All articles by Dana Schulz

Skyscraper Museum Reveals Interactive Timeline of the Tallest Buildings Throughout History

March 19, 2015

Skyscraper Museum Reveals Interactive Timeline of the Tallest Buildings Throughout History

The latest addition to the Skyscraper Museum's permanent collection is "The History of Height," an interactive timeline of the tallest buildings throughout history. The web tool is made up of a scrollable stream of flashcards starting as far back as the Great Pyramid in 2650 BCE and continuing all the way to today's tallest, the Burj Khalifa. It also offers information about the innovations that allowed people to build higher, like fireproof floors, zoning laws, elevators, and high-strength bolting, and includes towers that have long since been demolished, but had an impact on the supertall environment.
More on the interactive infographic here

Architecture And Design

Times Square Might Become a Giant Forest; New Yorkers Still Read Actual Books

March 19, 2015

Times Square Might Become a Giant Forest; New Yorkers Still Read Actual Books

A botanist and urban ecologist launched a Kickstarter campaign to plant a pop-up forest in Times Square. [Grist] How did the Michelin tire company become the world’s authority on restaurants? [MessyNessy Chic] Long Island City residents are not happy about the giant pink, Silly String-looking public art piece coming to their neighborhood. [Gothamist] Central Park just got 212 […]

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$2.7M Noho Loft Flaunts Its Exposed Brick and Beamed Ceilings

March 19, 2015

$2.7M Noho Loft Flaunts Its Exposed Brick and Beamed Ceilings

These days, the word "loft" is thrown around in real estate for any space with an open floor plan or high ceilings, but if you're searching for a true old-fashioned loft, then look no further than this $2.7 million Noho co-op at 33 Bleecker Street. A myriad of exposed brick walls, chunky wooden beamed ceilings and columns, wrap-around oversized windows, hardwood maple floors and an expansive layout make this two-bedroom apartment the ultimate in downtown loft living.
Take a look around here

Distinctive Homes

Battery Park City, Harlem, and the Lower East Side Top the List of Child-Friendly Manhattan ‘Hoods

Image © Matthew Richmond

March 19, 2015

Battery Park City, Harlem, and the Lower East Side Top the List of Child-Friendly Manhattan ‘Hoods

It's no secret that families are ditching Manhattan for Brooklyn or the Suburbs, where they can get more space for their money and maybe even a backyard, but a new report shows the shifting dynamics of those families who decide to stay in the big city. According to amNY, the analysis conducted by AddressReport.com shows that only 6 percent of households in Hell's Kitchen and the Financial District have a child under 18 living in them, and in neighborhoods like Midtown, Soho, the West Village, and Gramercy, most of which are often thought of as more family-friendly, only 7 percent of households have at least one youngster. To be expected, Battery Park City is ranked as the most child-friendly neighborhood, where 36 percent of households have a child. Another shoo-in is Tribeca at 26 percent. Surprisingly, East Harlem at 32 percent, Harlem at 29 percent, and the Lower East Side at 20 percent round out the top five, none considered traditionally family-oriented.
See the full map here

NYC Has the Longest Work Week and Worst Commutes in the Nation

Photo via 2010-03-12 via photopin (license)

March 18, 2015

NYC Has the Longest Work Week and Worst Commutes in the Nation

At least we're getting some validation for our title of "disgruntled New Yorker." According to a new report called "The Hardest Working Cities" issued by Comptroller Scott Stringer, New Yorkers have an average work week of 49.1 hours, including six hours and 18 minutes for commuting.* And with subway service getting even worse–delays increased 46 percent in 2014–the future of our sanity isn't looking good.
More findings from the study ahead

The Surprising History of the Hotdog Cart; How Brooklyn Heights Became the City’s First Historic District

March 18, 2015

The Surprising History of the Hotdog Cart; How Brooklyn Heights Became the City’s First Historic District

Take a delicious dive into the surprising history of the New York City hotdog cart. [NYDN] Outspoken Downtowner Chloë Sevigny shares her favorite city spots. [i-D] How Brooklyn Heights, “America’s original suburb,” became the city’s first historic district. [Curbed] Street artist Hanksy is organizing a Golden Ticket scavenger hunt around the city. [Gothamist] There are now more Uber […]

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March 18, 2015

POLL: Is the Stress Worth It to Live in the Greatest City on Earth?

Most of us New York transplants had grand dreams of moving to the big city at one point in our lives. Whether we thought we’d be sipping cosmos in our Manolos or becoming the next great Broadway star, we were in for a rude awakening when we got the keys to our 400-square-foot, walk-up apartments that we […]

City Living

Interview: McSorley’s Historian Bill Wander Fills Us In on the Secrets of NYC’s Oldest Bar

March 17, 2015

Interview: McSorley’s Historian Bill Wander Fills Us In on the Secrets of NYC’s Oldest Bar

Undoubtedly, there are hundreds of New Yorkers and out-of-towners planning to stop by McSorley's Old Ale House today for a St. Patrick's Day round of beers. But beyond the brews and bros, there's a deep history rooted in this East Village institution, and we've found the man who knows it all. The official historian of McSorley's, Bill Wander can give you the full timeline that dates McSorley's to 1854, making it the oldest bar in the city. He can also fill you in on all the tchotchkes adorning the walls of this Irish tavern, none of which have been removed since 1910. But more important than the textbook facts related to McSorley's, Bill has an undeniable passion for this watering hole, for both its important cultural history and the unique social atmosphere that keeps the bar a neighborhood mainstay after all these years. We recently chatted with Bill to find out some of the lesser-known details about McSorley's and what the title of "official historian" entails.
Read our full interview with Bill Wander here

Peter Brant Files Work Permits for Converted Con Ed Station; Mad Men Sculpture Coming to Midtown

March 17, 2015

Peter Brant Files Work Permits for Converted Con Ed Station; Mad Men Sculpture Coming to Midtown

In addition to transforming his East Village home and former Con Ed substation into a gallery and art study center, Peter Brant plans to restore the building’s façade and add a roof terrace, among other alterations. [EV Grieve] The city’s “Taxi Kingpin” can’t pay his bills thanks to Uber. [NYP] A permanent “Mad Men” sculpture is being […]

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‘No-Shadow’ Skyscraper Could Solve the Problem of Towers Blocking the Sun

March 16, 2015

‘No-Shadow’ Skyscraper Could Solve the Problem of Towers Blocking the Sun

It's been one of the biggest criticisms of all of New York's new supertall towers–their shadow-casting, sun-blocking tendencies and the fact that there's nothing in place to regulate this. But a new skyscraper proposed for London may solve this urban dilemma. Architects at the London-based firm NBBJ digitally designed a pair of towers that are precisely aligned with curved and angled facades that act like mirrors to reflect down toward the street. According to the National Post, "In theory, one of the towers would reflect sunlight into the shadow of its sister tower, reducing the area of shade caused by the project as a whole."
More details ahead

Architecture And Design

Popular Articles

Robert Durst Arrested for Murder; Try the Mayor de Blasio Lateness Excuse Generator

March 16, 2015

Robert Durst Arrested for Murder; Try the Mayor de Blasio Lateness Excuse Generator

Go inside the studios of five Brooklyn artists. [BK Mag] On the final episode last night of “The Jinx,” HBO’s Robert Durst crime documentary, the real estate scion implicated himself in the murders of three people and was arrested Saturday in New Orleans. [Forbes] Space-saving takeaways from a 48-square-foot kitchen. [Curbed] Are you chronically late? Try the Mayor […]

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Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff

March 14, 2015

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff

Here’s a Map of Where the World’s Insanely Rich Live ‘Taxi’ Star Judd Hirsch Buys $400K Greenwich Village Studio from His Former Assistant Pikettyscrapers: What You Call Those Expensive Supertall Buildings Nobody Lives In Tiny 500-Square-Foot Apartment Is as Fashionable as Its Chelsea Address Jessica Chastain Snags a Gorgeous Osborne Co-op Once Owned by Leonard […]

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New Micro Apartment Communities Are Flexible but Not Cheap

Is this the dorm-itization of NYC? via 20071110_0213 via photopin (license)

March 13, 2015

New Micro Apartment Communities Are Flexible but Not Cheap

With shared office spaces like WeWork taking the city by storm, it's no surprise that the residential real estate community is looking to get in on the commune-style action, especially considering the city's push for micro housing. The Daily News reports on "communal living hubs with micro-apartments for young professionals," calling it the "dorm-itization of New York City." Instead of traditional one-year leases, these new setups are offering month-to-month contracts where tenants came rent a room at the snap of a finger and move out just as easily. They can also freely apartment hop between buildings of the same owner. In theory, it sounds great for first-time New Yorkers, fresh-out-of-college twenty-somethings, and just about anyone with an uncertainly factor to their lives. But the News notes that a standard, five-bedroom micro apartment community has a lease of about $10,000/month, meaning that the modern nomads renting out rooms are still paying roughly $2,000/month, pretty steep for a single bedroom in a unit shared with a stranger.
Find out more about the new real estate trend

Did the Seagram Building Ruin Modern Office Towers?; Remembering Postmodernist Architect Michael Graves

March 13, 2015

Did the Seagram Building Ruin Modern Office Towers?; Remembering Postmodernist Architect Michael Graves

Hate your soulless office tower? Maybe you should blame the Seagram Building. [Fast Co. Design] Attend a lecture tonight to learn about the history and renovation of High Bridge, the oldest standing bridge in NYC. [NYC H2O] Michael Graves, postmodernist architect who designed towers and teakettles, dies at 80. [NYT] There’s some passive aggressive blog feuding […]

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World’s Skinniest Tower 111 West 57th Street Will Offer $100M Condos

March 13, 2015

World’s Skinniest Tower 111 West 57th Street Will Offer $100M Condos

Poised to become the world's skinniest tower and one of the hemisphere's tallest, it's no wonder that 111 West 57th Street will ask around $100 million for its condos, not to be outdone by other nine-digit supertalls like 220 Central Park South's $175 million penthouse, the $150 million penthouse at the Sony Building, and One57′s record $100 million sale, which currently holds the title for the most expensive unit ever sold in the city. Curbed has uncovered filings with the Attorney General's office that show the preliminary price list for the SHoP-designed 1,421-foot tower, which is being developed by JDS Development Group and Property Markets Group. The records indicate that there will be condos in the landmarked Steinway Hall, as well in the tower addition. "The 'landmark units' will be smaller and cheaper, starting at $1 million for a studio, while the 'tower units' will start at $13 million for a three-bedroom."
More details and the price list ahead

Going Up: Uncovering the Art Deco Elevators of Landmarked Building Interiors

Chrysler Building elevators via Wally Gobetz on Flickr

March 12, 2015

Going Up: Uncovering the Art Deco Elevators of Landmarked Building Interiors

Earlier this week, we visited the New York School of Interior Design's latest exhibit, Rescued, Restored, Reimagined: New York's Landmark Interiors, which, on the 50th anniversary of New York’s landmark legislation, features photography and information about more than 20 public spaces, known and little-known, that have been designated as interior landmarks. Looking through images of restored Broadway theaters, perfectly preserved coffered rotundas and period furniture, we couldn't help getting stuck on one often-overlooked element–the elevator. For most of us who live in a high rise or work in a typical office building, the elevator doors are just another blank wall that we stare at, only paying attention when they open and usher us in. But when the city's great Art Deco buildings were rising, the elevators were an extension of the lavish ornamentation and geometric details of the façade and interior lobby. We've rounded up some of our favorite Art Deco elevators in landmarked interiors, which means they're all publicly accessible so you can check them all out first hand.
Go up in style here

How Do Psychics Survive in New York City?; Subway Map of Manhattan Stereotypes

March 12, 2015

How Do Psychics Survive in New York City?; Subway Map of Manhattan Stereotypes

Ever wonder how all those psychics pay NYC rent? You’ll probably never know the real answer. [Vice] Here’s a roundup of New York City’s 38 essential home goods and furniture stores. [Racked] Online retailer With Love, From Brooklyn is crowdfunding to ship the borough’s small batch treats across the country. [DNAinfo] FiDi is full of […]

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Nonprofits Urge the U.S. Treasury Department to Scrutinize Foreign Real Estate Buyers

The Time Warner Center, a hotbed of anonymous foreign investment

March 12, 2015

Nonprofits Urge the U.S. Treasury Department to Scrutinize Foreign Real Estate Buyers

The media has been abuzz lately with talk of international mystery property buyers and the shell companies they use to hide their real names. Tired of the shady tactics, a group of 17 nonprofits is calling upon the U.S. Treasury Department to harder scrutinize foreign real estate buyers by verifying their actual identities and screening them for any risk of money laundering. The request came in the form of a letter sent to the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network on Tuesday that asks for a repeal of a 2002 exemption from the Patriot Act that was granted to the real estate industry. The Patriot Act was signed into law in 2001 following 9/11 to heighten security and allow for broader means of investigation. Under the act, real estate professionals would be required to "conduct due diligence checks on their customers," according to the Times. But after the industry lobbied against this, they were exempted from the regulations.
More details ahead

City Proposes New Zoning Plan to Increase Affordability, Current Height Limits to Be Lifted

March 11, 2015

City Proposes New Zoning Plan to Increase Affordability, Current Height Limits to Be Lifted

On the surface it sounds like a great idea: Adjust zoning regulations to better accommodate the Mayor's goal of preserving and creating 200,000 units of affordable housing. But some are angered that the proposal would lift current zoning protections and height limits by as much as 20 to 30 percent. According to the Department of City Planning, the newly released plan, called Housing New York: Zoning for Quality and Affordability, addresses the city's outdated zoning regulations that don't reflect today's housing needs or construction practices. However, an email from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation asserts: "The proposal would change the rules for ‘contextual’ zoning districts throughout the city–zoning districts which communities frequently fought hard to secure, to limit the height of new development and keep it in character with the surrounding neighborhood."
More information ahead

Artist Remko Heemskerk’s Graphic Urban Prints Are Inspired by His Personal Experiences in New York

East 10th Street, East Village © 2012 – 2015 Remko Heemskerk

March 11, 2015

Artist Remko Heemskerk’s Graphic Urban Prints Are Inspired by His Personal Experiences in New York

It's pretty common to find photographs or paintings of iconic New York City landscapes and streetscapes, but there's usually not much of a reason behind the artist's choice other than that everyone knows these sites or they'll likely sell well. Netherlands-born artist Remko Heemskerk, however, created this print series from the inspiration of his personal experiences living in the city. Each site has a special meaning to him, whether it be the view from his apartment window or the spot where he and his wife kissed goodbye every morning. The visual element that sets Heemskerk's work apart is its bright, graphic composition. Rather than using realistic colors or traditional black-and-white, he chose a style that he feels reflects the vibrancy of New York City and its residents.
More ahead

Events & Things To Do

Biggie Mural Coming to Clinton Hill; How the NYC Subway Got Its Colors

March 11, 2015

Biggie Mural Coming to Clinton Hill; How the NYC Subway Got Its Colors

Tour a prism- and plant-filled Brooklyn railroad apartment with an old school charm. [Design Sponge] Clinton Hill is getting a Biggie mural outside the Key Food where he once worked. [Brokelyn] Want to know what’s going on with a landmarks application in your neighborhood? The LPC now posts videos of its public hearings and meetings. [GVSHP] Check out […]

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March 11, 2015

POLL: Can #SaveNYC Win the Small Business Battle?

On Monday, we took a look at #SaveNYC, a new campaign helmed by Jeremiah Moss of Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York that’s fighting to save the city from the superrich. Moss’ end goal is to get the Small Business Jobs Survival Act passed, “which would give businesses an opportunity to negotiate lease renewals and reasonable rent increases, […]

Renderings, Details Revealed for Massive $1B Industry City Redevelopment in Sunset Park

March 10, 2015

Renderings, Details Revealed for Massive $1B Industry City Redevelopment in Sunset Park

For the past year or so we've heard plenty of chirpings about Industry City, the former Bush Terminal on the Sunset Park waterfront that Jamestown Properties plans to transform into "a dynamic 21st century innovation and manufacturing community that balances existing manufacturing tenants with those centered on creative and innovation economy fields." But now, Jamestown, along with fellow owners Belvedere Capital, and Angelo Gordon, have announced that the overhaul of the 32-acre complex's 16 buildings will cost $1 billion and include a hotel, along with a huge amount of retail and tech start-up space. They also want an additional $115 million in infrastructure improvements like a massive new parking lot, as well as some rezoning concessions.
Find out more about the future of Industry City

Real Estate Trends

New Exhibit Explores the Sounds of Iconic NYC Interiors; An Apple Store Architecture Tour

March 10, 2015

New Exhibit Explores the Sounds of Iconic NYC Interiors; An Apple Store Architecture Tour

Soundscape exhibit, which opens tonight, highlights the actual sounds of iconic New York interiors, such as Grand Central Terminal, the Seagram Building lobby, and the Guggenheim. [MCNY] The MTA wants to turn token booth clerks into subway concierges with eyes on the platforms. [Gothamist] Take a global tour of the 50 most eye-catching apple stores. [Curbed] When […]

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