All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

NYC unveils 20-year vision to improve Hart Island

Rendering of proposed “Remembrance Walk” and visitor center. Credit: Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects

July 15, 2025

NYC unveils 20-year vision to improve Hart Island

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City released its vision for the future of Hart Island, a mile-long piece of land east of the Bronx that is home to one of the largest public cemeteries in the world. Unveiled on Monday by the city's Parks Department, the 20-year concept plan outlines a series of capital projects that improve conditions on the island and add new visitor amenities and green infrastructure. Key components of the Hart Island plan include a welcome center with restrooms and seating, adaptive reuse of the island’s historic chapel as space for remembrance, shoreline stabilization, and forest restoration efforts.
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Policy

NYC transit on pace for record-breaking year of ridership and performance

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

July 14, 2025

NYC transit on pace for record-breaking year of ridership and performance

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City Transit is "on track" to have its best on-time performance on record. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday announced that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is on pace for a record-breaking year, with ridership and on-time service improving across New York City Transit, the Long Island Rail Road, and Metro-North Railroad during the first half of 2025. Customer satisfaction has also increased across all three agencies, while major crimes in the subway system have dropped 3.2 percent compared to the same period last year, and nearly 10 percent compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
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New nautical-themed restaurant brings yacht vibes to the Starrett-Lehigh rooftop

Photos courtesy of Marcus Lloyd

July 14, 2025

New nautical-themed restaurant brings yacht vibes to the Starrett-Lehigh rooftop

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new nautical-themed restaurant will open this week atop Chelsea’s landmarked Starrett-Lehigh Building. Operated by Crew, the team behind popular boat bars Grand Banks and Pilot, the Yacht Club opens this Thursday, taking up a sprawling 20,000 square feet across two floors at the former 1930s freight terminal. The 125-seat restaurant will offer top-tier seafood, indoor and outdoor dining, and panoramic views from its sunny roof deck. The Yacht Club is part of the building’s new Level Ten complex, a full-floor suite of cutting-edge amenities, many of which are open to the public.
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Food & Dining

98 apartments available at all-electric Downtown Brooklyn tower, from $3,000/month

Renderings courtesy of RXR

July 14, 2025

98 apartments available at all-electric Downtown Brooklyn tower, from $3,000/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

An all-electric, 30-story residential tower in Downtown Brooklyn launched a housing lottery this week for 98 middle-income apartments. Located at 89 Dekalb Avenue, the sustainable development features a smart glass facade, thoughtfully designed residences, and academic and office space for Long Island University. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $3,000/month studios to $4,376/month two bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

Paul Newman’s Fifth Avenue co-op sells for $4M above asking price

All photos courtesy of Evan Joseph Studios

July 11, 2025

Paul Newman’s Fifth Avenue co-op sells for $4M above asking price

By Aaron Ginsburg

A Fifth Avenue co-op once owned by Hollywood legends Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward just sold for 40 percent above its asking price following a bidding war. As first reported by the Wall Street Journal, the classic six at 1120 Fifth Avenue sold for roughly $14 million after it was listed for $9,950,000 in December. More than 50 prospective buyers toured the home, resulting in nearly a dozen offers, including one above $14 million that the Newman family declined because the buyer intended to use it as a pied-a-terre—something the co-op board was unlikely to approve.
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NYC must expand housing voucher program, court rules

Credit: Clay LeConey on Unsplash

July 11, 2025

NYC must expand housing voucher program, court rules

By Aaron Ginsburg

A state appeals court has ordered New York City to expand its housing voucher program, rejecting the Adams administration's previous attempts to block it. On Thursday, a five-judge panel ruled that the City Council had the legal authority to expand the CityFHEPS voucher program, overturning a 2024 decision that had sided with the mayor. The Council first passed the legislation package in May 2023 and overrode Adams' veto of the bills, prompting the administration to sue over policy concerns and the program’s estimated $17 billion price tag.
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283-unit affordable housing and cultural arts center moves ahead in Brownsville

Rendering by Aufgang Architects

July 11, 2025

283-unit affordable housing and cultural arts center moves ahead in Brownsville

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new all-electric development that will bring affordable homes and a cultural arts center to Brownsville is moving forward. City officials on Thursday announced that financing has closed for the Brownsville Arts Center & Apartments (BACA) at 366 Rockaway Avenue. The project will include 283 affordable rental units for households earning between 30 and 70 percent of the area median income, with a mix of studio to three-bedroom layouts. The project will also feature a 28,000-square-foot cultural arts center with flexible performance, rehearsal, and studio space for community arts organizations. Construction will begin this month, with completion expected by December 2027.
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Former home of New York Stock Exchange in FiDi to become nearly 400 apartments

July 10, 2025

Former home of New York Stock Exchange in FiDi to become nearly 400 apartments

By Aaron Ginsburg

Plans were filed this week for another office-to-residential conversion in the Financial District. GFP Real Estate on Wednesday filed a permit application to convert the 20-story building at 40 Exchange Place into a mixed-use development with 382 apartments and retail space, as first reported by The Real Deal. The project is GFP’s latest conversion effort, following a $288 million construction loan secured in January for a similar project at 222 Broadway.
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Real Estate Trends

Bedford Avenue protected bike lane can be removed, judge rules

The protected bike lane at Bedford Avenue and Flushing Avenue. Streetview © 2024 Google

July 10, 2025

Bedford Avenue protected bike lane can be removed, judge rules

By Aaron Ginsburg

Part of a protected bike lane along Bedford Avenue in Bed-Stuy will be removed after a New York state judge said Mayor Eric Adams can move forward with a plan to get rid of three blocks of the lane. Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Carolyn Walker-Diallo on Wednesday gave the green light to the city’s Department of Transportation (DOT) to shift the lane from the curb to the center of the avenue between Willoughby and Flushing Avenues, according to Gothamist. Adams first announced the change in June after community backlash over collisions between cyclists and pedestrians, which prompted a lawsuit from street safety advocates to block the removal.
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This map shows where rent increased the most by NYC subway stop

Photo of Franklin Avenue Station © 6sqft

July 9, 2025

This map shows where rent increased the most by NYC subway stop

By Aaron Ginsburg

It's not just your neighborhood. Rent prices have increased at 87 percent of New York City's subway stations this year. RentHop on Wednesday released its annual subway rent map, which highlights the median rent and the year-over-year rent increases of one-bedroom apartments by subway stop. According to the analysis, rent jumped by 14 percent near subway stations across Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, particularly in areas with new developments.
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Popular Articles

New legislation ends criminal penalties for NYC street vendors

Credit: Marco on Flickr

July 9, 2025

New legislation ends criminal penalties for NYC street vendors

By Aaron Ginsburg

The City Council last month passed legislation that decriminalizes most street vending violations in New York City. Sponsored by Queens Council Member Shekar Krishnan, Intro. 47 removes misdemeanor criminal penalties for general and food vendors and reduces them to civil offenses instead. The legislation comes amid a sharp rise in NYPD enforcement: officers issued over 9,300 tickets to vendors in 2024, more than double the total in 2023, according to City Limits. With 96 percent of the city’s street vendors being immigrants, according to the Immigration Research Initiative, criminal penalties heighten the risk of deportation under the Trump administration’s intensifying immigration crackdowns.
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Policy

The 8 casino proposals competing for a downstate New York gaming license

July 9, 2025

The 8 casino proposals competing for a downstate New York gaming license

By Aaron Ginsburg

Since New York approved three downstate casino licenses in 2023, some of the city's top developers have rushed to unveil grand proposals. Backed by billion-dollar budgets and celebrity partners, many of these bids have added affordable housing, transit upgrades, and public green space to help them stand out. Ahead, find an overview of the eight projects vying for one of the licenses, which will be awarded by the state by the end of the year.
place your bets

Policy

NYC to deploy ‘peace officers’ to address unsafe moped and e-bike riding by delivery workers

Credit: Elvert Barnes on Flickr

July 8, 2025

NYC to deploy ‘peace officers’ to address unsafe moped and e-bike riding by delivery workers

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City plans to hire a new class of officers to address unsafe moped and e-bike riding by delivery workers. Mayor Eric Adams on Monday announced the Department of Sustainable Delivery (DSD), a new unit within the Department of Transportation (DOT), that will enforce against illegal moped, e-bike, and e-scooter use. Secured as part of Adams' Fiscal Year 2026 budget, new funding will hire up to 45 unarmed "peace officers" to issue moving violations and enforce commercial cycling laws against businesses. The city said the peace officers would be deployed in 2028.
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The High Line’s 10th Avenue Square closed through August for repairs

Photo courtesy of Sarah Wood on Unsplash

July 8, 2025

The High Line’s 10th Avenue Square closed through August for repairs

By Aaron Ginsburg

One of the High Line’s busiest sections has closed this summer for a major upgrade. After 16 years of use, the 10th Avenue Square is temporarily off-limits for vital repairs due to wear and tear from the millions of annual visitors who pass through the popular spot, known for its stunning south-facing views of the Statue of Liberty and the Hudson River. During the reconstruction, the High Line will be closed between 16th and 17th Streets, including the adjacent Sunken Overlook seating area.
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Architecture And Design

35 mixed-income apartments available at Gowanus luxury rental, from $946/month

Credit: NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

July 7, 2025

35 mixed-income apartments available at Gowanus luxury rental, from $946/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A housing lottery has launched for 35 mixed-income apartments at a new residential development on the border of Gowanus and Carroll Gardens. Located at 544 Carroll Street, the 17-story building offers townhouse-style living, spacious units, and a suite of upscale amenities at the intersection of two vibrant Brooklyn neighborhoods. New Yorkers earning 40, 60, and 110 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, with rents set at $2,621 for studios, $946 to $2,800 for one-bedrooms, and $1,123 to $1,758 for two-bedroom apartments.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

NYC proposes allowing e-bikes on park drives and greenways

Credit: Daniel on Unsplash

July 7, 2025

NYC proposes allowing e-bikes on park drives and greenways

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is rolling out a new plan to more safely accommodate e-bikes, e-scooters, and other micromobility users on park drives and greenways. NYC Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa on Thursday announced that the agency plans to propose rule amendments that would permanently allow e-bikes and stand-up e-scooters—already permitted in bike lanes—to operate on park drives and greenways. Mopeds and other heavy motorized vehicles would remain prohibited in public parks.
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Astoria’s 31st Avenue gets two-way bike boulevard, more pedestrian space

Images courtesy of NYC DOT

July 7, 2025

Astoria’s 31st Avenue gets two-way bike boulevard, more pedestrian space

By Aaron Ginsburg

The first round of pedestrian and cyclist safety upgrades along 31st Avenue in Astoria is now complete, with more improvements on the way. On Thursday, Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced the completion of the first phase of the corridor’s transformation into a bike boulevard, including a new east-west protected bike connection from Vernon Boulevard to Steinway Street that creates a continuous protected route from Astoria to the Queensboro Bridge. The project also expands pedestrian space, upgrades intersections to slow turning vehicles, and adds new public seating.
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Largest fleet of tall ships to sail into NYC next summer to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary

Credit: OpSail 2000

July 3, 2025

Largest fleet of tall ships to sail into NYC next summer to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary

By Aaron Ginsburg

Next year, the largest fleet of tall ships ever to sail into New York Harbor will arrive to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. From July 3 through July 8, 2026, the once-in-a-generation "Sail4th 250" will bring six days of festivities across the five boroughs, including the arrival of 30 tall ships and 40 gray-hull vessels from around the world on July 4. The celebration is expected to draw more than eight million visitors to the city and generate a record-breaking $2.85 billion in economic impact. Highlights include a special U.S. Navy Fleet Week, a Blue Angels air show, displays of rare historical documents, and more.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC traffic deaths hit record low in first half of 2025

Credit: Brett Jordan on Unsplash

July 3, 2025

NYC traffic deaths hit record low in first half of 2025

By Aaron Ginsburg

Traffic deaths in New York City have hit a record low in 2025, marking a significant milestone in the city’s efforts to improve street safety. On Wednesday, Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced that there have been 87 traffic-related fatalities so far this year, tied with 2018 and the lowest number since the city began tracking the metric in 1910. Fatalities have dropped 32 percent compared to the first half of 2024, with all vehicle types showing declines, including a 39 percent decrease in deaths involving motorized two-wheelers like e-bikes and a 48 percent decline for motor vehicles.
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New futuristic restrooms open in five NYC parks, each at $1M to install

All photos courtesy of NYC Parks

July 2, 2025

New futuristic restrooms open in five NYC parks, each at $1M to install

By Aaron Ginsburg

Five new sleek public restrooms have opened in New York City parks—each with a $1 million price tag. Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced the installation of the "Portland Loos"—modern restrooms designed for year-round use and quick assembly, now placed in each of the five boroughs. While the restrooms themselves are relatively inexpensive, installation costs reached nearly $1 million each due to infrastructure upgrades, including extending water and electrical lines, according to amNY. But the prefabricated toilets are still significantly cheaper than traditional restrooms, which can cost between $3 and $5 million.
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This year’s ‘Summer Streets’ will run length of Manhattan, with car-free corridor from Brooklyn Bridge to Inwood

Credit: NYC Department of Transportation on Flickr

July 2, 2025

This year’s ‘Summer Streets’ will run length of Manhattan, with car-free corridor from Brooklyn Bridge to Inwood

By Aaron Ginsburg

More than 22 miles of car-free streets will open to New Yorkers for outdoor recreation and summer fun starting this month. On Tuesday, Mayor Eric Adams announced the city's largest ever "Summer Streets" program, which will dedicate select roadways across all five boroughs to pedestrians and cyclists from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on five consecutive Saturdays, from July 26 through August 23. Notably, for the first time, Summer Streets will run the length of Manhattan, offering car-free streets from the Brooklyn Bridge to Dyckman Street in Inwood.
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Best spots to see Macy’s 4th of July fireworks for free

Credit: Amanda Stevens Photography

July 2, 2025

Best spots to see Macy’s 4th of July fireworks for free

By Aaron Ginsburg

The spectacular Macy's 4th of July Fireworks show returns to the East River this Friday for its 49th year. The annual Independence Day tradition rings in the nation's birthday in bombastic style, with more than 80,000 shells launched from four barges surrounding the Brooklyn Bridge. While plenty of ticketed fireworks watch parties take place across the city, there are a few viewing areas along the Lower Manhattan waterfront that offer the best views and do not require a ticket or cover.
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Events & Things To Do

See CetraRuddy’s 46-story residential tower set to rise in Long Island City

Credit: CetraRuddy Architects

July 1, 2025

See CetraRuddy’s 46-story residential tower set to rise in Long Island City

By Aaron Ginsburg

A 46-story residential tower designed by CetraRuddy is ready to rise in Long Island City after developers secured financing. Developers Baron Property Group and LargaVista Companies on Monday announced that 30-25 Queens Boulevard, a 525-foot-tall project set to bring more than 500 homes to the neighborhood, had acquired $388.5 million in construction financing. The tower will include 561 residences, 451 rentals and 110 condos, ranging from studios to two-bedrooms, along with 21,000 square feet of ground-floor retail and a suite of expansive amenities.
see the project

NYC subway fare hike delayed, but will likely increase to $3 by year’s end

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

July 1, 2025

NYC subway fare hike delayed, but will likely increase to $3 by year’s end

By Aaron Ginsburg

Your standard New York City transit fare could top $3 by the end of the year. As part of a budget approved last year, the MTA is planning a 4 percent increase for subway and bus fares. Although originally planned to take effect in August, the hike will likely be delayed, as it must first go through a mandatory public comment period, MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said during the agency's monthly board meeting. As reported by Gothamist, the increase is expected to coincide with the MTA’s phaseout of MetroCard sales—a major step in the system’s transition to OMNY.
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Policy

G train to shut down on select nights and weekends this summer

Image via WikiCommons

June 30, 2025

G train to shut down on select nights and weekends this summer

By Aaron Ginsburg

G train riders are in for another summer of service disruptions. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced last week that G train service will be suspended between Court Square and Bedford-Nostrand Avenues on select weeknights and weekends from July 14 through August 18, as work continues to upgrade the line’s 1930s-era signal system. The line partially shut down for six weeks last summer as part of the $368 million modernization project, which will make the G the third subway line to be fully converted to Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) signaling.
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