All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

Fort Greene’s historic Paramount Theatre to reopen as live music venue next year

Image used by Permission of Long Island University

July 13, 2023

Fort Greene’s historic Paramount Theatre to reopen as live music venue next year

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The gilded Brooklyn Paramount Theatre is being restored to its original glory and will reopen as a world-class entertainment venue next year. Entertainment giant Live Nation, which will revive and operate the nearly 100-year-old theater, revealed plans and new renderings during a community board meeting last month. According to the company, the LIU Brooklyn Paramount Theatre will be able to accommodate 2,600 people. Located at 385 Flatbush Avenue Extension, the theater is scheduled to open in the first or second quarter of 2024, as first reported by Brownstoner.
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NYCHA says it needs nearly $80 billion for repairs

Image via WikiCommons

July 13, 2023

NYCHA says it needs nearly $80 billion for repairs

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New York City's public housing agency needs more than $78 billion to make much-needed repairs to its dilapidated housing stock, according to a new 20-year assessment released Wednesday. The estimation for the apartment repairs is a whopping 73 percent higher than NYCHA's last assessment of $45.2 billion calculated in 2017. According to the agency, nearly 40 percent of NYCHA apartments require more than $500,000 in work per unit.
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New migrant shelter in Clinton Hill could serve at least 2,000 people

Streetview of 47 Hall Street. © 2023 Google

July 12, 2023

New migrant shelter in Clinton Hill could serve at least 2,000 people

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New York City is opening two more emergency shelters to accommodate the thousands of migrants that continue to arrive in the five boroughs, one of which is set to become the largest dormitory-style shelter in the city's history. Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced the opening of two more humanitarian relief shelters, one at an existing respite center at 47 Hall Street in Brooklyn, which adds additional space to serve roughly 1,400 more migrant adults, and another at the Crowne Plaza JFK Airport New York hotel in Queens, which will serve more than 330 families with children seeking asylum.
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Global Citizen reveals lineup for its 2023 festival in Central Park

Photo of Global Citizen Festival in Central by Anthony Quintano on Flickr

July 11, 2023

Global Citizen reveals lineup for its 2023 festival in Central Park

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The lineup for the 11th annual Global Citizen Festival in New York City has been revealed. Taking place on Central Park's Great Lawn on Saturday, September 23, this year's event includes headliners the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Ms. Lauryn Hill, with Megan Thee Stallion, Conan Gray, and the Stray Kids also set to perform. The free ticketed event connects music and activism, with a focus on tackling issues related to extreme poverty around the world, including empowering women and girls, fighting climate action, and alleviating the hunger crisis.
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Angelina Jolie renting Jean-Michel Basquiat’s former Noho studio

Photo by Beyond My Ken on Wikimedia Commons

July 11, 2023

Angelina Jolie renting Jean-Michel Basquiat’s former Noho studio

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Angelina Jolie is opening a new collaborative space for artisans and fashion designers at Jean-Michel Basquiat's former Noho studio. Opening this fall at 57 Great Jones Street, Atelier Jolie will serve as "a creative collection for self-expression," giving underrepresented tailors and designers the ability to showcase their work, as first reported by EV Grieve. The two-floor building was once owned by Andy Warhol, who rented it out to Basquiat until the artist's untimely death in 1988 at the age of 27.
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56 apartments for low-income seniors available in Inwood

Renderings courtesy of Coconut Properties

July 10, 2023

56 apartments for low-income seniors available in Inwood

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56 affordable units designed for seniors are available at a new senior supportive housing project in Manhattan. Located at 37 Hillside Avenue in Inwood, the building offers senior residents social services, space to worship, and plenty of outdoor green space. Applicants must have at least one household member who is 62 years of age or older, qualifies for Section 8 benefits, and earns no more than $60,050 annually. Eligible New Yorkers will pay 30 percent of their income for the available studio and one-bedroom apartments.
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NYC libraries celebrate 50 years of hip-hop with special edition library cards

Image courtesy of Jonathan Blanc

July 10, 2023

NYC libraries celebrate 50 years of hip-hop with special edition library cards

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The New York Public Library (NYPL) and Queens Public Library (QPL) are releasing new limited-edition library cards in celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. The new cards honor the genre and commemorate New York City's integral role in its rise to global fame. The cards will be available at branches across the NYPL and QPL systems starting on Friday, July 14.
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How to celebrate Bastille Day 2023 in NYC

A past Bastille Day event hosted by the French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) Photo by Julieta Cervantes

July 7, 2023

How to celebrate Bastille Day 2023 in NYC

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Bastille Day is a celebration of the day French revolutionaries stormed the Bastille prison in Paris, a pivotal moment in the French Revolution. Taking place on July 14, Bastille Day, or La Fête Nationale, is France's national holiday, and many of New York City's French businesses and institutions host exciting celebrations to honor the day. Ahead, find a round-up of Bastille Day celebrations across the five boroughs, from street fairs and concerts to French automobile parades and specials at French restaurants throughout the city.
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85 brand-new affordable units available in Morris Heights, from $532/month

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

July 7, 2023

85 brand-new affordable units available in Morris Heights, from $532/month

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Applications are now being accepted for 85 affordable units at a new residential development in the Bronx. Located at 1544 Shakespeare Avenue in Morris Heights, St. Francis Commons offers residents brand-new apartments and a variety of amenities. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 30, 50, and 70 of the area median income, or between $21,155 for a single person annually and $122,570 for a household of seven, are eligible to apply for the apartments, which range from $532/month one-bedrooms to $2,188/month three bedrooms.
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A crew of weed-eating goats returns to Riverside Park this week

Image courtesy of the Riverside Park Conservancy

July 6, 2023

A crew of weed-eating goats returns to Riverside Park this week

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A voracious crew of goats will return to the Upper West Side on Friday to help clear out hard-to-reach weeds in Riverside Park. Known as "Goatham," the event marks the fourth consecutive year that the Riverside Park Conservancy has welcomed in a team of goats to clear out invasive species. This year's celebration has been made more grandiose with the first-ever Goatham Festival on Friday, July 7 at 11 a.m., which will host four esteemed goats as guests for a "ribbon chewing" ceremony for the opening of the new Compost Compound on 95th Street.
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MTA moves forward with expansion of Second Avenue Subway

Rendering of the 125th Street entrance, looking south. All renderings courtesy of the MTA

July 6, 2023

MTA moves forward with expansion of Second Avenue Subway

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New York City is moving forward with its highly-anticipated expansion of the Second Avenue Subway. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday announced that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is soliciting the first contract for the 1.5-mile extension of the Second Avenue Subway to 125th Street and unveiled new renderings of the project. The roughly $7 billion extension will connect the line's current endpoint at 96th Street on the Upper West Side to a new station at 125th Street in Harlem, with two more fully accessible stations created along the way at 106th and 116th Streets.
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New Louis Armstrong Center opens in Corona

Image courtesy of Albert Vercerka/Esto

July 5, 2023

New Louis Armstrong Center opens in Corona

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A new center dedicated to jazz legend Louis Armstrong has opened in Queens. Located at 34-40 107th Street in Corona, the Louis Armstrong Center will feature a 60,000-piece permanent collection of historical items relating to Louis and Lucille Armstrong, a rotating exhibition space, and a 75-seat venue for performances, lectures, films, and educational experiences. Part of the existing Louis Armstrong House Museum, the new building opened on Thursday, July 6.
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Asking $19.5M, a penthouse in Richard Rogers’ first U.S. residential project in FiDi

Images courtesy of Evan Joseph

July 3, 2023

Asking $19.5M, a penthouse in Richard Rogers’ first U.S. residential project in FiDi

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This newly finished penthouse is located within award-winning architectural firm Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners' No. 33 Park Row, the firm's first and only residential project in New York City. The park-front landmark joins RSHP's roster of celebrated projects, such as One Hyde Park in London and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Asking $19,500,000, the five-bedroom, five-and-a-half bathroom duplex Penthouse 3 offers residents dramatic 21-foot-tall ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a stunning loggia terrace with sweeping views of City Hall Park and Tribeca.
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NYC’s shelter system reaches a record 100,000 occupants

Image courtesy of mari small on Unsplash

June 30, 2023

NYC’s shelter system reaches a record 100,000 occupants

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New York City's shelter system has surpassed 100,000 occupants for the first time, more than half of whom are asylum seekers, city officials announced this week. NYC is currently spending roughly $8 million a day on its shelter system, which has expanded to include 166 new emergency facilities to accommodate the surge in asylum seekers that began in the spring of 2022. The city is expected to spend more than $4 billion on its shelter system by 2024, according to the New York Times.
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Jersey City’s Hudson Exchange begins construction of 60-story second phase

Rendering courtesy of Beyer Blinder Belle

June 30, 2023

Jersey City’s Hudson Exchange begins construction of 60-story second phase

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Ground has broken on the second phase of Hudson Exchange, one of Jersey City's largest and most anticipated redevelopment projects. Located at 420 Marin Boulevard, the 1.3 million square foot development will feature a 60-story mixed-use tower with 802 luxury rental apartments and 115,000 square feet of retail space. Developed by Brookfield Properties and G&S Investors, the property will also include pre-leased ShopRite supermarket space.
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Private firm unveils Penn Station redesign plan, claims it’s $1B cheaper than MTA’s

Renderings courtesy of ASTM, PAU, and HOK

June 29, 2023

Private firm unveils Penn Station redesign plan, claims it’s $1B cheaper than MTA’s

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A private development firm unveiled a proposal for rebuilding Penn Station that is $1 billion cheaper than what is proposed by the MTA. ASTM North America on Wednesday revealed details of their $6 billion renovation of the transit station, which involves keeping Madison Square Garden in its current location, wrapping it in a massive stone facade, and creating a more unified train hall. The firm's unveiling of the comprehensive plan comes days after Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that Penn Station's renovation will move forward with the preliminary design process without the development of several office towers.
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18 best places to see 4th of July fireworks in NYC

Image courtesy of John Saeyong Ra on Flickr

June 29, 2023

18 best places to see 4th of July fireworks in NYC

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On the Fourth of July, Americans all across the nation will be celebrating the country's independence alongside friends and family with good food, cold drinks, and of course, fireworks. Luckily enough for New Yorkers, New York City offers the country's most awe-inspiring Independence Day celebrations, featuring the 47th annual Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Show over the East River and Jersey City's display over the Hudson River. Ahead, find a selection of some of the best-ticketed events across the five boroughs to enjoy this year's July 4th fireworks celebrations, from the top of observation decks soaring 1,000 feet above Manhattan to luxury yachts parked in the East River.
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Hypnotizing flower-themed sculptural exhibit coming to Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Jean-Michel Othoniel, view of the exhibition Treasure Gardens at Seoul Museum of Art and Imperial Palace Garden, Seoul (South Korea), 2022. Photo by CJY ART STUDIO. © Jean-Michel Othoniel / ADAGP, Paris & ARS, New York 2023.

June 28, 2023

Hypnotizing flower-themed sculptural exhibit coming to Brooklyn Botanic Garden

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The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is hosting a new sculptural exhibition in three of its most well-known garden spaces this summer. Created by French artist Jean-Michel Othoniel, "The Flowers of Hypnosis" consists of six separate flower-like sculptures inspired by Othoniel's passion and observations of nature and work on a landscape scale. The sculpture series, Othoniel's largest exhibition in the United States since 2012, will be on view at the BBG from July 18 through October 22, 2023.
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NYC’s congestion pricing program gets final federal approval

Photo by Jesús Mirón García on Pexels

June 27, 2023

NYC’s congestion pricing program gets final federal approval

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New York City's congestion pricing program is officially moving forward. The Federal Highway Administration on Monday approved the Central Business District Tolling Program, the nation's first congestion pricing plan, which will charge drivers entering Manhattan south of 60th Street during peak hours between $9 and $23 for non-commercial vehicles and between $12 and $82 for trucks. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority says the program could begin as early as May 2024.
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NYC gains three landmarks related to history of jazz

Image courtesy of the Landmarks Preservation Commission

June 27, 2023

NYC gains three landmarks related to history of jazz

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Three buildings across the city with significant ties to the history of jazz are New York City's newest individual landmarks. The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) on Tuesday voted to designate Minton's Playhouse in Harlem, the former Queens home of Dizzy Gillespie, and a Hamilton Heights apartment building where jazz greats Duke Ellington and Noble Lee Sissle once lived. The three buildings not only have vital ties to jazz music but stand out for their architectural significance, according to the commission.
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NYC to install outdoor e-bike charging stations at dozens of NYCHA buildings

Image courtesy of Cory Doctorow on Flickr

June 26, 2023

NYC to install outdoor e-bike charging stations at dozens of NYCHA buildings

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Hundreds of safe e-bike and scooter charging and storage stations will soon be installed across New York City's public housing buildings as a way to prevent battery fires. Mayor Eric Adams, Sen. Chuck Schumer, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand on Sunday announced plans to install 173 outdoor stations at 53 NYCHA developments starting next year, with a total of 327 stations planned. The announcement comes just days after a fire at an e-bike repair shop in Chinatown killed four people and injured several others. The initiative is funded through a $25 million emergency grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
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Plan for better bus service to LaGuardia Airport rolls forward

Photo by Tdorante10 on Wikimedia

June 26, 2023

Plan for better bus service to LaGuardia Airport rolls forward

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The board of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey last week approved $30 million in funding to plan and design better bus service to LaGuardia, officially kicking off a project to improve mass transit options to the Queens airport. Recommended by an expert panel in March, the plan involves scrapping the controversial AirTrain and instead improving the existing bus service and adding a new non-stop airport shuttle.
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Adams vetoes NYC Council bills expanding rental assistance

Image courtesy of robertotmn on Flickr

June 23, 2023

Adams vetoes NYC Council bills expanding rental assistance

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Mayor Eric Adams has vetoed four City Council bills that would expand access to New York City's housing voucher program. Adams on Friday vetoed bills Intro. 229, Intro. 878, Intro. 893, and Intro. 894, claiming the legislation package, which was passed by the council last month, would cost the city an exorbitant amount of money and "make it harder" for homeless New Yorkers to find housing. The Council passed the legislation package late last month with a vote of 41 to 7, enough support to override the veto.
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NYC’s latest casino bid calls for two 46-story skyscrapers across from the Javits Center

Renderings courtesy of Silverstein Properties

June 23, 2023

NYC’s latest casino bid calls for two 46-story skyscrapers across from the Javits Center

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Larry Silverstein of Silverstein Properties has joined the cast of prominent developers competing for one of three downstate casino licenses. Silverstein Properties on Friday announced plans for "The Avenir," a hotel, casino, entertainment, and residential development on a vacant plot of land on the border of Hudson Yards and Hell's Kitchen. Located at 41st Street and 11th Avenue, just north of the Javits Center, the proposed 1.8 million square foot project includes two 46-story towers with a luxury hotel, a top-floor performance hall, affordable housing, and an eight-story casino run by Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment at the base.
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Three modern penthouses added to Upper West Side’s historic Astor building

Rendering courtesy of Binyan Studios

June 22, 2023

Three modern penthouses added to Upper West Side’s historic Astor building

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Three new modern penthouses are being added atop The Astor, a landmarked residential building on the Upper West Side built over 100 years ago. The brand-new apartments top one of New York City's most iconic condominiums, which consists of three interconnected towers on Broadway between West 75th and West 76th Streets. All three penthouses come with private outdoor areas, gas fireplaces, and interiors designed by Pembrooke & Ives. Before being listed publicly, one of the penthouses already found a buyer, who purchased a 3,400 square foot four-bedroom, four-and-a-half bathroom, and a three-bedroom unit below it, in a combo deal last listed for $15.495 million.
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