All articles by Devin Gannon

Governors Island will reopen on July 15 with limited capacity

Photo by Kreg Holt

July 8, 2020

Governors Island will reopen on July 15 with limited capacity

By Devin Gannon

Summer is not totally canceled in New York City. Governors Island will officially reopen to the public next week for passive activities only and with a new reservation system for ferries. The Trust for Governors Island announced on Wednesday a system that lets visitors reserve tickets for ferry trips to the 172-acre site for the first time ever, as a way to allow for social distancing. Originally planned to open for the season in May, the Trust had postponed its opening in April because of the coronavirus.
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City Living

Brooklyn’s most photographed block opens for outdoor dining

Courtesy of the Dumbo Improvement District

July 6, 2020

Brooklyn’s most photographed block opens for outdoor dining

By Devin Gannon

Over the weekend, nearly two dozen streets currently closed to cars opened to outdoor dining, including one of New York City's most photographed blocks. In the Brooklyn neighborhood of Dumbo, outdoor dining was expanded onto several streets, like on Washington Street between Water Street and Front Streets, where the Manhattan Bridge is perfectly framed between buildings. As part of the expanded open restaurants program, the Dumbo restaurants can take over the streets on Friday nights and weekends only.
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Food & Dining

Three acres of new green space open at Brooklyn Bridge Park

Photo by Alexa Hoyer

July 6, 2020

Three acres of new green space open at Brooklyn Bridge Park

By Devin Gannon

Three acres of new parkland opened at Brooklyn Bridge Park on Monday, putting construction of the waterfront park one step closer to completion. Located east of Pier 2, the Pier 2 Uplands features a 6,300 square foot lawn and a new water play area made up of salvaged pieces of Pier 3. Runoff water from the play area will be caught by an underground retention tank and will be reused for irrigation throughout the site.
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Uncategorized

The High Line will reopen next week with timed-entry reservations

Photo by Iker Alonso on Flickr

July 6, 2020

The High Line will reopen next week with timed-entry reservations

By Devin Gannon

The High Line will reopen to the public this month with a new timed-entry reservation system. The elevated park, which had been closed since mid-March because of the coronavirus, will open on July 16, with free reservations available starting 10 a.m. on July 9. A limited number of walk-up passes will be available at the entrance at Gansevoort and Washington Streets each day.
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City Living

Lottery opens for 126 affordable apartments in the Bronx’s Longwood, from $471/month

Credit: Peter Clements Architect P.C

July 2, 2020

Lottery opens for 126 affordable apartments in the Bronx’s Longwood, from $471/month

By Devin Gannon

A housing lottery launched this week for 126 affordable and moderate-income apartments in the Bronx neighborhood of Longwood. Located at 975 Tiffany Street, the rental features a fitness center, a community facility, bike storage, and a laundry room. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 50, 60, and 100 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, ranging from a $471/month one-bedroom to a $1,200/month three-bedroom.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

$2B project in Astoria calls for massive mixed-use district with 2,700 housing units

Rendering the civic park at Innovation QNS courtesy of ODA

July 2, 2020

$2B project in Astoria calls for massive mixed-use district with 2,700 housing units

By Devin Gannon

A proposal to build a mixed-use district in Queens that would encompass five blocks and create thousands of new housing units was unveiled this week. Dubbed "Innovation QNS," the $2 billion project would bring 2,700 units of mixed-income housing, 250,000 square feet of creative office space, 200,000 square feet of retail, a new school, two acres of public open space, and new neighborhood amenities to Astoria. With ODA Architecture as the architect of the master plan, the mixed-use district is a joint private venture led by Silverstein Properties, Kaufman Astoria Studios, BedRock Real Estate Partners.
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Real Estate Trends

Stonewall Inn gets $250K lifeline to avoid COVID-19 closure

Photo by Rhododendrites on Wikimedia

July 1, 2020

Stonewall Inn gets $250K lifeline to avoid COVID-19 closure

By Devin Gannon

New York City's iconic Stonewall Inn got a much-needed lifeline this week after receiving a $250,000 donation from the Gill Foundation. The Greenwich Village bar, considered the birthplace of the LGBTQ rights movement, has been closed since March because of the coronavirus pandemic and has struggled to keep up with bills, including its $40,000/month rent. But thanks to the donation, and more than $300,000 raised as part of an online fundraiser, the national historic landmark will able to survive a little longer.
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Food & Dining

New law protects New Yorkers from eviction for unpaid rent during COVID-19

Photo by Avi Werde on Unsplash

July 1, 2020

New law protects New Yorkers from eviction for unpaid rent during COVID-19

By Devin Gannon

New York tenants cannot be evicted for any unpaid rent accrued during the coronavirus crisis, according to a law signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday night. Sponsored by State Sens. Brad Hoylman and Liz Krueger and Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz, the Tenant Safe Harbor Act protects renters who have not paid rent between March 7 and the to-be-determined date when their region fully reopens, as long as they can prove they experienced financial hardship during the COVID-19 crisis.
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Policy

To-go cocktails will continue in New York for at least another month

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

June 30, 2020

To-go cocktails will continue in New York for at least another month

By Devin Gannon

Takeout alcoholic beverages will be legal in New York for at least one more month, under an executive order signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo last week. As mandated by the governor and the New York State Liquor Authority in March in response to the shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic, businesses can continue to sell to-go beer, wine, and liquor until July 26. The relaxed liquor rules, which have been extended every 30 days since instated on March 16, proved popular with restaurants and bars looking for alternative ways to bring in revenue.
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New Jersey delays indoor dining as COVID-19 cases spike in other states

Photo of Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten by cogito ergo imago on Flickr

June 29, 2020

New Jersey delays indoor dining as COVID-19 cases spike in other states

By Devin Gannon

Restaurants and bars in New Jersey will no longer be able to resume indoor service on Thursday as planned, Gov. Phil Murphy announced. The governor on Monday said the pause of this part of the state's reopening plan comes as coronavirus cases spike across the country and more photos and videos of maskless crowds at establishments have surfaced. "It brings me no joy to do this, but we have no choice," Murphy said during a press briefing.
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Popular Articles

Lottery opens for 94 affordable senior apartments in the heart of Harlem

Photo of Victory Plaza courtesy of Camber Property Group

June 29, 2020

Lottery opens for 94 affordable senior apartments in the heart of Harlem

By Devin Gannon

A lottery has opened for 94 affordable units for seniors at a new building in Harlem, with 41 of the units for formerly homeless seniors. Victory Plaza, located at 11 West 118th Street, is a 100 percent affordable building developed jointly by Camber Property Group, the Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement, and New York City. 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 $51, 200 or less, annually. Eligible applicants will pay 30 percent of their income for the studio and one-bedroom apartments.
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Affordable Housing

Apply for 96 mixed-income apartments, half set aside for seniors, in Hunts Point, from $211/month

Rendering courtesy of RKTB Architects

June 29, 2020

Apply for 96 mixed-income apartments, half set aside for seniors, in Hunts Point, from $211/month

By Devin Gannon

Applications are now being accepted for 96 income-restricted apartments in the South Bronx, with half of those units set aside for seniors. Located at 700 Manida Street, the Hunts Point rental contains eight stories and 108 total units. To apply for the senior housing, New Yorkers must have at least one household member who is 62 years of age or older and earns $40, 960 or less, annually. Eligible applicants will pay 20, 30, or 40 percent of the area median income (AMI) for units that range from a $211/month studio to a $667/month one-bedroom. For the remaining 48 units, New Yorkers earning 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 percent of the AMI can apply for apartments, ranging in price from an $810/month two-bedroom to $1,960/month three-bedroom.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Brooklyn-based company repurposes shipping containers for pop-up COVID-19 testing labs

A prototype of D-Tec 1 clinic courtesy of SG Blocks

June 26, 2020

Brooklyn-based company repurposes shipping containers for pop-up COVID-19 testing labs

By Devin Gannon

As the country enters the fourth month of fighting the coronavirus pandemic, public health experts and officials say the best way to keep the virus under control is expansive diagnostic testing. Harvard research group Global Health Institute says states should greatly ramp up testing to contain the spread of COVID-19, to at least 900,000 tests per day; currently, the U.S. is testing about 500,000 people per day. Paul Galvin realized his company, SG Blocks, which repurposes shipping containers for a variety of uses, could meet this crisis head-on. The Brooklyn-based construction organization has designed a new product line of medical pop-up clinics and COVID-19 testing facilities that are affordable, eco-friendly, and can be constructed just about anywhere.
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See the 5,650+ restaurants open for outdoor dining in NYC

Mayor de Blasio and First Lady Chirlane McCray celebrate the launch of Phase 2 reopening by eating dinner at Melba’s in Harlem; Photo by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

June 26, 2020

See the 5,650+ restaurants open for outdoor dining in NYC

By Devin Gannon

Restaurants and bars officially reopened for outdoor dining this week as part of New York City's phase two of reopening. Since Monday, more than 5,650 restaurants have applied, self-certified, and opened their sidewalk, patios, and adjacent parking spots to diners. To make it easier to find which establishments are open for al fresco dining in your neighborhood, the Department of Transportation on Friday released a dashboard and an interactive map that let New Yorkers search for open restaurants by borough and ZIP code.
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Food & Dining

NYC will legalize e-bikes and e-scooters

Photo by Thomas Loizeau on Unsplash

June 26, 2020

NYC will legalize e-bikes and e-scooters

By Devin Gannon

The New York City Council voted on Thursday to legalize electric bikes and scooters citywide and create a pilot program that would bring a shared e-scooter program to neighborhoods underserved by public transit. State lawmakers approved the legalization of e-bikes and e-scooters statewide in April, leaving the decision to local officials on how to regulate the vehicles.
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Crown Heights subway stations to be renamed in honor of Civil Rights icon Medgar Evers

Photo of Franklin Avenue Station © 6sqft

June 25, 2020

Crown Heights subway stations to be renamed in honor of Civil Rights icon Medgar Evers

By Devin Gannon

Two subway stations in Brooklyn will be renamed after Medgar Evers College and the Civil Rights activist for whom the historic black college is named. Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday announced that Franklin Avenue and President Street stations in Crown Heights will formally be renamed this fall, with MTA maps and signage updated this summer. The new stations--Franklin Avenue-Medgar Evers College and President Street-Medgar Evers College--aim to honor the contributions of the institution ahead of its 50th anniversary.
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NYC beaches will open for swimming July 1

Photo of Coney Island by Dan DeLuca on Flickr

June 24, 2020

NYC beaches will open for swimming July 1

By Devin Gannon

Swimming will be allowed at New York City beaches starting July 1, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Wednesday. Although Gov. Andrew Cuomo gave the green light for state beaches to reopen last month in time for Memorial Day Weekend, the mayor had said the city was "just not ready" to handle the crowds of beachgoers, particularly on public transit. But with the city now in phase two of reopening, the ocean is no longer off-limits, as the Wall Street Journal first reported.
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With baseball set to return next month, Yankees and Mets will train in New York

Photo of Citi Field by Tomas Eidsvold on Unsplash

June 24, 2020

With baseball set to return next month, Yankees and Mets will train in New York

By Devin Gannon

Baseball is back. After the coronavirus pandemic put the sport on hold for over three months, Major League Baseball on Tuesday announced a plan to return, with "spring" training to resume on July 1 and opening day games scheduled for July 23 and 24, with no fans. The training will take place at the home stadiums for teams, meaning the Yankees and Mets will return to the Bronx and Flushing starting this week.
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Uncategorized

Lottery opens for 13 income-restricted units in Brownsville, from $800/month

Photo of Broadway Junction by Stanley Wood on Flickr

June 24, 2020

Lottery opens for 13 income-restricted units in Brownsville, from $800/month

By Devin Gannon

A lottery has opened for 13 income-restricted apartments at a new rental located on the border of Crown Heights and Brownsville in Brooklyn. Designed by Samuel Wieder Architects, the seven-story mixed-use building at 2175 Bergen Street contains 38 total residences and boasts amenities like a fitness center, backyard, and bike room. New Yorkers earning 40, 60, 80, and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the one- and two-bedroom apartments, priced between $800/month and $2,100/month.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

See inside the enviable amenity spaces of Dahlia, a new condo on the Upper West Side

June 23, 2020

See inside the enviable amenity spaces of Dahlia, a new condo on the Upper West Side

By Devin Gannon

As the construction of new condo tower Dahlia wraps up on the Upper West Side, we're taking a look at the 20-story building's impressive amenity package. Designed by CetraRuddy and RKTB Architects, the building at 212 West 95th Street manages to mix the pre-war aesthetic of its neighbors with modern design elements. In addition to its sleek look, Dahlia also offers perks unheard of in New York City, including a huge 5,100-square-foot private elevated park with recreation space for both adults and kids and private parking garage.
See inside

118 affordable apartments up for grabs at new Far Rockaway rental, from $367/month

Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

June 23, 2020

118 affordable apartments up for grabs at new Far Rockaway rental, from $367/month

By Devin Gannon

Applications are now being accepted for 118 apartments at a newly constructed affordable rental in the Queens neighborhood of Far Rockaway. Located at 19-15 Nameoke Avenue (also known as 14-14 Central Avenue), the eight-story building incorporates the existing Community Church--the Nazarene into the residential part of the building, which contains 142 total apartments. New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 50, and 60 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from $367/month studios to $1,472/month three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Manida Street in the Bronx becomes NYC’s 150th historic district

Streetview of 842 Manida Avenue, Map data © 2020 Google

June 23, 2020

Manida Street in the Bronx becomes NYC’s 150th historic district

By Devin Gannon

The Bronx has gained a new historic district, making it the 150th district to be landmarked in New York City. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to designate the Manida Street Historic, a block of semi-attached brick homes in Hunts Points. Residents first pushed for the South Bronx street to be recognized in 2010, as development began to accelerate in the neighborhood. "This gem of a district is a complete district that still exists and is not only a reminder of the 20th-century residential development of the South Bronx, but it’s also a reflection and testament to the commitment of its current community," LPC Chair Sarah Carroll said on Tuesday.
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Policy

Landscape architects West 8 created NYC’s largest private outdoor garden at One Manhattan Square

Rendering courtesy of Extell

June 22, 2020

Landscape architects West 8 created NYC’s largest private outdoor garden at One Manhattan Square

By Devin Gannon

The coronavirus pandemic--which forced New Yorkers to shelter in place and adhere to social distancing rules--has many apartment dwellers longing for private outdoor space. While a lot of us would be content with a balcony or rooftop access, Extell, the developer behind One Manhattan Square, has taken the idea of residential outdoor space to the next level. At the Lower East Side condo tower, residents have access to 45,000 square feet of green space designed by landscape architecture firm West 8. Considered to be one of the largest private gardens in the city, the East River-facing green space is uniquely located on an incline and contains several distinct areas designed for active and passive use. Ahead, hear from the team at West 8 on creating an urban oasis in one of the city's busiest neighborhoods as well as the many perks of the space, including an adult treehouse, tea pavilion, star-gazing observatory, and more.
Hear from the architects

Theodore Roosevelt statue will be removed from NYC’s Museum of Natural History

Photo by Mike Steele on Flickr

June 22, 2020

Theodore Roosevelt statue will be removed from NYC’s Museum of Natural History

By Devin Gannon

A statue of Theodore Roosevelt that depicts the former president on horseback flanked by a Native American man and an African man will be removed from the steps of the American Museum of Natural History, officials announced on Sunday. The decision to take down the statue, which local activists have requested for years, comes as a renewed discourse about racism and racist symbols continues to grow across the country following the death of George Floyd last month.
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Target to open new stores on the Upper East Side, Upper West Side

Rendering of the Columbus Circle store planned courtesy of Target

June 22, 2020

Target to open new stores on the Upper East Side, Upper West Side

By Devin Gannon

Manhattan will get two new Target stores, adding to the retail giant's growing New York City footprint. As first reported by PincusCo, the company has signed a 20-year lease for a store at Vornado Realty Trust's 150 East 86th Street on the Upper East Side and a 15-year lease for space at 795 Columbus Avenue on the Upper West Side, overseen by the Chetrit Group. The two new locations, totaling nearly 80,000 square feet, will be small-format stores, which offer easy pick-up service and grab-and-go products.
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Real Estate Trends

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