All articles by Devin Gannon

MTA calls on NYC to add 60 miles of bus lanes as city reopens

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

June 5, 2020

MTA calls on NYC to add 60 miles of bus lanes as city reopens

With up to 400,000 New Yorkers expected to return to the workforce under the city's phase one reopening on Monday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority wants to add 60 miles of dedicated bus lanes to alleviate crowding. In a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio, Sarah Feinberg, interim president of NYC Transit, wrote a "robust bus system will be crucial" for the city's rebound from the coronavirus pandemic.
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MTA says de Blasio’s subway plan would only serve 8 percent of riders

Photo: Patrick Cashin / MTA New York City Transit

June 4, 2020

MTA says de Blasio’s subway plan would only serve 8 percent of riders

By Devin Gannon

As the city prepares to enter phase one of reopening on Monday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority released this week its plan to return to "regular" service, which no longer means 24-hour service. Subways and buses will run more frequently starting next week, but the subway system will still shut down between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. for nightly disinfection. Mayor Bill de Blasio this week also released a plan for transit that calls for capacity limits and blocking off every other seat. But the MTA called the mayor's idea "utterly unworkable" and said his proposed capacity limits would allow the agency to serve just 8 percent of riders.
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20 mixed-income apartments available at new Downtown Brooklyn tower, from $690/month

Photo of 1 Flatbush Avenue courtesy of Alexander Severin

June 4, 2020

20 mixed-income apartments available at new Downtown Brooklyn tower, from $690/month

By Devin Gannon

Applications are now being accepted for 20 mixed-income apartments at a new Brooklyn high rise. The 19-story tower located at 1 Flatbush Avenue sits between Downtown Brooklyn and Fort Greene, conveniently located near a dozen subway lines, major shopping thoroughfares, and entertainment venues like the Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. New Yorkers earning 40 and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, ranging from a $690/month studio to a $3,063/month two-bedroom.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

NYC expands free COVID-19 testing for all New Yorkers

COVID-19 testing site sat the Highbridge Recreation Center in Manhattan on May 19, 2020. Photo courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

June 3, 2020

NYC expands free COVID-19 testing for all New Yorkers

By Devin Gannon

All New Yorkers will now be able to get tested for the coronavirus for free, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Wednesday. The universal testing is part of the city's Test and Trace Corps program, which launched on Monday and remains a critical component of the city's reopening, expected to start on June 8. There are about 150 testing sites across the five boroughs, with the ability to test 20,000 people total each day.
Find a testing site near you

Policy

A giant mural memorializes NYC doctor who died from COVID-19

GreenPoint Innovations / Eduardo Amorim for Gerada Art

June 3, 2020

A giant mural memorializes NYC doctor who died from COVID-19

By Devin Gannon

A massive art mural that honors a New York City doctor who died from the coronavirus has taken over a parking lot in Queens. Spray-painted by Cuban-American artist Jorge Rodríguez-Gerada, the land art, titled "Somos La Luz" depicts Dr. Ydelfonso Decoo, a Dominican immigrant who lived in Washington Heights and skipped retirement to treat patients during the pandemic. The project also aims to memorialize all front line employees in New York City, particularly Hispanic and African American workers who continue to face disproportionate rates of infection and death caused by the virus.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC will have 8 p.m. curfew until Sunday with no traffic south of 96th Street

Photo of a Black Lives Matter demonstration in 2016 by Nicole Baster on Unsplash

June 2, 2020

NYC will have 8 p.m. curfew until Sunday with no traffic south of 96th Street

By Devin Gannon

Mayor Bill de Blasio extended the citywide curfew to Sunday and said it will start three hours earlier at 8 p.m. following a night of looting. The mayor and Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday jointly announced an 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew and an increase of police enforcement following a weekend of protests. The NYPD announced that after 8 p.m. the only vehicles allowed south of 96th Street in Manhattan will be essential workers, buses, and delivery trucks. Likewise, Citi Bike has been required to shut down service for the duration of the curfew.
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Policy

Lottery opens for income-restricted units in Brooklyn’s historic Weeksville, from $2,245/month

Rendering courtesy of S. Wieder Architect

June 1, 2020

Lottery opens for income-restricted units in Brooklyn’s historic Weeksville, from $2,245/month

By Devin Gannon

A lottery launched on Monday for 16 middle-income apartments in Crown Heights' historic Weeksville neighborhood. The Brooklyn community was once home to the second largest free black community in the country. Located at 1515 Park Place, the new building sits between Buffalo Avenue and Rochester Avenue, just around the corner from the Weeksville Heritage Center. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, including $2,245/month one-bedrooms and $2,710/month two-bedrooms.
Do you qualify?

Affordable Housing

The Brooklyn Museum transforms into a pop-up food bank this week

Photo by Howard Brier on Flickr

June 1, 2020

The Brooklyn Museum transforms into a pop-up food bank this week

By Devin Gannon

Starting on Monday, the Brooklyn Museum is temporarily transforming its parking lot into a weekly food bank. The institution announced last week a partnership with The Campaign Against Hunger (TCAH), a Bed-Stuy based nonprofit that has served about one million meals to New Yorkers in need during the coronavirus pandemic. The museum has been closed since March 13.
More here

Events & Things To Do

New York adds 10 new testing sites in city’s COVID-19 ‘hot spots’

Photo by Payton Chung on Flickr

June 1, 2020

New York adds 10 new testing sites in city’s COVID-19 ‘hot spots’

By Devin Gannon

As New York City prepares to enter phase one of reopening next week, officials are targeting areas where the coronavirus continues to spread. Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Saturday announced that the state will open 10 new COVID-19 testing sites in zip codes considered 'hot spots,' which includes neighborhoods in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. The 10 ZIP codes, which consist of predominantly low income and minority communities, have seen higher rates of infection, hospitalization, and death caused by the virus.
Details here

Policy

23 chances to live in a new Boerum Hill building, from $1,262/month

Photo via CityRealty

May 29, 2020

23 chances to live in a new Boerum Hill building, from $1,262/month

By Devin Gannon

A housing lottery launched on Friday for 23 middle-income apartments in one of Brookyn's most bustling and transit-friendly neighborhoods, Boerum Hill. Located at 346 Bergen Street, the six-story rental sits two blocks from the Atlantic Avenue Terminal, which holds the 2, 3, 4, 5, B, D, N, Q, R, and Long Island Rail Road trains. New Yorkers earning 70 or 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from $1,262/month one-bedroom to a $2,803/month two-bedroom.
Do you qualify?

Affordable Housing

NYC is on track to start reopening week of June 8

By Devin Gannon

New York City is gearing up to begin the reopening process the week of June 8, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Friday. During a press briefing, the governor said the city should be able to join the state's nine other regions in reopening phase one businesses, which includes all construction, manufacturing, and some retail stores. "I am proud of the way New York is figuring it out," Cuomo said.
More here

Policy

As NYC prepares to reopen, questions about public transit remain

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

May 29, 2020

As NYC prepares to reopen, questions about public transit remain

By Devin Gannon

New York City will likely begin the reopening process early next month, with as many as 400,000 employees expected to return to work during this first phase, Mayor Bill de Blasio said this week. While the mayor on Thursday released guidelines for phase one businesses to safely reopen without a resurgence of the coronavirus, no plan has been issued from City Hall on how employees returning to the workforce will commute there safely.
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9 virtual things to do this weekend: Loisaida Festival, guided meditation, dachshund fiesta, and more

Photo of last year’s Loisaida Festival by editrixie on Flickr

May 29, 2020

9 virtual things to do this weekend: Loisaida Festival, guided meditation, dachshund fiesta, and more

By Devin Gannon

If you've run out of Netflix shows and can't look at another jigsaw puzzle, there is still plenty of ways to stay entertained this weekend. From a virtual stand-up comedy show and a spring fiesta for dachshunds to guided meditation and a historic discussion on New York City's Chinatown, we've rounded up nine virtual events to keep boredom at bay.
Get the full list

Events & Things To Do

May 28, 2020

Hilary Swank’s stunning former townhouse in the West Village sells for $9.8M

By Devin Gannon

The four-story West Village townhouse once owned by actress Hilary Swank has sold for $9.794 million. The historic home at 33 Charles Street has been renovated with modern elements while original details--including restored woodwork and built-ins--still shine. The current owner, former president of Macy's Harry A. Lawton III, put the property on the market earlier this year for just under $11 million.
Take a look around

Lottery opens for 29 units at Williamsburg waterfront rental, from $1,101/month

Image courtesy of Input Creative Studio

May 28, 2020

Lottery opens for 29 units at Williamsburg waterfront rental, from $1,101/month

By Devin Gannon

A housing lottery launched on Thursday for 29 income-restricted apartments in Williamsburg. The Kent House, located at 187 Kent Avenue, sits a block in from the waterfront and between two popular green spaces, Bushwick Inlet Park and Domino Park. New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, priced between $1,101/month studios and $2,710/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

NYC Council will introduce bill that requires open street space be used for outdoor dining

Photo by almapapi on Pixabay

May 28, 2020

NYC Council will introduce bill that requires open street space be used for outdoor dining

By Devin Gannon

The New York City Council is set to introduce legislation on Thursday that requires the city to use open space for outdoor dining during the coronavirus pandemic. Restaurants and bars have now been closed for in-person service for over two months because of the state's "pause" order that shuttered all nonessential businesses. And while takeout and delivery options remain available, the restaurant industry has taken a tremendous hit, with many longtime restaurants forced to close permanently.
Find out more

With Long Island and Hudson Valley cleared to reopen, MTA boosts train service

Photo by Phillip Capper via Wikimedia

May 27, 2020

With Long Island and Hudson Valley cleared to reopen, MTA boosts train service

By Devin Gannon

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is boosting service on the Long Island Rail Road and the Metro-North as two more New York regions are officially cleared to start reopening. The Hudson Vallery region and Long Island have met the state's metrics to begin reopening phase one businesses, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said this week. Starting Wednesday, the MTA will increase capacity by 26 percent on Metro-North with 18 additional trains during peak service, as well as add 105 Long Island Railroad cars to meet restored demand for service.
Details this way

Policy

New York Public Library considering curbside pickup service

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

May 27, 2020

New York Public Library considering curbside pickup service

By Devin Gannon

The New York Public Library is reviewing plans for curbside pickup service as the organization prepares to reopen after the coronavirus pandemic. As first reported by THE CITY, cardholders would be able to order books or other materials by phone or online for grab-and-go pickup, under one plan being considered. Books could be picked up in the lobbies or on the sidewalks of some branches.
Details here

City Living

May 27, 2020

New photos show ‘Little Island’ offshore park making progress at Pier 55

By Devin Gannon

The much-anticipated offshore public park in the Hudson River is coming together, with its concrete tulip-shaped pots in place and the first trees planted. New photos of "Little Island" at Pier 55 show construction progressing ahead of its scheduled spring 2021 opening. The two-acre park, designed by Heatherwick Studio and MNLA, is meant to resemble a leaf floating on water, with its concrete base sitting above the river.
See it here

Architecture And Design

Cuomo to fast-track NYC infrastructure projects, including overhauls of Penn Station & LaGuardia

Rendering of a new entrance on 8th Avenue to Penn Station, part of the Empire Station Complex via Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office

May 26, 2020

Cuomo to fast-track NYC infrastructure projects, including overhauls of Penn Station & LaGuardia

By Devin Gannon

The state will focus on restarting New York City's economy by accelerating work on major infrastructure projects, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Tuesday. "There is no better time to build than right now," Cuomo said during a press briefing. "You need to create jobs and you need to renew and repair this country's economy and its infrastructure." The governor said the state will fast-track infrastructure projects like the renovation and rebuild of Penn Station and LaGuardia Airport.
More here

Plan to build pedestrian plaza under the Brooklyn Bridge moves forward

Rendering courtesy of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates

May 26, 2020

Plan to build pedestrian plaza under the Brooklyn Bridge moves forward

By Devin Gannon

Plans to build a public plaza under the Brooklyn Bridge that will connect the Brooklyn Heights and Dumbo sections of the waterfront park are moving forward. The Landmarks Preservation Commission last week approved designs from the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation and Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates to transform a currently fenced-off lot into a two-acre civic space. The project is the final section of the park; construction began in 2008 and has been opening in phases over the last decade.
More here

Policy

NYC Council urges mayor to open city beaches for swimming

Photo of Rockaway Beach via Dan DeLuca on Flickr

May 26, 2020

NYC Council urges mayor to open city beaches for swimming

By Devin Gannon

The New York City Council on Saturday urged Mayor Bill de Blasio to open the city beaches this summer safely amid the coronavirus pandemic, including allowing swimming. Currently, swimming is not permitted, but local residents are allowed to walk or sit on the beach. A number of council members this weekend released 10-point beach reopening guidelines, which include limited capacity, social distancing markers, mask requirements, and increasing transit options to beach communities.
Find out more

Policy

To mark 125th anniversary, NYPL releases list of kids books to spark lifelong love of reading

Photo: Jonathan Blanc/NYPL

May 22, 2020

To mark 125th anniversary, NYPL releases list of kids books to spark lifelong love of reading

By Devin Gannon

While summer vacation is sure to look different this year, the New York Public Library hopes kids will stay busy reading. In celebration of its 125th anniversary on Saturday, the library has released a list of 125 children's books from the last 125 years, aimed at sparking a lifelong love of reading. The collection of books, which is available online, follows a list released in February of the best adult titles, with a list for teenage readers expected this fall.
More here

Events & Things To Do

May 22, 2020

McSorley’s reopens in the East Village with famed light or dark ale available by the growler

By Devin Gannon

After a two month break, McSorely's Old Ale House officially reopened on Friday. The East Village watering hole, which claims to be the oldest bar in New York City, announced a new take out menu, including its two ale options, light or dark, served in to-go growlers. The reopening comes after a two-month closure due to the coronavirus, the longest the historic bar has ever been closed, as EV Grieve first reported.
Details here

Food & Dining

To-go booze in New York could be here to stay

Photo: Louise Ma / WNYC via Flickr Creative Commmons

May 22, 2020

To-go booze in New York could be here to stay

By Devin Gannon

When the state closed all restaurants and bars in March except for takeout service, the New York State Liquor Authority legalized to-go alcoholic beverages, including wine and liquor, for the first time. A state official wants to make the temporary law change permanent. State Sen. Brad Hoylman on Thursday introduced legislation that would let bars and restaurants continue to serve wine, beer, and cocktails for take-out and delivery for at least two years after the state of emergency ends.
Details this way

All articles by Devin Gannon

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