All articles by Devin Gannon

MTA to ‘shrink’ capital budget after congestion pricing halted

Views of Kings Highway on the Culver F line. Photo courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

June 11, 2024

MTA to ‘shrink’ capital budget after congestion pricing halted

By Devin Gannon

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will "shrink" and "reprioritize" its capital budget after Gov. Kathy Hochul paused the congestion pricing program last week that would have brought in $1 billion annually for infrastructure projects. On Monday, MTA Chief Executive Janno Lieber said the agency will reorganize the 2020-2024 Capital Program to prioritize basic repair work to ensure the "system doesn't fall apart." The MTA will also work on preserving federal grants that helped fund projects like extending the Second Avenue subway into Harlem and examine how the gap in the capital program will impact the operating budget.
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New York City officially lifts dancing ban

Couples jitterbug dancing in the 1930s. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs division.

June 7, 2024

New York City officially lifts dancing ban

By Devin Gannon

New York City got its groove back. The City Council this week voted to end zoning regulations that ban dancing in nightlife establishments in many parts of the city. Although officials repealed the outdated Cabaret Law in 2017, zoning rules were not revised, leaving much of the Prohibition-era law in place at small bars and restaurants in 80 percent of the city. On Thursday, the Council passed Mayor Eric Adams' City of Yes for Economic Opportunity plan, which includes updates to zoning allowing dancing and live entertainment as of right in commercial establishments.
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Policy

The NYC transit projects affected by congestion pricing delay

Photo via Wikimedia

June 6, 2024

The NYC transit projects affected by congestion pricing delay

By Devin Gannon

With Gov. Kathy Hochul's last-minute decision to "indefinitely" pause the congestion pricing program, the MTA will lose out on an anticipated $15 billion in revenue. The governor's decision puts a huge gap in the agency's capital program, which planned to use proceeds from congestion pricing to make critical repairs and improvements to New York City's public transportation network. From making subway stations accessible and updating antiquated signaling to extending the Second Avenue Subway to East Harlem, several projects promised to improve the lives of millions of New Yorkers will now be delayed without dedicated funding.
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Derek Jeter finally finds a buyer for upstate New York ‘castle’

All photos courtesy of Stephen Dolinsky

June 5, 2024

Derek Jeter finally finds a buyer for upstate New York ‘castle’

By Devin Gannon

Former New York Yankee Derek Jeter has finally found a buyer for his unique compound in upstate New York. As first reported by Mansion Global, the 50,000-square-foot waterfront estate in Greenwood Lake, known as Tiedemann Castle, sold last week after several years on and off the market. Jeter purchased the property in 2003 and spent 15 years renovating the "castle" before listing it for $14.75 million in 2018. While the final price is not known since it hasn't closed yet, the home at 14 Lake Shore Road was most recently listed for $6.3 million.
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City landmarks Victorian atrium at The Beekman Hotel

Photo by James and Karla Murray exclusively for 6sqft

June 4, 2024

City landmarks Victorian atrium at The Beekman Hotel

By Devin Gannon

The nine-story Victorian atrium at the Beekman Hotel is now a New York City landmark. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to designate the central atrium at 5 Beekman Street in the Financial District as an interior landmark, recognizing both its stunning architecture and the restoration project that returned the space to its 19th-century glory. Built as part of the commercial building Temple Court, and now the centerpiece for the converted Beekman Hotel, the space consists of eight tiers of galleries topped by a pyramid-shaped skylight.
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The G train is partially shutting down for six weeks this summer. Here’s what you should know

G train leaving Smith-9th Streets. Photo credit: Mtattrain, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

May 31, 2024

The G train is partially shutting down for six weeks this summer. Here’s what you should know

By Devin Gannon

The G train will partially shut down for six weeks this summer while the MTA replaces a 1930s-era signal system. The agency this week revealed the planned service changes, which will kick off in three phases starting June 28 through September 3 and impact the entire 11.4-mile line. To make it easier for the 160,000 daily commuters who rely on the G train, MTA announced plans to run free shuttle buses no more than every four minutes during peak weekday hours and allow for free transfers at certain stations during the shutdown.
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Policy

Reach the beach: Vintage subway trains will ride to the Rockaways and Coney Island this summer

All photos courtesy of the New York Transit Museum.

May 30, 2024

Reach the beach: Vintage subway trains will ride to the Rockaways and Coney Island this summer

By Devin Gannon

Beach and boardwalk-bound New Yorkers can ride to the shore in vintage style this summer. The New York Transit Museum announced two "nostalgia rides" in July and August that will bring beachgoers to Coney Island and the Rockaways via R-19 train cars from the 1930s. Tickets, which cost $60 for adults, go on sale Friday, May 31.
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Events & Things To Do

On ‘secret’ Sylvan Terrace in Washington Heights, a renovated wood frame townhouse asks $1.8M

Photos courtesy of Gloria Kilbourne | DD-Reps

May 29, 2024

On ‘secret’ Sylvan Terrace in Washington Heights, a renovated wood frame townhouse asks $1.8M

By Devin Gannon

One of New York City's best "secret" streets, Sylvan Terrace is a cobblestone block between 160th and 162nd Streets in Washington Heights. Originally the carriage drive for the adjacent Morris Jumel Mansion, the street has two rows of 20 wooden homes that were constructed in the 1880s for working-class locals and later restored in the 1970s and 80s. The home at 11 Sylvan Terrace recently hit the market for $1,800,000, offering a rare opportunity to own a home on one of the city's most unique and historic streets.
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Distinctive Homes

Manhattanhenge 2024: NYC’s stunning sunset returns

Photo by John Gillespie on Flickr cc

May 23, 2024

Manhattanhenge 2024: NYC’s stunning sunset returns

By Devin Gannon

New York City's most photographed sunset is back. Manhattanhenge, the cosmic phenomenon when the sun aligns perfectly with the Manhattan street grid and creates a magical, glowing spectacle among skyscrapers, takes place twice every year. This year, a full sun will be visible on the grid on May 29 and July 12, and a half sun seen on May 28 and July 13.
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400-unit rental at 250 Water Street in South Street Seaport can move forward

Images courtesy of The Howard Hughes Corporation/SOM

May 22, 2024

400-unit rental at 250 Water Street in South Street Seaport can move forward

By Devin Gannon

A 400-unit rental planned for a parking lot in the South Street Seaport historic district can officially move forward, ending a multi-year legal saga over the site. The New York Court of Appeals on Tuesday rejected a challenge from preservationists who opposed the Howard Hughes Corporation's $850 million project at 250 Water Street. With the ruling, and the extension of the 421-a tax break, the developer can proceed with constructing the 27-story mixed-use development.
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Popular Articles

Colorful street mural depicts the vibrancy of Union Square

Photo credit: Jane Kratochvil

May 21, 2024

Colorful street mural depicts the vibrancy of Union Square

By Devin Gannon

After five days, 100 volunteers, and 85 gallons of paint, a new mural on 14th Street is now complete. The Union Square Partnership this week unveiled "Flowing Together," a colorful 7,500-square-foot mural on the pedestrian areas of the 14th Street Busway, between Broadway and University Place. Designed by Queens-based artist Talisa Almonte, the bold street art reflects Union Square as a spot to pass through and historically, a place rooted in social movements.
see it here

Pulitzer Mansion penthouse where real-life Indiana Jones lived lists for $7M

Photos courtesy of Yale Wagner for Sotheby’s International Realty

May 20, 2024

Pulitzer Mansion penthouse where real-life Indiana Jones lived lists for $7M

By Devin Gannon

A penthouse on the Upper East Side owned by the explorer and naturalist who inspired the character "Indiana Jones" hit the market this month. Taking up the top two floors of the Pulitzer Mansion, a Venetian palace-inspired home built for Joseph Pulitzer and converted into co-ops in the 1950s, the penthouse was first owned by Roy Chapman Andrews, an explorer and director of the American Museum of Natural History who is said to have been the model for the adventurous film hero. Asking $6,975,000, the unique duplex at 11 East 73rd Street features oversized living spaces, three bedrooms, and a 750-square-foot private terrace.
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Distinctive Homes

NYC’s gilded Crown Building is landmarked

Photo credit: Landmarks Preservation Commission

May 16, 2024

NYC’s gilded Crown Building is landmarked

By Devin Gannon

One of Midtown Manhattan's crown jewels is finally a city landmark. The Landmarks Preservation Commission this week designated the Heckscher Building at 730 Fifth Avenue as an individual landmark, officially recognizing the tower's ornate French Renaissance style, influence on Midtown's iconic commercial corridor, and overall impact on the New York City skyline. The tower, built 100 years ago and renamed the Crown Building in the 1980s for its gilded appearance, is now home to Aman New York, a luxe hotel-condo with 83 hotel rooms and 22 residences.
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50 West 66th Street is officially the Upper West Side’s tallest tower

All renderings courtesy of Recent Spaces

May 15, 2024

50 West 66th Street is officially the Upper West Side’s tallest tower

By Devin Gannon

The Upper West Side has a new tallest tower. This week the residential skyscraper 50 West 66th Street reached its pinnacle height of 775 feet, officially taking the title from its 52-story tower neighbor 200 Amsterdam. Developed by Extell Development Company, the building includes 127 condominium units and 50,000 square feet of amenities.
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A ‘portal’ to Dublin opens in New York City

All photos courtesy of the Flatiron NoMad Partnership

May 9, 2024

A ‘portal’ to Dublin opens in New York City

By Devin Gannon

The cultural bond between Ireland and New York got a little stronger this week. A new public art installation "The Portal" debuted in Dublin and Manhattan on Wednesday, with a 24/7 live stream connecting the two cities. The sculpture, on view in New York City's Flatiron District and on Dublin's O'Connell Street, allows residents and visitors of both places to interact in real-time, bringing together people on either side of the Atlantic Ocean.
see it here

Events & Things To Do

The historic Bronx Post Office is for sale again

All photos courtesy of Avison Young

May 7, 2024

The historic Bronx Post Office is for sale again

By Devin Gannon

One of the most iconic buildings in the Bronx is for sale again. The Bronx General Post Office at 558 Grand Concourse is looking for a buyer five years after a deal to buy the landmark fell through. Developer Young Woo & Associates purchased the property from the United States Postal Service in 2014 with plans to revitalize the 90-year-old building and transform it into a mixed-use development with a food market. After a sale failed in 2019, the property has returned to the market, advertised as having the potential to become residential or a hotel with retail space.
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Iconic bridge views and remarkable light: Inside Annabelle Selldorf’s condo One Domino Square

All photos courtesy of William Jess Laird

May 2, 2024

Iconic bridge views and remarkable light: Inside Annabelle Selldorf’s condo One Domino Square

By Devin Gannon

Architect Annabelle Selldorf's first residential skyscraper, One Domino Square, features a striking iridescent porcelain tile facade that shifts the appearance of the tower, allowing it to simultaneously stand out and blend in with its Williamsburg surroundings, depending on the light. Following the launch of sales for the building's 160 condos last month, new images provide a look inside the residences, which flaunt stunning bridge and skyline views, airy open floorplans, and an abundance of natural light.
get the tour

Rent Guidelines Board backs rent hikes on NYC’s stabilized apartments for third year in a row

Photo by Andreas M on Unsplash

May 1, 2024

Rent Guidelines Board backs rent hikes on NYC’s stabilized apartments for third year in a row

By Devin Gannon

In a preliminary vote on Tuesday, the Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) backed rent hikes for New York City's roughly one million rent-stabilized apartments for the third year in a row. The nine-member board, appointed by the mayor, approved with a vote of 5-2 a motion to increase rents between 2 percent and 4.5 percent on one-year leases and between 4 percent and 6.5 percent on two-year leases. The two members of the board representing tenants abstained from voting and walked out of the meeting in protest. A final vote on the rent adjustment takes place in June.
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Policy

Battery Park City Authority seeks proposals for new restaurant in redesigned Wagner Park

All images courtesy of Battery Park City Authority

April 30, 2024

Battery Park City Authority seeks proposals for new restaurant in redesigned Wagner Park

By Devin Gannon

The Battery Park City Authority has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a new restaurant in Wagner Park, a 3.5-acre green space currently being rebuilt and redesigned as part of a major resiliency project. The new restaurant would take up one wing of the newly constructed Wagner Park Pavilion and offer high-quality, healthy food and drink options year-round, according to the RFP. The authority wants the new eatery to open at the same time as the park's reopening, scheduled for spring 2025.
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Yorkville duplex has five balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a philanthropic tie for $6.5M

Photos by Michael Weinstein/MW Studio for The Corcoran Group

April 29, 2024

Yorkville duplex has five balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a philanthropic tie for $6.5M

By Devin Gannon

Not only does this Yorkville duplex look good, it also does good. The proceeds of this three-bedroom condo at 170 East End Avenue, owned by the estate of the philanthropist Susan Ferris, will be directed into a trust benefitting the Susan Ferris Foundation, which helps lower-income Americans build wealth and financial literacy. Asking $6,495,000, the Upper East Side home offers sweeping views of the East River and Carl Schurz Park through dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows and five balconies.
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Distinctive Homes

35-acre nature preserve opens in the Rockaways at NYC’s first net-zero community

Photo courtesy of Francine Fleischer

April 26, 2024

35-acre nature preserve opens in the Rockaways at NYC’s first net-zero community

By Devin Gannon

New York City this week opened a public nature preserve in Far Rockaway that serves as the centerpiece of a new sustainable mixed-use project. The 35-acre natural area marks the first phase of Arverne East, a development transforming a vacant 116-acre oceanfront site into a community with 1,650 homes, retail, and open space. The nearly $1 billion project will produce more energy than it consumes, through passive house construction and a district geothermal system, making it the city's first net-zero community.
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Architecture And Design

Theater director David Saint lists his East Village penthouse with huge terrace for $5M

Photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

April 23, 2024

Theater director David Saint lists his East Village penthouse with huge terrace for $5M

By Devin Gannon

Theater director and producer David Saint is parting ways with his East Village home of 12 years. Saint, a longtime artistic director and producer of the 2021 film "West Side Story," bought the penthouse at 123 Third Avenue for just over $3,864,000 in 2012. The home, which offers two bedrooms and a landscaped wraparound terrace, is asking $4,995,000.
see the terrace

Distinctive Homes

Stephen Sondheim’s Connecticut country home sells for $3.25M

Photos courtesy of Klemm Real Estate & Michael Bowman Photography

April 18, 2024

Stephen Sondheim’s Connecticut country home sells for $3.25M

By Devin Gannon

The longtime Connecticut home of late Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim sold for the full asking price of $3,250,000. After hitting the market last November, the Roxbury property, which includes a main house, one-bedroom pool house, and a detached garage, found a buyer in just 12 days, according to Klemm Real Estate, the firm with the listing.
details here

$14M penthouse atop landmarked Astor building has pre-war details and palatial private terrace

Renderings courtesy of Binyan Studios

April 17, 2024

$14M penthouse atop landmarked Astor building has pre-war details and palatial private terrace

By Devin Gannon

A new penthouse perched above a 120-year-old Upper West Side residential building checks all the boxes. As one of three modern penthouses added to the historic Astor condominium, this residence offers pre-war-inspired details with modern conveniences, expansive living space, and over 1,700 square feet of private outdoor space. The exclusive five-bedroom duplex recently hit the market for $13,950,000; 6sqft got a first look at the home's incredible interiors and terrace space.
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Distinctive Homes

Hochul announces budget agreement, with ‘landmark’ housing deal

Photo by Mike Groll/ Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

April 16, 2024

Hochul announces budget agreement, with ‘landmark’ housing deal

By Devin Gannon

State lawmakers reached a "conceptual" agreement on the 2025 budget on Monday, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul, who hosted a celebratory press conference touting the deal. Since the bills have not been printed yet, details remain scarce. However, according to the governor, the $237 billion budget, now over two weeks late, includes "landmark" policies to address the dire housing crisis statewide, particularly in New York City. Hochul announced efforts to boost housing production, including a new tax break to succeed 421-a, and protect tenants, with the framework for "good cause" eviction included in the deal.
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Policy

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