All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

January 17, 2024

G train may be suspended for 6 weeks this summer

The G train could shut down for at least six weeks this summer to allow for signal improvements. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority last week revealed the next part of its effort to modernize the subway system's signaling system and replace all of the existing signals with communications-based train control (CBTC), which allows trains to run closer together and increase service frequency. As Greenpointers reported, the proposal calls for three partial shutdowns along the line between June 28 and September 2.
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January 16, 2024

139 beachfront apartments available in Coney Island, from $1,640/month

About a block from the Atlantic Ocean and the world-famous Riegelmann Boardwalk, a new Coney Island rental has opened a lottery for 139 mixed-income apartments. Located at 1515 Surf Avenue, the 16-story development is the city's first multi-family geothermal project, meaning it uses the Earth to heat and cool the building instead of fossil fuels. New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income, or between $60,069 for a single person and $198,250 for a household of five, can apply for the apartments, ranging from $1,640/month one-bedrooms to $3,013/month two-bedrooms.
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January 16, 2024

Stunning video art projected onto the Manhattan Bridge, BQE in Dumbo

Immersive video art can now be seen gracing Dumbo's famous infrastructure as part of Brooklyn's largest projection project ever. Presented by the Dumbo Improvement District, the Dumbo Projection Project casts world-class video art on both the Pearl and Adams Streets sides of the Manhattan Bridge and along the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway in Susan Smith McKinney Steward Park. The projections will run through April 20 and be on view Thursdays through Saturdays from dusk to 10 p.m.
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January 12, 2024

Trump name removed from Bronx golf course

A sign bearing Donald Trump's name has been removed from the Bronx golf course previously operated by the former president. New manager Bally's Corporation rebranded the course, previously called the Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point, Bally's Links, and celebrated with a new sign reveal and ribbon cutting on Thursday. Bally's purchased the lease for the course last September for $60 million and will operate the city-owned site as part of an effort to secure one of the region's three casino licenses.
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January 12, 2024

Brooklyn Bridge towers illuminated with new LED lights

The Brooklyn Bridge is starting the New Year with a major "glow up." The city's Department of Transportation (DOT) unveiled on Thursday a new lighting system on the iconic landmark that includes 56 new energy-efficient LED lights illuminating its famous towers. The new lights are part of a four-year, $300 million restoration project to remove dirt and restore the mortar between every stone on the bridge, returning the towers to their original light gray color.
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January 11, 2024

New York has big plans for the state’s first total solar eclipse in 99 years

New York is going all out for its first total solar eclipse in 99 years. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday revealed the state's plans for the April 8 total eclipse, when the moon will pass between the sun and earth, completely blocking the face of the sun and turning day to night for up to four minutes. Five regions in New York will experience the path of totality, including the Adirondacks, Greater Niagra, Chautauqua-Allegheny, Thousand Islands-Seaway, and the Finger Lakes. Other parts of the state outside of the path, like New York City and Long Island, will see a partial eclipse.
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January 11, 2024

NYC subway train derails in Brooklyn, the second incident within a week

A New York City subway train derailed in South Brooklyn on Wednesday, marking the second derailment in the system in less than a week. A Manhattan-bound F train went off the elevated tracks between Coney Island's West 8th Street and Neptune Avenue stations just before 12: 30 p.m., according to transit officials. None of the 34 passengers or three MTA crew members on board the train sustained injuries during the event. F train service was restored with delays as of Thursday morning.
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January 11, 2024

Central Park’s Bow Bridge reopens with new wood decking

The iconic Bow Bridge in Central Park reopened this week after a two-month-long renovation project. Led by the Central Park Conservancy, the project replaced the decking with new, more durable wood and bolstered several beams under the deck to stabilize them and prevent future corrosion. The Conservancy researched historic photographs of the bridge, originally constructed in 1862, to identify the number of planks and the decking size of the bridge floor.
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January 10, 2024

AIA New York announces winners of 2024 Design Awards

The winners of the 2024 AIA New York Design Awards have been revealed, with 13 of the 22 winning projects located in New York. Each submitted project had to be completed by an AIANY member, an architect or designer practicing in NY, or be a NY project designed by an architect or designer from elsewhere. The winning projects range from temporary installations and exhibitions to large-scale urban interventions and are awarded in four categories, including Architecture, Interiors, Projects, and Urban Design.
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January 10, 2024

Hochul calls for replacement and extension of 421-a tax abatement in NYC

As housing production in New York City hits new lows, Gov. Kathy Hochul is calling once again for a replacement of the 421-a tax abatement program that expired in 2022. During her 2024 State of the State address on Tuesday, the governor said she plans to introduce legislation permitting the city to offer a tax break to developers of new rental construction, as well as an extension of the completion deadline of the expired program. Hochul's previous proposals to replace the program in 2022 and 2023 failed to move forward.
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January 9, 2024

Art collection of Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz will be on view at the Brooklyn Museum

Next month you'll be able to view a world-class selection of artworks from the personal collection of Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz at the Brooklyn Museum. The exhibition, called "Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys," features more than 100 major artworks from world-renowned Black American, African, and African diasporic artists, including Gordon Parks, Kehinde Wiley, Esther Mahlangu, Barkley L. Hendricks, Lorna Simpson, and more. "Giants" will be on view at the Brooklyn Museum from February 10 through July 7.
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January 9, 2024

NYC seeks feedback on rezoning plan around new Bronx Metro-North stations

City officials want New Yorkers to weigh in on a rezoning plan that proposes 6,000 new homes for the area surrounding four new Metro-North Stations in the East Bronx. The Department of City Planning (DCP) on Wednesday will host an online informational session for the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan, a rezoning effort proposed for Morris Park, Parkchester/Van Nest, Hunts Point, and Co-Op City. During the meeting, DCP officials will hear feedback and answer questions given by the community about the proposed land use changes ahead of the start of the official public review process.
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January 8, 2024

How to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in NYC

On the third Monday in January, the nation honors the life and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. First established in 1983, MLK Jr. Day is the only federal holiday designated by Congress as a national day of service. While many Americans have off from school and work, the holiday is seen as a "day on, not a day off," and provides opportunities to volunteer and give back to communities across the five boroughs. Ahead, we've found some ways to celebrate MLK Day in NYC, from volunteer service in Highland Park and Forest Park to listening to performances by the world-famous Harlem Gospel Choir.
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January 5, 2024

Self-filtering floating pool pilot to be installed in NYC this summer

New York City will test the waters of a self-filtering floating pool this summer. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams on Friday committed $16 million to the nonprofit +POOL, which has worked for over a decade to build a swimming pool in the East River. The group plans to launch a pilot pool to demonstrate and test +POOL's unique filtration system this summer, with the hopes of opening to swimmers in 2025. The news comes as part of a larger proposal from the governor to expand access to swimming across the state.
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January 5, 2024

City seeks proposals for sports center at Brooklyn Bridge plaza in Dumbo

New York City is looking to reopen nearly 100,000 square feet of open space at the Brooklyn Bridge for the first time in 15 years. As first reported by Streetsblog, NYC Parks this week released a request for proposals (RFP) seeking contractors to operate a seasonal outdoor activity center for up to six years at the two-lot Anchorage Plaza, located on Old Fulton Street and Washington Street and connected by a ramp known as "Ash Alley" underneath the bridge. According to the RFP, the Parks Department seeks proposals for "parks appropriate" activities, including paddle ball, public art or performances, a dog run, and food and drink vendors.
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January 5, 2024

Former Barneys flagship in Chelsea to become luxury condos

The former Barneys flagship store in Chelsea is going condo. Douglas Tiesi's Argentic Investment Management, which took over the shuttered department store at 115 7th Avenue from developer Ben Ashkenazy in 2020, sold the property to Flushing developer and architect Raymond Chan for $22 million, as first reported by the Real Deal. Ashkenazy paid $57 million for the building in 2014. Chan plans to convert the property into a luxury residential development with ground-floor retail space, according to Curbed.
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January 4, 2024

Enjoy discounted dinners, Broadway shows, and hotel stays during NYC’s ‘Winter Outing’

Here's a chance to enjoy some of New York City's most popular attractions at discounted rates. Hosted by NYC Tourism + Conventions, "NYC Winter Outing" kicks off this month, offering special deals at the city's best restaurants, hotels, Broadway shows, museums, attractions, and more, from January 16 through February 4.
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January 3, 2024

NYC wants artists to spice up sidewalk sheds and construction fencing

New York City is seeking artists to help beautify sections of unattractive sidewalk sheds and construction fencing throughout the five boroughs. The city's Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) has issued an open call for artists for 2024 through 2025 as part of its City Canvas program, which installs temporary, large-scale artworks on protective structures to make them more visually appealing.
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January 3, 2024

Citi Bike prices are increasing this month

Citi Bike is hiking its prices this month. The popular bike-sharing service operated by Lyft is rolling out its new pricing system in phases in January, with the price of an annual membership jumping from $205 to $219.99 a year starting on January 29. Other increases, including unlock fees, e-bike charges, and extra-time fees, take effect Thursday, January 4.
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January 2, 2024

7 historic places in NYC recommended for state and national designation

Gov. Kathy Hochul last week announced the 36 properties and places in New York nominated for potential placement on the State and National Register of Historic Places. The seven New York City recommendations include Bushwick's historic William Ulmer Brewery, the city's first cast-iron office building, and a new historic district in Central Harlem that illustrates the neighborhood's development as a Black working-class residential neighborhood.
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January 2, 2024

NYC bans street vendors from all city bridges

Starting Wednesday, vendors selling New York City-themed souvenirs and cheap eats will be banned from all 789 of the city's bridges. Mayor Eric Adams last week announced new rules prohibiting vending on pedestrian walkways and bike lanes of bridges, as well as their approaches, will go into effect on January 3. Proposed this fall by the mayor, the vending ban specifically targets the overcrowded Brooklyn Bridge, which has seen a surge in both illegal vendors and pedestrians in recent years, creating safety issues on the jam-packed crossing.
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December 29, 2023

Say ‘fir-well’ to your Christmas tree: Mulchfest is back

Sick of your Christmas tree taking up space in your living room? There is an easy (and sustainable) way to ditch it. Starting December 26 and running through January 7, the city's annual Mulchfest offers New Yorkers 72 sites across the five boroughs to drop off Christmas trees to be composted. Those who bring their trees to one of 32 chipping sites on the weekend of January 6 will even get to take a bag of mulch home.
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December 29, 2023

The busiest subway stations of 2023, according to the MTA

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has released its annual list of statistics covering New York City Transit, the Long Island Rail Road, and Metro-North Railroad. The data, which includes ticket sales, MetroCard and OMNY payments, and the busiest stations, lines, and branches, was recorded from January 1, 2023, through November 2023. This year, the subway station with the most MetroCard swipes was Flushing-Main Street 7 station in Queens with 6.3 million swipes.
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December 28, 2023

What to know about the 2024 Times Square ball drop this New Year’s Eve

New York City's world-famous New Year's Eve celebration returns to the Big Apple on Sunday. Revelers will camp out for the best spots to view the 11,875-pound crystal ball as it descends from One Times Square to ring in 2024. Ahead, find everything you need to know about the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Drop, from the best in-person viewing spots to how to watch the event from home.
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December 28, 2023

Nearly 200 mixed-income apartments available near Yankee Stadium, from $465/month

A housing lottery opened this week for 198 mixed-income units at a new residential development in the South Bronx. Located as part of a two-building project at River Avenue and McClellan Street, the McClellan Apartments is a 17-story building with 250 apartments. New Yorkers earning 30, 50, 70, and 100 of the area median income, or between $18,515 for a single person and $175,100 for a household of seven people, can apply for the apartments, which range from $465/month studios to $2,639/month three bedrooms.
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