All articles by Dana Schulz

Dana is a writer and preservationist with a passion for all things New York.  After graduating from New York University with a BA in Urban Design & Architecture Studies, she worked at the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, where she planned the organization's public programs and wrote for their blog Off the Grid. In her free time, she leads walking tours about the social and cultural history of city neighborhoods. Follow her on Twitter @danaschulzNYC.
Richard Meier’s first NYC skyscraper starts its climb above street level in Turtle Bay
December 2, 2016

Richard Meier’s first NYC skyscraper starts its climb above street level in Turtle Bay

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Richard Meier's 685 First Avenue--the starchitect's largest and tallest building in the city to date--has begun its above-ground ascent, reports CityRealty. The 42-story, 460-foot-tall slab tower is located along the East River at 40th Street, just south of the United Nations, and has gained attention for its dark glass facade, a noticeable shift from Meier's signature beige aesthetic. Its 408 rentals and 148 condominiums are expected to be completed by early 2019, and now that construction is "craned and above street level," the project is well on its way.
More this way
Live along Clinton Hill’s bustling Myrtle Avenue for $735/month, lottery open for 29 units
December 2, 2016

Live along Clinton Hill’s bustling Myrtle Avenue for $735/month, lottery open for 29 units

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The stretch of Myrtle Avenue in Clinton Hill between Hall Street and Classon Avenue, just across from Pratt Institute, is bustling with construction activity. As CityRealty recently reported, three mixed-used projects are in development along the street-- condo 525 Myrtle Avenue, the recently opened rental 490 Myrtle Avenue, and the soon-to-open rental 531 Myrtle Avenue--and between these projects will be a pedestrian plaza with streetscape improvements, seating areas, and trees. The latest to join the list is 504 Myrtle Avenue, a 143-unit rental with ground-floor retail that's rising on the former Pratt Station Post Office. Twenty-nine of its units are now available through the city's affordable housing lottery, and they include 10 $735/month studios, 12 $741/month one-bedrooms, and seven $888/month two-bedrooms reserved for individuals earning no more than 60 percent of the area media income.
More on the lottery
On World AIDS Day, NYC AIDS Memorial is dedicated in Greenwich Village
December 1, 2016

On World AIDS Day, NYC AIDS Memorial is dedicated in Greenwich Village

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When the AIDS epidemic struck in the 1980s, New York City was the first place in the country to report a case, and in the years following, the area around Greenwich Village had more cases and deaths than anywhere in the city. The now-shuttered St. Vincent's Hospital at 11th Street and Seventh Avenue South became known as the "ground zero" of the epidemic; it was the nation's second institution to treat HIV, and its staff of Catholic nuns refused to turn away any patient. To commemorate this effort and honor those who were lost, the city has today, on World AIDS Day, dedicated the new $6 million NYC AIDS Memorial, located in St. Vincent's Triangle, across from the old hospital site (h/t Curbed). Designed by architecture firm Studio a + i, the 18-foot geometric steel canopy hovers above granite pavers by visual artist Jenny Holzer that feature selections from Walt Whitman’s "Song of Myself."
See images of the new memorial and today's dedication
My 2,200sqft: Rug designer Amy Helfand shows us around her organic live/work home in Red Hook

Our ongoing series “My sqft” checks out the homes of 6sqft’s friends and fellow New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to the Red Hook rowhouse where rug designer Amy Helfand both works and lives with her family. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch!

December 1, 2016

My 2,200sqft: Rug designer Amy Helfand shows us around her organic live/work home in Red Hook

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Artist Amy Helfand has been creating her own line of rugs for over a decade. The gorgeous pieces are hand-woven in Nepal as part of the GoodWeave program, but the design process takes place in Amy's charming Red Hook rowhouse, where she and her family also reside. As she explains, "At heart, I remain a collector: of images, forms and colors, as well as rocks, sticks, and other ephemera from the natural world," and it's this combination of geometry and organic inspiration that's seen throughout her home and studio. From a dining table centerpiece made of rocks to the chicken coop in the backyard, everything reflects Amy's unique vision. 6sqft recently toured the home and found out about Amy's favorite decor, artistic process, thoughts on the neighborhood, and how they rebuilt after Hurricane Sandy.
Take the tour this way
Upper East Side townhouse in contract for $81M will be most expensive ever sold
November 30, 2016

Upper East Side townhouse in contract for $81M will be most expensive ever sold

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When Carlos Slim, Mexican business magnate and former world’s richest person, listed his Upper East Side Beaux Arts mansion for $80 million in May 2015 he was looking to break the record for most expensive townhouse ever sold in NYC. An attempt was then made by this $84.5 million home on East 62nd Street, but now another neighborhood home is set to take the title. As the Post shares, 19 East 64th Street was listed for $100 million in August, and it's now in contract by a Chinese conglomerate for a reported $81 million. If it closes, the price will far surpass the current record, the $53 million sale of the Harkness Mansion at 4 East 75th Street in 2006.
But there's some drama behind the sale
Help the Washington Square Arch open to the public; Rent Deron Williams’ Tribeca Penthouse
November 30, 2016

Help the Washington Square Arch open to the public; Rent Deron Williams’ Tribeca Penthouse

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Check out the Obamas’ final White House holiday decorations. [Curbed] Tomorrow you can testify at City Hall to have currently inaccessible parks–like North Brother Island, Hart Island, the New York State Pavilion, and the Washington Square Arch–opened to the public. [Untapped] After first listing his sprawling Tribeca penthouse for $33.5 million in July 2015, former Nets star […]

Renderings revealed for adaptive reuse Maker Park along the Williamsburg waterfront
November 30, 2016

Renderings revealed for adaptive reuse Maker Park along the Williamsburg waterfront

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Plans for Bushwick Inlet Park, a 28-acre open space along an unused industrial stretch of the Williamsburg waterfront, first came about in 2005, when the Bloomberg administration rezoned the area to allow for new residential development in exchange for the open space. Fast forward to last week, and the city finally acquired the last piece of land for the project, the controversial Citistorage site. Now that the park is on its way to becoming a reality, a trio of grassroots creatives hopes to bring their alternative vision for the former Bayside Oil Depot site to the forefront. Maker Park is the proposal to adaptively reuse this seven-acre parcel's architectural infrastructure--namely the ten 50-foot decommissioned fuel containers--and create a "park as creative as the neighborhood around it." The Architect's Newspaper recently revealed the first set of renderings, which showcase performance venues, art galleries, hanging gardens, reflecting pools, and an adventure playground.
More views and design details
Jared Kushner will lend $1B to developers over the next five years
November 30, 2016

Jared Kushner will lend $1B to developers over the next five years

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When Charles Kushner founded real estate development firm Kushner Companies in 1985, he may have had visions of his son Jared taking over the company (which he did in 2007), but he never could have predicted the role his kin would have in one of the country's most contentious presidential elections. Because of his political involvement, many have speculated what will come of the company, but Jared shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, the Post reports today that the firm plans to lend $1 billion over the next five years--or $200 million annually--to other developers' projects through Kushner Companies' new lending arm, Kushner Credit Opportunity Fund, which was launched earlier this year.
Find out more
Designers at ArX Solutions offer their own take on a Waldorf Astoria interior renovation
November 30, 2016

Designers at ArX Solutions offer their own take on a Waldorf Astoria interior renovation

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The final checkout for hotel guests at the iconic Waldorf Astoria is March 1st, after which its new owner, Chinese insurer Anbang Insurance Group, will begin converting the 1,413 hotel rooms into 840 renovated hotel rooms and 321 luxury condos to the tune of $1 billion. Earlier this month, the developer filed these plans with the Department of Buildings, which also call for adding retail space, a restaurant, and a fitness center on the ground floors. They'll retain the historic ballrooms, exhibition space, dining rooms, and banquet rooms, but will still need approvals from the Landmarks Preservation Commission for any work on these public spaces; the building has long been an exterior landmark, but the LPC recently calendared a request to landmark the Art Deco interiors. Though no designs have been approved or confirmed, CityRealty dug up renderings from architectural visualization firm ArX Solutions that show their vision of space*.
More renderings and details
Own a glass-box Hamptons home designed by One World Trade Center’s structural engineer
November 29, 2016

Own a glass-box Hamptons home designed by One World Trade Center’s structural engineer

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Jeff Smilow is the Executive Vice President of buildings at WSP|Parsons Brinckerhoff, and perhaps his greatest accomplishment has been serving as the structural engineer for One World Trade Center. His streamlined, rhythmic approach is also seen at this contemporary glass and steel home in East Hampton, which he completed just this year. Now on the market for $5.5 million, the transparent residence best exemplifies Smilow's handiwork on its first floor, where the 5,000-square-foot open plan is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows, completely unencumbered by columns.
Check it all out
Rafael Esquer uses 600 hand-drawn metallic icons to map Manhattan at night
November 29, 2016

Rafael Esquer uses 600 hand-drawn metallic icons to map Manhattan at night

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Artist Rafael Esquer, founder of Soho’s Alfalfa Studio, previously created a wonderfully whimsical depiction of Manhattan named Iconic New York. Made up of more than 400 hand-drawn city icons, the map took him two-and-a-half year to complete. Forging ahead, Esquer has now released a new version of the map that features an additional 200 icons. Called Iconic New York Illuminated, its drawings are shimmering metallics that represent the lights, noise, and pulse of the island after dark.
More on the map
After getting caught for scaling One WTC in 2014, noted daredevil climber is back at it
November 29, 2016

After getting caught for scaling One WTC in 2014, noted daredevil climber is back at it

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It was major news a couple years ago when then-16-year-old Justin Casquejo snuck past security at the not yet opened One World Trade Center and posted a picture of himself after climbing to the top of the tower. Though he got caught and convicted, Casquejo seems unphazed by these legal troubles. The Post uncovered dozens of photos and videos he posted recently to Instagram and YouTube that show him and his friends "dangling from Manhattan skyscrapers," including the Time Warner Center, 220 Central Park South (where another urban explorer recently made waves), and Coney Island's Parachute Jump.
What does the NYPD have to say?
JDS reveals interior and courtyard views of SHoP-designed American Copper Buildings
November 29, 2016

JDS reveals interior and courtyard views of SHoP-designed American Copper Buildings

By
The team behind the American Copper Buildings--JDS Development Group and SHoP Architects--teased a few interior renderings of the rental back in August, but now the project's full site is live and there's a slew of images of the SHoP-designed model apartments, as well as never-before-seen renderings of SCAPE Landscape Architecture's courtyard plaza. Along with these new views comes news from Curbed that though listings for the 600 market-rate units aren't available yet, (160 others became available through an affordable housing lottery) rents will start at $2,800/month for studios, $4,100/month for one-bedrooms, and $6,800/month for two-bedrooms.
See all the new looks
New renderings for COOKFOX’s 700-foot Financial District condo tower 25 Park Row
November 28, 2016

New renderings for COOKFOX’s 700-foot Financial District condo tower 25 Park Row

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Over the summer, L+M Development Partners demolished the former Financial District flagship of J&R Music and Computer World to make way for a 54-story, mixed-use condo tower at 25 Park Row, just across from City Hall Park in an area quickly becoming a more vibrant, 24-hour neighborhood. Site excavation is now well underway for the 700-foot building, reports CityRealty, […]

‘Sixth Borough’ map shows 14,000+ city-owned and leased properties that equal the size of Brooklyn
November 28, 2016

‘Sixth Borough’ map shows 14,000+ city-owned and leased properties that equal the size of Brooklyn

By
The Municipal Art Society of New York sent out a press release today that announces their new interactive map of the more than 14,000 city-owned and leased properties. Fittingly titled "The Sixth Borough," it shows how these sites amount to 43,000 acres, a land area the size of Brooklyn or one-third of the city's total land area, and the extent to which these public holdings--22 percent of which are listed as having no current use--affect the environment, infrastructure, landmarks, population, and neighborhood rezonings.
All the findings ahead
Locals push for Sutton Place rezoning ahead of auction for site of planned 950-foot tower
November 28, 2016

Locals push for Sutton Place rezoning ahead of auction for site of planned 950-foot tower

By
Despite the fact that the site is headed to the auction block next month, local residents and elected officials are rallying to prevent the possible construction of a 950-foot condo tower on East 58th Street in tony Sutton Place. Curbed reports that the group, which includes Councilmen Ben Kallos and Dan Garodnick and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, have submitted a plan to the City Planning Commission that proposes a height cap of 260 feet for the area bounded by East 52nd and East 59th streets east of First Avenue where there is currently no limit on how tall apartment towers can be.
READ MORE
$1.7B BQE rehab will be Department of Transportation’s most expensive project ever
November 28, 2016

$1.7B BQE rehab will be Department of Transportation’s most expensive project ever

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When it was built in the 1940s, the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway became immediately notorious for the fact that Robert Moses planned it to rip through otherwise quiet, low-scale neighborhoods. Today, it's poor reputation has more to do with potholes, bumps, congestion, and pollution. But that will soon change, as the city is embarking on a five-year rehab of the heavily trafficked, 1.5-mile stretch of the highway that runs between Atlantic Avenue and Sands Street in Brooklyn and includes "21 concrete-and-steel bridges over local roads," according to the Times. And at $1.7 billion, it will be the Department of Transportation's most expensive project ever undertaken.
More details ahead
Live in SHoP’s Domino Sugar Refinery tower for $596/month, lottery open for 104 units
November 28, 2016

Live in SHoP’s Domino Sugar Refinery tower for $596/month, lottery open for 104 units

By
Earlier this fall, the first building at Two Trees’ three million-square-foot Domino Sugar Refinery mega-development topped out. The 16-story, $200 million tower at 325 Kent Avenue was designed by SHoP Architects, the same firm responsible for the entire Williamsburg project's master plan, and features a two-winged scheme with a central courtyard. It'll hold a whopping 522 rental units, 104 of which will be reserved for individuals earning 40 percent of the area media income. As of today, these affordable apartments are up for grabs through the city's housing lottery, where availability ranges from $596/month studios to $979/month two-bedrooms.
READ MORE
VIDEO: Watch the Frenzy of New York Holiday Shoppers in 1930
November 25, 2016

VIDEO: Watch the Frenzy of New York Holiday Shoppers in 1930

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Before the days of Amazon, last-minute holiday shopping actually required putting clothes on and interacting with other human beings. To fully understand just how far we've come (and really appreciate the ability to "add to cart"), take a look at this HD stock footage from Critical Past that shows the rush of New York holiday shoppers in 1930. The sidewalks are a sea of black trench coats, with shoppers trying to squeeze their way into stores on 34th Street and buy wares from vendors on what looks like it may be Orchard Street, once the hub of discount shopping.
Watch the full video
Airbnb settles suit against the state, but will continue to fight the city
November 23, 2016

Airbnb settles suit against the state, but will continue to fight the city

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When the state passed a bill in October that would impose fines of up to $7,500 on those who list illegal short-term rentals on Airbnb, the company fired back, filing a federal lawsuit on the grounds that the new law "would impose significant immediate burdens and irreparable harm on Airbnb." They've since withdrawn the suit against the state, reports the Journal, instead focusing their efforts on New York City, as they feel it's the city's jurisdiction under which these regulations fall and that they're violating Airbnb's First Amendment rights.
All the details
City may take a 20 percent cut from Midtown East landmarks that sell their air rights
November 23, 2016

City may take a 20 percent cut from Midtown East landmarks that sell their air rights

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At the end of August, the city released its long-awaited, very controversial Midtown East Rezoning plan. In addition to allowing 16 new towers to spring up in the area bound by Madison and Third Avenues and 39th and 50th Streets, the upzoning will "permit owners of landmarked buildings to sell their air rights across the district, rather than just to adjacent properties like the current law dictates," as 6sqft previously explained. The following month, the city embarked on a study of these unused development rights, which would amount to an additional 3.6 million square feet over the next 20 years. And part of their conclusion is that they're considering taking a 20 percent cut of these air rights sales, reports Politico.
Find out more
178 residential buildings may lose 421-a tax breaks if they don’t file as rent regulated
November 23, 2016

178 residential buildings may lose 421-a tax breaks if they don’t file as rent regulated

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A recent report detailed how nearly two thirds of the city's 6,400 rental buildings where landlords received 421-a tax breaks didn't file properly as rent stabilized, meaning they could raise the rents as much as they chose. Now, 178 of these buildings may lose the coveted exemptions if they don't start complying with the regulations. The Post reports that the Department of Housing Preservation and Development sent out warning letters to these landlords, who altogether represent 1,400 apartments, telling them if they don't comply within 90 days their benefits will be "revoked retroactively."
Find out more

Felix the Cat 1927 – first balloon in Macy’s Parade

November 22, 2016

Felix the Cat, Macy’s first Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon, returns after 90 years

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Felix the Cat 1927 – first balloon in Macy’s Parade In 1927, three years after its first incarnation, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade replaced its live animals with balloons designed by marionette maker Anthony Frederick Sarg and made by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company (more on that here). The first such animal-shaped balloon was Felix the Cat, and after a nearly 90-year hiatus, the Times reports that he's returning to the parade this year.
READ MORE
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