All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

2,600 supportive housing units in NYC remain vacant despite new developments

Image courtesy of mari small on Unsplash

November 7, 2022

2,600 supportive housing units in NYC remain vacant despite new developments

The city has delivered on its promise to create more housing for homeless and mentally ill New Yorkers but has had trouble actually filling the units, according to a new report. Data released by the city last week obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request showed that 2,600 supportive housing units are still vacant despite New York City's urgent housing crisis and despite Mayor Eric Adams' pledge to streamline the application process for these apartments, as first reported by the New York Times.
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Vote for your favorite large-scale can sculpture during 30th annual ‘Canstruction’ contest

All images courtesy of Ashok Sinha

November 4, 2022

Vote for your favorite large-scale can sculpture during 30th annual ‘Canstruction’ contest

By Aaron Ginsburg

The annual competition that brings together architects, engineers, and contractors for a good cause is back for its 30th year. "Canstruction" asks teams to design and build intricate, large-scale sculptures made of unopened food cans, with all of the cans donated to City Harvest, the city’s largest food rescue organization, and distributed to food pantries following the contest. Held at Brookfield Place in the Financial District, the event is free and open to the public. The competition runs through November 14 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Vote for your favorite can sculpture here.
See more here

Events & Things To Do

199 affordable apartments available at new Bed-Stuy rental, from $375/month

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

November 4, 2022

199 affordable apartments available at new Bed-Stuy rental, from $375/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A housing lottery opened this week for 199 affordable units at a new housing project in Brooklyn. Located at 1921 Atlantic Avenue in Bed-Stuy, the 14-story mixed-use building has 236 total units, several community facilities, and a ground-floor grocery floor. New Yorkers earning 30, 50, 70, and 80 percent of the area median income, or between $16,218 for a single person and $132,400 for a household of seven people, are eligible to apply for the apartments which range from $375/month studios to $2,501/month three bedrooms.
FIND OUT IF YOU QUALIFY

Affordable Housing

Jehovah’s Witnesses hotel-turned-affordable housing complex opens in Dumbo

Photo of 90 Sands Street from Brooklyn Bridge; Courtesy of Breaking Ground

November 3, 2022

Jehovah’s Witnesses hotel-turned-affordable housing complex opens in Dumbo

By Aaron Ginsburg

Breaking Ground on Thursday opened 90 Sands Street, a former Jehovah's Witnesses hotel in Dumbo that has been converted into 491 affordable and supportive apartments. Renovated by Beyer Blinder Belle Architects, the 30-story building will offer onsite social services to residents provided by the Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS).
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Affordable Housing

Here’s what Rikers Island could look like as a green infrastructure hub

All renderings courtesy of Andrea Johnson for the Regional Plan Association

November 3, 2022

Here’s what Rikers Island could look like as a green infrastructure hub

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new report released this week details how New York City's notorious Rikers Island could become a green energy center after the prison complex closes. The Regional Plan Association and Rhode Island School of Design on Wednesday revealed their vision to transform the over 400-acre Rikers Island into a green energy hub with solar energy production, recycling and composting infrastructure, a research and training facility for the formerly incarcerated, and a wastewater treatment plant.
Learn more

Everything you need to know about the 2022 NYC Marathon

Image courtesy of Steven Pisano on Flickr

November 2, 2022

Everything you need to know about the 2022 NYC Marathon

By Aaron Ginsburg

The world's premier marathon event is returning in full force to New York City on Sunday. On November 6, tens of thousands of runners from around the globe will flock to the city to partake in the 51st annual TCS New York City Marathon, a 26.2-mile race that takes participants through all five boroughs and finishes in Central Park. The marathon is returning at full capacity for the first time since 2019 with 50,000 fully-vaccinated runners racing in this year's event.
On your mark

Events & Things To Do

Image via WikiCommons

November 2, 2022

Brooklyn Council Member hopes to plant 3,400 trees in his district, and wants neighbors to chip in

By Aaron Ginsburg

Brooklyn residents should expect to see a lot more greenery over the next couple of years. Council Member Lincoln Restler on Wednesday announced a plan to plant 3,400 trees in vacant street tree pits across District 33 in an effort to max out the district's street tree capacity. The city's Parks Department has committed to planting 2,200 trees over the next four years, with Restler's office calling upon the community to help fund the planting of an additional 1,200 trees.
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City Living

Bushwick block with diverse 19th-century architectural styles may be landmarked

Streetview of 25-29 Linden Street © Google 2022

November 1, 2022

Bushwick block with diverse 19th-century architectural styles may be landmarked

By Aaron Ginsburg

A collection of rowhouses representing a variety of distinct architectural styles in Brooklyn may become the city's next historic district. The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) on Tuesday voted to calendar the Linden Street Historic District, which consists of a group of 32 intact brick and brownstone row houses in Bushwick. Located on Linden Street between Broadway and Bushwick Avenue, the rowhouses are designed in varying late-19th-century architectural styles that give them a distinct look and strong sense of place, according to the commission.
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Policy

15 ways to celebrate Native American Heritage Month in NYC

Photo of the National Museum of the American Indian courtesy of Wikimedia; Photo of AMNH’s Northwest Coast Hall courses of D. Finnin/AMNH

November 1, 2022

15 ways to celebrate Native American Heritage Month in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

In November, we celebrate Native American Heritage Month as a way to commemorate the cultures, histories, and traditions of indigenous peoples across the country. Although New York became the first state to recognize "American Indian Day" in 1916, it's important to remember that the forceful removal of Native people from their homes is inextricably linked to the history of New York City and the surrounding area. Ahead, find ways to honor Native American Heritage Month, from events at the National Museum of the American Indian to nature-inspired tours through city parks.
Get the list

All renderings courtesy of Marvel

October 31, 2022

Bronx Museum of the Arts unveils $26M renovation plan and brand redesign

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Bronx Museum of the Arts, New York City's only free contemporary art museum revealed a new design and revamped brand identity. Located at the corner of Grand Concourse and 165th Street in the Bronx, the Bronx Museum of the Arts will receive a new multi-story entrance and lobby design in its South Wing created by architectural firm Marvel using $26 million in city funding. It is the first time the museum has undergone such a significant transformation, which will wrap up by 2025.
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Lottery opens for 42 affordable units in the South Bronx, from $397/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Applications are now being accepted for 42 affordable units in the Bronx. Located at 740 Brook Avenue in Woodstock, the nine-story mixed-use building offers tenants brand-new residences and a variety of amenities. New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 100 percent of the area median income, or between $16,183 for a single person and $165,500 for a household of seven, can apply for the apartments which range from $397/month studios to $2,545/month three bedrooms.
See more here

Affordable Housing

Finalist proposals unveiled for new climate change center on Governors Island

Conceptual rendering of Proposal #1. Credit: Trust for Governors Island

October 27, 2022

Finalist proposals unveiled for new climate change center on Governors Island

By Aaron Ginsburg

Mayor Eric Adams and the Trust for Governors Island on Wednesday unveiled the three finalists for the city's global competition to design a state-of-the-art research institution on Governors Island dedicated to climate solutions. The so-called Center for Climate Solutions will create 7,000 permanent jobs, approximately $1 billion in economic impact, and develop innovative ways for New York City and the rest of the world to address the climate crisis, according to the city. The winning design team will be announced next year.
Details here

See NYC architects compete in annual pumpkin carving contest Pumpkitecture

Image courtesy of Sam Lahoz

October 27, 2022

See NYC architects compete in annual pumpkin carving contest Pumpkitecture

By Aaron Ginsburg

The annual competition that pits New York City-based architectural firms against each other to carve the best pumpkin is returning on Friday, just in time for Halloween. Known as Pumpkitecture, the event will give onlookers the opportunity to see architects hone their skills in real-time and compete for the big prize, the Pritzkerpumpkin. Pumpkitecture will take place at the Center for Architecture at 536 LaGuardia Place in Greenwich Village on October 28 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Get ready to go gourd to gourd

199-unit supportive housing complex for seniors and families opens on the Upper West Side

All images courtesy of the WSFSSH

October 27, 2022

199-unit supportive housing complex for seniors and families opens on the Upper West Side

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new supportive housing complex for low-income families and formerly homeless seniors officially opened on the Upper West Side this week. Located at 145 West 108th Street, the West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing's WSFSSH at West 108 provides 199 new homes for those in need and gives a new home to the Valley Lodge Shelter, a 110-bed development for homeless older adults. The 193,000-square-foot complex includes on-site supportive services and a wide variety of amenities for residents.
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Affordable Housing

Mexico Week returns to Rockefeller Center for Day of the Dead

Photo courtesy of Tishman Speyer

October 26, 2022

Mexico Week returns to Rockefeller Center for Day of the Dead

By Aaron Ginsburg

Rockefeller Center is hosting its second annual Mexico Week, a celebration of Mexican heritage and Día de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Over the course of the weeklong event, New Yorkers can experience Mexican art, food, music, and culture across the campus. Mexico Week kicks off this Thursday and runs through November 2.
See more here

Events & Things To Do

New food hall Olly Olly Market opening in Chelsea’s landmarked Starrett-Lehigh Building

All images courtesy of Colin Miller

October 25, 2022

New food hall Olly Olly Market opening in Chelsea’s landmarked Starrett-Lehigh Building

By Aaron Ginsburg

Chelsea's landmarked Starrett-Lehigh Building is set to welcome a new 17,000-square-foot food hall on Wednesday. Located within the 1931 former freight terminal at 601 West 26th Street, the Olly Olly Market will be run by 16" and Center (16 OC) and host a selection of both Michelin-star and up-and-coming chefs, including Forsyth Fire Escape, Pizza Friendly Pizza, DdoBar by Joomak Bajum, and more. The market will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
See more here

Food & Dining

NYC businesses on car-free ‘Open Streets’ prospered during the pandemic, report says

Image courtesy of Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

October 25, 2022

NYC businesses on car-free ‘Open Streets’ prospered during the pandemic, report says

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City businesses on streets closed to cars under the Open Streets program reported better sales than those located on streets with car traffic, according to a new study. The city's Department of Transportation on Tuesday released a report that highlights for the first time the positive economic impact of the Open Streets program, which was established at the start of the pandemic as a way for New Yorkers to remain safe and later grew into a lifeline for restaurants and bars. According to the report, Open Streets saw more new businesses open during the pandemic, stronger sales, and a higher number of restaurants and bars stay open than on similar commercial corridors not participating in the program.
Get the details

MTA to reopen some subway station bathrooms early next year

Image via WikiCommons

October 25, 2022

MTA to reopen some subway station bathrooms early next year

By Aaron Ginsburg

Straphangers in need of relief will be happy to hear that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will begin reopening subway station restrooms in early 2023, as Streetsblog first reported on Monday. Thanks to the hiring of 800 new cleaners in recent months, public bathrooms at eight subway stations will reopen starting in January, with the transit agency gradually opening restrooms at additional stations. The subway system's 133 public restrooms across 69 stations have been closed since March 2020 because of the pandemic.
More here

Nearly 100 NYC streets will go car-free for safe trick-or-treating this Halloween

Photo courtesy of Marco on Flickr

October 24, 2022

Nearly 100 NYC streets will go car-free for safe trick-or-treating this Halloween

By Aaron Ginsburg

For the first time, dozens of New York City's "Open Streets" will expand operating hours on Halloween to make trick-or-treating safer for young New Yorkers. As part of the Department of Transportation's "Trick-or-Streets," nearly 100 streets, plazas, and other commercial corridors across the city will be closed to cars on October 31 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
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Apply for 41 mixed-income units at new Clinton Hill rental, from $1,119/month

All photos courtesy of MNS

October 24, 2022

Apply for 41 mixed-income units at new Clinton Hill rental, from $1,119/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A housing lottery opened this week for 41 mixed-income units at a new development in Clinton Hill. Located at 540 Waverly Avenue, the nine-story rental offers tenants brand-new luxury units and a wide variety of amenities. New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income, or between $41,315 for a single person and $187,330 for a household of five, can apply for the apartments which range from $1,119/month studios to $3,344/month two bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

This map of Central Park tracks fall foliage in real time

The Reservoir; Photo courtesy of the Central Park Conservancy

October 21, 2022

This map of Central Park tracks fall foliage in real time

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Central Park Conservancy has launched a new, interactive Peak Fall Foliage map to let parkgoers know the best times and locations to take in autumn's most vibrant colors. In the coming weeks, approximately 18,000 trees across Central Park's 843 acres will reach their peak color. The map's real-time information is provided by Central Park's arborists who take care of more than 170 species of trees on a daily basis.
See more here

City Living

$50M restoration of Jacob Riis Art Deco bathhouse adds restaurants, pool, and hotel rooms

All photos courtesy of Sylvester Zawadzki

October 21, 2022

$50M restoration of Jacob Riis Art Deco bathhouse adds restaurants, pool, and hotel rooms

By Aaron Ginsburg

The 90-year-old Art Deco bathhouse at Jacob Riis Park will be restored to its former glory as a beachfront hub under a $50 million rehabilitation project unveiled Thursday. CBSK Developers and the architect firm Beyer Blinder Belle will transform the iconic, but underutilized, 1932 building into a multi-purpose public space with restaurants, a bar, a pool, event spaces, and a 28-room boutique hotel.
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Caesars Palace casino proposed for Times Square office tower

Photo by Andrae Ricketts on Unsplash

October 20, 2022

Caesars Palace casino proposed for Times Square office tower

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's bustling entertainment hub may soon welcome a casino. Developer SL Green and Caesars Entertainment on Thursday announced plans to pursue a gaming license for a potential Caesars Palace casino in the heart of Times Square at 1515 Broadway, a 54-story office building. The bid comes after the state legislature in April approved up to three casinos to open in the New York City area.
Find out more

Here’s how to help asylum seekers in NYC

Photo of the humanitarian emergency response and relief center for asylum seekers on Randall’s Island courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

October 19, 2022

Here’s how to help asylum seekers in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is currently experiencing a migrant crisis, with thousands of asylum seekers arriving in the city to take refuge from danger and lack of opportunity in their home countries. On Wednesday, the city opened its first outdoor shelter for asylum seekers on Randall's Island, seen as a temporary rest stop before they reach their next destination. In addition to shelter, newly arrived migrants are in need of basic necessities and clothing, especially winter coats and warmer apparel. Ahead, find organizations and community centers across the city accepting donations for asylum seekers.
Here's where you can donate

Policy

NYC to fight ‘plague of rats’ by pushing back trash pick-up to 8 p.m.

Photo by Ryan Vaarsi on Flickr

October 18, 2022

NYC to fight ‘plague of rats’ by pushing back trash pick-up to 8 p.m.

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City wants to adjust the time of day trash can be put out as a way to curb rat infestations and improve overall cleanliness. Mayor Eric Adams on Monday announced a proposal to push back the window New Yorkers can put out their trash for collection from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The city says this policy change will make the streets cleaner, ease traffic and pedestrian flow, and reduce the number of rats drawn to trash. The proposed rules are open to a public comment period through November 10, with final rules set to take effect on April 1, 2023.
Find out more

All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

2,600 supportive housing units in NYC remain vacant despite new developments

Vote for your favorite large-scale can sculpture during 30th annual ‘Canstruction’ contest

199 affordable apartments available at new Bed-Stuy rental, from $375/month

Jehovah’s Witnesses hotel-turned-affordable housing complex opens in Dumbo

Here’s what Rikers Island could look like as a green infrastructure hub

Everything you need to know about the 2022 NYC Marathon

Brooklyn Council Member hopes to plant 3,400 trees in his district, and wants neighbors to chip in

Bushwick block with diverse 19th-century architectural styles may be landmarked

15 ways to celebrate Native American Heritage Month in NYC

Bronx Museum of the Arts unveils $26M renovation plan and brand redesign

Lottery opens for 42 affordable units in the South Bronx, from $397/month

Finalist proposals unveiled for new climate change center on Governors Island

See NYC architects compete in annual pumpkin carving contest Pumpkitecture

199-unit supportive housing complex for seniors and families opens on the Upper West Side

Mexico Week returns to Rockefeller Center for Day of the Dead

For $2M, a Boerum Hill co-op with a colorful Scandi kitchen

New food hall Olly Olly Market opening in Chelsea’s landmarked Starrett-Lehigh Building

NYC businesses on car-free ‘Open Streets’ prospered during the pandemic, report says

MTA to reopen some subway station bathrooms early next year

Nearly 100 NYC streets will go car-free for safe trick-or-treating this Halloween

Apply for 41 mixed-income units at new Clinton Hill rental, from $1,119/month

This map of Central Park tracks fall foliage in real time

$50M restoration of Jacob Riis Art Deco bathhouse adds restaurants, pool, and hotel rooms

Caesars Palace casino proposed for Times Square office tower

Here’s how to help asylum seekers in NYC

NYC to fight ‘plague of rats’ by pushing back trash pick-up to 8 p.m.

144 Vanderbilt Avenue in Clinton Hill

All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

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