6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

Penn Station's overhaul took a big step forward on Wednesday. The U.S. Department of Transportation and Amtrak announced the selection of Penn Transformation Partners, a team led by Halmar International and Skanska, as the master developer of the project following a bidding process. The developer will build a "brand-new world-class station," according to an announcement on Wednesday, with open concourses and expanded track capacity, while keeping Madison Square Garden in its current location. The news comes a day after Transportation Secretary Duffy announced the federal government would spend $8 billion to rebuild Penn Station.
details here

Katz’s Deli reopens ‘secret’ dining room closed to public for nearly 80 years

All photos courtesy of Katz’s Deli

May 20, 2026

Katz’s Deli reopens ‘secret’ dining room closed to public for nearly 80 years

After nearly 80 years hidden from the public, a "secret" dining room at Katz's Deli has reopened following a restoration. The Ludlow Room, a 68-seat space that once served generations of New Yorkers, opened Tuesday after being closed in 1949 and converted into a giant walk-in refrigerator amid postwar demand for deli meats. Restored to reflect its original appearance, the Ludlow Room features original tin ceilings and period-inspired lighting, as well as the same freight scale used to measure every pound of meat served at Katz's for eight decades.
discover more

Food & Dining

NYC looks to rezone neighborhoods south of Prospect Park for new housing

McDonald Avenue and Church Avenue in Kensington. Photo by Nick Gulotta on Flickr

May 20, 2026

NYC looks to rezone neighborhoods south of Prospect Park for new housing

The first rezoning proposal under Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration will target Brooklyn neighborhoods south of Prospect Park and Green-Wood Cemetery. As first reported by Gothamist, the Department of City Planning on Wednesday kicked off the community planning process for updating zoning rules on commercial stretches of Coney Island Avenue and McDonald Avenue in Kensington and surrounding areas, to allow new housing to be built.
see the plan

NYC Ferry boosts service this summer ahead of the FIFA World Cup

Five custom-wrapped NYC Ferry vessels will celebrate each borough this summer. Photo courtesy of NYCEDC

May 20, 2026

NYC Ferry boosts service this summer ahead of the FIFA World Cup

New York City ferry service is receiving a major boost this summer, just in time for the FIFA World Cup. The summer schedule for NYC Ferry will offer the most extensive service in the system’s history ahead of an expected influx of visitors for the soccer tournament at MetLife Stadium, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the city's Economic Development Corporation announced on Tuesday. Running now through September 13, the extra service includes additional route connections, expanded weekend service, and the return of the Rockaway Rocket and Rockaway Reserve ticket programs. The city also unveiled five wrapped vessels featuring World Cup-inspired branding that highlights each borough.
Learn more

After a thorough renovation, this peerless Park Slope mansion asks $13.5M

Photo credit: Tim Walton, Evan Joseph Studio

May 19, 2026

After a thorough renovation, this peerless Park Slope mansion asks $13.5M

6sqft featured this five-story beauty at 60 Montgomery Place in 2019, when it was asking just under $6 million. Designed in the late 1800s by notable architect C. P. H. Gilbert, the 5,000-square-foot Prospect Park-adjacent home is a dramatic example of the neighborhood's finest architecture. With a new top-to-toe renovation behind its historic limestone facade with a dramatic three-story turret, the single-family home is back on the market for $13.5 million. In addition to five floors of living space, the 22-foot-wide townhouse has two fully landscaped outdoor spaces, including a roof terrace with Manhattan views.
understated Brooklyn opulence, this way

Distinctive Homes

May 19, 2026

NYC reveals design proposals for Billie Holiday monument in Queens

More than seven years after it was first commissioned, a monument honoring Billie Holiday in New York City is moving forward. The city's Department of Cultural Affairs on Tuesday unveiled proposals from six artists for a new permanent artwork celebrating the jazz legend that will be installed at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center in Queens. The monument is part of a long-delayed effort to increase the representation of influential women in public spaces across the five boroughs. The public can review the proposals and submit feedback through the end of May. An artist will be chosen this summer.
see the proposals

First look at Paragon, Long Island City’s first new waterfront condo in a decade

Renderings courtesy of Redundant Pixel unless otherwise noted.

May 19, 2026

First look at Paragon, Long Island City’s first new waterfront condo in a decade

Here's an exclusive look at the first new condo development built on the Long Island City waterfront in more than a decade. Developed by ZD Jasper and designed by Archimaera, the 23-story Paragon at 45-40 Vernon Boulevard incorporates the historic Paragon Paint Factory into the tower's base. Residences will range from studios to four-bedrooms and feature interiors by March and White Design (MAWD), with ceiling heights of up to 10 feet and floor-to-ceiling windows offering up views of the Manhattan skyline and East River. Adjacent to Anable Basin, the project also includes a large public open space with a waterfront park and walkway connecting the neighborhood to the East River.
Discover more

Bryant Park is hosting a ‘reading party’ on the lawn

Photo courtesy of Angelito Jusay Photography.

May 19, 2026

Bryant Park is hosting a ‘reading party’ on the lawn

Bryant Park is throwing a reading party on its iconic lawn next month. "Read on the Lawn Day" takes place on June 1 as part of programming at the park's Reading Room, a curated selection of books, newspapers, and magazines available for visitors to enjoy for free outside. Hosted in partnership with Reading Rhythms, the event will include quiet reading periods followed by book discussions.
read more

Events & Things To Do

Long Island Rail Road strike ends as MTA and unions reach tentative deal

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

May 19, 2026

Long Island Rail Road strike ends as MTA and unions reach tentative deal

Long Island Rail Road service will resume at 12 p.m. on Tuesday after the five unions behind the agency’s first strike in more than 30 years reached a tentative deal with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday night that the two sides had reached a “fair deal” that would not require additional fare hikes or tax increases. Details of the tentative agreement have not yet been released, as the deal must still be ratified by union members and approved by the MTA board.
Find out more

Distinctive Homes

One of the oldest wood-frame houses in Brooklyn Heights asks $4.9M

Drew Barrymore's amazing 12-acre Westchester estate asks $5M

Seagram heir's Soho penthouse rents for $120K a month, a neighborhood record

For $1.3M, easy living with a view in a Brooklyn high-rise condo

This $675K Flatbush co-op has a clean Scandinavian vibe and a flexible layout

Kurt Weill's former New York country estate with a creative pedigree asks $2.3M

Big, beautiful Boerum Hill townhouse has a barefoot lawn and a finished basement for $7.8M

This $4M Strivers' Row home is a link to Harlem history with five floors of townhouse living and a private garage

For $3.1M, this rambling Flatbush Victorian is a welcome refuge

This $5.2M penthouse brings a western vibe to the West Village

VIEW ALL

First city-owned grocery store to open next year at mixed-use development in Hunts Point

Credit: WXY Studios

May 18, 2026

First city-owned grocery store to open next year at mixed-use development in Hunts Point

Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday announced that New York City’s first city-owned grocery store will open next year at a new affordable housing development in the South Bronx. The store will be located at The Peninsula, a Bronx project transforming the former Spofford Juvenile Detention Center in Hunts Point into a mixed-use development with 740 affordable apartments. The announcement builds on Mamdani’s campaign pledge to open five city-owned grocery stores, one in each borough, and follows a plan announced last month for a store in East Harlem.
Learn more

What makes New York a sanctuary city—and is its status under threat?

Photo credit: via Pixabay

May 18, 2026

What makes New York a sanctuary city—and is its status under threat?

With a proud history of immigration through Ellis Island, New York City is home to more than three million foreign-born residents, 38 percent of the population, and over 500,000 undocumented immigrants, according to the Center for Migration Studies. With a long-held reputation as a safe haven, the city prides itself on being a “sanctuary city,” with policies firmly in place that aim to protect anyone targeted by immigration authorities, regardless of their status, except those with serious criminal convictions. New York City offers some of the nation’s most robust protection, but state legislation has lagged behind. What do sanctuary laws actually accomplish—and what's being done to improve their reach?
Find out more

Policy

Long Island Rail Road workers strike for first time in more than 30 years

Credit: 6sqft

May 18, 2026

Long Island Rail Road workers strike for first time in more than 30 years

Commutes for more than 250,000 daily Long Island Rail Road riders were upended Monday as workers at the nation’s busiest commuter rail service remained on strike amid a wage dispute. More than 3,500 workers represented by five unions walked off the job Saturday, shutting down rail service as they pushed for a 14.5 percent raise over four years, which union leaders say is necessary to keep pace with inflation, according to ABC News. A full day of negotiations that began Sunday and ran into Monday morning failed to produce an agreement, forcing commuters to rely on alternate transportation or work from home while talks continue.
Find out more

300 affordable apartments available in Hunts Point, from $465/month

Credit: WXY Studios

May 18, 2026

300 affordable apartments available in Hunts Point, from $465/month

A former juvenile jail in the Bronx that is being transformed into a mixed-use development opened a housing lottery last week for 303 low-income apartments. Phase two of The Peninsula, located at 1221 and 1225 Spofford Avenue in Hunts Point, brings deeply affordable homes to the site of the former Spofford Juvenile Detention Center, which closed in 2011 following reports of abuse and poor conditions. The development is also getting New York City's first city-owned grocery store. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on Monday that a 20,000-square-foot supermarket will open next year as one of five city-owned grocery stores opening in every borough. New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $465/month studios to $2,936/month three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

NYC to create dedicated bus lane for Q70 to LaGuardia Airport

A Q70-SBS travels along Broadway in Jackson Heights, Queens. Credit: NYC DOT

May 14, 2026

NYC to create dedicated bus lane for Q70 to LaGuardia Airport

A new dedicated bus lane along Broadway in Queens will speed commutes to and from LaGuardia Airport, just in time for an influx of visitors ahead of the FIFA World Cup this summer. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that the city's Department of Transportation (DOT) would begin installing a center-running eastbound bus lane along Broadway between 69th Street and Roosevelt Avenue, a busy corridor used by roughly 9,000 daily riders on the Q70-SBS, also known as the “LaGuardia Link.” The plan would maintain one travel lane in each direction for general traffic while improving bus speeds, which currently drop to as low as 2.7 mph during evening rush hour, slower than walking pace.
Find out more

NYCxDESIGN 2026: 12 can’t-miss picks from New York City’s annual festival of design

Photo courtesy of NYCxDesign

May 14, 2026

NYCxDESIGN 2026: 12 can’t-miss picks from New York City’s annual festival of design

Each spring, the spotlight returns to New York City as a major hub for global design. The 2026 NYCxDESIGN Festival runs from May 14 to May 20, drawing over 163,000 industry pros, brands, designers, creators, and lovers of interior design from all corners of the world and from the city's own vibrant design scene. Anchored by iconic trade fairs and exhibitions like ICFF and WANTED, a full calendar of tours, talks, and product debuts will be happening throughout the five boroughs. The festival offers a sneak peek at tomorrow’s design trends and provides a chance to discover new talent in the worlds of furniture, lighting, textiles, and objects. Read on for a guide to this year's top design fair picks.
a short list of design must-sees, this way

May 13, 2026

13 best NYC rental buildings with outdoor pools

Summer is on the horizon in New York City, bringing with it poolside lounging and dips in the ocean. While the beach is great for a day trip, and hotel pools offer a fun experience, renters who are lucky enough to live in an apartment building with an outdoor pool can enjoy a resort-style getaway without ever leaving home. With the weather finally warming up, we took a look at the best rental buildings across New York City that offer outdoor pools.
dive in

Photo credit: Allyson Lubow for The Corcoran Group

May 13, 2026

An architect’s vision transformed this $2.15M Park Slope loft with leveled-up modernist design

Located within the former Ansonia Clock Factory at 443 12th Street in Park Slope, this two-bedroom co-op was redesigned in 2014 by architect Philippe Baumann. The result, asking $2,150,000, is a duplex across three volumes that offers clean lines, large, livable spaces, and a stunning loft aesthetic that's in keeping with the history of the 20th-century factory warehouse.
take the loft tour

Aerial view from Amsterdam Avenue, looking east. All renderings by Brooklyn Digital Foundry.

May 13, 2026

Lincoln Center breaks ground on accessible performance park, anchored by new amphitheater

Lincoln Center on Monday broke ground on a $335 million project that will transform the campus into an accessible performance arts park. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Lincoln Center West Initiative reimagines the Amsterdam Avenue side of the campus by removing the wall at Damrosch Park and replacing it with a more welcoming edge that connects to the rest of the institution. The redeveloped Damrosch Park will be centered around the Baron Theater, a 2,000-person outdoor venue that will be Lincoln Center's first new freestanding theater in 50 years, and an inviting open plaza surrounded by gardens, groves, and a new water feature. The opening is scheduled for summer 2028.
details here

NYC to MetLife bus fares for World Cup cut by 75%

Riding a shuttle bus to the FIFA World Cup at MetLife Stadium this summer just got much cheaper. On Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that, with financial support from the state and other sponsors, round-trip shuttle tickets will cost $20, down from the previously announced $80 fare, as first reported by The Athletic. Of the roughly 18,000 shuttle tickets available per match, 20 percent will be reserved for New York residents. NJ Transit has also lowered round-trip train fares to MetLife Stadium to $98, after initially setting prices at $150 before reducing them to $105 last week.
Find out more

Landmarked artists’ housing building on Billionaires’ Row is reborn as luxury condos

Model unit. All images courtesy of CO OP

May 12, 2026

Landmarked artists’ housing building on Billionaires’ Row is reborn as luxury condos

A landmarked building on Billionaires' Row has been transformed into 47 luxury condos. Sales launched this week at Parc Beaufort, a 14-story tower at 140 West 57th Street originally built in 1908 as housing for artists. Led by the Feil Organization and MdeAS Architects, the conversion of the luxury condo preserved the building's historic pre-war character while adding contemporary interiors by AD100 firm Stephen Sills Associates. Residences, ranging from studios to three-bedrooms, start at $955,000.
Find out more

New Developments

6 best under-the-radar museums in New York City

Photo credit: The New York Historical

May 12, 2026

6 best under-the-radar museums in New York City

By Lidia Ryan

The Met, the MoMA, the Guggenheim. The hallowed halls of these New York City institutions house some of the world’s most renowned works of art. But what if you’re really into posters? Or have a specific love for paintings of dogs? Well, there’s a place for everyone in this great city! Here are six niche museums to spend an afternoon.
READ MORE

‘Soccer streets’ coming to 50 NYC public school blocks

Credit: Kara McCurdy / Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

May 12, 2026

‘Soccer streets’ coming to 50 NYC public school blocks

Open streets outside 50 public schools across New York City will be transformed into soccer pitches ahead of the FIFA World Cup this summer. On Monday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced "Soccer Streets," a traveling series of field days that will convert car-free streets into soccer pitches, art stations, and block-party celebrations. The initiative launched on May 1 and will visit a different school each day through the end of the school year on June 26.
Learn more

A short history of New York City’s foul air shafts

Photo by Bikes And Books on Flickr

May 11, 2026

A short history of New York City’s foul air shafts

By Cait Etherington

If you think there is nothing worse than renting an apartment with windows and no view, think again. At one point in the city’s history, where one may now enjoy a small sliver of daylight and at least some fresh air, there was no light or air at all. Indeed, tenants’ windows looked out onto slits—sometimes a mere 28 inches wide—that were teeming with waste, rancid smells, and noise.
on the history of NYC air shafts

All photos courtesy of Yoo Jean Han for Sotheby’s International Realty

May 11, 2026

Park Avenue penthouse with enormous terrace owned by Maurice Tempelsman lists for $5.5M

The Park Avenue penthouse owned by Maurice Tempelsman, Jackie Kennedy Onassis's longtime companion, is now on the market. Tempelsman, who died last summer at the age of 95, bought the top-floor co-op at 1155 Park Avenue in Carnegie Hill for $3.3 million in 1999, as the New York Times reported. Now asking $5.5 million, the two-bedroom pre-war apartment is surrounded by an enormous, landscaped terrace, providing a serene rooftop garden with views of Manhattan and Central Park.
see the home

Distinctive Homes

NYCHA tenants can voice concerns in new forum series with city officials

Wilson Houses in East Harlem. Photo credit: Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

May 11, 2026

NYCHA tenants can voice concerns in new forum series with city officials

New York City public housing residents will be able to raise concerns directly with city officials as part of a new engagement campaign. Mayor Zohran Mamdani last week announced “NYCHA in Your Neighborhood,” a series of events in May and June that will allow residents to speak with agency officials about issues including repairs, community programming, pests and waste, faulty elevators, lead, and public safety. The forums will focus on neighborhood-wide clusters of NYCHA developments rather than individual properties. The first event will take place in the Bronx on May 20, followed by meetings in Brooklyn on June 3 and Manhattan on June 17.
Find out more

Photo credit: Brown Harris Stevens

May 8, 2026

A colorful converted convent in Hamilton Heights asks $2M

This condo at 463 West 142nd Street begins with the unique details—like double-height ceilings and arched windows—that come with its former life as a church convent. This pre-war frame holds a loft-like interior with thoroughly modern infrastructure. Asking $2,075,000, the colorful space has the advantage of condo convenience, in the heart of historic Hamilton Heights.
take the tour

Distinctive Homes

NJ Transit cuts World Cup train fare to MetLife by 30%

Credit: Charley Lhasa on Flickr

May 8, 2026

NJ Transit cuts World Cup train fare to MetLife by 30%

Snag the Greenest Seat in Town: Gufram's 1972 Pratone Chair is Shaped Like a Patch of Grass

After fierce backlash over its controversial $150 round-trip fare for service to FIFA World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium, NJ Transit has lowered the train tickets to $105. As first reported by The Athletic, the agency reduced fares for the 18-mile trip by 30 percent after securing new sponsorships, CEO Kris Kolluri confirmed Thursday. After NJ Transit unveiled the original $150 price tag last month, Mikie Sherrill directed the agency to find alternative funding sources to ease costs for soccer fans and ensure New Jersey residents do not bear the cost of the tournament.
Learn more

THE 6SQFT SHOP

The 6 best furniture rental companies in NYC

8 best places in NYC to thrift for home goods

The best websites for buying and selling used furniture in NYC

Everything you need to know about using a guarantor in NYC

15 quintessential NYC gifts for the New Yorker in your life

Raising chickens in NYC: Laws, tips, and everything else you need to know

Everything you need to know about affordable housing: applying, getting in, and staying put

50 places to shop locally in NYC for that perfect gift

10 best plants for apartment dwellers

VIEW ALL

Rent freeze for stabilized apartments backed by NYC board in preliminary vote

Credit: Karya Schanilec for NYS Tenant Bloc

May 8, 2026

Rent freeze for stabilized apartments backed by NYC board in preliminary vote

In a preliminary vote on Thursday, the Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) backed rent adjustments that included leases with no increases, advancing Mayor Zohran Mamdani's promise of a rent freeze for New York City tenants living in one million stabilized apartments. It's not a done deal. The nine-member board voted for proposed adjustments between 0 and 2 percent for one-year leases and 0 and 4 percent for two-year leases, leaving the door open for a potential increase. The final guidelines, likely falling somewhere in that range, will be voted on by the board on June 25.
READ MORE

Policy

Towering totems in Brooklyn Bridge Park explore the ritual of everyday objects

Woody De Othello. “Reverence,” 2026. “Awareness,” 2026, “Listening,” 2026. Redwood. Photo: Nicholas Knight, courtesy of Public Art Fund, NY. Presented by Public Art Fund as a part of “Woody De Othello: Guardian Spirit” at Brooklyn Bridge Park, New York City, May 5, 2026-March 8, 2027

May 7, 2026

Towering totems in Brooklyn Bridge Park explore the ritual of everyday objects

A new exhibition exploring the ritual of everyday objects opened along the waterfront in Brooklyn Bridge Park this week. Presented by the Public Art Fund, "Guardian Spirit" by Woody De Othello consists of three redwood totems, between 20 and 22 feet tall, and four large-scale bronze sculptures, inspired by "nkisi," ritual objects from Western and Central Africa that "embody spiritual presences and channel protective or healing forces." Located in Pier 1 and at the intersection of Washington Street and Plymouth Street in Dumbo, "Guardian Spirit" is De Othello's first solo public exhibition in New York City.
see it here

Events & Things To Do

City-owned site in Bed-Stuy to become 100% affordable housing and community space

The vacant city-owned lot. Credit: HPD

May 7, 2026

City-owned site in Bed-Stuy to become 100% affordable housing and community space

The city began the community engagement process for a new development coming to public land in Bed-Stuy. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) on Thursday announced plans to redevelop the run-down Bedford-Stuyvesant Multi-Service Center (MSC) and neighboring vacant city-owned land on Fulton Street into a mixed-use project with 100 percent affordable housing and social services. The project, called “Fulton-Howard West,” is the first public development site under Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration.
Find out more

New Developments

FiDi office-to-residential conversion with nearly 800 units launches leasing

Images courtesy of StreetSense

May 7, 2026

FiDi office-to-residential conversion with nearly 800 units launches leasing

A massive office-to-residential conversion in the Financial District has launched leasing for nearly 800 luxury rental apartments. Located at 222 Broadway, the 32-story tower, formerly home to tenants including Bank of America, Santander, and American Express, has been transformed by GFP Development and architect CetraRuddy into "Wrey," a residential tower with 788 units and a five-floor amenities club. Prices range from $4,588/month for studios with home offices to $12,088/month for three-bedroom units.
Discover morE

New Developments

Cobble Hill’s most expensive home finds a buyer

Photos by DD Reps

May 7, 2026

Cobble Hill’s most expensive home finds a buyer

Cobble Hill's most expensive home, a five-story brownstone last asking just under $17 million, has entered contract. The 1850s home at 205 Clinton Street reportedly found a buyer after first hitting the market for $22 million last fall. In addition to being a new neighborhood record, if the home fetches near the 16.995 million ask, the property would be the most priciest deal in Brooklyn this year, surpassing the $16.25 million penthouse sale at Olympia Dumbo in February.
get the details

MTA rolls out modern fare enforcement on NYC buses

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

May 6, 2026

MTA rolls out modern fare enforcement on NYC buses

New York City is ramping up efforts to curb bus fare evasion, with agents now using handheld devices to verify payments. During a Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board meeting last week, NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow said that with the adoption of the tap-and-go OMNY system, the transit system’s EAGLE fare enforcers will use “onboard validation devices” that check whether customers paid using an OMNY card or cellphone. The technology has been used on Select Bus Service (SBS) routes, where 52.7 percent of riders do not pay, and the MTA now plans to expand its use to all bus routes, including local lines, where fare evasion is 48.6 percent, according to the New York Times.
Find out more

This classic Park Slope townhouse sold for $5.3M in January. Now, it’s asking $10.25M

Photo credit: Haley Ellen Day

May 6, 2026

This classic Park Slope townhouse sold for $5.3M in January. Now, it’s asking $10.25M

This graceful four-story brownstone at 787 Carroll Street is among the rare Brooklyn finds of its kind, with all of the unspoiled architectural details history buffs crave and a stem-to-stern renovation that spared no expense. With an owner's triplex above and a renovated garden flat below, there's an opportunity for rental income, too. Does the covetable combination add up to the home's $10.25 million ask, nearly $5 million more than it sold for last year?
get a closer look

Distinctive Homes

NYC announces record $31M in penalties against two Bronx landlords

Streetview of 480 East 188th Street © Google 2022

May 6, 2026

NYC announces record $31M in penalties against two Bronx landlords

New York City secured $31 million in penalties against negligent owners of two Bronx apartment buildings, marking the largest judgment ever obtained by the city. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development announced on Wednesday a record-setting settlement against landlords Karan Singh and Rajmattie Persaud, who own Robert Fulton Terrace and Fordham Towers. After tenants faced years of hazardous conditions, including lack of hot water, rat infestations, and elevator outages, and hundreds of housing code violations, the city sued the owners in 2024, and the properties later entered foreclosure.
details this way

Policy

Bike boulevards planned for Brooklyn’s Bergen and Dean Streets

Mamdani joins the Bergen Bike Bus in Brooklyn on National Bike & Roll to School Day. Photo credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

May 6, 2026

Bike boulevards planned for Brooklyn’s Bergen and Dean Streets

Mayor Zohran Mamdani took to Brooklyn on two wheels Wednesday to announce plans for 10-mile "bike boulevards" along Bergen and Dean Streets. Joining the Bergen Bike Bus, a weekly caravan of parents and students who bike to school together, Mamdani said the city’s Department of Transportation will redesign the two streets between Court Street and East New York Avenue to prioritize cyclists and pedestrians while maintaining local vehicle access. The multi-phase project is still in its early stages, with DOT beginning public outreach through an online feedback portal as it develops design plans expected to be released later this year.
Learn more

This year’s 14th Street Busway mural urges New Yorkers to ‘get outside’

Photos by Colossal Media

May 5, 2026

This year’s 14th Street Busway mural urges New Yorkers to ‘get outside’

With spring weather finally blossoming in New York City, so too has the annual mural on Union Square’s 14th Street Busway. Now in its sixth year, the corridor has received a vibrant makeover, this time featuring artist Shantell Martin’s “Get Outside,” a mural encouraging viewers to reconnect with the outdoors and their communities while celebrating Union Square’s historic role as a hub for gatherings. The 7,500-square-foot artwork was hand-painted by Brooklyn-based Colossal Media and is part of Merrell’s “Outside in the City” program, which frames the outdoors as a vital part of city life rather than a distant destination.
Find out more

Architecture And Design

New York kicks off planning for 100-acre Aqueduct Racetrack redevelopment

Aerial view of Aqueduct Racetrack courtesy of Empire State Development

May 5, 2026

New York kicks off planning for 100-acre Aqueduct Racetrack redevelopment

New York is moving forward with the redevelopment of the sprawling Aqueduct Racetrack site in South Ozone Park. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced the start of the community engagement and planning process for 100 acres of the state-owned Queens racetrack, which will close this summer before moving horse racing operations to Belmont Park on Long Island. The state announced two workshops will take place this month to gather input from the public on priorities for the development, including housing, open space, and retail.
READ MORE

New Developments

Lottery opens for 51 low-income units at Midtown East supportive housing project, from $1,122/month

Credit: NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

May 5, 2026

Lottery opens for 51 low-income units at Midtown East supportive housing project, from $1,122/month

A new 21-story Midtown East building combining affordable and supportive housing for unhoused women launched a lottery this week for 51 low-income apartments. Located at 225 East 45th Street, in between Grand Central and the United Nations headquarters, Willow Tree Residences has 130 residential apartments and shares the building with the New Providence Women’s Shelter, a 170-bed facility that offers on-site services. New Yorkers earning 60 percent of the area median income can apply for the studio apartments, priced at $1,122/month.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

PATH fare hike takes effect ahead of return of 7-day service

Newark PATH station. Photo courtesy of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Flickr

May 4, 2026

PATH fare hike takes effect ahead of return of 7-day service

The cost to ride PATH trains officially increased from $3 to $3.25 on Monday as part of the system's transformative service upgrades. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says the fare hike will help fund its $45 billion 2026-2035 Capital Plan, which has modernized the 118-year-old system’s infrastructure and enabled the return of 7-day service on all lines for the first time in 25 years, with additional improvements to come. Fares are expected to rise in 25-cent increments, reaching $4 in 2029. Reduced fare for riders ages 65 and older, as well as those with disabilities, also increased by 10 cents, from $1.50 to $1.60.
learn more

149-unit rental building coming to Hudson Square parking lot

Credit: MAG Partners

May 4, 2026

149-unit rental building coming to Hudson Square parking lot

Two prominent New York City developers have teamed up to build a 149-unit rental tower on a parking lot in Hudson Square. MAG Partners and Global Holdings last week signed a long-term lease with Trinity Church for 122 Varick Street, where the joint venture plans to construct a 192,000-square-foot project employing the 485-x tax abatement program. The development will include more than 5,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, and 25 percent of the units will be permanently affordable as required by the tax incentive program.
Find out more

For $10.5M, a sunny yellow Mediterranean villa on the Upper East Side

Photo credit: Eitan Gamliely for Sotheby’s International Realty

May 1, 2026

For $10.5M, a sunny yellow Mediterranean villa on the Upper East Side

This 4,500-square-foot townhouse at 126 East 74th Street on the Upper East Side, asking $10.5 million, has a unique architectural history in addition to a designer's touch. Built in 1880, the home was constructed in the stately Victorian-era Italianate style of its neighbors. It was transformed in 1924 by William Shire, who created a facade resembling a Mediterranean villa while preserving the grand Victorian details within. The home's unique facade remains remarkably unchanged since then, but its interiors have gotten a complete overhaul to meet modern standards in both design and livability.
History with a twist, this way

Distinctive Homes

New sculpture in FiDi honors ‘Little Syria,’ NYC’s first Arabic-speaking community

Photos courtesy of NYC Parks / Daniel Avila, unless noted otherwise

May 1, 2026

New sculpture in FiDi honors ‘Little Syria,’ NYC’s first Arabic-speaking community

A new public art installation in Lower Manhattan pays tribute to "Little Syria," New York City’s first Arabic-speaking community, which was displaced in the 1940s when the area was largely demolished to make way for the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel. On Thursday, the city’s Parks Department unveiled “Al Qalam: Poets in the Park” by artist Sara Ouhaddou at Elizabeth H. Berger Plaza in the Financial District. The piece honors the once-thriving neighborhood, which from the 1880s to the 1940s was home to a vibrant community of influential poets and writers. Ouhaddou reflects on that legacy through abstract calligraphy inspired by Islamic architecture, with the names of nine notable authors inscribed on the sculpture’s surface.
details here

Architecture And Design

NYC pied-à-terre tax could raise less than Hochul’s $500M estimate, report finds

Credit: Andy on Unsplash

May 1, 2026

NYC pied-à-terre tax could raise less than Hochul’s $500M estimate, report finds

Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposed pied-à-terre tax could generate up to $500 million annually, but multiple variables could affect the final revenue, according to a report released Thursday by New York City Comptroller Mark Levine. Introduced last month, the governor's proposed tax, which would place a surcharge on secondary homes in the five boroughs valued at $5 million and above, could generate nearly $500 million from just over 11,200 properties. The comptroller's analysis examines several factors, including exclusions for rented units and "behavioral responses" to the tax, which could lower the actual revenue to between $340 million and $380 million.
Find out more

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

The Greenwich by Rafael Vinoly

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

Events & Things To Do

125 Greenwich Street

Financial District

The new altitude of downtown living

studios starting at $1,110,000
1 beds starting at $1,495,000
2 beds starting at $2,785,000
3 beds starting at $3,600,000

Learn More

Knicks hosting playoff watch party in and outside MSG for Game 3 of Round 2

Credit: MSG Sports

April 30, 2026

Knicks hosting playoff watch party in and outside MSG for Game 3 of Round 2

The New York Knicks are hosting watch parties for game three of their second-round NBA playoff series. Fans can venture to Madison Square Garden on Friday night to watch the game inside the world's most famous arena or outside the venue on giant screens starting at 7 p.m. The team heads into tonight's game against the Philadelphia 76ers up 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.
learn more

Events & Things To Do

For $7.15M, this Sag Harbor 1930s cottage is a timeless waterfront refuge

All photos courtesy of Costas Picadas

April 29, 2026

For $7.15M, this Sag Harbor 1930s cottage is a timeless waterfront refuge

At the secluded shoreline of Morris Cove, "East of Eden," the Sag Harbor Village home at 10 Bluff Point Lane, is a perfect lazy summer retreat, complete with a private dock and bulkheaded frontage. Asking $7,150,000, the property is next door to the former estate of writer John Steinbeck and actress Elaine Steinbeck, defining the waterfront enclave's laid-back creative cachet.
waterfront living, this way

Distinctive Homes

NYC wants your feedback on Park Avenue redesign

Photo by Leslie Cross via Unsplash

April 29, 2026

NYC wants your feedback on Park Avenue redesign

The proposed redesign of Park Avenue could bring back lush green spaces to the iconic corridor's medians. The city's Department of Transportation (DOT) unveiled two potential plans to overhaul an 11-block stretch from East 46th to East 57th Streets, both of which would widen the medians and remove one traffic lane in each direction to create pedestrian space. Renderings released on Wednesday show expanded sidewalks, additional trees, benches, and bike lanes in one of the proposals. To gain feedback from New Yorkers, DOT released an online survey seeking public feedback for both design concepts.
Find out more

Resorts World opens as first casino to offer live table games in NYC

Photo courtesy of Gee

April 29, 2026

Resorts World opens as first casino to offer live table games in NYC

New York City's first full casino has arrived. After many years and a competition for downstate gaming licenses, Resorts World New York City opened in Queens on Tuesday as the first casino in the five boroughs to offer live table games. Located next to the Aqueduct Racetrack in Jamaica, the existing gambling facility, which opened in 2011, has expanded into a full-scale casino, transforming its third floor with more than 240 table games and thousands of slot machines, with more to come later this year. The casino also led a hiring and training effort that created 1,250 new jobs, including 950 table-game dealers, ahead of its launch following final testing by the New York State Gaming Commission.
roll the dice

With G train shutdown pitched for third straight summer, Brooklyn officials urge MTA to rethink plan

A rally calling on the MTA to limit G train closures was held in Greenpoint. Photo Credit: John McCarten/NYC Council Media Unit on Flickr

April 29, 2026

With G train shutdown pitched for third straight summer, Brooklyn officials urge MTA to rethink plan