All articles by Dana Schulz

Mass Transit Commuters in NY Will Save Hundreds Thanks to New Federal Bill
December 18, 2015

Mass Transit Commuters in NY Will Save Hundreds Thanks to New Federal Bill

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Work for a business with 20 or more employees? Soon you can kiss that $116/month Metrocard allotment goodbye. This week's federal spending and tax-cut agreement will likely put into effect a permanent law that almost doubles the pre-tax earnings that New York mass-transit commuters can spend on fares, thereby saving them hundreds of dollars a year. As Crain's reports, "The provision nearly doubles the maximum amount of pre-tax income they can use to pay transit fares. Currently $130 a month, the limit will be raised to match the amount that people who drive to work can spend in untaxed earnings on parking fees—$255 per month in 2016." Plus, if Congress passes the bill as expected, the amount will continue to rise with the cost of living.
Find out more right here
Median Manhattan Apartment Price Climbs Past $1M for First Time
December 17, 2015

Median Manhattan Apartment Price Climbs Past $1M for First Time

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"For the second year in a row, Manhattan real estate prices soared, setting new records. For the first time, the median price for an apartment—including both co-ops and condos—was above $1 million." This is according to CityRealty's newly released Year-End Manhattan Market Report, which puts the median price at $1.1 million, 13 percent higher than last year and 60 percent higher than 2005. Additionally, the average apartment sales price ($1.9 million), the average condo price ($2.6 million), and the average co-op price ($1.4 million) all broke 2014's records by $100,000.
See the report's infographic this way
A 1924 Proposal Would Have Drained the Entire East River to Reduce Congestion
December 17, 2015

A 1924 Proposal Would Have Drained the Entire East River to Reduce Congestion

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Remember 6sqft's post about a madcap engineer who wanted to pave over the East River in 1911 in order to create a "Mega-Manhattan?" Well, 13 years later, John A. Harris, deputy police commissioner in charge of traffic, came up with his own proposal for incorporating the river into the streetscape of the city: draining it entirely. Published in Popular Science, the never-realized scheme addressed New York's growing traffic congestion problem, said to have been costing the city $1.5 million a day. It would have transformed the waterway into "a five-mile system of automobile and motor-truck highways, subway lines, parking spaces, and city centers." Two concrete dams were to be erected, one near the Williamsburg Bridge and one near Hell Gate, and the riverbed would be "bridged with levels supported by steel uprights," thereby connecting the four boroughs.
More on the idea and the full drawing
Where I Work: Artist Nancy Pantirer shows us around her imaginative Tribeca loft
December 16, 2015

Where I Work: Artist Nancy Pantirer shows us around her imaginative Tribeca loft

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6sqft’s series “Where I Work” takes us into the studios, offices, and off-beat workspaces of New Yorkers across the city. In this installment, we take a tour of painter and sculptor Nancy Pantirer’s imaginative Tribeca studio. Want to see your business featured here? Get in touch! When artist Nancy B. Pantirer opened up her studio for this year's Inside Tribeca Loft Tour, guests were swooning over everything from the high ceilings to the eclectic furniture, and of course, her incredible paintings, many of which are done in a large-scale format. But what really left an impression was Nancy's welcoming nature, evident as she chatted with almost everyone who passed through her space, telling them a bit about herself, her work, and the neighborhood. Eager to share this with our readers, 6sqft was lucky enough to get a private tour of Nancy's space, where she filled us in on her process, design choices, and how she feels Tribeca has changed since she arrived in 1995.
Take our tour right this way
SHoP Architects’ Controversial Seaport Tower Won’t Move Ahead

Rendering of the proposed 494-foot tower via SHoP Architects

December 16, 2015

SHoP Architects’ Controversial Seaport Tower Won’t Move Ahead

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The long-plagued condo tower designed by SHoP Architects for the Fulton Fish Market site at the South Street Seaport has been nixed, according to statements made by the Howard Hughes Corporation at a community board meeting last night. DNAinfo, who first reported on the fate of the 494-foot tower, says that the developer will instead construct a "not tall" commercial building at what's now known as the New Market Building site.
More details
December 16, 2015

POLL: Should Broadway Become a Giant Park?

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Earlier this week, 6sqft brought you a proposal by Perkins Eastman Architects to turn a 40-block-long stretch of Broadway into a linear park. Stretching from Columbus Circle to Union Square, the Green Line concept would connect these hubs with Times Square, Herald Square, and Madison Square. As we noted, “Unlike other linear parks like the […]

State May Reboot Plan for Penn Station Expansion at the Farley Post Office
December 15, 2015

State May Reboot Plan for Penn Station Expansion at the Farley Post Office

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In 2005, the state selected the Related Cos. and Vornado Realty to oversee a $900 million redevelopment of the Penn Station-adjacent James A. Farley Post Office. The project, which came to be known as Moynihan Station, would have turned the full-block structure into an annex for Penn Station. The developers twice tried and failed to move Madison Square Garden into the space; they were also unsuccessful attracting a community college or CBS to the location. And after a promise to close this year on the deal was left empty, Governor Cuomo seems to have had enough. The New York Times reports that he and state officials met with Related and Vornado last week to voice frustrations about the long-stalled project and express the possibility that they'll be replaced.
Details on the possible shakeup
Ditch the Laundromat With This Eco-Friendly, Foot-Powered Washing Machine
December 15, 2015

Ditch the Laundromat With This Eco-Friendly, Foot-Powered Washing Machine

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Admit it–you've been that person who's gone out and bought new underwear to avoid lugging 40 pounds of dirty clothes down to the laundromat. But now you can avoid this wasteful temptation thanks to a compact, eco-friendly washing machine called Drumi. Plus, it's foot-powered, so you can burn some calories while watching Netflix. First spotted by TreeHugger, the machine was created Yirego, a Toronto-based sustainable household design company. It's electricity-free and low-water and can wash a five-pound load in just five minutes. Of course, this isn't much (it equates to one pair of jeans or eight pairs of boxers), but it'll certainly save you from having to wear a bathing suit as undergarments.
Find out more
What if Broadway Was Turned Into a Giant Linear Park?
December 14, 2015

What if Broadway Was Turned Into a Giant Linear Park?

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New York has undertaken several projects over the years in an effort to beautify its stark, gridded streets. There was the Park Avenue Malls, turning major intersections like those at Madison Square and Times Square into seating and entertainment areas, bike lanes, and Summer Streets. But this new proposal from Perkins Eastman Architects certainly puts the rest to shame, as they'd like to turn a more-than-40-block stretch of Broadway into one big linear park. First spotted by Dezeen, the Green Line concept envisions a park that stretches along Broadway from Columbus Circle to Union Square, connecting these two hubs with Madison Square, Herald Square, and Times Square. The park would be open only to pedestrians and bicyclists, save for emergency vehicles needing to bypass traffic. Unlike other linear parks like the High Line and Lowline, the Green Line would be at street level, creating what the architects feel is "much needed active and passive recreational space in the heart of the city."
More details and renderings ahead
Staten Island Ferris Wheel Projected to Bring in More Revenue Than the Empire State Building
December 14, 2015

Staten Island Ferris Wheel Projected to Bring in More Revenue Than the Empire State Building

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Despite controversy, several delays, and a $30 million crowdfunding attempt, the New York Wheel is projecting major first-year revenue. According to The Real Deal, developers of the 630-foot Staten Island ferris wheel expect to bring in a staggering $127.85 million in 2017, a figure that will make it more lucrative than the Empire State Building's observation deck, which raked in $111.5 million last year. Of the total revenue, $96 million is projected to come from admission fees (which come in at $35 a person, as compared to the Empire State Building's $32); $10 million from sponsorships; and $8.7 million from gift shop sales. And if you're impressed by these numbers, annual revenue will likely grow to $166.52 million by 2021!
Find out more
VIDEO: 10 Days and 120 Subway Stations in Two Minutes
December 14, 2015

VIDEO: 10 Days and 120 Subway Stations in Two Minutes

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Most New Yorkers would be overjoyed if they only had to witness their subway station for a hot second. But since we can't teleport, this video from Snowday is the next best way to live out our fantasies (h/t Fast Co. Design). Titled "Stations: A Quick Scan Through NYC," this two-minute video was shot over ten days at 120 subway stations throughout the five boroughs, compiling footage as if the viewer were changing television channels. The quick scan, which features a somewhat odd blend of scripted scenes and documentary footage, is meant to evoke the "unique texture of New York...in a new and compelling way."
Watch the full video this way
The ‘New Yawk’ Accent and Politics; Take a Nap With This Fake Hand
December 14, 2015

The ‘New Yawk’ Accent and Politics; Take a Nap With This Fake Hand

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IDNYC cardholders will get additional perks this year, like annual memberships for the Guggenheim, MoMA, and the Metropolitan Opera. [amNY] Getting to know NYC’s Christmas tree vendors. [Thrillist] How the “New Yawk” accent is playing into the presidential race. [Daily Intelligencer] This fake hand will let you take sneaky naps at work. [Design You Trust] The ghosts of […]

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks From the 6sqft Staff
December 12, 2015

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks From the 6sqft Staff

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Could This Otherworldly 102-Story Tower Covered in Ornaments Be Coming to 57th Street? Chart Compares Suburb and City Commute Times–and How Much Extra We Pay for Convenience Mapping the Depressing Annual Salaries of Millennials Across the U.S. VIDEO: Watch Ironworkers Set Panels on Bjarke Ingels’ Via Tetrahedron This Pint-Sized Penthouse Has Two Terraces and a […]

Manure Heaps, Fat Melting, and Offensive Privies: Mapping NYC’s 19th Century Nuisances
December 11, 2015

Manure Heaps, Fat Melting, and Offensive Privies: Mapping NYC’s 19th Century Nuisances

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A New York City nuisance map today would consist of things like text-walking zombies, pizza rats, and Soul Cycle locations. But back in the 19th century, people had bigger problems, such as manure heaps, hog pens, and 400 families wading through "a disgusting deposit of filthy refuse" just to get home. Atlas Obscura uncovered these amazing maps that were created in 1865 by the Citizen’s Association of New York as part of a 300-page report on the city's sanitation and public health conditions in the wake of the smallpox and typhoid epidemics. "Rapid population growth, overcrowded apartment buildings, dirty streets and poor sanitation standards had meant that New York in 1860 had the mortality rate of medieval London," according to the blog.
See the maps and learn more
Subway Breaks One-Day Ridership Record With 6,217,621 Passengers
December 11, 2015

Subway Breaks One-Day Ridership Record With 6,217,621 Passengers

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For reasons unknown, the third Thursday in October is traditionally one of the busiest days for the NYC subway. Last year, on October 30th, a record was set with 6,167,165 passengers, and now, the MTA has put out a press release announcing that this past October 29th, this record was smashed when 6,217,621 customers swiped their MetroCards. "The new record day was one of five days in October when ridership exceeded the prior year’s record, and was one of 15 weekdays with ridership above 6 million. Daily subway ridership records have been kept since 1985, but the new record is believed to be the highest since the late 1940s," the agency reports.
READ MORE
Amoeba-Like Floorplans for Herzog & de Meuron’s 160 Leroy Revealed
December 10, 2015

Amoeba-Like Floorplans for Herzog & de Meuron’s 160 Leroy Revealed

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When you work in the real estate field, looking at floorplans can get a bit monotonous–rectangular box, square rooms, maybe a patio if you're lucky. But every once in a while, you'll see some schematics that cause pause, like these amoeba-shaped floorplans at Herzog & de Meuron's 160 Leroy (h/t Curbed). The 15-story, glassy West Village building has 49 condos, ranging from a $2.6 million one-bedroom unit to a $25 million penthouse. Depending where they're located along the undulating facade, the interior layouts can be long and windy or compact and curving.
See them all
Inside Rolf’s $60K Christmas Wonderland; 31 Beloved Spots That Closed in 2015
December 10, 2015

Inside Rolf’s $60K Christmas Wonderland; 31 Beloved Spots That Closed in 2015

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Inside the Christmas wonderland that is Rolf’s German Restaurant, where they spend $60,000 a year on holiday decorations. [Business Insider] The most nauseating Brooklyn-branded products on Etsy. [DNAinfo] This balloon furniture won’t pop when you sit on it. [Mental Floss] FAO Schwarz, Market Diner, Trash Bar, Tribeca Cinemas–these are just some of the NYC spots that […]

December 10, 2015

POLL: Are You Pro or Anti Santacon?

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We know it’s a loaded question, but after all these years of holiday debauchery, the debate surrounding Santacon rages on. The founder of the event recently contacted Gothamist, requesting an interview to set the record straight. He said the press is failing to focus on the notorious event’s “more important messages of anti-consumerism, creativity, jolly gay […]

Affordable Housing Coalition Proposes $4B NY State Budget to Address Housing Crisis
December 10, 2015

Affordable Housing Coalition Proposes $4B NY State Budget to Address Housing Crisis

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According to a press release put out today, an affordable housing coalition of ten groups has proposed a five-year, $4 billion capital plan to address the housing crisis in New York. As Governor Cuomo and the state legislature begin the 2016 legislative session, the group hopes that the plan, proposed for 2017-2021, can combat the fact that "more than half of statewide renters pay over 30 percent of income on housing costs, and more than 80,000 people are homeless across the state." Specific to the city, the plan wants to close the NYCHA funding gap and increase senior housing.
More details this way
VIDEO: Watch Ironworkers Set Panels on Bjarke Ingels’ Via Tetrahedron
December 9, 2015

VIDEO: Watch Ironworkers Set Panels on Bjarke Ingels’ Via Tetrahedron

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Earlier today, 6sqft announced that Via, aka BIG’s 57th Street tetrahedron, is the winner of the 2015 Building of the Year competition. What likely made the starchitect-designed rental building such a frontrunner is its unusual shape, rising 460 feet from its site. Since progress has been right on track, it's easy to forget that the unconventional form yields some unique design and construction challenges. In this video from from Ironworkers Local 580, who set a Gopro up on the crane, we can see the skill required to set the shimmering panels on the slope wall. We also get a very vertigo-inducing view of the building from its apex looking down.
Watch the full video
The Penn Station Atlas Wants to Make the Awful Space Less Confusing
December 9, 2015

The Penn Station Atlas Wants to Make the Awful Space Less Confusing

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"The concept behind this project is simple but powerful: a user-centric atlas of a complex space – a unique set of maps designed to help anyone easily find the best way to their destination in Penn Station." Designer John Schettino realized that even though he traveled through Penn Station every day, he'd still find himself lost in the labyrinth that has become one of New Yorkers' most loathed destinations. So he studied maps of the underground station and observed how people interacted with the space to create the New York Penn Station Atlas. The project uses 2D and 3D models that make up a set of maps to show general layout, key locations, and routes for getting from one point to another. Schettino, with a boost from the Municipal Art Society, hopes all these resources will become available for electronic devices at no cost.
Plenty more details this way
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