All articles by Devin Gannon

New Jersey’s long-stalled American Dream mega-mall is delayed again
May 21, 2019

New Jersey’s long-stalled American Dream mega-mall is delayed again

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The opening of the mega-mall next to Met Life Stadium in New Jersey is delayed again, the developer announced on Monday. American Dream, a huge three-million-square-foot venue with an indoor ski slope, water park, amusement rides, and ice rink, will open this fall instead of the spring, as originally promised. But what's a few more months? The project has been in the works for more than 16 years, plagued by financial and legal problems.
More here
Audible opens new offices at a restored historic cathedral in Newark
May 20, 2019

Audible opens new offices at a restored historic cathedral in Newark

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Audible, the audiobook company owned by Amazon, opened new offices on Friday in a restored historic cathedral in Newark. The company, which has been located in New Jersey's largest city since 2007, restored an 80,000-square-foot 1913 church and modernized it with open workspace, a four-lane bowling alley, and cafes. Dubbed the Innovation Cathedral, the new offices on Washington Street will hold 400 employees.
See the space
Mapping the lesbian bars and clubs of NYC’s past

“Addresses Project” map via Gwen Shockey

May 20, 2019

Mapping the lesbian bars and clubs of NYC’s past

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Following the closure of Woodside's Bum Bum Bar in March, only three lesbian bars remain in New York City. To preserve the history of these significate sites, local artist Gwen Shockey has spent five years tracking locations of former lesbian and queer clubs (h/t Daily News). Through an interactive map, Shockey has mapped more than two hundred addresses of venues that once hosted events for lesbians, relying mostly on word-of-mouth storytelling.
See the map
VIDEO: Take a tour of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty’s new museum

Photo of the Immigrant Museum at Ellis Island; Photo © James and Karla Murray

May 17, 2019

VIDEO: Take a tour of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty’s new museum

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As part of a new video series, photographers and longtime New Yorkers James and Karla Murray take us on a tour of one of the few NYC sites they have never visited: Liberty Island. During a press visit with 6sqft last week, the duo toured and documented the recently opened Statue of Liberty Museum, taking in the interactive galleries, views of Lady Liberty, and the statue's original torch. And as part of a preview with Untapped Cities, James and Karla got a behind-the-scenes look at the abandoned Ellis Island hospital as well as its Immigration Museum. Ahead, ride the Statue Cruises ferry with them from Bowling Green to Liberty and Ellis Islands, taking in all of the historic sites along the way.
See the video
New looks and pricing details for Extell’s Central Park Tower

New rendering of Central Park Tower’s indoor pool, via Extell

May 17, 2019

New looks and pricing details for Extell’s Central Park Tower

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In March, Extell Development's supertall on Billionaires' Row became the tallest residential tower in the world, surpassing the 1,396-foot-tall 432 Park Avenue. Now, ahead of Central Park Tower's official topping out scheduled this summer, the developers have released new renderings of its exclusive amenity space, including the indoor pool and full-service lobby. And a handful of the building's 179 residences will be listed for the first time next week, ranging from a two-bedroom for $6.9 million to a five-bedroom for $63 million.
More this way
NYC is getting 50 new murals in celebration of Pride next month

Buff Monster’s Lower East Side mural; Photo courtesy of NYC Pride

May 16, 2019

NYC is getting 50 new murals in celebration of Pride next month

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To celebrate WorldPride and the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising next month, 50 murals will be painted on walls across New York City. As amNY first reported, the new street art is an initiative from NYC Pride for the World Mural Project. According to the organization, the murals will "reflect and honor the beauty, struggle, and strides of the LGBTQIA+ community." The first mural designed by local artist Buff Monster was completed last week and can be viewed on the corner of Chrystie and Broome Street on the Lower East Side.
Get the details
PHOTOS: The TWA Hotel at JFK is officially open!

Looking down on the terminal from the London Club; Photo courtesy of TWA Hotel/David Mitchell

May 15, 2019

PHOTOS: The TWA Hotel at JFK is officially open!

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The much-anticipated rebirth of Eero Saarinen's historic TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport is complete. The TWA Hotel officially opened on Wednesday, more than two years after the project broke ground in Queens and over 18 years since the iconic 1962 terminal shuttered. The project was developed by MCR and MORSE Development and designed by architecture firm LUBRANO CIAVARRA. Beyer Blinder Belle Architects handled the restoration of the original Flight Center to prepare for the hotel. The two six-story crescent-shaped buildings contain 512 rooms, a rooftop infinity pool and observation deck, event space, food hall, luxury fitness center, and retro cocktail bar.
Take the tour
See inside the Statue of Liberty’s new museum ahead of this week’s opening
May 14, 2019

See inside the Statue of Liberty’s new museum ahead of this week’s opening

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The Statue of Liberty is a universally recognized structure and symbol. But do most people know the story of its creation? Opening this Thursday, the new Statue of Liberty Museum aims to educate visitors about the history and legacy of the statue through immersive gallery spaces and artifacts. During a press preview last week, 6sqft toured the 26,000-square-foot museum and its landscaped roof, located on Liberty Island across from Lady Liberty herself.
Get a peek
The $32M skylight of the World Trade Center’s Oculus is leaking

Via Wikimedia

May 13, 2019

The $32M skylight of the World Trade Center’s Oculus is leaking

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A rubber seal that runs along the middle of the retractable skylight of the World Trade Center's Oculus has ripped, causing leakage, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday. The tear may have stemmed from the reopening of the skylight during last year's anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, according to the Port Authority, which owns the World Trade Center site.
More here
NYC Council approves 17 tenant protection bills, including one that closes ‘Kushner loophole’

Via Flickr

May 9, 2019

NYC Council approves 17 tenant protection bills, including one that closes ‘Kushner loophole’

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The New York City Council on Wednesday passed a package of 17 bills intended to protect tenants from landlord abuse. The legislation includes closing the so-called "Kushner loophole," which had allowed landlords to file false paperwork with the city's Department of Buildings. The bill comes a year after President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner's family's firm, Kushner Companies, was found to have falsely claimed it had no rent-regulated tenants in dozens of buildings it owned when it actually had hundreds.
Learn about the bills
NYC Council approves JPMorgan’s 70-story Midtown East tower

Via Flickr

May 9, 2019

NYC Council approves JPMorgan’s 70-story Midtown East tower

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The New York City Council on Wednesday approved the first supertall to be constructed under the Midtown East rezoning. JPMorgan Chase will build a new 70-story headquarters at the site of its current offices at 270 Park Avenue. The rezoning, adopted by the city in 2017, affects more than 70 blocks around Grand Central Terminal and encourages the construction of taller, more modern office towers in the neighborhood. Designed by Norman Foster's Foster + Partners, the 1,400-foot building is set to become one of the tallest structures in the city and the tallest office building by roof height. 
More here
Historic Districts Council to host symposium on immigrant-run businesses in NYC

Via Flickr

May 8, 2019

Historic Districts Council to host symposium on immigrant-run businesses in NYC

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Nearly half of New York City's 220,000 small businesses are owned by immigrants. To celebrate this community, the Historic Districts Council is hosting an event this weekend that highlights immigrant-run businesses in New York City. Taking place at the Bohemian National Hall on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the symposium will discuss the ins and outs of running a business in a city that is constantly changing.
Learn more
LPC approves new bike lane for Prospect Park’s perimeter

Rendering courtesy of the Prospect Park Alliance, via LPC

May 8, 2019

LPC approves new bike lane for Prospect Park’s perimeter

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Brooklyn is getting a new bike lane. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday approved a plan from the city's Parks Department to build a protected bike lane on Ocean Avenue around the perimeter of Prospect Park. But two LPC commissioners opposed the design because it calls for removing 57 healthy trees to make way for the new path, the Brooklyn Eagle reported.
Details here
Sunset Park residents urge LPC to preserve neighborhood built by immigrants

Photo via Flickr

May 7, 2019

Sunset Park residents urge LPC to preserve neighborhood built by immigrants

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Sunset Park residents on Tuesday urged the city's Landmarks Preservation Committee to protect the neighborhood's century-old buildings and designate four historic districts. During a packed public hearing, lifelong residents and new homeowners alike testified in favor of landmark designation for all four areas, citing the neighborhood's cohesive and intact architecture, as well as its connection to generations of diverse immigrant communities.
More details here
Proposal to rezone strip of Central Park North includes 33-story mixed-use building

View of the proposed new tower, looking north from 5th Avenue and 108th Street

May 6, 2019

Proposal to rezone strip of Central Park North includes 33-story mixed-use building

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A church has filed an application with New York City to rezone a strip of Central Park North in order to make way for a new mixed-use tower. La Hermosa Christian Church is seeking zoning changes to all or part of at least five lots along West 110th Street, as first reported by YIMBY. A 188-page environmental assessment statement prepared for the Department of City Planning this week details the development of a 33-story mixed-use tower with 160 units, of which roughly 48 would be affordable.
See the plan
Proposed project from Vornado and Rudin calls for 1,450-foot tower in Midtown East

Via Vornado Realty Trust and Rudin Management Company

May 6, 2019

Proposed project from Vornado and Rudin calls for 1,450-foot tower in Midtown East

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A tentative joint venture between two developers could bring another supertall to Midtown East. Vornado Realty Trust and Rudin Management Company may team up to develop a 1,450-foot office tower at 350 Park Avenue, the Real Deal reported Friday. A leaked brochure for the potential project includes renderings of the proposed tower, revealing a glassy building with a series of setbacks that would allow for outdoor terraces and floorplates of various sizes.
See it here
Arts center near Hudson Yards faces demolition from city to make way for new park

Rendering via MVVA and the Hudson Yards Development Corporation

May 3, 2019

Arts center near Hudson Yards faces demolition from city to make way for new park

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To make room for New York City's most expensive park project ever, a handful of properties near the Hudson Yards site face demolition. One of those buildings is Affirmation Arts, a gallery on West 37th run by William Hillman. According to THE CITY, Hillman said he is willing to give his building to the city for free, on the condition it remains a cultural center. "I would like to give this building to the people of New York City to share with the world," Hillman said during a hearing Tuesday.
More here
Members-only rooftop pool to open at the American Copper Buildings, with fees starting at $1,600
May 2, 2019

Members-only rooftop pool to open at the American Copper Buildings, with fees starting at $1,600

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Just in time for summer, a members-only pool is opening atop one of Manhattan's most recognizable buildings. Starting Memorial Day Weekend, the Sentry Club at the American Copper Buildings in Murray Hill will offer guests a private rooftop with poolside cabana service, event space for parties, and classes focused on wellness. But it will cost you: memberships start at $1,600 for the entire summer and go up to $3,200 for the season. The pool will be open starting Thursday, May 23 through Labor Day.
Dive in
New photos of ODA’s Bushwick rental highlight its sloping, sunset-hued facade
May 2, 2019

New photos of ODA’s Bushwick rental highlight its sloping, sunset-hued facade

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While architecture firm ODA's sunset-hued rental in Bushwick topped out almost two years ago, recently released photos of the block-long building reveal a new level of uniqueness. Dubbed the Rheingold, part of the development of the former brewery site, 10 Montieth Street boasts one of the most distinct facades in the city, with a sloping rooftop, cascading terraces, and window frames in a pattern of yellow, orange, and red (h/t Dezeen). The seven-story building contains 500 studio, one-, and two-bedroom residences, which first hit the rental market last August.
See it here
This nitrogen ice cream parlor in the Bronx is a pastel-painted dream

All photos courtesy of Costas Picadas

May 1, 2019

This nitrogen ice cream parlor in the Bronx is a pastel-painted dream

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Last December, Ice Scream opened at the Mall at Bay Plaza, giving the Bronx its first liquid nitrogen ice cream parlor. In addition to serving up futuristic frozen treats, the shop provides a fun and relaxing rest stop in between shopping. Founded by New Yorker Julien Albertini and Alina Pimkina, from Moscow, interior design firm Asthetíque specializes in luxury hospitality and residential design. Although developing a brand for a family business tailored to children was a totally new concept for Julien and Alina, the duo took on the design for Ice Scream and came up with a concept that "benefits society and makes peoples’ lives and businesses more beautiful and functional," according to the designers. Inspired by the 1980s Memphis design movement, Asthetíque has created a space for guests to have “plenty of Instagrammable moments.” From the ceiling's coordinated light show to the fun mantras written in neon script throughout the 24-seat store (ie: "Ice Scream is better than therapy" and "Count your sprinkles, not your problems"), Ice Scream's design not only provides a spot for families to make memories, but as a declaration that the "Bronx can contribute to the world of design." For its innovative and playful ice cream parlor design, Asthetíque was a winner in the 46th annual IIDA Interior Design Competition this year. Ahead, see inside the eye-catching ice cream parlor and hear from Julien and Alina on the brand development process.
Get the scoop on Ice Scream
NYC still has no plan for vacant New York Wheel site, six months after project was terminated

Via New York Wheel

May 1, 2019

NYC still has no plan for vacant New York Wheel site, six months after project was terminated

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The city has not put forth a plan for the vacant Staten Island site of the New York Wheel, a project which was called off last year after nearly a decade of planning. According to the Staten Island Advance, the city's Economic Development Corporation, which oversees the property, has not released any request for proposals for the site. Construction of the project, sold as the world's tallest Ferris wheel, was halted two years ago when the contractor walked off site over unpaid bills. Last October, with $450 million already invested, the project was called off.
More here
City can open a homeless shelter on Billionaires’ Row, judge rules

Via Wikimedia

April 30, 2019

City can open a homeless shelter on Billionaires’ Row, judge rules

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A judge on Monday approved the city's plan to open a homeless shelter near Manhattan's Billionaires' Row neighborhood. Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Alexander Tisch dismissed the lawsuit from the West 58th Street Coalition, a group of residents who claimed the shelter would have "an enormous impact on our densely populated, narrow, high-pedestrian-traffic street." The ruling comes more than a year after Mayor Bill de Blasio first announced plans to open a shelter for 140 single men at the converted Park Savoy hotel, located next to One57, a supertall with a penthouse that sold for $100 million in 2015.
Find out more
See more renderings of historic Times Square Theater’s $100M overhaul
April 30, 2019

See more renderings of historic Times Square Theater’s $100M overhaul

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In October 2017, Stillman Development International signed a 73-year lease on the Times Square Theater, with plans to overhaul the historic venue, which has been closed for the last 30 years, with a $100 million renovation. Headed by Beyer Blinder Belle, the project includes lifting the limestone facade of the theater five feet, restoring original design elements, and adding 52,000 square feet of retail. With the plaster removal process officially underway, more renderings have been released that show off the large terraces, an outdoor rooftop restaurant, and two-story glass box that will cantilever over 42nd Street.
More here
In NJ, this massive Mediterranean-style mansion is back on the market after $29M price cut
April 29, 2019

In NJ, this massive Mediterranean-style mansion is back on the market after $29M price cut

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A mansion in New Jersey once referred to as the "White House of Englewood," is back on the market after a major price cut of $29 million. Located at 83 North Woodland Street in a suburb less than 10 miles from Manhattan, the home is asking $9.99 million. In 2013, the property was listed for $39 million, one of the most expensive listings in the state at the time. Built on five acres of land in 1926, the 24,000-square-foot home boasts a Mediterranean-style design and contains eight bedrooms, a home theater, an infinity pool, and a private lake, all enclosed by a 10-foot-high wall.
Take a tour
Rockefeller Center office tower will be converted into Airbnb rentals

75 Rockefeller Plaza via Google Street View

April 29, 2019

Rockefeller Center office tower will be converted into Airbnb rentals

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Ten floors of an office tower in Rockefeller Center will be converted into short-term rentals, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. RXR Realty, which has leased the tower at 75 Rockefeller Plaza since 2012, has partnered with Airbnb to transform a portion of the 87-year-old building into roughly 200 units of high-end lodging. In a press release, RXR CEO Scott Rechler described the new venture as a "travel experience that immerses guests in a dynamic, thriving community in the heart of Rockefeller Center that's vastly different than anything else in the market today."
Get the scoop
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