All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

November 23, 2022

NYC Council approves two projects that together bring 5,000 apartments to Brooklyn and Queens

The New York City Council on Tuesday voted to approve rezonings Innovation QNS in Astoria and Innovative Urban Village in East New York, two mixed-use districts that will create more than 5,000 units of housing, with 65 percent of them designated affordable. Over 34 percent, or 1,900 of the new housing units, will be deeply affordable for extremely or very low-income households.
Details here
November 22, 2022

Taylor Swift’s one-time West Village rental is back on the market for $45K/month

Here's an opportunity to rent the West Village townhouse once home to Taylor Swift. Located at 23 Cornelia Street, the home was the subject of "Cornelia Street," a song on the pop star's seventh studio album Lover that references the iconic carriage house she rented in 2016. Currently listed for $45,000/month, the 21-foot-wide property has four bedrooms, an indoor pool, and a garage.
Take a look inside
November 22, 2022

Park Slope’s Lesbian Herstory Archives becomes first official LGBTQ+ landmark in Brooklyn

A row house in Brooklyn that is home to the country's oldest and largest collection of lesbian-related historic material is New York City's newest landmark. The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) on Tuesday voted to designate the Lesbian Herstory Archives building as an individual landmark, the first in Brooklyn designated for its connection to the LGBTQ+ community.
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November 21, 2022

NYC landmarks were lit blue, pink, and white in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance

Landmarks across New York were lit blue, pink, and white on Sunday in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance. The day honors transgender individuals who have lost their life due to anti-transgender violence. The tribute came just one day after a mass shooting at an LGBTQ+ nightclub in Colorado left five people dead.
More here
November 21, 2022

Fifth Avenue will partially close to all traffic on select days in December

Fifth Avenue will be closed to cars in celebration of the holiday season next month. As first reported by Time Out, the "Fifth Avenue for All" initiative will take place on three Sundays next month, December 4, 11, and 18, from noon to 6 p.m., allowing pedestrians to safely stroll along Fifth Avenue from 49th Street to 57th Street.
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November 18, 2022

Related launches sales for luxury residences on the Tribeca waterfront, priced from $1M

Related Companies on Monday launched sales for 176 luxurious residences on the Hudson River's waterfront in Tribeca. Located at 450 Washington Street, the building was designed by Roger Ferris + Partners, with amenities and common spaces conceived by MAWD, and landscape architecture by Hollander Design. Residences range from open plan studios to four bedrooms, priced around $1 million to $12 million.
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November 18, 2022

Two major projects that would bring 3,200+ affordable homes to Brooklyn and Queens get key approval

Two major housing developments proposed for Brooklyn and Queens are moving forward. The New York City Council Committee on Zoning and Franchises on Thursday voted to approve rezonings Innovation QNS and Innovative Urban Village, which together would create more than 5,000 units of housing, 3,200 of which would be affordable. The two developments also include over 1,600 apartments for extremely or very low-income households.
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November 17, 2022

See Snøhetta’s lush public garden now open at 550 Madison Avenue

The new public garden at Philip Johnson's 550 Madison Avenue building opened this week, the final component of the postmodern landmark's renovation led by the Olayan Group. Designed by Snøhetta, the lush privately-owned public space (POPS) is located adjacent to 550 Madison in a formerly enclosed mid-block passageway. Increasing the public space at the site by 50 percent, the half-acre garden is now the largest in Midtown East.
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November 17, 2022

Lottery opens for 72 affordable co-ops in Soundview, available to buy from $183K

A housing lottery opened for 72 newly-constructed co-ops available for purchase in the South Bronx. Located at 1715 Lacombe Avenue in Soundview, the apartments are available to New Yorkers earning 80, 83, and 90 percent of the area median income, or between $61,030 for a single person and $148,950 for a household of seven. The homes are priced between $183,700 for a one-bedroom and $275,000 for a three-bedroom.
Find out if you qualify
November 16, 2022

Here are NYC’s best holiday markets and pop-up shops of 2022

FAD Holiday Market The holiday season has arrived in New York City, and with it comes the dozens of festive winter shops that offer unique gifts and locally-made goods for New Yorkers and their loved ones. Ahead, discover the city's best holiday markets and pop-up shops, from the long-revered markets at Union Square and Bryant Park to newcomers like the Brooklyn Borough Hall Holiday Market.
Find something for everyone on your list
November 16, 2022

New York City’s latest food hall opens in Williamsburg

New York City's growing list of food halls just got longer. The Williamsburg Market, located at 103 North Third Street, officially opened its doors last week. The 15,000-square-foot space features 17 well-known and upcoming vendors and craft cocktails in an industrial loft space. Designed by Ogawa Depardon Architects, the hall boasts a 360-degree bar, a cozy dining room, and kiosks for each vendor.
Details this way
November 16, 2022

Starbucks opens three-level Reserve location inside the Empire State Building

Starbucks is opening another of its premium, immersive roasteries within the Empire State Building on Wednesday. Spanning 23,000 square feet across three floors, the new Starbucks Reserve Empire State Building store features immersive experiences like hands-on workshops and guided tasting flights, as well as an extensive menu of coffee beverages, craft cocktails, and artisan food only available at the location.
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November 15, 2022

The first survey of Puerto Rican art in a major U.S. museum in 50 years will open in NYC

An exhibition opening at the Whitney Museum of American Art this month is the first survey of contemporary Puerto Rican art presented in a major United States museum in almost 50 years. Titled "no existe un mundo poshuracán: Puerto Rican Art in the Wake of Hurricane Maria," the exhibit is made up of work from 20 intergenerational artists who explore the years since Hurricane Maria devastated the island in 2017 and respond to the political, social, and environmental factors connected to the disaster.
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November 15, 2022

Adams announces overhaul of NYC’s housing voucher program

New York City officials are fighting the city's looming housing crisis with a few major policy changes. Mayor Eric Adams on Monday announced new housing reforms that will help homeless New Yorkers easily transition from the shelter system into affordable and supportive housing and give them access to housing in higher-income neighborhoods that have previously been out of reach for lower-income families.
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November 14, 2022

The 2022 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has arrived in NYC

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has arrived in Midtown, marking the start of the holiday season in New York City. Donated by a family in Glens Falls, New York, the 82-foot-tall Norway Spruce tree is 50 feet wide and weighs around 14 tons. After its arrival at Rockefeller Center this weekend, the hefty tree was hoisted into position by a crane and set in place, where it will stand throughout the holiday season. The annual tree lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, November 30.
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November 14, 2022

Museum of Broadway opens in Times Square this week

The first-ever permanent museum dedicated to the rich history of Broadway theater is opening in Times Square on Tuesday. Located at 145 West 45th Street, the Museum of Broadway will guide guests through an immersive visual history of Broadway, delving into moments throughout The Great White Way's history and displaying a variety of costumes, props, rare photos, videos, and more.
Find out more
November 11, 2022

NYC to close Randall’s Island migrant shelter after a month

Only a month after opening, the migrant shelter on Randall's Island will close, Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday. The 84,400-square-foot facility, which was designed for adult men and held 500 beds and a recreation center, will be replaced by a new center in Midtown Manhattan, as first reported by City Limits. The Randall's Island facility is set to be shuttered next week, and current occupants of the facility will be provided with transportation to the Watson Hotel on West 57th Street, where 600 rooms will be used to house asylum seekers.
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November 11, 2022

NYC is considering making Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza car-free

Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza may become the city's next car-free space. As first reported by Gothamist, the city's Department of Transportation (DOT) is considering connecting the Prospect Heights plaza to the Open Streets program on Vanderbilt and Underhill Avenues. The plaza, anchored by its ornate Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch and the official entrance to Prospect Park, has long been the target of safe street activists due to its vehicle traffic and poor sidewalk conditions.
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November 11, 2022

Citymeals’ festive holiday cards help deliver meals to elderly New Yorkers

Citymeals on Wheels' annual holiday card program is returning for the 30th year this holiday season to raise funds for the preparation and delivery of meals to elderly, homebound New Yorkers. The cards feature designs from previous seasons and new original designs of iconic New York City holiday scenes, from a snow day on the Bow Bridge in Central Park to a newly chopped-down Christmas tree atop a taxi.
How you can help
November 10, 2022

Apply for 77 mixed-income units in East Williamsburg, from $770/month

Applications are now being accepted for 77 mixed-income units at a new development in Brooklyn. Located at 269 Wallabout Street in East Williamsburg, the eight-story mixed-use building contains 58 modern apartments. New Yorkers earning 40, 60, and 115 percent of the area median income, or between $29,760 for a single person and $202,515 for a household of nine people, can apply for the apartments, priced from $770/month one-bedroom units to $3,250/month four-bedrooms.
See more here
November 9, 2022

MTA celebrates Dolly Parton’s new album with limited-edition MetroCard

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has released a limited-edition Dolly Parton MetroCard in celebration of the legendary country singer's new greatest hits album. In partnership with Legacy Recordings and Dolly Records, the MTA has loaded MetroCard vending machines with 50,000 limited edition cards at four high-traffic stations in Manhattan.
How to score one
November 9, 2022

Along with electing Hochul, New York voters approve $4.2B in climate spending

In addition to electing Gov. Kathy Hochul, voters in New York on Tuesday approved four new ballot measures that focus on fighting climate change and improving racial equity. Nearly 70 percent of voters said yes to the landmark "Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act," which gives the state permission to borrow $4.2 billion for funding projects that will protect New Yorkers from future extreme weather due to climate change. It's the largest initiative for environmental protection in New York State history.
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November 9, 2022

19 spots to watch the 2022 World Cup in NYC

For one month, New York City becomes a full-on soccer town. On November 20, the FIFA World Cup kicks off, with a total of 64 matches held over 28 days. As a city home to people from around the globe, New York is a great place to watch the world's best soccer clubs go head-to-head and represent their home countries. Ahead, find the best bars and restaurants across the city to watch the 2022 World Cup, from The Red Lion in Greenwich Village to Pig Beach BBQ in Astoria.
See the list
November 8, 2022

A Keith Haring mural that has been out of public view for 30 years will be auctioned for charity

A forgotten Keith Haring mural that has sat in storage for over 30 years is being shown in public for the first time and auctioned off for charity. Created in 1986 by the legendary pop artist, Haring drew the mural within the Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital to instill hope in the young patients who were staying in the facility, as first reported by Time Out NY. The building was torn down in 1989 to make space for the Guggenheim Pavilion, but the mural was saved and placed in storage.
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November 8, 2022

NYC’s area median income increases by 16 percent, ‘wildly out of sync’ with actual income of New Yorkers

A new report highlights how the area median income (AMI) set by the federal government for New York City is "wildly out of sync" with the actual incomes earned by most New Yorkers. The New York Housing Conference (NYHC) last week released a policy brief outlining the discrepancy, citing the new AMI levels set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the area. The federal government set the new median family income at $94,500 while the city's actual household median income remains at $60,550.
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