All articles by Dana Schulz

November 18, 2019

Enjoy a ‘Victorian Christmas’ at Westchester’s Octagon House

Not only is Westchester's Octagon House the stuff that Instagram dreams are made of, but it is the world’s only eight-sided, fully-domed Victorian home. This holiday season, the Armour–Stiner House, as it's officially known, will open its doors at night for a special event that invites guests to tour the restored 1872 house while it's full of seasonal decorations. There will also be hot refreshments served and "dramatic interpretations of Washington Irving's 'Old Christmas.'"
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November 15, 2019

2,050 affordable apartments coming to former Peninsula Hospital site in Far Rockaway

The City Council voted yesterday to give the go-ahead to the Arker Companies' massive redevelopment of the former Peninsula Hospital site in Far Rockaway. Named Edgemere Commons, the 11-building project in the Edgemere neighborhood will include 2,050 units of affordable housing, the largest such project by a private developer under the de Blasio administration. It will also have commercial, community facility, and retail space, including a new supermarket, as well as a playground and a public plaza (rendering also show, of course, a food hall). After 104 years, the hospital closed in 2012 due mainly to financial troubles. The Edgemere Commons project hopes to "reactivate the site" and "spur economic growth in Far Rockaway," according to a press release.
See more renderings
November 15, 2019

Via will offer $15 and $20 shared rides from LaGuardia to anywhere in NYC

Just in time for the holiday madness that is getting one's self out of LaGuardia, on-demand rideshare platform Via has partnered with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to offer $15 (from Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens) and $20 (from the Bronx and Staten Island) flat-rate rides from the airport. Not only does the service, called "LGA Connect," seek to help travellers get where they're going more quickly, but it will hopefully reduce traffic and congestion on the roads.
Get the scoop
November 14, 2019

Mid-century-modern meets rustic retreat at this $835K A-frame home in Connecticut

The great thing about this house in Litchfield, Connecticut is that it can satisfy two ends of the design spectrum (h/t Curbed). For mid-century-modern lovers, its six-part A-frame design and geometric interiors check the boxes, while its country setting and wood-filled rooms will please a more rustic sensibility. Listed for $835,000, the four-bedroom home sits on 15 acres and boasts three stone fireplaces, multiple outdoor decks, and exposed redwood beams throughout that frame incredible double-height views.
Take the full tour
November 14, 2019

City’s new homeless outreach program will utilize 18,000 municipal employees

"Mass surveillance" or massive outreach effort? The verdict seems to still be out on Mayor de Blasio's new initiative to help solve the homelessness crisis in New York City. In a press release today announcing the new Outreach NYC program, the city says it will "mobilize thousands of frontline City Agency staff to request outreach assistance via 311 when they observe individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness" as a way to help them into shelters. To be exact, the total number of city employees who will receive this training is 18,000. But the Coalition for the Homeless feels that the plan merely implements "mass surveillance of homeless New Yorkers" without making investments in solutions.
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November 14, 2019

161 affordable apartments available in the South Bronx, from $331/month

In the Melrose section of the South Bronx, a new building is now accepting applications for 161 affordable apartments. Located at 735 Cauldwell Avenue, just a couple blocks from the 2 and 5 trains at Jackson Avenue, the building has a part-time attended lobby, roof deck, fitness center, party room, and laundry. The units are available to households earning 30, 50, or 100 percent of the area median income and range from $331/month studios to $1,910/month three-bedrooms.
See if you qualify
November 13, 2019

48 more subway stations, including Penn Station, will get the MTA’s tap-to-pay system next month

At the end of May, the MTA rolled out its new tap-to-pay fare system, called OMNY (One Metro New York), at 16 subway stations on the 4, 5, and 6 lines between Grand Central-42nd Street and Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center, in addition to all Staten Island buses. After a successful pilot--OMNY surpassed three million taps last week--the agency has now announced that it will add the contactless payment system at 48 more subway stations next month, including Penn Station, Whitehall Street, and all stops on the 1 train between Rector Street and 59th Street-Columbus Circle.
See the full list of additions
November 12, 2019

Where to go out for Thanksgiving dinner in NYC

The city that never sleeps also doesn't take a rest for the holidays. Though we tend to assume most businesses are closed on Thanksgiving, in New York City, there are plenty of restaurants keeping their doors open and their ovens full of turkeys. Ahead, we've rounded up 40+ places where you can enjoy a holiday meal if you don't plan on spending the day in the kitchen. From New York classics like Tavern on the Green and the ridiculously cozy Freemans to splurge-worthy picks like Gramercy Tavern and Union Square Cafe to affordable options like Veselka and The Smith to something with a little twist on the traditional like Ginny's Supper Club's jazz buffet and pizza spot Emily's Turbo Turkey Sandwich.
Check out all your options
November 6, 2019

Where to see pieces of the Berlin Wall in NYC

This Saturday, November 9th, marks the 30th anniversary of the Berlin Wall coming down. Many people might know of pieces of the wall on display in various museums such as the Newseum in DC and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in southern California, but did you know there are four places in NYC to see segments of the Berlin Wall? One is in a touristy Times Square museum, another at the United Nations, a third at a public plaza in Battery Park City, and the last inside a public office building lobby in Midtown (though recent reports say this piece has been moved to storage).
Learn more about these four spots
November 5, 2019

Urbanspace will open two new Midtown food halls

Though most New Yorkers know the company Urbanspace for its food halls, it actually started out when founder Eldon Scott set up the Grand Central and Union Square holiday markets in 1993. Now, the company has holiday markets in Columbus Circle and Bryant Park, runs seasonal pop-up food markets like those at Madison Square and the Garment District, and has expanded to DC and Chicago. Scott smartly opened his first permanent food market, Urbanspace Vanderbilt, in 2015 adjacent to Grand Central, and in 2017, opened another at Lexington Avenue and 51st Street. Back in January, Urbanspace announced another Midtown location on 52nd Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, and just yesterday, Commercial Observer reported that they'd open their fourth location just two blocks away on 50th Street.
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November 5, 2019

Beautiful brick archways frame this huge Tribeca loft, asking $6.5M

When 108-10 Franklin Street was built in Tribeca in 1861, it was two separate structures with a central party wall. Today, the building has been opened up, and what's left is a unique co-op whose lofts display this party wall in a series of oversized brick archways. A sprawling four-bedroom unit at the address is currently on the market for $6.5 million, and in addition to this incredible architectural feature, the home has an outdoor terrace, a massive open living/dining space, a home gym/yoga studio, and an entire lower level that can be configured to the new owners' needs.
Take a tour around
November 4, 2019

$900K Clinton Hill condo has a designer’s touch and discerning storage

Any true New Yorker has gained an appreciation for good storage space over the years, but when it's stylish, it's an added bonus. Such is the case at this $899,000 loft at 95 Lexington Avenue in Clinton Hill. Technically a loft space, the 981-square-foot home has been configured with a separate bedroom alcove for privacy, and an additional half-bath is an extra perk. All of this smart planning and lovely decor is not surprising considering the current homeowners are designers.
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November 1, 2019

Check out the cocktail bar at Nordstrom’s new Billionaires’ Row flagship

After much anticipation, Nordstrom opened its new NYC flagship last week. Located inside Billionaires' Row supertall Central Park Tower (the current world's tallest residential building), the seven-story department store offers such perks as stroller cleaning and shoe repairs and stocks "more than 10,000 handbags, 100,000 pairs of shoes, and 6,000 pairs of jeans," according to amNY. And in addition to all this retail excess, the store also has seven food and beverage options, including Broadway Bar, a cocktails and small plates restaurant on the third and fourth floors. Designed by Rafael de Cárdenas / Architecture at Large, Broadway Bar uses muted hues and subtly curved geometry to create a calm escape within the store. Ahead, get a better look at the space.
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October 31, 2019

Anish Kapoor’s bean sculpture at 56 Leonard Street will finally get installed

Tribeca's "Jenga Building," officially known as 56 Leonard Street, welcomed residents over two years ago, but one piece of the tower is still missing--the mirrored, bean-shaped sculpture by Anish Kapoor planned for the sidewalk outside its entrance. The sculptor is best known in the U.S. for his 2005 Cloud Gate installation in Chicago's Millenium Park, and his Tribeca piece, his first permanent work in New York City, will be a similar, smaller version of this. Back in March, we spotted a spray-painted installation guide for the sculpture outside 56 Leonard, but it's taken until now for the official word that the install will begin in November.
Find out more
October 31, 2019

The Shed, the Whitney, and the Apollo join IDNYC’s free membership program

Beginning in 2020, the list of 50+ cultural institutions offering free membership through the city's IDNYC program will grow to include the Apollo Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, National Sawdust, The Shed, and the Whitney Museum. Started in 2015 as a way to provide identification cards to those who may not otherwise have access, such as the homeless and undocumented immigrants, IDNYC now has more than 1.3 million cardholders (it's the country's largest municipal ID program) who have saved over $55 million on memberships, discounts, and other fees.
More details
October 29, 2019

First new Delta concourse will open next week at LaGuardia Airport as part of $8B overhaul

It's been nearly a year since the first new gates and concourse opened at LaGuardia Airport, and now the second terminal is opening to passengers, announced Governor Cuomo today. Last year, Terminal B opened to serve Air Canada, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines, along with a food hall and a plethora of modern amenities. Delta's Terminal C will start serving passengers on Monday, November 4th from one of its four new concourses. Not only will this terminal have floor-to-ceiling views of Citi Field and Flushing Bay, but it will also boast a slew of foodie options and tech-focused designs.
All the details
October 24, 2019

Late architect I.M. Pei’s self-designed Sutton Place townhouse hits the market for $8M

Pritzker Prize-winning architect I.M. Pei passed away in May, leaving behind an unrivaled legacy that includes modern masterpieces such as the Louvre's glass pyramid in Paris and the National Gallery of Art's East Building in Washington D.C., as well as a slew of iconic projects here in NYC. His firm, Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, was based in New York City, where Pei also lived. For the past 45 years, he and his wife Eileen resided in a four-story townhouse at 11 Sutton Place, which has just been listed by Christie's International Real Estate for $8 million. Pei himself outfitted the home with appropriately stunning architectural features such as a spiral staircase, a geometric skylight, and a rear wall of windows to take advantage of the East River views.
Take the tour
October 22, 2019

D.C.’s Newseum is closing, but it won’t give WTC Antenna to 9/11 Museum

The Newseum in Washington D.C. will close for good at the end of this year due to financial issues, and when it does, it will put a piece of the World Trade Center antenna in storage instead of giving it to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum here in New York City, as Gothamist reports. The 360-foot television and radio antenna, which was located on the North Tower, has been part of the Newseum's September 11th exhibit since it opened at its current location in 2008.
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October 22, 2019

New lobby renderings revealed for Phillip Johnson’s 550 Madison Avenue

It's been two years since developers unveiled their plans for a $300 million renovation of 550 Madison Avenue, helmed by architecture firm Snøhetta. Built in 1984 to the designs of Philip Johnson and John Burgee, the 647-foot building was the world’s first postmodern skyscraper. After several revisions, the renovation plans were approved by the LPC in February, and now, developer the Olayan Group has revealed the first renderings of the lobby. Most notably, the interior designs respect the 110-foot arched entryway and vaulted ceilings and add a window overlooking the proposed new public garden in the rear arcade.
More details ahead
October 21, 2019

Midtown’s Paris Theatre will temporarily reopen for a Netflix screening

In August, Midtown's 71-year-old Paris Theatre closed its doors when its lease with developer Sheldon Solow ended. The 581-seat theater was NYC's last single-screen movie house and was known for showing indie and foreign, especially French, films. But the iconic establishment on 58th Street will open its doors once more next month; Deadline reports that Netflix has worked out a deal with Solow to screen its upcoming movie "Marriage Story" in the Paris when it premiers on November 6th.
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October 17, 2019

Famous hot chocolate spot City Bakery may close its doors

As it approaches its 29th anniversary, Union Square-area favorite City Bakery may soon close its doors for good. The bakery and cafe opened in 1990 at 22 West 17th Street (it moved to its current 3 West 18th Street location in 2001) and has become well known over the years for its pretzel croissants, chocolate chip cookies, and decadent hot chocolate that comes with the option to add a massive, homemade marshmallow for $2, as well as the hot chocolate festival it hosted every February. However, as the Post first spotted, a two-part Instagram post last week explains that the bakery is in some serious financial trouble. "We have too much debt, debt which is like quicksand," they wrote.
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October 16, 2019

Smorgasburg and Brooklyn Flea will set up for the winter at Williamsburg’s new 25 Kent

Earlier this month, we got a look at the completed 25 Kent, Williamsburg’s first ground-up commercial project in 50+ years. The eight-story building is notable for its bi-partite, ziggurat-like design, as well as its prime waterfront location and open space--all of which make it the perfect spot for an outpost of Smorgasburg and Brooklyn Flea. The markets announced today that beginning November 2nd and lasting through March 2020, they'll be operating out of a 25,000-square-foot, top-floor space at the building.
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October 15, 2019

The Arches of Harlem aims to turn the Riverside Drive Viaduct into a public light-art installation

Harlem-based architectural lighting firm Focus Lighting has worked on some pretty impressive projects here in NYC, from the Times Square ball to the Waldorf Astoria. But they're also getting involved in their local community, thinking about how they can transform the Riverside Drive Viaduct--a 50-foot-tall elevated steel roadway that runs from 125th to 135th Streets. As the firm notes, during the day, the structure's grand arches serve as a picturesque background to the neighborhood and the Hudson River, but at night, they "go completely unlit and unutilized." Their proposal, called The Arches of Harlem, seeks to incorporate a new programmable lighting composition every three months, each one "inspired by select works of historic artists and emerging local talent."
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October 14, 2019

PHOTOS: Take a fall foray through the Union Square Greenmarket

When the Union Square Greenmarket opened in 1976 as GrowNYC's second-ever market, there were only seven farmers set up. At the time, the area was quite empty and crime-ridden, but the market, along with the opening of Danny Meyer's Union Square Cafe and a major renovation by the city in the '80s, is credited with turning Union Square into the vibrant hub that we now know. Today, there can be as many as 140 vendors, selling everything from produce to fish to meat to cheese to lavender, as well as 60,000 shoppers (and local chefs!) on a given day. And though every season is beautiful and fruitful at the market, fall is perhaps the most colorful, which is why photographers James and Karla Murray thought it would be the perfect time to capture the essence of the market and get to know some of the vendors personally.
Take a tour and watch a special video
October 10, 2019

City will bring affordable co-living projects to East Harlem and East New York

A year ago, the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development announced plans for an affordable co-living pilot program. Known as ShareNYC, the initiative "lets developers seek public financing in exchange for creating affordable, shared-housing developments," as 6sqft previously reported. The city has now selected three proposals that will create or preserve accommodations for roughly 300 residents. Two of the projects, including one by co-living giant Common, will be located in East Harlem, while the third will be in East New York.
Learn about all the projects