All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

NYC Council loses lawsuit over housing voucher expansion

Photo courtesy of Boran Pang on Unsplash

August 2, 2024

NYC Council loses lawsuit over housing voucher expansion

A state judge on Thursday rejected a lawsuit from the New York City Council that sought to force Mayor Eric Adams to expand a housing voucher program. Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Lyle E. Frank on Thursday ruled the City Council lacks the legal authority to expand the program, a 2023 law originally vetoed by Adams, The City reported. The judge sided with Adams, stating the Council's bill was invalid, "preempted by the state's social services law," and the council had no authority to expand the program.
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In heart of Harlem, new rental tower opens lottery for 117 affordable apartments, from $788/month

Photo of Marcus Garvey Village. © Ondel Hylton

August 2, 2024

In heart of Harlem, new rental tower opens lottery for 117 affordable apartments, from $788/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A housing lottery has launched for 117 affordable apartments at a new rental tower in the heart of Harlem. Located at 212 West 124th Street within the Marcus Garvey Village complex, the 17-story building is 100 percent affordable to low- and moderate-income residents and offers state-of-the-art amenities and modern homes. New Yorkers earning 40, 60, and 70 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $788/month for studios to $2,232/month for two bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

Whole Foods to open two new Manhattan locations

Rendering courtesy of Whole Foods

August 1, 2024

Whole Foods to open two new Manhattan locations

By Aaron Ginsburg

Two new Whole Foods stores are coming to Manhattan. The supermarket chain last month announced plans to open another small-format "Whole Foods Market Daily Shop" at 301 West 50th Street in Hell's Kitchen as part of their broader expansion across the five boroughs. The grocery chain has also signed a lease to open a new 20,000-square-foot store at 409 East 14th Street in the East Village, as the New York Post first reported.
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Food & Dining

August 1, 2024

Vacant East Village church to become 500+ affordable housing units

By Aaron Ginsburg

A former Catholic church in the East Village is set to become a residential development with more than 500 affordable housing units. The Archdiocese of New York on Wednesday announced the Parish of St. Brigid-St. Emeric sold the vacant church and school campus at 181 Avenue D to a joint venture led by Community Access, Spatial Equity, Duvernay + Brooks, and Cooper Square Committee. The project will include homes for seniors and formerly homeless individuals, including those with special needs who qualify for supportive services.
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Affordable Housing

New Snøhetta-designed public library opens in Far Rockaway

Photos courtesy of Matthew Lapiska/DDC

July 31, 2024

New Snøhetta-designed public library opens in Far Rockaway

By Aaron Ginsburg

Far Rockaway's new public library officially opened this week. Designed by acclaimed architecture firm Snøhetta, the two-story Queens Public Library branch at 1637 Central Avenue is twice the size of the previous library, which closed in 2018, and features a striking sunrise-inspired glass facade and central atrium that lets natural light fill the building. The $39 million library is part of the broader 2017 Downtown Far Rockaway rezoning to bring more housing, retail, and amenities to the neighborhood.
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Architecture And Design

A colossal pigeon will soon perch above the High Line

Iván Argote, “Dinosaur,” 2024 (rendering). A High Line Plinth commission. On view October 2024— Spring 2026. Images courtesy of the artist and the High Line.

July 31, 2024

A colossal pigeon will soon perch above the High Line

By Aaron Ginsburg

A giant pigeon sculpture will soon tower over 10th Avenue from its perch on the High Line. The High Line on Wednesday revealed its selection of artist Iván Argote’s "Dinosaur," a 16-foot-tall, hyper-realistic sculpture of a pigeon cast in aluminum, as its next High Line Plinth commission. The monumental bird will be installed above the intersection of 10th Avenue and 30th Street this October and remain on view for 18 months.
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Events & Things To Do

July 30, 2024

Controversial Clinton Hill migrant shelter may become 600+ apartments

By Aaron Ginsburg

A controversial migrant center in Clinton Hill could be converted into a new mixed-use complex with hundreds of apartments and commercial space. RXR Realty on Friday filed plans with the Department of City Planning (DCP) to transform a block-long campus of 10 former manufacturing buildings at 47 Hall Street into a mixed-use campus with 611 apartments as Crain's New York first reported. Since last July, portions of the site have served as a temporary humanitarian emergency response and relief center, currently home to around 3,000 asylum seekers.
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Second Avenue Subway work resumes after Hochul allocates $54M

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

July 30, 2024

Second Avenue Subway work resumes after Hochul allocates $54M

By Aaron Ginsburg

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday allocated $54 million to immediately restart work on the Second Avenue Subway extension, which will bring the Q train from 96th Street to 125th Street in East Harlem. The new funding allows the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to relocate utility lines along Second Avenue in preparation for the next phase of the transit project. The MTA stopped work on the project last month after the governor indefinitely paused the start of congestion pricing; the $1 billion in projected annual revenue from the program was intended to fund the project.
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NYC financed the most new affordable homes on record this fiscal year

Photo courtesy of Joshua Armstrong on Unsplash

July 30, 2024

NYC financed the most new affordable homes on record this fiscal year

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City has produced a record-breaking number of affordable housing units for back-to-back years, Mayor Eric Adams announced Monday. In the fiscal year 2024, the city financed 28,944 affordable and public housing units through new construction and preservation efforts, the highest for any fiscal year. The mayor also touted his administration's effort to move a record number of homeless New Yorkers into permanent housing, streamline the housing lottery system, and build the most supportive homes and homes for homeless New Yorkers in the city's history.
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Affordable Housing

Rockefeller Center transformed into Parisian ‘Viewing Village’ for the Olympics

All photos courtesy of Tishman Speyer

July 29, 2024

Rockefeller Center transformed into Parisian ‘Viewing Village’ for the Olympics

By Aaron Ginsburg

Rockefeller Center has turned into a hub for Team USA during the 2024 Olympics. NBCUniversal transformed The Rink into an "Olympics Viewing Village," with a Paris-themed patio, French food, watch parties, photo-ops with an Eiffel Tower replica and medal podium, and special appearances by athletes. The interactive experience, which also includes a Parisian-inspired bar sponsored by Michelob ULTRA, is open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. until the closing ceremony on August 11.
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Events & Things To Do

Affordable senior housing project next to Google’s new NYC headquarters moves forward

By Aaron Ginsburg

An affordable senior housing development in the West Village is moving forward. Jonathan Rose Companies and Atlas Capital Group last week announced they closed on financing for 570 Washington Street, a new development with 175 units of housing for seniors earning 50 percent of the area median income or less. Located next to Google's new Hudson Square headquarters, 570 Washington is the affordable housing component of the two-tower project 80 Clarkson, which will include over 100 luxury condos.
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56 affordable apartments available at luxury Williamsburg rental, from $1,757/month

Renderings courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

July 26, 2024

56 affordable apartments available at luxury Williamsburg rental, from $1,757/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Applications are being accepted for 56 below-market-rate apartments at a new luxury rental in Williamsburg. The nine-story building at 597 Grand Street offers residents spacious units with modern amenities, like a fitness center and rooftop terrace. New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $1,757/month for studios to $3,963/month for two bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

Shakespeare in the Park returns to new Delacorte Theater next summer with star-studded cast

Renderings courtesy of the Public Theater

July 26, 2024

Shakespeare in the Park returns to new Delacorte Theater next summer with star-studded cast

By Aaron Ginsburg

Shakespeare in the Park's much-anticipated return to the revitalized Delacorte Theater will feature a star-studded cast. The Public Theater on Thursday announced the lineup for next year's free Shakespeare in the Park program, which will reopen with a production of the classic comedy "Twelfth Night" featuring stars including Peter Dinklage, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Lupita Nyong'o, and Sandra Oh. Shakespeare in the Park is set to return to its home in Central Park in August 2025.
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Hochul is sued over congestion pricing pause

Photo Credit: Layla Melendez/Office of NYC Comptroller on Flickr

July 25, 2024

Hochul is sued over congestion pricing pause

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and a coalition of local advocacy groups and lawyers filed two lawsuits against Gov. Kathy Hochul, claiming she didn't have the legal authority to pause the tolling program last month, as reported by Gothamist. The program was originally scheduled to begin on June 30 but was delayed last minute by Hochul.
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New Student OMNY cards expand free rides to 24 hours a day

Photo courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

July 25, 2024

New Student OMNY cards expand free rides to 24 hours a day

By Aaron Ginsburg

Taking public transportation will soon be easier for New York City public school students. City officials on Tuesday announced Student OMNY cards will replace MetroCards, allowing for tap-and-go trips on the subway and bus. Plus, the new cards will be valid for four free rides per day, 24 hours a day, all year long. Previously, student MetroCards were limited to three free rides a day, from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and only on days when school was open.
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Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra to perform at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine

Image courtesy of Karpati & Zarewicz

July 24, 2024

Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra to perform at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine

By Aaron Ginsburg

New Yorkers can celebrate the 200th anniversary of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony at the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. The Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra is performing at The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine on Thursday, August 1, at 7 p.m., as part of the Beethoven Ninth Freedom Tour. This concert is the penultimate date of their tour, which has included stops at grand cathedrals and concert halls throughout Europe and the United States.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC announces pedestrian safety upgrades for Brooklyn’s Atlantic Avenue

New vehicle travel lane markings at Atlantic Avenue and Court Street. Image courtesy of the Department of Transportation

July 24, 2024

NYC announces pedestrian safety upgrades for Brooklyn’s Atlantic Avenue

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is kicking off a series of key upgrades to Atlantic Avenue to improve pedestrian safety. Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Tuesday announced the start of pedestrian safety improvements along the western section of Atlantic Avenue that runs between Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill, a corridor infamous for traffic-related incidents. The enhancements include expanded pedestrian space, new mid-block crossings, upgraded traffic signals, vehicle travel lane markings, and more.
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Trader Joe’s new Harlem location will open this week

Photo courtesy of Trader Joe’s

July 23, 2024

Trader Joe’s new Harlem location will open this week

By Aaron Ginsburg

Harlem's first-ever Trader Joe's opened on Thursday, July 25, the grocery store announced. The 17,800-square-foot location can be found at 123 West 125th Street, part of a mixed-use development with office space, retail, affordable housing, the headquarters of the National Urban League, and a new museum dedicated to the civil rights movement.
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New Developments

New bill would require NYC landlords to provide air conditioning during the summer

Photo courtesy of Joe Shlabotnik on Flickr

July 23, 2024

New bill would require NYC landlords to provide air conditioning during the summer

By Aaron Ginsburg

After multiple heat waves this summer, a Brooklyn elected official has proposed legislation mandating landlords provide air conditioning to tenants. Last week City Council Member Lincoln Restler introduced a bill to update the existing housing code and require landlords to provide tenants with air conditioning in the warmer months, just as they are required to provide adequate heat during the winter. If the legislation is enacted, property owners would have four years to comply with the rule or face up to $1,250 in fines per day for noncompliance.
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Policy

Former Chelsea prison to become 124 affordable and supportive apartments

Renderings courtesy of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office

July 22, 2024

Former Chelsea prison to become 124 affordable and supportive apartments

By Aaron Ginsburg

A former state prison in Chelsea will become 124 permanently affordable apartments. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday unveiled Liberty Landing, the proposal selected to redevelop Bayview Correctional Facility at 550 West 20th Street into a housing project with apartments for low-income New Yorkers and formerly incarcerated individuals. The women's prison closed in 2012 after damage from Hurricane Sandy and has sat vacant ever since.
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41-story tower on Greenpoint waterfront opens lottery for 115 apartments, from $1,782/month

Rendering courtesy of NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

July 22, 2024

41-story tower on Greenpoint waterfront opens lottery for 115 apartments, from $1,782/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A lottery opened this week for 115 middle-income apartments in a 41-story luxury rental on the Greenpoint waterfront. Developed by Park Tower Group and Rockefeller Group, the company's first project in Brooklyn, The Dupont will offer 381 apartments, a vast majority of which will have incredible East River and Manhattan skyline views. New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $1,782/month for studios to $4,001/month for two-bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

Barbara Walters’ Upper East Side apartment sells for $15M

All photos courtesy of Donna Dotan unless noted otherwise

July 18, 2024

Barbara Walters’ Upper East Side apartment sells for $15M

By Aaron Ginsburg

Barbara Walters' longtime Upper East Side apartment has sold for $14,999,900, public records show. The home at 944 Fifth Avenue hit the market last April for $19.75 million. The beloved journalist lived in the five-bedroom, five-bath pre-war apartment for 30 years until her death in 2022.
see the late journalist's stunning home

NYC night markets: 10 food festivals to check out

Chinatown Night Market. Photo credit: Francis Wu

July 11, 2024

NYC night markets: 10 food festivals to check out

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City night markets provide the best way to explore cuisines of the world, without getting on a plane. Taking place across the city, these vibrant open-air festivals offer an affordable and fun night out, while also supporting local vendors and small businesses. Adding to the nightlife feel, the markets are often accompanied by live music, performances, and art from local artists. We've rounded up our favorite night markets to check out this summer, from the well-established Queens Night Market to new events at Lincoln Center and Union Square.
see what's cooking

Roberta’s Pizza opens next to Penn Station

Photo courtesy of Vornado

July 9, 2024

Roberta’s Pizza opens next to Penn Station

By Aaron Ginsburg

Roberta's Pizza has opened its first standalone location in Manhattan. The renowned restaurant, which opened in Bushwick in 2008 and quickly became a foodie favorite for its wood-fired Neapolitan-style pies, can be found between 33rd Street and 7th Avenue, next to Penn Station and Madison Square Garden, within Vornado's mixed-use Penn District campus. The two-story restaurant combines a ground-floor to-go slice shop, a full-service restaurant, and a roof deck with a Tiki bar, the latter of which will open later this month.
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Food & Dining

NYC rolls out official trash bin, expands containerization to most residential buildings

Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

July 9, 2024

NYC rolls out official trash bin, expands containerization to most residential buildings

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's next step in its "trash revolution" is here: Wheelie bins. Mayor Eric Adams on Monday rolled out the city's first-ever official trash bin, which has wheels and a rat-proof lid, and announced a new containerization mandate for certain buildings. Starting November 12, the city's Department of Sanitation (DSNY) will require buildings with one to nine residential units to put trash in a bin. When the new trash rule goes into effect, the city will have containerized 70 percent of the city's 14 billion pounds of annual trash since 2022, reducing the mounds of trash bags piled on the sidewalks and streets.
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Policy

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