All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

New public waterfront esplanade opens at Astoria residential complex

All photos courtesy of Jeremy Frechette/The Durst Organization

August 12, 2025

New public waterfront esplanade opens at Astoria residential complex

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A previously industrial stretch of the East River in Astoria has been transformed into a vibrant public waterfront esplanade, restoring access to the area for the first time in decades. On Monday, the Durst Organization celebrated the opening of the Halletts Point esplanade, located beside the developer’s 20 and 30 Halletts Point buildings. Designed by Starr Whitehouse, the 50,000-square-foot waterfront green space offers sweeping city skyline views, lots of seating, a playground, and picnic areas.
see it here
New JFK terminal to display art from iconic NYC museums

Credit: JFK Millennium Partners on Flickr

August 11, 2025

New JFK terminal to display art from iconic NYC museums

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New York City’s world-famous cultural institutions are set to greet global travelers arriving at the new Terminal 6 at John F. Kennedy International Airport. On Monday, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and JFK Millennium Partners announced a partnership with the American Museum of Natural History, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Museum of Modern Art to permanently display installations from each institution in the airport’s new $4.2 billion terminal.
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City unveils ‘Fordham Landing South’ Bronx development with 900+ homes on the Harlem River

Credit: Perkins Eastman

August 11, 2025

City unveils ‘Fordham Landing South’ Bronx development with 900+ homes on the Harlem River

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New York City has unveiled plans for a vibrant mixed-use community with nearly 1,000 affordable homes along the Bronx waterfront. On Friday, Mayor Eric Adams announced that the city will move forward with "Fordham Landing South," a major affordable housing project that will bring roughly 927 homes to an underutilized stretch of the Harlem River just south of the University Heights Bridge. The 100 percent affordable development would reserve 15 percent of its units for formerly homeless households and span two mixed-use buildings, with public waterfront space, parking, and convenient access to the Metro-North Railroad.
details here
NYC’s Dominican Day Parade: What you need to know

Photo by S Pakhrin on Wikimedia

August 8, 2025

NYC’s Dominican Day Parade: What you need to know

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Colorful parade floats, vibrant costumes, and lively music will return to Midtown this Sunday for the 43rd annual National Dominican Day Parade. Celebrating New York City’s Dominican community—the largest in the country—the event features a festive procession with beautiful costumes, traditional food, dance, and more. Taking place on August 10, this year's theme is "Unidos en Cultura y Tradicion (United in Culture and Tradition)," honoring Dominican heritage in the Dominican Republic, the United States, and abroad, with Dominican-American baseball player Nelson Cruz serving as the grand marshal.
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Track work to disrupt 4, 5, and 6 subway service for two weekends this month

Credit: Billie Grace Ward on Flickr

August 8, 2025

Track work to disrupt 4, 5, and 6 subway service for two weekends this month

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Riders on the 4, 5, and 6 subway lines are in for two weekends of major service disruptions this month. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Tuesday announced track work will shut down service south of Grand Central–42nd Street from 11:30 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday on the weekends of August 15 through 18 and August 22 through 25. Crews will be replacing the concrete beneath switches north of 14th Street.
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TF Cornerstone plans to convert Billionaires’ Row office tower into 350 apartments

Photo by Tdorante10 via WikiCommons

August 7, 2025

TF Cornerstone plans to convert Billionaires’ Row office tower into 350 apartments

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A prominent New York City developer wants to convert a 32-story Billionaires' Row office tower into over 300 apartments, joining the city’s growing wave of office-to-residential conversions. As first reported by Commercial Observer, TF Cornerstone will convert Tower 57 at 135 East 57th Street into 350 apartments, 25 percent of which would be affordable to households earning 80 percent of the area median income. The project would take advantage of the state’s 467-m tax incentive program and new zoning tools included in Mayor Eric Adams’ City of Yes housing plan.
details here
Midtown South rezoning moves forward, 34th Street busway and protection for Garment District workers included

Photo © 6sqft

August 7, 2025

Midtown South rezoning moves forward, 34th Street busway and protection for Garment District workers included

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The Midtown South rezoning received key approval this week, with new community and infrastructure improvements included in the deal. The City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises on Wednesday voted to approve the Midtown South Mixed-Use (MSMX) plan, which updates zoning rules for 42 blocks of the neighborhood to allow for 9,535 new homes, including 2,842 permanently affordable apartments, in an area where housing development has been largely restricted. In addition to lowering the residential density allowed on certain blocks in the original plan, the City Council and City Hall agreed to $488 million in community infrastructure investments, including a busway on 34th Street and protection for Garment District workers.
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Plan to bring 300+ affordable and supportive homes to Morrisania hospital advances

Renderings courtesy of Type A Projects

August 6, 2025

Plan to bring 300+ affordable and supportive homes to Morrisania hospital advances

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A plan to bring more than 300 affordable and supportive homes, along with a new health clinic and community space, to Morrisania just cleared a key hurdle. Part of the city's "Housing for Health" initiative, NYC Health + Hospitals announced Wednesday its board of directors approved the advancement of Morrisania River Commons, a 17-story building with 328 affordable and supportive units, a clinic, community facilities, and green space planned for a parking lot on the NYC Health + Hospitals/ Gotham Health Morrisania campus.
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Flatiron Building will be illuminated at night for the first time as part of condo conversion

On left: Photo by Artem Zhukov on Unsplash. On right: Rendering courtesy of The Flatiron Building

August 6, 2025

Flatiron Building will be illuminated at night for the first time as part of condo conversion

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After over 120 years as a commercial building, the Flatiron Building will shine brightly as a new condo development. Literally. The distinct triangular building at 175 Fifth Avenue will be illuminated for the first time in its history when it reopens as luxury apartments. As first reported by the New York Post, the LED lighting scheme, designed by L’Observatoire International and approved by the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission, will be most prominent on the top five floors beneath the building’s signature cornice, then cascade downward to emphasize its architectural details, which have been restored as part of a multi-year renovation.
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This Crown Heights block was named the greenest in Brooklyn

Photos by Peter Slattery, courtesy of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

August 5, 2025

This Crown Heights block was named the greenest in Brooklyn

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A lush stretch of Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights has been named Brooklyn’s greenest block. On Tuesday, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) awarded the title to the block between Franklin and Bedford Avenues as part of its free annual Greenest Block competition. The block—the first winner in the residential category to be made up primarily of apartment buildings—was praised for creating a "remarkable community space centered around plants and urban gardening."
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Brooklyn Mirage owner files for bankruptcy, venue won’t reopen this year

Credit: Chris Lavado

August 5, 2025

Brooklyn Mirage owner files for bankruptcy, venue won’t reopen this year

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After "several months of financial distress," Avant Gardner, the operator of East Williamsburg music venue Brooklyn Mirage, filed for bankruptcy on Monday. In a statement posted on Instagram, the company said it filed for Chapter 11. While the Great Hall and Kings Hall venues are set to remain open throughout the process, the Brooklyn Mirage—whose grand May reopening was abruptly canceled just hours before its first show and remains closed—will not reopen this year.
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Clark Street station reopens after hotel awning collapse

The Hotel St. George Awning before collapse. Image via WikiCommons

August 5, 2025

Clark Street station reopens after hotel awning collapse

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Subway service has been restored at the Clark Street station in Brooklyn Heights following the collapse of a concrete awning on Sunday. A video posted to social media by Council Member Lincoln Restler captured the moment the 15-by-20-foot awning on Henry Street came crashing down over the station entrance. Service was suspended at the station after the Department of Buildings (DOB) had found a similar structure above another entrance unsafe. As of Tuesday morning, the vacate order was lifted, and subway service was restored.
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NYC could lose 300,000 parking spots under new street safety bill

Credit: Nick Kelly on Unsplash

August 4, 2025

NYC could lose 300,000 parking spots under new street safety bill

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Parking could become more difficult under a new City Council bill that would eliminate up to 300,000 spaces citywide in an effort to improve street safety. Intro. 1138 would ban vehicles from parking within 20 feet of crosswalks and improve visibility by adding "daylighting" structures, such as planters and bike racks, to protect sightlines for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. The bill would bring New York City in line with existing state law, which already prohibits parking within 20 feet of intersections, according to City & State.
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11 more NYC libraries will offer seven-day service starting September

Credit: Clay Banks on Unsplash

August 4, 2025

11 more NYC libraries will offer seven-day service starting September

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Eleven more New York City public libraries will be open seven days a week, thanks to funding included in the city’s fiscal year 2026 budget. Made possible by a $2 million investment to expand weekend service, the new Sunday hours begin September 7, bringing the total number of branches open on Sundays to more than 30. The $2 million is part of a broader $15 million increase for the New York Public Library (NYPL), Brooklyn Public Library (BPL), and Queens Public Library (QPL) systems secured in the FY 2026 budget.
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City Council to override Adams’ veto of street vending bill

Credit: Elvert Barnes on Flickr

August 1, 2025

City Council to override Adams’ veto of street vending bill

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The City Council intends to override Mayor Eric Adams' veto of a bill that would decriminalize most street vending violations in New York City. Intro. 47-B, passed by the Council in June with a veto-proof majority of 40-8 and three abstentions, was vetoed by Adams last Wednesday. He argued the bill “sends the wrong message” amid the city’s increased enforcement against illegal vending. The override vote is expected at the Council’s full meeting on August 14, according to Spectrum News.
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30 apartments available at all-electric, wellness-driven Harlem rental, from $3,300/month

Credit: NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

August 1, 2025

30 apartments available at all-electric, wellness-driven Harlem rental, from $3,300/month

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A housing lottery launched this week for 30 middle-income apartments at a new all-electric residential building in Harlem. Located at 1975 Madison Avenue, the eight-story development offers brand-new, spacious residences with wellness-focused amenities in the heart of the neighborhood. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $3,300/month one bedrooms to $4,250/month two bedrooms.
fIND OUT IF YOU QUALIFY
MTA awards $166M design contract for Interborough Express

Credit: MTA / Trent Reeves on Flickr

July 31, 2025

MTA awards $166M design contract for Interborough Express

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The Interborough Express is one step closer to bridging numerous transit-deprived neighborhoods across Brooklyn and Queens, as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Wednesday approved the project’s full design. At its monthly board meeting, the MTA awarded a nearly $166 million design contract to the joint engineering venture Jacobs/HDR, according to amNY. The two-year agreement will begin preliminary design development and includes a "comprehensive scope of work"—such as surveys, geotechnical and environmental investigations, and structural inspections—to move the project forward.
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Adams vetoes City Council’s rejection of Bally’s Bronx casino bid

Credit: Bally’s Bronx

July 31, 2025

Adams vetoes City Council’s rejection of Bally’s Bronx casino bid

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Mayor Eric Adams has vetoed the City Council's rejection of Bally's Bronx casino proposal, potentially reviving the bid. On Wednesday, Adams announced his veto of the Council’s recent vote, which denied a crucial rezoning needed for the proposed gaming facility at the former Trump-owned Ferry Point Park. The Council now has 10 days to secure the 34 votes required to override the veto.
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NYC subway and bus fare will likely rise to $3 in 2026

Credit: Patrick J. Cashin / Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Flickr

July 31, 2025

NYC subway and bus fare will likely rise to $3 in 2026

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The price to ride New York City subways and buses will likely increase to $3 in January, MTA officials said during the agency's monthly board meeting on Wednesday. Originally planned for August, the proposed fare hike was delayed to allow for a required public comment period. The increase will coincide with the end of MetroCard sales as the MTA transitions fully to its OMNY tap-and-go system. While the increase is widely expected to pass, it still requires final approval from the MTA board following public hearings this fall.
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Upper West Side public library to be redeveloped with new branch and 850 apartments

Bloomingdale branch. Photo by Jim.henderson on Wikimedia

July 30, 2025

Upper West Side public library to be redeveloped with new branch and 850 apartments

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As New York City explores every option to ease its housing crisis, officials are looking to build mixed-income housing atop a new library branch on the Upper West Side. As first reported by West Side Rag, the city plans to raze and replace the Bloomingdale Library at 150 West 100th Street with a new library, health services facility, and 850 units of housing. The project follows the model of other co-located housing developments at public libraries in Sunset Park and Inwood.
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Elevated by 10 feet, Battery Park City’s Wagner Park reopens with new flood protection

All images courtesy of Battery Park City Authority

July 30, 2025

Elevated by 10 feet, Battery Park City’s Wagner Park reopens with new flood protection

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Wagner Park in Battery Park City reopened on Tuesday after a two-year overhaul to better protect the park and Lower Manhattan from coastal flooding. As part of the Battery Coastal Resilience Project, much of the 3.5-acre park was elevated by 10 feet to hide a buried floodwall under the central lawn that will protect against storm surge. There's a 63,000-gallon underground cistern for rainwater reuse and lush gardens planted with native, salt-resistant species. The park's flood risk reduction system includes both passive and deployable measures, designed to withstand a 100-year storm and projected to protect from severe storms through the 2050s based on anticipated sea level rise.
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NYC announces $3M design study to make 14th Street a ‘people-first’ corridor

The West 14th Street Promenade debuted in the Meatpacking District in June. The space repurposed the curb lane between 9th and 10th Avenues as new gathering spaces. Courtesy Meatpacking BID, Credit: BreakThrough Media

July 30, 2025

NYC announces $3M design study to make 14th Street a ‘people-first’ corridor

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New York City is looking to improve another iconic Manhattan corridor. Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday announced $3 million in public and private funding for a design study that will evaluate ways to enhance 14th Street for pedestrians, commuters, and businesses. Taking about two years to complete and involving collaboration among several groups, the study will consider upgrades to landscaping, pedestrian space, greenery, safety, and the existing 14th Street busway.
get the details
New York flags at half-staff in memory of Midtown Manhattan office shooting victims

City Hall in 20178. Photo credit: Benjamin Kanter/Mayoral Photo Office on Flickr

July 29, 2025

New York flags at half-staff in memory of Midtown Manhattan office shooting victims

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Flags across New York are flying at half-staff to honor the victims of Monday’s deadly Midtown office shooting. On Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams ordered the tribute to continue until all four victims—including an NYPD officer—are laid to rest. A fifth person remains in critical condition. The shooting occurred at 345 Park Avenue, an office building with tenants like Rudin Management, Blackstone, and the National Football League.
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G train signal upgrades delayed until 2029

Credit: Steve on Flickr

July 29, 2025

G train signal upgrades delayed until 2029

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G train riders may have to wait an additional two years for long-promised signal upgrades that would speed up service. The $624 million project aims to replace the line’s 1930s-era signal system with communications-based train control (CBTC). Work is scheduled to be completed north of Hoyt-Schermerhorn by the end of 2027, and between Hoyt-Schermerhorn and Church Avenue by 2028. However, the upgraded system won’t be activated until 2029, due to delays in installing 5G radio technology in subway cars—a requirement for CBTC to function across both trains and tracks, agency officials said during an MTA committee meeting Monday.
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200+ affordable apartments available at the Bronx’s border with Westchester, from $465/month

Credit: NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

July 29, 2025

200+ affordable apartments available at the Bronx’s border with Westchester, from $465/month

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More than 200 affordable apartments are available at a new transit-oriented development in New York City's northernmost neighborhood. Located on the border of Westchester County at 4641 Furman Avenue in the Bronx, Wakefield Yards brings deeply affordable housing to a convenient neighborhood, with the 2 train across the street and the Metro-North Harlem line a few blocks east. New Yorkers earning 30, 50, 60, and 80 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $465/month studios to $2,534/month three bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
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