All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

March 24, 2025

Coney Island’s Luna Park to open for 2025 season this weekend

Luna Park, Coney Island's iconic beachfront amusement park, will open for the 2025 season this weekend. The historic park will reopen on Saturday, March 29 at 11 a.m. with a three-day celebration, including its annual opening ceremonies featuring the first ride and egg cream christening of the world-famous Coney Island Cyclone roller coaster. In celebration of its 98th birthday, the first 98 visitors will enjoy a free ride on the Cyclone and a complimentary egg cream.
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Events & Things To Do

Trump administration delays congestion pricing deadline by a month

Credit: Zhen Yao on Unsplash

March 21, 2025

Trump administration delays congestion pricing deadline by a month

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Trump administration said it would give New York a 30-day extension on its deadline to end congestion pricing. A day before the original March 21 deadline, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the extension in a post on X, calling Gov. Kathy Hochul's refusal to end the tolling program "unacceptable." The governor and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority have repeatedly defended the program and pledged to keep it running until a federal judge makes a ruling; the agency filed a lawsuit to protect the program last month.
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Proposed Freedom Plaza casino complex next to U.N. reveals waterfront public park

Renderings courtesy of OJB Landscape Architecture

March 21, 2025

Proposed Freedom Plaza casino complex next to U.N. reveals waterfront public park

By Aaron Ginsburg

Newly released renderings offer a closer look at a public waterfront park planned alongside a proposed casino complex near the United Nations. Unveiled on Thursday, the new video and imagery showcase the nearly 5-acre public park planned as part of Soloviev Group's proposed Freedom Plaza casino project. Designed by OJB Landscape Architects, the green space would feature an 18,000-square-foot central lawn, 1.2 miles of accessible pathways, a children's play area, an amphitheater, scenic overlooks, and more.
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March 21, 2025

Long-abandoned Clinton Hill site to become affordable housing

By Aaron Ginsburg

A long-abandoned building in Clinton Hill may finally be redeveloped. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday issued a request for proposals for 1024 Fulton Street, a 12,800-square-foot state-owned site between Grand and Classon Avenues. The governor wants a developer to demolish the derelict building, which has been vacant for nearly 30 years, and build a new mixed-use project with 100 percent affordable homes. Officials have made several attempts to redevelop the eyesore over the years without success.
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Affordable Housing

NYC’s plan to rezone Jamaica calls for 12,000 new homes

Jamaica Avenue and 165th Street. All images courtesy of DCP

March 20, 2025

NYC’s plan to rezone Jamaica calls for 12,000 new homes

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is moving forward with a new rezoning initiative that could bring more than 12,000 new homes to downtown Jamaica, Queens. On Thursday, the Department of City Planning (DCP) began the approval process for the plan, which looks to rezone about 300 blocks in the neighborhood to allow for thousands of new homes, including 4,000 units that would be income-restricted. If approved, the rezoning would create the city's largest Mandatory Inclusionary Housing area, add two million square feet of commercial space, and generate more than 7,000 new jobs, according to the Queens Eagle.
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MTA to stop selling MetroCards by end of the year

Photo by Mr.TinMD on Flickr

March 20, 2025

MTA to stop selling MetroCards by end of the year

By Aaron Ginsburg

After more than three decades of service, the MetroCard is nearing its final ride. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced the final day for MetroCard sales will be December 31, another step toward the full transition to the OMNY tap-and-go payment system. Retail partners, including bodegas and drugstores, will stop selling MetroCards this fall. Riders will still be able to pay with their MetroCards through 2026, with the MTA set to announce that end date at a later time.
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Atlantic Avenue rezoning approved by City Planning Commission

Atlantic Avenue and Bedford, looking west. 2023. Photo courtesy of NYC DCP

March 19, 2025

Atlantic Avenue rezoning approved by City Planning Commission

By Aaron Ginsburg

A plan to create thousands of new homes, jobs, and open space along Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn is one step closer to becoming reality. The City Planning Commission (CPC) on Wednesday voted to approve the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan, a rezoning that could bring 4,600 new homes, 1,440 of which would be permanently affordable, 2,800 permanent jobs, and various public realm enhancements to a 21-block stretch of Atlantic Avenue. The plan now moves to the City Council for a final vote.
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Trump administration threatens to withhold MTA funds over transit safety

Credit: Jenna Day on Unsplash

March 19, 2025

Trump administration threatens to withhold MTA funds over transit safety

By Aaron Ginsburg

President Donald Trump's administration threatened to withhold federal funding for the New York City transit system unless the Metropolitan Transportation Authority submits a plan addressing transit safety. In a letter sent to the MTA on Tuesday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy urged Chair & CEO Janno Lieber to provide a detailed plan to reduce crime, combat violence against transit workers, minimize injuries and fatalities from suicide events and subway surfing, and address fare evasion. In response, transit officials pointed to publicly available data that shows major crimes trending down this year.
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Asian food hall to open in Long Island City this spring

Marathon Hong Kong Diner. All images courtesy of LIC Food Hall, unless noted otherwise

March 19, 2025

Asian food hall to open in Long Island City this spring

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new food hall showcasing the best of Asian cuisine is set to open in Long Island City this May. Dubbed the LIC Food Hall, the culinary experience will debut inside the Star Tower condo building at 27-17 42nd Road, as first reported by LIC Post. Featuring 10 established and emerging vendors, the hall will offer a mix of dine-in and takeout options, serving up Chinese, Vietnamese, Taiwanese, and Japanese specialties.
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Food & Dining

41 middle-income apartments available at huge development on Astoria waterfront, from $3,261/month

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

March 18, 2025

41 middle-income apartments available at huge development on Astoria waterfront, from $3,261/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Applications are now being accepted for 41 middle-income apartments in two new residential towers on the Astoria waterfront. Located at 20 and 30 Halletts Point, the buildings are part of the second phase of the massive Halletts Point development, which aims to deliver over 2,000 new homes. The towers offer tenants brand-new, modern residences with stunning views of the East River and Manhattan skyline. New Yorkers earning 120 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $3,261/month studios to $4,194/month two bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

MTA to host open houses for Interborough Express

By Aaron Ginsburg

New Yorkers, here's your chance to learn more and ask questions about the Interborough Express (IBX) train line, a proposed project to connect Brooklyn and Queens by public transit. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced on Friday that it will host open houses to share information and answer questions about the IBX project. The first open house takes place at the Queens Public Library in Ridgewood on March 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
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March 18, 2025

350 Park Avenue supertall office tower officially enters public review

By Aaron Ginsburg

A proposed 1,600-foot-tall office tower set to reshape the New York City skyline officially entered public review this week. The Department of City Planning on Monday certified an application for 350 Park Avenue, a proposed 62-story building in Midtown East led by Vornado Realty Trust, Citadel, and Rudin Management, kicking off the seven-month uniform land use review procedure (ULURP). Designed by Foster + Partners, the project—the first new office building presented to the City Planning Commission in five years—calls for 1.8 million square feet of office space and a new public concourse, with Ken Griffin's Citadel and Citadel Securities as anchor tenants.
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36 bars to watch March Madness games in NYC

Image courtesy of Mustang Harry’s

March 17, 2025

36 bars to watch March Madness games in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

With the abundance of sports bars and pubs scattered across New York City, it can be hard to sort through to find the best ones to watch your favorite team. With the NCAA March Madness tournament approaching, 6sqft put together a list of some of our favorite sports bars in the city to watch the games, prepare a bracket, and enjoy some good food and drinks.
Full list here

Gracie Abrams buys Greenwich Village penthouse for $5.5M

Lead photo by BruceSchaff on WikiCommons. All other photos courtesy of Yale Wagner. Listing photos are virtually staged.

March 17, 2025

Gracie Abrams buys Greenwich Village penthouse for $5.5M

By Aaron Ginsburg

Pop star Gracie Abrams is the latest celebrity to call the star-studded 1 Fifth Avenue co-op home. The singer-songwriter paid $5,500,000 for a three-bedroom, three-bathroom penthouse at the Greenwich Village building, across from Washington Square Park. Abrams joins high-profile residents of the Art Deco tower, including The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards, actress Jessica Lange, and filmmaker Tim Burton, alongside his ex-wife, actress Helena Bonham Carter.
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NYC proposes allowing mopeds on Brooklyn and Queensboro bridges

Photo by Marcin Wichary on Flickr

March 17, 2025

NYC proposes allowing mopeds on Brooklyn and Queensboro bridges

By Aaron Ginsburg

Moped riders may soon be allowed to ride alongside cars on the Brooklyn Bridge and the lower level of the Queensboro Bridge. Under a proposed rule by the Department of Transportation, registered mopeds with license plates would be allowed on the Brooklyn and Queensboro Bridges. The ban would remain on Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges, and the upper level of Queensboro. There is currently no legal route for mopeds to travel across the East River, as riders are prohibited from using the motor vehicle lanes and protected bike lanes on all roadways. As first reported by Streetsblog, the city hopes the rule change prevents conflicts between moped riders, pedestrians, and cyclists.
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NYC’s population bounces back after pandemic exodus

Photo by Abhi Verma on Unsplash

March 14, 2025

NYC’s population bounces back after pandemic exodus

By Aaron Ginsburg

Five years after the pandemic triggered an exodus from New York City, new census data shows the city's population is growing again. According to census data released this week, the city's population grew by 87,184 to 8.48 million people between July 2023 and July 2024, up from 8.39 million the previous year. All five boroughs gained residents, with Manhattan leading the way with a 1.7 percent increase in population.
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$8B Citi Field casino and park proposal gets zoning approval from NYC Council

Credit: SHoP Architects, Field Operations

March 14, 2025

$8B Citi Field casino and park proposal gets zoning approval from NYC Council

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen's $8 billion casino proposal near Citi Field cleared a major hurdle this week. On Tuesday, the City Council voted 41-2 in favor of zoning changes for the Metropolitan Park development, a sports and entertainment complex planned for 50 acres of parking lots around the Mets stadium. While the approval grants Cohen and his partners the ability to make zoning changes on the site, which sits on city parkland, the project still requires approval from several local and state officials.
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93 affordable and supportive homes open at Bed-Stuy’s Woodhull Hospital

Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

March 14, 2025

93 affordable and supportive homes open at Bed-Stuy’s Woodhull Hospital

By Aaron Ginsburg

Nearly 100 new affordable and supportive homes for homeless and low-income New Yorkers opened at Woodhull Hospital in Bed-Stuy. City officials on Thursday celebrated the opening of the second phase of Woodhull Residences, a $41.5 million, 93-unit building providing affordable and supportive housing for NYC Health + Hospitals patients experiencing homelessness, as well as low-income seniors and other New Yorkers. Located at 171 Throop Avenue, the project is part of the agency’s "Housing for Health" initiative, which aims to create 650 affordable homes over the next five years.
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Affordable Housing

Mayoral hopeful Lander proposes 50,000 new homes on NYC golf courses

Van Cortlandt Golf Course. Photo by Shannon McGee on Flickr

March 13, 2025

Mayoral hopeful Lander proposes 50,000 new homes on NYC golf courses

By Aaron Ginsburg

In a proposal likely to make golf lovers tee off, mayoral candidate Brad Lander wants to turn some of New York City's public golf courses into 50,000 new homes to tackle the housing crisis. The idea, included in the city comptroller's 36-page housing proposal released last week, is a key element of Lander’s vision to create 500,000 new homes across the five boroughs over the next decade, if elected mayor. In order to achieve these ambitious housing goals, Lander said he would declare a housing emergency to speed up construction and triple subsidies for affordable housing.
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Ride a vintage NYC subway train to the Yankees’ and Mets’ home openers

Images courtesy of the New York Transit Museum

March 13, 2025

Ride a vintage NYC subway train to the Yankees’ and Mets’ home openers

By Aaron Ginsburg

Kick off baseball season with a retro subway ride on opening day. The New York Transit Museum will run vintage trains for the Yankees' and Mets' home opener games on March 27 and April 4, respectively. The old-school trains depart from Grand Central-42nd Street to 161st Street-Yankee Stadium and from 34th Street-Hudson Yards to Mets-Willets Point. The event is free with subway fare.
all aboard!

March 13, 2025

Hell’s Kitchen rental opens lottery for 13 apartments, from $2,500/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A housing lottery launched this week for 13 middle-income apartments at a residential tower in the heart of Hell's Kitchen. Located at 360 West 43rd Street, the 23-story building offers luxury apartments and amenities like a rooftop terrace and fitness center in prime Midtown West. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $2,500/month studios to $3,800/month two bedrooms.
Do you qualify?

Affordable Housing

Central Park to open huge new rec center with pool and ice rink in April

Renderings courtesy of Susan T Rodriguez | Architecture • Design

March 12, 2025

Central Park to open huge new rec center with pool and ice rink in April

By Aaron Ginsburg

A transformative project set to reconnect the neighborhoods at Central Park’s northern edge to the Harlem Meer is slated to open next month. The new $160 million Davis Center will open on April 26, the Central Park Conservancy announced on Wednesday. The Davis Center replaces the aging Lasker Rink and Pool with a state-of-the-art facility featuring a pool in the summer, a winter ice skating rink, a paved boardwalk, public open space, and more. One of the most ambitious undertakings in the Conservancy's history, the project also transforms the surrounding landscape, improving park access for residents of the primarily low-income communities bordering the park to the north.
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Architecture And Design

Brooklyn Botanic Garden sound installation remembers Covid victims

Photos by Michael Stewart

March 12, 2025

Brooklyn Botanic Garden sound installation remembers Covid victims

By Aaron Ginsburg

To mark the fifth anniversary of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is bringing back a sound installation that originally debuted in 2021. Created by NYC-based composer Michael Gordon, "loved." is a site-specific installation featuring seven vibraphones playing meditative compositions every hour. On view from March 15 to 30, the installation provides a space for visitors to sit, reflect, and remember the people or things they lost during the pandemic.
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Events & Things To Do

Penn Station proposal moves Madison Square Garden, calls for classical train hall

Renderings courtesy of the Grand Penn Community Alliance, unless noted otherwise

March 11, 2025

Penn Station proposal moves Madison Square Garden, calls for classical train hall

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new proposal for the long-stalled redesign of Penn Station would move Madison Square Garden across the street and replace the existing station with a new train hall reminiscent of the its original grandeur. Spearheaded by architect and former chief urban designer for New York City Alexandros Washburn, the "Grand Penn" plan would create a public space the size of Bryant Park and a commuter train hall inspired by the original station, while relocating the famous arena across the street. The plan now joins two stalled proposals, including one from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and another from a private developer.
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March 11, 2025

The best ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City goes all out for St. Patrick's Day, celebrating the Emerald Isle with parades, pubs, pints, and performances throughout March. With deep Irish roots, the city's Irish community has played a vital role in shaping its identity, and so on St. Patrick's Day, New Yorkers come together to celebrate the culture, people, and history of Ireland, as well as the contributions of Irish Americans. Ahead, here are some ways to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in the five boroughs, from enjoying Irish whiskey flights and pints of Guinness at pubs across the city to experiencing traditional Irish song and dance at Radio City Music Hall and the New York Irish Center.
Find ways to celebrate, ahead

All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

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