mott Street is transformed into an outdoor dining oasis

All photos courtesy of Emily Andrews for Rockwell Group

July 30, 2020

Chinatown’s historic Mott Street is transformed into an outdoor dining oasis

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Chinatown's Mott Street got a colorful upgrade on Wednesday with a block-long outdoor installation designed by architect David Rockwell. His firm, Rockwell Group, launched DineOut NYC earlier this summer to help New York City restaurants safely open outside by providing design templates for creative ways to use sidewalk and street space. Mott Street, now closed to cars between Mosco and Worth Streets, serves as the program's first community-wide dining area, with multiple restaurants on the strip using the facilities.
More here
$3.25M waterfront loft in Brooklyn Heights has view of the Brooklyn Bridge and Statue of Liberty

Photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

July 30, 2020

$3.25M waterfront loft in Brooklyn Heights has view of the Brooklyn Bridge and Statue of Liberty

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Through oversized north- and west-facing windows at this Brooklyn Heights loft, you're staring directly at the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, East River, and even the Statue of Liberty in the distance. Located at 8 Old Fulton Street, the two-bedroom co-op is asking $3,250,000 and was renovated by the well-known architects at Studio DB.
Have a look
This map explores NYC’s 19,000 acres of natural park land
July 29, 2020

This map explores NYC’s 19,000 acres of natural park land

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Contradictory to its "concrete jungle" nickname, New York City is home to over 19,000 acres of natural areas, consisting of forest, salt marsh, freshwater wetland, and streams. A new map from the Natural Areas Conservancy (NAC) highlights the location, size, and condition of natural resources throughout the five boroughs, while comparing the percentage of green space among neighborhoods, parks, and City Council districts. When the coronavirus pandemic hit the city, New Yorkers explored more wild parts of city parks as a way to get fresh air and maintain a safe distance from others. But according to the Conservancy, the increase in visitors is putting additional strain on park management, at a time when budgets across the country are being slashed because of COVID-19.
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Long Island mansion with an indoor pool and movie theater sells for record-setting $9.2M

Listing photos courtesy of Compass

July 29, 2020

Long Island mansion with an indoor pool and movie theater sells for record-setting $9.2M

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This over-the-top Mediterranean-style mansion on Long Island just sold for $9,225,000, making it the most expensive home sold this year in Nassau County, as well as the most expensive home sold in Sands Points since 2016 and the fourth-highest sale in the North Shore over the last five years. Sales records aside, the home's opulence speaks for itself. At a whopping 20,000 square feet, the waterfront estate has an indoor pool, movie theater (complete with a ticket booth and stage curtains!), a personal arcade (with skee ball and pinball machines), and tons of marble.
Take the full tour
235 chances to live in a luxury waterfront rental in Greenpoint, from $2,370/month

Courtesy of QuallsBenson

July 29, 2020

235 chances to live in a luxury waterfront rental in Greenpoint, from $2,370/month

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Two newly-constructed waterfront towers in Greenpoint are now accepting applications for rent-stabilized "affordable" apartments. A lottery is set to launch for 235 middle-income apartments at One Blue Slip and Two Blue Slip, a pair of luxury towers designed by Handel Architects that are part of Greenpoint Landing, a master plan developing 22 acres of the Brooklyn neighborhood. Households with combined annual incomes of between $81,258 and $183,300 can apply for the available units, including $2,370/month studios, $2,542/month one-bedrooms, $3,063/month two-bedrooms, and $3,530/month three-bedrooms. Qualified New Yorkers can submit one application for each building.
Find out if you qualify
Upper West Side and Murray Hill saw the biggest price drops during the COVID crisis

Photo by ajay_suresh via Flickr cc

July 29, 2020

Upper West Side and Murray Hill saw the biggest price drops during the COVID crisis

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Anyone who follows the NYC real estate market knows that there are deals to be had right now. But WHERE exactly can you get the most bang for your buck? CityRealty compared sale listings in January to those last week and found that the overall listing price among Manhattan condo, co-op, condop, and townhouse listings has fallen an average of 11 percent to $2,175,000 in the past seven months. And when it comes to specific neighborhoods, Lincoln Center, the Upper West Side neighborhood mainly centered around the 60s, saw prices fall the most at 32 percent. Murray Hill was next at 26 percent, followed by Beekman/Sutton Place at 22 percent.
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A zen garden with a sunken hot tub awaits at this $2.5M Greenwich Village co-op

All photos by Evan Joseph

July 29, 2020

A zen garden with a sunken hot tub awaits at this $2.5M Greenwich Village co-op

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This Greenwich Village co-op at 2 East 12th Street is the perfect year-round oasis. For those cold winter months, the interiors are super cozy, with two working fireplaces. But in the summer, the backyard is a true retreat. It's two levels, along with a side patio and, most notably, a sunken Japanese-style cedar hot tub. You'll also find a large Ipe wood deck with a built-in banquette, plenty of planters, and a cedar potting shed for all those gardening needs.
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