All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

MTA unveils tribute to late Zabar’s owner at 79th Street subway station

Credit: MTA on Flickr

October 15, 2025

MTA unveils tribute to late Zabar’s owner at 79th Street subway station

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The subway station at 79th Street now honors an Upper West Side icon. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority unveiled a tribute to Saul Zabar, the owner of the famed Zabar's deli, who passed away last week at the age of 97. The agency has put up vinyl posters of Zabar in his signature white coat along the 1 train platform. The deli recently collaborated with the MTA to celebrate the subway’s 120th anniversary and Zabar’s 90th birthday.
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Brooklyn Mirage files for demolition following permit and financial issues

Credit: Chris Lavado

October 15, 2025

Brooklyn Mirage files for demolition following permit and financial issues

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East Williamsburg's Brooklyn Mirage, the outdoor music venue that canceled its entire summer lineup amid permit issues and bankruptcy, may be closing permanently. As first reported by The Real Deal, the venue’s operator has filed full demolition permits for the roughly 32,000-square-foot venue, part of its larger Avant Gardner complex. The company filed for bankruptcy in August, citing “several months of financial distress," exacerbated by the Mirage’s failed reopening, scheduled for May following a major renovation and called off just hours before.
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MGM abruptly drops Yonkers casino bid

Rendering courtesy of MGM Resorts

October 15, 2025

MGM abruptly drops Yonkers casino bid

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After advancing as one of only four casino proposals to move forward, MGM Empire City in Yonkers has abruptly withdrawn its bid. On Tuesday, MGM Resorts announced it would pull its proposal, citing a “newly defined competitive landscape” that “challenges the returns” the company had anticipated from the project, as well as recent changes that would limit the casino license to 15 years instead of 30. The Yonkers proposal had been considered a leading contender for a license and was among the first to receive unanimous approval from its community advisory committee late last month.
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Hochul criticizes Trump for withholding $34M in counterterrorism funds

Credit: Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

October 10, 2025

Hochul criticizes Trump for withholding $34M in counterterrorism funds

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Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday criticized the Trump administration for withholding $34 million in transit security funding for New York City’s subway and regional rail systems. According to a press release, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority had been slated to receive the funds through the federal Transit Security Grant Program, established after 9/11 to support critical counterterrorism and transit security operations. But the agency was notified last week that it would be the only one among 21 applicants nationwide to be denied funding.
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New legislation would make NYC outdoor dining year-round again

Credit: Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

October 10, 2025

New legislation would make NYC outdoor dining year-round again

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New legislation aims to restore New York City’s outdoor dining program to its pandemic-era scale by eliminating seasonal restrictions. Council Member Lincoln Restler on Thursday introduced Intro. 1421 to restore year-round outdoor dining, which ended following new rules and restrictions approved by the Council last year. The legislation would also allow grocery stores to apply for sidewalk cafe licenses, eliminate seasonal limits on roadway cafes, and permit certain cafes to expand their frontage with approval. The proposal seeks to scale back aspects of Dining Out NYC, the city’s current outdoor dining program. According to Restler, the seasonal schedule and stricter rules have made it difficult for many businesses to participate.
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Pacific Park gets new developers and $12M for affordable housing

Barclays Center & Pacific Park in 2020. Photo by CityLimitsJunction via WikiCommons

October 9, 2025

Pacific Park gets new developers and $12M for affordable housing

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Pacific Park, Brooklyn’s years-long stalled megadevelopment, could finally move forward after securing new funding and a fresh development team. This week, Cirrus Real Estate and LCOR acquired the development rights to six Brooklyn rail yard sites at a foreclosure auction, after Greenland USA, the project’s former developer, defaulted on nearly $350 million in loans, as first reported by The Real Deal. The new developers have also contributed $12 million to an affordable housing fund, compensating for penalties that were not enforced against Greenland USA for failing to complete 876 affordable apartments by May 2025. The move represents a significant step forward for the project, which was launched more than two decades ago.
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Housing code violations at NYCHA buildings are now public

East River Houses Credit: Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

October 9, 2025

Housing code violations at NYCHA buildings are now public

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For the first time, New York City public housing residents can see housing code violations for their buildings online. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development began posting violations at NYCHA buildings on an online public portal this week and via NYC Open Data, following a June legal settlement. The records include more than 500 violations documented through court-ordered inspections since September 15. Housing advocates are hailing the portal for providing the same access to information long available to private tenants, just a week after a partial collapse at a Mott Haven NYCHA building.
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‘Humans of New York’ photo exhibit takes over Grand Central

All photos courtesy of Ahmed Gaber for Dear New York

October 8, 2025

‘Humans of New York’ photo exhibit takes over Grand Central

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One of the most famous photography projects in the world has taken over Grand Central Terminal. This week, Brandon Stanton of "Humans of New York," the long-running online portrait series featuring the stories of everyday New Yorkers, opened the installation "Dear New York," a sweeping "love letter" to the city. The exhibit includes 50-foot-tall photographs from the Humans of New York portfolio displayed across the terminal, including the main concourse, the subway station, Vanderbilt Hall, and 150 digital screens. The two-week installation is on view through October 19.
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Jamaica rental with sculpture garden opens lottery for 185 apartments, from $1,843/month

Credit: Bezier

October 8, 2025

Jamaica rental with sculpture garden opens lottery for 185 apartments, from $1,843/month

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Applications are now being accepted for 185 mixed-income apartments at a massive development in Jamaica, Queens. Located at 166-20 90th Avenue, the two-building complex dubbed Ruby Square has over 600 apartments and nearly one acre of lush public and private outdoor spaces, including a tranquil interior courtyard with a sculpture garden. New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, with rents starting at $2,688/month for studios, $1,843/month for one-bedrooms, and $2,188/month for two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
Works begins on Newark Airport’s new $3.5B AirTrain

Rendering courtesy of Tutor Perini/O&G

October 7, 2025

Works begins on Newark Airport’s new $3.5B AirTrain

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Work has begun on revitalizing Newark Liberty Airport's aging AirTrain—one part of the larger plan to rebuild the international airport. On Tuesday, Port Authority Chair Kevin O’Toole announced the groundbreaking for the new AirTrain, kicking off a long-awaited refresh of the 1990s-era system that will speed up and improve travel to the airport via public transit. The $3.5 billion project is part of the EWR Vision Plan, a long-term effort to rebuild the airport, including a new Terminal B, upgrades to Terminal C, fixes to the airport’s complex roadway network, and replacement of the AirTrain.
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The best design tours to book during Archtober 2025
October 7, 2025

The best design tours to book during Archtober 2025

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New York City's annual Archtober festival, which celebrates the city’s defining architecture, has returned for its 15th year. This year’s theme, "Shared Spaces," invites participants to rethink how New Yorkers “move, connect, and live together.” As part of the festival, Archtober’s Building of the Day series lets visitors embark on architect-led tours of featured projects across all five boroughs. Ahead, discover a selection of tours not to be missed, from the transformation of Chelsea’s historic Terminal Warehouse to the nation’s largest office-to-residential conversion in the Financial District.
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NYC announces nearly 140 car-free Halloween events

Credit: NYC DOT

October 6, 2025

NYC announces nearly 140 car-free Halloween events

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New York City's Halloween open streets program returns for another record-breaking season, with nearly 140 participating locations over two weeks. On Monday, Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced the "Trick-or-Streets" program, which will close streets, plazas, and other corridors across the five boroughs to vehicles, opening the spaces for spooky (and safe) festivities from October 17 through 31.
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Upscale event venue to be first tenant at Chelsea’s redeveloped Terminal Warehouse

Credit © COOKFOX Architects / Alex Ferrec

October 6, 2025

Upscale event venue to be first tenant at Chelsea’s redeveloped Terminal Warehouse

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Chelsea’s landmarked Terminal Warehouse, a nearly 135-year-old building recently transformed into a commercial and events space, has officially landed its first tenant. Convene Hospitality Group signed a 50,000-square-foot lease for a three-level luxury event space, "The Mallory," named after George Mallory, the architect of the original building in 1891. Located in the building's northwest corner at 12th Avenue and West 28th Street, and accessed via the warehouse's famed tunnel, the venue will have space for up to 550 guests and include a reception lounge with a 25-foot bar, a grand event hall, special suites, and a gallery with movable walls.
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Corlears Hook Bridge, amphitheater, and new sports fields reopen at East River Park

All photos courtesy of NYC Parks / Daniel Avila

October 3, 2025

Corlears Hook Bridge, amphitheater, and new sports fields reopen at East River Park

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City officials last weekend celebrated the reopening of the Corlears Hook Bridge, amphitheater, and restored sports field at East River Park. The reopening is part of the broader East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) initiative, which is elevating and rebuilding the park to protect the Lower East Side from rising sea levels. In May, the park’s south end reopened after closing in 2021, with new picnic and barbecue areas, a passive lawn, six tennis courts, two basketball courts, a nature exploration area, and a multi-use area.
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Sunset Park rental with bike storage hub opens lottery for 48 apartments, from $649/month

Credit: NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

October 3, 2025

Sunset Park rental with bike storage hub opens lottery for 48 apartments, from $649/month

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A housing lottery launched this week for 48 mixed-income apartments at a new mixed-use development in Sunset Park. Rising 14 stories at 201 25th Street, One Sunset offers contemporary residences and amenities, including New York City’s first secure indoor bike storage hub. New Yorkers earning 30, 60, and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, with rents ranging from $649 to $3,640/month for one-bedrooms, $762 to $1,715/month for two-bedrooms, and $1,963/month for three-bedroom apartments.
Find out if you qualify
NYC public libraries stand against censorship during Banned Books Week

Credit: Terry Ballard on Flickr

October 2, 2025

NYC public libraries stand against censorship during Banned Books Week

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New York City's public libraries are recognizing Banned Books Week this year with a stacked lineup of programs and events. Running from October 5 through 11, the week-long observance arrives amid a continued rise in book censorship. According to the American Library Association (ALA), 2,452 unique titles were challenged in 2024—almost nine times the annual average of 273 titles from 2001 to 2020.
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Statue of Liberty to stay open during federal shutdown, Trump says

Credit: Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

October 2, 2025

Statue of Liberty to stay open during federal shutdown, Trump says

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The Statue of Liberty will remain open during the U.S. government shutdown, President Donald Trump's administration said Thursday. The shutdown leaves federal workers without pay and closes federally funded museums and monuments, like Lady Liberty. After Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state would not pay to maintain the monument during the shutdown, the Trump administration announced the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island would remain open.
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1,600-foot-tall office tower 350 Park Avenue gets unanimous City Council approval

350 Park Avenue © DBOX for Foster + Partners

October 2, 2025

1,600-foot-tall office tower 350 Park Avenue gets unanimous City Council approval

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Billionaire Ken Griffin’s proposed 1,600-foot office tower at 350 Park Avenue will be built after the City Council unanimously approved the building last week. The Council voted 48-0 to approve the 62-story supertall building developed by Vornado Realty Trust, Citadel, and Rudin Management and designed by Norman Foster's Foster + Partners. The tower will deliver 1.8 million square feet of office space anchored by Griffin’s Citadel and Citadel Securities, plus a new public concourse. The huge building will rise 200 feet taller than JPMorgan Chase’s headquarters at 270 Park Avenue, also designed by Foster + Partners.
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10 best haunted attractions in and around NYC

Credit: Brighton Asylum

October 1, 2025

10 best haunted attractions in and around NYC

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With fall weather beginning to creep into the five boroughs and Halloween just a few weeks away, it’s time to start getting into the spooky spirit. One of the most classic ways to celebrate the season is by braving a haunted house, where scares lurk around every corner. While New York City isn’t known for sprawling estates or large farmhouses, there are a few haunted attractions in the five boroughs, but even more are just a drive or train ride away. Ahead is a guide to the best haunted attractions in and around the city, from Tribeca’s famous Blood Manor to eerie farm attractions upstate and in New Jersey.
ways to get spooked, ahead
IKEA to open small-format store in Soho

Photo courtesy of Ingka Investments

October 1, 2025

IKEA to open small-format store in Soho

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Soho is getting an IKEA. The Scandinavian furniture retailer purchased a six-story commercial building at 529 Broadway from billionaire Jeff Sutton’s firm, Wharton Properties, for $213 million, according to property records. Ingka Group, which owns most IKEA stores worldwide, plans to open a 25,000-square-foot store on the building’s first and second floors, as The Real Deal first reported, continuing its push for smaller-format locations.
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NYC subway and bus fare to increase to $3

Photo by Felicity Tai from Pexels

October 1, 2025

NYC subway and bus fare to increase to $3

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It will officially cost you 10 more cents to ride New York City subways and buses starting in January. On Tuesday, the MTA Board voted 11-0, with two abstentions, to approve fare hikes raising the base fare from $2.90 to $3. Reduced fares will go up from $1.45 to $1.50 and express bus fares from $7 to $7.25. The agency did scale back increases to its 7-day fare-capping program from $36 to $35 in response to rider feedback.
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$8B Citi Field casino proposal moves forward

Credit: SHoP Architects, Field Operations

September 30, 2025

$8B Citi Field casino proposal moves forward

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Some good news for New York Mets owner Steve Cohen. The billionaire's vision of a casino complex next to Citi Field is one step closer to becoming reality. On Tuesday, the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) overseeing the bid unanimously approved "Metropolitan Park," advancing the proposal to the final stage: securing one of the state’s coveted downstate gaming licenses. Cohen's bid joins three other CAC-approved proposals: Bally's Bronx casino, MGM Empire City in Yonkers, and Resorts World NYC in Jamaica, Queens.
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New York launches design competition for Ruth Bader Ginsburg memorial in Brooklyn Bridge Park

Ruth Bader Ginsburg at her confirmation hearing / R. Michael Jenkins, Congressional Quarterly. Courtesy of the Library of Congress

September 30, 2025

New York launches design competition for Ruth Bader Ginsburg memorial in Brooklyn Bridge Park

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New York is inviting artists to help honor late Supreme Court Justice and Brooklyn native Ruth Bader Ginsburg with a new memorial at Pier 1 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. On Monday, Gov. Kathy Hochul launched an artist competition to design the memorial, celebrating Ginsburg’s contributions to civil rights, gender equality, and the rule of law. The announcement comes during the same month as the fifth anniversary of Ginsburg's passing in 2020.
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F and M trains will swap routes between Manhattan and Queens

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

September 30, 2025

F and M trains will swap routes between Manhattan and Queens

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Subway riders traveling between Manhattan and Queens should prepare for changes to their commute come December, when the MTA swaps the F and M lines to ease notorious delays at Queens Plaza. Starting December 8, the F and M lines will trade East River tunnels, separating express and local service and eliminating a bottleneck at Queens Plaza that delays up to 20 percent of rush-hour E, M, and R trains, the agency announced on Monday. The changes will apply on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., improving trips for the 1.2 million riders who use the lines each day.
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MTA looking into cooling subway stations with geothermal technology

181st Street Station. Photo by Famartin via Wikimedia

September 29, 2025

MTA looking into cooling subway stations with geothermal technology

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The MTA is exploring a new way to cool sweltering subway stations: geothermal technology. According to a request for information (RFI) published last week, the agency is considering a system that would use the Earth’s subsurface to transfer heat out of stations and store it elsewhere, to keep platforms between 82 and 85 degrees on hot days. As first reported by The City, the MTA is targeting the 1 line’s 168th Street and 181st Street stations, which rank among the system’s hottest because of their depth.
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