All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

Taconic unveils plans to build 28-story office tower in Hudson Square

Renderings courtesy of Taconic Partners

March 15, 2024

Taconic unveils plans to build 28-story office tower in Hudson Square

By Aaron Ginsburg

Taconic Partners and Nuveen Real Estate on Wednesday unveiled new renderings of One Grand, a new 28-story office tower in Hudson Square designed by renowned architecture firm SHoP Architects. Located on the corner of Grand and Varick Streets where the neighborhoods of Soho, Hudson Square, and Tribeca intersect, the building will serve as a state-of-the-art headquarters, offering 430,763 square feet of rentable space, 20,040 square feet of outdoor space, and a public school on the ground floor, according to The Real Deal.
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Coney Island opening for 2024 season

Images courtesy of Luna Park

March 14, 2024

Coney Island opening for 2024 season

By Aaron Ginsburg

Coney Island’s beachfront amusement district, Luna Park, is set to reopen for the 2024 season next weekend. The historic amusement park will reopen on Saturday, March 23, kicking off a weekend of fun featuring its annual opening ceremonies, including the first ride and egg cream christening of its famous rollercoaster, the Coney Island Cyclone. Keeping in line with tradition, to celebrate the 97th birthday of the Cyclone, the first 97 visitors will ride the rollercoaster for free and get a free egg cream.
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Events & Things To Do

Ride a vintage NYC subway car to the home opener at Yankee Stadium

Photo by Marc A. Hermann/ MTA on Flickr

March 14, 2024

Ride a vintage NYC subway car to the home opener at Yankee Stadium

By Aaron Ginsburg

Baseball lovers can travel to Yankee Stadium in retro style aboard vintage NYC subway trains. The New York Transit Museum is running its beloved 1917 IRT Lo-V train and Train of Many Colors on Friday, April 5, offering baseball fans a special way to arrive at the Yankees home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays. The event is free with subway fare and departs from Grand Central Terminal at 11 a.m., giving Yankee fans more than enough time to catch the first pitch at 1:05 p.m.
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Most NYC libraries would only open five days a week under mayor’s budget cuts, officials say

A rally of library supporters at City Hall on March 12. Photo courtesy of NYPL

March 13, 2024

Most NYC libraries would only open five days a week under mayor’s budget cuts, officials say

By Aaron Ginsburg

Most New York City public libraries would only be able to open five days a week if the latest budget proposed by Mayor Eric Adams is approved, library officials warned this week. The presidents of the city’s three public library systems testified at a City Council budget hearing on Tuesday on the detrimental effects the proposed $58.3 million in budget cuts could have on library service. If the mayor's budget for the next fiscal year is approved, most city libraries will cut hours to just five days a week, marking the first time in nearly a decade that libraries will not be open six days at every branch.
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Policy

A mini forest is coming to Roosevelt Island

Images courtesy of SUGi

March 13, 2024

A mini forest is coming to Roosevelt Island

By Aaron Ginsburg

A mini forest that can prevent flooding during storms and build biodiversity is coming to Roosevelt Island. Conceived by global platform SUGi, the Manhattan Healing Forest will consist of 1,000 native trees, shrubs, and plants and measure just 2,700 square feet in Roosevelt Island’s Southpoint Park. The so-called "pocket forest" will be “strategically positioned to stabilize the land,” capture water, provide a habitat for wildlife, and serve as a “living barrier” against flooding and erosion.
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Architecture And Design

NYC secures arrest warrant for city’s ‘worst landlord’

Streetview of 709 170th Street © 2024 Google Map

March 12, 2024

NYC secures arrest warrant for city’s ‘worst landlord’

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City’s most negligent landlord may soon find himself behind bars. The city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) on Monday secured a warrant of arrest and commitment to civil jail for Daniel Ohebshalom, a notorious landlord whose track record of 3,293 open violations earned him the number one spot on the 2023 “Worst Landlord List.” The warrant orders Ohebshalom to be detained in civil jail for up to 60 days unless he complies with a court order to fix nearly 700 violations at his properties at 705 and 709 170th Street in Washington Heights.
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Policy

Delmonico’s sister restaurant opening in Noho

Images courtesy of Tucci’s

March 12, 2024

Delmonico’s sister restaurant opening in Noho

By Aaron Ginsburg

The team behind New York City icon Delmonico's is opening a new restaurant in Noho. Fine-dining Italian restaurant Tucci, named after one of the original owners of Delmonico's, will offer contemporary Italian cuisine inspired by dishes found in northern and southern Italy from Chef Edward Hong. Located at 643 Broadway, Tucci officially opens on Friday, March 15.
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Food & Dining

Ethan Hawke’s former Chelsea townhouse lists for $5.98M

Photos courtesy of Richard Caplan for Brown Harris Stevens

March 12, 2024

Ethan Hawke’s former Chelsea townhouse lists for $5.98M

By Aaron Ginsburg

A four-story Chelsea townhouse once owned by actor Ethan Hawke has hit the market for $5,980,000. Located at 353 West 21st Street in the Chelsea Historic District, the six-bedroom, four-and-a-half bathroom residence measures 21 feet wide and features a spacious full-floor primary suite on the top level, an outdoor terrace, and a backyard and garden with a self-irrigation system. Hawke purchased the home in 2005 for $3,000,000 and lived there until 2013 when he sold it for $5,867,000.
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NYC officials seek $2 billion for permanent affordable housing

Image courtesy of Nelson Ndongala on Unsplash

March 11, 2024

NYC officials seek $2 billion for permanent affordable housing

By Aaron Ginsburg

A group of progressive New York City officials on Monday launched a campaign advocating for permanent affordable housing. Members of the City Council's Progressive Caucus announced the "Homes Now, Homes for Generations" campaign, calling for $2 billion in capital funding over four years to support two Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) programs that expand multi-family homeownership and preserve rent-stabilized apartments, as first reported by Politico.
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Popular Articles

Midtown South rezoning plan could create 4,000 new homes

Photo © 6sqft

March 8, 2024

Midtown South rezoning plan could create 4,000 new homes

By Aaron Ginsburg

The city released new details for its plan to create thousands of new homes in a predominantly commercial area of Midtown. The Department of City Planning on Friday released the Midtown South draft zoning plan, which details a 42-block rezoning to allow for high-density, mixed-use districts with 4,000 new homes, up to 1,110 of which would be income-restricted. The zoning changes would permit new housing in areas previously designated solely for commercial and manufacturing uses.
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Harlem’s historic Victoria Theater reopens following decade-long restoration

Photo courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

March 8, 2024

Harlem’s historic Victoria Theater reopens following decade-long restoration

By Aaron Ginsburg

Harlem’s historic Victoria Theater has reopened following a decade-long restoration project, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday. The renovation added two flexible performance spaces, offices, and gallery spaces to the Victoria, which opened in 1917 as a vaudeville theater. The 27,000-square-foot facility will be operated by the iconic Apollo Theater, marking the first expansion of the cultural institution in its 90-year history. The Apollo Stages at The Victoria is part of a broader redevelopment project that includes a 28-story hotel, restaurant, and a residential building with nearly 200 apartments.
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New exhibit of vintage travel posters shows how NYC was sold to the world

March 7, 2024

New exhibit of vintage travel posters shows how NYC was sold to the world

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new exhibition at Poster House illustrates how the term “Wonder City” became synonymous with New York City. Curated by Nicholas D. Lowry, “Wonder City of the World: New York City Travel Posters” features 80 posters promoting the five boroughs to tourists, immigrants, and travelers during the 20th century through enticing design and portrayal of iconic landmarks. The exhibition will be on view at Poster House at 119 West 23rd Street from March 14 through September 8.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC opens applications for new outdoor dining program, unveils modular sheds

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

March 7, 2024

NYC opens applications for new outdoor dining program, unveils modular sheds

By Aaron Ginsburg

Say hello to the future of outdoor dining in New York City. Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday launched the application process for restaurants to take part in Dining Out NYC, the city’s permanent outdoor dining program, and unveiled prototypes of the allowable roadway dining sheds. Designed by WXY architecture + urban design and fabricated by SITU, the customizable prototypes are made of materials from a standard kit, which makes it easier for restaurants to abide by the program’s new guidelines.
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Hochul deploys National Guard and state police to check bags, patrol NYC subway

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

March 6, 2024

Hochul deploys National Guard and state police to check bags, patrol NYC subway

By Aaron Ginsburg

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday said she would deploy roughly 1,000 National Guard and New York State Police members to patrol the New York City subway system and help officers check bags for weapons. The additional personnel, which includes 750 National Guard members and 250 members of the state police and MTA police department, are meant to make riders feel safe following several recent high-profile assaults in the transit system.
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NYC proposes revamped Second Avenue with ‘offset’ bus lane and wider bike lane

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

March 6, 2024

NYC proposes revamped Second Avenue with ‘offset’ bus lane and wider bike lane

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City wants to redesign a three-mile portion of Second Avenue to improve bus service and make it safer for cyclists. During a presentation to Manhattan Community Board 6 on Monday, the city’s Department of Transportation revealed a proposal to revamp the avenue from East 59th Street to Houston Street with a new "offset" bus lane in the center of the street, to allow for buses to maneuver around commercial curbside loading and unloading. The plan also includes widening bike lanes from six to eight feet, and even 10 feet at some sections.
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120-year-old Carnegie library in the Bronx is now a city landmark

NYPL’s Tremont Branch. Photo courtesy of NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission

March 5, 2024

120-year-old Carnegie library in the Bronx is now a city landmark

By Aaron Ginsburg

A Bronx public library that has served as a vital community space for more than a century is New York City's newest landmark. The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) on Tuesday voted to designate the New York Public Library's Tremont Branch as an individual landmark. Constructed in 1905, the library at 1866 Washington Avenue was financed by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and designed by acclaimed firm Carrère and Hastings, the architects behind the library's iconic main branch at 42nd Street and 5th Avenue. The library is regarded for its significance as a critical space for the neighborhood, in addition to its architectural importance, according to the LPC.
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Whole Foods to open small-format shop on the Upper East Side this year

Rendering courtesy of Whole Foods

March 5, 2024

Whole Foods to open small-format shop on the Upper East Side this year

By Aaron Ginsburg

Whole Foods is piloting a new, small-format convenience store on the Upper East Side this year. The supermarket chain on Monday announced plans to open a “Whole Foods Market Daily Shop” at 1175 Third Avenue as part of an ongoing effort to provide a quick and convenient shopping experience for customers in urban areas. The Upper East Side location, which will replace The Food Emporium that closed last April, marks the first step in a broader expansion project, with the grocer expecting to open multiple New York City locations and in other cities across the United States in the future.
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Food & Dining

20+ free tree giveaways to take place across NYC this spring

Images courtesy of New York Restoration Project

March 4, 2024

20+ free tree giveaways to take place across NYC this spring

By Aaron Ginsburg

It's free tree season. The New York Restoration Project (NYRP) on Monday announced plans to dole out 3,500 trees across the city during its annual tree giveaway. Registration is now open to receive a free tree during 20+ events starting April 13 through May 12.
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Events & Things To Do

First public e-bike charging station opens in the East Village

All photos courtesy of NYC DOT

March 4, 2024

First public e-bike charging station opens in the East Village

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's first public, outdoor e-bike battery charging station opened last week as part of a six-month pilot program to test safer technologies for delivery workers and provide an alternative to charging bikes inside. The first of five to open in the coming weeks, the new station is located at Cooper Square in the East Village. The infrastructure includes a battery-swapping cabinet to swap out dead batteries for fully charged ones and a secure charging rack where workers can lock up their bikes and charge them while parked. The city said 100 delivery workers will initially participate in the pilot program and provide feedback on the charging hubs.
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How to celebrate Women’s History Month in NYC

Suffragists marching, probably in New York City in. New York, 1915. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress

March 1, 2024

How to celebrate Women’s History Month in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

Every March, Americans celebrate Women's History Month, a chance to highlight the invaluable contributions of women who helped shape the history of the nation. In New York City, where the month-long holiday began in 1909, there is a large selection of engaging, informative, and entertaining ways to show your admiration for influential women. Ahead, here are some ways to celebrate Women's History Month in NYC, from learning about women who changed the history of the five boroughs with the Urban Park Rangers to listening to hilarious comics at the Knockout Women's Comedy Festival.
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Hochul wants to make it easier to shut down New York’s illegal smoke shops

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

February 29, 2024

Hochul wants to make it easier to shut down New York’s illegal smoke shops

By Aaron Ginsburg

In response to the thousands of illegal smoke shops operating in the state, with an estimated 8,000 in New York City alone, Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to make it easier to close illicit cannabis stores. On Wednesday, the governor proposed streamlining the state's Office of Cannabis Management's (OCM) ability to obtain court orders to padlock stores and permit the orders to be executed by local authorities. According to Hochul, the unregulated stores not only undermine the legal marijuana market but also pose health risks to customers.
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Transit

Rubin Museum’s final exhibition to open in March

Prithvi Shrestha; Attachment; 2018; acrylic on canvas; courtesy of the artist.

February 29, 2024

Rubin Museum’s final exhibition to open in March

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's Rubin Museum has announced its final exhibition before it closes its doors this fall. The museum-wide exhibition, called "Reimagine: Himalayan Art Now," juxtaposes the works of 32 contemporary artists from the Himalayas, Asia, and diaspora against existing items in the museum's collection, offering viewers new ways to interpret traditional Himalayan art. The exhibition will be on view from March 15 through October 6.
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Events & Things To Do

Murphy proposes new tax on wealthy corporations to fund NJ Transit

Photo by Adam E. Moreira via WikiCommons

February 28, 2024

Murphy proposes new tax on wealthy corporations to fund NJ Transit

By Aaron Ginsburg

Gov. Phil Murphy has a plan to raise taxes on New Jersey's wealthiest corporations to help NJ Transit meet its roughly $900 million budget deficit. During his annual budget address on Tuesday, the governor unveiled the "Corporate Transit Fee," a new tax on Garden State corporations with net taxable incomes of more than $10 million per year. The proposal raises the corporate tax rate from 9 percent to 11.5 percent for qualifying businesses to create a dedicated funding source for the cash-strapped NJ Transit.
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Harlem comfort food spot Melba’s to open in Grand Central

Streetview of 300 West 114th Street © 2024 Google

February 28, 2024

Harlem comfort food spot Melba’s to open in Grand Central

By Aaron Ginsburg

Melba's, a beloved Harlem eatery that has been serving comfort food to New Yorkers for nearly two decades, is coming to Grand Central Terminal. The new outpost, expected to open in the transit hub's dining concourse in June, will feature some of the restaurant's most popular items, like chicken and waffles, fried catfish, and collards, according to Eater NY.
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Food & Dining

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