All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

June 26, 2023

Plan for better bus service to LaGuardia Airport rolls forward

The board of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey last week approved $30 million in funding to plan and design better bus service to LaGuardia, officially kicking off a project to improve mass transit options to the Queens airport. Recommended by an expert panel in March, the plan involves scrapping the controversial AirTrain and instead improving the existing bus service and adding a new non-stop airport shuttle.
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Adams vetoes NYC Council bills expanding rental assistance

Image courtesy of robertotmn on Flickr

June 23, 2023

Adams vetoes NYC Council bills expanding rental assistance

By Aaron Ginsburg

Mayor Eric Adams has vetoed four City Council bills that would expand access to New York City's housing voucher program. Adams on Friday vetoed bills Intro. 229, Intro. 878, Intro. 893, and Intro. 894, claiming the legislation package, which was passed by the council last month, would cost the city an exorbitant amount of money and "make it harder" for homeless New Yorkers to find housing. The Council passed the legislation package late last month with a vote of 41 to 7, enough support to override the veto.
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NYC’s latest casino bid calls for two 46-story skyscrapers across from the Javits Center

Renderings courtesy of Silverstein Properties

June 23, 2023

NYC’s latest casino bid calls for two 46-story skyscrapers across from the Javits Center

By Aaron Ginsburg

Larry Silverstein of Silverstein Properties has joined the cast of prominent developers competing for one of three downstate casino licenses. Silverstein Properties on Friday announced plans for "The Avenir," a hotel, casino, entertainment, and residential development on a vacant plot of land on the border of Hudson Yards and Hell's Kitchen. Located at 41st Street and 11th Avenue, just north of the Javits Center, the proposed 1.8 million square foot project includes two 46-story towers with a luxury hotel, a top-floor performance hall, affordable housing, and an eight-story casino run by Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment at the base.
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Three modern penthouses added to Upper West Side’s historic Astor building

Rendering courtesy of Binyan Studios

June 22, 2023

Three modern penthouses added to Upper West Side’s historic Astor building

By Aaron Ginsburg

Three new modern penthouses are being added atop The Astor, a landmarked residential building on the Upper West Side built over 100 years ago. The brand-new apartments top one of New York City's most iconic condominiums, which consists of three interconnected towers on Broadway between West 75th and West 76th Streets. All three penthouses come with private outdoor areas, gas fireplaces, and interiors designed by Pembrooke & Ives. Before being listed publicly, one of the penthouses already found a buyer, who purchased a 3,400 square foot four-bedroom, four-and-a-half bathroom, and a three-bedroom unit below it, in a combo deal last listed for $15.495 million.
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Union Square’s Regal movie theater is here to stay

Photo courtesy of Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

June 22, 2023

Union Square’s Regal movie theater is here to stay

By Aaron Ginsburg

Just months after New Yorkers lamented the loss of Regal Union Square, the company announced a deal to keep the movie theater open after all. Regal last week said it had signed a new long-term lease with Related Companies to continue the operation of its theater at Broadway and 13th Street for "many years to come." In January, the country's second-largest movie theater planned to close 39 locations, including Regal Union Square, as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, as EV Grieve reported.
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City Living

NYC’s stabilized apartments to see rent hike for second year in a row

Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

June 22, 2023

NYC’s stabilized apartments to see rent hike for second year in a row

By Aaron Ginsburg

Rent will increase for the roughly two million New Yorkers who live in rent-stabilized apartments for the second year in a row. On Wednesday, the Rent Guidelines Board, the nine-member panel responsible for adjusting rent for the city's rent-stabilized apartments, voted 5 to 4 in favor of raising rents on one-year leases by 3 percent and on two-year leases by 2.75 percent for the first year and 3.2 percent for the second year. The rent increases apply to leases starting October 1, 2023.
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Policy

Greenwich Village block named for LGBTQ rights activists Edie Windsor and Thea Spyer

Image courtesy of Darren McGee/ Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

June 21, 2023

Greenwich Village block named for LGBTQ rights activists Edie Windsor and Thea Spyer

By Aaron Ginsburg

A Greenwich Village intersection has been co-named after the couple who won a historic battle in the U.S. Supreme Court for gay marriage rights. In a ceremony on Tuesday, the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Washington Square North, right behind Washington Square Park's Arch, was renamed "Edie Windsor and Thea Spyer Way" in honor of the couple who lived on the corner for 43 years. In 2010, Windsor, who died in 2017, sued the U.S. government over a federal policy that barred same-sex married couples from claiming the estate of deceased spouses, which led the Supreme Court to grant same-sex married couples the same right to federal benefits as heterosexual married couples, according to Patch. Tuesday's ceremony coincided with what would have been Windsor's 94th birthday.
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Policy

Kick off summer with hundreds of free concerts across NYC

Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for Make Music Day

June 20, 2023

Kick off summer with hundreds of free concerts across NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

In celebration of the summer solstice, the streets of New York City will be filled with the sounds of live music on June 21. Make Music Day returns to the five boroughs for its 17th year on Wednesday, bringing with it hundreds of free outdoor concerts taking place on corners, stoops, sidewalks, and in public spaces all across NYC on the longest day of the year.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC’s first-ever Chinese food festival debuts this weekend

Photos courtesy of Dragon Fest

June 19, 2023

NYC’s first-ever Chinese food festival debuts this weekend

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's first-ever outdoor Chinese food and culture festival kicks off this week. Dragon Fest will take place over four days throughout the summer, with the debut event happening in Washington Square Park on Saturday, June 24. The festival will offer a selection of cuisine, art, and cultural traditions from China. Festival attendees can indulge in over 100 varieties of Chinese food from top local vendors like MáLà Project, Pecking House, and Nom Wah, and browse through Han-style clothing and Miao embroidery and jewelry.
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Chelsea Waterside Park reopens after $15.2M overhaul

By Aaron Ginsburg

Hudson River Park's Chelsea Waterside Park reopened last week after an extensive $15.2 million renovation. Designed by Abel Bainnson Butz, LLP and CDR Design Studio Architects, the park has been enhanced with new plantings, a public restroom, a permanent picnic area with lighting, a spacious turf sports field, and an expansive dog run. Located at West 23rd Street and the Westside Highway in Manhattan, the revamped park's layout prioritizes usable green space for New Yorkers.
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Adams ends NYC’s 90-day shelter rule for homeless New Yorkers

Mayor Eric Adams issued emergency rules eliminating the 90-day length-of-stay requirement for New Yorkers in shelters to be eligible for housing vouchers. Photo by Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

June 16, 2023

Adams ends NYC’s 90-day shelter rule for homeless New Yorkers

By Aaron Ginsburg

Mayor Eric Adams on Friday ended a rule that had required unhoused people to spend at least 90 days in shelter before qualifying for rental assistance vouchers. The emergency rule change expands eligibility for the vouchers, called CityFHEPS, which will in turn house more New Yorkers and free up space in the shelter system for asylum seekers. The move by the mayor comes a few weeks after the City Council passed a comprehensive set of bills expanding rental assistance, including the end of the 90-day rule. Adams criticized the rest of the package, citing budget costs, but did not say if he plans to veto the legislation.
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Williamsburg’s City Reliquary to host yard sale with unusual antiques and oddities from local collectors

Image courtesy of The City Reliquary

June 16, 2023

Williamsburg’s City Reliquary to host yard sale with unusual antiques and oddities from local collectors

By Aaron Ginsburg

The City Reliquary museum is hosting a yard sale next month with a variety of antiques, oddities, and ephemera as part of a Pride celebration. Located at 370 Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg, the sale will take place on Saturday, July 29 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the museum's backyard. Local artists and collectors will sell a diverse selection of unique vintage items, unusual collectibles, and one-of-a-kind arts and crafts. The event includes live music provided by Kyle Supley and DJ Yestergay, resident DJ at Julius’ Bar, and refreshments and pastries from Yardsale Cafe.
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Events & Things To Do

22 middle-income units available next to the Bronx Zoo, from $2,890/month

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

June 15, 2023

22 middle-income units available next to the Bronx Zoo, from $2,890/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A housing lottery opened this week for 22 middle-income units in a new residential development across the street from the New York Botanical Garden and the Bronx Zoo. Located at 2279 Barker Avenue in Allerton, the newly constructed luxury building offers residents spacious units with state-of-the-art appliances. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income, or between $99,086 annually for a single person and $198,250 for a household of five, can apply for the units, which include $2,890/month studios, $3,059/month one-bedrooms, and $3,599/month two bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

World Trade Center’s new cube-shaped arts center reveals inaugural season ahead of opening

Images courtesy of Iwan Baan unless otherwise noted

June 15, 2023

World Trade Center’s new cube-shaped arts center reveals inaugural season ahead of opening

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new arts center at the World Trade Center was included in the 2003 master plan for Lower Manhattan after September 11. Two decades later, the Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC) is opening this fall. On Wednesday, the center announced the lineup for its augural season, including wide-ranging programs across theater, dance, music, film, and more. Located at 251 Fulton Street, PAC is a unique, cube-shaped building with a glowing marble facade and flexible performance spaces within. The center kicks off its season on September 19 with a five-night pay-what-you-wish event, "Refuge: A Concert Series to Welcome the World," which will include performances from musicians from around the world.
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New Jersey’s largest resiliency park can hold up to 2 million gallons of stormwater

Photos courtesy of the City of Hoboken

June 14, 2023

New Jersey’s largest resiliency park can hold up to 2 million gallons of stormwater

By Aaron Ginsburg

A brand new park in Hoboken will also work to prevent flooding during storms. Located at 12th and Madison Streets, ResilenCity Park includes five acres of public open space, basketball courts, and athletic fields, and has the ability to detain up to two million gallons of water. Considered the largest resiliency park in New Jersey, the new park is part of a broader effort by Hoboken to build more resilient storm infrastructure after Hurricane Sandy flooded most of the city in 2012.
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Neighborhood Tours

NYC sets first-ever minimum wage for delivery workers

Image courtesy of Elvert Barnes on Flickr

June 14, 2023

NYC sets first-ever minimum wage for delivery workers

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City has established the first minimum wage in the country for app-based delivery workers. Starting July 12, workers will be paid at least $17.96 per hour plus tips, with an increase to $19.96 per hour by April 1, 2025, Mayor Eric Adams and the Department of Consumer and Worker Protections announced this week. The new policy comes two years after the City Council passed legislation designed to improve labor conditions for delivery workers.
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June 13, 2023

23 ways to celebrate Juneteenth in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

For over 150 years, Black Americans have celebrated Juneteenth, the day President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation order reached the people of Galveston, Texas, ending slavery. While Juneteenth became an official federal and state holiday only in recent years, Black Americans in New York City and nationwide have long been commemorating the holiday. New Yorkers have many opportunities to celebrate Juneteenth this year, from musical performances and panel discussions to comedy shows and food festivals.
Juneteenth celebrations and events, this way

Events & Things To Do

NYC delays enforcement of new Airbnb short-term rental rules

Photo via CC

June 13, 2023

NYC delays enforcement of new Airbnb short-term rental rules

By Aaron Ginsburg

Following a lawsuit filed this month by Airbnb, New York City will delay enforcing new restrictions limiting short-term rentals within the five boroughs. The Office of Special Enforcement (OSE) said it will not begin issuing fines to hosts until September 5, pushed back from a July start date, according to a court filing. The agency, which has already delayed the enactment of the new rules twice, currently has a staff vacancy rate of more than 50 percent, preventing it from effectively enforcing the law, as Gothamist reported.
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Policy

Visit NYC’s finest museums for free during annual Museum Mile Festival

Image courtesy of Brian Lauer on Flickr

June 12, 2023

Visit NYC’s finest museums for free during annual Museum Mile Festival

By Aaron Ginsburg

This week "New York City's biggest block party" is returning to a 28-block stretch of Fifth Avenue for the 45th year. During the Museum Mile Festival, attendees can walk along Fifth Avenue between 82nd Street and 110th Street and visit eight of the city's finest institutions for free. Participating museums include the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Museum of the City of New York, the Jewish Museum, Neue Galerie New York, El Museo del Barrio, the Africa Center, and Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. The iconic thoroughfare will close to cars during the festival, which takes place on June 13 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., allowing the museums to host art activities, musical performances, and other attractions outdoors.
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Events & Things To Do

New York lawmakers fail to reach a deal on housing

Photo of New York State Capitol by wadester16 on Flickr CC

June 9, 2023

New York lawmakers fail to reach a deal on housing

By Aaron Ginsburg

Despite New York lawmakers claiming they reached a deal on a comprehensive package of housing proposals, the state legislature has failed to pass any meaningful bills during this legislative session, as first reported by the New York Times. Negotiations between state Democrats and Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday fell apart as the two bodies failed to reach a deal before the end of the legislative session on Friday. Lawmakers blamed Hochul for opposing their housing proposals, including those that protect tenants from eviction and major rent hikes, and the governor claimed lawmakers never presented her with any housing bills to approve.
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East Flatbush’s new library is light-filled and inviting

Images courtesy of the Brooklyn Public Library

June 9, 2023

East Flatbush’s new library is light-filled and inviting

By Aaron Ginsburg

A renovation of the East Flatbush Library has transformed it into a light-filled and modern space that will inspire visitors of all ages. After undergoing a complete renovation by architecture firm LevenBetts, the East Flatbush Library reopened to visitors this week. Located at 9612 Church Street, the revitalized library has achieved LEED silver status and features an innovative facade, windows, and skylights which fill the previously dimly-lit facility with abundant natural light.
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Architecture And Design

Here’s what closed in NYC due to unhealthy air quality

Image courtesy of Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

June 8, 2023

Here’s what closed in NYC due to unhealthy air quality

By Aaron Ginsburg

As the smoke from the Canadian wildfires continues to blanket New York City with unhealthy air, many events and activities, especially those planned for the outdoors, have been canceled. The city broke its air quality index (AQI) record on Wednesday, hitting 405 out of 500, the highest record since the city started collecting air quality records in 1985. City officials have advised New Yorkers to stay indoors, and if they must go outside, to wear a high-quality mask. Ahead, find some of the places across the five boroughs that have announced closures and cancellations due to the air quality.
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Lincoln Center to reimagine Amsterdam Avenue side of campus

Corner of 65th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, facing corner stairway to Lincoln Center plaza level. Photo by Lawrence Sumulong.

June 8, 2023

Lincoln Center to reimagine Amsterdam Avenue side of campus

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts wants to break down barriers, both literally and figuratively. The cultural institution on Tuesday announced plans for a major renovation of the western edge of its campus to make it more welcoming and accessible, calling on local community members and stakeholders to help reimagine the Amsterdam Avenue-facing side, which currently has no direct access to the campus. The renovation is one way the center has worked to become more equitable and inclusive in recent years, including a new pay-what-you-wish ticketing model, diverse programming, the new David Geffen Hall, and partnerships with blood drives, food banks, and other charitable events.
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Events & Things To Do

282 affordable apartments up for grabs in Far Rockaway, from $388/month

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

June 8, 2023

282 affordable apartments up for grabs in Far Rockaway, from $388/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Applications are now being accepted for 282 affordable units at a new residential development in Queens. Located at 1626 Village Lane, the building is part of the third phase of the Rockaway Village Apartments, a huge housing complex that is replacing an abandoned strip mall. New Yorkers earning 30, 50, and 80 percent of the area median income, or between $16,252 annually for a single person and $140,080 for a household of seven, are eligible to apply for the units, which range from $388/month studios to $1,968/month three bedrooms.
Do you qualify?

Affordable Housing

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