All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

June 18, 2025

JFK AirTrain fare will be 50% off this summer to encourage public transit use

AirTrain fare will be 50 percent off this summer to encourage travelers to use public transit during peak construction at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The single ride fare will be reduced to $4.25 starting on June 30 through Labor Day, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced on Tuesday. With record-breaking travel expected and a $19 billion redevelopment underway, significant congestion around the airport is anticipated.
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Two areas of historic suburban Flatbush could be landmarked

Proposed Beverley Square West Historic District. Photo credit: NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission

June 17, 2025

Two areas of historic suburban Flatbush could be landmarked

By Aaron Ginsburg

Two well-preserved areas of historic suburban Flatbush could become New York City’s newest landmarked districts. The city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to calendar the proposed Beverley Square West and Ditmas Park West Historic Districts, which together include 247 freestanding homes built between 1894 and 1910. The houses exemplify early 20th-century suburban architecture in Flatbush, like Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, or a mixture of the two.
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Coney Island’s Mermaid Parade returns to the boardwalk on Saturday

Photos courtesy of Eliza Rinn, unless noted otherwise

June 16, 2025

Coney Island’s Mermaid Parade returns to the boardwalk on Saturday

By Aaron Ginsburg

The colorful, sea-inspired Mermaid Parade splashes back onto the Coney Island boardwalk this weekend for its 43rd year. Hosted by the nonprofit Coney Island USA, the beloved event is the nation's largest art parade, drawing around 5,000 participants in hand-crafted, sea-themed costumes and elaborate floats. This year’s celebration takes place on Saturday, June 21, at 1 p.m., rain or shine.
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Events & Things To Do

Extell proposes 1,200-foot tower on the Upper West Side

Gary Barnett’s Extell Development is planning a 1,200-foot-tall tower at the former ABC headquarters at 77 West 66th Street, on the Upper West Side. Photo by Jim.henderson on Wikimedia.

June 16, 2025

Extell proposes 1,200-foot tower on the Upper West Side

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new supertall residential skyscraper proposed for the Upper West Side would become the neighborhood’s tallest building by a wide margin. Extell Development founder Gary Barnett met with Manhattan Community Board 7 last month to discuss plans for a 1,200-foot-tall tower at 77 West 66th Street, the former Disney campus. The 90-story building would surpass the height of Extell’s tower at 55 West 66th Street, across the street. Hoping to avoid another prolonged legal battle like the one that development faced, Barnett told the board he plans to include 100 affordable units in two smaller buildings as a gesture of "peace" with the community.
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New Developments

Bronx casino bid at former Trump-owned golf course can move ahead after Council vote

Photo courtesy of Dan DeLuca on Flickr

June 13, 2025

Bronx casino bid at former Trump-owned golf course can move ahead after Council vote

By Aaron Ginsburg

A plan to bring a casino to a Bronx golf course once owned by Donald Trump took a step forward this week. The City Council on Wednesday voted 32-12 to pass a home rule resolution that allows state lawmakers to advance legislation supporting Bally’s Corporation’s proposed casino at the city-owned Ferry Point Park golf course, according to the Bronx Times. The approval authorizes the state to "alienate" the roughly 16-acre public parkland, a requirement whenever city-owned park space is repurposed for private use.
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Policy

June 13, 2025

55-story Long Island City condo with over 600 units moves ahead

By Aaron Ginsburg

A massive 55-story condo tower with over 600 homes in Long Island City is moving forward after developers secured $525 million in construction financing. Charney Companies and Tavros, in partnership with Incoco Capital, announced this week funding for a 636-unit development at 24-19 Jackson Avenue and 45-03 23rd Street in the Court Square section of the neighborhood. The developers received $425 million from Madison Realty Capital and an additional $100 million from Kushner Companies and OneIM.
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New Developments

NYC unveils new intersection design to better protect cyclists, pedestrians

Credit: NYC DOT

June 12, 2025

NYC unveils new intersection design to better protect cyclists, pedestrians

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is rolling out a new intersection design aimed at better protecting pedestrians and cyclists at crash-prone locations. Unveiled Wednesday by Department of Transportation Commissioner (DOT) Ydanis Rodriguez, the design uses "hardened daylighting tools"—such as concrete barriers, planters, and other structures—to improve visibility at intersections, where roughly half of all traffic fatalities occur. The DOT plans to implement the design at select high-crash intersections alongside new and existing bike lanes across the city starting this year.
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City Council approves Related’s Hudson Yards West plan for 4,000 apartments and no casino

Images courtesy of Related Companies

June 12, 2025

City Council approves Related’s Hudson Yards West plan for 4,000 apartments and no casino

By Aaron Ginsburg

The New York City Council on Wednesday voted to approve zoning changes to allow for thousands of new apartments, but not a casino, on the undeveloped section of Hudson Yards. Related Companies' Hudson Yards West proposal includes four mixed-use towers, nearly seven acres of public green space, and 4,000 apartments. The original plan called for a casino run by Wynn Resorts, but Related scratched the gaming facility from the project last month amid strong opposition from community members and officials.
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Policy

Eataly opens new grab-and-go market and cafe in Hudson Yards

All photos courtesy of Eataly

June 11, 2025

Eataly opens new grab-and-go market and cafe in Hudson Yards

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Hudson Yards outpost of Italian marketplace Eataly has officially opened its doors. Located on the fourth level of the Shops & Restaurants at 20 Hudson Yards, Eataly Caffè marks the brand’s fourth New York City location and introduces a new concept featuring a coffee counter, grab-and-go options, and quick-service items ranging from pastries and sandwiches to gelato. The 5,500-square-foot, 82-seat space also includes a location-exclusive wine bar offering a variety of Italian wines, cocktails, and shareable plates.
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Food & Dining

Bethenny Frankel sells historic Greenwich estate for $7.8M

Photos courtesy of Mike Cinelli of Jump Visual

June 11, 2025

Bethenny Frankel sells historic Greenwich estate for $7.8M

By Aaron Ginsburg

Reality TV star and entrepreneur Bethenny Frankel has sold her historic Greenwich, Connecticut estate for $7,825,000, almost double the $4.25 million she paid in 2021. The "Real Housewives of New York" alum sold the three-acre property, known as Applejack Farm, in an off-market deal following her move to Florida. Built in 1743, the estate, one of the oldest properties in Greenwich, includes a 6,500-square-foot main house with five bedrooms and eight bathrooms, plus a two-bedroom guest house with a separate studio, a three-bay garage, and a “party barn."
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NYC’s broker fee ban takes effect

By Aaron Ginsburg

Forced broker fees are officially banned in New York City. After a federal judge denied the Real Estate Board of New York's motion for an injunction, the Fairness in Apartment Rental Expenses (FARE) Act took effect on Wednesday, meaning prospective tenants will no longer have to pay broker fees to real estate agents they did not hire. Passed by the City Council in November, the law shifts the payment of broker fees to the party who hired the real estate agent, transforming a longstanding system that forced renters to pay brokers a large upfront sum.
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Policy

Manhattan Park’s pool deck is bursting with color and patterns

All photos courtesy of Allyson Lubow Photography

June 10, 2025

Manhattan Park’s pool deck is bursting with color and patterns

By Aaron Ginsburg

Roosevelt Island luxury rental Manhattan Park unveiled the design for its 11th annual outdoor pool art installation this week. Titled "Waves of Joy," this year’s design comes from Parisian artist Meri Karapetyan, who spent 14 days and used 26 gallons of paint to transform the waterfront pool deck with vibrant hues inspired by water, leaves, and the summer sun. The mural is part of the community’s annual Pop-Up Pool Party, which debuts each summer to beautify the outdoor space ahead of pool season.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC to remove ‘floating jail’ in the Bronx, build new marine terminal

Image via WikiCommons

June 10, 2025

NYC to remove ‘floating jail’ in the Bronx, build new marine terminal

By Aaron Ginsburg

A decommissioned floating jail moored off the Bronx in the East River will soon be removed, clearing the way for a new marine cargo terminal. City officials announced the plan Monday outside the vessel in Hunts Point, known as the Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center, and said they will soon issue a request for proposals to remove the barge. The cleared space will house the new Hunts Point Marine Terminal, which will facilitate the transfer of freight from ships to final delivery.
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Policy

June 10, 2025

How to celebrate Juneteenth 2025 in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

More than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, freedom finally reached the enslaved people of Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. Celebrated by Black Americans for over 100 years and only recently made a public holiday, Juneteenth commemorates that historic moment, seen as an occasion to honor resilience, uplift communities, and spotlight Black culture. This year, the festivities take on added significance as the holiday marks its 160th anniversary. Ahead, discover ways to celebrate Juneteenth in NYC, from free festivals in public parks to programming at some of the city's top museums.
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Events & Things To Do

52-story Downtown Brooklyn rental opens lottery for 178 apartments, from $1,793/month

Renderings courtesy of NQS Creative

June 9, 2025

52-story Downtown Brooklyn rental opens lottery for 178 apartments, from $1,793/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A housing lottery launched this week for 178 mixed-income apartments in a new residential tower in Downtown Brooklyn. Rising 52 stories at 589 Fulton Street, The Brook is one of the tallest buildings in the borough, offering apartments with views in every direction. New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the affordable units, priced from $1,793/month studios to $4,250/month two bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

Flatbush Avenue overhaul includes center-running bus lanes and pedestrian islands

A rendering of the Flatbush Avenue bus lane proposal at Flatbush Avenue and Fourth Avenue. Images courtesy of NYC DOT

June 9, 2025

Flatbush Avenue overhaul includes center-running bus lanes and pedestrian islands

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City has proposed new center-running bus lanes along parts of Flatbush Avenue to improve safety and speed up service on one of the city’s most dangerous corridors. Unveiled Friday by the Department of Transportation (DOT), the project would convert two center car lanes into bus lanes from Livingston Street to Grand Army Plaza, better serving the nearly 70,000 daily bus riders who currently face average speeds of under 4 miles per hour—about the same speed as walking. The plan also includes pedestrian islands with covered public seating, shorter crossing times, and updated curb regulations to support local businesses.
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Christie’s opens free exhibition of Maurice Sendak’s personal collection ahead of auction

All photos courtesy of Christie’s

June 6, 2025

Christie’s opens free exhibition of Maurice Sendak’s personal collection ahead of auction

By Aaron Ginsburg

Christie’s is presenting a free exhibition and special auction featuring the personal collection of beloved children’s book author and illustrator Maurice Sendak. On view at 20 Rockefeller Plaza through June 10, the exhibition includes Sendak’s drawings, works by other children’s book artists, first printings of books by William Blake, Disney memorabilia, and more. The auction will be held in person and online on June 10, what would have been Sendak’s 97th birthday, and will feature art, rare books, and artifacts that inspired him, with proceeds supporting the Sendak Fellowship to nurture the next generation of children’s book artists.
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Events & Things To Do

City unveils new public art on medians, sidewalks, and streets across NYC

“Aunties” by Fitgi Saint-Louis. Courtesy of NYC DOT

June 6, 2025

City unveils new public art on medians, sidewalks, and streets across NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City has commissioned five vibrant pieces of art, one in each borough, to enliven public spaces. On Wednesday, Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced plans for temporary, site-specific pieces through the agency’s Community Commissions initiative. The projects range from sculptures to asphalt murals, including "Public Access" on Staten Island, "Aunties" in Manhattan, "Limes" in Brooklyn, "Weaving the Future: A Vessel of Water, Roots, and Community" in the Bronx, and "About a Living Culture" in Queens.
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Hop on and off vintage NYC subway trains in Brooklyn this weekend

Credit: NY Transit Museum

June 6, 2025

Hop on and off vintage NYC subway trains in Brooklyn this weekend

By Aaron Ginsburg

The New York Transit Museum’s beloved Parade of Trains returns this weekend, giving New Yorkers a rare chance to ride the rails in vintage style. Rolling out on Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8, the event features three iconic trains from the museum’s collection, offering a glimpse into what it was like to ride the New York City subway more than a century ago. The vintage trains will run from Brighton Beach’s B and Q platforms and the Manhattan-bound B and Q platform at Kings Highway, operating from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Admission is free with subway fare.
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Adams proposes 15 mph speed limit for e-bikes

Credit: Elvert Barnes on Flickr

June 5, 2025

Adams proposes 15 mph speed limit for e-bikes

By Aaron Ginsburg

Mayor Eric Adams wants electric bike riders to slow down. The mayor is proposing a 15 miles per hour speed limit for e-bikes, which currently can travel between 20 and 25 miles per hour. Adams announced the new rule on Thursday to renew pressure on the City Council to act on legislation he introduced last year that would create a Department of Sustainable Delivery to regulate delivery apps. The Council has yet to introduce the bill.
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New public space and skateboarding section open as part of revitalized Brooklyn Banks

Photos courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

June 5, 2025

New public space and skateboarding section open as part of revitalized Brooklyn Banks

By Aaron Ginsburg

Two more acres of public open space have opened beneath the Brooklyn Bridge in Chinatown, as part of the revitalization of skateboarding mecca Brooklyn Banks. Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday announced the expansion of "The Arches," along with an additional $50 million in funding to further enhance the park with new amenities, including public seating, plantings, lighting, and other upgrades. The new section includes a refurbished "Big Banks," which has been closed to skateboarders since 2010. The city began revitalizing and gradually reopening it as a public space in May 2023.
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143 apartments available at FiDi office tower-turned-luxury rental, from $912/month

Credit: Streetsense

June 4, 2025

143 apartments available at FiDi office tower-turned-luxury rental, from $912/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A housing lottery opened this week for 143 mixed-income apartments at the former Financial District headquarters of Goldman Sachs. Redesigned by CetraRuddy and developed by Metro Loft and Silverstein Properties, 55 Broad Street is an office-to-rental conversion with 571 apartments and 25,000 square feet of amenities, including a rooftop pool. New Yorkers earning 40, 80, and 100 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $912/month studios to $3,522/month three bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

Fifth Avenue Blooms celebrates the corridor’s 200th anniversary with a custom rose variety and floral displays

Images courtesy of the Fifth Avenue Association

June 4, 2025

Fifth Avenue Blooms celebrates the corridor’s 200th anniversary with a custom rose variety and floral displays

By Aaron Ginsburg

Fifth Avenue will soon bloom with thousands of vibrant roses, including a unique new variety created to celebrate the iconic retail corridor’s 200th anniversary. On June 11, the Fifth Avenue Association will kick off Fifth Avenue Blooms, a month-long floral makeover of the avenue between 51st and 58th Streets, running through July 6. The display will feature 16 planters with 400 rose plants, totaling roughly 2,500 to 4,000 individual stems, including the one-of-a-kind variety created specifically for the avenue’s birthday, all beautifying the streetscape and providing a perfect backdrop for photos.
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Events & Things To Do

Macy’s 4th of July fireworks back to the Brooklyn Bridge and East River this year

Fireworks at the Brooklyn Bridge in 2014, view from Pier 17. Photo by Jason Zhang on Wikimedia

June 4, 2025

Macy’s 4th of July fireworks back to the Brooklyn Bridge and East River this year

By Aaron Ginsburg

After lighting up the Hudson River last year for the first time in over a decade, Macy's 4th of July Fireworks will return to the East River. Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday announced the 49th annual show will launch from four barges surrounding the Brooklyn Bridge, near the South Street Seaport, lighting up the night sky with a spectacular display of thousands of fireworks. Prime viewing spots will be in parts of Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn, with the city expected to launch a lottery for free public viewing tickets in the coming weeks.
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Events & Things To Do

Andy Cohen’s colorful West Village penthouse finds a buyer

Photos courtesy of Eytan Stern Weber, Evan Joseph Images

June 3, 2025

Andy Cohen’s colorful West Village penthouse finds a buyer

By Aaron Ginsburg

Andy Cohen’s vibrant West Village penthouse found a buyer, and it's an Emmy Award-winning playwright. As first reported by the New York Post, actor and writer Danny Strong, known for his writing on "Empire" and "Dopesick" and roles in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Mad Men," bought the apartment at 2 Horatio Street with his partner Caitlin Mehner. The home, which is a combination of four units, first hit the market in September for $14 million and was relisted for $12 million earlier this year. The final sales price has not been made public yet.
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