All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

Historic McGraw-Hill Building in Hell’s Kitchen to add 224 rentals

Rendering courtesy of MdeAS Architects

March 13, 2023

Historic McGraw-Hill Building in Hell’s Kitchen to add 224 rentals

The 35-story landmarked McGraw-Hill Building in Hell's Kitchen will soon be home to 224 luxury rentals. As first reported by the New York Post, the project includes the redesign of the building's office space, the construction of a second lobby and entrance, and the restoration of the McGraw-Hill name above the residential entrance. Floors 12 through 34 of the Art Deco skyscraper will be converted to residential use, which will cost an estimated $100 million. Work will begin this summer.
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Real Estate Trends

NYC’s redesign of Broadway blocks into pedestrian-friendly stretch begins

Rendering of Greeley Square after capital construction work is completed; Courtesy of “New” New York Panel

March 13, 2023

NYC’s redesign of Broadway blocks into pedestrian-friendly stretch begins

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City will begin its transformation of an iconic stretch of Broadway into a pedestrian-friendly corridor this week, Mayor Eric Adams announced Sunday. The work is part of the first phase of "Broadway Vision," a plan to make the chaotic and crowded streets between Madison Square and Herald Square safer by banning cars on some blocks and creating more space for pedestrians. As part of the first phase, the city will add two new plazas, shared streets, and a two-way bike lane on Broadway from West 25th Street to West 32nd Street.
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NYCHA LaGuardia Houses; Photo via Wikimedia

March 9, 2023

NYC Council Speaker revives plan to build new homes on open NYCHA land

By Aaron Ginsburg

A New York City official is reviving a plan to turn the green spaces on public housing complexes into homes. In her State of the City address on Wednesday, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams proposed the construction of new apartment buildings on existing open spaces, known as "infill development," within New York City Housing Authority properties. Adams said her proposal would help address the city's housing crisis and provide current public housing tenants with an opportunity to relocate into upgraded, modern housing units.
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Upper West Side rejects proposed rest hub for delivery workers

Photo by Jimmy Baikovicius on Flickr

March 9, 2023

Upper West Side rejects proposed rest hub for delivery workers

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Upper West Side voted against a proposed rest stop for delivery workers on 72nd Street and Broadway, as first reported by Gothamist. During a public hearing Tuesday, Manhattan Community Board 7 voted 27-8 against the transformation of an empty newsstand into a charging station for delivery workers.
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156 affordable apartments available at 16-story Bronx rental, from $397/month

Image courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

March 8, 2023

156 affordable apartments available at 16-story Bronx rental, from $397/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

An affordable housing lottery opened this week for 156 apartments in the Bronx. Located at 1923 West Farms Road in West Farms, the 16-story rental dubbed Compass Six offers tenants spacious units and outdoor space. New Yorkers earning 30, 50, 70, and 80 percent of the area median income, or between $16,183 annually for a single person and $132,400 annually for a household of seven, can apply for the apartments, priced from $397/month studios to $2,273/month three bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

City pilot will add more pedestrian space to Prospect Park’s roadway

Photo by Prabu Vasan for Prospect Park Alliance

March 8, 2023

City pilot will add more pedestrian space to Prospect Park’s roadway

By Aaron Ginsburg

Prospect Park's main roadway is getting a revamp. The Prospect Park Alliance and the Department of Transportation on Tuesday released the results of a year-long study of Prospect Park Drive, a busy loop within the park for pedestrians, joggers, and cyclists. Conducted by leading traffic consultancy Sam Schwartz, the NYC Parks Department, and DOT, the study analyzed crash data, roadway grade, pedestrian count, and other metrics to determine ways to improve the roadway. As a result of the study, the city is piloting adding a second lane on the outside of the drive, which would limit the need for crossings and prevent collisions.
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The Museum of Failure exhibit is coming to Brooklyn

Images courtesy of SEE Attractions/Museum of Failure

March 8, 2023

The Museum of Failure exhibit is coming to Brooklyn

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new exhibit in Sunset Park gives an opportunity to learn about some of the biggest failures of the biggest companies. Located in Industry City, the Museum of Failure offers New Yorkers a close look at more than 130 "epic fails" by giant global corporations, including Coca-Cola, Google, and Nokia, with the intention of teaching visitors the importance of learning from your mistakes. Presented by SEE Attractions, the exhibit will be open from March 17 until May 14.
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Events & Things To Do

New plan aims to crack down on NYC’s unsightly scaffolding

Photo courtesy of Billie Grace Ward on Flickr

March 7, 2023

New plan aims to crack down on NYC’s unsightly scaffolding

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new plan aims to cut down the amount of time scaffolding spends hovering over New York City sidewalks. Released this week by Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and City Council Member Keith Powers, the "Shed the Shed" report recommends several strategies aimed at taking down sidewalk sheds quickly, including accelerating construction on buildings, reducing permitting delays, reforming design standards, and holding buildings more accountable by increasing penalties.
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Iconic NYC subway busker Ballerina Mime to perform at Lincoln Center

Photos by Lawrence Sumulong, © Lincoln Center

March 6, 2023

Iconic NYC subway busker Ballerina Mime to perform at Lincoln Center

By Aaron Ginsburg

A New York City busking sensation will emerge above ground to perform at Lincoln Center on Wednesday. The famed living statue the Ballerina Mime will perform alongside original chamber music from cellist Titilayo Ayangade and violist Edwin Kaplan, playing together as duo kayo. The event, called Living Statues, Living Music, will take place at the David Geffen Hall's Kenneth C. Griffin Sidewalk Studio on March 8 at 8 p.m.
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Events & Things To Do

Rafael Viñoly, renowned NYC architect, dies at 78

Photo © Rafael Viñoly Architects

March 6, 2023

Rafael Viñoly, renowned NYC architect, dies at 78

By Aaron Ginsburg

World-renowned architect Rafael Viñoly, known in New York City for his work on many commercial and landmark buildings, passed away last week in his Manhattan home at the age of 78. The modernist designer, best known to many New Yorkers for his work on the controversial 432 Park Avenue condo tower, succumbed to a brain aneurysm, according to the New York Times.
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Architecture And Design

Historic Flatiron Building headed to auction to end dispute between owners

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's iconic Flatiron Building will be put up for auction to resolve a dispute between its current owners, according to a recent judgment filed in state Supreme Court. As first reported by PincusCo, the decision to sell the vacant landmarked building was made by GFP Real Estate, Newmark, Sorgente Group, and ABS Real Estate Partners, which make up 75 percent of the building's owners. The auction is set to take place on March 22 with Mannion Auctions.
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Real Estate Trends

Little Italy’s Alleva Dairy cheese shop finds new home in New Jersey

Image courtesy of Marcela on Flickr

March 3, 2023

Little Italy’s Alleva Dairy cheese shop finds new home in New Jersey

By Aaron Ginsburg

After falling behind on rent and closing its doors due to the pandemic, Little Italy's historic cheese shop has found a new home in New Jersey. Alleva Dairy, the 130-year-old cheese shop that was forced to close in February, will move to a bigger location in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, as first reported by NBC New York. The new location is currently under construction and is expected to open to customers in August.
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New public artwork turns a Downtown Brooklyn plaza into a playful, colorful oasis

All photos courtesy of Cameron Blaylock for Downtown Brooklyn Partnership

March 3, 2023

New public artwork turns a Downtown Brooklyn plaza into a playful, colorful oasis

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new interactive public art installation in Downtown Brooklyn transforms a plaza into a colorful oasis with shimmering lights. The Downtown Brooklyn Partnership and Van Alen Institute on Wednesday unveiled "COMMON GROUND," a site-specific sculpture created by artist Cheryl Wing-Zi Wong with lighting design by Arup featuring colorful seating, sound-responsive lighting, and floor motifs that provide a vibrant space for people to gather. The installation will be on view from March 1 to May 1 at The Plaza at 300 Ashland.
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Events & Things To Do

How to celebrate Women’s History Month 2023 in NYC

Photo courtesy of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

March 2, 2023

How to celebrate Women’s History Month 2023 in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

Every March, Americans celebrate Women's History Month to honor the countless achievements and contributions of women nationwide. New York City, where the month-long celebration originated, has plenty of special events and happenings for those looking to show their appreciation to the women of the world. Ahead, here are some ways you can celebrate Women's History Month in NYC, from learning about the influential women behind Central Park's most iconic attractions to listening to music by trailblazing women composers at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music.
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Proposal to restore Prospect Park’s Vale faces criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates

Rendering of the proposed northeast pavilion. All renderings courtesy of the Prospect Park Alliance

March 1, 2023

Proposal to restore Prospect Park’s Vale faces criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates

By Aaron Ginsburg

The city's Parks Department and the Prospect Park Alliance this week unveiled plans for the restoration of the Vale of Cashmere. The proposal, presented during a Landmarks Preservation Commission hearing on Tuesday, includes a new pollinator garden, natural exploration play areas, a planted arbor, and a wooden pavilion with a green roof and bathrooms. Several LPC commissioners, preservationists, and LGBTQ+ advocates opposed the proposal for the Upper Vale, with most taking issue with the plan's erasure of the site as a significant meeting spot for the city's queer community as well as the disregard for the original vision of the Vale.
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New express ferry service takes commuters from Bay Ridge to Wall Street in 20 minutes

Photo by Shinya Suzuki on Flickr

February 28, 2023

New express ferry service takes commuters from Bay Ridge to Wall Street in 20 minutes

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new pilot program launching next month will speed up trips for South Brooklyn residents commuting to Manhattan. Starting March 8, the NYC Ferry's South Brooklyn route will take weekday riders from Bay Ridge to Wall Street in roughly 20 minutes as part of a "Faster Connections" pilot. The new express service operates between 6:15 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. on weekdays.
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Rupert Murdoch buys $30M Central Park South co-op

The Hampshire House is known for its steeply-pitched copper roof with two tall chimneys; Photo via Wikimedia Commons

February 28, 2023

Rupert Murdoch buys $30M Central Park South co-op

By Aaron Ginsburg

Media giant Rupert Murdoch is in contract to purchase a full-floor co-op on Billionaires' Row. As first reported by the Wall Street Journal, the News Corp founder bought a 6,500-square-foot apartment on the 27th floor of the Hampshire House that was last listed for $30,000,000; the final sales price has not been made public. The seven-bedroom, five-bathroom residence was the longtime home of late hedge-fund magnate Julian H. Robertson Jr. and famed philanthropist Alice Tully.
Details here

Full LIRR service begins at Grand Central Madison

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermnan / MTA on Flickr

February 27, 2023

Full LIRR service begins at Grand Central Madison

By Aaron Ginsburg

Grand Central Madison finally opened with full Long Island Rail Road service on Monday, with a totally new schedule for commuters and a 41 percent increase in service levels. Starting February 27, an additional 271 LIRR trains per day have been added to the system for a total of up to 936 trains per day; 296 of these trains will be traveling to and from Grand Central Madison, with the remaining to Penn Station. According to officials, the new terminal will make commutes for LIRR riders up to 40 minutes shorter.
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Final phase of JFK Airport’s $18 billion transformation kicks off with groundbreaking of Terminal 6

Renderings courtesy of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office

February 24, 2023

Final phase of JFK Airport’s $18 billion transformation kicks off with groundbreaking of Terminal 6

By Aaron Ginsburg

Construction has officially begun on the new $4.2 billion Terminal 6 at John F. Kennedy International Airport, marking the final project of the airport's $18 billion transformation. The 1.2 million square foot, state-of-the-art terminal will include 10 new gates and a new home for JetBlue and create 4,000 new jobs, including 1,800 union construction jobs. The first new gates at the terminal will open in 2026, with a completion date scheduled for 2028.
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Manhattan apartments are bigger now than a decade ago

Photo by Goh Rhy Yan on Unsplash

February 23, 2023

Manhattan apartments are bigger now than a decade ago

By Aaron Ginsburg

Believe it or not, new apartments in Manhattan are getting bigger. Despite being notorious for its small, compact apartments, Manhattan rentals actually gained an average of 19 square feet since 2013, an increase of 3 percent, according to new data released this week by RentCafe. The borough is an outlier when looking at the rest of the country, where newly constructed units continue to shrink in size, and even compared to other parts of New York City. The average space of new rentals in Brooklyn and Queens decreased by seven percent over the last decade, costing renters roughly 45 square feet.
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Real Estate Trends

Michelin-starred Chef Gabriel Kreuther to run two restaurants at Hudson Yards’ Spiral tower

Rendering courtesy of Tishman Speyer

February 22, 2023

Michelin-starred Chef Gabriel Kreuther to run two restaurants at Hudson Yards’ Spiral tower

By Aaron Ginsburg

A starchitect-designed office tower in Hudson Yards will offer cuisine curated by a Michelin-starred chef. The Spiral, the 66-story building designed by Bjarke Ingels, will be home to two new dining concepts created by Gabriel Kreuther, known for his eponymous restaurant near Bryant Park, developer Tishman Speyer announced Wednesday. Kreuther will operate a full-service restaurant and an all-day cafe serving breakfast and lunch; both are expected to open next year.
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Food & Dining

New legislation would require NYC co-op boards to reform application process

Photo of prestigious co-op building The Beresford by David Shankbone on Wikimedia

February 22, 2023

New legislation would require NYC co-op boards to reform application process

By Aaron Ginsburg

New legislation introduced by New York City lawmakers this month would require co-op boards to explain to prospective buyers why they are being rejected. The three-bill legislation package, put forth by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Council Member Pierina Sanchez, aims to reform policies that critics say contribute to housing discrimination.
Details here

Policy

February 21, 2023

15 fun spots for games and grub in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

With all of the unique attractions and over-the-top experiences New York City has to offer, sometimes you just want to have a more casual night. There are several spots across the city that offer fun and frivolity, along with a full food and drink menu. Ahead, find some of the best bars and social clubs that offer activities and games, from axe throwing and mini golf to ping pong and shuffleboard.
Fun, this way

Events & Things To Do

Plans unveiled for David Adjaye’s Restoration Plaza revamp in Bed-Stuy

Renderings courtesy of Adjaye Associates

February 17, 2023

Plans unveiled for David Adjaye’s Restoration Plaza revamp in Bed-Stuy

By Aaron Ginsburg

Plans to transform Brooklyn's Restoration Plaza into a global cultural and economic hub were unveiled this week. Non-profit Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation on Thursday released renderings and new details of its plan to reimagine its headquarters with an 840,000-square-foot mixed-use campus designed by renowned architect Sir David Adjaye. The plan expands and modernizes existing space, adds office and retail space, and creates new public open space in the heart of Bed-Stuy. According to the developer team, the Innovation Campus is a direct response to the country's racial wealth gap, particularly the economic barriers Black New Yorkers face in Brooklyn.
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See the Garment District’s new Big Button sculpture

Photo © 6sqft

February 16, 2023

See the Garment District’s new Big Button sculpture

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Garment District's iconic button & needle sculpture has been replaced with a new, permanent art installation. The Garment District Alliance on Thursday unveiled the new Big Button sculpture on the corner of Fashion Avenue and 39th Street. Designed by Local Projects and UAP Company, the sculpture measures 28 feet tall and has a 15-foot diameter aluminum button with a bright yellow automotive finish and a 32-foot brushed stainless steel needle, honoring the neighborhood's rich history in the world of fashion.
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Events & Things To Do

All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

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