All articles by Devin Gannon

December 3, 2019

Lottery launches for 55 middle-income apartments at chic Clinton Hill rental, from $1,097/month

At the nexus of Crown Heights and Bed-Stuy, a new rental in Clinton Hill launched an affordable housing lottery this week for 55 middle-income units. Located across the street from the Franklin Avenue C, S subway station at 1134 Fulton Street, the building offers residents a gym, on-site laundry, parking, and rooftop access. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, ranging from $1,097/month studios to $2,400/month three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Design unveiled for New York Philharmonic’s $550M revamped concert hall

Renderings courtesy of the New York Philharmonic and Lincoln Center

December 2, 2019

Design unveiled for New York Philharmonic’s $550M revamped concert hall

By Devin Gannon

A plan to redesign the New York Philharmonic's concert hall was unveiled on Monday, nearly two decades after the project was first proposed. The $550 million plan aims to create a more intimate experience, acoustically and visually, at David Geffen Hall by moving the stage closer to the audience, improving sightlines, and reducing the seating capacity. Officials estimate the new hall will open in March of 2024.
More here

Architecture And Design

Empire State Building opens 80th-floor observatory, completing $165M redevelopment

Photo by Evan Joseph for Empire State Realty Trust

December 2, 2019

Empire State Building opens 80th-floor observatory, completing $165M redevelopment

By Devin Gannon

With the opening of the 80th-floor observatory last week, the $165 million, four-year redevelopment of the Empire State Building is now complete. In partnership with the city's tourism agency, NYC & Company, Empire State Realty Trust created an interactive, visitor-focused experience, which includes personalized digital itineraries, the building's classic viewfinders, film, original artwork, and more. The Trust unveiled the 102nd-floor observatory to the public in October, with the second-floor museum opening earlier in the summer.
See it here

Architecture And Design

Vintage photos document the origins of Black Friday shopping in NYC

Christmas shoppers on 6th Avenue (1910) via Library of Congress

November 27, 2019

Vintage photos document the origins of Black Friday shopping in NYC

By Devin Gannon

Black Friday marks the start of frantic holiday shopping, the day when retailers offer their best deals of the season to lure in eager shoppers. While some gift-givers now choose to digitally add items to shopping carts from the comfort of bed instead, many still line up outside of stores at the crack of dawn in search of major discounts. This is not a modern phenomenon, as these photographs from the Library of Congress of 20th century New York City reveal. Like today, New Yorkers of the early 1900s were drawn to the magical window shops and displays. Ahead, explore vintage photos of shoppers browsing New York City stores looking for the perfect presents, postcards and more.
See the photos here

200 spots open on waitlist for middle-income units at ritzy Upper West Side rental

Photo by Peter Burka on Flickr

November 27, 2019

200 spots open on waitlist for middle-income units at ritzy Upper West Side rental

By Devin Gannon

A housing lottery launched this week to replenish the waitlist at a high-end apartment building on the Upper West Side. Applications are currently being accepted for a 200-spot waitlist for the West End Towers, a two-tower, 1,000-unit complex at 75 West End Avenue. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the available units, studios between $1,997 and $2,137 per month and one-bedrooms between $2,224 and $2,601 per month. Eligible applicants will be randomly selected and placed on the waitlist for future vacancies.
How to apply

Affordable Housing

Live between Central Park and Morningside Park in Harlem, from $2,357/month

Photo by Allie Smith on Unsplash

November 27, 2019

Live between Central Park and Morningside Park in Harlem, from $2,357/month

By Devin Gannon

Located in between two of Manhattan's best green spaces, Morningside Park and Central Park, a new rental has launched a lottery for 32 middle-income apartments. The 13-story building at 251 West 117th Street in Harlem sits behind the former St. Thomas the Apostle Church, which has been restored and converted into a community and performance space. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, which include $2,357/month studios, $2,526/month one-bedrooms, and $3,044/month two bedrooms.
Do you qualify?

Affordable Housing

141 middle-income units up for grabs at Prospect-Lefferts’ tallest tower, from $2,156/month

Rendering courtesy of ArX Solutions

November 26, 2019

141 middle-income units up for grabs at Prospect-Lefferts’ tallest tower, from $2,156/month

By Devin Gannon

A housing lottery launched this week for 141 middle-income apartments at a newly constructed building that borders Brooklyn's Flatbush and Prospect-Lefferts Gardens neighborhoods. Dubbed "PLG," the 26-story tower at 123 Linden Boulevard sits a few blocks from the southern end of Prospect Park and boasts 50,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenity space. As the tallest building in the neighborhood at 320 feet, PLG offers unobstructed panoramic views of Prospect Park, the Manhattan skyline, and the Verrazano Bridge. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, which range from $2,156/month studios to $3,122/month three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Disability rights group files lawsuit challenging inaccessibility of new Long Island City library

Photo © Paul Warchol

November 26, 2019

Disability rights group files lawsuit challenging inaccessibility of new Long Island City library

By Devin Gannon

A disability rights group filed a lawsuit on Tuesday that claims a new public library in Queens does not provide full access for those with mobility disabilities. The civil suit, filed by the Center for Independence of the Disabled New York and the Disability Rights Advocates (DRA), says the newly constructed Hunters Point Library in Long Island City, which took nearly a decade to build and cost more than $41 million, violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). While the library opened in September to praise from architecture critics for its innovative design, visitors immediately criticized the building's third level fiction section, accessible only by stairs.
Details here

Policy

A number of NY Waterway ferries still suspended for safety issues

Photo by Joe Mabel on Flickr

November 25, 2019

A number of NY Waterway ferries still suspended for safety issues

By Devin Gannon

After the U.S. Coast Guard halted service on nearly two dozen New York Waterway ferries for safety issues over the weekend, commuters on Monday faced extensive delays and modified routes. On Sunday, the Coast Guard said it suspended 23 of 32 ferries operated by the company after multiple inspections found them to be "operationally unfit." As of Monday afternoon, 15 ferries remained out of service.
Get the details

Kaleidoscope-like holiday installation opens in Flatiron plaza

Photo by Cameron Blaylock

November 25, 2019

Kaleidoscope-like holiday installation opens in Flatiron plaza

By Devin Gannon

A bright and colorful public art installation has opened in front of the Flatiron Building just in time for the holiday season. Ziggy from New York-based firm Hou de Sousa was selected last week as the winner of the annual Flatiron Public Plaza Holiday Design Competition by the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership and the Van Alen Institute. The structure is made up of painted rebar and 27,000 feet of iridescent cord and allows visitors to walk through, sit down, and peek through its vibrant openings. "Hou de Sousa’s spectacular installation invites us to rethink how we interact with public space, and with one another, "Deborah Marton, Van Alen's executive director, said. "Their design creates delightful and unexpected ways to connect with others."
See it here

Events & Things To Do

NYC to close streets around Rockefeller Center to cars during holiday season

By Devin Gannon

The city will expand pedestrian space around Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall during the holiday season, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Friday. Starting Nov. 29, 49th and 50th Streets, as well as Fifth and Sixth Avenues, will be partially closed to cars to alleviate congestion caused by the roughly 800,000 people who visit the Christmas Tree every day during the season. The expansion marks the first time the city has created a defined pedestrian space for the area.
More here

Lottery launches for East Village rental with a roof deck and Trader Joe’s, from $674/month

Street View of 433 East 13th Street in June 2019; Map Data © 2019 Google

It’s your chance to snag an affordable apartment in a prime section of the East Village. A lottery launched this week for 30 mixed-income units at a newly constructed building called EVE NYC, located at 433 East 13th Street between 1st Avenue and Avenue A. Not only is the building within walking distance of an abundance of restaurants and bars, but it also offers one of the best perks inside of it: a Trader Joe’s will open on the ground floor of its 14th Street side. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 40, 60, and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, which range from $674/month studios to $2,991/month two-bedrooms.

Designed by SLCE Architects, the EVE consists of two buildings, seven- and eight-stories, holding a total of 113 units. Residences boast oversized windows, open floor plans, and stainless steel appliances. Leasing for the market-rate apartments launched in January, with apartments priced at $2,999/month studios and $6,499/month two-bedrooms, as CityRealty reported.

Impressive amenities include a landscaped roof deck that comes with a large lawn and grilling area, as well as an outdoor TV and sound system. Residents can also enjoy a fitness center, dog run, communal lounge, and a private outdoor courtyard.

The building sits across from the L train at 1st Avenue, with the 4, 5, and 6 trains a few blocks away at Union Square. Around the corner, food and late-night options include the Momofuku Noodle Bar, Raclette, Please Don’t Tell, Keybar and Phoenix Bar.

Qualifying New Yorkers can apply for the apartments at 433 East 13th Street until January 27, 2020. Complete details on how to apply are available here (pdf). Questions regarding this offer must be referred to NYC’s Housing Connect department by dialing 311.

If you don’t qualify for the housing lotteries mentioned, visit CityRealty’s no-fee rentals page for other apartment deals in the city.

RELATED:

Trader Joe’s confirms a new store is opening on 14th Street and Avenue A
161 affordable apartments available in the South Bronx, from $331/month
Apply for 52 mixed-income units near Lehman College in the Bronx, from $736/month

November 22, 2019

Lottery launches for East Village rental with a roof deck and Trader Joe’s, from $674/month

By Devin Gannon

Street View of 433 East 13th Street in June 2019; Map Data © 2019 Google It's your chance to snag an affordable apartment in a prime section of the East Village. A lottery launched this week for 30 mixed-income units at a newly constructed building called EVE NYC, located at 433 East 13th Street between 1st Avenue and Avenue A. Not only is the building within walking distance of an abundance of restaurants and bars, but it also offers one of the best perks inside of it: a Trader Joe's will open on the ground floor of its 14th Street side. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 40, 60, and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, which range from $674/month studios to $2,991/month two-bedrooms.
Do you qualify?

Affordable Housing

See the design for the new Made in NY campus in Sunset Park

Renderings by nARCHITECTS and W Architecture and Landscape Architecture, courtesy of NYCEDC

November 21, 2019

See the design for the new Made in NY campus in Sunset Park

By Devin Gannon

The city released on Thursday designs for the fashion and film production complex planned for the Sunset Park waterfront. The new Made in NY Campus at Bush Terminal in Brooklyn involves the restoration of existing city-owned industrial buildings that will serve as a manufacturing hub for the garment industry, as well as the construction of a 100,000-square-foot media facility. The $136 million development, which will house between 20 and 30 companies from the fashion industry, will open in the spring of 2021.
See it here

New Developments

Starting next year, big NYC buildings will display letter grades based on energy efficiency

Photo via Pexels

November 21, 2019

Starting next year, big NYC buildings will display letter grades based on energy efficiency

By Devin Gannon

Certain New York City buildings next year will be forced to share how energy efficient they are with the public. As part of the Climate Mobilization Act, passed by the city in April, structures that are 25,000 square feet and larger will be graded based on energy efficiency and mandated to post the rating in a "conspicuous" place in the building. As the New York Times reported, more than 40,000 of the city's one million buildings will be issued report cards, similar to how the Health Department issues restaurants a prominently displayed food safety rating.
Details here

Weeks before winter begins, thousands of NYCHA residents have been without heat or hot water

More than 2,460 residents at the LaGuardia Houses on the LES were affected by the outages Tuesday; photo via Wikimedia

November 20, 2019

Weeks before winter begins, thousands of NYCHA residents have been without heat or hot water

By Devin Gannon

Thousands of public housing residents did not have heat and hot water on Tuesday, making it the second widespread outage in less than two weeks. As first reported by Gothamist, 10,000 New York City Housing Authority tenants across six complexes suffered from the outages this week. And last week, when temperatures dropped below freezing, roughly 23,000 NYCHA residents did not have heat or hot water at some point.
Get the details

Policy

NYC’s only open-air rooftop ice skating rink opens this week

Photo courtesy of The Howard Hughes Corporation

November 19, 2019

NYC’s only open-air rooftop ice skating rink opens this week

By Devin Gannon

Ice skating in New York City is a must during the winter, with spots like the festive rink at Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park's winter village, and even newbie Runway Rink at the landmarked TWA Hotel. But there's only one NYC ice rink where you can "skate the skyline." Returning for a second season, The Rooftop at Pier 17 in the Seaport District opens this week, promising an even more spectacular season of skating as the city's only open-air rooftop rink.
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

Self-driving buses proposed for busy lane in Lincoln Tunnel

Photo by Elvert Barnes on Flickr

November 19, 2019

Self-driving buses proposed for busy lane in Lincoln Tunnel

By Devin Gannon

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is looking to increase the capacity of one of the country's busiest bus lanes by employing self-driving vehicles. The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that the agency will test autonomous buses in the Lincoln Tunnel's exclusive bus lane, which runs 2.5 miles along New Jersey Route 495. The Port Authority estimates the tech could allow for 200 more buses to run during each morning weekday rush, giving 10,000 more NJ commuters a ride to the Midtown terminal.
More details here

Transit

Proposed MTA budget calls for layoffs, fare hikes, and more cops

Photo by rhythmicdiaspora via Flickr

November 15, 2019

Proposed MTA budget calls for layoffs, fare hikes, and more cops

By Devin Gannon

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Thursday unveiled its proposed $17 billion 2020 budget and its four-year financial plan as the agency grapples with massive impending debt. With a projected operating deficit of $426 million by 2023, the MTA wants to lay off 2,700 workers and raise fares twice by four percent over the next four years. Despite the impending financial crisis, the agency plans to spend nearly $250 million over the next four years to hire 500 police officers to patrol subway stations.
Details here

Festive facts and figures about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Opening of the parade; photo courtesy of Macy’s, Inc

November 15, 2019

Festive facts and figures about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

By Devin Gannon

It's turkey time! The annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade hits the streets of Manhattan for the 93rd time on Thursday, Nov. 28. Since 1924, the parade has kicked off the holiday season each year with balloons, live performances, and a sense of cheer. If you're going to be one of 50 million people watching the festivities from home, or joining the crowd of 3.5 million people attending, there are a ton of fun facts and figures to know ahead of time. From the number of marching band members (2,793) to the hours of work put in by Macy's team pre-parade (50,000), learn the ins and outs of one of NYC's greatest celebrations, by the numbers.
The full rundown

Events & Things To Do

Facebook snags 1.5 million square feet across three buildings at Hudson Yards

Image by Timothy Schenck; courtesy of Related-Oxford

November 14, 2019

Facebook snags 1.5 million square feet across three buildings at Hudson Yards

By Devin Gannon

Facebook this week has signed a lease for 1.5 million square feet of office space across three buildings at Hudson Yards. Starting next year, the tech company will expand to 30 Hudson Yards, 55 Hudson Yards, and 50 Hudson Yards, the latter which will not be open until 2022 and will consist of the bulk of the lease at 1.2 million square feet.
Get more details here

Real Estate Trends

Barry Diller’s $250M offshore Pier 55 park dubbed ‘Little Island’

Rendering courtesy of Little Island

November 13, 2019

Barry Diller’s $250M offshore Pier 55 park dubbed ‘Little Island’

By Devin Gannon

The offshore park currently under construction in the Hudson River has been officially christened "Little Island," the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation announced Wednesday. The Pier 55 project, which is being funded by billionaire Barry Diller and overseen by the Hudson River Park Trust, includes over two acres of public green space across a wave-shaped structure near West 13th Street in the Meatpacking District. First proposed in 2014 for $35 million, Little Island is expected to cost $250 million and open in the spring of 2021.
Get the details

Architecture And Design

Staten Island officials revive call for the borough to secede NYC

Photo by InSapphoWeTrust on Flickr

November 13, 2019

Staten Island officials revive call for the borough to secede NYC

By Devin Gannon

Staten Island officials this week said they will push forward plans for the borough to leave New York City, reviving a fight partially won over 25 years ago. As first reported by the Staten Island Advance, Republican Council Members Joe Borelli and Steven Matteo, who represent the borough, plan to introduce two pieces of legislation that would create a committee to determine the logistics and costs of the secession, as well as a commission a study to look at the feasibility of designating county governments within the city. In 1993, Staten Island residents voted to leave the Big Apple, but the measure never went further after failing to pass in Albany.
Sayonara, Staten Island?

Policy

$52M supportive housing complex with health-focused amenities opens in the South Bronx

Rendering by Peter L. Woll Architect, P.C; Courtesy of Community Access

November 13, 2019

$52M supportive housing complex with health-focused amenities opens in the South Bronx

By Devin Gannon

An affordable housing complex with health and wellness perks officially opened in the South Bronx on Tuesday, after breaking ground more than two years ago. The $52 million building at 111 East 172nd Street in the neighborhood of Mount Eden contains 126 apartments, with 60 of them set aside for those living with mental illness. The units are affordable for households earning 60 percent of the area median income.
More here

Affordable Housing

Norah Jones is selling her 19th-century Cobble Hill townhouse for $8M

Photo by Christian Harder for Nest Seekers International

November 12, 2019

Norah Jones is selling her 19th-century Cobble Hill townhouse for $8M

By Devin Gannon

Grammy Award winner Norah Jones has listed her four-story townhouse in Cobble Hill for $8 million, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday. The Brooklyn home sits 25 feet wide at 166 Amity Street and contains five bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a backyard with a disappearing heated pool and hot tub. The singer-songwriter first picked up the 19th-century pad in 2009 for $4.9 million. Unfortunately, the vintage Krakauer piano found by the back door is not included in the sale.
Take the tour

Zagat New York City restaurant guide returns to print after three years

Photo by Emily Schindler for Zagat

November 12, 2019

Zagat New York City restaurant guide returns to print after three years

By Devin Gannon

The iconic pocket-sized guide to New York City restaurants has released its first print edition since 2016. Zagat's 2020 New York City Restaurants guidebook, available on Tuesday, includes more than 1,400 new reviews and a compilation of reports from the past 40 years of the beloved "burgundy bibles." Google purchased Zagat, which first launched in 1980, from its founders in 2011, expanded its digital presence over the next seven years, and then sold it last year to The Infatuation, which plans to rebuild the guide's online platform.
More here

Food & Dining

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