All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

Here’s how to tour the abandoned City Hall subway station

Photo © James and Karla Murray

January 2, 2026

Here’s how to tour the abandoned City Hall subway station

By Aaron Ginsburg

You don't have to be the mayor to tour the abandoned City Hall subway station, but you do have to be a member of the New York Transit Museum. After Mayor Zohran Mamdani's midnight swearing-in at the old subway station in Lower Manhattan gave New Yorkers a peek at the historic underground space this week, the museum announced tickets will go on sale January 14 for upcoming tours, which are the only way to see the City Hall's grand interiors (if you're not the mayor). The landmarked station, the showpiece of the city's first subway ride and which has been decommissioned since the 1940s, is known for its ornate vaulted Guastavino-tiled ceilings, chandeliers, and skylights hidden beneath the city streets.
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Mamdani signs housing, tenant protection orders on first day

Credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

January 2, 2026

Mamdani signs housing, tenant protection orders on first day

By Aaron Ginsburg

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has wasted little time advancing his campaign agenda, signing a series of executive orders on his first day in office, including three aimed at building new housing and protecting tenants. On Thursday, Mamdani signed the orders, which revamp the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants and create two new task forces focused on streamlining housing construction, connecting New Yorkers to homes more quickly, and increasing supply by identifying qualifying city-owned properties. He also appointed Cea Weaver, executive director of Housing Justice for All and the New York State Tenant Block, as director of the revitalized Office to Protect Tenants.
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It’s the end of the line for the MetroCard

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

December 31, 2025

It’s the end of the line for the MetroCard

By Aaron Ginsburg

The MetroCard, the iconic fare payment method for New York City’s public transit system, is now officially a thing of the past. On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) retired the card, ending the era of the signature transit payment method that replaced tokens and became a cultural icon since its debut in 1994, and marking a major step in the MTA's transition to the tap-and-go OMNY system.
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Mets star Francisco Lindor pays $21.2M for UES penthouse

Renderings courtesy of DBOX

December 31, 2025

Mets star Francisco Lindor pays $21.2M for UES penthouse

By Aaron Ginsburg

While several New York Mets stars left the team this year, shortstop Francisco Lindor is here to stay. As first reported by the New York Post, Lindor paid $21.2 million for a penthouse at 200 East 75th Street on the Upper East Side. The All-Star shortstop first entered a contract for Penthouse 5, a 5,300-square-foot residence with six bedrooms, last December.
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Citi Bike prices to increase again

Credit: Elvert Barnes on Flickr

December 30, 2025

Citi Bike prices to increase again

By Aaron Ginsburg

Citi Bike is raising its prices again, marking the fifth consecutive year New York City bike-sharing will become more expensive. Starting January 5, 2026, the bike-share service, operated by Lyft, will increase the price of e-bike and classic bike overage fees to 27 cents per minute for members. Annual memberships will also rise roughly nine percent, or $20, to $239, effective January 28. The company cited fleet expansion across the five boroughs and rising costs from tariffs as reasons for the price hikes.
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First housing phase of NYC’s net-zero Far Rockaway development moves forward

Credit: FX Collaborative

December 30, 2025

First housing phase of NYC’s net-zero Far Rockaway development moves forward

By Aaron Ginsburg

The development team behind New York City’s first net-zero community in Far Rockaway has secured $278.8 million for its first phase, which will bring 320 new homes to the neighborhood. On Monday, L+M Development Partners, Urbane Development, and other project stakeholders announced the closing of financing for Arverne East Building D, the first phase of housing of the larger revitalization of a 116-acre oceanfront site in Edgemere into a mixed-use community. Upon completion in 2028, the 355,000-square-foot building will deliver 230 affordable rentals and 90 homes designated for ownership.
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Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball will drop twice in 2026

Photos by the Times Square Alliance

December 30, 2025

Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball will drop twice in 2026

By Aaron Ginsburg

In 2026, Times Square’s New Year’s Eve ball will drop twice for the first time, with a second descent glowing in red, white, and blue in honor of America’s 250th birthday. After the traditional midnight countdown, the new "Constellation Ball" will be relit around 12:04 a.m. and then rise above the illuminated "2026" numerals. The celebration will feature 2,000 pounds of red, white, and blue confetti and a pyrotechnic show set to Ray Charles’ rendition of “America the Beautiful." The patriotic ball returns for a second time on the eve of Independence Day, July 3, marking the first time the ball will drop outside of New Year's Eve.
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Events & Things To Do

11 free New Year’s events and activities in NYC

Photo by Kohei Kanno on Flickr

December 29, 2025

11 free New Year’s events and activities in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is arguably the world’s capital of New Year’s Eve celebrations, with over-the-top festivities happening across all five boroughs. But you don't have to break the bank to ring in 2026. Here are some of the best free ways to celebrate the new year in NYC, from dazzling firework displays above Prospect Park to scenic hikes and meditations in lush city parks.
Say goodbye to 2025!

Events & Things To Do

Broadway Junction development with 1,000 affordable units moves ahead after Council approval

All images courtesy of WXY Studio, unless noted otherwise

December 29, 2025

Broadway Junction development with 1,000 affordable units moves ahead after Council approval

By Aaron Ginsburg

A major redevelopment planned for a two-acre site surrounding the Broadway Junction transit hub in East New York advanced this month. The Council approved plans to build Herkimer-Williams, a four-building complex with up to 1,000 affordable homes, retail, community facilities, and open space. Developed by Totem, the mixed-use project has been shaped by nearly three years of public outreach, including over 100 meetings with residents and stakeholders.
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New transit-oriented Cypress Hills project has 200+ affordable units

Credit: Think! Architecture + Design PLLC6

December 24, 2025

New transit-oriented Cypress Hills project has 200+ affordable units

By Aaron Ginsburg

A mixed-use residential project in Cypress Hills, set to deliver more than 200 affordable apartments just steps from the subway, moved ahead this week. On Tuesday, a joint venture of Slate Property Group, Thorobird Companies, and Bangladeshi American Community Development & Youth Services (BACDYS) closed on 570 Eldert Lane, a transit-oriented development that will add 213 homes adjacent to the A train at Grant Avenue. The property will also include 10,000 square feet of community space operated by BACDYS, along with on-site supportive services from the non-profit Urban Pathways.
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Popular Articles

Converted former brewery in Murray Hill opens lottery for 28 apartments, from $940/month

Credit: NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

December 24, 2025

Converted former brewery in Murray Hill opens lottery for 28 apartments, from $940/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A former brewing company headquarters in Murray Hill, later converted into medical offices, has been reimagined once again. Now a residential development, the building at 650 First Avenue opened a housing lottery for 28 mixed-income apartments. The 11-story building first served as the Kips Bay Brewing Company's headquarters more than 120 years ago, and has been transformed by developer Lalezarian Properties into 111 residences, according to CityRealty. New Yorkers earning 40, 80, and 100 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $940/month studios to $3,290/month two bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

Work to begin on $1.6B life sciences hub in Kips Bay next year

All renderings courtesy of SOM / Miysis

December 23, 2025

Work to begin on $1.6B life sciences hub in Kips Bay next year

By Aaron Ginsburg

Work on a huge new life sciences campus in Kips Bay, aimed at cementing New York City as a national leader in the field, is getting ready to kick off. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced a timeline for construction of the Science Park and Research Campus (SPARC) Kips Bay at East 25th Street and First Avenue, with deconstruction of the current campus planned for February 2026 and construction of the new campus the following year. The $1.6 billion project will provide modern facilities for 4,500 City University of New York students and create a clear pathway to careers in the life sciences sector. The campus will include an ambulatory care center, a Health + Hospitals training facility, a health sciences high school, and a training center for forensic pathologists.
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New Developments

Starting in 2026, NYC’s rent-stabilized apartments will be easier to find

Credit: Tyler Donaghy on Unsplash

December 23, 2025

Starting in 2026, NYC’s rent-stabilized apartments will be easier to find

By Aaron Ginsburg

Apartment hunters in New York City will have an easier time finding rent-stabilized units next year, as a new city law takes effect on January 1. Passed in June, Intro. 1037, also known as the Rent Transparency Act, requires landlords to more clearly publicize rent-stabilized units in their buildings and explain how prospective tenants can access further information. Sponsored by Council Member Sandy Nurse, the bill requires that a sign be posted in building common areas and made available in both English and Spanish.
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Mamdani to host inauguration block party on Broadway

(L) Zohran Mamdani, image via WikiCommons; (R) NYC City Hall, image via WikiCommons

December 22, 2025

Mamdani to host inauguration block party on Broadway

By Aaron Ginsburg

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will celebrate his swearing-in on January 1 with New York City's first-ever inauguration block party. The seven-block celebration along Broadway in Lower Manhattan is expected to draw over 40,000 spectators. Mamdani’s public swearing-in takes place at 1 p.m. on the steps of City Hall, alongside a massive block party between Murray and Liberty Streets. About 4,000 tickets will be available for the City Hall ceremony, while 40,000 tickets will allow attendees to watch the ceremony on big screens at the adjacent block party.
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Events & Things To Do

Former Midtown hotel to become 579 affordable apartments

Photos courtesy of Slate Property Group unless otherwise noted.

December 22, 2025

Former Midtown hotel to become 579 affordable apartments

By Aaron Ginsburg

A former Midtown hotel is slated to become a permanently affordable housing building with nearly 600 units. On Monday, Slate Property Group and Breaking Ground announced the acquisition of the Stewart Hotel at 371 Seventh Avenue, which will be converted into 579 affordable apartments for low-income households and formerly homeless individuals. The purchase underscores an emerging strategy to address the city’s housing crisis by converting underused hotels into affordable housing, following the opening last week of the city’s first such development at the former JFK Hilton in South Jamaica, Queens.
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NYC will study feasibility of affordable housing on Wards Island

Aerial view of Randall’s and Wards Islands. Image via WikiCommons

December 19, 2025

NYC will study feasibility of affordable housing on Wards Island

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new City Council bill passed this week will explore the feasibility of creating affordable housing on Wards Island. Sponsored by Council Member Gale Brewer, Intro. 0571 directs the city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) to publish a study assessing the potential for residential development on the 255-acre island at the northern end of the East River between Manhattan and Queens. Due by July 1, 2027, the study will examine costs, land-use restrictions, and the provision of services and amenities on Wards Island.
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Adams stacks Rent Guidelines Board, jeopardizing Mamdani’s rent freeze pledge

Credit: Benny Polatseck/Mayoral Photo Office on Flickr

December 19, 2025

Adams stacks Rent Guidelines Board, jeopardizing Mamdani’s rent freeze pledge

By Aaron Ginsburg

With just two weeks left in office, Mayor Eric Adams has appointed and reappointed four members to the city’s Rent Guidelines Board, in an effort to block Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s push for a rent freeze. With these appointments and reappointments, Adams' allies now hold a majority on the nine-member board, which sets rent increases for the city’s one million rent-stabilized apartments.
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Policy

NYC reveals plan for first combination affordable housing and rec center project

Renderings courtesy of the Hudson Mosaic Development Team

December 19, 2025

NYC reveals plan for first combination affordable housing and rec center project

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City has selected a development team to build the city's first-ever combination affordable housing and recreation center project. The city announced on Thursday that Camber Property Group, Services for the UnderServed (S:US), and Essence Development will build "Hudson Mosaic," a mixed-use project with 280 affordable homes and a new community center on a vacant city-owned lot at 388 Hudson Street. The selection follows a request for proposals issued in February, which called for the redevelopment of the site’s northern portion, while a new public plaza is planned for the southern end.
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NY’s first hotel-to-affordable housing conversion near JFK Airport is now complete

Credit: Slate Property Group

December 18, 2025

NY’s first hotel-to-affordable housing conversion near JFK Airport is now complete

By Aaron Ginsburg

The transformation of a vacant hotel near John F. Kennedy International Airport into affordable housing is complete, marking New York’s first development of its kind. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday announced the completion of the Baisley Pond Park Residences in South Jamaica, which has turned the former JFK Hilton into 318 affordable and supportive apartments. The $167 million project—the first in the state to repurpose a hotel for affordable housing—features an indoor healing garden, on-site social services, and is fully electric.
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Affordable Housing

NYC’s creative industry at risk amid affordability crisis, report finds

The Rubin Museum in Chelsea closed in 2024. It now operates as a global institution with traveling exhibitions. Photo by David de Armas, courtesy of the Rubin Museum of Art.

December 18, 2025

NYC’s creative industry at risk amid affordability crisis, report finds

By Aaron Ginsburg

The future of New York City's celebrated creative scene is in jeopardy, as rising living costs make sustaining a career in the industry increasingly unfeasible, a new report says. Released this month by the Center for an Urban Future (CUF), the "Creative New York" report finds that despite the creative sector’s importance to the city’s economy, the number of people working in creative fields has decreased substantially since the pandemic, following decades of growth. Employing more than 326,000 New Yorkers and attracting millions of tourists each year, the city's creative sector is an integral part of its character, but without reform, this trend could drive a large portion of the industry out of the five boroughs, according to the report.
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Policy

Ricky Martin sells Upper East Side apartment for $6.15M

Photos courtesy of Compass

December 17, 2025

Ricky Martin sells Upper East Side apartment for $6.15M

By Aaron Ginsburg

Ricky Martin has sold his Upper East Side apartment for $6.15 million after eight years on and off the market. As first reported by the New York Post, the Latin music icon parted ways with his four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bathroom residence at 170 East End Avenue in Yorkville. Martin purchased the home in 2012 for $5.9 million and first listed it in 2017 for $8.4 million.
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MTA to add spikes and paddles at most NYC subway stations to curb fare evasion

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

December 17, 2025

MTA to add spikes and paddles at most NYC subway stations to curb fare evasion

By Aaron Ginsburg

Almost every New York City subway turnstile will soon feature protective fins, sleeves, and spikes to prevent fare evasion, the MTA said Monday. NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow told the MTA board that the agency plans to spend $7.3 million to install the technology at 129 additional stations by January, adding to the 327 of the city’s 472 subway stations that already have it. According to Crichlow, stations equipped with the technology, designed to make it harder to hop or slip around a turnstile, have seen fare evasion drop by up to 60 percent.
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New Yorkers borrowed these library books the most in 2025

Credit: The New York Public Library

December 16, 2025

New Yorkers borrowed these library books the most in 2025

By Aaron Ginsburg

These are the books New Yorkers couldn't get enough of in 2025. The city's three public library systems—the New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, and Queens Public Library—have released their annual lists of most borrowed books. Across all three systems, "James" by Percival Everett was the most checked out title, followed by "The God of the Woods" by Liz Moore and "Onyx Storm" by Rebecca Yarros.
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Events & Things To Do

Construction begins on Lionsgate Newark, NJ’s first purpose-built film production studio

Renderings courtesy of Lionsgate/Great Point Studios

December 16, 2025

Construction begins on Lionsgate Newark, NJ’s first purpose-built film production studio

By Aaron Ginsburg

Construction has officially begun on New Jersey’s first purpose-built film and television production studio in Newark. Last week, Lionsgate, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), and the Newark Housing Authority (NHA) marked the start of work on the Lionsgate Newark film studio, a major investment expected to bring hundreds of new jobs to the city’s South Ward. Located on the former Seth Boyden Housing complex, the 12-acre site represents the largest new development in the neighborhood in decades.
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