All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

Huge Broadway Triangle development opens lottery for 120 apartments, from $812/month

Credit: Fischer + Makooi

January 7, 2026

Huge Broadway Triangle development opens lottery for 120 apartments, from $812/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A huge mixed-use development in the Broadway Triangle section of Williamsburg opened a housing lottery for 120 affordable apartments. Developed by Rabsky Group, the project includes eight buildings across two blocks at a site formerly occupied by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer. The development has been constructed in phases, with the latest bringing a 10-story affordable rental building to 11 Gerry Street. New Yorkers earning 40, 60, and 100 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $812/month one-bedrooms to $3,298/month four-bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

Mamdani orders city to close or renovate migrant shelters

The Roosevelt Hotel closed during the pandemic and became an emergency shelter center for asylum seekers. Image via WikiCommons

January 7, 2026

Mamdani orders city to close or renovate migrant shelters

By Aaron Ginsburg

The city has 45 days to create a plan to close or renovate its emergency migrant shelters under a new executive order signed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday. The Departments of Social Services and Homeless Services (DHS), working with the Law Department, have until February 19 to create a plan to bring all emergency shelters into compliance with city law, including maximum capacity limits and requirements for cooking facilities in shelters housing families and children. Former Mayor Eric Adams suspended those rules through a series of emergency executive orders beginning in October 2022, as the city grappled with the arrival of tens of thousands of asylum seekers.
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Policy

Williamsburg Wharf launches leasing for newest waterfront rental, from $3,980/month

Renderings courtesy of Naftali Group

January 6, 2026

Williamsburg Wharf launches leasing for newest waterfront rental, from $3,980/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Leasing has launched for 128 market-rate apartments at the newest luxury rental building to open at the Brooklyn waterfront's Williamsburg Wharf complex. On Tuesday, Naftali Group announced the start of leasing for Four Williamsburg Wharf, designed by Brandon Haw Architecture and Hill West Architects with interior design by Studio Munge, marking the completion of the development’s first phase. Pricing starts at $3,980/month for studios and $4,925/month for one-bedroom units.
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Real Estate Trends

Avdoo plans luxury residential tower in hot Hudson Square

Streetview of 68 King Street © 2024 Google

January 6, 2026

Avdoo plans luxury residential tower in hot Hudson Square

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new development promising an "elevated residential experience" is moving forward in Hudson Square. Avdoo last week closed on 68 King Street for $63 million, with financing from Valley National Bank. The developer is planning a 200,000-square-foot luxury residential building, with the use of 125,000 square feet of development rights, and will pursue additional air rights purchases and a transit improvement–related bonus, as Yimby reported.
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New Developments

NYC’s 10 best-selling residential buildings of 2025

January 5, 2026

NYC’s 10 best-selling residential buildings of 2025

By Aaron Ginsburg

CityRealty has released its annual report highlighting New York City's best-selling residential buildings of the year. In 2025, Manhattan recorded just over 11,000 signed residential contracts, with the overall average last asking price at $2.32 million and the average price per square foot across all property types at $1,636. Many of the top-selling buildings have been on the market for several years and are nearing sellout. Across New York City, some of the fastest-selling developments include One Domino Square, 255 East 77th Street, and 140 Jane Street, among others, which together accounted for nearly 100 signed contracts in 2025.
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Real Estate Trends

McGuinness Boulevard to be redesigned with two protected bike lanes, after all

Credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

January 5, 2026

McGuinness Boulevard to be redesigned with two protected bike lanes, after all

By Aaron Ginsburg

Greenpoint’s notoriously dangerous McGuinness Boulevard will receive its originally planned safety upgrades, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Saturday. The city's Department of Transportation (DOT) will move forward with its plan to install protected bike lanes along the entirety of McGuinness Boulevard, extending existing protected lanes between Meeker and Calyer Streets up to the Pulaski Bridge. The move fulfills a campaign pledge Mamdani made in August to complete the original project and follows a corruption scandal under former Mayor Eric Adams, in which the redesign was scaled back amid allegations that a neighborhood film production company bribed a senior administration official, as Gothamist reported.
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Here’s how to tour the abandoned City Hall subway station

Photo © James and Karla Murray

January 2, 2026

Here’s how to tour the abandoned City Hall subway station

By Aaron Ginsburg

You don't have to be the mayor to tour the abandoned City Hall subway station, but you do have to be a member of the New York Transit Museum. After Mayor Zohran Mamdani's midnight swearing-in at the old subway station in Lower Manhattan gave New Yorkers a peek at the historic underground space this week, the museum announced tickets will go on sale January 14 for upcoming tours, which are the only way to see the City Hall's grand interiors (if you're not the mayor). The landmarked station, the showpiece of the city's first subway ride and which has been decommissioned since the 1940s, is known for its ornate vaulted Guastavino-tiled ceilings, chandeliers, and skylights hidden beneath the city streets.
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Mamdani signs housing, tenant protection orders on first day

Credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

January 2, 2026

Mamdani signs housing, tenant protection orders on first day

By Aaron Ginsburg

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has wasted little time advancing his campaign agenda, signing a series of executive orders on his first day in office, including three aimed at building new housing and protecting tenants. On Thursday, Mamdani signed the orders, which revamp the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants and create two new task forces focused on streamlining housing construction, connecting New Yorkers to homes more quickly, and increasing supply by identifying qualifying city-owned properties. He also appointed Cea Weaver, executive director of Housing Justice for All and the New York State Tenant Block, as director of the revitalized Office to Protect Tenants.
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It’s the end of the line for the MetroCard

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

December 31, 2025

It’s the end of the line for the MetroCard

By Aaron Ginsburg

The MetroCard, the iconic fare payment method for New York City’s public transit system, is now officially a thing of the past. On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) retired the card, ending the era of the signature transit payment method that replaced tokens and became a cultural icon since its debut in 1994, and marking a major step in the MTA's transition to the tap-and-go OMNY system.
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Mets star Francisco Lindor pays $21.2M for UES penthouse

Renderings courtesy of DBOX

December 31, 2025

Mets star Francisco Lindor pays $21.2M for UES penthouse

By Aaron Ginsburg

While several New York Mets stars left the team this year, shortstop Francisco Lindor is here to stay. As first reported by the New York Post, Lindor paid $21.2 million for a penthouse at 200 East 75th Street on the Upper East Side. The All-Star shortstop first entered a contract for Penthouse 5, a 5,300-square-foot residence with six bedrooms, last December.
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Popular Articles

Citi Bike prices to increase again

Credit: Elvert Barnes on Flickr

December 30, 2025

Citi Bike prices to increase again

By Aaron Ginsburg

Citi Bike is raising its prices again, marking the fifth consecutive year New York City bike-sharing will become more expensive. Starting January 5, 2026, the bike-share service, operated by Lyft, will increase the price of e-bike and classic bike overage fees to 27 cents per minute for members. Annual memberships will also rise roughly nine percent, or $20, to $239, effective January 28. The company cited fleet expansion across the five boroughs and rising costs from tariffs as reasons for the price hikes.
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First housing phase of NYC’s net-zero Far Rockaway development moves forward

Credit: FX Collaborative

December 30, 2025

First housing phase of NYC’s net-zero Far Rockaway development moves forward

By Aaron Ginsburg

The development team behind New York City’s first net-zero community in Far Rockaway has secured $278.8 million for its first phase, which will bring 320 new homes to the neighborhood. On Monday, L+M Development Partners, Urbane Development, and other project stakeholders announced the closing of financing for Arverne East Building D, the first phase of housing of the larger revitalization of a 116-acre oceanfront site in Edgemere into a mixed-use community. Upon completion in 2028, the 355,000-square-foot building will deliver 230 affordable rentals and 90 homes designated for ownership.
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Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball will drop twice in 2026

Photos by the Times Square Alliance

December 30, 2025

Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball will drop twice in 2026

By Aaron Ginsburg

In 2026, Times Square’s New Year’s Eve ball will drop twice for the first time, with a second descent glowing in red, white, and blue in honor of America’s 250th birthday. After the traditional midnight countdown, the new "Constellation Ball" will be relit around 12:04 a.m. and then rise above the illuminated "2026" numerals. The celebration will feature 2,000 pounds of red, white, and blue confetti and a pyrotechnic show set to Ray Charles’ rendition of “America the Beautiful." The patriotic ball returns for a second time on the eve of Independence Day, July 3, marking the first time the ball will drop outside of New Year's Eve.
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Events & Things To Do

11 free New Year’s events and activities in NYC

Photo by Kohei Kanno on Flickr

December 29, 2025

11 free New Year’s events and activities in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is arguably the world’s capital of New Year’s Eve celebrations, with over-the-top festivities happening across all five boroughs. But you don't have to break the bank to ring in 2026. Here are some of the best free ways to celebrate the new year in NYC, from dazzling firework displays above Prospect Park to scenic hikes and meditations in lush city parks.
Say goodbye to 2025!

Events & Things To Do

Broadway Junction development with 1,000 affordable units moves ahead after Council approval

All images courtesy of WXY Studio, unless noted otherwise

December 29, 2025

Broadway Junction development with 1,000 affordable units moves ahead after Council approval

By Aaron Ginsburg

A major redevelopment planned for a two-acre site surrounding the Broadway Junction transit hub in East New York advanced this month. The Council approved plans to build Herkimer-Williams, a four-building complex with up to 1,000 affordable homes, retail, community facilities, and open space. Developed by Totem, the mixed-use project has been shaped by nearly three years of public outreach, including over 100 meetings with residents and stakeholders.
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New transit-oriented Cypress Hills project has 200+ affordable units

Credit: Think! Architecture + Design PLLC6

December 24, 2025

New transit-oriented Cypress Hills project has 200+ affordable units

By Aaron Ginsburg

A mixed-use residential project in Cypress Hills, set to deliver more than 200 affordable apartments just steps from the subway, moved ahead this week. On Tuesday, a joint venture of Slate Property Group, Thorobird Companies, and Bangladeshi American Community Development & Youth Services (BACDYS) closed on 570 Eldert Lane, a transit-oriented development that will add 213 homes adjacent to the A train at Grant Avenue. The property will also include 10,000 square feet of community space operated by BACDYS, along with on-site supportive services from the non-profit Urban Pathways.
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Converted former brewery in Murray Hill opens lottery for 28 apartments, from $940/month

Credit: NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

December 24, 2025

Converted former brewery in Murray Hill opens lottery for 28 apartments, from $940/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A former brewing company headquarters in Murray Hill, later converted into medical offices, has been reimagined once again. Now a residential development, the building at 650 First Avenue opened a housing lottery for 28 mixed-income apartments. The 11-story building first served as the Kips Bay Brewing Company's headquarters more than 120 years ago, and has been transformed by developer Lalezarian Properties into 111 residences, according to CityRealty. New Yorkers earning 40, 80, and 100 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $940/month studios to $3,290/month two bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

Work to begin on $1.6B life sciences hub in Kips Bay next year

All renderings courtesy of SOM / Miysis

December 23, 2025

Work to begin on $1.6B life sciences hub in Kips Bay next year

By Aaron Ginsburg

Work on a huge new life sciences campus in Kips Bay, aimed at cementing New York City as a national leader in the field, is getting ready to kick off. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced a timeline for construction of the Science Park and Research Campus (SPARC) Kips Bay at East 25th Street and First Avenue, with deconstruction of the current campus planned for February 2026 and construction of the new campus the following year. The $1.6 billion project will provide modern facilities for 4,500 City University of New York students and create a clear pathway to careers in the life sciences sector. The campus will include an ambulatory care center, a Health + Hospitals training facility, a health sciences high school, and a training center for forensic pathologists.
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New Developments

Starting in 2026, NYC’s rent-stabilized apartments will be easier to find

Credit: Tyler Donaghy on Unsplash

December 23, 2025

Starting in 2026, NYC’s rent-stabilized apartments will be easier to find

By Aaron Ginsburg

Apartment hunters in New York City will have an easier time finding rent-stabilized units next year, as a new city law takes effect on January 1. Passed in June, Intro. 1037, also known as the Rent Transparency Act, requires landlords to more clearly publicize rent-stabilized units in their buildings and explain how prospective tenants can access further information. Sponsored by Council Member Sandy Nurse, the bill requires that a sign be posted in building common areas and made available in both English and Spanish.
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Mamdani to host inauguration block party on Broadway

(L) Zohran Mamdani, image via WikiCommons; (R) NYC City Hall, image via WikiCommons

December 22, 2025

Mamdani to host inauguration block party on Broadway

By Aaron Ginsburg

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will celebrate his swearing-in on January 1 with New York City's first-ever inauguration block party. The seven-block celebration along Broadway in Lower Manhattan is expected to draw over 40,000 spectators. Mamdani’s public swearing-in takes place at 1 p.m. on the steps of City Hall, alongside a massive block party between Murray and Liberty Streets. About 4,000 tickets will be available for the City Hall ceremony, while 40,000 tickets will allow attendees to watch the ceremony on big screens at the adjacent block party.
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Events & Things To Do

Former Midtown hotel to become 579 affordable apartments

Photos courtesy of Slate Property Group unless otherwise noted.

December 22, 2025

Former Midtown hotel to become 579 affordable apartments

By Aaron Ginsburg

A former Midtown hotel is slated to become a permanently affordable housing building with nearly 600 units. On Monday, Slate Property Group and Breaking Ground announced the acquisition of the Stewart Hotel at 371 Seventh Avenue, which will be converted into 579 affordable apartments for low-income households and formerly homeless individuals. The purchase underscores an emerging strategy to address the city’s housing crisis by converting underused hotels into affordable housing, following the opening last week of the city’s first such development at the former JFK Hilton in South Jamaica, Queens.
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NYC will study feasibility of affordable housing on Wards Island

Aerial view of Randall’s and Wards Islands. Image via WikiCommons

December 19, 2025

NYC will study feasibility of affordable housing on Wards Island

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new City Council bill passed this week will explore the feasibility of creating affordable housing on Wards Island. Sponsored by Council Member Gale Brewer, Intro. 0571 directs the city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) to publish a study assessing the potential for residential development on the 255-acre island at the northern end of the East River between Manhattan and Queens. Due by July 1, 2027, the study will examine costs, land-use restrictions, and the provision of services and amenities on Wards Island.
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Adams stacks Rent Guidelines Board, jeopardizing Mamdani’s rent freeze pledge

Credit: Benny Polatseck/Mayoral Photo Office on Flickr

December 19, 2025

Adams stacks Rent Guidelines Board, jeopardizing Mamdani’s rent freeze pledge

By Aaron Ginsburg

With just two weeks left in office, Mayor Eric Adams has appointed and reappointed four members to the city’s Rent Guidelines Board, in an effort to block Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s push for a rent freeze. With these appointments and reappointments, Adams' allies now hold a majority on the nine-member board, which sets rent increases for the city’s one million rent-stabilized apartments.
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Policy

NYC reveals plan for first combination affordable housing and rec center project

Renderings courtesy of the Hudson Mosaic Development Team

December 19, 2025

NYC reveals plan for first combination affordable housing and rec center project

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City has selected a development team to build the city's first-ever combination affordable housing and recreation center project. The city announced on Thursday that Camber Property Group, Services for the UnderServed (S:US), and Essence Development will build "Hudson Mosaic," a mixed-use project with 280 affordable homes and a new community center on a vacant city-owned lot at 388 Hudson Street. The selection follows a request for proposals issued in February, which called for the redevelopment of the site’s northern portion, while a new public plaza is planned for the southern end.
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NY’s first hotel-to-affordable housing conversion near JFK Airport is now complete

Credit: Slate Property Group

December 18, 2025

NY’s first hotel-to-affordable housing conversion near JFK Airport is now complete

By Aaron Ginsburg

The transformation of a vacant hotel near John F. Kennedy International Airport into affordable housing is complete, marking New York’s first development of its kind. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday announced the completion of the Baisley Pond Park Residences in South Jamaica, which has turned the former JFK Hilton into 318 affordable and supportive apartments. The $167 million project—the first in the state to repurpose a hotel for affordable housing—features an indoor healing garden, on-site social services, and is fully electric.
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Affordable Housing

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