All articles by Devin Gannon

Vintage bus festival rolls into Brooklyn Bridge Park

2019 Bus Festival. Photo by Filip Wolak, New York Transit Museum

August 29, 2024

Vintage bus festival rolls into Brooklyn Bridge Park

Buses of a bygone era will be rolling into Brooklyn Bridge Park. The New York Transit Museum's annual Bus Festival takes place at Emily Warren Roebling Plaza on Sunday, September 8, bringing a collection of retro buses under the Brooklyn Bridge for transit buffs to explore.
ride this way

Events & Things To Do

The 15 best parks in NYC for outdoor grilling

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels

August 28, 2024

The 15 best parks in NYC for outdoor grilling

By Devin Gannon

While our tiny apartments and fire escapes may not always be the greatest spots to host a barbecue, the city's parks provide some of the best places to dine on hamburgers and hot dogs this holiday. Ahead, 6sqft rounded up 15 of the best NYC parks to host outdoor barbecues, from old standby Prospect Park to less-known locales like Staten Island's Clove Lakes Park.
Fin the best BBQ spots in your neighborhood

60 luxury condos planned for the Flatiron Building

Photo by David Becker on Unsplash

August 27, 2024

60 luxury condos planned for the Flatiron Building

By Devin Gannon

More details on transforming one of New York City's most iconic buildings into apartments were revealed this week. Developers GFP Real Estate, the Brodsky Organization, and the Sorgente Group filed plans with the city to convert the Flatiron Building into 60 residential units, as first reported by Commerical Observer. The homes could be complete by 2026, according to the Environmental Assessment Statement (EAS) filed with the Department of City Planning.
more this way

Celebrities join last-minute effort to save Elizabeth Street Garden

Photo by James and Karla Murray exclusively for 6sqft

August 23, 2024

Celebrities join last-minute effort to save Elizabeth Street Garden

By Devin Gannon

With its eviction looming, Little Italy's Elizabeth Street Garden is throwing one last hail mary. New York celebrities Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese, and Patti Smith penned letters to Mayor Eric Adams this week, asking him not to build an affordable senior housing development on the city-owned site of the community garden, a plan approved in 2019 but delayed by legal challenges. The A-listers join thousands of residents who oppose replacing the unique green space with apartments, despite the city's current housing crisis. Demolition of the garden could begin next month after the nonprofit that runs the space lost two separate court battles.
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Adams directs NYC agencies to find city-owned land for potential housing development

Photo © 6sqft

August 21, 2024

Adams directs NYC agencies to find city-owned land for potential housing development

By Devin Gannon

Mayor Eric Adams is finding new ways of meeting his goal of building 500,000 new homes in New York City over the next decade. The mayor on Wednesday signed an executive order directing every city agency to determine if housing can be built on property it owns. As the New York Times first reported, this could mean constructing new homes on properties like underused parking lots or garages.
more here

NYC is selling authentic ‘Cornelia Street’ signs

Image courtesy of NYC DOT

August 13, 2024

NYC is selling authentic ‘Cornelia Street’ signs

By Devin Gannon

Attention Swifties! New York City's Department of Transportation (DOT) is selling a limited number of authentic, commemorative Cornelia Street signs, as part of the agency's monthly "sign drops." Taylor Swift once rented a home on the Greenwich Village street and name-dropped the block in the 2019 song "Cornelia Street."
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Pre-war penthouse on the Upper West Side with soaring ceilings and a huge terrace asks $5.95M

Photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

August 9, 2024

Pre-war penthouse on the Upper West Side with soaring ceilings and a huge terrace asks $5.95M

By Devin Gannon

Sitting atop an Italian Renaissance palazzo-style apartment building on the Upper West Side, this penthouse at 257 West 86th Street brings the drama. Upon entering from a semi-private landing, you're greeted by the duplex's sprawling living room that measures 28 feet by 20 feet but feels even larger thanks to the massive window and 20-foot ceilings. Asking $5,950,000, the penthouse has three bedrooms and a stunning private terrace with open views from nearly every angle.
take the tour

Distinctive Homes

August 7, 2024

Celebrate 100 years of James Baldwin at the New York Public Library

By Devin Gannon

The New York Public Library is honoring one of its most legendary patrons. Considered one of the best writers of the 20th century, and a key figure in the civil rights movement, James Baldwin discovered his love of reading at his local public library in Harlem. In celebration of what would have been Baldwin's 100th birthday this month, NYPL will present two exhibitions featuring his papers, manuscripts, and other materials never displayed publicly, as well as host book giveaways and discussions on Baldwin's work.
learn more

Events & Things To Do

Brooklyn’s greenest block is in Crown Heights

Lincoln Place. Photo by Artchan Nadura

August 6, 2024

Brooklyn’s greenest block is in Crown Heights

By Devin Gannon

The greenest block in Brooklyn is in Crown Heights. And so is the second-greenest block. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden on Tuesday crowned Lincoln Place between New York and Nostrand Avenues as the winner of its Greenest Block competition, an annual contest open to all blocks and community gardens in the borough. Another win for the neighborhood, the garden awarded Eastern Parkway between Bedford and Franklin Avenues second place.
and the winners are

NYC to extend lifeguard shifts during heat waves

Rockaway Beach. Photo by Shinya Suzuki on Flickr

July 31, 2024

NYC to extend lifeguard shifts during heat waves

By Devin Gannon

New York City will extend lifeguard shifts at public beaches during heat waves after a series of drownings this summer. Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday said 66 lifeguards will be on call for emergencies until 8 p.m., two hours after beaches close, during extreme heat. Swimming will still not be permitted after 6 p.m. and lifeguards will not sit on the stands so they don't "give the false impression that the beaches are open and that it's safe to swim," Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi said.
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Policy

13 places to go hiking in New York City

By Devin Gannon

Forget the rental car or Metro-North trip, all you need to go hiking is subway or bus fare. Home to over 30,000 acres of parkland, New York City offers hundreds of nature trails to explore in parks across the five boroughs. New Yorkers do not have to travel very far to connect with the great outdoors, from the Staten Island Greenbelt, which is three times the size of Central Park, to ecologically diverse forests in Van Cortlandt Park, to the salt marshes of Marine Park Preserve. Ahead, discover some of the best trails to hike in every borough.
Learn more

Photo by The All-Nite Images on Flickr

July 23, 2024

NYC Ferry fares to increase this fall

By Devin Gannon

Ferry fares are going up this fall. The city's Economic Development Corporation announced that single-trip tickets will increase from $4 to $4.50 and the 10-trip pass will increase from $27.50 to $29, starting September 9. The new fare structure aims to reduce the system's huge public subsidy while making the ferry more equitable.
find out more

First project under Gowanus rezoning launches leasing for luxury apartments

Renderings courtesy of VUW

July 22, 2024

First project under Gowanus rezoning launches leasing for luxury apartments

By Devin Gannon

The first project developed under the Gowanus rezoning has launched leasing. Developed by Domain Companies and VOREA Group, 420 Carroll consists of a 21-story tower and a 16-story tower connected by an underground tunnel. Situated on the Gowanus Canal, the development includes 360 apartments, with market-rate rentals currently priced from $3,925/month for studios to $9,600/month for three bedrooms. Approved by the city in 2021, the rezoning upzoned 82 blocks of the neighborhood to create 8,500 units of housing and new open space.
more here

New Developments

Experience a kaleidoscopic NYC skyline atop Hudson Yards’ Edge

Photos courtesy of Edge

July 19, 2024

Experience a kaleidoscopic NYC skyline atop Hudson Yards’ Edge

By Devin Gannon

A new installation at the highest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere saturates the New York City skyline in a new light. "Shades" debuted this week at Edge, the 100th-floor indoor/outdoor sky deck at 30 Hudson Yards, with sections of transparent colors splashed across the observation deck, transforming the view. The immersive exhibit challenges visitors to explore how changing vantage points alter the perception of the city around them.
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Events & Things To Do

You can step inside iconic Edward Hopper paintings this weekend

Photo courtesy of the Meatpacking BID

July 18, 2024

You can step inside iconic Edward Hopper paintings this weekend

By Devin Gannon

Celebrate Edward Hopper's birthday by becoming a subject in one of his paintings. This weekend, life-size 3D recreations of three Hopper paintings will pop up on Gansevoort Plaza in the Meatpacking District, inviting New Yorkers to step inside the artwork. Hosted by the Meatpacking BID and the Whitney Museum of American Art, the installations will be on display from July 19 through July 22.
get the details

Events & Things To Do

All renderings courtesy of VMI Studio

July 18, 2024

Emery Roth’s pre-war UWS tower is reimagined as 131 luxury condos, priced from $1M

By Devin Gannon

A 100-year-old Upper West Side building that once served as a hotel and a senior center is now a luxury condominium. The Emery Roth-designed tower at 720 West End Avenue has been reimagined by Thomas Juul-Hansen and renovated by BP Architects to become 131 modern residences. Sales officially launched this week at the building, with homes starting at roughly $1 million to over $12 million.
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New Developments

Brooklyn Heights townhouse closes for $22.1M, second priciest single-family home sale in the borough

Photo credit: Matthew Williams

July 17, 2024

Brooklyn Heights townhouse closes for $22.1M, second priciest single-family home sale in the borough

By Devin Gannon

The second priciest single-family home ever sold in Brooklyn has officially closed. The Anglo-Italianate five-bedroom townhouse at 1 Sidney Place in Brooklyn Heights sold for $22.1 million in April; Glossier founder Emily Weiss was identified as the buyer. About a half mile away, the borough's most expensive single-family sale remains 8 Montague Terrace, which sold for $25.5 million in 2020.
see it here

Real Estate Trends

Photo by Julie Ricard on Unsplash

July 17, 2024

Biden proposes nationwide rent cap

By Devin Gannon

President Joe Biden this week unveiled a proposal to cap rent at 5 percent annually for apartments owned by corporate landlords. The plan would apply to landlords who own more than 50 units in their portfolio, covering about 20 million units nationwide, roughly half of all rentals. The legislation requires congressional approval, including from the Republican-controlled House, to move forward.
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Policy

Rental at historic Crown Heights site opens lottery for 48 apartments, from $3,128/month

All renderings courtesy of Morris Adjmi Architects

July 16, 2024

Rental at historic Crown Heights site opens lottery for 48 apartments, from $3,128/month

By Devin Gannon

A lottery opened this week at a new luxury rental building on a historic site in Crown Heights. Designed by Morris Adjmi Architects, Mason Gray is a mixed-use development at 959 Sterling Place consisting of a seven-story brick building with 158 apartments. Landmarked as part of the Crown Heights Historic District, the property is home to a 19th-century Romanesque Revival complex currently occupied by the Hebron Seventh Day Adventist Church and School. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, priced at $3,128/month for studios, $3,345/month for one-bedrooms, and $4,000/month for two-bedrooms.
how to apply

Affordable Housing

NYC announces 18 free outdoor concerts in expanded ‘Rise Up’ summer series

Rise Up concert in 2022. Photo Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

July 15, 2024

NYC announces 18 free outdoor concerts in expanded ‘Rise Up’ summer series

By Devin Gannon

Summer in the city means lots of free outdoor music, from picnic performances in Bryant Park to shows in Prospect Park. Mayor Eric Adams is joining in on the fun by expanding "Rise Up NYC," an annual summer concert series hosted in all five boroughs. There will be 18 performances through the end of August, up from eight shows last year.
details here

Events & Things To Do

Colorful lanterns sparkle over Broadway in the Garment District

Photos courtesy of Alexandre Ayer /@DiversityPics for the Garment District Alliance

July 15, 2024

Colorful lanterns sparkle over Broadway in the Garment District

By Devin Gannon

A series of colorful lanterns are now sparkling above Broadway as part of a new public art installation in Midtown. The Garment District Alliance last week unveiled "New Start, New Hope," an exhibition featuring 135 colorful lanterns illuminating three plazas between 36th and 39th Streets. Created by local artist Xin Song, the installation adds brightness and a sense of calm to one of the city's busiest areas.
see more

Events & Things To Do

Kips Bay condo fits personal and professional under one roof, studios from $895K

Renderings courtesy of CORE Real Estate

July 12, 2024

Kips Bay condo fits personal and professional under one roof, studios from $895K

By Devin Gannon

A new condominium in Kips Bay combines the personal and professional under one roof. On the corner of Second Avenue and 29th Street, Hendrix House offers 60 residences and an amenity package that is extremely functional for the modern New Yorker. Not only is there a stunning co-working space and lobby with an adjacent courtyard for al-fresco work, but residences have carefully crafted home offices with custom furniture and shelving. Sales recently launched at Hendrix House, with studios priced from $895,000.
find out more

New Developments

Renderings courtesy of Tracks/ Alpreda Architecture

July 11, 2024

Tracks Bar is reopening in Penn Station

By Devin Gannon

As Penn Station continues its much-needed makeover, a beloved mainstay from its past is returning. Tracks Raw Bar & Grill will reopen at the Long Island Rail Road Concourse in Penn Station, five years after its iconic underground location closed to make way for a new entrance to the station. Expected to open by the end of the year, Tracks will occupy a 3,150-square-foot space that will recreate the restaurant's original "train-themed" decor and celebrate the history of the Long Island Rail Road with vintage prints and murals.
get the details

Photos courtesy of Aman New York

July 10, 2024

Aman New York penthouse sells for $135M

By Devin Gannon

A five-story penthouse at the Aman New York at 730 Fifth Avenue has sold for $135 million, marking New York City's most expensive sale of the year. As first reported by Bloomberg, the deal surpasses a $115 million penthouse at Central Park Tower that closed in June. The 12,500-square-foot sky mansion aptly sits in the actual crown of the 100-year-old Midtown Manhattan tower, known as the Crown Building for its gilded exterior. Opened in 2022, the Aman New York is an ultra-luxury hotel-condo with 83 hotel rooms and 22 residences. The Wall Street Journal on Thursday identified Vladislav Doronin, the billionaire and founder of OKO Group, the developer of the Aman, as the buyer of the record-breaking penthouse.
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Sunday service is back at these NYC libraries this weekend

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library in Manhattan will reopen on Sunday, July 14. Photo © John Bartelstone courtesy of the NYPL

July 9, 2024

Sunday service is back at these NYC libraries this weekend

By Devin Gannon

For the first time since late last year, Sunday service will return to some New York City public library branches this weekend. Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council last month agreed to a budget for fiscal year 2025 that restores $58.3 million in funding for the New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, and Queens Public Library. The libraries will reinstate Sunday service at branches that previously offered it on a rolling basis starting July 14.
full list here

All articles by Devin Gannon

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