All articles by Devin Gannon

November 29, 2018

Where I Work: See how Stickbulb’s first-ever showroom is lighting up Long Island City

Before opening their first showroom, sustainable lighting brand Stickbulb had just one wire rack of shelving and one workbench, with their supplies spilling out into the communal areas of their building. They desperately needed more space. The company found it this year in a 10,000-square-foot former steel factory in Long Island City. With its terracotta walls and wooden floors, not only does the new space aptly complement Stickbulb’s modern LED light fixtures, but the former factory gives them enough room to show off how their products are made and the people who make them. Sustainability remains a core mission for Stickbulb, which was founded six years ago by Russell Greenberg and Chris Beardsley, the creative team behind RUX Design. Using salvaged wood from demolished buildings and dismantled water towers, Stickbulb products always have a story to tell. "The idea is that the customer can trace back the wood that they have in their light fixture back to the original building it was a part of," Russell told us during a recent visit to the company's showroom. Ahead, take a tour of Stickbulb's new space and hear from Russell and Chris on starting the studio, the process behind finding reclaimed wood, and the bright future of the growing company.
See inside
November 29, 2018

Trump ‘receptive’ to Gateway project, but still no funding agreement reached

Gov. Andrew Cuomo called his meeting with President Donald Trump "productive," despite not reaching an agreement about the funding of a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River. The two Queens natives met for lunch at the White House on Wednesday to discuss the Gateway project, a plan to fix an existing train tunnel and build a new one, construct two new bridges, and expand Penn Station, estimated to cost $30 billion. "I think it's fair to say the president was receptive to what we were talking about," Cuomo said. But there is no timeline for the project, as the governor noted. "So we are nowhere right now," Cuomo told reporters. "There is no clock ticking because there is no clock."
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November 28, 2018

Cuomo to meet with Trump over funding for Gateway Tunnel project

Gov. Andrew Cuomo will meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday to discuss funding for the Gateway Tunnel Project, a plan which would fix an existing rail tunnel and build a new one under the Hudson River between New Jersey and New York City. In October, Cuomo sent the president a video of the severely damaged, century-old tunnel and called on the Trump administration to fund their share of the project, which is estimated to cost $30 billion. "The Federal Government poses many challenges for the State of New York but one of the top priorities is to replace the Gateway tunnels," Cuomo said in a statement. "These tunnels are Federally owned by the Amtrak Corporation and must be replaced."
More here
November 28, 2018

See Central Park reimagined after being devastated by a fictional eco-terrorist attack

The University of Pennsylvania announced this week five winners of its ICONOCLAST competition, a design contest that asked participants to reimagine Central Park following a hypothetical eco-terrorist attack (h/t NY Times). The contest attracted 382 entries from 30 countries, all competing for $20,000 and the chance to be published in LA+ Journal. Richard Weller, a jury chair for the contest, said, "From megastructures to new ecologies and radical ideas for democratizing public space, the LA+ICONOCLAST winning entries can move beyond the status quo of picturesque large parks and embrace the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century." Ahead, check out the designs of a recreated 21st-century Central Park from the five finalists.
See the designs
November 27, 2018

How to get around Midtown during tomorrow’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting

Driving in Midtown is never advised, but really must be avoided this Wednesday. The 86th annual lighting ceremony of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree kicks off tomorrow, bringing with it more than 100,000 spirited visitors and blocks of street closures. The city's Department of Transportation designated Wednesday a "Gridlock Alert Day" for the celebration, meaning drivers can expect travel throughout the area to take twice as long as usual.
Plan ahead
November 27, 2018

New signals on the 7 line fail on first day system goes live

After seven years of installing modern signals on the 7 line, the system failed on the first day it went live. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Monday announced on Twitter that "modern signaling tech" went live on the entire line. Less than an hour later, the authority tweeted that 7 trains were delayed in both directions due to a "network communication problem." Upgrading the line with the new system, called communications-based train control, originally was scheduled to finish by late 2016.
7-train problems continue
November 26, 2018

Carnegie Deli returns as a pop-up for one week in Nolita, serving up 99-cent sandwiches

New York City's beloved Carnegie Deli makes an eight-day return next month with a pop-up experience in Nolita. From Dec. 1 through Dec. 8, the former Midtown deli, which closed in 2016 after serving its famous 1-pound sandwiches for nearly 80 years, will be revived at a storefront at 201 Lafayette Street. The pop-up pastrami shop comes from Amazon Prime in celebration of its new season of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," a comedy-drama set in 1950s Manhattan (h/t NBC 4).
Get the deli details
November 26, 2018

Long Island City advocates want to obtain a city-owned building before Amazon takes over

Long Island City advocates are requesting ownership of a city-owned building that sits on land soon to be developed by Amazon for its second headquarters, as the Wall Street Journal first reported. The sprawling, block-long structure at 44-36 Vernon Boulevard currently houses offices related to the city's Department of Education along with over 1,000 staff members. For the past three years, local residents have asked for the building to be turned into a community facility. With all eyes on Long Island City due to Amazon's impending move there, advocates believe this is their last chance for the community to take over the property.
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November 21, 2018

Starting in January, it will cost $5.80 just to sit in a yellow cab in parts of Manhattan

Under the state's new congestion pricing measure, starting in January it will cost $5.80 to get into a yellow cab in the most congested sections of Manhattan. Approved by state lawmakers earlier this year, the surcharge on for-hire vehicles affects all rides between Lower Manhattan and 96th Street during the busiest times of the day. But drivers of yellow cabs worry the fee will affect them more than app-based ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft, which can mask the surcharge by tweaking trip costs (h/t WSJ).
Learn more
November 20, 2018

Industry City’s 20,000-square-foot Japanese food hall opens this weekend

When you can't stand to eat any more Thanksgiving leftovers, head to Sunset Park on Saturday for the grand opening of Japan Village, a massive Japanese-themed marketplace. Measuring 20,000 square feet, the market is located within Industry City, the 16-building complex of creative office space along the Brooklyn waterfront. Japan Village includes food stalls with 11 tasty vendors, a restaurant and cocktail bar, a Japanese liquor store, and the largest Japanese grocery store in New York City.
Get the tasty details
November 20, 2018

NYCHA will turn over 62,000 apartments to private developers for repair work

The New York City Housing Authority will turn over 62,000 apartments to private developers as a way to provide necessary repairs to the units, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Monday. Through a public-private partnership, via the Rental Assistance Demonstration program (RAD), all units will be converted into Section 8 and remain permanently affordable. Renovations, which will cost nearly $13 billion, include new kitchens and bathrooms, improved common spaces, and replacing windows, boilers, roofs, and elevators. About 142,000 New Yorkers across the developments will benefit from the repair work.
Find out more
November 20, 2018

With key environmental approval, Second Avenue Subway’s second phase inches forward

The second phase of the Second Avenue Subway passed its environmental assessment, putting the Metropolitan Transportation Authority one step closer to bringing more subway service to East Harlem. The agency announced on Monday that with the Federal Transit Administration issuing the project a "Finding of No Significant Impact," the MTA can now secure federal funding for phase two. In this phase, the Q line will extend from its terminus at 96th Street north to 125th Street, moving west to Lexington and Park Avenues, where the line will connect with the 4, 5, 6, and Metro-North trains.
More here
November 19, 2018

First look at the glassy rooftop addition Bjarke Ingels is planning for the Lord & Taylor building

As 6sqft reported earlier this month, Bjarke Ingels' restoration of the landmarked Lord & Taylor building won't alter the design of the original structure all that much. But one major update the Bjarke Ingels Group will bring to the 104-year Fifth Avenue department store includes a new roof terrace with multi-use areas and a glassy courtyard. The firm's proposal, set to be presented to the Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday, reveals a new rendering of the rooftop as well as plans to change the iconic store's signage.
Design updates here
November 16, 2018

Plan for 1,500 units of affordable housing in LIC at risk as Amazon gets ready to move there

A plan to create 1,500 units of affordable housing in the Anable Basin area of Long Island City will most likely be scrapped, as Amazon prepares to open its headquarters on that same land, Politico reported. Amazon announced this week plans to bring its second headquarters to the Queens neighborhood on land currently owned by plastics company Plaxall, as well as some parcels owned by New York City. Previous plans from Plaxall and the city, who hired developer TF Cornerstone to build a mixed-use campus at the site, called for 1,250 and 250 units of affordable housing, respectively. But an Amazon spokesperson told Politico there will be no housing at its new complex.
Amazon in, affordable housing out
November 16, 2018

Service cuts and fare hikes proposed as MTA faces major budget crisis

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in July said it would face a budget gap of $634 million in 2022. Turns out, it will actually be much worse than that. The transit authority on Thursday rolled out its proposed 2019 budget and four-year financial plan, which now projects the budget deficit to climb to a staggering $991 million in four years. With this major budget crisis brewing, the MTA announced two new options for fare and toll increases in 2019 and possible service cuts, all while service deteriorates and ridership drops (h/t WSJ).
More on the fare hike here
November 15, 2018

MVRDV’s vibrant ‘vertical village’ hotel breaks ground in Washington Heights

Netherlands-based architecture firm MVRDV on Thursday broke ground on its first major project in the United States: a 22-story tower in Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood. Dubbed the Radio Tower & Hotel, the mixed-use building will feature a hotel, retail, and office space all in a colorful, boxy structure. According to the architects, the vibrant boxes take inspiration from the colors of "storefronts in the majority-Hispanic neighborhood" and keeps them the same size as other buildings in the area.
See it here
November 15, 2018

Will Jeff Bezos live in one of his Upper West Side apartments when Amazon comes to town?

With Amazon officially coming to New York City, where will its founder and chief executive live? Jeff Bezos will have an easier time finding a property in the city than most, as he already owns four apartments in Manhattan. All of the NYC properties owned by the multi-billionaire are located on the Upper West Side at 25 Central Park West, in a condo building known as the Century (h/t I Love The UWS). Bezos, who owns several homes (as well as the biggest in Washington, D.C.) and remains one of the top landowners in the country, has requested helipad access for Amazon's new Long Island City headquarters, making any neighborhood he chooses to live just a quick ride away.
More here
November 14, 2018

MTA approves discounted MetroCards for 7- and 30-day passes only

Reduced MetroCards are coming to New York City in January, but the discounts only apply to weekly and monthly passes. New details about the Fair Fares program, which was officially included in the city budget in June, were released on Tuesday during an MTA board meeting. According to meeting minutes, the MTA will not be providing single trip discounts when the program kicks off next year. Instead, low-income New Yorkers who are living at or below the federal poverty level, or a household income of $25,000 for a family of four, can buy half-off 7-day or 30-day passes.  
Find out more
November 14, 2018

My 3,400sqft: How an extensive renovation revived this eclectic, century-old Ditmas Park home

Advertising professional Stephanie Berman went into a design consultation with designer Fauzia Khanani, of Studio Fōr, simply seeking advice on decor for her Ditmas Park home. “I figured that Fauzia might help me choose a few new throw pillows and maybe a rug or two," Stephanie told us, "but once we sat down to talk, I realized that soft furnishings were not going to do it." After the free two-hour session, won through a silent auction at work, Stephanie and her husband Drummond concluded they actually wanted a full renovation of their century-old home, where their family has lived for over a decade. Through an in-depth collaboration with Fauzia, the Bermans' home was refreshed with brightly painted walls, Mid-century modern touches, eclectic elements, and, of course, new throw pillows. For this project, the first in the neighborhood for Studio Fōr, Fauzia told us: "We wanted to add some modernity to the house but also be respectful of the original design and context."
See inside Stephanie's cozy home
November 14, 2018

MTA to buy Grand Central Terminal for $35M

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is set to purchase Grand Central Terminal for $35 million, a deal which will give the agency more control over development projects happening at the space. Expected to be approved by the MTA's full board Thursday, the sale ends the 280-year lease that began in 1994 and gave the agency a one-time window to buy the station. Along with the famed terminal, the sale also includes miles of track on Metro-North's Harlem and Hudson lines.
Get the details
November 13, 2018

See the waterfront site in Long Island City where Amazon will bring its new mixed-use campus

Amazon officially announced on Tuesday its plan to bring its second headquarters to Long Island City, following a 14-month long contest among hundreds of cities across the country. The company will also open a second new headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, with each location expected to house 25,000 new employees; Nashville will become home to Amazon's "Operations Center of Excellence," equipped for 5,000 full-time jobs. In Queens, Amazon intends to construct the mixed-use complex across both public and private sites that sit along the East River, in an area known as Anable Basin. Although the HQ2 project still must undergo a public and environmental review, as well as a possible rezoning, the tech company said it will receive over $1.7 billion in incentives from New York State for its project, which is expected to cost over $3.6 billion, and has the potential for another $1.3 billion "as-of-right" benefits from New York City.
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November 9, 2018

One World Observatory to get a magical makeover for the holidays

The holidays are always a special time in New York City, with tons of events and attractions to keep busy from Thanksgiving to New Years. But most festivities don't take place over 1,200 feet in the sky. One World Observatory does just that during their "Winter ONEderland" event, which transforms their 102nd-floor observatory into a magical winter oasis beginning on Nov. 26. Starting with a snowy ride to the top of One WTC, the event features interactive multi-media installations, visits from Santa, and holiday-themed fare and beverages.
How to get tickets
November 9, 2018

Replacement approved for iconic Watchtower sign in Brooklyn Heights

The city's Board of Standards and Appeals voted on Thursday to allow for a replacement of the iconic 'Watchtower' sign in Brooklyn Heights, which was taken down last December. The 15-foot-tall red sign had sat atop the building, which served as the headquarters for the Jehovah's Witnesses, for nearly 50 years. The religious group sold the site at 25-30 Columbia Heights to the Columbia Heights Associates in 2016 and soon after the letters were removed, leaving its framework intact. While originally the Department of Buildings said the sign could not be replaced, the group of developers filed an appeal and won the right to put up new signage in the Brooklyn skyline, as the New York Post reported.
More here
November 9, 2018

4 and Q trains are taking this weekend off

Two of the city's busiest subway lines apparently need some time off this weekend. The 4 train is not running at all in Brooklyn and does not stop at 11 more stops Uptown and in the Bronx. Although the local 6 typically comes to our rescue, it won't happen this weekend. The 6 is skipping 28, 51, 68, 77, 96, 103, 110, and 116th Streets. Plus, the Q is not running between Prospect Park and 96th Street. But thankfully, the M is running special weekend service along the Q. Before you head out this weekend, check the rest of the planned service changes ahead.
Know before you go
November 8, 2018

Zaha Hadid Gallery pop-up comes to the ground floor of 520 West 28th Street

A new public pop-up exhibition opened on Thursday that features architectural models and design products from Zaha Hadid Architects. The exhibition is located on the ground level of 520 West 28th Street, the futuristic High Line condo designed by late starchitect Zaha Hadid. The 2,000-square-foot gallery space is a part of Related Companies' High Line Nine, a collection of boutique exhibition space under the High Line. Gallery-goers will see models of 520 W 28th and other projects as well as the latest collaborations from Zaha Hadid Design.
Get the details