All articles by Devin Gannon

New York announces free FIFA World Cup fan events in every borough

A FIFA World Cup fan experience will take place at Staten Island University Hospital Park Baseball Field from June 29 to July 2. Photo by Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

April 27, 2026

New York announces free FIFA World Cup fan events in every borough

By Devin Gannon

Instead of paying sky-high ticket prices and $150 NJ Transit train fares, New York soccer fans can attend free World Cup watch parties hosted in every borough. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul, along with the NYNJ 2026 World Cup Host Committee, on Monday announced five official fan experiences to be held throughout the six-week tournament. "If you can't get to the World Cup, the World Cup is coming to you," Hochul said.
details this way

Events & Things To Do

Mamdani creates NYC’s first office to prevent deed theft

Mayor Mamdani and Council Member Ossé. Photo by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

April 24, 2026

Mamdani creates NYC’s first office to prevent deed theft

By Devin Gannon

Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Friday announced the creation of the city's first-ever Office of Deed Theft Prevention to crack down on scammers who take ownership of homes through fraud and deception. The new office comes just days after Council Member Chi Ossé was arrested after defending a Bed-Stuy homeowner facing eviction from a brownstone she has called home for six decades.
details this way

Policy

Smorgasburg in Williamsburg. Photo credit: Grace Jeon

April 23, 2026

Smorgasburg to open in Central Park

By Devin Gannon

Smorgasburg's 16th season may be its biggest yet. The long-running open-air market, which originated in Williamsburg, announced it is expanding to Central Park next month. Starting May 14, over 25 vendors will set up at the Columbus Circle entrance of the park. The new Smorgasburg location comes as the company prepares to open a new 32,000-square-foot Pan-American restaurant on Governors Island.
dig in

April 22, 2026

Lottery opens for 24 affordable co-ops in Hamilton Heights, starting at $100K

By Devin Gannon

In Hamilton Heights, a co-op building opened a lottery this week for affordable apartments available for purchase. On the corner of West 142nd Street and Riverside Drive, the pre-war building was acquired by the city in 2003 and sold to a nonprofit group to rehabilitate and turn it into affordable housing as part of the city's currently-paused Third Party Transfer (TPT) program. Earlier this month, a lottery opened for 24 units at 644 Riverside Drive, priced from $100,794 for a one-bedroom to $156,331 for a five-bedroom.
do you qualify?

Affordable Housing

Midtown East penthouse seen in ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ lists for $4.95M

Photos courtesy of Evan Joseph Studios

April 21, 2026

Midtown East penthouse seen in ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ lists for $4.95M

By Devin Gannon

The New York City penthouse that acted as the fictional home of financial fraudster Jordan Belfort in the 2013 film "The Wolf of Wall Street" is back on the market. Located on the 32nd floor of the Midtown East condo building Milan at 300 East 55th Street, the luxurious, 2,700-square-foot penthouse serves as the setting of a pivotal scene with Belfort, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and an associate who dangles a butler over the balcony. The scene shows off the very real sweeping city views, especially of the Chrysler Building, from the three-bedroom home, which just hit the market for $4,950,000.
take a look

NYC Council wants a ‘cultural passport,’ more public bathrooms, and Pelé Way for World Cup

Photo courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

April 20, 2026

NYC Council wants a ‘cultural passport,’ more public bathrooms, and Pelé Way for World Cup

By Devin Gannon

With the 2026 World Cup less than two months away, the New York City Council introduced a package of legislation last week to support local businesses during the nearly six-week tournament, which includes eight games at nearby MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. One of the proposed bills would create a "cultural passport program" to encourage those traveling to New York for the soccer matches to explore local businesses and institutions across the five boroughs; another would make a calendar of events to help visitors find festivals, parties, and cultural corridors tied to the participating teams. The new legislation comes as City Hall has restricted approving permits for large public events during the World Cup, as well as the 250th Anniversary of America on July 4.
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72nd Street to get crosstown protected bike lane

72nd Street and Columbus before the redesign. Photo © Ondel Hylton

April 17, 2026

72nd Street to get crosstown protected bike lane

By Devin Gannon

The city will install a crosstown protected bike route that runs the entire length of 72nd Street in Manhattan. The Department of Transportation (DOT) this week unveiled plans for a two-way protected bike lane from Riverside Drive to York Avenue, connecting the Upper West Side and Upper East Side through Central Park. The transportation committee of Manhattan Community Board 7 on Tuesday passed a resolution in support of the West 72nd Street redesign, which could begin later this spring. DOT will present plans for the east side of the street to Community Board 8 this fall.
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Policy

Hochul proposes pied-à-terre tax on NYC second homes worth over $5M

Photo by Jakub Hałun on Wikimedia

April 15, 2026

Hochul proposes pied-à-terre tax on NYC second homes worth over $5M

By Devin Gannon

Governor Kathy Hochul on Wednesday proposed a yearly tax on non-primary residences in New York City. After resisting calls to tax high-income earners led by progressive leaders like Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the governor is now embracing a surcharge on secondary homes in the five boroughs valued at $5 million and above. Known as pieds-à-terre, these properties are occupied by part-time residents who usually stay there while working or visiting the city. While it's not the first time such a tax has been proposed in recent years, the new push for the surcharge comes as the city deals with a multibillion-dollar budget gap.
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Mamdani announces plans for city-owned grocery store in East Harlem

Photo courtesy of Kara McCurdy | Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

April 14, 2026

Mamdani announces plans for city-owned grocery store in East Harlem

By Devin Gannon

Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday announced plans to build a city-owned grocery store in East Harlem, advancing one of his core campaign promises. Located under the Park Avenue Viaduct between 111th and 116th Streets, La Marqueta was opened by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia in 1936 as one of the city's original public markets. Over the years, the marketplace has struggled and has shrunk its footprint and its number of vendors. As the New York Times first reported, the city plans to spend $30 million to build the store at the site of La Marqueta, which is expected to open by 2029.
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Policy

Pink buys historic yellow Greenwich Village townhouse for $21.5M

Photo of the facade courtesy of Michael Weinstein of MW Studio. All others, courtesy of Shannon Dupre’ of DD Reps.

April 13, 2026

Pink buys historic yellow Greenwich Village townhouse for $21.5M

By Devin Gannon

Pink bought a yellow Greenwich Village townhouse. The pop star paid $21.5 million for the historic six-story home at 125 West 11th Street, as the Wall Street Journal first reported. Built in 1849, the cheerfully painted Greek Revival mansion has served as a haven for artists for over a century, most recently the same family for 70 years. Following a three-year renovation, the roughly 7,900-square-foot home first hit the market for $25 million in 2024 before being reduced by $3.5 million last fall.
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New Times Square observation deck offers unique NYC views, 19 floors above Broadway

By Devin Gannon

You've probably never seen Times Square like this before. One Times Square, home of the New Year's Eve Ball, opened a new observation deck this week that puts visitors 19 floors above Broadway, at the center of one of the world's most iconic destinations. Dubbed the Times Square Skywalk, the new experience provides a unique perspective of the city from a 360-degree wraparound viewing deck, offering peeks of both rivers, Central Park, and the crowds below. The skywalk is part of a broader $500 million redevelopment of One Times Square, which opens up most of the building to the public for the first time in 50 years.
see the views

West Village megamansion enters contract for over $70M

All photos courtesy of Hayley Ellen Day

April 6, 2026

West Village megamansion enters contract for over $70M

By Devin Gannon

Two multi-family townhouses that were combined into one megamansion in the West Village found a buyer this month. As first reported by the Wall Street Journal, the unique property at 105-107 Bank Street entered contract for over $70 million, set to become one of the most expensive homes ever sold in downtown Manhattan if the deal closes at that price. Robert A.M. Stern Architects designed the double-wide residence, which is six stories and measures over 13,000 square feet.
more here

Real Estate Trends

Abolitionist Place Park. Photo courtesy of Downtown Brooklyn Partnership.

April 6, 2026

A renter’s guide to Downtown Brooklyn

By Devin Gannon

Since being rezoned 20 years ago, Downtown Brooklyn has transformed into a dynamic mixed-use district, adding roughly 32 million square feet of new development in residential, commercial, cultural, academic, and open spaces. According to the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, since 2004, the area has seen over 27,000 housing units completed, with nearly 8,000 units under construction or in the pipeline. As one of the best transit-connected areas in New York City, along with its strong arts and cultural scene, Downtown Brooklyn is becoming a successful example of what a live-work-play neighborhood looks like. If you're looking to move to the neighborhood, we took a look at some of the best rental buildings to call home.
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NYC Guides

Landlord income up 6 percent as board considers rent adjustments for NYC’s stabilized apartments

Tenant advocates called for a rent freeze during the Rent Guidelines Board final vote on June 30, 2025. Photo courtesy of New York State Tenant Bloc.

March 27, 2026

Landlord income up 6 percent as board considers rent adjustments for NYC’s stabilized apartments

By Devin Gannon

The Rent Guidelines Board (RGB), the nine-member group that decides annual rent adjustments for New York City's one million stabilized apartments, kicked off its annual review of economic conditions for both landlords and tenants this week. During the first of many sessions before a final vote on rent changes this summer, the board on Thursday released a report detailing the 2024 incomes and expenses of the city's rent-stabilized housing stock. According to the data, the net operating income (NOI), or the amount of revenue landlords received after operating costs, rose 6.2 percent between 2023 and 2024 citywide, the third year in a row that NOI increased.
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Policy

NYC to fast-track affordable housing on city-owned land

The city-owned vacant lot at 784-800 Myrtle Avenue in Bed-Stuy will be fast-tracked for affordable housing. Streetview © Google

March 25, 2026

NYC to fast-track affordable housing on city-owned land

By Devin Gannon

New York City is launching another program aimed at speeding up the development of affordable housing across the five boroughs. Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday launched the Neighborhood Builders Fast Track, which will include a roster of prequalified developers to be selected for projects on city-owned land, shortening the time it takes before construction can begin by eight months. The new initiative joins the Expedited Land Use Review Procedure (ELURP), which the city rolled out last month, in helping build more homes more quickly.
find out more

MTA lot in Crown Heights to become 300-unit residential building

Streetview of 1119 Pacific Street from Atlantic Avenue, © Google

March 24, 2026

MTA lot in Crown Heights to become 300-unit residential building

By Devin Gannon

New York is looking to transform a parking lot in Crown Heights owned by the MTA into the neighborhood's next residential development. The agency on Tuesday released a request for proposals seeking developers to build approximately 300 new housing units at 1119 Pacific Street, an underutilized lot used by New York City Transit as part of a cable shop. Approved by the City Council last year, the rezoning of the area has enabled the construction of new residential buildings in the formerly industrial area.
See the plan

Prospect Park’s east side is getting a protected bike lane, pedestrian plaza

Rendering of Ocean Avenue perimeter, courtesy of Prospect Park Alliance.

March 20, 2026

Prospect Park’s east side is getting a protected bike lane, pedestrian plaza

By Devin Gannon

A connected bike lane around the entire perimeter of Prospect Park is closer to becoming a reality. The city on Friday broke ground on a $15.5 million project aimed at enhancing the eastern edge of the Brooklyn park along Ocean and Parkside Avenues, from Empire Boulevard to Parade Place. The project includes installing a sidewalk-grade, two-way protected bike lane that will connect to existing bike paths around the park and a new pedestrian plaza that will be home to the new Shirley Chisholm monument.
see the plan

Policy

See what NYC’s new backyard apartments could look like

All renderings courtesy of NYC’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development

March 18, 2026

See what NYC’s new backyard apartments could look like

By Devin Gannon

New York City could gain roughly 25,000 basement, attic, and backyard apartments, also known as accessory dwelling units (ADUs), over the next 15 years under rezoning rules approved in 2024. The city on Wednesday released a series of new tools to help New Yorkers navigate the process, including a library of pre-approved ADU designs that are compliant with city code. The library currently has designs for backyard cottages, but more will be added once approved by the Department of Buildings.
tiny homes this way

Policy

Metrograph. Photo by Mettie Ostrowski

March 15, 2026

Where to watch the Oscars in NYC

By Devin Gannon

Hollywood's biggest night comes to New York City. For a festive Oscars-viewing experience, hit one of the city's bars, venues, or movie theaters hosting watch parties in honor of the 98th annual Academy Awards this Sunday, March 15. Ahead, find our favorite spots to show off your red-carpet look, place your bets on this year's nominees, and sip a cinema-themed cocktail among fellow film fans.
See the star-studded spots

Events & Things To Do

21-story condo conversion in Tribeca moves ahead

Rendering courtesy of Steven Harris Architects

March 10, 2026

21-story condo conversion in Tribeca moves ahead

By Devin Gannon

A former city office building in Tribeca that has been vacant for about a decade is one step closer to becoming a luxury residential tower. Manhattan Community Board 1 on Monday approved the expansion and conversion of 101 Franklin Street (formerly 250 Church), which will turn a 17-story 1940s building into a 21-story condominium with 72 apartments. The proposal heads next to the Department of City Planning.
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New Developments

The Philip F. Anschutz MLS Cup Trophy, Major League Soccer’s highest honor, was awarded to New York City FC. Photo courtesy of New York City FC

March 9, 2026

Championship rings and trophies on display at new AMNH exhibit celebrating objects of sports excellence

By Devin Gannon

Natural history might not be the first subject that pops into mind when you think about sports, but a new exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History may change that. On May 15, the museum will open "For the Win: Objects of Sports Excellence," a new exhibition of championship rings, trophies, medals, and jewelry from winning teams and athletes. Opening within the Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals, "For the Win" will feature over 70 objects across more than a dozen sports, showing the evolution of trophies over 150 years, from one of Jesse Owens's 1936 Olympic gold medals to Breanna Stewart's 2024 WNBA Championship ring.
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Events & Things To Do

These beautiful NYC civic spaces are now available to rent for events

Surrogate’s Court at 31 Chambers Street. All photos courtesy of the city’s Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS).

March 6, 2026

These beautiful NYC civic spaces are now available to rent for events

By Devin Gannon

New York City is home to an abundance of stunning event spaces and venues, but there are a few hidden gems you may not know about. The city's Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) on Friday relaunched its "Halls of the City" program, which allows New Yorkers to rent landmarked civic spaces for special occasions. The program includes 13 city properties, from the grand neo-classical Tweed Courthouse in Manhattan to the 180-year-old Brooklyn Borough Hall, the oldest public building in the borough.
explore more

March 3, 2026

7 commuter-friendly rentals in Westchester

By Devin Gannon

As New York City continues to see record-high rents, some New Yorkers are looking north of the city for a lifestyle that's more affordable and stress-free, but still commuter-friendly. Westchester County has responded with a wave of new developments in many of its municipalities, with 12,500 new apartments completed since 2021 and an additional 15,000 units under construction, as of 2024. With three Metro-North Railroad lines connecting to Grand Central Terminal, the region pairs easy access to Manhattan with revitalized downtowns, growing cultural scenes, and waterfront parks, making Westchester an attractive alternative for renters seeking more space and tranquility.
Westchester rentals this way

Astor Theatre, 45th Street and Broadway, December 24, 1936. Courtesy of NYC Municipal Archives.

March 3, 2026

New exhibit celebrates 400 years of NYC history and the people who shaped it

By Devin Gannon

What makes New York City, New York City? That's one question a new online exhibit from the city's Department of Records & Information Services (DORIS) explores. Featuring more than 100 items from the city's archival and library collections, "NYC's Story: The City on Record" uses government records that reveal the 400 years of NYC history, from documents showing land transfers in 17th-century Queens to a 2025 primary election ballot.
explore more

History

Rendering from 2020 Sunnyside Yard master plan courtesy of Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU)

February 27, 2026

Mamdani pitches 12,000-unit Sunnyside Yard development to Trump

By Devin Gannon

A mammoth plan to bring thousands of affordable homes to one of the largest undeveloped sites in New York City was resurrected this week. In a meeting at the White House on Thursday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani pitched President Donald Trump on the Sunnyside Yard development, a proposal to build a deck over the 180-acre rail yard in Queens and create a new mixed-use community with 12,000 affordable apartments, new schools, and public space above a new regional rail hub. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration released a master plan for the project right before the city shut down during the pandemic in March 2020, and it has been at a standstill since. Mamdani said he asked the president for $21 billion in federal grants to advance the project.
details here

All articles by Devin Gannon

New York announces free FIFA World Cup fan events in every borough

Mamdani creates NYC’s first office to prevent deed theft

Smorgasburg to open in Central Park

Lottery opens for 24 affordable co-ops in Hamilton Heights, starting at $100K

Midtown East penthouse seen in ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ lists for $4.95M

NYC Council wants a ‘cultural passport,’ more public bathrooms, and Pelé Way for World Cup

72nd Street to get crosstown protected bike lane

Hochul proposes pied-à-terre tax on NYC second homes worth over $5M

Mamdani announces plans for city-owned grocery store in East Harlem

Pink buys historic yellow Greenwich Village townhouse for $21.5M

New Times Square observation deck offers unique NYC views, 19 floors above Broadway

West Village megamansion enters contract for over $70M

A renter’s guide to Downtown Brooklyn

Landlord income up 6 percent as board considers rent adjustments for NYC’s stabilized apartments

NYC to fast-track affordable housing on city-owned land

7,000-square-foot 'wellness loft' in the West Village asks $25.8M, working phone booth included

MTA lot in Crown Heights to become 300-unit residential building

Prospect Park’s east side is getting a protected bike lane, pedestrian plaza

See what NYC’s new backyard apartments could look like

Where to watch the Oscars in NYC

21-story condo conversion in Tribeca moves ahead

Championship rings and trophies on display at new AMNH exhibit celebrating objects of sports excellence

These beautiful NYC civic spaces are now available to rent for events

7 commuter-friendly rentals in Westchester

New exhibit celebrates 400 years of NYC history and the people who shaped it

Mamdani pitches 12,000-unit Sunnyside Yard development to Trump

482 Kent Avenue in Williamsburg

All articles by Devin Gannon

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