All articles by Devin Gannon

You can buy Gem Spa’s iconic storefront sign, egg cream machines

All photos courtesy of Gem Spa

January 4, 2021

You can buy Gem Spa’s iconic storefront sign, egg cream machines

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While you can no longer order an egg cream at Gem Spa in the East Village, which closed its doors for good in May, you can own a piece of the legendary institution. The landmark newsstand, which has been located on the corner of St. Marks Place and Second Avenue for a century, is auctioning off iconic memorabilia and signage from the store, including its bright yellow storefront sign, egg cream equipment, and gates with designs by the artist Paul Kostabi. The auction has been extended to January 7 at 10 p.m.
Details this way
Running from NYC to Canada, 750-mile Empire State Trail is now complete
January 4, 2021

Running from NYC to Canada, 750-mile Empire State Trail is now complete

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The longest multi-use state trail in the United States officially opened in New York last week. Running from New York City north to Canada and from Albany to Buffalo along the Erie Canal, the 750-mile Empire State Trail offers off-road trails for cyclists, hikers, runners, cross-country skiers, and snow-shoers. The Trail, which connects 20 regional trails to create a continuous statewide route, will be open year-round.
More here
NYC wants to offer renters alternatives to lump-sum security deposits

Photo by Jeffrey Blum on Unsplash

January 4, 2021

NYC wants to offer renters alternatives to lump-sum security deposits

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Before lawmakers passed sweeping rent reform legislation in 2019, New York City renters moving to a new apartment paid a hefty lump sum, typically including an application fee, broker fee, and a security deposit. With the new law limiting application fees to $20 (and broker fees next on the chopping block), city officials are now looking to make it even easier to move into a new home. The city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the Housing Development Corporation last week issued a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) seeking companies that would provide alternatives to paying a security deposit all at once at city-financed affordable properties.
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See inside the new light-filled Moynihan Train Hall

Photo © Max Touhey

December 30, 2020

See inside the new light-filled Moynihan Train Hall

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As one of the few bright spots during a very dark time in New York, the new Moynihan Train Hall opens to the public on Friday. The new transit hub expands Penn Station into the landmarked James A. Farley Post Office Building on Eighth Avenue, increasing capacity at the busiest railroad station in the country by 50 percent. On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo celebrated the opening of Moynihan Train Hall, which was inspired by the design of the original Penn Station that was demolished in the 1960s. Ahead, get a look inside the new train hall, including the 92-foot-high massive skylights that total one acre and the new waiting areas for the Long Island Rail Road and Amtrak.
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The prettiest pre-war apartments in NYC you can rent for less than $5K/month
December 30, 2020

The prettiest pre-war apartments in NYC you can rent for less than $5K/month

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We’ve all admired six-figure New York City homes from a digital distance, saving listings that are way beyond our wallet’s reach. 6sqft has an entire column dedicated to these types of properties, in fact. But with median net effective rents still down compared to last year, especially in Manhattan, a dream rental property isn’t so unattainable these days. We're rounding up the prettiest pre-war pads--most of which have classic details like high ceilings, decorative moldings, and custom woodwork--on the rental market for less than $5,000/month. From a classic six apartment in Washington Heights to a one-bedroom in a full-service white-glove building on Park Avenue, these homes are full of early 20th-century charm.
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In Woodstock, a round house on 400 acres with panoramic mountain views asks $2.7M
December 29, 2020

In Woodstock, a round house on 400 acres with panoramic mountain views asks $2.7M

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A mountaintop round house in Woodstock has hit the market for $2.7 million. Located on nearly 400 acres atop the Ticetonyk Mountain, the property at 229 Cold Brook Road offers incredible views from nearly every room. The custom home with cedar shake siding contains four bedrooms, four baths, a wrap-around sundeck and covered porch, and south-facing solar panels.
Take the tour
NYC extends Open Storefronts program through next fall

Photo by ozgecan on Flickr

December 29, 2020

NYC extends Open Storefronts program through next fall

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New York City's Open Storefronts program, which allows small businesses to use outdoor space in front of their stores to sell goods, has been extended through the fall of next year. Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday signed an executive order extending the program, which was originally expected to end December 31, through September 30, 2021. The program will also expand the number of restaurants and retail stores that can use sidewalks to sell take-out. "We think that's going to help them as they fight to survive in this environment," de Blasio said Tuesday.
Details here

Photo by Daniel Lee on Unsplash

December 29, 2020

New York bans most evictions until May

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During a special session on Monday, the New York Legislature passed emergency legislation that temporarily blocks most eviction proceedings until May 1. The eviction moratorium, which Gov. Andrew Cuomo first put in place in March because of the coronavirus pandemic, was last extended through the end of the year. Signed by the governor on Monday night, the new law freezes evictions for tenants and prevents foreclosures for homeowners who have endured hardships related to COVID-19.
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NY healthcare providers who fraudulently distribute COVID vaccine could lose license, be fined $1M

Dr. Michelle Chester of Northwell Health in Queens prepares to administer the first coronavirus vaccine in New York State; Photo: Scott Heins for the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Flickr

December 28, 2020

NY healthcare providers who fraudulently distribute COVID vaccine could lose license, be fined $1M

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Healthcare providers in New York who are found to have violated the law regarding the distribution of the coronavirus vaccine could lose their license, be fined up to $1 million, and face possible prison time, under a new executive order Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday. The order comes after reports of a network of urgent care centers in New York City provided vaccines to people not considered a priority by the state. The first phase of distribution includes high-risk hospital workers, nursing home residents, nursing home staff, followed by all long-term and congregate care residents and staff, EMS workers, other health care workers, coroners, and medical examiners.
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NYC’s new Moynihan Train Hall will open January 1

Credit: SOM/ Office of Governor Cuomo on Flickr

December 28, 2020

NYC’s new Moynihan Train Hall will open January 1

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The long-awaited new Moynihan Train Hall will be completed on December 31 with trains operating the next day, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Sunday. The $1.6 billion project expands the existing Penn Station into the historic James A. Farley Post Office Building on Eighth Avenue and is part of a new mixed-use transit hub with office space and retail at the site. Named for the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, the new train hall is expected to increase the cramped concourse space at Penn Station by 50 percent.
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NYC launches online COVID-19 vaccine tracker

Mayor Bill de Blasio observes vaccinations for healthcare workers at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst. Elmhurst, Queens. Wednesday, December 16, 2020. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

December 23, 2020

NYC launches online COVID-19 vaccine tracker

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New York City this week launched a new online tool that tracks the number of people given the coronavirus vaccine each day. As part of the city's Vaccine Command Center, which opened earlier this month to provide real-time troubleshooting and response for vaccination sites, the website features up-to-date information regarding the number of vaccines reserved by the government for the city and delivered, as well as the number of people who have received doses.
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Over 1,000 NYC chain stores have closed this past year, the biggest drop in a decade

Photo by Peter Burka on Flickr

December 23, 2020

Over 1,000 NYC chain stores have closed this past year, the biggest drop in a decade

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More than 1,000 chain stores in New York City have closed over the past year, the largest year-over-year decline in over a decade. According to the Center for an Urban Future's annual "State of the Chains" report, nearly one out of every seven chain retailers open at this time last year is now closed, due to the coronavirus pandemic coupled with the continued growth of e-commerce. Even Dunkin', the city's largest retailer, closed 18 locations in 2020, the first time the coffee chain experienced a decline since CUF began tracking chains 13 years ago.
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$1.7M cliffside Colonial in Nyack has a two-story watchtower facing the Hudson River

Photos courtesy of Jump Visuals for Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty

December 22, 2020

$1.7M cliffside Colonial in Nyack has a two-story watchtower facing the Hudson River

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Near a cliffside overlooking the Hudson River, a Colonial-style home is on the market for $1.695 million. The property at 57 Tweed Boulevard is located just south of Nyack, a village in the Hudson Valley about 20 miles from New York City. Surrounded by wooded state parks, mountains, and water, the home's two-story turret-like watchtower is perfect for taking in all of those scenic views.
See inside
In a win for the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, de Blasio says he opposes Crown Heights high-rise towers

Rendering: NYC Department of City Planning

December 22, 2020

In a win for the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, de Blasio says he opposes Crown Heights high-rise towers

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Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday announced his opposition to two controversial high-rise towers proposed for a Crown Heights lot across from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. As first reported by Gothamist, the mayor said the project would "harm the research and educational work carried out by one of this city’s prized cultural institutions."
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Funding for MTA and Broadway included in latest federal COVID relief bill

Photo by (vincent desjardins) on Flickr

December 21, 2020

Funding for MTA and Broadway included in latest federal COVID relief bill

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Congress on Sunday reached an agreement on a $900 billion emergency coronavirus relief package, roughly nine months after the first stimulus was signed into law. The package is expected to provide one-time direct payments of $600 to most taxpayers and provide an additional $300 per week to those unemployed. In some positive news for New York, the stimulus deal also includes $4 billion to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Save Our Stages bill, which provides funding for live performance venues, comedy clubs, and Broadway. Congress could vote on the package as early as Monday.
Learn more here
These are the books New Yorkers borrowed the most from the library in 2020

Photo credit: Jonathan Blanc / NYPL

December 21, 2020

These are the books New Yorkers borrowed the most from the library in 2020

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During an unusually tough year full of challenges, including the coronavirus pandemic, an election, and racial justice issues, New Yorkers relied on books to not only stay informed but to find comfort. The city's three public library systems on Monday released their top checkouts of 2020 lists. At the New York Public Library, which includes branches in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island, the most borrowed book of the year was Brit Bennett's The Vanishing Half. In Brooklyn, the top checkout was How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi and in Queens, The Guardians by John Grisham.
See the lists
For $1.2M, a 19th-century Hudson Valley castle with Tiffany fixtures and river views

All photos courtesy of RMC Real Estate Photography for Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty

December 18, 2020

For $1.2M, a 19th-century Hudson Valley castle with Tiffany fixtures and river views

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In New Windsor, a 19th-century stone castle is on the market for $1.225 million. Located on two acres of land overlooking the Hudson River, the Roe Brewster Castle at 11 Oak Ridge Drive was constructed in 1870 and features fixtures designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The 8,400-square-foot estate has six bedrooms and seven baths but has operated as a multi-family rental property.
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Atlantic City is auctioning off chance to blow up Trump’s former casino

Photo by Shinya Suzuki on Flickr

December 18, 2020

Atlantic City is auctioning off chance to blow up Trump’s former casino

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You can bid farewell to Donald Trump's one-term presidency by bidding on the rights to blow up one of his former buildings. Atlantic City is auctioning off the chance to press the button that will implode the shuttered Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino, Mayor Marty Small announced on Thursday. Plans to demolish the building, which has sat empty since closing in 2014, have been in the works for years. Money raised in the auction will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City, the mayor said.
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Candice Bergen lists cottage-style country estate in the Hamptons for $18M

Photos courtesy of Compass

December 17, 2020

Candice Bergen lists cottage-style country estate in the Hamptons for $18M

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Actress Candice Bergen is selling her six-bedroom East Hamptons estate for $18 million. The impressive 4,500-square-foot cottage-style home is located at 72 Lily Pond Lane, just a block from the beach. As first reported by the New York Post, the cedar-shingled home was reimagined in 2004 by late architect Jacque Robertson. The year-round oasis features a stunning wraparound porch, in-ground pool, flower gardens, and a separate guest house.
See inside
Feel festive all year round: The best apartments for sale near Rockefeller Center
December 17, 2020

Feel festive all year round: The best apartments for sale near Rockefeller Center

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There’s no place like New York during the holidays. Even in the middle of a pandemic, the city manages to still feel magical this time of year. And Rockefeller Center, with its iconic Christmas Tree, ice skating rink, and Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, remains the city’s crown jewel of the season. For those who want to feel festive all year round, we’ve found the best apartments located within walking distance to Rockefeller Plaza and priced below $1.5 million, from a $530,000 charming pre-war pad in Midtown East to a $1.27 million Theater District one-bedroom with 12-foot ceilings and a shared outdoor terrace with a fireplace.
Full list ahead
340-year-old East Hampton home reimagined with a modernist design asks $4.5M

All photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

December 15, 2020

340-year-old East Hampton home reimagined with a modernist design asks $4.5M

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An East Hampton Village home with roots dating back to the 17th-century is on the market for $4.495 million. The property at 177 Main Street was originally a Colonial saltbox built in 1680 and owned by John Mulford, one of the founders of the village. The home was named Congress Hall in the mid-19th-century as then-owner David Mulford used the space for local men to gather and talk about politics. After the site sold in 2012, owners transformed the property into a 5,500-square-foot compound with five bedrooms and five-and-a-half baths.
More this way
More than 80 NYC parks will shine bright with holiday light displays

Photo by Charley Lhasa on Flickr

December 15, 2020

More than 80 NYC parks will shine bright with holiday light displays

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Dozens of New York City parks will glow with holiday displays this year, bringing some much-needed cheer to all five boroughs. The city's Parks Department last week released an interactive map that marks all of the menorah and Christmas tree lightings at parks and administrative buildings in the city by borough. The agency is encouraging New Yorkers to stay local and enjoy the illuminated green spaces in their neighborhoods.
More here
NYC shuts down outdoor dining on streets ahead of major snowstorm

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

December 15, 2020

NYC shuts down outdoor dining on streets ahead of major snowstorm

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Outdoor dining on New York City streets will be suspended Wednesday afternoon ahead of an impending snowstorm, the city's Department of Sanitation announced. The "Snow Alert" issued by the DSNY says "roadway dining" must end by 2 p.m. and be shut down for the duration of the alert. The latest forecast from the National Weather Service predicts between 8 and 14 inches of snow in the city starting late afternoon on Wednesday.
Details here
After 90 years, NYC’s legendary 21 Club will close

Photo by Marianne O’Leary on Flickr

December 14, 2020

After 90 years, NYC’s legendary 21 Club will close

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Midtown Manhattan's historic speakeasy 21 Club plans to close for good next year. The Prohibition-era restaurant on 52nd Street between 5th and 6th Avenue, known for its art collection, jockey figurines, and A-list clientele, has been closed since the coronavirus pandemic first hit New York City in March. But as amNY reported, the closure appears to be permanent.
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Lottery opens for 223 mixed-income apartments in the South Bronx, from $354/month

All images courtesy of Phipps Houses

December 14, 2020

Lottery opens for 223 mixed-income apartments in the South Bronx, from $354/month

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A housing lottery launched last week in the South Bronx for over 200 affordable homes set aside for extremely-low to moderate-income households. Located in Soundview, the newly-constructed 12-story Metcalf Avenue Apartments offers residents on-site laundry, children's playroom, roof deck, landscaped courtyard, and a community room. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 30, 50, 70, 90, and 110 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, which range from $354/month studios to $2,346/month three-bedroom apartments.
Find out if you qualify
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