All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

January 25, 2022

See inside NYC’s new luxury condo Flatiron House, where gardens bloom into apartments

Sales launched this week at a new luxury condo building in the Flatiron District that utilizes biophilic design principles. Designed by COOKFOX Architects, Flatiron House, located at 39 West 23rd Street, incorporates nature into its appearance, including planted and irrigated Juliet balconies and a lush central garden. Developed by Anbau Development, Flatiron House contains 44 total residences, priced between $1.98 million and $13 million.
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January 25, 2022

205 moderate-income apartments available on Greenpoint’s waterfront, from $1,528/month

A housing lottery opened this week for 205 moderate-income units in a new residential building in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Developed by Halcyon Management Group, 23 West Street is a 14-story residential building that sits within the Calyer Place development project currently under construction on the Brooklyn waterfront. New Yorkers earning 80 percent of the area median income are eligible to apply for the apartments, which range from $1,528/month studios to $1,955/month for two bedrooms.
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January 24, 2022

100% affordable mixed-use project with 376 rentals breaks ground in Coney Island

BFC Partners announced on Monday the groundbreaking for the second phase of their 100 percent affordable housing project in Coney Island. Located at 1607 Surf Avenue, the roughly 361,000-square-foot mixed-use development contains 376 affordable rental units, 9,000 square feet of community space, and 11,000 square feet of commercial space. The $189 million project also includes a new primary care location run by New York City Health and Hospital Corporation.
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January 21, 2022

14-mile ‘Interborough Express’ route between Brooklyn and Queens moves forward

A public transportation project that could ease the lives of thousands of New Yorkers is gaining momentum. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday announced the completion of a feasibility study for the Interborough Express, moving the project into its next phase of development. The feasibility study yielded promising results, revealing that the new line could serve anywhere between 74,000 and 88,000 riders a day while connecting to 17 subway stops and the Long Island Rail Road. From its start in Bay Ridge to its final stop in Jackson Heights, the route would take 40 minutes.
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January 20, 2022

New daily, year-round ferry service launches to and from Governors Island

The city's Economic Development and the Trust For Governors Island on Thursday announced that daily, year-round ferry service to Governors Island will begin on Monday, January 24. The NYC Ferry will add a stop at Yankee Pier on its South Brooklyn Route between Red Hook and Sunset Park, connecting New Yorkers to the island from the Lower East Side and Brooklyn. The new service’s hours will coincide with the Island's new winter hours, open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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January 20, 2022

Live in a new luxury Long Island City rental, from $1,486/month

A housing lottery opened this week for 31 middle-income units in a brand new luxury building in Long Island City. Designed by Fogarty Finger Architects, Rise LIC is a 10-story residential building offering its residents spacious units with extensive amenities. New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from $1,486/month studios to $3,200/month three bedrooms.
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January 19, 2022

New York’s first-ever Lenape-curated exhibition to open at the Brooklyn Public Library in Greenpoint

The first-ever Lenape-curated exhibition in New York is coming to Brooklyn. Presented by the Brooklyn Public Library and The Lenape Center, Lenapehoking features a collection of masterworks by Lenape artists and educational programs that teach visitors the story of the Lenape community. The collection is curated by Joe Baker, the co-founder and executive director of the Lenape Center and enrolled member of the Delaware Tribe of Indians. The exhibition opens on Thursday, January 20 at the Greenpoint Library and Environmental Education Center and runs through April 30.
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January 19, 2022

143 middle-income units available at new 34-story tower in Downtown Brooklyn, from $2,523/month

A housing lottery launched this week for 143 middle-income units in a new building in Downtown Brooklyn. Designed by Perkins Eastman, The Willoughby is a 34-story mixed-use residential tower offering prospective tenants the opportunity to save money in the long term with rent-stabilized units. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income are eligible to apply for the apartments, which range from $2,523/month studios to $3,235/month for two bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
January 18, 2022

New York lawmakers propose heat sensor requirement after deadly Bronx fire

After the fire that claimed 17 lives at a Bronx apartment building last week, elected officials are brainstorming strategies to prevent future tragedies. Rep. Ritchie Torres and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand on Monday announced new legislation requiring the installation of heat sensors at federally-owned housing developments. Supported by Mayor Eric Adams, sensors monitor the heat levels within buildings, alerting authorities when they reach unsafe conditions. The monitors can also keep track of when temperatures drop lower than the legal limit.
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January 18, 2022

New-York Historical Society brings Frederick Douglass’ vision of a free America to life

The work of one of America's most influential advocates for liberty and equality will be on view in New York City this Black History Month. On February 11, the New-York Historical Society will open Our Composite Nation: Frederick Douglass’ America, a special installation that honors the legacy of one of America’s most prolific freedom fighters. Named after one of Frederick Douglass’ most iconic speeches written at the end of the Civil War, the installation aims to paint a picture of Douglass’ optimistic vision of a new America during the era of Reconstruction.
Details here
January 14, 2022

A one-bedroom at Robert A.M. Stern’s new luxury Upper East Side tower asks $2M

Here's an opportunity to live in a new residential building designed by famed architect Robert A.M. Stern. Located on the Upper East Side, 200 East 83rd Street is a 35-story tower with a jaw-dropping amenity package (like a 17th-floor pool room with Central Park views). A spacious one-bedroom apartment at the building is up for sale, priced at $2,050,000. Developed by Naftali Group and the Rockefeller Group, the condo building made headlines last November when a six-room penthouse sold for a record-breaking $27 million.
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January 14, 2022

10 places to volunteer in New York City this winter

As the pandemic rages on, New Yorkers have maintained their resilience. However, many who were already struggling have had an even rougher time, with thousands of New Yorkers facing hunger, homelessness, and unemployment. As the federal holiday celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., approaches, consider taking action and assisting the less fortunate in your community. Ahead, find a number of New York City organizations seeking volunteers this winter. Note, many of the organizations listed have put safety protocols in place to prevent the spread of the virus, including masks and social distancing.
Full list here
January 13, 2022

The number of sidewalk sheds in NYC has tripled over past two decades

Temporary sidewalk sheds are legally required to be installed at any construction site to protect pedestrians from falling debris. While they are seen as a safety necessity, the structures are eyesores that block sunlight and slow foot traffic. In New York City, the total number of sidewalk sheds has tripled over the past two decades, a new report released this week by the Independent Budget Office found. Looking at data from the Department of Buildings, the report found Manhattan was home to the most sidewalk sheds but noted the outer boroughs are starting to catch up.
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January 13, 2022

Apply for 44 mixed-income units at new energy-efficient Bronx rental, from $410/month

Applications are now being accepted for 44 mixed-income apartments at a new rental project near Fordham University in the Bronx. Developed by the BronxPro Group, Cyrus Place Apartments is an eight-story mixed-use, energy-efficient building designed to meet Passive House standards. New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 50, 70, and 80 percent of the area median income are eligible to apply for the apartments, which range from $410/month studios to $2,037/month three-bedroom units.
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January 12, 2022

New York’s eviction moratorium will end this week, Hochul confirms

New York's eviction moratorium will not be extended after it expires this weekend, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday. In the meantime, the state’s rent-relief portal will be reopened to give aid to New Yorkers facing eviction. The freeze on evictions was established at the beginning of the Covid pandemic by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo to give relief to struggling New Yorkers. Over the past two years, it has been extended multiple times, with Hochul extending it to January 15 during her first week in office.
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January 11, 2022

New art exhibit lets you walk through a glowing tunnel in the Garment District

A small section of Broadway in the Garment District has been transformed into a glowing tunnel. The Garment District Alliance today revealed Passage, an art installation consisting of 20 illuminated circles that form a tunnel for pedestrians to walk through. The art piece is interactive, with each ring radiating light and emitting sound as participants pass by them. Located on Broadway between 39th and 40th Streets, the free immersive art experience will be open to the public until February 13.
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January 11, 2022

258 middle-income units up for grabs at Brooklyn’s Pacific Park complex, from $1,905/month

A housing lottery opened this week for 258 middle-income apartments in a new rental building in Prospect Heights. Designed by Perkins Eastman, Brooklyn Crossing is a 51-story residential tower in Prospect Height’s 22-acre Pacific Park mega-development. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income, or between $65,315 for a single person and $167,570 for a family of five, are eligible to apply for the apartments, which range from $1,905/month studios to $3,344/month for two bedrooms.
Do you qualify?
January 10, 2022

NY lawmakers introduce ‘Dark Skies Act’ to protect migrating birds and limit light pollution

Every year in New York City, tens of thousands of migratory birds are killed after being drawn from their flight paths by the city’s artificial light. To combat this, State Sen. Brad Hoylman and Assembly Member Patricia Fahy last week introduced the “Dark Skies Act,” a bill that aims to prevent the deaths of migratory birds and reduce light pollution. The bill would require the majority of non-essential outdoor lights to be turned off, covered, or switched to motion sensor activation after 11 p.m. Alternatively, lights could be set to shine downwards.
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January 10, 2022

NYC bodegas launch campaign against corporation-backed 15-minute grocery delivery

New York City bodegas and delis are fighting back against 15-minute delivery startups. A group representing local grocers, the Save Mom-and-Pop Business Coalition, rallied on Sunday with elected officials, calling out the venture capitalist-backed services they say threaten the city's small businesses. The rally took place outside of Stop 1 Deli, a Lower East Side bodega located directly across the street from GoPuff, one of the delivery services in question. Delivery services like GoPuff have moved into large spaces on commercial strips, morphing them into warehouses stuffed with groceries and other goods.
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January 7, 2022

Adams, Hochul will increase police presence in NYC subway system to combat homelessness and crime

Commuters will soon see more New York City police officers riding the subway, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams announced Thursday. Hochul and Adams on Thursday laid out a new initiative to tackle homelessness by deploying teams of specially trained Safe Options Support officials. These "SOS" teams will consist of mental health professionals who will work with the city's outreach teams to assist homeless New Yorkers. To combat crime in the subway system, Adams has ordered the mobilization of more officers who will patrol stations and board trains to make visual inspections.
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January 6, 2022

Hochul announces 14-mile-long ‘Interborough Express,’ connecting Bay Ridge to Jackson Heights

After decades of speculation and discarded plans, better train access could be on the way for New Yorkers living in Queens and Brooklyn. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday announced in her 2022 State of the State address plans for the development of the "Interborough Express," a major transit service expansion that would connect the boroughs. The proposed expansion takes the Bay Ridge Branch, a freight rail line that already runs through Brooklyn and Queens, and transforms it into a 14-mile arching track stretching from Bay Ridge to Jackson Heights. The new track would link up to 17 existing subway lines across the two boroughs, as well as provide a connection to the Long Island Rail Road.
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January 6, 2022

Famed NYC bar Dante opens winter-themed pop-up at the Seaport

North America’s number one bar returns to the Seaport to serve award-winning food and drink in its seasonal pop-up at Pier 17’s Pearl Alley. Guests can enjoy their food and drink alongside live music in a warm, winter-themed setting. The Greenwich Village staple will offer guests signature cocktails and negronis, as well as espresso, coffee, and pastries.
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January 5, 2022

Leasing begins at 51-story Brooklyn Crossing, Pacific Park’s largest building

The Brodsky Organization and Greenland USA on Tuesday announced the beginning of leasing for Brooklyn Crossing, the latest, and currently tallest, addition to Prospect Height’s 22-acre development Pacific Park. Located at 18 Sixth Avenue between Atlantic Avenue and Pacific Street, the 51-story residential tower offers 858 mixed-income units, ranging from studios to one-to-three bedroom apartments, with 258 of the units to be designated as affordable for middle-income earners. Occupancy is expected this month.
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January 4, 2022

NYC unveils plan for 100% affordable homeownership development in Bed-Stuy

The city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development last week announced their plan for the construction of a 100 percent affordable homeownership development in Bed-Stuy as part of the Bedford-Stuyvesant Housing Plan. HPD, along with Almat Urban and the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, will work to develop the Norma, an 11-story mixed-use development that will bring 44 homeownership opportunities to first-time home buyers. Located on Fulton Street and Howard Avenue, The Norma will offer a mix of condo-style units ranging from one to three bedrooms designated for those with low to moderate household incomes.
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January 3, 2022

Lottery opens at Williamsburg’s 45-story rental One South First, from $1,550/month

A housing lottery opened this week for 89 middle-income apartments in Williamsburg's tallest building, One South First. Developed by Two Trees Management and designed by COOKFOX Architects, One South First is a 45-story mixed-use building developed on the former Domino Sugar Factory site. New Yorkers earning 80, 125, and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from $1,550/month studios to $3,169/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify