All articles by Devin Gannon

Apply for 227 affordable apartments at new Far Rockaway complex, from $535/month

Rendering courtesy of NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development

October 11, 2021

Apply for 227 affordable apartments at new Far Rockaway complex, from $535/month

Applications are now being accepted for 227 affordable apartments across two buildings in Downtown Far Rockaway in Queens. The new complex, dubbed RadRoc, consists of two 10-story mixed-use structures, a steel and plank building at 19-38 Cornaga Avenue and a modular construction building at 10-18 Beach 20th Street. Qualifying New Yorkers earning between 40 and 80 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, ranging from $535/month studios to $2,059/month three-bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

Plant pro The Sill opens new shop in the heart of Williamsburg

Photo credit: Tory Williams

October 8, 2021

Plant pro The Sill opens new shop in the heart of Williamsburg

By Devin Gannon

Williamsburg residents will soon be able to fill their stylish pads with plants to match. The Sill, the popular direct-to-consumer houseplant company, opened its second location in Brooklyn this week. Located in the heart of the neighborhood at 190 Berry Street, the store is full of the company's best-selling items, from potted succulents and cacti to tropical plants and ferns.
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City Living

See Jean-Georges’ new dining destination opening at NYC’s former Fulton Fish Market

The Central Market; Renderings courtesy of Roman and Williams Buildings and Interiors

October 7, 2021

See Jean-Georges’ new dining destination opening at NYC’s former Fulton Fish Market

By Devin Gannon

Ahead of next year's opening of the huge foodie destination from world-renowned Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten in the South Street Seaport, we're getting a first look at the 53,000-square-foot space. Several restaurants and bars, fast-casual concepts, and a sprawling central market will open at the Tin Building, a restored early 20th-century waterfront structure that once housed the iconic Fulton Fish Market.
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Food & Dining

600-unit final tower of Journal Squared complex breaks ground in Jersey City

Rendering: KRE Group

October 7, 2021

600-unit final tower of Journal Squared complex breaks ground in Jersey City

By Devin Gannon

The final tower of a massive three-building luxury complex in Journal Square broke ground this week, which will eventually add hundreds of apartments to Jersey City's burgeoning residential neighborhood. Dubbed Journal Squared, the development at the intersection of Pavonia and Summit Avenues includes three high-rise rentals, two of which have already opened. This week local officials joined Kushner Real Estate (KRE) Group and National Real Estate Advisors to celebrate the completed leasing of the 704-unit second phase tower and break ground on the third and last tower, a 60-story structure with 600 residences.
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Real Estate Trends

Manhattan apartment sales hit a 32-year high

Photo by Jason Krieger on Unsplash

October 6, 2021

Manhattan apartment sales hit a 32-year high

By Devin Gannon

More apartments sold in Manhattan in the third quarter of 2021 than at any point during the last 30+ years of tracking, a new real estate market report says. According to a Douglas Elliman report published this week, there were 4,523 closed co-op and condos sales in the quarter, more than triple the same period last year and 76.5 percent higher than the same time in 2019. Even more indicative of the market turnaround following Covid-19, this quarter passed the previous sales record of 3,939 reported in the second quarter of 2007. And in its own market report, The Corcoran Group found sales volume in Manhattan topped $9.5 billion, the highest quarterly volume total ever recorded. This passes the previous record of $8.54 billion set in the second quarter of 2019.
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Real Estate Trends

October 6, 2021

NYC commits $170M to preserve Chinatown’s historic 70 Mulberry Street after fire

By Devin Gannon

The city will nearly double its investment in the restoration of a historic Chinatown building that was destroyed in a fire last year, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday. After committing $80 million last July to the rebuilding of 70 Mulberry Street, a former public school constructed in the 1890s, the mayor said the city will tack on another $90 million, for a total of $170 million. In January 2020, a fire significantly damaged the site, forcing out five nonprofit organizations. According to the city, all of the groups will be welcomed back as tenants.
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Policy

Photo of 2019 Village Halloween Parade by Steven Pisano on Flickr

October 5, 2021

The 2021 Village Halloween Parade is officially back on

By Devin Gannon

The Village Halloween Parade is officially back this year thanks to a major donation. The beloved event was scheduled to return after a pandemic-related hiatus, but a lack of funds threatened to cancel the 2021 parade, according to organizers. The parade set a fundraising goal of $150,000 by October 5, and with the help of 183 donors who contributed over $11,000 and Jason Feldman and his wife Missy who made up the difference, the spooky show will go on.
Details here

Events & Things To Do

Late fees canceled at all of NYC’s public libraries

Brooklyn Public Library’s recently renovated Central Branch. Photo by Gregg Richards

October 5, 2021

Late fees canceled at all of NYC’s public libraries

By Devin Gannon

All of New York City's public libraries have permanently eliminated late fees and will not charge for overdue books and other materials starting Tuesday. This shift in policy, which was first established at the start of the coronavirus pandemic last March, aims to create a more equitable and open system for communities in need, according to an announcement by library officials. Combined, the city's three library systems, made up of over 200 branches, are now the largest municipality in the country to eliminate fees.
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NYC is offering low-income, first-time homebuyers $100K toward down payments

Photo by Rachel Martin on Unsplash

October 5, 2021

NYC is offering low-income, first-time homebuyers $100K toward down payments

By Devin Gannon

With the goal of making the home buying process in New York more equitable, the city is expanding its existing down payment assistance program by more than double. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development announced on Monday it will offer up to $100,000 toward down payments or closing costs to first-time homebuyers who earn up to 80 percent of the area median income (AMI), a major increase from the $40,000 in forgivable loan offered by the city previously.
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Policy

October 4, 2021

Zig-zagging office tower in Greenwich Village’s ‘Silicon Alley’ nabe nears completion

By Devin Gannon

The new modern office building that replaced the St. Denis Hotel in Greenwich Village is nearing completion. The ground-up development 799 Broadway sits where the Village and Union Square meet, a burgeoning tech hub known as "Silicon Alley." As a majority of construction work on the building wraps up in the coming weeks, Columbia Property Trust, Inc. announced on Monday it has secured its first lease at the building.
Details here

New Developments

Historic Neir’s Tavern honored with street co-naming in Queens

By Devin Gannon

After a rent increase and the coronavirus pandemic left the fate of Neir's Tavern in question, the history of the nearly 192-year-old Queens establishment will be preserved forever following a street co-naming ceremony Saturday. The intersection of 78th Street and 88th Avenue in Woodhaven is now known as "Neir's Tavern Way," honoring the waterhole that opened on the corner in 1829 and is considered New York City's oldest bar.
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Food & Dining

$6.95M Prospect Park-facing penthouse to become priciest condo ever sold in Park Slope

All photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

October 4, 2021

$6.95M Prospect Park-facing penthouse to become priciest condo ever sold in Park Slope

By Devin Gannon

A Brooklyn penthouse overlooking Prospect Park went into contract last week for $6.95 million. As first reported by Mansion Global, the deal will become the priciest condo ever sold in Park Slope when it closes. The sprawling four-bedroom, four-bath residence is located at One Prospect Park West, a roughly 100-year-old building that originally served as a Knights of Columbus hotel and now has been converted into a luxury condominium with 64 homes.
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Real Estate Trends

Lottery opens for 21 middle-income units at new Bushwick rental, from $1,800/month

Rendering courtesy of NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development

October 1, 2021

Lottery opens for 21 middle-income units at new Bushwick rental, from $1,800/month

By Devin Gannon

Applications are now being accepted for 21 below-market-rate apartments at a new rental in Bushwick that has a rooftop terrace, dog spa, and a gym. Located at 1510 Gates Avenue, the 11-story building is located off Myrtle Avenue, a hot spot of dining and entertainment venues. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, ranging from $1,800/month studios to $2,400/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

A 24-ton stone sphere is hanging in the lobby of Philip Johnson’s 550 Madison Avenue tower

Photos: ©Fred Charles courtesy of Gensler

September 30, 2021

A 24-ton stone sphere is hanging in the lobby of Philip Johnson’s 550 Madison Avenue tower

By Devin Gannon

A massive blue spherical stone now hangs in the lobby of the landmarked office building 550 Madison Avenue, part of a broader project to revitalize Philip Johnson's postmodern gem. The Olayan Group on Wednesday unveiled the renovated space, a project which included preserving the 110-foot arched entry, adding a multi-story window across from the entrance with views through to the new garden, still under construction, and the centerpiece art commission. Designed by artist Alicja Kwade, who had a solo exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's roof garden in 2019, the art installation includes a 24-ton Azul Macaubas stone sphere hanging from ten polished stainless steel chains only 12 feet above the floor.
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Comedian Keegan-Michael Key sells his condo in NYC’s ‘Jenga’ tower for $5M

All photos: Arnaud Lecamus, Silvercup Lifestyle LLC

September 29, 2021

Comedian Keegan-Michael Key sells his condo in NYC’s ‘Jenga’ tower for $5M

By Devin Gannon

Actor-comedian Keegan-Michael Key has sold his Tribeca apartment for $5,000,000, less than the original asking price of $5,495,000. As the New York Post first reported, the two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath condo is located at 56 Leonard Street, better known as the "Jenga Building" because of each floor's unique layout.
Get the tour

7 historic treasures to check out at the new NYPL exhibit

Photo: Max Touhey/ NYPL

September 29, 2021

7 historic treasures to check out at the new NYPL exhibit

By Devin Gannon

More than 250 historic items and artifacts, many of which the public has never seen before, are now on display in New York City. The Polonsky Exhibition of the New York Public Library's Treasures opened at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building last week, showing off just some of the institution's incredible collection of objects, images, letters, manuscripts, and more that spans 4,000 years in history. From a draft copy of the Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson to the stuffed bear that inspired the Winnie-the-Pooh stories, the library's first permanent exhibition allows the public to connect intimately with history at no cost.
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NYC’s Governors Island will be open year-round for the first time

Photo by Kreg Holt

September 28, 2021

NYC’s Governors Island will be open year-round for the first time

By Devin Gannon

Starting November 1, Governors Island will be open to the public year-round for the first time in its history, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday. Located in the heart of New York Harbor, the 172-acre island has typically had a limited season that ran between May and October but plans to make the site a 24/7 community have been in the works for nearly two decades. With the island open all year, the city also announced it will make Governors Island a daily stop on NYC Ferry, as well as launch a new route that departs from the Lower East Side.
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City Living

New York rolls out Covid-19 booster shot plan, launches new website

Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

September 27, 2021

New York rolls out Covid-19 booster shot plan, launches new website

By Devin Gannon

With an amended emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last week, certain groups of people are now eligible for a booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. On Monday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a plan to vaccinate New Yorkers who qualify for a booster dose and rolled out a new website with dedicated information about the additional dose. Booster doses are currently only approved for those who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and should be administered at least six months after their second dose.
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Policy

New York announces $27M in Hurricane Ida aid for undocumented residents

Gov. Kathy Hochul, joined by Sen. Jessica Ramos and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, toured homes in the East Elmhurst section of Queens that flooded from torrential rains brought on by Hurricane Ida. ( Photo: Kevin P. Coughlin / Office of the Governor on Flickr)

September 27, 2021

New York announces $27M in Hurricane Ida aid for undocumented residents

By Devin Gannon

Nearly a month after the remnants of Hurricane Ida brought record rainfall, more than $50 million in property damage, and claimed the lives of 13 city residents, New York officials announced a plan to provide financial assistance to undocumented residents affected by the storm. Announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Bill de Blasio on Sunday, the fund includes $27 million in city and state grants for New Yorkers who are ineligible for federal help because of their immigration status.
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Policy

September 27, 2021

Apple’s first store in the Bronx is now open

By Devin Gannon

Getting help from the Genius Bar or checking out the latest iPhone just got a lot easier for Bronx residents. Apple opened its first location in the borough on Friday, marking the company's 11th store in New York City. The Apple Store will be located on the ground level of Mall at Bay Plaza in Baychester.
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Uncategorized

NYC commission kills application for shadow-casting towers next to Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Rendering: NYC Department of City Planning

September 23, 2021

NYC commission kills application for shadow-casting towers next to Brooklyn Botanic Garden

By Devin Gannon

The City Planning Commission this week voted unanimously to reject a rezoning application that would allow for two high-rise towers in Crown Heights next to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, ending the uniform land use review procedure for the project. First unveiled by developers Continuum Companies and Lincoln Equities in 2019, the plan called for a pair of 34-story towers with over 1,500 units of housing on a lot at 960 Franklin Avenue. The commission's decision came after a more than a two-year campaign against the project by the garden, which claimed the towers would block necessary light from shining on its greenhouses.
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Policy

Rendering: LCP360

September 23, 2021

New looks for 7-tower Bankside complex, the priciest development in the Bronx

By Devin Gannon

As the first phase nears completion, a fresh set of renderings has been released of one of the most expensive private development in Bronx history. Developed by Brookfield Properties, Bankside is a $950 million seven-tower complex that stretches across two Harlem River-facing parcels in Mott Haven. New images of the massive development show off the project's 450-unit rental set to open this year, as well as the new public waterfront park and esplanade.
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New members-only bar in Flatiron is located inside a 19th-century church

All photos courtesy of Chapel Bar

September 22, 2021

New members-only bar in Flatiron is located inside a 19th-century church

By Devin Gannon

New York City's latest hot spot is in a church. Opening this week, Chapel Bar is a members-only bar located inside a stunning 19th-century chapel in the Flatiron District that has been transformed into a dreamy cocktail spot, decked out with jewel tones and velvet. Tucked away inside the lobby of the Swedish photography museum Fotografiska, the watering hole is only open to members of the museum or NeueHouse, a company that provides workspaces for creatives.
See inside

Food & Dining

Supersized origami sculptures land in NYC’s Garment District

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

September 22, 2021

Supersized origami sculptures land in NYC’s Garment District

By Devin Gannon

Seven supersized origami-inspired sculptures are now on display in Midtown Manhattan as part of the neighborhood's latest public art exhibit. Installed by the Garment District Alliance and the Department of Transportation, the exhibition, Hacer: Transformations, features brightly colored steel sculptures of animals that vary in size and resemble the paper-folding art. Created by California-based artist Hacer, the installation will be on display along Broadway between 36th and 39th Streets through November 23.
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Events & Things To Do

First look at Robert A.M. Stern and Olson Kundig’s new Chelsea condo tower on the Hudson

All renderings courtesy of Related Companies

September 21, 2021

First look at Robert A.M. Stern and Olson Kundig’s new Chelsea condo tower on the Hudson

By Devin Gannon

The renowned teams of Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA) and Olson Kundig have teamed up for a new condo project in Chelsea and ahead of its official launch later this fall, we're getting a first look inside. Located across the street from Hudson River Park at 555 West 22nd Street, The Cortland is a 25-story building with 144 total units. RAMSA designed the exterior of the condo and Olson Kundig handled the interiors, combining their distinguished architecture styles in one impressive waterfront development.
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All articles by Devin Gannon

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