Renderings for the waterfront park to be built alongside the massive housing development Greenpoint Landing have been released. Flooding from Hurricane Sandy ravaged the area only a few years back, so it comes as no surprise that the local community was concerned with how the developers were going to address the possibility of damaging storm swells in the future. Despite their concerns the park’s designer James Corner Field Operations has used intelligent design and beautiful landscaping to enhance the structural integrity and aesthetic appeal of the existing riverfront.

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There’s no stopping the Brooklyn development boom, but getting to and from the borough from Manhattan will increasingly become a nightmare with thousands of new residential units hitting the market in the coming years. If you’ve commuted from Brooklyn to Manhattan (and vice versa) you know that the subway system is already taxed. But as more and more homes are added throughout the borough, it’s surprising that no plans have been made to alleviate the transportation stress that will soon come with it. Until now.

Today, Dan Levy, the president and CEO of CityRealty*, will present his proposal for the ‘East River Skyway‘, an aerial gondola system that would run along the Brooklyn waterfront and into Manhattan, bringing commuters over the river in just 3.5 minutes.

Find out more about the proposed project

When you hear about a Greenpoint apartment for sale, “loft” might not be what first pops into your head.  But apartment 8 at 190 West Street, currently listed for $1.825 million through CORE, will make you a believer in Brooklyn loft living.

The 1,364-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment has all of the loft-like charms you’d hope for–steel support columns, nine-inch oak plank flooring, and exposed wood ceiling beams, duct work, and pipes.  It also feels twice its size thanks to 16-foot ceilings, 40 feet of street-facing frontage, eight-foot-high windows, a large skylight, and an open layout that can easily accommodate a two-bedroom conversion.

Don’t miss the rest of this Brooklyn beauty

New York has a lot of old buildings. Perhaps surprisingly, many of those buildings are actually houses (yes, like real houses). These remnants of the early Dutch farming days can be spotted throughout the five boroughs, as can churches, apartments and “skyscrapers” from earlier times. We’ve rounded up some of the city’s oldest structures. Test your knowledge and see how many you’re familiar with ahead. And while you’re at it, make plans to visit one of these historic landmarks the next time you’re out and about.

Your blast from the past this way

• Not in Our Neighborhood: Crain’s reports that Brooklyn Bridge Park neighbors are up in arms over a proposal to build a 16-story residential building within the park, which could include affordable housing.
• Etsy Seeking a New Space: The e-commerce site may be expanding in Dumbo. Crain’s NY has the details.
• The Steepest and Cheapest: The Real Deal breaks down the most expensive and least expensive listings in the city… or as some of us see it, what we wish for… and what we can actually afford.
• Designer Cat Beds Up for Auction: Check out Garfield’s new favorite digs with Editor At Large’s feline fierce feature.
• Ask Real Estate: The New York Times’s Ask Real Estate answers questions about open house etiquette and more.
• House Made of Bioconcrete Turns Rain into Drinking Water:  This article on Fast Company’s website explores a house that becomes a water filter whenever it rains.
• Groundswell Unveils Greenpoint Mural: The Brownstoner gives us more details about this mural painted by teen artists.

Images: Designer Cat Beds (left), Bioconcrete House (right)

If convention-goers thought the Javits Center was hard to get to, wait until events start taking place at a Greenpoint exhibition complex set to open later this year.

Backed by controversial real estate developer Joshua Guttman, the sprawling Brooklyn Expo Center will be housed in the former Greenpoint Terminal Market (pictured here), which is accessible by only one subway line — the oft-complained about G train.

More on the new expo here