All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

NYC Council creates first-ever language bank for city’s immigrant communities

Credit: Gerardo Romo / NYC Council Media Unit on Flickr

January 30, 2025

NYC Council creates first-ever language bank for city’s immigrant communities

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The New York City Council has introduced new resources to support and protect the city's immigrant communities, in response to President Donald Trump's attacks on immigration. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams on Wednesday announced the launch of the city's first-ever Community Interpreter Bank, ensuring that all immigrants in the five boroughs can access resources in their preferred language. Adams also introduced the Protect NYC Families initiative, which allocates $2 million to over 60 nonprofits to expand legal services, helplines, community training, and rapid response efforts.
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City seeks proposals for Meatpacking District development with 600 apartments

Rendering courtesy of NYC Mayor’s Office

January 29, 2025

City seeks proposals for Meatpacking District development with 600 apartments

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A plan to replace a Manhattan meat market with hundreds of apartments, retail, and open space is moving ahead. Mayor Eric Adams and the city's Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) on Wednesday released a request for proposals for Gansevoort Square, a proposed mixed-use development with 600 apartments, half of which would be affordable, and retail on Little West 12th Street between Washington Street and 10th Avenue in the Meatpacking District. The project is part of the mayor's recently announced "Manhattan Plan," which aims to add 100,000 new homes in the borough over the next decade.
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New York officials challenge Trump’s federal funding freeze

Photo by Nout Gons on Pexels

January 29, 2025

New York officials challenge Trump’s federal funding freeze

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New York officials are scrambling to respond to President Donald Trump’s federal funding freeze, a move that threatened essential services for millions of New Yorkers. The freeze, which was announced in a memo on Monday, would strip the city of billions in federal grants and loans, potentially putting funding for housing assistance, school lunch programs, and other vital resources at risk. Attorney General Letitia James joined attorneys general from 22 states and the District of Columbia in suing the Trump administration to stop the directive. A federal judge temporarily blocked the order on Tuesday before it would have taken effect. Update 1/29/25: On Wednesday, the Trump Administration rescinded the memo "to end any confusion on federal policy created by the court ruling and the dishonest media coverage."
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Sustainable rental in Greenpoint opens lottery for 251 apartments, from $1,537/month

Renderings by The Boundary

January 28, 2025

Sustainable rental in Greenpoint opens lottery for 251 apartments, from $1,537/month

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Here's a chance to live on the Greenpoint waterfront at the largest geothermal residential project in New York. A lottery opened this week for 251 mixed-income apartments at the Riverie, a five-building development at 18 India Street with over 800 apartments, wellness-focused amenities, and a sustainable design. Also known as 1 Java Street, the development is fully electric and has a geothermal system that reduces carbon emissions by over 50 percent compared to traditional systems. New Yorkers earning 70, 125, and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $1,537/month for studios to $4,395/month for two bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
The Frick announces April reopening date of Upper East Side mansion

The Frick Collection from East 70th Street; rendering courtesy of Selldorf Architects

January 28, 2025

The Frick announces April reopening date of Upper East Side mansion

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The Frick Collection officially has a reopening date. The museum announced it will return to its historic Upper East Side home on April 17, following a five-year renovation of its mansion at 1 East 70th Street by Selldorf Architects and Beyer Blinder Belle. The project restored the original galleries, added new galleries to the second floor, expanded exhibition space, and revived the 70th Street garden. During the renovation, the Frick temporarily resided in the iconic Breuer Building from 2021 until March 2024.
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Bryant Park Grill closing this spring, will be replaced by a Jean-Georges restaurant

Credit: John Wisniewski on Flickr

January 28, 2025

Bryant Park Grill closing this spring, will be replaced by a Jean-Georges restaurant

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After 30 years in business, the Bryant Park Grill is set to close and be replaced by a new Jean-Georges Vongerichten venture. As first reported by Crain's New York, the iconic 1,000-seat restaurant, which sits behind the New York Public Library and generates nearly $30 million in sales annually, will not have its lease renewed by the Bryant Park Corporation when it expires in May. Bryant Park officials said the restaurant had become "tired" and that it was time for a fresh start with a new operator.
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First look at Chinatown’s new 16-story jail

All images courtesy of Tutor Perini Corporation/HOK

January 28, 2025

First look at Chinatown’s new 16-story jail

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With office buildings in New York City still feeling the effects of the pandemic, the sight of a new, imposing office tower going up in Chinatown may leave you scratching your head. However, this generic-looking glass tower is a new jail. As first spotted by NY1, Los Angeles-based architectural firm Tutor Perini and O&G Industries released a video showing the preliminary design of the new Manhattan Detention Center, a 16-story facility set to rise at 124-125 White Street as part of the city's plan to replace the Rikers Island complex with four borough-based jails.
take a look
NYC speed cameras reduce speeding by 94%, new report says

Credit: Zoshua Colah on Unsplash

January 27, 2025

NYC speed cameras reduce speeding by 94%, new report says

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Speed cameras have reduced speeding by 94 percent at locations across New York City, according to a new report from the Department of Transportation. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Thursday released the report on the city's speed camera program, which highlighted the critical role of speed cameras in improving street safety. The report found that locations with speed cameras installed in 2022 saw a 14 percent decrease in injuries and fatalities compared to areas without them.
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Conversion of historic Nomad office building into 65 condos moves forward

The Emmet Building at 95 Madison Avenue. Photo by Epicgenius on Wikimedia.

January 24, 2025

Conversion of historic Nomad office building into 65 condos moves forward

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The conversion of a landmarked Nomad office building into luxury condos is moving forward after receiving a $99 million construction loan. As reported by The Real Deal, Sunlight Development and NuVerse secured the loan for their office-to-residential conversion of the historic Emmet Building at 95 Madison Avenue into 65 luxury homes. BHI, the U.S. arm of Bank Hapoalim, provided a $40 million senior loan, while two other financial firms provided the rest of the capital.
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Hoboken’s PATH station to close for 25 days

Photo courtesy of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Flickr

January 23, 2025

Hoboken’s PATH station to close for 25 days

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Hoboken residents will have to find a different way to New York City beginning next week as the New Jersey city's PATH station closes for nearly a month. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s $54 million makeover of Hoboken's PATH station begins on January 30 at 11:59 p.m. and ends on February 25 at 5 a.m. The work includes comprehensive repairs to tracks, infrastructure, and stations. During this closure, the Port Authority will provide a variety of travel alternatives, including free shuttle buses, as well as supplemental PATH, light rail, and NJ Transit bus services connecting Hoboken and Manhattan.
plan ahead
Macaulay Culkin sells full-floor Noho loft for $7.75M

Streetview of 704 Broadway, Map data © 2024 Google

January 23, 2025

Macaulay Culkin sells full-floor Noho loft for $7.75M

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A sprawling Noho loft purchased by "Home Alone" star Macaulay Culkin as a teenager has sold for $7.75 million, city records show. As first reported by the New York Post, the full-floor loft at 704 Broadway was purchased by the former child star in 1999 for $1.75 million—about $3.36 million today when adjusted for inflation. The home features three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a spacious L-shaped living area spanning the kitchen, dining, and living rooms.
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244 apartments available at luxury Hunter’s Point rental, from $2,490/month

Image courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

January 23, 2025

244 apartments available at luxury Hunter’s Point rental, from $2,490/month

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A housing lottery launched this week for 244 middle-income apartments at a new luxury waterfront rental in Long Island City. Located at 2-21 Malt Drive in Hunter's Point South, the 38-story building is part of the three-tower Malt Drive development, which will add more than 1,000 new homes to the neighborhood upon completion. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $2,490/month for studios to $3,590/month for two bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
Wollman Rink to celebrate 75th anniversary with year-long festivities

Credit: Pawan Thapa on Unsplash

January 22, 2025

Wollman Rink to celebrate 75th anniversary with year-long festivities

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Central Park's iconic Wollman Rink is kicking off a year-long celebration in honor of its 75th birthday. Festivities begin on Saturday, January 25 with a "nostalgia-laced" party, featuring discount skating admission, an immersive photographic journey through the rink's history, and classic treats inspired by the past seven decades of winter fun.
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Midtown South rezoning plan to build 10,000 new homes begins public review

Garment District. Photo © Ondel Hylton

January 22, 2025

Midtown South rezoning plan to build 10,000 new homes begins public review

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The plan to transform Midtown South into dynamic mixed-use neighborhoods with thousands of new homes is moving forward. Mayor Eric Adams and the Department of City Planning (DCP) on Tuesday announced the start of the public review process for the Midtown South Mixed-Use (MSMX) plan, a proposal to rezone 42 blocks of the neighborhood to allow for roughly 9,700 new homes in areas where housing was largely prohibited under old zoning rules. The rezoning is part of the mayor's "Manhattan Plan" introduced in his State of the City address last week to add 100,000 new homes to the borough over the next decade.
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Japanese brand Muji opens first U.S. food market in Chelsea Market

All photos courtesy of Chelsea Market

January 21, 2025

Japanese brand Muji opens first U.S. food market in Chelsea Market

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Beloved Japanese brand Muji just launched its first-ever food market in the United States at Chelsea Market. The Muji Food Market, which opened on Monday, features Japanese-style sandwiches, specialty beverages, and an AI-powered coffee-making robot, all complementing the store's signature decor, beauty, apparel, and other popular products.
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How to celebrate Lunar New Year in NYC

Better Chinatown USA’s 26th Lunar New Year Parade in 2024. Photo courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

January 21, 2025

How to celebrate Lunar New Year in NYC

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Marking the arrival of spring and fresh starts, the Lunar New Year festival runs for two weeks from January 29 to February 16. 2025 marks the Year of the Snake, the sixth animal in the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle and representing wisdom and transformation, bringing with it, opportunities for personal growth. With multiple Chinatowns and Asian communities across New York City, there are many ways to celebrate the new year, from fireworks and a parade to lion dances and lantern-making.
find ways to celebrate
NJ Gov. Phil Murphy asks Trump to ‘re-examine’ congestion pricing

Photo by Jesús Mirón García on Pexels

January 21, 2025

NJ Gov. Phil Murphy asks Trump to ‘re-examine’ congestion pricing

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New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy sent a letter to President Donald Trump, urging him to look at stopping New York City's congestion pricing program. Murphy on Monday sent a letter to Trump on his first day back in the White House, urging him to "re-examine" the program while claiming that it was never "well-designed or adequately studied." The governor pointed to Trump's earlier pledge to eliminate the program during his first week in office.
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15 best attractions to check out during NYC Must-See Week

Brooklyn Bridge Park. Photo © Julienne Schaer

January 17, 2025

15 best attractions to check out during NYC Must-See Week

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During the height of New York City's blistering winter, the city's tourism agency has found a clever way to entice New Yorkers out of the comfort of their homes. From January 21 through February 9, "NYC Must-See Week" offers two-for-one tickets to some of the city's most sought-after attractions, museums, live performances, and tours across the five boroughs. Ahead, discover some of the best attractions to visit during Must-See Week, from architecture walking tours to observation decks and everything in between.
here's what you must see
Port Authority secures $1.9B federal loan for bus terminal replacement before Trump takes office

Rendering credit: Foster + Partners & Epstein

January 16, 2025

Port Authority secures $1.9B federal loan for bus terminal replacement before Trump takes office

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The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey secured a major loan from the federal government for its Midtown bus terminal replacement project this week, just days before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. The agency will receive $1.9 billion from the U.S. Department of Transportation to fund the first phase of the $10 billion project. The Port Authority has scrambled to get the necessary federal approvals before Trump's inauguration, fearing he would halt the project.
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Times Square’s iconic New Year’s Eve ball is retired

Photo by Alex Lozupone via WikiCommons

January 16, 2025

Times Square’s iconic New Year’s Eve ball is retired

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After 17 years of ringing in the new year, the New Year's Eve ball in Times Square is hanging up its crystal hat. The ball, which has been in use since 2008, was officially retired on Wednesday due to its "antiquated" lighting system, the New York Times reported. The ball—along with its predecessors—will be on display this fall in a new "time travel history experience" inside the newly revamped One Times Square. A replacement ball is already in production, according to Michael Phillips, president of Jamestown, the real estate firm that owns One Times Square.
more this way
Hochul wants to put an NYPD officer on every overnight NYC subway train

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

January 15, 2025

Hochul wants to put an NYPD officer on every overnight NYC subway train

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A uniformed police officer would be on every subway train between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. under a proposal introduced by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday. During her State of the State address, the governor proposed new safety measures for the subway, including increased NYPD patrols, new protective barriers on platforms, modern fare gates, and expansion of mental health resources. Two officers will be on patrol overnight every night for six months on each train; according to Politico, the state will cover the cost.
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Hochul pitches funding incentives to ease New York’s housing crisis

Credit: Darren McGee/ Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

January 15, 2025

Hochul pitches funding incentives to ease New York’s housing crisis

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Gov. Kathy Hochul is again proposing a series of financial incentives to boost housing production across New York. During her State of the State address on Tuesday, Hochul outlined several initiatives to confront the housing crisis, including the first-ever revolving loan fund to boost mixed-income rental housing development and doubling the tax credits available for low- and middle-income housing projects. The governor has already announced a proposal to curb private equity firms and hedge funds from buying single-family homes.
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Financial District condo One Park Row launches sales, from $850K

Renderings courtesy of SERHANT. unless otherwise noted.

January 15, 2025

Financial District condo One Park Row launches sales, from $850K

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Sales launched this week at a new luxury residential development at the intersection of Tribeca and the Financial District. Developed by Circle F Capital and designed by Fogarty Finger, One Park Row is a 23-story mixed-use building offering 58 condos ranging from studios to three-bedroom apartments, with stunning views and a prime location across from City Hall Park and only blocks from the World Trade Center. Pricing starts at $850,000 for a studio.
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After one week of congestion pricing, MTA data shows less traffic and faster bus commutes

MTA Chair & CEO Janno Lieber with the final Congestion Relief Zone sign unveiled at Broadway & West 62nd Street on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, hours before the Central Business District Tolling Program goes into effect. Photo courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

January 14, 2025

After one week of congestion pricing, MTA data shows less traffic and faster bus commutes

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In its first week, New York City's congestion pricing program has reduced both traffic and the number of vehicles entering Manhattan's busiest areas, according to early data released by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The agency on Monday released preliminary data for week one of congestion pricing that showed a 7.51 percent decrease in traffic and 219,000 fewer vehicles entering the tolling zone compared to the same period last year. Many drivers have reported faster trips, with bus routes crossing the East and Hudson Rivers saving up to four minutes.
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Upper East Side penthouse owned by Joan Rivers back on market after $10M price cut

Photos by The Real Estate Production Network

January 14, 2025

Upper East Side penthouse owned by Joan Rivers back on market after $10M price cut

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An opulent triplex penthouse on the Upper East Side—formerly owned by late comedian Joan Rivers—is back on the market for $28 million after a significant price cut, as first reported by the New York Post. Located at 1 East 62nd Street within the Horace Trumbauer-designed Spencer Condominium, the breathtaking residence spans a remarkable 42 feet wide and boasts soaring ceiling heights and intricate Versailles-esque details. The penthouse, which Rivers called home for 25 years until she died in 2014, was listed for $38 million in 2021 and saw another price cut last year to $34.5 million.
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