All articles by Devin Gannon

$9.5M Nomad condo has a front-row view of the Flatiron Building

Photo Credit: Coldwell Banker Warburg

August 22, 2025

$9.5M Nomad condo has a front-row view of the Flatiron Building

By Devin Gannon

This Nomad condo has a front-row seat to the Flatiron Building's transformation into a luxury residential building. Asking $9,495,000, the three-bedroom, three-bath apartment at 212 Fifth Avenue has windows that perfectly frame the Beaux-Arts tower, in addition to 3,000 square feet of functional living space. The view will improve even further when the Flatiron Building reopens as a condominium, as the exterior will be illuminated for the first time ever.
see the views

Distinctive Homes

Waymo to test self-driving cars in NYC

In 2021, Waymo mapped certain streets in Manhattan to learn its busy traffic patterns and features. Photo courtesy of Waymo

August 22, 2025

Waymo to test self-driving cars in NYC

By Devin Gannon

Waymo, the self-driving car company owned by Google's parent company Alphabet, is coming to New York City. The company received a permit to begin testing a limited number of autonomous vehicles (AV) in parts of Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn, Mayor Eric Adams and the city's Department of Transportation (DOT) announced on Friday. Current state law does not allow for fully driverless riding, so a trained specialist will be behind the steering wheel at all times during the pilot run.
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Policy

Step into 1776 during a Battle of Brooklyn commemoration this weekend

All photos courtesy of The Green-Wood Cemetery

August 21, 2025

Step into 1776 during a Battle of Brooklyn commemoration this weekend

By Devin Gannon

The first, and the biggest, battle of the American Revolution took place in Brooklyn. In August 1776, just weeks after declaring independence from Britain, the first armed campaign for the colonies took place across the borough, through present-day Prospect Park, Fulton Ferry Landing, Fort Greene Park, and Green-Wood Cemetery. While the British soundly defeated the colonies, the historic battle led George Washington to develop a new strategy vital to the eventual win for independence. This weekend, the Green-Wood Cemetery will commemorate the Battle of Brooklyn with historical demonstrations, costumed interpreters, music, and a parade march up Battle Hill.
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Huge Coney Island complex opens lottery for 150 middle-income apartments, from $2,449/month

All renderings courtesy of NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

August 21, 2025

Huge Coney Island complex opens lottery for 150 middle-income apartments, from $2,449/month

By Devin Gannon

A three-tower luxury development in Coney Island opened a lottery last week for 150 middle-income apartments. Less than half a mile from the Riegelmann Boardwalk and beach, the sprawling development at 532 Neptune Avenue includes 499 apartments across three buildings and a whopping 95,000 square feet of amenities, including a rooftop, swimming pool, and a running track that encircles the property. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, priced from $2,449/month for studios and going up to $3,495/month for a two-bedroom.
do you qualify?

Affordable Housing

Federal Transit Administration again threatens MTA funds over safety risks

Retrofitting the platform at the Broadway Junction L train station. Photo courtesy of MTA/Megan Armas on Flickr

August 20, 2025

Federal Transit Administration again threatens MTA funds over safety risks

By Devin Gannon

President Donald Trump's administration is once again threatening to withhold funding from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on Tuesday accused the agency of using "flawed analytical approaches" in a safety plan and said it fails to reflect actual safety risk to subway workers. The FTA required the MTA to develop a new safety plan after a subway track worker was struck and killed by a train in 2023 and another worker was seriously injured the following year. The feds are threatening to withhold up to 25 percent of the financial assistance given to the MTA if safety is not improved for workers.
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NYC beaches closed for swimming due to dangerous conditions from Hurricane Erin

Photo by Jessica Sheridan on Wikimedia

August 20, 2025

NYC beaches closed for swimming due to dangerous conditions from Hurricane Erin

By Devin Gannon

New York City beaches will be closed for swimming on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday as Hurricane Erin is expected to bring life-threatening surf and rip currents to much of the East Coast. Mayor Eric Adams announced swimming is prohibited at all city beaches on August 20 and August 21; the sand remains open. The National Weather Service predicts waves could reach between 9 and 13 feet on Thursday, with the highest waves expected in the Rockaways. Several beaches along the Jersey Shore and on Long Island have also banned swimming.
what to know

Policy

City-owned Boerum Hill parking lot to become 70 affordable homes and a job center

All renderings courtesy of New York City Housing Preservation and Development

August 19, 2025

City-owned Boerum Hill parking lot to become 70 affordable homes and a job center

By Devin Gannon

The city unveiled plans to transform a Boerum Hill parking lot into a new development with affordable homes and a job center. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development last week announced it had selected the nonprofit Fifth Avenue Committee (FAC) to convert the city-owned lot at 153 Nevins Street into a 70-unit mixed-use rental, with amenities and space for Brooklyn Workforce Innovations, a job training center for low-income New Yorkers.
from parking lot to new housing

Next Greenpoint Landing phase includes 1,000 apartments across three towers

Courtesy of C. Taylor Crothers / CTC Creative

August 19, 2025

Next Greenpoint Landing phase includes 1,000 apartments across three towers

By Devin Gannon

More than 1,000 new apartments are headed to the Greenpoint waterfront. The Domain Companies, LMXD, and Park Tower Group announced a joint venture partnership to build the next phase of Greenpoint Landing, a development along a 22-acre stretch of the East River that will eventually be home to 5,500 apartments. The next phase, "Block C" of the master plan, includes three mixed-income rental buildings, 20,000 square feet of retail space, and a waterfront public park.
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Second Avenue Subway extension moves ahead in Harlem with $2B contract

106th Street. Rendering courtesy of the MTA

August 18, 2025

Second Avenue Subway extension moves ahead in Harlem with $2B contract

By Devin Gannon

East Harlem is one major step closer to having better subway access for the first time since the 1940s. The board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Monday approved a nearly $2 billion tunnel-boring contract for the second phase of the Second Avenue Subway, which extends the Q train from 96th Street to 125th Street. The tunneling contract marks the largest awarded in agency history.
learn more

For $12M, a modern mansion in coastal Connecticut, with plenty of room for guests

Credit: Borgatta

August 15, 2025

For $12M, a modern mansion in coastal Connecticut, with plenty of room for guests

By Devin Gannon

With 8,000 square feet, seven bedrooms, and two guest houses, this modern mansion in a coastal Connecticut village was built for entertaining. Now on the market for $12 million, the home at 260 Willow Street in the historic waterfront village of Southport underwent a sweeping renovation that transformed the home from a traditional colonial into a luxurious compound, with a contemporary main house joined by a resort-style pool, pool house, and a garage with a studio apartment.
see inside

Distinctive Homes

Popular Articles

City Council approves Midtown South rezoning, unlocking 9,500 new homes

8th Avenue below 40th Street. © Ondel Hylton

August 15, 2025

City Council approves Midtown South rezoning, unlocking 9,500 new homes

By Devin Gannon

The New York City Council on Thursday voted to approve the rezoning of Midtown South, permitting thousands of new homes to be built in the commercial neighborhood. The plan, the largest residential rezoning in the city in 20 years, updates zoning rules for 42 blocks, potentially unlocking 9,500 new apartments, with 2,800 affordable units.
more on the midtown plan

Policy

$1.5M Upper East Side co-op has floor-to-ceiling built-ins and oversized windows

Credit: Niko Strbac for The Corcoran Group

August 14, 2025

$1.5M Upper East Side co-op has floor-to-ceiling built-ins and oversized windows

By Devin Gannon

For pre-war co-op enthusiasts, this $1,500,000 Upper East Side co-op may fit the bill. The one-bedroom home at 170 East 78th Street has super-tall 13-foot ceilings, a wood-burning fireplace, and floor-to-ceiling built-ins, with the top shelf accessible via library ladder. The oversized casement windows provide a picture-perfect view of the tree-lined city block below.
take a look

Distinctive Homes

Prospect Park launches first formal nature trail system

The Midwood Loop. Photos courtesy of the Prospect Park Alliance unless otherwise noted.

August 13, 2025

Prospect Park launches first formal nature trail system

By Devin Gannon

The Prospect Park Alliance this week unveiled the first formal nature trail system through the park's bucolic waterways and woodlands. The five routes are marked by signage and blazes on trees, guiding visitors through 250 acres of the park's most scenic natural areas while protecting its fragile wildlife habitats.
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City landmarks five Garment District buildings ahead of major changes in Midtown

The Furcraft Building on West 30th Street. All photos courtesy of the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission.

August 12, 2025

City landmarks five Garment District buildings ahead of major changes in Midtown

By Devin Gannon

Midtown South could look a lot different in the coming years, with a neighborhood rezoning imminent, but at least five buildings will remain protected. The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) on Tuesday voted to designate five buildings that not only are unique architecturally, but also reflect the development of the Garment District and the importance of the fashion industry to New York City. The designation comes as the City Council prepares to vote on the Midtown South Mixed-Use plan this week.
details this way

110th Street subway station in Harlem renamed for Malcolm X

Photo courtesy of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office on Flickr

August 12, 2025

110th Street subway station in Harlem renamed for Malcolm X

By Devin Gannon

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the start of the Harlem Renaissance and the birth of Malcolm X. To celebrate, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed two pieces of legislation renaming the 110th Street-Central Park North subway station after the civil rights icon and designating the Harlem Renaissance Cultural District, officially recognizing the area for its significance.
details here

$87.5M West Village penthouse enters contract, could be new downtown record

140 Jane Street, currently under construction in the West Village. Photo © Ondel Hylton

August 11, 2025

$87.5M West Village penthouse enters contract, could be new downtown record

By Devin Gannon

A penthouse in the West Village listed for $87,500,000 has found a buyer, potentially becoming the most expensive apartment ever sold in downtown Manhattan. As first reported by The Real Deal, the duplex apartment at 140 Jane Street, a boutique condominium currently under construction, measures roughly 9,500 square feet and features six bedrooms and seven baths. If the home fetches the asking price, it would be the priciest residential property sold in the area, beating out Jeff Bezos’ $80 million condo buy in 2019.
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Real Estate Trends

Kool & the Gang founder’s Montclair home hits the market for $7.5M

Photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

August 8, 2025

Kool & the Gang founder’s Montclair home hits the market for $7.5M

By Devin Gannon

The former New Jersey home of late musician and founding member of the Kool & the Gang, Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, is for sale. Located at 82-84 Watchung Avenue in Montclair, the property consists of two seemingly identical four-story townhomes, allowing for multi-generational living or a smart investment. The two-family residence is on the market for $7,500,000; each townhouse is also available to rent for $18,000/month.
a 'Kool' deal

Restored Richmond Barthé frieze returns to the Kingsborough Houses in Crown Heights

Photos courtesy of the Public Housing Community Fund

August 7, 2025

Restored Richmond Barthé frieze returns to the Kingsborough Houses in Crown Heights

By Devin Gannon

A monumental artwork that has been a fixture of a Crown Heights public housing complex for 80 years has been restored. Created by Harlem Renaissance artist Richmond Barthé, "Exodus and Dance" is an 80-foot cast-stone frieze depicting biblical scenes and Black figures dancing that has been on display at the city's Kingsborough Houses since 1941. Eight decades of exposure to the elements caused the stone to crack and crumble, requiring a major restoration to preserve the public artwork. After an 18-month conservation project, officials on Thursday cut the ribbon on the rehabilitated "Exodus and Dance" sculpture, which once again stands as a community landmark.
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NYC construction activity picks up, but mostly projects with under 100 units

In Long Island City, 30-25 Queens Boulevard will have 451 rentals and 110 condos. Photo by Newell Reinvention on Flickr

July 28, 2025

NYC construction activity picks up, but mostly projects with under 100 units

By Devin Gannon

New construction in New York City may finally be picking up. A report released last week by the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) found there were 424 new building filings in the second quarter of 2025, a 43 percent increase from the same period last year. Plus, more multifamily housing units are being built compared to the overall average units since 2008, with 6,943 units across 158 proposed buildings between April 1 and June 30. While the new 485-x tax break is spurring development, most new residential projects have fewer than 100 units, likely so developers avoid the state's $40 hourly wage requirement for larger buildings.
learn more

Policy

Hebrew Union College taps Beyer Blinder Belle to renovate historic UWS armory building for new campus

Photos courtesy of Hebrew Union College

July 24, 2025

Hebrew Union College taps Beyer Blinder Belle to renovate historic UWS armory building for new campus

By Devin Gannon

A historic Upper West Side armory building turned television studio is getting ready for its next chapter. After buying the First Battery Armory from ABC earlier this year, Hebrew Union College has hired Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners to renovate the landmarked building as part of the Jewish seminary's new New York campus. The renovation will add modern classrooms, a new library, and dedicated spaces for prayer and gathering.
details this way

Architecture And Design

Tour a hidden rooftop meadow in Greenpoint this weekend

Photos courtesy of Kingsland Wildflowers unless otherwise noted.

July 23, 2025

Tour a hidden rooftop meadow in Greenpoint this weekend

By Devin Gannon

In the heart of industrial Greenpoint is a hidden green surprise. Kingsland Wildflowers is a 24,000-square-foot pollinator garden, planted with native grasses and flowers, on top of Broadway Stages, a working soundstage. On Saturday, July 26, the rooftop meadow will open to the public as part of its annual Kingsland Wildflowers Festival, for an afternoon of guided tours, performances, and food and drinks from local vendors.
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Events & Things To Do

Adam Neumann lists Gramercy penthouse for $22.75M

All photos courtesy of Compass

July 21, 2025

Adam Neumann lists Gramercy penthouse for $22.75M

By Devin Gannon

Billionaire Adam Neumann has once again listed his Gramercy Park penthouse, but with a new offering. The WeWork co-founder is selling his sprawling condo at 78 Irving Place for $22,750,000. While previous attempts to sell the property included the entire 7,880-square-foot combination spread, the latest listing does not include the additional smaller unit, which Neumann and his wife Rebekah plan to keep for themselves, as the New York Post reported.
get the details

Bronx co-op launches lottery for 58 apartments for purchase, starting at $145K

Courtesy of NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

July 18, 2025

Bronx co-op launches lottery for 58 apartments for purchase, starting at $145K

By Devin Gannon

Here's a chance to own an apartment in the Bronx for less. In Soundview, a sprawling new housing complex, dubbed Stevenson Square, launched a lottery for 58 affordable co-ops for purchase. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 70 and 80 percent of the area median income can apply to buy one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, priced from $145,632 to $264,500.
find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

NYC Council approves 1,000-unit One45 Harlem development

Rendering courtesy of SHoP Architects

July 16, 2025

NYC Council approves 1,000-unit One45 Harlem development

By Devin Gannon

A residential development will finally rise on the corner of West 145th Street and Lenox Avenue in Harlem after years of delays and debates. The New York City Council on Monday approved the One45 for Harlem plan, which includes three new buildings and 1,000 units of housing, 338 of which will be affordable. The previous proposal at the site failed to materialize after the former council member refused to accept the development unless at least 57 percent of the units were affordable to families earning 30 percent of the area median income; the developer said that was not economically feasible, withdrew the plan, and turned the property into a truck depot.
GET THE DETAILS

World of Darkness exhibit showcasing nocturnal animals reopens at the Bronx Zoo after 16 years

Southern Lesser Galago. All photos courtesy of the Bronx Zoo

July 14, 2025

World of Darkness exhibit showcasing nocturnal animals reopens at the Bronx Zoo after 16 years

By Devin Gannon

The Bronx Zoo is shining a light on animals that thrive in the dark. After closing in 2009, the World of Darkness exhibit reopened this past weekend, showcasing 25 species of nocturnal creatures, from pygmy slow lorises and blind cave fish to blood pythons and Egyptian fruit bats. The exhibit employs a reverse light cycle, allowing visitors to observe these night-dwellers during the day.
step into the dark

Events & Things To Do

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