All articles by Devin Gannon

October 4, 2021

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

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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October 1, 2021

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

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.
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September 30, 2021

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

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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September 29, 2021

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

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.
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September 29, 2021

7 historic treasures to check out at the new NYPL exhibit

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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September 28, 2021

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

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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September 27, 2021

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

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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September 27, 2021

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

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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September 27, 2021

Apple’s first store in the Bronx is now open

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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September 23, 2021

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

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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September 23, 2021

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

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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September 22, 2021

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

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.
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September 22, 2021

Supersized origami sculptures land in NYC’s Garment District

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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September 21, 2021

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

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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September 21, 2021

Google will buy St. John’s Terminal building in Hudson Square for $2.1B

Google will buy the Manhattan office building it currently leases for $2.1 billion next year. The tech giant announced on Tuesday plans to purchase St. John's Terminal at 550 Washington Street in Hudson Square during the first quarter of 2022. Google already leases the former freight terminal, which is currently undergoing a major renovation and addition as part of the company's new 1.7 million-square-foot campus in the neighborhood. As the Wall Street Journal first reported, the deal marks the priciest sale of a single office building in the United States since the start of the pandemic, as well as one of the most expensive ever recorded.
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September 20, 2021

American Dream mall opens luxury retail wing, including NJ’s only Saks Fifth Avenue location

The upscale retail and dining wing of New Jersey's American Dream mall finally opened last week after a pandemic-related delayed. Dubbed "The Avenue," the 300,000-square-foot hall is anchored by a two-level Saks Fifth Avenue, now the only location in the Garden State. Other stores now open at American Dream include Dolce & Gabbana, Hermès, Mulberry, Johnny Was, and renowned Italian restaurant, Carpaccio, the first location of the establishment in the Northeast.
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September 20, 2021

Leasing launches at The Willoughby, a new 476-unit rental in Downtown Brooklyn

Ahead of its opening this fall, a sleek new rental building in Brooklyn has launched leasing. Located where Fort Greene and Downtown Brooklyn converge, The Willoughby rises 34 stories and houses 476 rental units. Developed by RXR Realty and designed by Perkins Eastman, the 435-foot-tall building sits within the Long Island University campus and overlooks a new athletic field funded by the project. Starting rents are $2,870/month for studios, $3,840/month for one-bedrooms, and $5,660/month for two-bedrooms.
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September 20, 2021

Lottery opens for 267 affordable units at new Forest Hills complex, from $738/month

A housing lottery opened this week for 267 mixed-income apartments across a massive new residential complex in Queens' Forest Hills. The development, called Apex Place, includes three new buildings, contains over 440 total apartments, and connects to a former public housing site, creating a cohesive property with shared green spaces and pedestrian space. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 50, 70, 110, and 140 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, which range from $738/month studios to $2,975/month three-bedrooms.
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September 17, 2021

Futuristic hotel/condo tower designed by a Zaha Hadid alum will rise near LaGuardia Airport

A high-rise hotel and condo building designed by a former senior architect at Zaha Hadid's firm is coming to Queens. Located at 112-51 Northern Boulevard in Corona, the 25-story mixed-use development, dubbed Eastern Emerald, will have roughly 250 hotel rooms, 191 apartments, and a conference and performing arts center. The 370+ foot project, which will break ground this month, features a futuristic, environmentally-friendly design that will reduce carbon emissions and use clean energy for heating and cooling systems.
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September 17, 2021

12 best spots for beers and brats in NYC this Oktoberfest

While the world's largest folk festival in Germany has been canceled for the second year in a row because of the coronavirus, New Yorkers can still commemorate Oktoberfest. Starting this weekend, breweries, beer gardens, and bars across New York City are celebrating Bavarian culture with big brews, German-inspired grub, live music, and fun contests. Ahead, find 11 spots that recreate the magic of Munich during Oktoberfest. And remember, if you're dining and drinking inside, you'll have to show proof of vaccination.
Full list ahead
September 16, 2021

New rooftop terrace with glass pavilion and one-acre farm opens at the Javits Center

A one-acre working farm opened at the Javits Center rooftop this week, providing a genuine farm-to-table experience for visitors of the convention center. The farm will include over 50 crops and 40,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables, which will be used in meals served on-site. The 200,000-square-foot rooftop, which also includes an enclosed glass pavilion, outdoor terrace, and a solar farm, is part of a $1.5 billion expansion project that has added a total of 1.2 million square feet of event space at the Javits Center.
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September 15, 2021

Archtober 2021: This year’s best in-person and virtual architecture and design events

A monthlong celebration of architecture and design returns to New York City next month with a mix of virtual and in-person events. Now in its 11th year, the Center for Architecture's Archtober includes a host of events, exhibitions, and expert-led tours and talks, all of which provide a behind-the-scenes look at the buildings, cultural institutions, and public space that make New York, New York. For the second year in a row because of the coronavirus, the festival will feature a combination of in-person and virtual programming, allowing more people than ever to participate. Ahead, find just some of our favorite events happening for the festival, which runs through the month of October.
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September 15, 2021

The Brooklyn Bridge bike lane is finally open

A long-awaited two-way protected bike lane officially opened on the Brooklyn Bridge Tuesday. Advocated for years by cyclists, the new path replaces the innermost car lane of the Manhattan-bound side of the iconic bridge and leaves the existing elevated promenade for pedestrians only. Both foot and bike traffic on the bridge, nicknamed the "Times Square in the Sky," skyrocketed in recent years, leading to dangerous, crowded conditions.
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September 14, 2021

Carriage house of historic Brooklyn Heights police station is now a modernized townhouse asking $6M

A restored carriage house of a former Brooklyn police station is asking $5,950,000. Located at 72 Poplar Street, the townhouse sits within the landmarked former Brooklyn Heights precinct building, which was converted into a boutique condominium in 2014. Constructed in 1912 in the Italian Renaissance Revival style, the carriage house now serves as a three-bedroom single-family home with renovations by The Brooklyn Home Company. The property boasts three terraces, a huge roof deck, a garage, Lower Manhattan views, and all of the perks that come with luxury condo living.
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September 14, 2021

See the 1,100-unit Gotham Point towers coming to the Long Island City waterfront

A massive development with over 1,000 units of housing is coming to Long Island City's Hunter's Point South neighborhood. Developed by the Gotham Organization and RiseBoro Community Partnership, Gotham Point includes two towers and a total of 1,132 residences, 75 percent of which are affordable. The project is part of a broader plan first announced in 2013 by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg to redevelop nine parcels of land in Hunter's Point South and bring 5,000 new apartments to the neighborhood. As the first tower nears completion, 6sqft got an exclusive look at Gotham Point, the latest residential project to rise on the Queens waterfront.
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