All articles by Devin Gannon

March 30, 2020

Jersey City rental next to Liberty State Park opens, units from $1,910/month

A new luxury rental building has opened in the bustling Bergen-Lafayette section of Jersey City, with apartments starting at $1,910/month. Located just steps from Liberty State Park, 295 Johnston Avenue, called 295J, contains 309 units, with a mix of studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. In addition to being next to the 1,212-acre waterfront park, the rental boasts an impressive landscaped courtyard with a pool, fire pits, barbecue grills, and ping pong tables.
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March 28, 2020

Four more temporary hospital sites approved for NYC, will bring 4,000 additional beds

Facing a shortage of hospital beds, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday announced a plan to build four additional temporary hospitals in each New York City borough, adding 4,000 more beds. On Friday, he toured the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens' South Ozone Park, the Port Authority-owned Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook, the CUNY College of Staten Island, and the New York Expo Center in Hunts Point in the Bronx. On Saturday, Cuomo said President Donald Trump had approved these sites, meaning work can begin immediately. These will be in addition to Manhattan's Javits Center, which opens tomorrow as a temporary 1,000-bed FEMA hospital.
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March 27, 2020

Cuomo temporarily bans all non-essential construction projects

Most construction projects will be temporarily banned during the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Friday. While originally considered an essential service under the state's "pause" order that shutdown most workplaces last week, all non-essential construction must now shut down until April 21 under an updated executive order by the state.
More here
March 27, 2020

Can you move in NYC during the coronavirus outbreak?

While most of life seems to be put on hold at the moment, there are a few tasks that can't be avoided. This includes moving apartments, typically a dreadful experience for New Yorkers with or without an ongoing pandemic. But moving companies are considered an essential service, according to New York City and State officials. Ahead, find out what you need to know about moving in NYC during the coronavirus outbreak, from the extra protocols movers are taking to your rights as a tenant.
Get the details
March 26, 2020

Amazon snags two Fairway Market stores in NJ

Amazon has acquired the leases for two Fairway Market stores in New Jersey, half the number of stores the company originally hoped to buy. According to Supermarket News, the online retailer will acquire Fairway's Paramus and Woodland Park, N.J. store leases for $1.5 million. It's unclear why Amazon's offer for stores in Red Hook and Westchester fell through. The auction comes just a few months after the beloved New York City grocery store filed for bankruptcy.
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March 26, 2020

199 affordable apartments available near Jamaica Bay in East New York, from $328/month

There are nearly 200 affordable apartments up for grabs at a brand new development in the Spring Creek section of East New York in Brooklyn. Located at 911 Erskine Street, the complex is part of the mixed-use Fountains Development, which broke ground in 2017. The nine-story building sits between Betts Creek and Hendrix Creek of the Jamaica Bay and directly across from the massive shopping center, the Gateway Plaza Mall. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 50, and 60 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which include studios from $328/month and three-bedroom apartments up to $1,504/month.
Here's how to apply
March 26, 2020

Lottery for 20,000-name waitlist opens for middle-income apartments across the East Bronx

A housing lottery launched on Thursday for placement on a 20,000-person waiting list for a number of rental properties in the East Bronx. Found across the neighborhoods of Williamsbridge and Wakefield, the location of the buildings stretch from Woodlawn Cemetery to about Pelham Bay. New Yorkers earning 50, 85, 90, and 95 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from a $1,106/month one-bedroom to a $2,074/month three-bedroom. Eligible applicants will be randomly selected and placed on the waitlist for future vacancies.
Find out if you qualify
March 25, 2020

73 mixed-income apartments up for grabs in prime Central Harlem, from $680/month

A housing lottery for 73 mixed-income units will launch on Thursday at a building in one of the most bustling sections of Central Harlem. The new 10-story building, called The Robeson, is located at 407 Malcolm X Boulevard between West 130th and 131st Streets. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 50, 100, and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, which range from a $680/month studio to a $3,452/month three-bedroom apartment.
Do you qualify?
March 25, 2020

Support local NYC artists and performers with this new subscription-based streaming service

With theaters and performance venues closed as a result of the ongoing pandemic, the livelihoods of many artists in New York City continue to hang in the balance. A new subscription-based streaming service launched this week to support local artists affected by these coronavirus-related shutdowns. "The Trickle Up" charges subscribers $10 per month to access original performances from 50 different artists, with proceeds going to artists struggling financially.
Details this way
March 25, 2020

MTA cuts subway service by 25 percent in response to coronavirus

In response to a "never-before-seen ridership low" during the coronavirus outbreak, three subway lines will not run during the week and some express trains will run local, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced Tuesday. The reduced schedule is part of the agency's "NY Essential Service Plan" to provide service to first responders and essential workers as it deals with the devastating financial consequences of a nearly 90 percent drop in ridership across subway and buses, the Long Island Railroad, and Metro-North.
More details here
March 24, 2020

Bodegas in NYC now have their own delivery app

Deemed as essential by the state, bodegas in New York City are open during the coronavirus outbreak. For those craving a bacon, egg, and cheese from your local deli, but can't leave your apartment, a new app is here to help. As first reported by Eater, My Bodega Online is looking to give New Yorkers another option when it comes to ordering take-out and groceries for delivery, while simultaneously supporting local businesses.
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March 24, 2020

In the Bronx, a lottery opens for 30 affordable one-bedroom apartments for seniors

Applications are now being accepted for 30 brand new one-bedroom units set aside for New York seniors. The St. Vincent de Paul Senior Apartments, located at 909 Beck Street in the Bronx neighborhood of Longwood, sit next to a nursing home operated by the Archcare, the developer behind the housing complex. To apply, New Yorkers must be--or have at least one household member who is-- 62 years of age or older, qualify for Section 8 benefits, and earn $42, 700 or less annually.
Find out if you qualify
March 23, 2020

The Wing is donating its NYC spaces for coronavirus relief efforts

Co-working women's club The Wing has offered to donate its empty spaces for coronavirus relief efforts in New York. Audrey Gelman, the company's co-founder, said on Monday that the Wing had been in contact with the administrations of both Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio regarding its 70,000-square-feet of available space in New York City.
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March 23, 2020

Brooklyn kids are hanging rainbow art in windows as part of a quarantine-style scavenger hunt

With school closed and playdates off-limits, New York City kids are staying connected with their friends in a creative and colorful way. Children in Brooklyn are drawing and painting pictures of rainbows and displaying them outside of their homes, creating a scavenger hunt perfect for one of the only quarantine-approved activities: a walk around the neighborhood.
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March 23, 2020

Work starts to turn Javits Center into a 1,000-bed temporary hospital

"Time matters, minutes count, and this is literally a matter of life and death," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a press conference Sunday, during which he requested and subsequently received funding from the federal government to move ahead with the Army Corps of Engineers on erecting temporary hospitals at the Javits Center, Westchester County Center, SUNY Stony Brook, and SUNY Old Westbury. As of Monday morning, the number of positive COVID-19 cases in New York State was nearly 21,000, with more than 12,000 in New York City. Supplies and materials have already arrived at the Javits Center, and it's expected to be complete within a week to 10 days.
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March 23, 2020

Lawmakers, advocates demand rent freeze for New Yorkers affected by coronavirus

Evictions have been halted. Mortgage payments have been suspended. What about rents? New York renters, elected officials, and tenant advocacy groups are calling for a temporary rent freeze to provide financial relief to both workers and businesses impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. State Sen. Michael Gianaris, who represents parts of Queens, will introduce a measure on Monday that would suspend rent payments for 90 days for tenants and small businesses, as the Daily News first reported.
More here
March 20, 2020

Electric moped service Revel offers free rides in Brooklyn and Queens for healthcare workers

Healthcare workers in Brooklyn and Queens will receive a free membership from the electric moped service Revel, the company announced Friday. Revel will also expand its service area to cover four major medical centers in those two boroughs, including Elmhurst Hospital, Maimonides Medical Center, NYU Langone Hospital Brooklyn, and SUNY Downstate Medical Center. The measure allows these critical workers to commute to work, instead of taking public transportation.
More here
March 19, 2020

15 NYC bookstores offering curbside pickup and delivery

Need a distraction? New York City's local bookstores are here to help. While many are not open for browsing, bookstores across the city are offering curbside pickup and delivery options instead. Get lost in a book (and take a break from reality) by supporting your neighborhood's shop from the comfort and safety of your home. Ahead, find 15 of our favorite stores offering pick-up and delivery, as well as other virtual resources, like live-streamed book clubs and author events.
More here
March 19, 2020

Waitlist opens for affordable units at luxury Yorkville rental, from $728/month

Applications are currently being accepted to replenish the waitlist for affordable apartments in a luxury Yorkville building. Located at 1775 York Avenue, the building, known as The Brittany, is a high-rise located on the East River waterfront. Apartments--set aside for New Yorkers earning 40 percent of the area median income--include one- and two-bedroom apartments for $728/month and $868/month, respectively.
How to apply
March 18, 2020

131 affordable apartments available near Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, from $667/month

An affordable housing lottery launched this week for 131 apartments in a newly constructed building in the Bronx. The 13-story building at 150 Van Cortlandt Avenue East in Bedford Park sits near a handful of public parks and playgrounds, including the Williamsbridge Oval recreation center, Harris Park, and the city's third-largest park, Van Cortlandt Park. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 50, 60, 90, 110 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, which range from $667/month studios to $2,346/month three-bedroom apartments.
Find out if you qualify
March 18, 2020

For $12M, combine these two historic Harlem townhouses for the mansion of your dreams

Two neighboring Harlem townhouses have seen a big price drop since hitting the market last year. First listed for a combined $27 million, the historic homes at 32 and 33 Mount Morris Park West are currently listed separately for $7.95 million and $3.95 million, respectively. The 7,000-square-foot, five-bedroom property at 32 Mount Morris Park has been respectfully gut-renovated, while the townhouse next door, which has the same footprint and unique architectural elements, needs restoration work.
See the properties
March 17, 2020

As NYC suspends land use and rezoning actions, some officials want to also ban construction

All city land use and rezoning processes have been temporarily suspended as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Monday. In an executive order, the mayor directed procedures "applicable to the city planning and land use processes" to freeze for the duration of New York's state of emergency.
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March 17, 2020

NYC bars and restaurants can now sell to-go cocktails

To stop the spread of coronavirus, New York officials on Monday closed all restaurants and bars, with the exception of takeout and delivery services. The new rules, as mandated by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Liquor Authority, allow businesses to sell to-go alcoholic beverages, including wine and liquor for the first time, as long as it is with a food purchase. This change in liquor laws will continue until April 15 but could be extended.
Details here
March 16, 2020

Brooklyn’s Ample Hills Creamery files for bankruptcy

Popular Brooklyn-based ice cream purveyor Ample Hills Creamery has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the Real Deal reported. The filing will enable the company to restructure its debt and organizations while keeping its 13 New York stores open. In a statement to the website, Ample Hills said the filing was not as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic, but instead allows for the business to "course correct."
More here