All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration from ending congestion pricing

Credit: André Eusébio on Unsplash

May 28, 2025

Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration from ending congestion pricing

By
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has scored a legal win against the Trump administration as the battle over congestion pricing continues. U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman issued a temporary restraining order on Tuesday blocking the administration from withholding federal funding for New York transit projects, which it had threatened if the MTA didn’t end the program by May 28. Liman ruled that the federal government cannot withhold any funding until the MTA’s lawsuit over the toll program is resolved.
Find out more
Silverstein unveils new wavy design for 785-foot-tall casino complex across from Javits Center

Renderings courtesy of Silverstein Properties / Binyan Studios

May 28, 2025

Silverstein unveils new wavy design for 785-foot-tall casino complex across from Javits Center

By
Silverstein Properties this week unveiled a new design for its casino project proposed for an empty lot across from the Javits Center. The Avenir would rise 785 feet at 41st Street and 11th Avenue and include a 1,000-room luxury hotel, restaurants, a food hall, and a gaming facility, if the developer secures one of the three downstate casino licenses expected to be awarded this year. Designed by CetraRuddy Architecture and Steelman Partners, the project includes a podium with a facade of "gentle harmonious waves" topped by a sculpted 45-story tower. The design revises the original proposal, which called for two 46-story towers, following community feedback.
Discover more
NYC wants to turn vacant lots into public parks and playgrounds

Greenacre Park in Midtown is one of the city’s most famous pocket parks. Opened in 1971, the park was pieced together from three lots and includes a 25-foot-high waterfall. Photo by Jim.henderson on Wikimedia

May 28, 2025

NYC wants to turn vacant lots into public parks and playgrounds

By
Vacant lots across New York City could soon become lush green spaces. Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced plans to transform underutilized and abandoned lots into parks, playgrounds, and green space in neighborhoods lacking open public space. The $30 million proposal includes going through the city's uniform land use review procedure (ULURP) to allow for multiple locations in a neighborhood to be reviewed in one application. Earlier this month, the Parks Department submitted applications for 44 sites in the first two community districts identified, Brooklyn Community District 5 and Queens Community District 3.
Learn more
How to celebrate Pride Month in NYC

Photo by Debbie S on Flickr

May 27, 2025

How to celebrate Pride Month in NYC

By
Every June, people around the world honor the vibrant contributions and lasting impact of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities. In a year marked by mounting political attacks and harmful rhetoric, Pride is more vital than ever. And in the United States, nowhere celebrates Pride quite like New York City. From the iconic Pride March to high-energy parties, performances, and cultural events, here's your guide to celebrating Pride Month across the five boroughs.
Find ways to show your pride, ahead
Manhattanhenge returns this week: When and where to see the spellbinding sunset

Photo by Shinya Suzuki on Flickr.

May 27, 2025

Manhattanhenge returns this week: When and where to see the spellbinding sunset

By
Manhattanhenge, one of New York City's most iconic natural phenomena, returns this week. The beloved event occurs just twice a year, when the sun aligns precisely with Manhattan’s street grid, creating a glowing spectacle perfectly framed by skyscrapers. This year, the full sun will be visible on the grid on May 29 and July 11, with a half sun appearing on May 28 and July 12.
Learn more
Rent Guidelines Board revotes on rent hikes for NYC’s stabilized apartments, lowers range for two-year leases

Credit: Tyler Donaghy on Unsplash

May 27, 2025

Rent Guidelines Board revotes on rent hikes for NYC’s stabilized apartments, lowers range for two-year leases

By
The Rent Guidelines Board on Tuesday voted to lower the range of potential rent hikes for New York City's one million stabilized apartments. In a rare redo, the board revised its preliminary range of increases for two-year leases to between 3.75 percent and 7.75 percent, down from the 4.75 percent and 7.75 percent range approved on April 30. All other proposed guidelines, including for one-year leases, remain the same.
Find out more
New Fort Greene rental opens lottery for 49 apartments, from $1,869/month

570 Fulton Street sits next to the 42-story rental at 66 Rockwell Place. Photo © Ondel Hylton

May 27, 2025

New Fort Greene rental opens lottery for 49 apartments, from $1,869/month

By
A new residential tower on the border of Downtown Brooklyn and Fort Greene has launched an affordable housing lottery for 49 mixed-income apartments. Located at 570 Fulton Street, the 23-story building dubbed Fulton Greene offers modern units in a transit-rich and convenient neighborhood. New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $1,869/month for studios to $4,250/month for two bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
NYC to host first ticker-tape parade honoring post-9/11 veterans next July

Photo courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

May 23, 2025

NYC to host first ticker-tape parade honoring post-9/11 veterans next July

By
New York City will host the nation’s first-ever ticker-tape parade honoring post-9/11 veterans next summer. On Thursday, Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS) Commissioner James Hendon announced that the parade, “Homecoming of Heroes,” will take place on July 6, 2025, as a tribute to the service and sacrifices of American servicemembers who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The event will mark the first time NYC—or any major U.S. city—has formally recognized these veterans with a celebration of this kind. The parade will take place along the "Canyon of Heroes" in Lower Manhattan between Bowling Green and City Hall.
Learn more
The Met to reopen Rockefeller Wing with free, all-day festival

Arts of the Ancient Americas collection. Photo by Brigit Beyer

May 23, 2025

The Met to reopen Rockefeller Wing with free, all-day festival

By
The Metropolitan Museum of Art will celebrate the long-awaited reopening of its Michael C. Rockefeller Wing this month with a free festival. Taking place on May 31, the all-day event will celebrate the unveiling of newly reimagined galleries for the Arts of Africa, ancient Americas, and Oceania following a four-year, $70 million renovation. Visitors can enjoy live music, interactive art-making, gallery chats, and more at the Met, all inspired by the stunning art and cultures showcased in the updated wing.
Learn more
NYC expands reservation-only Rockaway ferry service this summer, hikes price

Rockway Line NYC Ferry. Photo: Benjamin Kanter/Mayoral Photo Office on Flickr

May 22, 2025

NYC expands reservation-only Rockaway ferry service this summer, hikes price

By
Riding the New York City ferry to the beach will be easier this summer, but it’ll cost more. NYC Ferry and the city's Economic Development Corporation on Wednesday announced plans to expand the popular "Rockaway Rocket" and "Rockaway Reserve" programs, offering more reserved seats at a new price of $12 per ticket, up from $10. The expanded service will let beachgoers reserve spots on the crowded ferries in advance, a response to rising demand as the city's public beaches saw 11.6 million visitors in 2024—an increase of over 230,000 people from the previous year, according to the city's Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC).
Learn more
Central Park launches new Ranger Corps to encourage better public behavior

Credit: Central Park Conservancy

May 22, 2025

Central Park launches new Ranger Corps to encourage better public behavior

By
A new team of park rangers has been patrolling Central Park for the past six weeks, helping visitors and ensuring the beloved green space remains safe, clean, and welcoming. Managed by the Central Park Conservancy, the Ranger Corps has been on duty since early spring, addressing visitor concerns and quality-of-life issues, including noise complaints, illegal vending, assisting unhoused individuals, reuniting lost children with their families, and more.
Find out more
14th Street Busway mural honors Union Square as hub for connection, above and below ground

Photos by Jane Kratochvil

May 22, 2025

14th Street Busway mural honors Union Square as hub for connection, above and below ground

By
This year’s 14th Street Busway mural has officially been unveiled, bringing vibrant colors to the corridor and celebrating Union Square’s role as a hub for connection and exploration. Designed by New York-based artist Yuke Li, "Turning Point" features bold, abstract compositions and retro-inspired hues, with fluid shapes that mirror the movement of people and energy through the space. The mural was completed on Friday after five days of work, in collaboration with Brooklyn-based urban planning and design firm Street Plans, local volunteers, and community groups.
Discover more
The Chrysler Building is now on the market

Credit: Mitch Hodiono on Unsplash

May 21, 2025

The Chrysler Building is now on the market

By
The Chrysler Building is officially up for sale after a drawn-out legal battle between RFR Holding and Cooper Union. As first reported by The Promote, the leasehold for the iconic Art Deco skyscraper is on the market for the first time since 2019, after a judge terminated RFR’s lease in January and evicted the firm for falling more than $21 million behind on rent owed to Cooper Union, which owns the land beneath the tower. Cooper Union has since tapped real estate firm Savills to find a new operator to take over the lease.
find out more
Adams announces $250M more for Fifth Avenue redesign plan

Images by Field Operations, courtesy of City Hall

May 21, 2025

Adams announces $250M more for Fifth Avenue redesign plan

By
New York City is investing another $250 million to transform Fifth Avenue into a pedestrian-centric corridor. Mayor Eric Adams announced the new funding on Wednesday, bringing the total investment in the project to $400 million, including $152 million the city had previously committed. Focused on the stretch between Central Park and Bryant Park, the Fifth Avenue redesign will reduce traffic lanes from five to three, nearly double the width of sidewalks, shorten crosswalks, and add more than 230 trees, as well as new seating and improved lighting.
Find out more
NYC unveils plan for dedicated busway on 34th Street

Images courtesy of NYC DOT

May 21, 2025

NYC unveils plan for dedicated busway on 34th Street

By
New York City plans to transform a busy stretch of 34th Street in Manhattan into a busway to improve sluggish crosstown commutes. The Department of Transportation (DOT) unveiled plans for a dedicated lane along 34th Street between Third and Ninth Avenues for buses, trucks, and emergency vehicles, which could boost speeds by up to 15 percent for the more than two dozen bus routes that use the corridor. Modeled after the successful 14th Street busway, the plan would still permit other vehicles to enter but require them to make the next available legal turn off the street.
see the plan
U.S. Open’s Arthur Ashe Stadium to get $800M revamp

All renderings courtesy of USTA

May 20, 2025

U.S. Open’s Arthur Ashe Stadium to get $800M revamp

By
The U.S. Open's Arthur Ashe Stadium is getting an $800 million revamp, the U.S. Tennis Association announced Monday, marking the largest single investment in the tennis tournament's history. Unveiled on Monday, the project includes a grand entrance designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, expanded public space, upgraded concourses, a larger courtside bowl, and a new players-only building with state-of-the-art training facilities, premium accommodations, and cafes. Work is already underway and will roll out in three phases, continuing through 2025 and 2026 without disrupting tennis events, with completion expected ahead of the 2027 U.S. Open.
Discover more
Related drops casino from Hudson Yards plan, but keeps proposal for 4,000 new homes

Renderings courtesy of Related Companies and Wynn Resorts

May 20, 2025

Related drops casino from Hudson Yards plan, but keeps proposal for 4,000 new homes

By
Related Companies is dropping the casino from its project proposed for the undeveloped section of Hudson Yards, the developer announced Monday. In partnership with Wynn Resorts, Related previously pitched a $12 billion mixed-use development anchored by a casino, dubbed "Hudson Yards West," as part of its bid for one of the state's three downstate gaming licenses. Due to opposition from the community and local elected officials, Related and Wynn announced they would no longer pursue a gaming license. However, the developer plans to move forward with a plan to build 4,000 apartments, nearly 50 percent of which will be affordable under a tentative agreement with the Adams administration.
Learn more
Lincoln Center unveils design for revamped Amsterdam Avenue side of campus

Aerial view from Amsterdam Avenue looking east; visible are new streetscape, gardens, and theater. Rendering by Brooklyn Digital Foundry

May 19, 2025

Lincoln Center unveils design for revamped Amsterdam Avenue side of campus

By
New renderings reveal a reimagined west side of Lincoln Center, part of a project aimed at making the campus more welcoming and accessible. Lincoln Center for Performing Arts (LCPA) on Monday unveiled a preliminary design for the transformation of its Amsterdam Avenue-facing side, led by Hood Design Studio, Weiss/Manfredi, and Moody Nolan. The proposal includes an outdoor performance venue, new community park spaces, and the removal of a longstanding wall, which cuts the campus off from the rest of the neighborhood.
Discover more
NJ Transit strike ends, service to resume Tuesday

Photo by James Petts on Flickr

May 19, 2025

NJ Transit strike ends, service to resume Tuesday

By
NJ Transit and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) reached a tentative agreement on Sunday, ending the first strike at the agency in 42 years. Regular weekday train service will resume on Tuesday, May 20, giving workers a day to inspect and prepare tracks and rail cars. The strike began on Friday when 450 unionized workers walked off the job over engineers' wages. While details of the agreement have not been released, Gov. Phil Murphy called the contract settlement "fair and fiscally responsible" with a "generous wage increase" for union members.
Learn more
CityPickle unveils plan for huge pickleball hub under the Brooklyn Bridge

Renderings courtesy of CityPickle

May 16, 2025

CityPickle unveils plan for huge pickleball hub under the Brooklyn Bridge

By
CityPickle on Friday released its plan to transform two parking lots beneath the Brooklyn Bridge in Dumbo into a pickleball hub. The project, slated for Anchorage Plaza—an area under the bridge between Old Fulton and Washington Streets—takes up 60,000 square feet and features 11 pickleball courts, food trucks, green space with planters, games, seating, shaded areas, bike racks, and space for community programming. CityPickle was selected by the city’s Parks Department last June to revitalize the underused space, which will operate from March through November.
Learn more
High Line to host festival celebrating NYC pigeons

Iván Argote, Dinosaur, 2024. A High Line Plinth commission. On view October 2024 – Spring 2026. Photo by Timothy Schenck. Courtesy of the High Line.

May 16, 2025

High Line to host festival celebrating NYC pigeons

By
Celebrate the winged icon of New York City’s gritty streets at the High Line next month. On Saturday, June 14—also National Pigeon Day—Pigeon Fest will take over the elevated park along 30th Street and the Spur with a day of free programming, including games, art workshops, a pigeon impersonation pageant, and more. The festival centers around Iván Argote’s "Dinosaur," a 16-foot-tall hyper-realistic pigeon sculpture installed at the park in October above the intersection of 10th Avenue and 30th Street.
Find out more
NYC’s earliest concrete building in Gowanus back on market for $3M

Photos by Vanessa DeGarcia, courtesy of The Corcoran Group

May 15, 2025

NYC’s earliest concrete building in Gowanus back on market for $3M

By
The Coignet Stone Building, the earliest known concrete building in New York City, is back on the market for $2,995,000. Located at 360 3rd Avenue in Gowanus, the landmarked structure was built in 1873 as both a showroom and a physical advertisement for Francois Coignet's concrete construction company, marking the first documented use of concrete for a building in the city. Whole Foods purchased the property in 2005 and completed a $1.3 million restoration in 2016 before listing it for $6 million. The building returned to the market in 2019 as a proposed residential townhouse, asking $6.5 million.
learn more
MTA proposes 684-unit development above future Second Avenue Subway terminus in East Harlem

Streetview of East 125th Street between Lexington and Third Avenues, Map data © 2024 Google

May 15, 2025

MTA proposes 684-unit development above future Second Avenue Subway terminus in East Harlem

By
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority wants to rezone a block in East Harlem to allow for a nearly 700-unit residential building above the future terminus of the Second Avenue Subway. The MTA filed plans on Tuesday to rezone the south side of East 125th Street between Third and Lexington Avenues, where the station for the last stop on the Q line will eventually open as part of the Second Avenue Subway extension. As first reported by Crain's, the MTA plans to partner with a private developer to build an apartment tower with up to 684 units on the block's west side, an MTA-owned property.
details here
NJ Transit strike: The best travel alternatives for getting to NYC

NJ Transit gated off the concourse at Penn Station as a result of the strike. Photo © 6sqft

May 14, 2025

NJ Transit strike: The best travel alternatives for getting to NYC

By
NJ Transit engineers are now on strike for the first time in more than 40 years, impacting commutes for hundreds of thousands of residents. According to the New York Times, about 450 unionized workers went on strike on Friday as the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and NJ Transit failed to reach a long-delayed contract agreement. The engineers' demands include pay parity with engineers at nearby commuter railroads. With no train service as of Friday morning, here’s how you can still get to New York City from the Garden State.
Find out more
Pitch a story icon

Pitch a Story

We love to hear from you!

"*" indicates required fields

Interested in seeing the property in person?

It’s free, with no obligation.

CityRealty Logo

"*" indicates required fields

or Call (212) 755-5544

Interested in seeing the property in person?

It’s free, with no obligation.

CityRealty Logo

Distinctive Post Form

"*" indicates required fields

or Call (212) 755-5544
Contact us image

Get in Touch

We love to hear from you!

"*" indicates required fields

Send us a tip image
Delivering New York stories focused on design, lifestyle & real estate.

Send us a Tip

We love to hear from you!

"*" indicates required fields

Interesting in learning more about purchasing a new home?

Let us know what you are looking for and we’ll help you find the home of your dreams. It’s free, with no obligation.

CityRealty Logo
or Call (212) 755-5544

Thinking about selling your home?

We’ll provide current market comps and connect you with a trusted expert.

CityRealty Logo

Sell a Home (Footer)

"*" indicates required fields

or Call (212) 755-5544

Before You Move On
from this Page.

Subscribe for NYC's Lastest Design, Lifestyle,
and Real Estate Trends!

No Worries. We Don’t Spam.

By providing your email address, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Your Passport to NYC:
Subscribe for Local Insights and Stories!

No Worries. We Don’t Spam.

By providing your email address, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
You can unsubscribe at any time.