By Aaron Ginsburg, Wed, May 31, 2023 All photos courtesy of Jane Kratochvil
A new street mural along the 14th Street Busway in Union Square celebrates the intricate connection between humans and nature. Designed by Brooklyn-based artist Vanesa Álvarez, “Union with the Universe” uses serene designs and shades of color, inviting observers to slow down and take a moment to connect with the world around them. Unveiled on Wednesday, the mural was installed over a period of five days with the help of Street Plans, a Brooklyn-based urban planning and design firm, and other community groups.
See the mural
By Aaron Ginsburg, Wed, November 16, 2022 Image courtesy of FAD Holiday Market
The holiday season has arrived in New York City, and with it comes the dozens of festive winter shops that offer unique gifts and locally-made goods for New Yorkers and their loved ones. Ahead, discover the city’s best holiday markets and pop-up shops, from the long-revered markets at Union Square and Bryant Park to newcomers like the Brooklyn Borough Hall Holiday Market.
Find something for everyone on your list
By Aaron Ginsburg, Tue, May 31, 2022 All photos courtesy of Jane Kratochvil
A new street mural was unveiled last week along the 14th Street Busway in Union Square. Designed by Brooklyn-based artist Ji Yong Kim, Ripples of Peace and Calm is inspired by traditional East Asian paintings, depicting lotus flowers, floating leaves, and swimming koi fish. The mural’s serene qualities are meant to represent the “antithesis of hate” and promote peace and calm, particularly at a time when the city continues to see a spike in violence against Asian New Yorkers. Presented by the city’s Department of Transportation and the Union Square Partnership, the mural was installed over the course of five days last week with help from Brooklyn-based urban planning and design firm Street Plans, community groups, and volunteers.
Details this way
By Michelle Cohen, Thu, November 18, 2021 Photo: FAD Holiday Market
Even a pandemic can’t keep a New York City shopper down. The city’s retail landscape may look different now, but that hasn’t dimmed the sparkle of beautiful baubles, clever crafts, and the company of fellow shoppers. While most of the city’s holiday markets went virtual last year, many of our favorites have returned in their fabulous original form. The big Manhattan markets at Union Square, Bryant Park, and Columbus Circle are still impressive, but smaller, more intimate neighborhood gems shine brightly on their own. They’re all great places to find seasonal delights like ice skating, live music, drinks, food, and family fun designed to keep shoppers’ spirits bright.
Find out where the goods are
By Devin Gannon, Mon, October 4, 2021 The new modern office building that replaced the St. Denis Hotel in Greenwich Village is nearing completion. The ground-up development 799 Broadway sits where the Village and Union Square meet, a burgeoning tech hub known as “Silicon Alley.” As a majority of construction work on the building wraps up in the coming weeks, Columbia Property Trust, Inc. announced on Monday it has secured its first lease at the building.
Details here
By Devin Gannon, Tue, August 3, 2021 Photo by Liz Ligon
A huge nature-themed street mural was installed along the 14th Street Busway in Union Square this week. Titled “Collective Vision,” the mural was painted on the pedestrian areas of the busway between Broadway and Union Square West. Brooklyn-based street artists GERALUZ and WERC designed the piece to highlight the strength of nature and unity, with a ruby-throated hummingbird at the center representing the “power of resilience in standing together against injustice and extinction.” Over the last five days, community volunteers have helped the artists fill in the vibrant colors of the mural.
See it here
By Dana Schulz, Thu, April 22, 2021 Listing photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens
The funky barrel-vaulted ceilings at this Union Square loft set the stage for a truly unique home, which has even been featured in Elle Decor. A greenhouse-windowed skylight, a spiral staircase, and an eclectic, colorful mix of decor add to the cool vibe, as does the roof deck that’s right below the building’s vintage water tower and trusses. Located at 13 East 16th Street, the two-bedroom condo is asking $2,175,000.
See it here
By Devin Gannon, Fri, March 26, 2021 Courtesy of NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development
Here’s an opportunity to live in a luxury Manhattan rental at a discount. A housing lottery launched this month for a dozen middle-income units at One Union Square South, a Related Companies-developed building most recognizable for the massive electronic clock art piece on its facade. While it’s hard to call this lottery affordable, the available apartments do offer significant savings compared to the building’s market-rate units. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which include $2,523/month studios, $2,700/month one-bedrooms, and $3,235/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
By Dana Schulz, Thu, February 11, 2021 Rendering by Brdar
When it comes to a prime downtown location, the corner of 14th Street and 6th Avenue is pretty darn good. On the northeast corner, the new 50-unit condo at 540 6th Avenue was designed inside and out by Morris Adjmi, replacing a lower-scale building that held a long-time dance studio (one home to Merce Cunningham) and an outpost of Moscot eyewear. The 12-story condo, which topped out this past November, has now launched a teaser site as it gears up to launch sales. It’s also been dubbed Förena, the Swedish word for “unite,” a nod to the building’s location at the nexus of Greenwich Village, Union Square, and Chelsea.
Find out more
By Dana Schulz, Mon, November 16, 2020 Photo by Christopher Payne | ESTO
If you’ve walked by Union Square over the past year, you might have spotted something different. Rising atop Reading International’s landmarked Tammany Hall is a modern glass-and-steel dome. BKSK Architects designed the addition, which can house a variety of commercial uses, with the building’s history in mind. Though many associate Tammany Hall’s history with political corruption, BKSK wanted people to understand that its namesake is actually Lenape Chief Tammanend, who worked towards a peaceful relationship with 17th-century European settlers. Ahead, see amazing photos of the dome’s exterior and interior and hear from BKSK partner Todd Poisson about its construction and how it was conceived to resemble a turtle breaking out of water.
Read more
