All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

New look at Fifth Avenue’s tallest residential tower, 262 Fifth Ave

Renderings courtesy of Hayes Davidson

April 2, 2026

New look at Fifth Avenue’s tallest residential tower, 262 Fifth Ave

New renderings of Fifth Avenue's tallest residential building were released this week as sales kick off at the condominium. Developed by Five Points Development and designed by Meganom, 262 Fifth Avenue is a 52-story tower in Nomad with only 26 full-floor and duplex residences. In addition to new images, the developer launched a teaser website for the building and announced a new sales team from Sotheby's International Realty.
see the views

Congestion pricing funds major air quality upgrades at Bronx’s Hunts Point Market

Credit: Ray Raimundi/MTA on Flickr

April 2, 2026

Congestion pricing funds major air quality upgrades at Bronx’s Hunts Point Market

By Aaron Ginsburg

Diesel-powered refrigeration units that have long emitted air pollution in the Bronx will be replaced by cleaner models, funded by revenue from New York City’s congestion pricing program. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday announced 20 diesel-powered transport refrigeration units (TRUs) at the Hunts Point Produce Market will be replaced with cleaner diesel and hybrid units, which are projected to cut annual particulate matter emissions by 99.7 percent and nitrogen oxide by 66 percent. Replacing just one diesel-powered TRU with a newer model eliminates the equivalent particulate matter emissions of 330 truck trips per day on the Cross Bronx Expressway.
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Explore 100 years of jazz history in the Village with this new interactive map

Village Vanguard in 1976. Photo By Tom Marcello via Wikimedia

April 2, 2026

Explore 100 years of jazz history in the Village with this new interactive map

By Aaron Ginsburg

In celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month, Village Preservation has launched an interactive map charting a century of jazz history across Greenwich Village, the East Village, and Noho. Released on Wednesday, the map allows users to explore more than 100 sites, including music venues, recording studios, and artists’ residences across the three neighborhoods, along with historical context for each location.
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City Living

Oleg Cassini’s former UES mansion sells for $34.5M after lengthy bankruptcy battle

Photo credit: Evan Joseph for Sotheby’s International Realty

April 1, 2026

Oleg Cassini’s former UES mansion sells for $34.5M after lengthy bankruptcy battle

By Aaron Ginsburg

An Upper East Side townhouse tied to late fashion designer Oleg Cassini has sold for $34.5 million, bringing a years-long legal and bankruptcy battle to a close. The five-story home at 15 East 63rd Street was at the center of a high-profile dispute involving Cassini’s widow, Marianne Nestor, and her sister, Peggy Nestor, who filed for bankruptcy in 2023 after creditors moved to foreclose on the Beaux Arts limestone townhouse. The pair had filed, and lost, nearly 20 court appeals to delay the case and keep the residence, according to Crain’s.
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Real Estate Trends

MoMA PS1 to host free block party for 50th anniversary

(L) MoMA PS1. Credit: Newell Reinvention on Flickr. (R) Credit: MoMA PS1

April 1, 2026

MoMA PS1 to host free block party for 50th anniversary

By Aaron Ginsburg

MoMA PS1 is hosting a free block party next month to celebrate its 50th anniversary, bringing live music, food, and special programming to its longtime home in Long Island City. The event will take place across the museum's plaza, courtyard, and galleries on Saturday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and include curator-led talks, artist activations, performances, and offerings from local food vendors. The celebration coincides with the opening weekend of "Greater New York," the museum’s signature survey of working NYC artists, which highlights more than 50 multidisciplinary creatives in the early stages of their careers.
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Events & Things To Do

March 31, 2026

Two-story Midtown South building to become 32-story tower with 95 apartments

By Aaron Ginsburg

A vacant two-story Midtown South commercial building will become a 32-story residential tower, marking the first permits filed in New York City for a high-density development under new zoning laws. On Monday, Sioni Group filed plans to construct a 95-unit apartment building at 28 West 37th Street, the commercial building the group applied to demolish in February, according to Crain’s. The project is the first to take advantage of the R-12 high-density zoning, introduced after the state lifted the floor area ratio (FAR) cap to allow greater residential density.
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New Developments

Booze is back on board the Staten Island Ferry

Photo by Jesse R on Pexels

March 31, 2026

Booze is back on board the Staten Island Ferry

By Aaron Ginsburg

After a seven-year sober spell, Staten Island Ferry riders can once again booze on board. Last week, the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced that beer, hard seltzers, and canned cocktails will be sold on the ferry for the first time since 2019, alongside expanded snack options like pretzels and popcorn. The offerings debuted on the MV SSG Michael H. Ollis and are slated to roll out to the Sandy Ground and Dorothy Day ferries in the coming weeks.
drink in the veiw

Upper West Side affordable senior housing project breaks ground

Images courtesy of WSFSSH

March 31, 2026

Upper West Side affordable senior housing project breaks ground

By Aaron Ginsburg

Work has begun on the second phase of a long-awaited Upper West Side development offering affordable homes for low-income and formerly homeless seniors. On Friday, the West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing (WSFSSH) announced the start of the second phase of its West 108 development, an 84-unit permanently supportive housing project at 105 West 108th Street. The 22 studios and 61 one-bedrooms will be set aside for seniors ages 62 and older earning at or below 50 percent of the area median income, as well as adults ages 55 and older who have experienced homelessness and are living with serious mental health or substance use disorders.
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Affordable Housing

First phase of major East New York development opens lottery for 291 apartments, from $561/month

Credit: PAU

March 30, 2026

First phase of major East New York development opens lottery for 291 apartments, from $561/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

East New York's sprawling 10-building Innovative Urban Village complex launched a housing lottery last week for 291 mixed-income apartments. Located at 30 Inspiration Lane (formerly known as 12096 Flatlands Avenue), the building falls under the 10.5-acre project’s first phase, which will include 386 affordable homes, a fresh food grocery store, and covered parking upon completion this summer. New Yorkers earning between 30 and 80 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $561/month for studios to $2,691/month for three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Rolex to open 30-story David Chipperfield-designed office tower on Fifth Avenue this fall

Images courtesy of Rolex

March 30, 2026

Rolex to open 30-story David Chipperfield-designed office tower on Fifth Avenue this fall

By Aaron Ginsburg

Rolex on Monday announced its new 30-story flagship at 665 Fifth Avenue will open this fall. Inspired by the watch brand's signature fluted bezel, the building, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Sir David Chipperfield, will feature a stacked facade with four terraces at each step-back. The 165,000-square-foot building will include a multi-level Rolex retail space, topped by office floors and additional retail tenants, along with amenities such as a restaurant and event space.
see the design

NYC’s first pro soccer stadium tops out in Queens

By Aaron Ginsburg

Etihad Park, New York City's first-ever professional soccer stadium in Queens, topped out this week. The NYC Football Club (NYCFC) laid the final steel beam on Wednesday, completing the 25,000-seat stadium’s frame on schedule after construction began in December 2024. Developed by NYCFC, Related Companies, and Sterling Equities and designed by HOK, the seven-story, fully electric stadium is expected to open for the 2027–28 Major League Soccer season as NYCFC’s official home in the five boroughs.
MORE THIS WAY

Brooklyn Bridge to get separate bike and pedestrian entrances in Manhattan

The Brooklyn Bridge bike lane when it opened in 2021. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

March 27, 2026

Brooklyn Bridge to get separate bike and pedestrian entrances in Manhattan

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City this week launched another new street safety project ahead of the FIFA World Cup this summer. Starting in April, the city will fully separate the cyclist and pedestrian entrances to the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan for the first time, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Friday. Dedicated cyclist and pedestrian entrances from Centre Street and Park Row will allow bike riders to access the bridge without cutting through crowds. Slated for completion in June, the redesign will also convert a left-turn bay on Centre Street between Chambers Street and the bridge entrance into a two-way protected bike lane.
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Mamdani launches new office to support NYC street vendors

Credit: Christoph Birken on Unsplash

March 27, 2026

Mamdani launches new office to support NYC street vendors

By Aaron Ginsburg

A longtime advocate for New York City’s street vendors will now represent the small businesses at City Hall. Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday officially launched the Office of Street Vendor Services and appointed Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez, co-director of the Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center, as its first executive director. As part of the Department of Small Business Services, the new office will conduct outreach to the city’s roughly 23,000 street vendors and educate them on local laws and the permitting process. Legislation reforming street vending that passed the City Council last year mandated the creation of the new office.
details here

Policy

MTA launches new app with real-time subway and bus tracking

Images courtesy of the MTA

March 26, 2026

MTA launches new app with real-time subway and bus tracking

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has revamped its mobile app to provide more accurate, real-time information for subway and bus riders. The update, rolled out on Wednesday, allows riders to track trains and buses, receive service alerts, and connect with customer support agents available 24/7. It also introduces new features such as station wayfinding, transfer information, and the ability to save favorite subway lines and bus routes.
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Mamdani appeals housing voucher expansion, breaking campaign pledge

Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks to the press during February’s state budget hearing. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

March 26, 2026

Mamdani appeals housing voucher expansion, breaking campaign pledge

By Aaron Ginsburg

After failing to reach a deal with housing advocates, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has appealed a court ruling that ordered New York City to expand its housing voucher program, a move that departs from one of his key campaign pledges. Filed on Tuesday, the appeal puts Mamdani in the position once held by former Mayor Eric Adams, whose initial opposition sparked a legal battle that has stretched for nearly three years. In February, Mamdani indicated he no longer intended to support the program’s expansion due to the city’s projected $7 billion budget deficit, and after negotiations failed, his appeal now extends the legal battle indefinitely.
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Policy

New protected two-way bike lane will connect the Brooklyn Bridge and Union Square

Images courtesy of NYC DOT

March 26, 2026

New protected two-way bike lane will connect the Brooklyn Bridge and Union Square

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City has begun a series of bike lane and pedestrian space upgrades that will add a safer link between the Brooklyn Bridge and Union Square. On Wednesday, DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn announced the start of work in Noho, the East Village, and Union Square, including a continuous north-south bike connection from the Brooklyn Bridge to Astor Place and Union Square. Officials say the most significant improvements will be completed before the FIFA World Cup in July, when the already busy area is expected to see a surge in visitors.
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First major Raphael exhibition in the U.S. opens at The Met

Installation view of Raphael: Sublime Poetry, on view March 29–June 28, 2026, at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. All installation view photos are by Eileen Travell, Courtesy of The Met.

March 25, 2026

First major Raphael exhibition in the U.S. opens at The Met

By Aaron Ginsburg

Iconic works by Italian Renaissance master Raphael will go on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, bringing many of the artist’s most celebrated pieces to the United States for the first time. On view from March 29 through June 28, "Raphael: Sublime Poetry" is the first comprehensive international loan exhibition in the country dedicated to the artist. Spanning his full career, the exhibition will feature more than 200 works, including over 170 drawings, paintings, tapestries, and decorative arts from public and private collections around the world.
details this way

Events & Things To Do

NYC breaks ground on Bronx crosstown bus service upgrades around Yankee Stadium

Credit: NYC DOT

March 25, 2026

NYC breaks ground on Bronx crosstown bus service upgrades around Yankee Stadium

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City has broken ground on a project that will improve crosstown Bronx bus service and enhance street safety near Yankee Stadium, ahead of baseball season’s opening day on Wednesday. Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday announced the project, which will add westbound bus-only lanes, including converting the 161st Street underpass to bus-only use. The redesign will also include pedestrian safety upgrades and new amenities for bus riders, such as shelters, benches, and leaning bars, along with infrastructure to make boarding buses safer and more accessible.
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NYC tourism generated $84.7B in 2025 despite decline in international visitors

Credit: Jun Ren on Unsplash

March 24, 2026

NYC tourism generated $84.7B in 2025 despite decline in international visitors

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City’s tourism industry generated $84.7 billion in economic impact in 2025, despite a decline in international visitors amid ongoing immigration crackdowns under the Trump administration. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYC Tourism + Conventions President and CEO Julie Coker released on Tuesday the city's annual tourism report, which found that the five boroughs welcomed 65 million visitors last year, a modest 0.7 percent increase from 2024. The report also found that the industry generated $55.6 billion in direct spending, $7.5 billion in tax revenue, and supported 397,000 jobs.
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New community space opens at Wagner Park Pavilion in Battery Park City

Images courtesy of Battery Park City Authority

March 24, 2026

New community space opens at Wagner Park Pavilion in Battery Park City

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new community space with sweeping views of New York Harbor opened Monday at the Pavilion in Battery Park City’s Wagner Park. Dubbed "The Classroom," the 1,200-square-foot space is designed for public engagements, private rentals, catered events, and business meetings. The addition marks the latest phase of Wagner Park Pavilion’s revitalization, following a two-year overhaul that included reopening the park in July, after elevating it by 10 feet and incorporating hidden flood protection measures as part of a nearly $300 million project.
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Architecture And Design

Take a retro NYC subway ride to the Mets and Yankees home opener games

All photos courtesy of the New York Transit Museum

March 24, 2026

Take a retro NYC subway ride to the Mets and Yankees home opener games

By Aaron Ginsburg

Baseball is back! Celebrate by taking a retro subway ride to the Mets and Yankees home opener games. The New York Transit Museum will once again run vintage trains for the first home games of the season, March 26 at Citi Field and April 3 at Yankee Stadium. Costing the typical $3 to ride, retro trains will depart from 34th Street-Hudson Yards to Mets-Willets Point, and from Grand Central-42nd Street to 161st Street-Yankee Stadium.
ALL ABOARD!

NYC begins redesign of Ninth Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen

Images courtesy of NYC DOT

March 20, 2026

NYC begins redesign of Ninth Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen

By Aaron Ginsburg

Ninth Avenue in Hell's Kitchen will join a growing number of Manhattan corridors slated for redesigns, the city's Department of Transportation (DOT) announced Thursday. The project will immediately begin along a stretch from West 34th to West 50th Streets, where pedestrian space will be expanded, the protected bike lane widened, and the bus lane extended and repainted to 50th Street. The improvements are expected to be completed ahead of the FIFA World Cup this summer, when sidewalk overcrowding in the area is expected to increase.
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MTA to replace more than 2,000 NYC subway cars, largest order in agency history

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

March 20, 2026

MTA to replace more than 2,000 NYC subway cars, largest order in agency history

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is seeking a manufacturer to deliver 2,390 new subway cars, the largest order in the transit system’s history. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the request for proposals (RFP) on Friday, which calls for a base order of 1,140 R262 cars to replace the R62 and R62A fleets on the 1, 3, and 6 lines. An additional 1,250 cars could be ordered to replace the R142 and R142A fleets on the 2, 4, and 5 lines.
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Photo: Jason Keen. All images courtesy New Museum.

March 20, 2026

New Museum opens OMA-designed expansion

By Aaron Ginsburg

After two years, the New Museum will reopen its doors this weekend, as its long-awaited $82 million expansion is finally complete. The seven-story, 60,000-square-foot addition, designed by OMA’s Shohei Shigematsu and Rem Koolhaas in collaboration with Cooper Robertson, one of the few projects combining the work of two living Pritzker Prize-winning architects, opens to the public on Saturday, March 21. Seamlessly combining with the existing SANAA-designed flagship on the Bowery at Prince Street, the project doubles the New Museum's gallery space, adds a permanent home for its cultural incubator NEW INC, and introduces a new outdoor plaza and a 100-seat all-day cafe and restaurant.
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Hamptons oceanfront estate owned by late diamond dealer lists for $45M

Credit: Real Shot Studios / Miles Bouckoms

March 19, 2026

Hamptons oceanfront estate owned by late diamond dealer lists for $45M

By Aaron Ginsburg

An oceanfront Hamptons estate once owned by a diamond magnate has hit the market for $45 million. As first reported by the New York Post, the home at 15 Dune Road in Bridgehampton was built by the late Ara Arslanian, a Belgian-American diamond dealer who bought the property in the early 1980s and died in November. Designed by Mark C. Matthews Architecture and Francis D’Haene of D’Apostrophe Design, the seven-bedroom residence features a linear shoreline layout, with every principal room offering sweeping sunrise and sunset views over the water.
see inside

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