All articles by Devin Gannon

August 31, 2023

Everything you need to know about this year’s Caribbean Carnival in NYC

New York City's West Indian-American Day Carnival and Parade returns to Brooklyn this Labor Day. The festival, which typically attracts over a million spectators, takes over a stretch of Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, celebrating the diversity of Caribbean culture with dancing, elaborate costumes, traditional music, and food.
What you need to know

Events & Things To Do

$22M Upper East Side townhouse has picture-perfect private garden

Photos courtesy of Evan Joseph and Douglas Elliman

August 28, 2023

$22M Upper East Side townhouse has picture-perfect private garden

By Devin Gannon

A posh Upper East Side townhouse with five floors, over 8,000 square feet, and a pretty, private landscaped garden is available for $22,000,000. Located in one of New York City's most coveted neighborhoods, the 20-foot-wide property at 14 East 81st Street combines classic elements of the city's Gilded Age with a totally renovated interior for 21st-century living. Not even a block from the Met Museum and Central Park, this historic mansion is surrounded by the neighborhood's renowned art and cultural institutions.
see it here

Distinctive Homes

569-unit rental planned next to Brooklyn Botanic Garden in Crown Heights

Rendering via JLL

August 15, 2023

569-unit rental planned next to Brooklyn Botanic Garden in Crown Heights

By Devin Gannon

Plans for a 17-story mixed-use project with 569 rentals in Crown Heights are moving ahead. Carmel Partners acquired $233 million in construction financing for the development of the new building at 54 Crown Street, which sits just one block east of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Work has already begun on the complex, which will include both commercial and community space as well as parking for 170 vehicles.
See it here

New Developments

$28M Midtown duplex has epic private terrace and 5-star hotel perks

All photos courtesy of DDreps

August 8, 2023

$28M Midtown duplex has epic private terrace and 5-star hotel perks

By Devin Gannon

This duplex apartment offers the seemingly impossible: more than 3,000 square feet of private outdoor space in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. Located on the 18th and 19th floors of the elegant Baccarat Hotel & Residences on West 53rd Street, this mansion-in-the-sky, asking $27,950,000, has been gut renovated with top-of-the-line everything and is wrapped by a marble-capped terrace that is surrounded by iconic cityscape. Residents have access to the five-star hotel's amenities, including 24-hour room service, a heated pool, a fitness center, and the notable La Mer spa.
take the tour

Distinctive Homes

$899K eco-friendly East Village co-op has a 400-plant green wall

All photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

August 3, 2023

$899K eco-friendly East Village co-op has a 400-plant green wall

By Devin Gannon

Living more sustainably can start at home, as seen in this East Village apartment. The eco-conscious two-bedroom co-op at 315 East 12th Street features formaldehyde-free cabinets, doors made of recycled plastics, and at the center, a living wall with 400 plants, which purify the air and create a sense of well-being. Asking $899,000, the apartment is efficient, with hidden closets, sliding doors, a Murphy bed, and a dining area with a table that pops up from the floor.
READ MORE

Distinctive Homes

400 units of affordable housing approved for 5 World Trade Center

Renderings of 5 World Trade Center courtesy of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

July 27, 2023

400 units of affordable housing approved for 5 World Trade Center

By Devin Gannon

The 900-foot-tall mixed-use skyscraper planned for 5 World Trade Center will include 400 units of affordable housing, a slight increase from the original proposal. After stalled negotiations, the Public Authorities Control Board on Thursday approved the mixed-use development at 130 Liberty Street, which calls for 1,200 new apartments, one-third of which will be permanently affordable to New Yorkers earning between 40 and 120 percent of the area median income. Plus, 20 percent of the affordable apartments will be offered to individuals who lived or worked in the neighborhood on September 11, including first responders and families of victims. Construction is scheduled to start next year, Gov. Kathy Hochul said.
Learn more

All photos courtesy of Compass

July 26, 2023

WeWork founder Adam Neumann relists Gramercy penthouse for $32M

By Devin Gannon

Adam Neumann has relisted his Gramercy Park penthouse for $32 million, $5.5 million cheaper than when it last hit the market in 2020. In 2017, the founder and former chief executive of WeWork and his wife Rebekah Paltrow Neumann paid $27.5 million for the duplex penthouse at 78 Irving Place and the unit below it; the couple also picked up two additional apartments on the ground floor for $7.2 million.
Details here

New Jersey sues to block NYC’s congestion pricing plan

Photo by Raidarmax on Wikimedia

July 21, 2023

New Jersey sues to block NYC’s congestion pricing plan

By Devin Gannon

New Jersey is suing to block New York's congestion pricing program. Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Friday a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration, claiming the plan to charge drivers entering certain parts of Manhattan is unfair to Garden State residents. In the complaint, the state said the agencies did not conduct a full environmental review.
Details here

Historic NYC restaurant Delmonico’s reopening in the Financial District

Photo courtesy of Delmonico’s

July 20, 2023

Historic NYC restaurant Delmonico’s reopening in the Financial District

By Devin Gannon

A New York City culinary icon is reopening its doors this September. Delmonico's, considered one of the country's first fine dining establishments when it opened in 1837, will once again welcome diners at its original location at 56 Beaver Street in the Financial District. Shuttered since the early days of the pandemic in 2020, the restaurant has since been renovated and features an updated menu created by Chef Edward J. Hong.
Get the details

Food & Dining

NYC subway fare to increase to $2.90 in August

Photo by Charles16e on Flickr

July 19, 2023

NYC subway fare to increase to $2.90 in August

By Devin Gannon

The base fare for the subway will increase next month for the first time since 2015. The board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Wednesday approved a 5 percent increase for the cost of a single subway or bus trip, rising from $2.75 to $2.90. The fare hike goes into effect on August 20.
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Benefits of 421-a tax break extended to Gowanus developers

By Devin Gannon

Developers of certain residential buildings in Gowanus will qualify for a tax break with benefits similar to 421-a, the program which expired last year, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Tuesday. As part of an executive action issued by the governor, projects in the Brooklyn neighborhood that qualified for 421-a before it lapsed but won't meet the 2026 completion deadline would qualify for tax breaks. The order is one of several Hochul announced as a way to spur residential construction after state lawmakers failed to reach a deal on a housing plan.
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Policy

$15M penthouse loft with multi-level roof deck floats above the West Village

Photos by Eitan Gamliely for Sotheby’s International Realty unless otherwise noted

July 17, 2023

$15M penthouse loft with multi-level roof deck floats above the West Village

By Devin Gannon

Atop a historic co-op building in downtown Manhattan, this modern light-filled loft feels like a private residence. Asking $14,950,000, the triplex penthouse at 652 Hudson Street measures over 6,100 square feet inside, with an additional 1,500 square feet of outdoor space, which comes in the form of a multi-level roof deck that overlooks the surrounding West Village neighborhood.
See inside

Distinctive Homes

Lottery opens for 164 luxury rentals in Mott Haven, from $1,576/month

Renderings credit: VUW

July 14, 2023

Lottery opens for 164 luxury rentals in Mott Haven, from $1,576/month

By Devin Gannon

A two-building luxury rental development in the South Bronx opened a housing lottery this week for 164 mixed-income apartments. Dubbed Estela, the complex includes 544 brand-new units across a pair of buildings at 445 Gerard Avenue, located within a burgeoning stretch of Mott Haven. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 80 percent and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, priced from $1,576/month studios to $3,260/month two-bedrooms, with a concession of one month free on initial leases.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

NYC’s best spots to watch the Macy’s 4th of July fireworks for free

Photo by Wiebke Meyer-Lüters on Unsplash

June 30, 2023

NYC’s best spots to watch the Macy’s 4th of July fireworks for free

By Devin Gannon

America's biggest and boldest Independence Day celebration returns to New York City for its 47th year. Macy's annual fireworks show will ring in the Fourth of July with 60,000 shells launched from five barges in the East River from East 26th Street to East 40th Street. There are plenty of firework watch parties being hosted across the city, but Macy's has announced seven official viewing locations where you can enjoy the show for free, including spots in Midtown, Long Island City, Greenpoint, and Williamsburg with unobstructed views.
Where to watch

Events & Things To Do

Elizabeth Street Garden can become affordable senior housing development, court rules

Photo by James and Karla Murray exclusively for 6sqft

June 28, 2023

Elizabeth Street Garden can become affordable senior housing development, court rules

By Devin Gannon

An affordable housing development can be built on the site of Little Italy's Elizabeth Street Garden, an appellate judge ruled on Tuesday, ending a decade-long battle between housing advocates and garden supporters. The project, dubbed Haven Green, will bring 123 rentals for extremely low-, very low-, and low-income seniors, along with 37 apartments for formerly homeless seniors, to one of the city's most affluent neighborhoods.
Learn more

Hochul drops office towers from Penn Station renovation plan

View of mid-block train hall facing south; Renderings Courtesy of FXCollaborative / WSP / John McAslan + Partners

June 27, 2023

Hochul drops office towers from Penn Station renovation plan

By Devin Gannon

The renovation of Penn Station will move forward without the construction of several skyscrapers, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday. The governor's plan to overhaul the busy transit hub originally called on the developer Vornado to redevelop 18 million square feet of the Midtown West neighborhood, including 10 new high-rise office towers, with the tax revenue generated helping fund the station overhaul. Now, Hochul says funding from the state and federal government makes it possible to move forward with the renovation without any development proceeds.
See the plan

$52M penthouse at One High Line in Chelsea among downtown’s most expensive sales

All photos courtesy of Nicole Franzen

June 26, 2023

$52M penthouse at One High Line in Chelsea among downtown’s most expensive sales

By Devin Gannon

A penthouse at a new luxury condominium in Chelsea has gone into contract for $52 million, joining an exclusive list of downtown Manhattan's priciest homes. Designed by Bjarke Ingels, One High Line consists of two twisting towers with views of the Hudson River, the High Line, and beyond. As first reported by the Wall Street Journal, the full-floor penthouse measures roughly 7,000 square feet, in addition to a nearly 5,000-square-foot private terrace.
More this way

NYC Council bill would require broker fees be paid by ‘hiring party’

Photo by Rachel Martin on Unsplash

June 23, 2023

NYC Council bill would require broker fees be paid by ‘hiring party’

By Devin Gannon

The New York City Council will once again take up the issue of broker fees, a unique-to-New York system that allows real estate brokers to charge prospective tenants a one-time fee, usually between one month's rent and 15 percent of the total annual rent. Council Member Chi Ossé on Thursday introduced legislation that would shift the payment of broker fees to the party who hired them, which is often the landlord or building management company. The bill is similar to guidance issued by the state in 2019 that briefly banned broker fees, which was ultimately struck down by the court.
Details here

Policy

June 21, 2023

Elevated pathway connecting the High Line and Moynihan Train Hall opens

By Devin Gannon

A new elevated pedestrian path connecting the High Line to Moynihan Tran Hall opens to the public this week. The 600-foot-long High Line-Moynihan Connector consists of two bridges, one full of lush landscape that runs along West 30th Street and another made of Alaskan yellow cedar wood that is suspended over Dyer Avenue. Officially opening on June 22, the $50 million project connects Manhattan West's public plaza to a pedestrian pathway at West 31st Street, allowing commuters to easily and safely access the train station and the rest of Midtown West.
See it here

Lot of demolished landmark on Gay Street in Greenwich Village lists for $4.5M

Photo by Spencer Means on Flickr

June 21, 2023

Lot of demolished landmark on Gay Street in Greenwich Village lists for $4.5M

By Devin Gannon

The Greenwich Village lot where a rowhouse stood for 200 years until being demolished this year is for sale. One in a row of six 19th-century buildings, the property at 14 Gay Street was the oldest, constructed in 1827. The city late last year ordered 14 Gay Street to be razed after determining unpermitted work had left it at risk of collapse. Now, the vacant lot where the Federal-style home once stood is available for $4,500,000, providing a unique opportunity to build new in one of the city's oldest historic districts.
Details here

Electric bikes and scooters now allowed in NYC parks

Photo courtesy of Shinya Suzuki on Flickr

June 20, 2023

Electric bikes and scooters now allowed in NYC parks

By Devin Gannon

Starting Tuesday, electric bikes and scooters will be allowed inside New York City parks. As part of a yearlong pilot program overseen by the city's Parks Department, e-bike and e-scooter riders can use greenways and park drives, including the Central Park and Prospect Park loops. The pilot will run through May 31, 2024.
Details here

Lottery opens for 300+ affordable apartments at major East New York project, from $419/month

Rendering courtesy of Dattner Architects

June 19, 2023

Lottery opens for 300+ affordable apartments at major East New York project, from $419/month

By Devin Gannon

The largest project to stem from the 2016 rezoning of East New York launched a housing lottery for over 300 affordable apartments this week. Developed by the housing nonprofit Phipps Houses, Atlantic Chestnut is a block-long development with three interconnected buildings and more than 1,100 units of affordable housing. As part of the first phase, 341 apartments are available at 250 Euclid Avenue. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 50, 60, and 80 percent of the area median income can apply for the available apartments priced from $419/month studios to $2,273/month three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

New York City’s best spots for bird watching

Birdwatching in Prospect Park, courtesy of the Prospect Park Alliance on Flickr

June 15, 2023

New York City’s best spots for bird watching

By Devin Gannon

With hundreds of parks and over 500 miles of waterfront, New York City is an excellent place for bird watching. The five boroughs serve as a temporary and permanent home to over 400 species of bird, thanks to both habitat diversity and location on the Atlantic Flyway, the route birds follow during migrations. From Pelham Bay Park in the northeast Bronx down to Great Kills Park on the South Shore of Staten Island, there is no shortage of birding activities in New York. We've rounded up the best places to find feathered friends throughout the city, most of which are accessible via public transportation. For guided bird-watching tours and walks, check out events from NYC Parks, NYC Audubon, and the Linnaean Society of New York.
Full list ahead

This $2.9M live-work space in upstate NY was formerly a Masonic temple

Photos courtesy of Annabel Taylor of Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty/Gabriel Zimmer

June 14, 2023

This $2.9M live-work space in upstate NY was formerly a Masonic temple

By Devin Gannon

In a charming country town in upstate New York, a former Masonic temple has been reimagined as an artist's live/work quarters. The nearly 100-year-old building at 57 Cold Water Street in the Columbia County town of Hillsdale is set up as both an art studio and a modern private residence, with two bedrooms and three baths. The expansive, one-of-a-kind property, on the market for $2,875,000, has tons of potential in its next life, as it's zoned for both commercial and residential use.
Take the tour

Historic FDNY buildings in the Bronx designated as NYC landmarks

Fire Alarm Telegraph Bureau, Bronx Central Office; Photo courtesy of Landmarks Preservation Commission

June 13, 2023

Historic FDNY buildings in the Bronx designated as NYC landmarks

By Devin Gannon

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday designated two Bronx buildings associated with New York City's fire department as individual landmarks. Not only are the Engine Company 88/ Ladder Company 38 firehouse in Belmont and the Fire Alarm Telegraph Bureau, Bronx Central Office in West Farms architecturally significant, but they represent a period of evolution and growth for the city's fire department. The new landmarks also recognize a piece of Bronx history that has largely gone underappreciated.
Details here

All articles by Devin Gannon

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