All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

NYC unveils plan for dedicated busway on 34th Street

Images courtesy of NYC DOT

May 21, 2025

NYC unveils plan for dedicated busway on 34th Street

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City plans to transform a busy stretch of 34th Street in Manhattan into a busway to improve sluggish crosstown commutes. The Department of Transportation (DOT) unveiled plans for a dedicated lane along 34th Street between Third and Ninth Avenues for buses, trucks, and emergency vehicles, which could boost speeds by up to 15 percent for the more than two dozen bus routes that use the corridor. Modeled after the successful 14th Street busway, the plan would still permit other vehicles to enter but require them to make the next available legal turn off the street.
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U.S. Open’s Arthur Ashe Stadium to get $800M revamp

All renderings courtesy of USTA

May 20, 2025

U.S. Open’s Arthur Ashe Stadium to get $800M revamp

By Aaron Ginsburg

The U.S. Open's Arthur Ashe Stadium is getting an $800 million revamp, the U.S. Tennis Association announced Monday, marking the largest single investment in the tennis tournament's history. Unveiled on Monday, the project includes a grand entrance designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, expanded public space, upgraded concourses, a larger courtside bowl, and a new players-only building with state-of-the-art training facilities, premium accommodations, and cafes. Work is already underway and will roll out in three phases, continuing through 2025 and 2026 without disrupting tennis events, with completion expected ahead of the 2027 U.S. Open.
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Architecture And Design

Related drops casino from Hudson Yards plan, but keeps proposal for 4,000 new homes

Renderings courtesy of Related Companies and Wynn Resorts

May 20, 2025

Related drops casino from Hudson Yards plan, but keeps proposal for 4,000 new homes

By Aaron Ginsburg

Related Companies is dropping the casino from its project proposed for the undeveloped section of Hudson Yards, the developer announced Monday. In partnership with Wynn Resorts, Related previously pitched a $12 billion mixed-use development anchored by a casino, dubbed "Hudson Yards West," as part of its bid for one of the state's three downstate gaming licenses. Due to opposition from the community and local elected officials, Related and Wynn announced they would no longer pursue a gaming license. However, the developer plans to move forward with a plan to build 4,000 apartments, nearly 50 percent of which will be affordable under a tentative agreement with the Adams administration.
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Policy

Hazardous section of Jacob Riis beach will stay closed this summer

Credit: Steven Pisano on Flickr

May 20, 2025

Hazardous section of Jacob Riis beach will stay closed this summer

By Aaron Ginsburg

Parts of Jacob Riis Park in the Rockaways will remain closed this summer due to unsafe conditions. Bays 1 through 5 of the beach, labeled "extremely hazardous" by the National Park Service, have experienced years of erosion, with nearly century-old wooden pilings and rockwork now exposed along the shoreline, as first reported by Gothamist.
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Policy

Lincoln Center unveils design for revamped Amsterdam Avenue side of campus

Aerial view from Amsterdam Avenue looking east; visible are new streetscape, gardens, and theater. Rendering by Brooklyn Digital Foundry

May 19, 2025

Lincoln Center unveils design for revamped Amsterdam Avenue side of campus

By Aaron Ginsburg

New renderings reveal a reimagined west side of Lincoln Center, part of a project aimed at making the campus more welcoming and accessible. Lincoln Center for Performing Arts (LCPA) on Monday unveiled a preliminary design for the transformation of its Amsterdam Avenue-facing side, led by Hood Design Studio, Weiss/Manfredi, and Moody Nolan. The proposal includes an outdoor performance venue, new community park spaces, and the removal of a longstanding wall, which cuts the campus off from the rest of the neighborhood.
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Architecture And Design

NJ Transit strike ends, service to resume Tuesday

Photo by James Petts on Flickr

May 19, 2025

NJ Transit strike ends, service to resume Tuesday

By Aaron Ginsburg

NJ Transit and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) reached a tentative agreement on Sunday, ending the first strike at the agency in 42 years. Regular weekday train service will resume on Tuesday, May 20, giving workers a day to inspect and prepare tracks and rail cars. The strike began on Friday when 450 unionized workers walked off the job over engineers' wages. While details of the agreement have not been released, Gov. Phil Murphy called the contract settlement "fair and fiscally responsible" with a "generous wage increase" for union members.
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CityPickle unveils plan for huge pickleball hub under the Brooklyn Bridge

Renderings courtesy of CityPickle

May 16, 2025

CityPickle unveils plan for huge pickleball hub under the Brooklyn Bridge

By Aaron Ginsburg

CityPickle on Friday released its plan to transform two parking lots beneath the Brooklyn Bridge in Dumbo into a pickleball hub. The project, slated for Anchorage Plaza—an area under the bridge between Old Fulton and Washington Streets—takes up 60,000 square feet and features 11 pickleball courts, food trucks, green space with planters, games, seating, shaded areas, bike racks, and space for community programming. CityPickle was selected by the city’s Parks Department last June to revitalize the underused space, which will operate from March through November.
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High Line to host festival celebrating NYC pigeons

Iván Argote, Dinosaur, 2024. A High Line Plinth commission. On view October 2024 – Spring 2026. Photo by Timothy Schenck. Courtesy of the High Line.

May 16, 2025

High Line to host festival celebrating NYC pigeons

By Aaron Ginsburg

Celebrate the winged icon of New York City’s gritty streets at the High Line next month. On Saturday, June 14—also National Pigeon Day—Pigeon Fest will take over the elevated park along 30th Street and the Spur with a day of free programming, including games, art workshops, a pigeon impersonation pageant, and more. The festival centers around Iván Argote’s "Dinosaur," a 16-foot-tall hyper-realistic pigeon sculpture installed at the park in October above the intersection of 10th Avenue and 30th Street.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC’s earliest concrete building in Gowanus back on market for $3M

Photos by Vanessa DeGarcia, courtesy of The Corcoran Group

May 15, 2025

NYC’s earliest concrete building in Gowanus back on market for $3M

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Coignet Stone Building, the earliest known concrete building in New York City, is back on the market for $2,995,000. Located at 360 3rd Avenue in Gowanus, the landmarked structure was built in 1873 as both a showroom and a physical advertisement for Francois Coignet's concrete construction company, marking the first documented use of concrete for a building in the city. Whole Foods purchased the property in 2005 and completed a $1.3 million restoration in 2016 before listing it for $6 million. The building returned to the market in 2019 as a proposed residential townhouse, asking $6.5 million.
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MTA proposes 684-unit development above future Second Avenue Subway terminus in East Harlem

Streetview of East 125th Street between Lexington and Third Avenues, Map data © 2024 Google

May 15, 2025

MTA proposes 684-unit development above future Second Avenue Subway terminus in East Harlem

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority wants to rezone a block in East Harlem to allow for a nearly 700-unit residential building above the future terminus of the Second Avenue Subway. The MTA filed plans on Tuesday to rezone the south side of East 125th Street between Third and Lexington Avenues, where the station for the last stop on the Q line will eventually open as part of the Second Avenue Subway extension. As first reported by Crain's, the MTA plans to partner with a private developer to build an apartment tower with up to 684 units on the block's west side, an MTA-owned property.
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Popular Articles

NJ Transit strike: The best travel alternatives for getting to NYC

NJ Transit gated off the concourse at Penn Station as a result of the strike. Photo © 6sqft

May 14, 2025

NJ Transit strike: The best travel alternatives for getting to NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

NJ Transit engineers are now on strike for the first time in more than 40 years, impacting commutes for hundreds of thousands of residents. According to the New York Times, about 450 unionized workers went on strike on Friday as the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and NJ Transit failed to reach a long-delayed contract agreement. The engineers' demands include pay parity with engineers at nearby commuter railroads. With no train service as of Friday morning, here’s how you can still get to New York City from the Garden State.
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Vacant parking lot in Harlem to become 75 apartments

Credit: Haussmann Development

May 14, 2025

Vacant parking lot in Harlem to become 75 apartments

By Aaron Ginsburg

A vacant parking lot in Harlem will soon become a residential building. Haussmann Development on Monday announced it closed on a land purchase at 16–20 Convent Avenue for $7.5 million. Haussmann plans to build a 10-story residential building with 75 one- and two-bedroom apartments, including 15 affordable units for households earning 60 percent of the area median income.
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Affordable Housing

New public art exhibition in Midtown East explores what it means to be American

All photos courtesy of The Soloviev Group, unless noted otherwise

May 13, 2025

New public art exhibition in Midtown East explores what it means to be American

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new public art installation in Midtown East celebrates the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States with stories of veterans, farmers, activists, and other everyday heroes. Designed by C&G Partners, the nearly 7-acre exhibition, "Path of Liberty: That Which Unites US," immerses visitors in 55 personal stories brought to life through striking visuals and interactive elements. Opening on May 15, the installation is located at the site of the Soloviev Group's proposed Freedom Plaza casino on First Avenue between 38th and 41st Streets.
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Queensboro Bridge to open separate paths for cyclists and pedestrians

Credit: David Wilson on Flickr

May 13, 2025

Queensboro Bridge to open separate paths for cyclists and pedestrians

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Queensboro Bridge will finally have separate paths for cyclists and pedestrians, starting this weekend. Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced that the bridge’s north outer roadway is now a dedicated bike lane and the south outer roadway, a pedestrian-only path. Originally announced in 2021, the project was expected to open in March, but was abruptly delayed by the mayor, who required a "full briefing" before the path could open, as Streetsblog reported.
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NYC’s largest mass timber housing development to bring 500 homes to Staten Island’s North Shore

Renderings courtesy of GF55 Architects

May 12, 2025

NYC’s largest mass timber housing development to bring 500 homes to Staten Island’s North Shore

By Aaron Ginsburg

A mixed-income housing development with more than 500 apartments planned for Staten Island’s North Shore is set to become New York City’s largest mass timber residential development. On Monday, Mayor Eric Adams announced the selection of Artimus and Phoenix Realty Group to build the new homes, 25 percent of which will be designated as affordable, on two vacant sites along the New Stapleton waterfront. The development will be built with mass timber to lower the project’s carbon footprint and accelerate construction.
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Adams allocates $52M to replace West Village rec center in proposed budget

Tony Dapolito Recreation Center. Tdorante10 via Wikimedia Commons

May 12, 2025

Adams allocates $52M to replace West Village rec center in proposed budget

By Aaron Ginsburg

Mayor Eric Adams is allocating $51.8 million to rebuild a beloved, but run-down, recreation center in the West Village. The 100-year-old Tony Dapolito Recreation Center has been closed since 2019 due to significant structural issues, including foundation damage. Under his proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, Adams includes funding for the Parks Department to demolish the existing building on Clarkson Street and construct a modern facility across the street as part of a new mixed-use development.
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A train service to the Rockaways will resume this month

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

May 9, 2025

A train service to the Rockaways will resume this month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Just in time for summer, A train service to the Rockaways will resume later this month following a four-month shutdown. On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced that regular service will return on May 19, restoring subway access for the more than 9,000 daily commuters who travel in and out of the Rockaways. The shutdown, which began in January, allowed the agency to strengthen infrastructure against extreme weather and repair viaducts and bridges damaged during Hurricane Sandy.
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Updated plan for Broadway Junction redevelopment adds 1,000 affordable homes

Images courtesy of Totem

May 9, 2025

Updated plan for Broadway Junction redevelopment adds 1,000 affordable homes

By Aaron Ginsburg

A plan to redevelop a two-acre site around the Broadway Junction transit hub has been revised to increase the number of affordable homes from 600 to 1,000. After nearly 100 public meetings, developer Totem on Thursday released an updated version of its proposal to rezone the East New York site into Herkimer-Williams, a mixed-use project with four buildings along four blocks, containing housing, retail, community space, and open space. The revisions include more affordable housing, community-led retail, reduced building heights, and less office space.
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It’s time to nosh: Jewish food festival coming to Governors Island

All photos courtesy of The Great Knosh

May 8, 2025

It’s time to nosh: Jewish food festival coming to Governors Island

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City’s top restaurants are heading to Governors Island this summer for a one-day-only Jewish food and culture festival. Taking place Sunday, June 22 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., The Great Nosh is a picnic-style party with collaborations between some of the city's most iconic restaurants, including Katz’s Deli, Russ & Daughters, Apollo Bagels, and Morgenstern’s.
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Chinatown Restaurant Week to feature 18 eateries with off-menu specials and prix-fixe deals

Photo by Saul Macias on Unsplash

May 8, 2025

Chinatown Restaurant Week to feature 18 eateries with off-menu specials and prix-fixe deals

By Aaron Ginsburg

A week-long culinary festival in New York City will highlight the unique flavors and stories behind some of Chinatown’s best restaurants. Hosted by Welcome to Chinatown from May 19 through May 24, Chinatown Restaurant Week includes 18 neighborhood restaurants, from long-standing favorites like Hop Kee and Jing Fong to newer innovative additions shaping the future of Chinatown's food scene. Each will offer prix-fixe menus and special dishes available exclusively during the event.
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Largest building in Gowanus moves ahead after $174.5M in financing

(L) Credit: JLL, (R) Streetview of 175 Third Street, Map data © 2024 Google

May 7, 2025

Largest building in Gowanus moves ahead after $174.5M in financing

By Aaron Ginsburg

Plans for the largest building in Gowanus are moving forward after developers secured $174.5 million in financing. Last week, Charney Companies and Tavros obtained funding for 175 Third Street, a roughly one-million-square-foot project that will add 1,000 new apartments to the neighborhood as part of their larger Gowanus Wharf development. Once complete, the building will make Charney and Tavros the largest property owners in the area, with over two million square feet and 2,200 residences across Gowanus.
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Real Estate Trends

72-story tower with 1,200 apartments proposed to replace Downtown Brooklyn ‘eyesore’

Rendering courtesy of Binyan Studio and TenBerke Architects

May 7, 2025

72-story tower with 1,200 apartments proposed to replace Downtown Brooklyn ‘eyesore’

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City wants to redevelop an outdated office building in Downtown Brooklyn to make way for a 72-story mixed-use tower with over 1,000 units. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is looking to rezone the commercial building at 395 Flatbush Avenue Extension to allow for a new skyscraper with 1,263 apartments, as first reported by The Real Deal. The existing 350,000-square-foot building—a Verizon call center—was called "one of the biggest eyesores in Downtown Brooklyn" by Brownstoner for its homely architecture. The proposed tower will be the second-tallest in the borough, after The Brooklyn Tower.
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Policy

‘Prismatic’ turquoise-clad Bed-Stuy rental opens lottery for 30 apartments, from $874/month

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

May 7, 2025

‘Prismatic’ turquoise-clad Bed-Stuy rental opens lottery for 30 apartments, from $874/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A bold new Bed-Stuy rental recently launched a housing lottery for 30 mixed-income apartments. Located at 126 Sandford Street, the 10-story Prisma House brightens the block with its turquoise-clad facade and 120 contemporary residences inside. New Yorkers earning 40, 60, and 110 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $874/month for one bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Where to see live outdoor music in NYC this summer

May 6, 2025

Where to see live outdoor music in NYC this summer

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City will soon come alive with the sound of music, played on lush green spaces and iconic public parks across the five boroughs. We've rounded up some of the best options for a soothing sonic backdrop to your summer plans, from classical music in Central Park and jazz at sunset along the Hudson River to rock and hip-hop in Brooklyn's backyard.
Great tunes, ahead

Events & Things To Do

City landmarks duplex apartment in Paul Rudolph’s Modulightor Building

Exterior photo courtesy of the Paul Rudolph Institute for Modern Architecture; interior photo courtesy of the Landmarks Preservation Commission

May 6, 2025

City landmarks duplex apartment in Paul Rudolph’s Modulightor Building

By Aaron Ginsburg

The duplex apartment inside Paul Rudolph’s iconic Modulightor Building in Midtown East is officially a New York City landmark. On Tuesday, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted unanimously to designate the third- and fourth-floor residence at 246 East 58th Street as an interior landmark, citing the significance of its "complex, multi-layered interior." With the designation of the Modulightor Building as an individual landmark in December 2023, the interior and exterior of the building are now both protected.
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