All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

NYC delays enforcement of new Airbnb short-term rental rules

Photo via CC

June 13, 2023

NYC delays enforcement of new Airbnb short-term rental rules

Following a lawsuit filed this month by Airbnb, New York City will delay enforcing new restrictions limiting short-term rentals within the five boroughs. The Office of Special Enforcement (OSE) said it will not begin issuing fines to hosts until September 5, pushed back from a July start date, according to a court filing. The agency, which has already delayed the enactment of the new rules twice, currently has a staff vacancy rate of more than 50 percent, preventing it from effectively enforcing the law, as Gothamist reported.
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Policy

Visit NYC’s finest museums for free during annual Museum Mile Festival

Image courtesy of Brian Lauer on Flickr

June 12, 2023

Visit NYC’s finest museums for free during annual Museum Mile Festival

By Aaron Ginsburg

This week "New York City's biggest block party" is returning to a 28-block stretch of Fifth Avenue for the 45th year. During the Museum Mile Festival, attendees can walk along Fifth Avenue between 82nd Street and 110th Street and visit eight of the city's finest institutions for free. Participating museums include the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Museum of the City of New York, the Jewish Museum, Neue Galerie New York, El Museo del Barrio, the Africa Center, and Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. The iconic thoroughfare will close to cars during the festival, which takes place on June 13 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., allowing the museums to host art activities, musical performances, and other attractions outdoors.
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Events & Things To Do

New York lawmakers fail to reach a deal on housing

Photo of New York State Capitol by wadester16 on Flickr CC

June 9, 2023

New York lawmakers fail to reach a deal on housing

By Aaron Ginsburg

Despite New York lawmakers claiming they reached a deal on a comprehensive package of housing proposals, the state legislature has failed to pass any meaningful bills during this legislative session, as first reported by the New York Times. Negotiations between state Democrats and Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday fell apart as the two bodies failed to reach a deal before the end of the legislative session on Friday. Lawmakers blamed Hochul for opposing their housing proposals, including those that protect tenants from eviction and major rent hikes, and the governor claimed lawmakers never presented her with any housing bills to approve.
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East Flatbush’s new library is light-filled and inviting

Images courtesy of the Brooklyn Public Library

June 9, 2023

East Flatbush’s new library is light-filled and inviting

By Aaron Ginsburg

A renovation of the East Flatbush Library has transformed it into a light-filled and modern space that will inspire visitors of all ages. After undergoing a complete renovation by architecture firm LevenBetts, the East Flatbush Library reopened to visitors this week. Located at 9612 Church Street, the revitalized library has achieved LEED silver status and features an innovative facade, windows, and skylights which fill the previously dimly-lit facility with abundant natural light.
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Architecture And Design

Here’s what closed in NYC due to unhealthy air quality

Image courtesy of Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

June 8, 2023

Here’s what closed in NYC due to unhealthy air quality

By Aaron Ginsburg

As the smoke from the Canadian wildfires continues to blanket New York City with unhealthy air, many events and activities, especially those planned for the outdoors, have been canceled. The city broke its air quality index (AQI) record on Wednesday, hitting 405 out of 500, the highest record since the city started collecting air quality records in 1985. City officials have advised New Yorkers to stay indoors, and if they must go outside, to wear a high-quality mask. Ahead, find some of the places across the five boroughs that have announced closures and cancellations due to the air quality.
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Lincoln Center to reimagine Amsterdam Avenue side of campus

Corner of 65th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, facing corner stairway to Lincoln Center plaza level. Photo by Lawrence Sumulong.

June 8, 2023

Lincoln Center to reimagine Amsterdam Avenue side of campus

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts wants to break down barriers, both literally and figuratively. The cultural institution on Tuesday announced plans for a major renovation of the western edge of its campus to make it more welcoming and accessible, calling on local community members and stakeholders to help reimagine the Amsterdam Avenue-facing side, which currently has no direct access to the campus. The renovation is one way the center has worked to become more equitable and inclusive in recent years, including a new pay-what-you-wish ticketing model, diverse programming, the new David Geffen Hall, and partnerships with blood drives, food banks, and other charitable events.
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Events & Things To Do

282 affordable apartments up for grabs in Far Rockaway, from $388/month

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

June 8, 2023

282 affordable apartments up for grabs in Far Rockaway, from $388/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Applications are now being accepted for 282 affordable units at a new residential development in Queens. Located at 1626 Village Lane, the building is part of the third phase of the Rockaway Village Apartments, a huge housing complex that is replacing an abandoned strip mall. New Yorkers earning 30, 50, and 80 percent of the area median income, or between $16,252 annually for a single person and $140,080 for a household of seven, are eligible to apply for the units, which range from $388/month studios to $1,968/month three bedrooms.
Do you qualify?

Affordable Housing

MTA celebrates Pride Month with train decals and limited-edition MetroCards

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

June 7, 2023

MTA celebrates Pride Month with train decals and limited-edition MetroCards

By Aaron Ginsburg

In celebration of Pride Month, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has decorated subway cars, buses, and commuter rail lines with Pride-themed decals, digital displays, and posters. The agency also released a special MetroCard that is available at select subway stations throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.
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A public art installation in Lower Manhattan reimagines Earth using plastic waste

Photos courtesy of Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for B.N. Barkat Holdings and Studio

June 7, 2023

A public art installation in Lower Manhattan reimagines Earth using plastic waste

By Aaron Ginsburg

A timely new public art installation in Lower Manhattan depicts the devastating impact of pollution on Earth. Created by Israeli artist Beverly Barkat, "Earth Poetica" uses a mixture of plastic materials collected from the world's oceans, waterways, and forests to create a globe that appears beautiful on the outside but is in fact just trash on the inside. Located in the lobby of 3 World Trade Center, the 13-foot-tall sculpture is made up of 180 colorful panels and highlights areas of the world suffering from increasing plastic pollution.
See the artwork

Events & Things To Do

NYC’s free Shakespeare in the Park program returns this week

The Delacorte Theater. Photo credit: Joseph Moran

June 6, 2023

NYC’s free Shakespeare in the Park program returns this week

By Aaron Ginsburg

Shakespeare in the Park, the Public Theater's beloved free program in Central Park, returns to the Delacorte Theater this week. Directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon, the Public will present one performance of "Hamlet" for an extended nine-week run from Thursday, June 8 until Sunday, August 6. A production of "The Tempest" will be presented from Sunday, August 27 through Sunday, September 3 before the Delacorte Theater closes for renovations.
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50 houses of worship in NYC to house asylum seekers

By Aaron Ginsburg

Mayor Eric Adams on Monday announced 50 houses of worship and faith-based facilities across the five boroughs will provide shelter to asylum seekers. As part of a two-year partnership between the city and the New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS), the shelter program includes housing about 19 single adult men at each location, with 1,000 men total expected to be housed by August. The city said it will also open five daytime migrant centers to allow the worship spaces to continue normal activities.
Details here

Policy

Sotheby’s buys the Breuer Building from Whitney Museum

Photo by Glenda Altarejos on Wikimedia

June 2, 2023

Sotheby’s buys the Breuer Building from Whitney Museum

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Whitney Museum of Art has sold the Upper East Side's iconic Breuer Building to the auction house Sotheby's. Designed by renowned architect Marcel Breuer in 1966, the five-story building at 945 Madison Avenue is known for its striking Brutalist architecture. While the exact price of the transaction remains unknown, sources close to the deal suggest it was around $100 million, according to the New York Times. Sotheby's will take over the building next September from the Frick Collection, which has operated there temporarily since 2021, and relocate its headquarters from York Avenue to the Breuer in 2025.
Details here

Events & Things To Do

Airbnb sues New York City over rules on short-term rentals

Photo by Emiliano Bar on Unsplash

June 2, 2023

Airbnb sues New York City over rules on short-term rentals

By Aaron Ginsburg

Airbnb sued New York City on Thursday seeking to block new restrictions that limit short-term rentals within the five boroughs. The lawsuits, filed by Airbnb and three local hosts, target a 2021 law designed to prevent illegal short-term rentals by requiring Airbnb hosts to register with the city. The city plans to enforce the new restrictions, which Airbnb has called "extreme and oppressive," in July.
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Policy

Apply for 316 mixed-income apartments within Greenpoint Landing, from $410/month

Rendering courtesy of Handel Architects

June 1, 2023

Apply for 316 mixed-income apartments within Greenpoint Landing, from $410/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A housing lottery opened this week for 316 mixed-income units at a new residential development on Brooklyn's waterfront. Located at 35 Commercial Street, the building is part of the 22-acre Greenpoint Landing development. New Yorkers earning 30, 50, 80, and 110 percent of the area median income, or between $17,006 annually for a single person and $158,510 for a household of five, are eligible to apply for the apartments, which range from $410/month studios to $2,572/month two bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Free photography festival Photoville returns to NYC with 80+ outdoor exhibitions

Photo courtesy of Kisha Bari

June 1, 2023

Free photography festival Photoville returns to NYC with 80+ outdoor exhibitions

By Aaron Ginsburg

Starting this weekend, enjoy more than 80 free photography exhibitions across New York City. Returning for its 12th year, Photoville NYC is a two-week festival with outdoor exhibitions displaying diverse photographic works across the five boroughs, as well as workshops, artist talks, and other events. The festival, which will run from June 3 to June 18, will include its signature Photoville Village in Brooklyn Bridge Park, in addition to open-air installations in other parts of the city.
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Events & Things To Do

See the 17-story mixed-use rental coming to Atlantic Avenue in Bed-Stuy

Rendering courtesy of Douglaston Development

May 31, 2023

See the 17-story mixed-use rental coming to Atlantic Avenue in Bed-Stuy

By Aaron Ginsburg

Another high-rise residential tower is coming to Brooklyn's once-industrial Atlantic Avenue corridor. Douglaston Development on Wednesday announced it secured financing for a 17-story, 474,000-square-foot mixed-use development at 1057 Atlantic Avenue in Bed-Stuy that will include 456 rental apartments and new neighborhood amenities. The tower joins several new and proposed developments on this strip of Atlantic Avenue that will bring hundreds of new homes to the area.
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New mural on 14th Street in Union Square celebrates human connection to nature

All photos courtesy of Jane Kratochvil

May 31, 2023

New mural on 14th Street in Union Square celebrates human connection to nature

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new street mural along the 14th Street Busway in Union Square celebrates the intricate connection between humans and nature. Designed by Brooklyn-based artist Vanesa Álvarez, "Union with the Universe" uses serene designs and shades of color, inviting observers to slow down and take a moment to connect with the world around them. Unveiled on Wednesday, the mural was installed over a period of five days with the help of Street Plans, a Brooklyn-based urban planning and design firm, and other community groups.
See the mural

Events & Things To Do

100+ community gardens in NYC will open to the public this weekend

Image courtesy of Daniel Avila / NYC Parks

May 30, 2023

100+ community gardens in NYC will open to the public this weekend

By Aaron Ginsburg

More than 100 community gardens across New York City are opening their gates to the public this weekend. Hosted by GreenThumb, the largest community garden program in the country, the sixth-annual Open Garden NYC invites New Yorkers to participate in fun, free, and eco-friendly activities, explore lush landscapes, and learn about the local gardens in their own neighborhood. Open Garden NYC will take place rain or shine on Saturday, June 3, and Sunday, June 4.
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Events & Things To Do

‘Cornelia Street’ townhouse once rented by Taylor Swift asks $17.9M

All photos courtesy of Al Siedman/VHT for The Corcoran Group

May 30, 2023

‘Cornelia Street’ townhouse once rented by Taylor Swift asks $17.9M

By Aaron Ginsburg

Taylor Swift's former Greenwich Village home has hit the market for $17,995,000. The pop-star rented the 5,500-square-foot, five-story home at 23 Cornelia Street in 2016. The former carriage house served as an inspiration for her 2019 song "Cornelia Street," which references the home's windows and creaky floors. The four-bedroom, five-bathroom house stands out for its drive-right-in garage, 30-foot indoor pool, rooftop terrace, and prime location in the heart of the Village. The townhouse is also available as a $45,000/month rental.
Any Swifties with $18M?

125 affordable units available at energy-efficient building in East New York, from $419/month

Rendering by Nightnurse Images, courtesy of Magnusson Architecture and Planning

May 26, 2023

125 affordable units available at energy-efficient building in East New York, from $419/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Applications are now being accepted for 125 affordable units at Linden Terrace, an energy-efficient residential development in East New York. Located at 583 Emerald Street, the 156-unit building represents the third phase of the new affordable development. New Yorkers earning 30, 50, and 70 percent of the area median income, or between $16,938 annually for a single person and $115,850 for a household of seven, are eligible to apply for the units, which range from $419/month studios to $1,963/month three bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

NYC Council passes legislation expanding rental assistance

Image courtesy of Filip Mishevski on Flickr

May 26, 2023

NYC Council passes legislation expanding rental assistance

By Aaron Ginsburg

The New York City Council on Thursday passed a set of bills that will help house more New Yorkers and free up shelter space for asylum seekers. The legislation ends a rule requiring unhoused people spend at least 90 days in shelter before qualifying for a rental assistance voucher, known as CityFHEPS, and expands the number of people eligible for the vouchers. Mayor Eric Adams, who may attempt to veto the bill, said the legislation will cost the city billions over the next five years.
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This exhibit celebrates 100 years of art and pop culture in NYC

Richard Estes. M Train on Route to Manhattan Approaches the Williamsburg Bridge. 1995. Copyright Richard Estes, courtesy Louis K. Meisel Gallery

May 25, 2023

This exhibit celebrates 100 years of art and pop culture in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new exhibition shares more than a century's worth of creativity inspired by New York City. The Museum of the City of New York's "This is New York: 100 Years of the City in Art and Pop Culture" highlights what NYC has meant to generations of artists, musicians, writers, storytellers, and filmmakers who have captured the essence of the five boroughs through their work. The exhibition, which celebrates the museum's centennial is on view at the museum at 1220 Fifth Avenue from Wednesday, May 26 through June 21, 2024.
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Events & Things To Do

Citing influx of migrants, Adams looks to suspend NYC’s right to shelter rule

Image courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

May 25, 2023

Citing influx of migrants, Adams looks to suspend NYC’s right to shelter rule

By Aaron Ginsburg

Citing the arrival of thousands of migrants in the city, Mayor Eric Adams wants to suspend a decades-old rule guaranteeing shelter to anyone. Adams on Tuesday filed an application with a judge asking to alter the city's right to shelter rule, which guarantees any homeless person looking for shelter access to temporary housing. The mayor is looking to rewrite the rule, which has been in place for 40 years, to allow the city to suspend the right for homeless adults when it "lacks the resources and capacity to establish and maintain sufficient shelter sites," according to Gothamist.
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NYC’s first multi-family geothermal project tops out in Coney Island

Images courtesy of LCOR

May 25, 2023

NYC’s first multi-family geothermal project tops out in Coney Island

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's first multi-family geothermal project has topped out in Coney Island. The residential development at 1515 Surf Avenue will include 463 apartments, of which 139 will be designated as affordable. The building's geothermal system will use the Earth to heat and cool the property and power its water systems, eliminating the need for equipment that would run on fossil fuels.
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Green-Wood Cemetery’s $34M welcome center that wraps around historic greenhouse breaks ground

All renderings courtesy of Architecture Research Office (ARO)

May 24, 2023

Green-Wood Cemetery’s $34M welcome center that wraps around historic greenhouse breaks ground

By Aaron Ginsburg

Construction has begun on a new welcome center that will teach visitors about Green-Wood Cemetery's rich history. Located across from the cemetery's main entrance on 25th Street and Fifth Avenue in Brooklyn, the new $34 million Education and Welcome Center will feature two exhibition galleries for Green-Wood's art and archival collections, host educational events and programs, and serve as a hub for scholarly research, staff offices, and meeting and event spaces. The new building, which will be built around the historic Weir Greenhouse, will be completed by June 2025.
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Architecture And Design

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