6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

Stretching from Fifth Avenue to the West Side Highway and 34th Street to the southern tip of Central Park, Midtown West includes iconic Manhattan districts like Times Square, Clinton (also known by its classic moniker, Hell's Kitchen), the newly-minted Hudson Yards, and Central Park South. From architecture, music, and theater to restaurants, bars, and shops, Midtown West is a study in New York City diversity and a destination for visitors from all over the world.
top rental buildings in midtown west, this way

Here are the NYC neighborhoods with the highest storefront vacancy rates

Photo by Ruoyu Li on Unsplash

June 5, 2026

Here are the NYC neighborhoods with the highest storefront vacancy rates

Though New York City’s storefront vacancy rate has rebounded since the pandemic, some neighborhoods still have retail vacancy rates as high as 20 percent, according to a new report. Released on Thursday by the city's Comptroller Mark Levine, the report, titled "Who's Minding the Storefront? An Analysis of Storefront Vacancies," found that while the citywide vacancy rate has returned to near pre-pandemic levels, parts of Lower Manhattan, Battery Park City, Northern Brooklyn, and Western Queens continue to see retail vacancy rates at or above 20 percent. Citywide, roughly 15,700 storefronts remain vacant, representing an 11 percent vacancy rate, about half a percentage point above pre-pandemic levels.
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Policy

Free rooftop tours open at Manhattan Municipal Building

Photos courtesy of NYC DCAS

June 5, 2026

Free rooftop tours open at Manhattan Municipal Building

The 36th-floor cupola of New York City's historic David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building will open to the public for the first time next week. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services on Thursday opened reservations for the "Centre 360" experience, a free rooftop tour of the century-old Beaux-Arts government building at 1 Centre Street. The cupola offers 360-degree views nearly 600 feet above the city, with many iconic landmarks in full view. Originally intended to be accessible to the public when the building opened in 1914, the cupola has been off-limits for nearly 100 years. Tours begin June 11, with tickets becoming available on the first day of each month.
how to book

Credit: SPAN Architecture

June 4, 2026

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

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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Distinctive Homes

NYC to expand traffic sensor network to study how New Yorkers use streets

Credit: NYC DOT

June 4, 2026

NYC to expand traffic sensor network to study how New Yorkers use streets

New York City will expand its use of cutting-edge sensor technology to track road usage and inform safer, more data-driven street design. Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn on Tuesday announced that the agency will install privacy-protected sensors, first piloted in 2023, at about 80 additional locations across the five boroughs, bringing the total to 100. The devices count pedestrians, cyclists, buses, and vehicles to analyze how New Yorkers use city streets, offering insight into pedestrian crossings, where bike access may need improvement, and how cars move through specific areas.
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A mini beach opens at Bushwick Inlet Park

Photos courtesy of NYC Parks / Hannah Mrakovčić

June 4, 2026

A mini beach opens at Bushwick Inlet Park

A new park with a small beach officially opened in Greenpoint this week, one tiny step toward completing the very delayed Bushwick Inlet Park. The city's Parks Department on Wednesday celebrated the opening of the new "Motiva" parcel, a roughly 1.7-acre waterfront greenspace with restored wetlands, native plantings, and a sliver of beach with a kayak launch. The new park represents the latest section of Bushwick Inlet Park, a 27-acre greenspace first promised more than 20 years ago as part of a rezoning of the neighborhood, and is still only about a third completed.
details here

Uncategorized

Balloon Museum announces opening of NYC flagship at the Tin Building

“Black Hole Horizon” by Thom Kubli. Credit: The Balloon Museum

June 4, 2026

Balloon Museum announces opening of NYC flagship at the Tin Building

The world’s first traveling inflatable art exhibition is opening a permanent location in New York City. The Balloon Museum will open at the historic Tin Building in the Seaport District on July 15, bringing its unique large-scale installations to a 58,000-square-foot space that formerly housed Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s food hall. Its inaugural exhibition, “Daydream: Air Becomes Art,” will bring together experimental, site-specific works that use air as a “unifying medium,” featuring artists including Marina Abramović and Martin Creed.
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Events & Things To Do

Former Planned Parenthood clinic in Noho will be converted to luxury condos

Rendering of the proposed building from Bleecker and Mott Streets. Credit: BKSK Architects

June 3, 2026

Former Planned Parenthood clinic in Noho will be converted to luxury condos

The former home of Manhattan's only Planned Parenthood clinic in Noho is set to become luxury condos. The Landmarks Preservation Commission this week approved a plan to convert the Classical Revival-style commercial building at 26 Bleecker Street into 15 luxury condominium residences. Planned Parenthood, which first moved to the building in 1989, sold the property last year to Israeli development firm Izaki Group Investments for $38.1 million. The nonprofit, which officially shut down operations at the building last October, cited increasing financial and political pressures as reasons for selling.
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Photo credit: Coldwell Banker Warburg

June 3, 2026

An artist’s mural in this $1.4M Hit Factory condo will remind you of its colorful past

The Hit Factory at 421 West 54th Street has a storied history as the recording studio where rock greats like John Lennon, the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Madonna, and Michael Jackson created platinum records. Asking $1,395,000, this one-bedroom-plus-office condo has a colorful story of its own: a full-sized mural by graffiti artist Alan Ket welcomes everyone who passes through its entryway.
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Distinctive Homes

Distinctive Homes

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

This $22.5M maisonette offers townhouse privacy with classic Upper East Side co-op luxury

For $3.35M, this 40-acre upstate retreat embodies the spirit of modernist architecture

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

Live in perpetual sunlight in this $5M contemporary Crown Heights townhouse

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

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

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

An artist's mural in this $1.4M Hit Factory condo will remind you of its colorful past

1860s Sag Harbor cottage has a designer's take on a lived-in vibe for $5.35M

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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

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

Food & Dining

Historic Studio 54 theater prepares for $100M renovation

Renderings courtesy of Ennead Architects & Rockwell Group unless otherwised noted

June 3, 2026

Historic Studio 54 theater prepares for $100M renovation

Plans for a major renovation of the historic Studio 54 theater moved forward on Monday. The City Planning Commission certified Roundabout Theatre Company's application for a special permit to generate bonus floor area to enable a $100 million rehabilitation of the Manhattan theater, which has never received a comprehensive renovation in its 99-year lifetime. Since there are no sites on or around their lot available for development, the theater seeks a text amendment to allow it to transfer its bonus development rights offsite, which would fund the renovation project. Roundabout Theatre, which has owned the property since 2003, has planned a complete overhaul of the iconic venue by David Rockwell and Ennead, raising funds through their Next Stage Campaign.
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History

17 spots in NYC to watch the Knicks in the NBA Finals

Credit: Jacob Williamson

June 2, 2026

17 spots in NYC to watch the Knicks in the NBA Finals

New Yorkers are ready to party like it's 1999. After securing a Game 1 victory in San Antonio on Wednesday, the New York Knicks are just three games away from securing their first NBA championship since 1973, bringing a level of excitement to the city not seen in three decades. With official watch parties outside Madison Square Garden back on after the NYPD reversed course and granted permits for an event at Plaza 33, and bars and restaurants across the city also hosting screenings, there is no shortage of places to cheer on the team as they face the San Antonio Spurs. Here are some spots promising an electric atmosphere as the Knicks continue their first NBA Finals run since 1999.
Places to watch, ahead

Events & Things To Do

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

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

Here’s how to view a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence in NYC

Images courtesy of Jonathan Blanc/The New York Public Library, unless noted otherwise

June 1, 2026

Here’s how to view a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence in NYC

The New York Public Library on Monday released the first batch of free tickets to view a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence during America's 250th anniversary this July. As part of an exhibit commemorating the nation's founding, the library will grant limited access to one of the few surviving "fair copies" of the document handwritten by Thomas Jefferson, on view at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building from July 1 through July 7. Tickets are released online every Monday through June 29.
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Events & Things To Do

Three bedrooms and plenty of living space make this $1.7M Park Slope condo a special find

All photos courtesy of Russ Ross for The Corcoran Group

June 1, 2026

Three bedrooms and plenty of living space make this $1.7M Park Slope condo a special find

Located in north Park Slope near the crossroads of Boerum Hill and Downtown Brooklyn, this three-bedroom condo at 104 Saint Marks Place, asking $1,695,000, doesn't skimp on looks, living space, or comfort. Convenient perks like an in-unit washer/dryer and split-system AC units join well-designed fixtures and loft-like details within the ease of condo living.
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Distinctive Homes

Plan to restore 1820s Lower East Side church and add 130 affordable homes advances

Credit: City Planning Commission

June 1, 2026

Plan to restore 1820s Lower East Side church and add 130 affordable homes advances

A project to restore an 1820s-era Lower East Side church and build a mixed-use development with 130 affordable apartments next to it is moving ahead. Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal on Friday recommended approval of a proposal to renovate St. Augustine's Chapel at 290 Henry Street and replace an existing two-story classroom annex with a 21-story mixed-use housing development. Now headed to the City Planning Commission for review, the development would include income-restricted apartments for families earning 50, 80, and 110 percent of the area median income, as well as some units for formerly homeless New Yorkers.
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Waterfront living in NYC: Inside resort-style rentals in every borough

Photo by Mike Sinko on Flickr

May 29, 2026

Waterfront living in NYC: Inside resort-style rentals in every borough

Waterfronts across New York City are being developed, many with ultra-luxe high-rise condos with sweeping views. But thanks to rezoning and climate resiliency efforts, as well as the launch of NYC Ferry almost a decade ago, several rental buildings have popped up along shorelines in every borough, making resort-style living slightly more attainable. With beautiful views and amenities to match, and now, a quicker commute via new, expanded ferry service, riverside (and seaside!) living in New York is more appealing than ever. To explore what waterfront life is really like in NYC, we took a look at a few rentals along the water's edge, from glassy high-rises in Greenpoint to modern homes a block from the beach in the Rockaways.
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For $1.6M, this magical Rockaway Beach ‘surf shack’ has a sauna, plunge pool, and music studio

All photos courtesy of Kathrine Pastrana/Interiors by Kat for The Corcoran Group

May 29, 2026

For $1.6M, this magical Rockaway Beach ‘surf shack’ has a sauna, plunge pool, and music studio

If you've ever dreamed of spending summer days and nights in a laid-back surf cottage like one you'd find in Malibu or Venice, but you're a committed New York City dreamer, this Rockaway Beach rarity could be just what you need. Half a block from the Atlantic Ocean, this townhouse at 144 Beach 93rd Street is no ramshackle shack. Though the vibe is 100 percent surf chic, it has been designed for 21st-century comfort, including bespoke wellness perks like a Finnish sauna and plunge pool, plus a music studio and a roof deck with ocean views. Asking $1,550,000, this home is surrounded by seaside tranquility, yet less than an hour from Manhattan.
definitely not the hamptons (in a good way)

Distinctive Homes

New York passes pied-à-terre tax for luxury NYC second homes

New York City is getting its pied-à-terre tax. State lawmakers on Wednesday approved the $268.5 billion 2027 state budget, which included a new annual surcharge on second homes in the city valued at $5 million or more. First announced last month by Gov. Kathy Hochul, the new tax will take effect July 1 and could potentially generate $500 million in revenue for the city each year. According to the governor, the tax ensures those who own luxury properties as their second homes are still "fairly contributing towards the funding of essential services," like police and fire departments, sanitations, parks, and more.
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NYC launches interactive website to help young New Yorkers find free summer activities

Photo by Michael Appleton/ Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

May 28, 2026

NYC launches interactive website to help young New Yorkers find free summer activities

New York City wants to make it easier for young people to find free and low-cost activities this summer. Mayor Zohran Mamdani this week launched "Summer in N.Y.C.," a website that matches users with activities happening in their neighborhood, ranging from free painting and photography classes to sports leagues, summer jobs, and FIFA World Cup watch parties. The initiative is part of a broader effort by the administration to keep young New Yorkers safe during the summer, when gun violence sees an uptick, as CBS News reported.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC begins redesign of McGuinness Boulevard

Wednesday’s groundbreaking ceremony. Credit: NYC DOT

May 28, 2026

NYC begins redesign of McGuinness Boulevard

Work on the redesign of Greenpoint’s notorious McGuinness Boulevard finally began this week after several years of delays and project changes. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Department of Transportation on Wednesday broke ground on the street revamp, which includes installing parking-protected bike lanes along the corridor from Meeker Avenue to the Pulaski Bridge. The start of construction marks a major milestone for the project, which was scaled back under former Mayor Eric Adams’ administration amid allegations of bribery, as 6sqft previously reported.
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Mayor’s audit shows aggressive ICE tactics are on the rise in NYC, with arrests up 71 percent

An ICE arrest in New York in January 2025. Photo by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Flickr

May 28, 2026

Mayor’s audit shows aggressive ICE tactics are on the rise in NYC, with arrests up 71 percent

Mayor Zohran Mamdani's office last week released the findings of an audit examining how city agencies adhere to the city's sanctuary laws in the face of growing federal immigration enforcement efforts under the current Trump administration. The report showed that immigration enforcement activity has increased dramatically, with a 71 percent jump in arrests between January 2025 and March 2026 compared to the same number of days under former President Joe Biden. Findings include a sharply escalating number of detainer requests, targeting of city shelters, and a rise in aggressive enforcement tactics.
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Policy

Hochul signs reforms to New York’s environmental law to accelerate new housing development

“Let Them Build” rally in February. Photo credit: Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

May 27, 2026

Hochul signs reforms to New York’s environmental law to accelerate new housing development

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday signed legislation to reform the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), cutting red tape that critics say has long delayed housing development. The "common-sense" reforms, the most significant changes to SEQRA since its passage in 1975, are expected to accelerate the construction of new housing by up to two years. Hochul first unveiled the changes in February alongside Mayor Zohran Mamdani and included it in her fiscal year 2027 budget.
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This $16.7M Cobble Hill home is like having your own private club in a Brooklyn brownstone

All photos courtesy of DD Reps

May 27, 2026

This $16.7M Cobble Hill home is like having your own private club in a Brooklyn brownstone

The luxury bar is being set ever higher for the once humble Brooklyn brownstone, and this 6,300-square-foot home at 168 Pacific Street, asking $16.65 million, is a fine example. The 25-foot-wide Greek Revival home offers six elevator-accessible levels of living, starting with a wine cave and gym and topped by a dazzling penthouse suite with skyline views. Just in time for summer entertaining, outdoor spaces include a south-facing garden, multiple terraces, and roof decks.
top-tier townhouse tour, this way

Distinctive Homes

Everything you need for your first apartment

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

May 26, 2026

Everything you need for your first apartment

By Terri Williams

Whether you’re leaving the nest, graduating from college, or experiencing some other type of life event, moving into your first apartment can be an exciting time and a fresh start. You want to make your apartment comfortable, practical, and fun, the type of place you want to spend time in, and invite friends over to enjoy as well. Here are some of the best items you’ll want in your first apartment.
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Mamdani releases blueprint to build 200,000 new affordable homes, target bad landlords

Photo by Michael Appleton/ Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

May 26, 2026

Mamdani releases blueprint to build 200,000 new affordable homes, target bad landlords

Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday released a comprehensive plan to address the city's current housing crisis, detailing a goal to build 200,000 new affordable homes over the next decade, the most ambitious target by a New York City mayor ever. The housing plan, dubbed "Block by Block," says $22 billion in capital investments over five years will fund new affordable housing and help preserve another 200,000 existing homes. The report also details the expansion of tenant protections and homeownership opportunities, as well as the largest capital investment in NYCHA in recent history.
details here

NYPD pulls permits for Knicks watch parties outside MSG, but fans still celebrate

Photos courtesy of NY Knicks/MSG Sports

May 26, 2026

NYPD pulls permits for Knicks watch parties outside MSG, but fans still celebrate

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

While the police department won't support New York Knicks playoff watch parties outside of Madison Square Garden anymore, fans still celebrated the team's first NBA Finals appearance in 27 years on Monday. After the city’s Police Department denied permits for the watch party for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, citing "very rough" crowds, the event relocated to Radio City Music Hall and Brooklyn Bowl. According to the NYPD, past watch parties have included some people jumping police barriers, throwing glass bottles into crowds, and brawling, with six people arrested last Thursday, the New York Post reported. The lack of permits did not stop fans from heading to 7th Avenue to celebrate the team's historic sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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Events & Things To Do

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

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NYC restaurants to offer $26 dining deals during World Cup

Limited-edition World Cup cups. Credit: NYC Tourism + Conventions

May 26, 2026

NYC restaurants to offer $26 dining deals during World Cup

New York City is launching a series of initiatives to help New Yorkers and visitors support small businesses and explore neighborhoods in every borough during the FIFA World Cup. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on Friday a new $26 dining special at participating restaurants and bars throughout the six-week tournament. According to the city, nearly 600 businesses have signed up to partake in the program, which will run from June 11 through July 19.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC to widen protected bike lane on Sixth Avenue before World Cup

An example of a double-wide bike lane on Second Avenue. Credit: DOT

May 22, 2026

NYC to widen protected bike lane on Sixth Avenue before World Cup

Sixth Avenue’s protected bike lane will be widened along one of its most congested stretches as part of a series of street safety projects launched by the Mamdani administration ahead of the World Cup this summer. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Wednesday that the corridor’s bike lane will expand from six to 10 feet between 14th Street and West 31st Street, removing one travel lane and allowing for safer passing and side-by-side biking, as first reported by Streetsblog. The project had previously been announced under former Mayor Eric Adams but was never implemented.
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Work on skate park in Mount Prospect Park could begin next spring

Renderings courtesy of NYC Parks

May 22, 2026

Work on skate park in Mount Prospect Park could begin next spring

Work on an $11 million skatepark in Brooklyn's Mount Prospect Park could begin next spring after New York City’s Public Design Commission and the local community board approved the project last month. Known as the Brooklyn Skate Garden, the project is one of four skateparks planned across the five boroughs through a partnership with legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk to bring public skating facilities to underserved communities. Originally planned at roughly 40,000 square feet, the park was scaled back to 19,500 square feet following opposition from some residents, according to BKReader.
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Architecture And Design

Mott Haven affordable development approved after just 90 days, thanks to new expedited review

Renderings courtesy of STAT Architecture PC

May 21, 2026

Mott Haven affordable development approved after just 90 days, thanks to new expedited review

An affordable housing project that would have taken seven months of review before being approved got the green light from the New York City Council this week after just 90 days. Thanks to the new Expedited Land Use Review Procedure (ELURP), a ballot measure approved by voters last November, 351 Powers Avenue in Mott Haven received the fastest land-use approval in decades. The project, which entered review in February, will transform a vacant city-owned lot into more than 80 apartments, a community theater, and public outdoor space, as 6sqft previously reported.
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7,000-square-foot ‘wellness loft’ in the West Village asks $25.8M, working phone booth included

All photos courtesy of Alejandro Leon | DD-Reps

May 21, 2026

7,000-square-foot ‘wellness loft’ in the West Village asks $25.8M, working phone booth included

Listed as the "largest two-bed in Manhattan," this 7,000-square-foot loft condo at 345 West 13th Street in the historic Astor House is big enough to get lost in. Asking $25,750,000, the home offers the strictly 21st-century perk of a dedicated wellness wing with a private spa suite fitted out with a steam room, dry sauna, Jacuzzi, reflexology path, plus a 1,000-square-foot pro-grade gym and a soundproofed recording studio.
take the tour

Distinctive Homes

NYC residents can enter lottery for $50 World Cup tickets

Mayor Mamdani announced the initiative in Little Senegal in Harlem. Credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

May 21, 2026

NYC residents can enter lottery for $50 World Cup tickets

Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Thursday announced that his administration had secured 1,000 World Cup tickets, which will be made available to New Yorkers for $50 through a lottery system. As first reported by The Athletic, 150 tickets will be distributed for each of the five group stage matches and two knockout round matches at MetLife. The $50 ticket includes free round-trip bus fare to the stadium. The lottery opens May 25 at 10 a.m. and closes May 30 at 5 p.m., with up to 50,000 entries accepted daily. Winners will be able to purchase up to two tickets each.
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“Summer House” season 9 “Snoozefest” reunion. All photos courtesy of Scott Sicari

May 21, 2026

‘Summer House’ set designer kept it ‘classy’ for highly anticipated reunion

By Lidia Ryan

About two decades ago, Scott Sicari was approached to design a reunion set for a show called “Manhattan Moms." "We set up in the Russian Tea Room with some guy that nobody knew named Andy Cohen,” he said. The show, rebranded as "The Real Housewives of New York City,” would become a cornerstone of the Bravo reality TV phenomenon. Sicari has stayed for the ride. "It’s been a nice, really unexpected, beautiful twist in my career," he said.
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Penn Station redesign moves forward with selection of master developer

ASTM North America’s Penn Station overhaul proposal from 2023. Rendering courtesy of ASTM, PAU, and HOK

May 20, 2026

Penn Station redesign moves forward with selection of master developer

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 joint venture made up of 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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Policy

Bergen Brooklyn

323 Bergen Street

Boerum Hill

World-class design rooted in Brooklyn charm

studios starting at $825,000
1 beds starting at $1,200,000
2 beds starting at $1,925,000
3 beds starting at $3,050,000
4 beds starting at $6,000,000

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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.
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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.
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Affordable Housing

All photos courtesy of Donna Dotan Photography

May 18, 2026

This $22.5M maisonette offers townhouse privacy with classic Upper East Side co-op luxury

Known for their privacy and old-world Manhattan cachet, maisonettes often sound better in theory than in reality. But this massive 5,000-square-foot home at 2 East 70th Street on the Upper East Side, asking $22,500,000, delivers a reality that includes a private four-bedroom Fifth Avenue address, two floors of townhouse-style living, Central Park views, and all the perks that come with one of the city's most coveted Rosario Candela co-ops.
Upper east Side luxury, this way

Distinctive Homes

The Met and the Neue Galerie are merging

The Neue Galerie at 1048 Fifth Avenue. Photo by Eden, Janine, and Jim on Wikimedia

May 14, 2026

The Met and the Neue Galerie are merging

The Neue Galerie New York and the Metropolitan Museum of Art will merge, creating the most significant collection of 20th-century Austrian and German art outside of Europe. The Met will take over the Neue Galerie's collection, which includes iconic works by Gustav Klimt, and its Beaux-Arts building at 1048 Fifth Avenue, in 2028, following necessary approvals.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC launches World Cup ‘neighborhood passport’ to help fans explore the city

Graphic courtesy of Team Wonder. Photo of Mayor Mamdani announced “Soccer Streets,” courtesy of Kara McCurdy, Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

May 14, 2026

NYC launches World Cup ‘neighborhood passport’ to help fans explore the city