All articles by Devin Gannon

Hochul wants to extend the Second Avenue Subway west into Harlem

The 96th Street subway station on Second Avenue Subway when it opened in 2017. Photo by Charley Lhasa on Flickr.

January 9, 2024

Hochul wants to extend the Second Avenue Subway west into Harlem

The Q train may go even further. During her State of the State address Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul backed a plan to extend the Second Avenue Subway west along 125th Street with three new stops at Lenox Avenue, St. Nicholas Avenue, and Broadway. The announcement comes as construction prepares to kick off on the second phase of the line, bringing the Q line up to 125th Street in East Harlem.
details here

NYC developers filed plans for just 9,909 housing units in 2023

Image courtesy of robertotmn on Flickr

January 9, 2024

NYC developers filed plans for just 9,909 housing units in 2023

By Devin Gannon

In 2023, housing production in New York City slowed dramatically. According to a new Real Estate Board of New York report, developers filed 285 multi-family foundation plan applications with just 9,909 apartments proposed, a 78 percent drop in total unit filings from 2022 when there were over 45,500 units proposed. The number of dwelling units proposed last year is 50 percent of the roughly 20,000 units produced per year between 2000 and 2020. REBNY blames the expiration of the 421-a tax break for the major decline.
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Real Estate Trends

Photo by James Russiello on Wikimedia

January 8, 2024

Plans to demolish landmarked West-Park Presbyterian Church on hold

By Devin Gannon

A historic Upper West Side church lives to fight another day. The West-Park Presbyterian Church on Friday withdrew its request to the Landmarks Preservation Commission to demolish the 19th-century Romanesque Revival building at Amsterdam Avenue and West 86th Street. The congregation could not afford the estimated $50 million in urgent repairs needed at the 135-year-old property and sought permission from the commission to demolish the landmarked building with the hopes of selling it to a developer. The church’s application was withdrawn ahead of a vote by LPC scheduled for this Tuesday, but the congregation said it will resubmit in the future.
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Policy

Apply for 87 income-restricted apartments in prime Fort Greene, from $910/month

Rendering courtesy of NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development; 142 South Portland Avenue site before construction, photo courtesy of MDG Design + Construction

January 5, 2024

Apply for 87 income-restricted apartments in prime Fort Greene, from $910/month

By Devin Gannon

Applications are now being accepted for 87 affordable apartments at a new mixed-use project in Fort Greene. The Hanson Place Community Plaza development at 142 South Portland Avenue has 104 apartments, 10,000 square feet of community space, and a prime location, just a block from the mall and transit hub at Atlantic Avenue and the Barclays Center. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 50, 60, and 140 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, priced from $910/ month for studios to $3,654/month for three-bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

NYC subway trains collide near 96th Street, causing minor derailment

Scene of the collision and derailment north of 96th Street. Photo by Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

January 4, 2024

NYC subway trains collide near 96th Street, causing minor derailment

By Devin Gannon

Service on the 1, 2, and 3 trains in Manhattan remains disrupted Friday morning after a subway train on the Upper West Side derailed. Around 3 p.m. on Thursday, a 1 train with roughly 300 commuters on board hit a work train as it was merging onto the northbound track north of 96th Street. According to emergency personnel, 24 passengers sustained injuries, none of which were life-threatening.
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Transit

All-cash home deals in Manhattan hit record high

Photo by Joe Taylor on Unsplash

January 3, 2024

All-cash home deals in Manhattan hit record high

By Devin Gannon

In New York City, cash is king. In the fourth quarter, the share of all-cash real estate transactions in Manhattan jumped to 67.9 percent of all sales. This marks a record-high market share of all-cash deals, according to appraiser Miller Samuel's new Elliman Report detailing Manhattan sales in the last three months of 2023.
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Real Estate Trends

Announcing 6sqft’s 2023 Building of the Year!

All renderings of 50 West 66th Street courtesy of Recent Spaces

December 28, 2023

Announcing 6sqft’s 2023 Building of the Year!

By Devin Gannon

The votes are in. 6sqft's 2023 Building of the Year is 50 West 66th Street, a striking skyscraper currently under construction on the Upper West Side. Soon to be the neighborhood's tallest building, 50 West 66th Street snagged first place in our annual competition, receiving 334 votes of the nearly 1,200 total votes cast. Developed by Extell and designed by Snøhetta, the 775-foot-tall residential tower will offer 127 luxury homes and over 50,000 square feet of amenities.
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New Developments

Queensboro Plaza station will be closed every weekend in January

Photo by Shinya Suzuki on Flickr

December 22, 2023

Queensboro Plaza station will be closed every weekend in January

By Devin Gannon

The Queensboro Plaza subway station will shut down every weekend in January to allow for accessibility upgrades, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced on Thursday. The Long Island City station, home to the 7, N, and W trains, will be closed starting the weekend of January 6 through the weekend of January 27, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Saturdays and ending at 5 a.m. on Mondays.
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Transit

December 20, 2023

Vote for 6sqft’s 2023 Building of the Year!

By Devin Gannon

For New York City real estate, 2023 was a year of reinvention and renewal. Projects on pause for years resumed construction, iconic 100-year-old buildings were revived, developments were rebranded and relaunched, and the city’s next tallest towers began to rise. This year also offered a glimpse into the future: the completion of the city's largest office-to-condo conversion and its first all-electric skyscraper. 6sqft has narrowed our picks down to 12 of the most notable residential projects of the year. Which do you think deserves to be crowned the 2023 Building of the Year? Polls for our ninth annual competition will remain open through noon on Wednesday, December 27. A winner will be announced on Thursday, December 28. Happy voting!
cast your vote!

Photos show off One High Line as new addition to Chelsea’s hub of high-end architecture

All photos courtesy of Evan Joseph.

December 8, 2023

Photos show off One High Line as new addition to Chelsea’s hub of high-end architecture

By Devin Gannon

Work has wrapped up on One High Line, the two-tower residential development designed by Bjarke Ingels, marking a major milestone for a project that has hit a few bumps along the way. Located next to the iconic elevated park for which it shares a name, the distinctive condominium at 500 West 18th Street consists of a 36-story tower and a 26-story tower that twist in tandem away from each other, maximizing city and Hudson River views. One High Line joins several notable high-end architecture projects in West Chelsea, like Lantern House, 520 West 28th Street, and The Cortland.
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30 Rock opens new rooftop ride ‘The Beam’ recreating iconic construction photo

By Devin Gannon

The observation deck at 30 Rockefeller Plaza is taking visitors to new heights. On Friday, the Top of the Rock debuted The Beam, a new rooftop ride on the 69th floor that recreates the iconic 1932 photo of ironworkers eating lunch on a beam during the construction of the building. During the experience, visitors sit on a beam and are lifted 12 feet above the platform then rotated 180 degrees to face Central Park. Tickets to The Beam cost $25 per person as an add-on for Top of the Rock general admission and come with a digital photo.
details here

Events & Things To Do

Stephen Sondheim’s Turtle Bay townhouse sells for $7M

All photos courtesy of Compass

November 29, 2023

Stephen Sondheim’s Turtle Bay townhouse sells for $7M

By Devin Gannon

Late songsmith Stephen Sondheim's Turtle Bay townhouse has sold for the asking price of $7,000,000. As first reported by the Wall Street Journal, the unnamed buyer of 246 East 49th Street lives in New York and is a fan of the Broadway legend. The seven-bedroom home hit the market in July and entered contract the following month.
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November 27, 2023

All of New York City’s holiday tree lightings

By Devin Gannon

From the very first public tree lighting ceremony in the country at Madison Square Park to the world's most famous holiday tree at Rockefeller Center, New York City has a strong connection to the sparkling Christmas tradition. Holiday trees can be found across the city, all with their own unique style and festive flair. Ahead, see the spirit of the holidays come to life at tree lighting ceremonies happening at iconic NYC spots, from Bryant Park and Central Park to the New York Stock Exchange and the Bronx's Little Italy.
tree lightings this way

Events & Things To Do

Middle Eastern grocer Sahadi’s opening at Pier 57 food hall in Chelsea

Photo of Sahadi’s on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn via WikiCommons

November 20, 2023

Middle Eastern grocer Sahadi’s opening at Pier 57 food hall in Chelsea

By Devin Gannon

Brooklyn's beloved Middle Eastern grocery store Sahadi's is returning to Manhattan after 75 years. Opening in Chelsea at Pier 57's new food hall next week, the outpost will feature seated dining and bar service. Sahadi's has roots in the borough; its first store opened on Washington Street in 1895 in what was considered to be "Little Syria," before moving to Cobble Hill in 1948. Sahadi's will officially open at Market 57 on Monday, November 27.
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Food & Dining

NYC public libraries end Sunday service due to budget cuts

Photo credit: NYPL/Jonathan Blanc

November 17, 2023

NYC public libraries end Sunday service due to budget cuts

By Devin Gannon

Public libraries across New York City will soon be closed on Sunday in response to budget cuts announced by Mayor Eric Adams this week. Under the updated fiscal year 2024 budget released Thursday, every city agency will see a 5 percent budget reduction, including the police, sanitation, and education departments, as well as the public library system. New York, Brooklyn, and Queens public libraries said seven-day service will be eliminated, including ending Sunday service at most branches that offer it.
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Policy

Ladies’ Mile condo designed by DXA features a draping fabric-like facade

All renderings courtesy of DXA Studio

November 15, 2023

Ladies’ Mile condo designed by DXA features a draping fabric-like facade

By Devin Gannon

The design of a new 17-story condominium in the Ladies' Mile Historic District celebrates the history of the neighborhood and the spirit of innovation in New York City. Designed by DXA Studio, 10 West 17th Street features a facade of ultra-high-performance concrete molded to look like flowing fabric, a nod to the neighborhood's role in the garment industry and as a major shopping destination during the Gilded Age. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to approve the unique design.
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New Developments

2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: What you need to know

The Tom Turkey float is one of the most famous in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Photo courtesy of Macy’s.

November 14, 2023

2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: What you need to know

By Devin Gannon

The 97th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is ready to kick off the holiday season. Taking place on Thursday, November 23, the parade this year will run an extra 30 minutes (with a start time of 8:30 a.m. instead of 9 a.m.) and include a performance by Cher (who will open for the real star of the show, Santa Claus). This year's parade features 32 novelty and heritage inflatables, 16 giant character balloons, 26 floats, 12 marching bands, 700 clowns, and eight performance groups, all made possible thanks to roughly 5,000 volunteers.
GET THE DETAILS

Events & Things To Do

Mets owner reveals ‘Metropolitan Park’ proposal for $8B casino complex next to Citi Field

Rendering: Queens Future LLC

November 7, 2023

Mets owner reveals ‘Metropolitan Park’ proposal for $8B casino complex next to Citi Field

By Devin Gannon

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen on Tuesday unveiled new details for his plan to build a casino across the street from Citi Field. The billionaire hedge fund manager has teamed up with Hard Rock International on the proposed "Metropolitan Park," a sports and entertainment development planned for 50 acres of what is currently parking lots next to the Flushing, Queens baseball stadium. The $8 billion proposal includes a Hard Rock-run entertainment complex with a hotel, live music venue, restaurants, and a casino, 20 acres of public space, a Queens-themed food hall, a renovated transit station, and more.
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Policy

NYC holiday open streets return to Fifth Avenue and Rockefeller Center

Photo by Kaydn Ito on Unsplash

November 7, 2023

NYC holiday open streets return to Fifth Avenue and Rockefeller Center

By Devin Gannon

Visiting Midtown during the holidays will be more festive and less stressful this year. Mayor Eric Adams on Monday announced plans to fully pedestrianize Fifth Avenue from 48th and 59th Streets on three Sundays in December, expanding the open street by three blocks to reach Central Park. Plus, certain streets around Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall will be closed to cars every day throughout the holiday season, reducing crowds and making it safer for the hundreds of thousands of people visiting the iconic Christmas Tree, holiday window displays, and the Rockettes.
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Policy

A guide to the 2023 New York City Marathon

The 2021 NYC Marathon. Photo by Marc A. Hermann/ MTA on Flickr.

November 3, 2023

A guide to the 2023 New York City Marathon

By Devin Gannon

The largest marathon in the world returns to New York City this Sunday. On November 5, 50,000 runners will participate in the annual TCS New York City Marathon, a race that travels 26.2 miles and runs through every borough, starting on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and ending in Central Park. Ahead, learn everything you need to know about this year's event, from the route and start times to the best viewing spots for spectators and scheduled road closures.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Events & Things To Do

Dramatic triplex condo on historic Stuyvesant Square in Gramercy asks $1.5M

All photos courtesy of DDreps Andrew Brincka

October 31, 2023

Dramatic triplex condo on historic Stuyvesant Square in Gramercy asks $1.5M

By Devin Gannon

Here's an opportunity to own a renovated one-bedroom condo in one of the most attractive buildings in Gramercy. Facing the historic Stuyvesant Square Park, the home takes up three levels (including a bonus attic space) at 305 Second Avenue, a building also known as Rutherford Place. Designed by prolific architect R. H. Robertson, the 10-story building was built as a hospital in 1902 and gifted to the city by J.P. Morgan. Asking $1,545,000, the available residence features 20-foot ceilings, park views, a mullioned glass wall, and 21st-century amenities.
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Distinctive Homes

Flatiron Building to become luxury condos

Photo by David Becker on Unsplash

October 26, 2023

Flatiron Building to become luxury condos

By Devin Gannon

One of New York City's most famous office buildings is going residential. Developer Brodsky Organization has bought a stake in the Flatiron Building and plans to work with the current owners to turn the landmark into a luxury condominium, as The Real Deal first reported.
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Real Estate Trends

190-year-old West Village wooden house with storied history asks $6M

All photos courtesy of Allyson Lubow for The Corcoran Group

October 26, 2023

190-year-old West Village wooden house with storied history asks $6M

By Devin Gannon

A 19th-century wooden house in the West Village that has lived many lives over its nearly 190-year-old history is now on the market. Built in 1834, the property at 392 West Street (also known as 6 Weehawken Street) was originally part of the open-air Greenwich Market and later operated as a tavern, cigar store, pool hall, speakeasy, and two gay bars. The building's last owner, Jean-Louis Goldwater Bourgeois, made headlines in recent years after claiming he would leave the home to the Lenape people, the original Manhattanites. But when Bourgeois died last year, the house went to his estate and is now on the market for $6,000,000, as Gothamist reported.
see inside

October 25, 2023

The best spots to see fall foliage in NYC

By Devin Gannon

The beautiful yet fleeting season of fall has officially begun in New York City. While a trip to the Catskill or Adirondack mountains makes for a fun weekend, New Yorkers don't have to travel outside city limits to enjoy the colorful fall foliage. Typically, peak foliage in the city takes place at the end of October through early November and lasts only a few days. Ahead, find some of the best parks and gardens across the five boroughs to take in the beauty of the season.
See the list

Events & Things To Do

Bjarke Ingels’ terrace-wrapped office tower The Spiral opens in Hudson Yards

Photos courtesy of Laurian Ghinitoiu for BIG unless otherwise noted

October 25, 2023

Bjarke Ingels’ terrace-wrapped office tower The Spiral opens in Hudson Yards

By Devin Gannon

It's BIG's biggest yet. Bjarke Ingels Group on Tuesday announced the completion of The Spiral, a 66-story office tower in Hudson Yards. The skyscraper at 66 Hudson Boulevard measures 2.8 million square feet and rises just over 1,031 feet tall, making it the architecture firm's first completed supertall. In addition to its soaring height, The Spiral stands out for its series of cascading terraces that wrap around the building, "like a 1,000-foot-tall vine at the scale of the city's skyline," as the architect described.
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All articles by Devin Gannon

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