All articles by Devin Gannon

New renderings and construction shots of Essex Street Market ahead of fall opening at Essex Crossing

Interior image via SHoP Architects; construction shot via NYCEDC

May 15, 2018

New renderings and construction shots of Essex Street Market ahead of fall opening at Essex Crossing

By Devin Gannon

Construction of Essex Street Market's new home across Delancey Street continues to move along before its scheduled opening this fall. Designed by SHoP Architects, the market sits above the 150,000-square-foot Market Line, which will stretch two levels and connect three sites of the Essex Crossing development. The market's first phase is expected to wrap up in October, bringing 13 new vendors to the site in addition to the 24 vendors from the historic Essex Street Market. Additional renderings released by the city's Economic Development Corporation this week highlight the brightness of the space, courtesy of the huge windows, 60-foot ceilings and use of light-reflective material. "As we near completion on the project, we are excited to soon open a world-class public market for the local Lower East Side community,” NYCEDC President James Patchett said in a statement to 6sqft. “The new Essex Market will preserve the current community-based spirit while creating additional space to expand the market’s offerings, provide new jobs, and present a higher level of goods and services to visitors and area residents alike.”
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Cuomo joins lawsuit against Trump administration for failing to enforce Fair Housing Act

Photo via Pixabay

May 15, 2018

Cuomo joins lawsuit against Trump administration for failing to enforce Fair Housing Act

By Devin Gannon

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday plans for New York State to join a lawsuit against the federal government for failing to carry out the Fair Housing Act, a 1968 law aimed at protecting people from discrimination when renting or buying. The suit seeks to reverse the decision by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to suspend President Barack Obama-era anti-segregation initiatives, known as an Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule. This rule requires local and state governments to address segregated housing patterns as a condition of receiving federal funding for housing. Joining civil rights groups in the lawsuit, with New York as the first state to do so, Cuomo called HUD's decision to delay this rule "repugnant" and "un-American."
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Policy

Coney Island boardwalk designated as a New York City landmark

Photo via Shinya Suzuki’s Flickr

May 15, 2018

Coney Island boardwalk designated as a New York City landmark

By Devin Gannon

Ninety-five years to the day since it first opened, the Coney Island boardwalk has been officially designated by the Landmarks Preservation Commission as NYC's 11th scenic landmark. The historic designation includes 2.7 miles of public beachfront, stretching from Coney Island's West 37th Street to Brighton 15th Street in Brighton Beach. Since 2014, Council Member Mark Treyger has pushed for the boardwalk to be landmarked, but the commission repeatedly rejected the proposal. "The Coney Island Boardwalk is as much a part of the culture as it is a part of the history of New York City," LPC Chair Meenakshi Srinivasan said in a press release Tuesday. "It is a beloved public space that embodies Coney Island’s democratic spirit and reflects our City’s values of tolerance, inclusivity and equity."
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Policy

Proposal for NYSE district overhaul calls for curbless streets, greenery and enhanced lighting

May 14, 2018

Proposal for NYSE district overhaul calls for curbless streets, greenery and enhanced lighting

By Devin Gannon

In an effort to enhance the accessibility and the appearance of the New York Stock Exchange district, a new proposal is calling for curbless streets, enhanced lighting, multi-functional seating and simplified security structures. The Alliance for Downtown New York released on Monday a study that details ways to improve the historic area to make it more appealing and easier to navigate. While the corner of Wall and Broad Street has witnessed more than 400 years of Lower Manhattan history, starting when Dutch settlers built a wall as the city's northern border, the area is not living up to its potential as one of New York City's crown jewels, according to Jessica Lappin, the president of the Alliance. The study is the result of a nine-month process, with the Alliance working in tandem with local stakeholders, community members and design partners, WXY Architecture + Urban Design. "This report lays out a roadmap," Lappin said in a press release. "It is a grand yet achievable vision that could turn the Stock Exchange District into the jewel it should be." The group estimates the overhaul project will cost roughly $30 million.
See the proposal

May 11, 2018

Four $2,425/month two-bedrooms near Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx up for grabs

By Devin Gannon

While this housing lottery won't save you a ton on rent, the four middle-income units available do sit in a prime location-- near the beautiful and historic Van Cortlandt Park. According to the city's parks department, the park is home to the country's first public golf course, the oldest house in the borough and the largest freshwater lake in the Bronx. Located at the nexus of the Bronx neighborhoods of Riverdale and Kingsbridge Heights, the building at 3190 Riverdale Avenue offers residents a parking garage and bike storage. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 120 percent of the area median income can apply for the four $2,425/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Lottery launches for four newly constructed units in vibrant Bushwick, from $1,950/month

Photo via bslax28 on Flickr

May 11, 2018

Lottery launches for four newly constructed units in vibrant Bushwick, from $1,950/month

By Devin Gannon

An amenity-rich building in the heart of Bushwick is now accepting applications for four middle-income apartments. The rental complex, dubbed Gloria Linden, is located at 359 Linden Street. Apartments come with oversized windows oak flooring, custom LED lighting, Ceaserstone counters and Bertazzoni gas ranges. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for two $1,950/month one-bedroom units and two $2,390/month two-bedroom units.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Inside the Ukrainian Institute of America, one of NYC’s best hidden architectural gems

May 10, 2018

Inside the Ukrainian Institute of America, one of NYC’s best hidden architectural gems

By Devin Gannon

Located on East 79th Street at the corner of Fifth Avenue and across from Central Park, sits one of New York City’s last turn-of-the-century, French-Gothic styled-structures. Designed by Gilded-Age architect Charles Pierrepont Henry Gilbert, the building was home to Isaac D. Fletcher and Harry F. Sinclair, giving it the fitting name of the Fletcher-Sinclair Mansion. Now, the mansion is occupied by the Ukrainian Institute of America, a nonprofit organization that has promoted Ukrainian art, music and literature since 1948. Ahead, join 6sqft on a tour of the landmarked building and check out some of the unique features within this hidden-in-plain sight New York City architectural gem.
Take a tour

Fresh renderings for One Beekman, Richard Rogers’ first residential building in the U.S.

May 10, 2018

Fresh renderings for One Beekman, Richard Rogers’ first residential building in the U.S.

By Devin Gannon

Rendering of One Beekman courtesy of Noë & Associates with The Boundary New renderings have been unveiled for One Beekman, a mixed-use development designed by Richard Rogers, and it has nearly reached its 25-story pinnacle in the Financial District. As the firm's first residential project in the United States, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners have designed a tower that provides every single apartment with views of City Hall Park by shifting the circulation core to the south, according to the New York Times. The front of the building is open with oversized windows, allowing for half of the 31 total condo units to have outdoor terraces overlooking the park.
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The city will issue new Section 8 vouchers for the first time in two years

Photo via Creative Commons

May 10, 2018

The city will issue new Section 8 vouchers for the first time in two years

By Devin Gannon

For the first time in two years, New York City this week began issuing new Section 8 vouchers, which serve as a rental subsidy for lower-income families. The new vouchers come after the city's Housing Authority got a boost in funding from the federal government, allowing the authority to dole out 6,200 additional vouchers, according to amNY. Now, NYCHA has started calling possible tenants on its over 100,000-person waitlist and has already distributed 35 vouchers. The city oversees the largest Section 8 program in the country, with roughly 90,000 vouchers currently issued.
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Michael Cohen puts up $9M Trump Park Avenue apartment as collateral against bank debt

Photo of Michael Cohen via Wikimedia; image of Trump Park Avenue via Google Earth

May 9, 2018

Michael Cohen puts up $9M Trump Park Avenue apartment as collateral against bank debt

By Devin Gannon

Michael Cohen, the longtime attorney for President Donald Trump, has put up his family's Park Avenue apartment as collateral against a bank loan worth millions of dollars. The bank valued Cohen's condo, fittingly at Trump Park Avenue in Lenox Hill, for $9 million. The financially troubled lawyer is putting his apartment against $12.8 million in loans he took out for his taxi business in 2014. Cohen secured these loans by New York City taxi medallions, which have dropped in value by 80 percent due to the growth of ride-sharing services, according to Bloomberg.
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Policy

Popular Articles

Trump could get over $30M from sale of a Brooklyn affordable housing complex he partially owns

May 9, 2018

Trump could get over $30M from sale of a Brooklyn affordable housing complex he partially owns

By Devin Gannon

Starrett City photo via Matt Green on Flickr, President Trump photo via Wikimedia As he proposes funding cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development's subsidized housing programs, President Donald Trump is set to gain millions of dollars from the sale of an affordable housing complex in East New York, best known as Starrett City. Investors, including Trump who owns a 4 percent stake in the development, sold the 46-building complex to two real estate firms for $906 million, ABC News reported Tuesday. Trump is set to profit about $36 million from the sale (an amount which could drop after mortgage costs and transfer taxes). Home to roughly 15,000 residents across 145 acres, Starrett City is the largest federally subsidized housing project in the country.
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Six chances to snag an East Williamsburg one-bedroom for $1,150/month

Photo via David Berkowitz/Flickr

May 8, 2018

Six chances to snag an East Williamsburg one-bedroom for $1,150/month

By Devin Gannon

Photo via David Berkowitz/Flickr A housing lottery launched this week for six affordable units in the East Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn. The newly constructed development at 251 Devoe Street contains seven units, all of them spacious with open layouts. While some of the units in the building include balconies, all have central air and modern appliances. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 60 percent of the area median income can apply for the $1,150/month one-bedrooms. The rental building sits closest to the L and G trains, as well as a dog park and plenty of happening bars and restaurants.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

My 600sqft: A nonprofit fundraiser decorates her Turtle Bay studio with funky, feminine finds

6sqft’s series “My sqft” checks out the homes of New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to the Turtle Bay studio of Erica Greenblatt, director of development for the Anti-Defamation League. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch!

May 8, 2018

My 600sqft: A nonprofit fundraiser decorates her Turtle Bay studio with funky, feminine finds

By Devin Gannon

Erica Greenblatt never seems to stay in one place for long. In addition to her love of travel (she has visited 30 countries across 6 continents so far), she has moved 12 times in the last 14 years all over New York City. Most recently, Erica landed on a surprisingly spacious Turtle Bay studio on 54th Street and 2nd Avenue, her first apartment without any roommates. As the director of development for the Anti-Defamation League, a civil rights organization tasked with fighting bigotry, Erica raises funds needed for the group’s education and advocacy programs. And because of her job, she’s on the move again, headed outside of the five boroughs for the first time in over a decade. Erica moved to Atlanta, Georgia at the end of April, pledging to bring her feminine, eclectic style with her to her new southern pad. Before she left NYC to start a new adventure in the ATL, 6sqft visited Erica and learned about how her love of travel influences her worldly aesthetic, what she describes as her "signature style."
See inside Erica's studio

Wall Street’s historic Trinity Church will partially close during a two-year, $99M renovation

Rendering of the canopy at the graveyard via Trinity Wall Street

May 7, 2018

Wall Street’s historic Trinity Church will partially close during a two-year, $99M renovation

By Devin Gannon

The Trinity Church, whose history in New York City dates back 300 years, will partially close beginning Monday for a two-year, $98.6 million renovation of its nave, the main part of the church. As its first major revitalization in over 70 years, the landmarked church's project will restore parts of the original 1846 Gothic Revival style designed by Richard Upjohn. This includes rebuilding the chancel to its original size, increasing capacity by 140 seats and painting the interior walls and ceilings to reflect the original stone design. The reconstruction will move services and events at the Episcopal parish to nearby St. Paul's Chapel, but the Chapel of All Saints and the churchyard, where Alexander Hamilton is buried, will remain open throughout the project.
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Architecture And Design

Williamsburg’s first ground-up commercial space in over 40 years tops out

May 7, 2018

Williamsburg’s first ground-up commercial space in over 40 years tops out

By Devin Gannon

Rendering via Steelblue/Gensler Silicon Valley will soon land in Williamsburg, according to the masterminds behind 25 Kent, an office building designed with the tech community in mind. The eight-story building at 25 Kent Avenue, the first ground-up commercial office development in the area in over four decades, has officially topped out. The building offers 500,000 square feet of office space along the Williamsburg waterfront, retail at ground level and underground parking, according to CityRealty. Designed by Gensler with concept designs by Hollwich Kushner (HWKN), 25 Kent will surely attract young professionals, with its millennial-friendly rooftops, terraces and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Details here

New Developments

You can own an affordable co-op in the South Bronx for just $92K

Photo via Dan DeLuca’s Flickr

May 7, 2018

You can own an affordable co-op in the South Bronx for just $92K

By Devin Gannon

Applications are now being accepted for three newly renovated co-ops in the Longwood neighborhood of the South Bronx, part of the city's initiative to make affordable homeownership more accessible for first-time buyers. Located at 847 Fox Street, the three-bedroom units are move-in ready, with renovated kitchen and bathrooms, new electrical and heating systems and energy efficient appliances. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 120 percent of the area median income can apply for the three units, listed for a subsidized price of roughly $91,483.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

May 4, 2018

Two buildings near Crotona Park in the South Bronx launch lotteries, from $897/month

By Devin Gannon

Sixteen moderate-income apartments are up for grabs in two buildings located in the Claremont and Morrisania neighborhoods of the South Bronx. The buildings, located at 625 Jefferson Place and 3531 Third Avenue, sit near Crotona Park, a nearly 128 acre public park with a lake, 20 tennis courts a massive swimming pool and 28 species of trees. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 80 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments ranging from $897/month studios to a $1,764/month four-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

A Saudi prince and NYC real estate company will buy iconic Plaza Hotel for $600M

Photo via Creative Commons

May 4, 2018

A Saudi prince and NYC real estate company will buy iconic Plaza Hotel for $600M

By Devin Gannon

Update 5/8/18: Saudi Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal and Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp. will buy the Plaza Hotel for $600 million, besting a previous offer made less than a week ago, according to the New York Post. While it was reported White City Ventures and the Kamran Organization were in contract to buy the iconic building, the prince and Ashkenazy, as the minority owner, had the option to acquire the hotel if they matched the $600 million offer. The deal is expected to close this summer. A deal to sell the historic, 111-year-old Plaza Hotel has finally been reached, after the New York City landmark sat on and off the market for years and changed hands numerous times. As the Real Deal reported, a group of investors including Shahal Kahan of White City Ventures and Kamran Hakim of the Hakim Organization, are in contract to buy a majority share of the hotel for $600 million. While reports in March said the group was considering paying for part of the purchase with cryptocurrency, the deal instead is being made up of equity from investors and a $415 million loan from a pair of British billionaires, David and Simon Reuben.
More details here

Real Estate Trends

Live in a one bedroom near the Brooklyn Children’s Museum in Crown Heights for $2,253/month

May 4, 2018

Live in a one bedroom near the Brooklyn Children’s Museum in Crown Heights for $2,253/month

By Devin Gannon

Photo by Julienne Schaer for NYC&Company A housing lottery launched Friday for just three one-bedroom apartments in the northern section of Crown Heights. Located at 730 Prospect Place, the building rises five stories and contains eight units. It sits between the colorful, Rafael Viñoly-designed Brooklyn Children's Museum and Brower Park and the myriad of food and drink options of Franklin and Washington Avenues. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the three $2,253/month one-bedroom units.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

16 chances to snag an affordable one bedroom in East Williamsburg for $1,080/month

Rendering via Leverich Design Studio

May 4, 2018

16 chances to snag an affordable one bedroom in East Williamsburg for $1,080/month

By Devin Gannon

Located in between artist-hipster enclaves of Bushwick and Williamsburg, a newly constructed building at 89 Bartlett Street has launched an affordable housing lottery for 16 affordable one-bedroom units. Qualifying New Yorkers earning between roughly $37,000 and $50,000 annually (or 60 percent of the area median income), can apply for the $1,080/month one-bedroom apartments.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Judge rules Upper West Side condo can remove Trump’s name from its building

May 3, 2018

Judge rules Upper West Side condo can remove Trump’s name from its building

By Devin Gannon

Photo via Nick Normal’s Flickr Following year-long resistance from the Trump Organization, a judge ruled on Thursday that an Upper West Side condo could remove the president's name from the exterior of the 46-story building, according to the New York Times. Condo owners at 200 Riverside Boulevard will now be able to vote on whether to keep or remove the bronze letters spelling "TRUMP" on the building, where they have hung for nearly two decades. The ruling comes after board members at Trump Place asked a judge in January to issue a declaratory judgment that the condo has the right to either keep or remove the letters without violating its licensing agreement. On Thursday, Justice Eileen Bransten said removing letters does not violate the agreement.
More details here

Policy

Master planning for huge Sunnyside Yard project to begin this summer

Photo via NYCEDC

May 3, 2018

Master planning for huge Sunnyside Yard project to begin this summer

By Devin Gannon

The master planning process for the Sunnyside Yard project, a mammoth plan to build a new, fully planned neighborhood to Queens, will begin this summer, the city announced Thursday. Along with Amtrak, the city's economic development corporation said it will form a steering committee made up of local leaders and planning experts who will organize meetings and workshops to gain feedback from local residents. The Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU) has officially been tapped to lead the planning process. A 2017 feasibility study found 70 acres of the 180-acre development would be viable for development. According to the city, the project could bring between roughly 11,000 and 15,000 new housing units and 15 to 20 acres of open space, new schools and retail amenities. About 3,300 to 4,500 new permanently affordable units could also be created. As of last year, the plan has an estimated price tag of $10 billion.
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Plan to upgrade signals on 7-line delayed again, more service outages possible

Photo via Tim Adams on Flickr

May 2, 2018

Plan to upgrade signals on 7-line delayed again, more service outages possible

By Devin Gannon

Another day, another missed deadline for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The plan to modernize the 7-line's ancient signals has been delayed yet again, according to the Wall Street Journal. The MTA said the new system would be implemented by June 30, but the contractor installing the signals, Thales Transport and Security, told officials they won't be able to finish until November. Andy Byford, the new chief of NYC Transit, said he refuses to accept the rescheduled deadline and has hinted at more outages on the 7, as a way to accelerate installation of the system. "I think customers would prefer to rip the band aid off and get on with it rather than have this slow creeping limp to the finish line," Byford said on Wednesday.
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Transit

Vornado likely to keep Bjarke Ingels’ wave-like canopy design for 2 Penn Plaza overhaul

Rendering via BIG

May 2, 2018

Vornado likely to keep Bjarke Ingels’ wave-like canopy design for 2 Penn Plaza overhaul

By Devin Gannon

Instead of razing and redeveloping its 2 Penn Plaza office tower, Vornado Realty Trust said on Tuesday it will simply renovate the building. As Commercial Observer reported, the company's CEO, Steven Roth, said earlier plans of demolishing the 31-story tower and grabbing 5 million square feet of development rights from Madison Square Garden to build a bigger tower, would not be feasible. Moving forward with option B, Vornado will likely stick with designs from Bjarke Ingels Group. More than two years ago, BIG revealed renderings that showed a wave-like canopy of glass panels that would envelope 2 Penn Plaza above the retail entrances on the ground floor.
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Architecture And Design

May 2, 2018

7 chances to live across from Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx, from $1,600/month

By Devin Gannon

A newly constructed rental in the Bronx has launched a lottery for seven middle-income apartments, located across from the city's largest public park, Pelham Bay Park. The park measures over three times the size of Central Park and includes two golf courses, miles of hiking trails, many fields and courts and Orchard Beach, a man-made beach designed by Robert Moses. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for three one-bedrooms for $1,600/month and four two-bedrooms for $1,800/month.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

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