All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

$19.5M Tribeca townhouse of late designer Thierry Despont sells after three years

Photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

February 13, 2024

$19.5M Tribeca townhouse of late designer Thierry Despont sells after three years

The Tribeca townhouse of late French architect Thierry Despont, best known for renovating New York City landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and the Carlyle Hotel, has finally sold after three years on the market. The five-bedroom townhouse at 182 Franklin Street entered contract with an asking price of 19.5 million, according to CityRealty. Despont, who died in August at the age of 75, listed the property in 2021 for $25 million.
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Real Estate Trends

Crown Heights townhouse seized from slumlords available for $678K through lottery

Photos courtesy of NYC Housing Preservation and Development

February 12, 2024

Crown Heights townhouse seized from slumlords available for $678K through lottery

By Aaron Ginsburg

A Crown Heights townhouse owned by an infamous slumlord duo and seized by the city is for sale. The home at 1214 Dean Street was turned over in 2022 after a $2.25 million settlement between the city and the previous owners, who tried to illegally evict tenants during the pandemic and ran an illegal hotel. Following a restoration, the property is now accepting applications as part of the city's affordable housing lottery system. First-time homebuyers with at least a four-person household earning 110 percent of the area median income can apply to buy the home, which is listed at $678,000.
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Village Cigars in Greenwich Village closes amid rent dispute

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim via Flickr cc

February 12, 2024

Village Cigars in Greenwich Village closes amid rent dispute

By Aaron Ginsburg

Village Cigars, the iconic Greenwich Village smoke shop in front of Hess Triangle, New York City's smallest piece of private land, has closed after over a century in business. The shop, located at 110 Seventh Avenue and Christopher Street within a distinctive red triangle-shaped building, shut its doors amid an alleged rent dispute between owner Andy Singh and landlord Jon Posner, as reported by Curbed. Posner claims that he signed a separation agreement with Singh, which required him to vacate the store by February 7.
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Photo courtesy of QuallsBenson

February 9, 2024

Essex Crossing’s Market Line food hall to close in April

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Market Line, the food hall located inside the Lower East Side's Essex Crossing development, is closing its doors on April 1. A spokesperson for developer Delancey Street Associates on Friday announced that the subterranean food hall will close this spring due to pandemic-related difficulties. A majority of the food hall's vendors, including its anchor beer spot the Grand Delancey, have announced their exodus from the space over the last month, as Eater New York reported. Delancey Street Associates said that they're looking at other uses for the space.
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Food & Dining

NYC rental vacancy rate drops to 1.4%, lowest in 50+ years

Photo by Goh Rhy Yan on Unsplash

February 9, 2024

NYC rental vacancy rate drops to 1.4%, lowest in 50+ years

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's net rental vacancy rate has dropped to a mere 1.4 percent, the lowest rate on record. According to a survey released by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development on Thursday, the city had a little over 33,000 vacant rental apartments available between January and mid-June of 2023 citywide, out of a total stock of 2,357,000 units. Despite adding 60,000 units since 2021, the demand for housing in all five boroughs is outpacing the construction of new homes.
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‘Park of Dreams’ brings vibrant public art to Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza during renovation

All photos by Javier Romero courtesy of ART FOR CHANGE

February 9, 2024

‘Park of Dreams’ brings vibrant public art to Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza during renovation

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new site-specific public art installation is livening up Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza during the renovation of its famous Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch. ART FOR CHANGE and the Prospect Park Alliance this week revealed "Park of Dreams," a public art exhibition displayed on the construction fencing surrounding the iconic Arch. The large-scale artworks, created by contemporary artists like Jules de Balincourt, Marcus Brutus, Kelly Beeman, Danielle Orchard, Amy Lincoln, and others, will be on view through the spring.
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NYC real estate developer arrested in $86M+ fraud scheme

Photo courtesy of Nicole Franzen

February 8, 2024

NYC real estate developer arrested in $86M+ fraud scheme

By Aaron Ginsburg

The former executive of a luxury New York City development firm has been arrested for his connection to an $86 million fraud scheme. Nir Meir, the former managing director of HFZ Capital, was taken into custody on Monday along with other high-ranking industry officials, for stealing money from investors, subcontractors, and the city of New York, according to the indictment. Prosecutors claim Meir, who managed the firm's largest projects, specifically The XI (now One High Line), directed more than $253 million of the project's funding to LLCs controlled by HFZ despite being legally required to use the money for the development.
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Fotografiska New York to offer discounted museum admission on second Sundays

Frank Ockenfels’ “Instrospection.” Photo © Leandro Justen

February 8, 2024

Fotografiska New York to offer discounted museum admission on second Sundays

By Aaron Ginsburg

The photography museum Fotografiska New York will soon offer discounted admission on the second Sunday of every month. Starting on February 11, the contemporary museum is offering $10 admission on second Sundays; tickets normally cost $31 for adults. Located at 281 Park Avenue South in Gramercy, the museum offers visitors engaging photography exhibitions, coffee and pastries at its cafe, and a curated retail shop.
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Events & Things To Do

New York lawmakers propose new state agency to build affordable ‘social housing’

Photo courtesy of edwardhblake on Flickr

February 7, 2024

New York lawmakers propose new state agency to build affordable ‘social housing’

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York lawmakers want to create a new publicly-funded agency to address the state's ongoing affordable housing crisis. State Sen. Cordell Cleare and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher on Tuesday introduced a bill proposing the creation of the Social Housing Development Authority (SHDA), a new agency that would use state money to finance the creation of permanently affordable, 100 percent union-built housing, instead of relying on private developers. According to City Limits, SHDA would create "social housing," a term used to describe developments typically owned by public entities, non-profits, or the residents themselves.
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Leasing launches at 100% electric Coney Island rental with ocean and amusement park views

All renderings courtesy of LCOR

February 7, 2024

Leasing launches at 100% electric Coney Island rental with ocean and amusement park views

By Aaron Ginsburg

Leasing has launched at New York City's first multi-family geothermal project. Developed by LCOR and designed by STUDIO V Architecture, 1515 Surf Avenue is a 100 percent electric two-tower development steps from the beach in Coney Island. The property contains 463 apartments, 324 of which are priced at the market rate and the rest designated as affordable. The unique development offers a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments, and a selection of penthouses, as well as an impressive suite of amenities with up-close views of the Atlantic Ocean and the famous Riegelmann Boardwalk.
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Architecture And Design

70 NYCHA workers charged with bribery and extortion

By Aaron Ginsburg

Dozens of current and former employees of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) were charged on Tuesday with bribery and extortion offenses. As many as 70 superintendents and assistant superintendents at nearly 100 NYCHA buildings allegedly demanded over $2 million in bribery money from contractors collectively in exchange for $13 million in work, according to charges unsealed by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. According to U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, the action marks the largest single-day bribery takedown in the history of the Justice Department. Williams said 66 of the 70 defendants were arrested this morning.
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Policy

Bronx Night Market will return to Fordham Plaza this April

Photo courtesy of the Bronx Night Market

February 6, 2024

Bronx Night Market will return to Fordham Plaza this April

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Bronx Night Market is returning to Fordham Plaza this spring after announcing its permanent closure last October. MASC Hospitality Group (MHG) on Monday announced the beloved market will reopen on April 6 with a new holistic approach designed to address previous issues and make Fordham Plaza a center for "community, culture, and commerce." The revamped market will feature a variety of new programming, including cooking demonstrations and nutrition education, an artisanal cafe, a curated bookstore, live performances, and more.
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116 deeply affordable homes coming to city-owned Prospect Heights site

All images courtesy of HPD

February 6, 2024

116 deeply affordable homes coming to city-owned Prospect Heights site

By Aaron Ginsburg

A project that will bring affordable apartments and a community garden to Prospect Heights is underway. The city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) last week selected Apex Building Group and Bridge Street Development Corporation to convert a 17,000-square-foot HPD satellite office at 516 Bergen Street into a 116-unit affordable housing development known as "Bergen Green." The project falls under the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan (AAMUP), which in combination with the nearby redevelopment of a Dean Street parking lot, will bring roughly 270 affordable homes to Prospect Heights.
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Affordable Housing

NYC reveals automated, side-loading garbage truck

Courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

February 5, 2024

NYC reveals automated, side-loading garbage truck

By Aaron Ginsburg

A revolutionary garbage truck is hitting New York City streets, four years ahead of schedule. Mayor Eric Adams last week revealed a new automated side-loading garbage truck that will allow Department of Sanitation workers to easily collect trash from large containerized bins at high-density residential buildings. With the use of the new trucks and a data-driven containerization model, Manhattan Community Board 9 will be the first district to have 100 percent of its garbage containerized next year.
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Policy

20 best spots to watch the Super Bowl in NYC

Photo courtesy of Bk Backyard Bar in Williamsburg.

February 5, 2024

20 best spots to watch the Super Bowl in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

On February 11, the San Francisco 49ers will face the defending champs the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII. In New York City, there is no shortage of exciting ways to enjoy the big game with many of the city's bars and restaurants hosting watch parties with food and drink specials. Ahead, here are some of the best spots to watch Super Bowl LVIII in NYC, from taking a ping-pong break between downs at SPIN to cheering from a heated cabana at Williamsburg's BK Backyard Bar.
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Visit the Frick Collection at the Breuer Building before it closes in March

All photos courtesy of Joseph Coscia Jr.

February 2, 2024

Visit the Frick Collection at the Breuer Building before it closes in March

By Aaron Ginsburg

Here's your last chance to visit the Frick Madison at its temporary home inside the brutalist icon the Breuer Building. The Frick Collection, which has temporarily resided at 945 Madison Avenue since 2021, is closing its doors on March 3 as the art institution prepares to move back to its newly-renovated, historic home at 1 East 70th Street on the Upper East Side. The museum and its library are expected to reopen later this year.
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Events & Things To Do

Open gangway subway cars are now in service on the C line

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

February 2, 2024

Open gangway subway cars are now in service on the C line

By Aaron Ginsburg

The New York City subway system's new open gangway cars have officially hit the rails. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday participated in an inaugural ride of the open gangway subway cars which are in service on the C line between Washington Heights and East New York. The ride marked the first time in modern history that an open gangway train, already used in major European and Asian cities, has operated in the United States.
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Rubin Museum to close its doors after two decades

Photo by David de Armas, courtesy of the Rubin Museum of Art

February 1, 2024

Rubin Museum to close its doors after two decades

By Aaron Ginsburg

Known for its Himalayan art, New York City's Rubin Museum will close this fall after 20 years. The Rubin Museum of Art on Wednesday announced the museum will evolve into a global institution "without walls" and close its Chelsea building on October 6 after its final exhibition. After selling its building on West 17th Street, the Rubin will become an organization that processes long-term loans, hosts traveling exhibitions, and helps with research inquiries and fundraising, according to the New York Times.
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Events & Things To Do

Play with giant light-up dominos in the Financial District

All photos courtesy of Jason DeCrow/AP Images for Alliance for Downtown New York

February 1, 2024

Play with giant light-up dominos in the Financial District

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new interactive public art installation in the Financial District is injecting vibrant color and sound into New York City's dreary winter. Created by Montreal-based design studio Ingrid Ingrid, "Domino Effect" features 120 giant dominos scattered across 12 tables in Fosun Plaza, with each domino giving off a unique sound and color. Presented by the Downtown Alliance in partnership with Quartier des Spectacles International, the installation is on view at Fosun Plaza in front of 28 Liberty Street through March 6.
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Events & Things To Do

One of the earliest maps of Manhattan will be on display at the New-York Historical Society

The Castello Plan. Photo via WikiCommons

January 31, 2024

One of the earliest maps of Manhattan will be on display at the New-York Historical Society

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new installation opening at the New-York Historical Society provides a look at everyday life in New Amsterdam at the peak of its settlement. Marking the 400th anniversary of the Dutch colony's founding, the installation "New York Before New York: The Castello Plan of New Amsterdam" centers around the Castello Plan, a historic map depicting New Amsterdam in 1660 right before the English took control. On view from March 15 through July 14, the installation also features rare documents and objects that explore the lives of settlers, Indigenous people, and enslaved Africans who resided in the colony.
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January 31, 2024

Major mixed-use development Manhattan West is officially complete

By Aaron Ginsburg

After several decades in the making, the mixed-use campus Manhattan West is officially complete. Brookfield Properties and Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) on Tuesday announced the opening of Two Manhattan West, a 58-story skyscraper with two million square feet of office space. Located on the corner of Ninth Avenue and West 31st Street, Two Manhattan West is the final piece of the seven-million-square-foot Manhattan West, marking the completion of the new neighborhood.
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Architecture And Design

Staten Island Ferry to offer food and drinks for the first time since Covid

Photo by Scarlet Sappho on Flickr

January 30, 2024

Staten Island Ferry to offer food and drinks for the first time since Covid

By Aaron Ginsburg

Staten Island Ferry riders will be able to enjoy food and drinks on board for the first time since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Tuesday announced a request for proposals (RFP) for vendors interested in selling food and drinks, including alcoholic beverages, on the Staten Island Ferry. Proposals are due by March 7, with the new concessions expected to be in operation by the fall.
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NYC unveils plan to develop 570 affordable homes on Inwood parking lot

All images courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

January 30, 2024

NYC unveils plan to develop 570 affordable homes on Inwood parking lot

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is moving forward with an ambitious plan to advance two dozen affordable housing projects on public land this year. The city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) on Monday began the public outreach process for the redevelopment of an unused city-owned parking lot in Inwood with roughly 570 affordable homes, public green space, and a STEM facility. The Inwood Waterfront project falls under Mayor Eric Adams' "24 in 24" plan, which pushes for 24 affordable housing developments on 24 publicly-owned sites to ultimately create or preserve more than 12,000 housing units.
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Rico Gatson’s colorful geometric art brings sense of peace to Penn Station

Photos by David Plakke courtesy of Amtrak

January 29, 2024

Rico Gatson’s colorful geometric art brings sense of peace to Penn Station

By Aaron Ginsburg

Penn Station's Amtrak concourse has been transformed with colorful geometric designs. Created by New York City-based artist Rico Gatson, the installation "Untitled (Collective Light Transfer)" covers the Amtrak concourse at New York Penn Station with captivating geometric compositions that fill the otherwise bland space with a "pulsating energy," representing the rhythm of constant movement as travelers bustle through the station. The art installation will be on view in the upper-level rotunda between the 8th Avenue Amtrak departure concourse and the 7th Avenue NJ Transit concourse through the summer.
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NYC brokerage to pay state $260K after allegedly charging excessive broker fees

Photo by Tomas Anton Escobar on Unsplash

January 26, 2024

NYC brokerage to pay state $260K after allegedly charging excessive broker fees

By Aaron Ginsburg

A Manhattan real estate brokerage accused of scamming tenants with excessive broker fees has agreed to pay the state $260,000 in penalties. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday announced a settlement with brokerage firm City Wide Apartments, Inc. after an investigation by the New York Department of State, which licenses real estate agents, found the firm charged exorbitant brokerage fees, in one case charging more than $20,000 in added fees to tenants searching for housing.
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All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

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