All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

NYC secures largest civil rights settlement in city history for housing discrimination

Parkchester, East Bronx. Photo by TheBronxNYC on Wikimedia

August 22, 2024

NYC secures largest civil rights settlement in city history for housing discrimination

New York City has secured the largest civil rights settlement in history, holding a prominent landlord accountable for rampant discrimination against housing voucher holders. Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday announced the landmark settlement, which imposed $1 million in civil penalties against Parkchester Preservation Management and secured 850 apartments to be set aside for voucher holders. The settlement represents the highest fine and largest number of apartments secured in a settlement by the New York City Commission on Human Rights.
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Policy

Magnolia Bakery lands at LaGuardia Airport

Images courtesy of Magnolia Bakery

August 21, 2024

Magnolia Bakery lands at LaGuardia Airport

By Aaron Ginsburg

Flying out of LaGuardia Airport just got sweeter. New York City icon Magnolia Bakery will open at Delta's Terminal C this week, marking the shop's first airport location. Starting Thursday, the bakery will sell its world-famous banana pudding as well as other tasty treats as part of a new food hall in the terminal.
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Food & Dining

City moves forward with scaled-back McGuinness Boulevard redesign

McGuinness Boulevard. Courtesy of NYC DOT

August 21, 2024

City moves forward with scaled-back McGuinness Boulevard redesign

By Aaron Ginsburg

A plan to take away lanes of traffic and add protected bike lanes on busy McGuinness Boulevard in Greenpoint will be scaled back. The Department of Transportation shared its plan with elected officials on Tuesday for the street's redesign, which will extend a bike lane to the southern half of McGuinness but not reduce the number of traffic lanes or create a protected bike path as originally proposed, The City reported. According to reports, Mayor Eric Adams' administration pushed for the watered-down redesign, citing community concerns over the plan.
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Cathedral of St. John the Divine gets $1.5M grant to transform historic building into community hub

Photos by Brian Kutner

August 20, 2024

Cathedral of St. John the Divine gets $1.5M grant to transform historic building into community hub

By Aaron Ginsburg

A historic, underutilized building on the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine campus will become a social services center for New Yorkers facing poverty. The Morningside Heights church on Tuesday announced it received $1.5 million in city funding to support the renovation of Synod Hall, transforming it into an expanded hub for Cathedral Community Cares (CCC), the cathedral's social services arm that focuses on combating poverty with preventative services, education, and advocacy, with a focus on issues of health and hunger.
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Architecture And Design

Harris proposes 3 million new homes, $25K in down payment assistance

Image courtesy of Wake Technical Community College on Flickr

August 20, 2024

Harris proposes 3 million new homes, $25K in down payment assistance

By Aaron Ginsburg

Vice President Kamala Harris last week released several proposals to lower housing costs for Americans if elected. During a speech in North Carolina on Friday, Harris outlined her plans to construct three million new housing units, expand tax incentives for developers who build affordable rentals, encourage the construction of starter homes for first-time homebuyers, and provide $25,000 in down-payment assistance for first-time buyers.
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Landlords register more rent-stabilized units to avoid fines

Image courtesy of Ruoyu Li on Unsplash

August 19, 2024

Landlords register more rent-stabilized units to avoid fines

By Aaron Ginsburg

Thousands more rent-stabilized apartments have been filed with the state of New York this year after a new law passed last year that fines landlords who fail to register units, as The City first reported. So far in 2024, roughly 919,500 apartments have been registered, up from between 750,000 and 800,000 registrations in recent years.
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Luxury rental near Fordham University opens lottery for 50 apartments, from $2,200/month

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

August 19, 2024

Luxury rental near Fordham University opens lottery for 50 apartments, from $2,200/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A housing lottery has opened for 50 mixed-income apartments at a new luxury rental near Fordham University in the Bronx. Located at 4720 3rd Avenue in Belmont, the Arabella offers residents brand-new units and modern amenities, all in a prime location. New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $2,206/month for one-bedroom apartments to $3,950/month for three bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

New signs along Flatbush Avenue honor Brooklyn’s African heritage

Photo courtesy of the NYC Department of Transportation on Flickr

August 19, 2024

New signs along Flatbush Avenue honor Brooklyn’s African heritage

By Aaron Ginsburg

New cultural signs honoring Brooklyn's rich African heritage have been installed along Flatbush Avenue. The signs mark the beginning of the Black History + Heritage Corridors project, which connects the Lefferts Historic House and the Flatbush African Burial Ground and celebrates the history and culture of Brooklynites of African descent.
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Architecture And Design

New York Botanical Garden to host ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’-inspired light trail this fall

Rendering of Disney “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” Light Trail. Credit: LETSGO COMPANY, Creative Director: Felype de Lima, Illustrator: Borja Arrufat

August 16, 2024

New York Botanical Garden to host ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’-inspired light trail this fall

By Aaron Ginsburg

A Tim Burton-themed light trail is coming to the New York Botanical Garden this fall. Running on select nights from September 27 through November 30, the light experience inspired by "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas" will illuminate the garden with iconic characters, scenes, and songs from the classic Disney film. The immersive outdoor experience features over 8,300 square feet of stunning light installations, interactive video projections, LED lighting, and 3D-printed sculptures of Jack Skellington, Sally, and other beloved characters from the movie.
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Hitch a ride to Rockaway Beach on a Ramones-themed NYC Ferry

Photo by © Danny Fields

August 16, 2024

Hitch a ride to Rockaway Beach on a Ramones-themed NYC Ferry

By Aaron Ginsburg

You can "hitch a ride to Rockaway Beach" on a Ramones-themed ferry ride this weekend. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the legendary punk band's first performance at the East Village dive bar CBGB, Rhino Entertainment and NYC Ferry are offering three Ramones-themed ferry rides to the Rockaways. The limited rides include an exclusive "50 Years of Ramones" sticker, a Ramones digital takeover, free samples from Rockaway Soda, and a raffle for a special Ramones prize pack.
GO TO Rock-rock, Rockaway Beach

Events & Things To Do

NYC Council approves East Bronx rezoning that will add 7,000 new homes

By Aaron Ginsburg

The New York City Council on Thursday approved a major rezoning that will bring thousands of homes and $500 million in investments to the East Bronx. The Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan targets 46 blocks around four new Metro-North stations planned for Co-op City, Hunts Point, Morris Park, and Parkchester/Van Nest. The rezoning, which includes over a million square feet of commercial space and retail space, and 10,000 new permanent jobs, is the first approved under Mayor Eric Adams.
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Eataly is opening in Hudson Yards next year

Eataly opened at 200 Lafayette Street in Soho last fall. Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

August 15, 2024

Eataly is opening in Hudson Yards next year

By Aaron Ginsburg

Eataly's fourth New York City outpost is coming to Hudson Yards next year. The beloved Italian marketplace on Wednesday announced it will continue its Big Apple expansion by opening its fourth Manhattan store in the Shops and Restaurants at Hudson Yards in spring 2025. The company currently operates 12 North American locations and over 50 stores worldwide.
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Food & Dining

Scaffolding costs Manhattan businesses $9.5K in monthly revenue, study finds

Photo courtesy of Billie Grace Ward on Flickr

August 15, 2024

Scaffolding costs Manhattan businesses $9.5K in monthly revenue, study finds

By Aaron Ginsburg

Scaffolding and sidewalk sheds cost Manhattan businesses up to $10,000 in monthly revenue. Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday released a study conducted in collaboration with Mastercard that found cardholders spend between $3,900 and $9,500 less every month at Manhattan businesses covered by scaffolding and sidewalk sheds. Restaurants and bars are hit the hardest, with a 3.5 to 9.7 percent decrease in weekly transactions during the six months following the construction of sidewalk sheds.
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Policy

NJ lawmaker calls for riders to get refunds for Amtrak, NJ Transit delays

NJ Transit hall in Penn Station. Photo by Chris Rycroft on Flickr.

August 15, 2024

NJ lawmaker calls for riders to get refunds for Amtrak, NJ Transit delays

By Aaron Ginsburg

A New Jersey official wants Amtrak and NJ Transit to refund riders when their travel plans are delayed or canceled. NJ Rep. Josh Gottheimer on Monday introduced the All Aboard Act, which includes a "Rail Passenger Bill of Rights" that guarantees refunds to riders experiencing transit disruptions, as reported by Gothamist. If passed, the legislation would require the rail company to invest in improving maintenance issues and service times. In the meantime, Gov. Phil Murphy on Thursday announced NJ Transit trains and buses will be free for one week at the end of August to thank commuters for putting up with a summer of service problems.
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How hot is your NYC bus stop? A new report reveals the city’s most sweltering stops

A bus shelter on Fulton Street in Brooklyn. Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

August 14, 2024

How hot is your NYC bus stop? A new report reveals the city’s most sweltering stops

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's hottest bus stops are 14.5 degrees hotter than its coolest stops, with most of the sweltering stations found in low-income neighborhoods of color, according to a new report. Transportation Alternatives (TA) collaborated with NASA to analyze summer daytime temperatures at city bus stops using thermal heat imaging satellites. The study found that bus riders in Black, Latino, Asian, and high-poverty communities, particularly in Queens and the Bronx, experienced the warmest waits. The report identified 100 bus stops and three routes in need of intervention and recommended ways to cool them down.
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New Yorkers launch fundraising effort to save West Village diner La Bonbonniere

Photos © 6sqft

August 14, 2024

New Yorkers launch fundraising effort to save West Village diner La Bonbonniere

By Aaron Ginsburg

New Yorkers are fighting to save an iconic West Village diner from closing. A group of New Yorkers launched a GoFundMe to help La Bonbonniere, a century-old, cash-only luncheonette on 8th Avenue, renovate the restaurant and disassemble the eatery's outdoor dining curbside structure. While outdoor dining helped the diner survive the pandemic, owner Gus Maroulletis said the new guidelines surrounding outdoor structures have made it difficult to participate in the program.
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Food & Dining

Brooklyn Children’s Museum begins $15 million garden makeover

The Brooklyn Children’s Museum’s terrace, courtyard, and outdoor spaces will be modernized under the project. Rendering courtesy of Gans and Company / NYC DDC

August 14, 2024

Brooklyn Children’s Museum begins $15 million garden makeover

By Aaron Ginsburg

Work has begun on the $15 million revitalization of outdoor space at the Brooklyn Children's Museum. The city's Departments of Cultural Affairs and Design and Construction this week broke ground on the project to beautify the Crown Heights museum's courtyards and terraces and create 20,000 square feet of accessible outdoor programming space for young New Yorkers and their families. The project is being funded by the Mayor's Office, City Council, and the Brooklyn Borough President's office.
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Architecture And Design

8 iconic NYC venues still hosting live music

Cafe Wha? Photo by Meredith Ryncarz

August 13, 2024

8 iconic NYC venues still hosting live music

By Aaron Ginsburg

Live music has always been an integral part of New York City's identity, with many of the last century's cultural movements taking root in the basements and stages of iconic music venues. While a lot of these historic spots have disappeared, a few continue to host live performances today. Ahead, we dive into the best music venues in NYC that are still rocking, from the recently restored Brooklyn Paramount to iconic places like Cafe Wha? and the Bitter End in Greenwich Village, where legendary performers like Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix got their start.
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Converted 19th-century St. John’s College building in Bed-Stuy opens lottery, from $2,495/month

All renderings courtesy of Woods Bagot

August 13, 2024

Converted 19th-century St. John’s College building in Bed-Stuy opens lottery, from $2,495/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A 19th-century Romanesque Revival building in Bed-Stuy originally home to St. John's College is now a luxury rental building. The Hartby, located on the corner of Willoughby and Lewis Avenues, is an adaptive reuse conversion of the former school, designed in the 1870s by Patrick Keely, a prolific architect for the Catholic Church. Developed by Property Resources Corporation and designed by Woods Bagot, the Hartby opened a housing lottery for 62 rent-stabilized apartments this week. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the residences, priced from $2,495/month for studios, $2,795/month for one-bedroom units, and $3,939/month for two-bedroom units.
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NYC’s first Dominican arts and cultural center coming to Inwood

Gov. Kathy Hochul marches in the 2024 Dominican Day Parade. Photo credit: Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

August 12, 2024

NYC’s first Dominican arts and cultural center coming to Inwood

By Aaron Ginsburg

Upper Manhattan will soon be home to the city’s first-ever institution dedicated to the vibrant arts and culture of the Dominican Republic. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Sunday announced $12.5 million in funding to help establish the Dominican Center for the Arts and Culture at 375 West 207th Street. The center will include a museum and exhibition space featuring Dominican artists, a theater space, a children's library, and an oral history and archives project preserving the cultural history of Inwood/Washington Heights, the most populous Dominican neighborhood in the country.
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Policy

Hudson Yards high-rise opens lottery for 114 apartments, from $1,655/month

Renderings courtesy of Conway + Partners

August 9, 2024

Hudson Yards high-rise opens lottery for 114 apartments, from $1,655/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new luxury rental in Hudson Yards opened a lottery this week for 114 mixed-income apartments. Rising 46 stories at 550 Tenth Avenue, the Maybury offers 453 residences with incredible views and 20,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenities, including a rooftop sky lounge. New Yorkers earning 70 and 125 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $1,655/month for studios to $3,861/month for two bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

NYC launches multi-agency taskforce to improve public safety on East 14th Street

1st Avenue and 14th Street. Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Wikimedia

August 9, 2024

NYC launches multi-agency taskforce to improve public safety on East 14th Street

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is launching a multi-agency initiative to crack down on crime and improve the quality of life along East 14th Street. Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday introduced the "14th Street Community Improvement Coalition," a task force designed to address various public safety concerns along the East Village corridor, including illegal vending, theft, substance use, mental health crises, unlicensed cannabis shops, and more. To support these efforts, the NYPD will set up a $1 million mobile outpost on East 14th Street between First Avenue and Avenue A.
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Policy

Times Square food festival is back with more than a dozen restaurants

Photos by Sara Kerens

August 9, 2024

Times Square food festival is back with more than a dozen restaurants

By Aaron Ginsburg

Flavors from around the world will converge on Times Square next month. For the first time since 2019, the Times Square Alliance will host Taste of Times Square, an outdoor food and music festival featuring over 25 restaurants with diverse cuisines. To bring side-street restaurants to the heart of the bustling district, the festival will be set up at Broadway Plaza and Duffy Square between 45th and 48th Streets. The event takes place on Monday, September 9 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
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Grand Central Terminal joins ‘Summer Streets’ for the first time

All photos courtesy of Grand Central Terminal/MTA

August 8, 2024

Grand Central Terminal joins ‘Summer Streets’ for the first time

By Aaron Ginsburg

Grand Central Terminal is participating in New York City's "Summer Streets" program for the first time ever. The annual event closes several miles of streets to cars to make space for outdoor recreation and activities. On August 10 and 17, the iconic train hall will host "The Grand Lawn," at 40th Street and Park Avenue, offering free outdoor lawn games and food and drink provided by Grand Central eateries.
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What you need to know about NYC’s Dominican Day Parade

Photo Credit: Benjamin Kanter/Mayoral Photo Office on Flickr

August 8, 2024

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

By Aaron Ginsburg

The 42nd annual National Dominican Day Parade returns in vibrant colors to Midtown on Sunday, August 11. The parade celebrates New York City's Dominican community, the largest in the United States, and Dominican heritage with live music, parade floats, striking costumes, traditional food, dance, and much more. This year's parade theme, "Merengue Nuestro Ritmo" (Merengue Our Rhythm), honors the rich history and cultural significance of the iconic Caribbean dance style, with the legendary merengue band Los Hermanos Rosario serving as the grand marshal.
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Events & Things To Do

All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

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