All articles by Devin Gannon

Frederick Law Olmsted’s farmhouse on Staten Island recognized as national landmark

Photos courtesy of New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation

December 8, 2020

Frederick Law Olmsted’s farmhouse on Staten Island recognized as national landmark

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The National Park Service this month placed a Staten Island farmhouse once owned by Frederick Law Olmsted on the National Register of Historic Places. Formerly part of a 130-acre farm, the property, known as the Olmsted-Beil House, is significant for the role it played in Olmsted's discovery of landscape design and parks as a public good, which later influenced his ideas for Central Park and Prospect Park. Despite its designation as a city landmark in 1967, the house, while intact, has deteriorated over the years and requires significant restoration work.
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Proposed Coney Island complex has 461 units and outdoor pool with ocean views

Renderings courtesy of LCOR

December 8, 2020

Proposed Coney Island complex has 461 units and outdoor pool with ocean views

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Real estate developer LCOR last week filed plans with the city to bring a 461-unit residential project to Coney Island. Located about a block from the beach and boardwalk at 1515 Surf Avenue, the proposed 16-story development will rise on the parking lot of Gargiulo's Restaurant, a 100-year-old neighborhood staple. Gargiulo's owner Louis Russo agreed to a 99-year ground lease for the lot late last year.
Get the details
Pearl River Mart to close Tribeca flagship next year

Pearl River Mart Foods in Chelsea Market; Courtesy of Chelsea Market

December 7, 2020

Pearl River Mart to close Tribeca flagship next year

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Pearl River Mart will shutter its Tribeca flagship early next year, store owners announced last week, becoming the latest New York City institution to shutter because of the coronavirus pandemic. In a blog post, company president Joanne Kwong said negotiations with the landlord "have stalled" and that he "has made clear his desire to use the courts to recoup every dollar he can, not just from our business, but from our personal assets." Despite the closure, Pearl River Mart, which has sold one-of-a-kind Asian-inspired decor and cookware in Manhattan since 1971, will keep its stores and new food concept in Chelsea Market open and the company said it has already secured a new location in the neighborhood.
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Former toxic landfill in Jersey City to become public park with COVID-19 memorial
December 7, 2020

Former toxic landfill in Jersey City to become public park with COVID-19 memorial

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A former toxic landfill in Jersey City will become a public park with a memorial dedicated to residents who lost their lives from the coronavirus. Mayor Steven Fulop last week unveiled the final $10 million phase of the plan to transform the Superfund site into Skyway Park, 30 acres of green space with both passive and active uses, waterfront access, a butterfly garden, and a memorial grove that will contain more than 500 trees, each representing a Jersey City resident who died earlier this year and who were not permitted a proper funeral because of COVID-19 restrictions.
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Lottery opens for 58 affordable senior apartments near Brooklyn College in Flatbush

Photo of Brooklyn College Library by Beyond My Ken on Wikimedia

December 4, 2020

Lottery opens for 58 affordable senior apartments near Brooklyn College in Flatbush

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A housing lottery has launched this week for 58 affordable apartments for senior New Yorkers at a new Brooklyn rental. Located at 1488 New York Avenue, the Bishop Philius and Helene Nicolas Senior Residences rises seven stories and contains 89 studio apartments and social services for residents. To apply, New Yorkers must have at least one household member who is 62 years of age or older, qualify for Section 8 benefits, and earn $45,500 or less, annually. Eligible applicants will pay 30 percent of their income for the studio apartments.
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112 affordable apartments in East New York, from $331/month

Photo credit: The Arker Companies

December 3, 2020

112 affordable apartments in East New York, from $331/month

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A housing lottery launched this month for 112 affordable apartments at a new complex in the Spring Creek section of East New York. The building at 881 Erskine Street sits within The Fountains development, a mixed-use project of six buildings that will ultimately bring more than 1,100 affordable homes to the area. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 30, 40, and 60 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from $331/month studios to $1,472/month three-bedroom apartments.
Find out if you qualify
NYPL celebrates the five boroughs with list of 125 books about NYC

Photo courtesy of NYPL

December 3, 2020

NYPL celebrates the five boroughs with list of 125 books about NYC

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As it wraps up its 125th anniversary year, the New York Public Library is paying tribute to the city it has called home for over a century. On Thursday, the library released "125 NYC Books We Love," a list of titles recommended for adults, kids, and teens that celebrate the five boroughs. The book list is part of the library's "Roar for NYC" campaign, which aims to lift up New Yorkers during a challenging time and remind us of the city's resiliency.
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Fauci says Broadway could return next fall if ‘large proportion’ of nation receives COVID-19 vaccine

Photo by Andrae Ricketts on Unsplash

December 2, 2020

Fauci says Broadway could return next fall if ‘large proportion’ of nation receives COVID-19 vaccine

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Broadway theaters could reopen as soon as late summer or early fall next year, Dr. Anthony Fauci said during an interview on Tuesday. When asked by WNBC anchor David Ushery about the possibility of The Great White Way shining bright again, the nation's top infectious disease expert said it depends "on the uptake of vaccines by the people of the country and specifically the people of New York." All 41 Broadway theaters closed on March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic and ticket sales have been suspended until at least next May.
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Apply for 48 middle-income units at new Long Island City rental, from $2,156/month

Photo by Harry Gillen on Unsplash

December 2, 2020

Apply for 48 middle-income units at new Long Island City rental, from $2,156/month

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Applications are now being accepted for 48 units below market rate at a newly constructed Long Island City rental. Located at 45-57 Davis Street, the nine-story development contains over 150 units and commercial space on the ground floor. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, which range from $2,156/month studios to a $3,122/month three-bedroom. The median rental price for market-rate units in the neighborhood is $2,700/month, according to CityRealty.
Find out if you qualify
The Salvation Army unveils giant red kettle in NYC as need for support services remains high

Photo courtesy of The Salvation Army Greater New York Division

December 1, 2020

The Salvation Army unveils giant red kettle in NYC as need for support services remains high

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With the need for support services at an all-time high coupled with a lack of foot traffic at retail stores due to the coronavirus pandemic, The Salvation Army has had to think outside the kettle this holiday season. While typically the charity group relies on its bell-ringers stationed outside of stores with red kettles to raise money for those in need, this year the Salvation Army is calling for digital donations. To bring attention to its online fundraising campaign, the group unveiled on Tuesday a giant 32-foot red kettle in Times Square.
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Brooklyn startup competes with Amazon this holiday season with same-day delivery from local shops

ShopIN.nyc’s VP of Marketing, Andrew Tider, picking up an order from Shirley Bryant, co-owner of Geometry Kids; Photo courtesy of ShopIN.nyc

December 1, 2020

Brooklyn startup competes with Amazon this holiday season with same-day delivery from local shops

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Shopping local this holiday season is more important than ever as small businesses across New York City struggle to stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic. A startup company is making it easier to stay home and avoid Amazon and other major online retailers by offering same-day delivery from Brooklyn-based stores. ShopIN.nyc is a one-stop-shop for every-day items like household supplies and pantry staples and even special occasion gifts and holiday decor, all from small businesses in Brooklyn.
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NYC AIDS Memorial debuts powerful sound installation for World AIDS Day

Photo: John Moore, Circular Space Photography

December 1, 2020

NYC AIDS Memorial debuts powerful sound installation for World AIDS Day

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The voices of New Yorkers affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic will be heard daily as part of a new program installed in Greenwich Village. In recognition of World AIDS Day on Tuesday, the New York City AIDS Memorial will launch a sound-based installation composed of speeches, poetry, music, and readings of texts related to the history of the epidemic. The hour-long program, titled Hear Me: Voices of the Epidemic, will be broadcast from the memorial nightly at 7 p.m. for the month of December, along with a new lighting installation.
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Broadway producers behind ‘Chicago’ list their showstopping Westchester estate for $13.2M

All photos courtesy of Anthony Acocella

November 30, 2020

Broadway producers behind ‘Chicago’ list their showstopping Westchester estate for $13.2M

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Broadway producers Fran and Barry Weissler, known for their work on "Chicago," "Annie Get Your Gun," Pippin," and other shows, are selling their impressive country estate in Westchester for $13.2 million. Described by the Tony Award winners as the house that "'Chicago' built," 35 Schoolhouse Road in Waccabuc sits on over 18 acres and contains a four-bedroom main residence, a four-bedroom guest house, a sculpture garden, and a custom-built amphitheater.
Take the tour
NYC will reopen some schools for in-person learning next week

Photo courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

November 30, 2020

NYC will reopen some schools for in-person learning next week

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New York City pre-kindergarten and elementary public school students can return to in-person instruction starting December 7, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Sunday. The news comes just two weeks after the mayor shuttered public school buildings, citing the citywide coronavirus positivity rate of 3 percent on a seven-day average, a metric established as part of the administration's reopening plan. But after criticism over allowing indoor dining and gyms to remain open but not schools, de Blasio said Sunday he would ditch the 3 percent threshold and look at the number of cases at each school instead.
Details here
For $3M, live in the original bell tower of this historic Hoboken church

All photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

November 25, 2020

For $3M, live in the original bell tower of this historic Hoboken church

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All photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens An apartment inside a historic church building in Hoboken is now asking $3.05 million. Constructed in 1890, the Romanesque Revival First Baptist Church at 901 Bloomfield Street was converted into a luxury condominium, known as The Raphael, in 2017 with just six residences. The available unit contains three bedrooms, three and a half baths, and a studio loft in the building's original bell tower. While the conversion led to sleek modern interiors, stunning unique details, including the double-height ceilings and arched windows, were preserved.
See inside
$2.5M full-floor FiDi condo has two outdoor spaces and World Trade Center views

Photo courtesy of Douglas Elliman

November 25, 2020

$2.5M full-floor FiDi condo has two outdoor spaces and World Trade Center views

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A spacious full-floor loft with two outdoor terraces in the Financial District is asking $2.48 million. The two-bedroom, two-bath condo is located at 119 Fulton Street and has perfectly-framed Freedom Tower views. The apartment features a newly renovated kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances, custom built-ins, keyed elevator access, and outdoor spaces on either end of the unit.
More ahead
Flatiron’s new holiday art installation connects New Yorkers from a distance

Photos courtesy of Cameron Blaylock

November 24, 2020

Flatiron’s new holiday art installation connects New Yorkers from a distance

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A new public art installation opened on Monday in the Flatiron Public Plaza as part of the neighborhood's annual "23 Days of Flatiron Cheer" holiday programming. Designed by firm Studio Cooke John, the Point of Action installation consists of nine metal pavilions surrounded by six-foot concentric circles with ropes that part, creating a "spotlight" and allowing passersby to connect with one another. The firm's work was selected as this year's winning design by the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership and Van Alen Institute.
See it here
Paul Simon relists 32-acre New Canaan estate for $11.9M
November 24, 2020

Paul Simon relists 32-acre New Canaan estate for $11.9M

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The Connecticut estate of Grammy Award-winning musician Paul Simon has returned to the market for $11.9 million, roughly $2 million less than when the property first listed last year. The 1938-built brick home at 82 Brookwood Lane sits on 32 private acres in New Canaan, about an hour's ride from Manhattan on Metro-North. Simon and his wife, singer-songwriter Edie Brickell, bought the home in 2002 and raised their three children there.
Take the tour
New Yorkers pay tribute to Mayor David Dinkins

Photo of Mayor David Dinkins by Rubenstein, photographer Martyna Borkowski on Flickr

November 24, 2020

New Yorkers pay tribute to Mayor David Dinkins

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David N. Dinkins, New York City's first and only Black mayor, died at his Manhattan home on Monday at the age of 93. Dinkins, who entered office in January 1990, famously referred to the city's diversity as a "gorgeous mosaic" and advocated economic and education equality for all New Yorkers. Despite serving just one term, Dinkins is credited with expanding affordable housing, lowering crime rates, revitalizing Times Square, and signing a deal that guaranteed the U.S. Open would be held in the city for decades. After news of his death broke, several New York leaders and luminaries paid tribute to the trailblazing icon.
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Astor Place Hairstylists has been saved from closing

Mayor Bill de Blasio celebrated the Phase 2 reopening with a visit to Astor Place Hairstylists on June 23, 2020. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

November 23, 2020

Astor Place Hairstylists has been saved from closing

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Just two days before it was set to close for good, Astor Place Hairstylists was saved by a group of New York investors. As the New York Post first reported, enough money has been raised to keep the East Village basement barbershop "open for at least another 75 years," businessman Jonathan Trichter told the newspaper on Monday. Astor Place Hairstylists announced last month plans to permanently close just before Thanksgiving due to a lack of business because of the coronavirus pandemic.
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NYC unveils $9M plan to restore Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn

Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch lighting design test in 2019; Photo courtesy of Jordan Rathkopf/ Prospect Park Alliance

November 23, 2020

NYC unveils $9M plan to restore Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn

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Plans to renovate Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza were unveiled this week, the first major restoration of Prospect Park's historic entrance in decades. The $8.9 million revamp focuses on the Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Arch, including replacing the arch's roof, cleaning and restoring the brick and stone structure, repairing the interior staircases, and adding modern lighting to the exterior. Surrounding plaza and landscape berms that frame the plaza will also be restored and new native trees and shrubs will be planted.
More here
All 950 units at city’s Gowanus housing development will be affordable

Rendering courtesy of Marvel Architects/SCAPE Landscape Architects

November 23, 2020

All 950 units at city’s Gowanus housing development will be affordable

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The city's proposed six-building residential development in Gowanus will be 100 percent affordable, officials announced last week. The Gowanus Green project, part of Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration's plan to rezone the Brooklyn neighborhood, will contain 950 units of affordable housing, with at least 50 percent designated to extremely low and very low-income households. Previously, the plan called for roughly 74 percent of units to fall below the market rate.
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See inside New Jersey’s tallest residential tower, 99 Hudson

All photos courtesy of COA 99 Hudson, LLC

November 20, 2020

See inside New Jersey’s tallest residential tower, 99 Hudson

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As residents continue to move in at 99 Hudson Street, new photos of the residential tower were released this month, showing off the exterior and interior of New Jersey's tallest building. Located on the Jersey City waterfront, 99 Hudson rises 79 stories directly across from One World Trade Center. Designed by Perkins Eastman, the building contains a range of studio to two-bedroom residences, along with a handful of penthouses, with units priced between $548,000 and over $4 million.
Take a look
Rent this Little Italy loft with original timber beamed ceilings and cast iron columns for $15K/month
November 20, 2020

Rent this Little Italy loft with original timber beamed ceilings and cast iron columns for $15K/month

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An apartment in a former Lower Manhattan police stable is currently renting for $15,000/month. Located at 136 Baxter Street, the Machinery Exchange building once housed horses for the NYPD when the department's headquarters were located at the historic Police Building. After decades as a manufacturing warehouse, the building was converted into condos in 2007. The available unit, which measures an incredible 2,600 square feet and contains four bedrooms, four baths, and two entrances, maintains its industrial roots with original timber beamed ceilings, exposed brick, and cast iron columns.
See it here
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