All articles by Michelle Cohen

Michelle is a New York-based writer and content strategist who has worked extensively with lifestyle brands like Seventeen, Country Living, Harper’s Bazaar and iVillage. In addition to being a copywriter for a digital media agency she writes about culture, New York City neighborhoods, real estate, style, design and technology among other topics. She has lived in a number of major US cities on both coasts and in between and loves all things relating to urbanism and culture.
10 ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2021 in NYC without the Times Square crowds

Photo by Edoardo Tommasini from Pexels

December 22, 2021

10 ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2021 in NYC without the Times Square crowds

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New Yorkers are emerging and socializing, but we're still being cautious. That means you might not feel like mixing and mingling with a massive crowd of revelers from all over the planet. If you’d rather enjoy a more subtle celebration, check out the events we've listed below. Note that while the parties and performances were still on the calendar at publication, some venues are canceling more populous events in the name of extra caution, so double check before heading out. For all events, you can be sure mask and vaccine-proof protocols will be in place, so plan accordingly.
2022, this way
This $2.6M classic Soho loft is a collector’s dream

Photo credit: Brown Harris Stevens

December 16, 2021

This $2.6M classic Soho loft is a collector’s dream

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This loft co-op at 421 West Broadway has the covetable loft bones that exemplify the Soho neighborhood: 11-foot-high wood-beamed ceilings, tall windows, big, open rooms, and wood floors. Anyone with a serious collection should take note: This particular loft, asking $2,600,000, belongs to an artist and collector, and while the space is the perfect home for loft lovers, it doubles as a fascinating gallery.
Step into the collectors' loft
City Council approves massive Grand Hyatt redevelopment project at 175 Park Avenue

Rendering by Ekoomedia, Inc. / Courtesy of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

December 16, 2021

City Council approves massive Grand Hyatt redevelopment project at 175 Park Avenue

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The New York City Council voted on Wednesday to allow the proposed development at the site currently occupied by the Grand Hyatt Hotel at 175 Park Avenue. New Greater East Midtown zoning rules permit developers to construct supersized towers if they are accompanied by hefty contributions to transit and public amenities. In addition to the construction of a 2.1-million-square-foot, 1,575-foot-high building with retail and office space, a new 500-room hotel, a sky lobby, a lounge, and a restaurant, the site will include 25,000 square feet of elevated, publicly accessible terraces that will host cultural and arts events. The project also promises to bring hundreds of millions of dollars in transit improvements.
Find out more
Landmarks votes to keep ‘Fearless Girl’ statue across from the Stock Exchange for three more years

Photo by Ahmer Kalam on Unsplash

December 15, 2021

Landmarks votes to keep ‘Fearless Girl’ statue across from the Stock Exchange for three more years

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New York City's Landmarks Preservation Commission agreed in a unanimous vote on Tuesday to keep the popular "Fearless Girl" statue in its home on Broad Street across from the New York Stock Exchange for three more years.  As 6sqft previously reported, the statue’s permit with the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) expired on November 29. State Street Global Advisors, the statue’s owners, submitted a request for a ten-year permit last year, which will ultimately be addressed at a hearing before the Public Design Commission, which oversees the city’s art collection. The LPC vote was based solely on the statue's placement in a historically significant location.
Find out more
For $2.5M, this five-story Georgian townhouse on Strivers’ Row is a well-preserved Harlem gem

Images courtesy of Douglas Elliman

December 15, 2021

For $2.5M, this five-story Georgian townhouse on Strivers’ Row is a well-preserved Harlem gem

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This five-story Georgian-style townhouse at 2362 Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard was built in 1896 and has only been home to two owners since that time. Its original owner was among the first African-American dentists living and practicing on Strivers' Row. The single-family townhouse may be only just over 15 feet wide, but a wealth of history and intact original details make it a gracious home. Asking $2,495,000, the 4,112 square-foot 14-room home contains seven bedrooms and nine fireplaces.
Tour the historic uptown townhouse
Asking $6M, Upper East Side pre-war co-op is the picture of Park Avenue living

Images courtesy of Warburg Realty.

December 14, 2021

Asking $6M, Upper East Side pre-war co-op is the picture of Park Avenue living

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The spacious, elegant pre-war co-op at 625 Park Avenue embodies the classic ideal of Manhattan apartment living, starting with a private elevator landing. Asking $5,995,000, the two-bedroom home has spacious entertaining rooms and convenient staff spaces–which could easily be repurposed as bedrooms or office/studio space–rarely found in new construction apartments. Rooms have gracious proportions, subtle architectural details, wood-burning fireplaces, and plenty of Park Avenue frontage.
This way for more classic Park Avenue good looks
Hochul announces plan for new $9.5B international terminal at JFK Airport

Rendering by Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

December 14, 2021

Hochul announces plan for new $9.5B international terminal at JFK Airport

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One of New York's busiest airports will be getting a new $9.5 billion terminal, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Monday. Led by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYJ), a planned 2.4 million-square-foot state-of-the-art terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport will become its largest international terminal. "The time to get large infrastructure projects done is now, and I'm committed to getting JFK's brand new Terminal One underway and completed as soon as possible," Hochul said.
Finally, the future of JFK, this way
Habitat enhancement project adds 11 million oysters to New York Harbor

Photo credit: Max Guliani/Hudson River Park

December 13, 2021

Habitat enhancement project adds 11 million oysters to New York Harbor

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The Tribeca Habitat Enhancement Project announced it has completed what has been the largest habitat enhancement project to date, and the first large-scale restoration initiative in Hudson River Park's 400-acre Estuarine Sanctuary between Pier 26 and Pier 34. A key indicator of the project's success: the installation of 11.2 million juvenile oysters to help support marine life in the Hudson River.
Many oysters, this way
This $1.15M Crown Heights condo has a colorful Plain English kitchen and plenty of space for dinner guests

Photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

December 13, 2021

This $1.15M Crown Heights condo has a colorful Plain English kitchen and plenty of space for dinner guests

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This $1,149,000 Crown Heights condo at 720 Nostrand Avenue has high-floor light, a spacious layout, and a custom kitchen that transcends the ordinary. On the fifth floor of a six-story elevator building, the two-bedroom, two-bath home also has a private balcony off the master bedroom, a washer/dryer, and pale hardwood floors throughout.
Take the tour
The 30+ best neighborhood shops in NYC for finding the perfect gift

Photo credits clockwise from top left: Park Deli; Frankie Marin/Verameat; Quality Goods; Michele Varian

December 10, 2021

The 30+ best neighborhood shops in NYC for finding the perfect gift

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We've been shopping online for what seems like forever, and there's not a thing wrong with it–except when we crave that amazing experience of finding just the right thing and getting to take it with us now. While brick-and-mortar shops aren't going away anytime soon, we appreciate the good ones that much more. If you're lucky enough to live in New York City–where shopping is high art–some of the best shops on the planet could be just around the corner from where you live. You're sure to find something fabulous for everyone on your list among the local addresses below.
Amazing local NYC shops, this way
Edge switches on the holidays with 50,000 twinkling lights high over Hudson Yards

Photo courtesy of Edge

December 9, 2021

Edge switches on the holidays with 50,000 twinkling lights high over Hudson Yards

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New York City's highest outdoor sky deck is putting a high priority on holiday spirit this year: Edge, suspended in mid-air 100 stories above Hudson Yards, is gearing up to give you a spectacular view of the season with 50,000 lights, switched-on trees, giant hot air balloon displays and a mouth-watering batch of holiday beverages.
More details, this way
Behind a double-height glass wall this $5M Flatiron co-op has architectural flair and a private terrace

Photo credit: Heidi Solander for Sotheby’s International Realty

December 9, 2021

Behind a double-height glass wall this $5M Flatiron co-op has architectural flair and a private terrace

By
This impressive Flatiron penthouse at 30 East 21st Street gets instant attention for the sloping double-height wall of framed glass that opens the home up to the city skyline–and the sky. But the $4,995,000 co-op has more enviable attributes: Off the living room is an equally sizable private piazza. In addition, two bedrooms and two baths, endless closet space, and a laundry room are just a few more of the luxuries found in this modern aerie, which was featured in Architectural Digest.
Soak up some sun, this way
See the city and the stars from your bedroom’s glass ceiling or your private Village roof deck for $1.8M

Photo credit: Allyson Lubow for The Corcoran Group

December 8, 2021

See the city and the stars from your bedroom’s glass ceiling or your private Village roof deck for $1.8M

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Asking $1,825,000, this two-bedroom co-op duplex at 49 East 12th Street in Greenwich Village is perfect for star-gazers and urban gardeners. A prime location near Union Square makes this pre-war penthouse a find, but the primary bedroom's solarium effect and a bi-level private roof deck are the details that truly shine.
Take a look
How to steer clear of NYC SantaCon 2021

Photo by Jim Henderson via Wikimedia Commons

December 7, 2021

How to steer clear of NYC SantaCon 2021

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The idea behind the annual cosplay event is solid: A "charitable, non-political, nonsensical Santa Claus convention that happens once a year to spread absurdist joy." With booze, of course. But after entering the mainstream and picking up steam for a full 25 years (the event took a year off in 2020, because, you know), the annual pub crawl seems better suited to a 1980s frat house than the streets of NYC. And we're pretty sure there are better ways to spend a day of drunken debauchery than yelling across Midtown bars over a horde of sloshed Santa clones. This year's SantaCon details are here, so you can figure out where not to bring a first date on Saturday, December 11. A few more suggestions, ahead.
Ho, ho, no
Hochul announces $539M fund to help New York homeowners who are behind on payments

Photo by Daryan Shamkhali on Unsplash

December 7, 2021

Hochul announces $539M fund to help New York homeowners who are behind on payments

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Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday that New York will be the first state to receive the U.S. Department of the Treasury's approval for its Homeowner Assistance Fund. The program offers up to $539 million to help low- and moderate-income homeowners affected by the Covid-19 pandemic avoid mortgage delinquency, default, foreclosure, and displacement.
Find out more
New immersive experience will make you feel like you’re flying high over NYC

Images courtesy of RiseNY

December 6, 2021

New immersive experience will make you feel like you’re flying high over NYC

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If you love the vertigo-inducing excitement of SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, Midtown's high-in-the-sky observation deck, you can look forward to RiseNY's pairing of aerial adventure and cultural museum exhibit, powered by the city’s first flight simulation ride. Opening December 17 at 160 West 45th Street, the new immersive attraction combines the ultimate feeling of flight with the inspiration of the city's most famous sites and moments.
Up, up and away
$5M penthouse is a Manhattan classic with 360-degree views and wraparound terraces

Photo Credit: Warburg Realty

December 6, 2021

$5M penthouse is a Manhattan classic with 360-degree views and wraparound terraces

By
This 5,000-square-foot penthouse at 303 East 57th Street in the Excelsior co-op tower is the sort of apartment you see in your favorite 20th-century New York City films. Asking $4,995,000, the duplex is wrapped by 2,500 square feet of terrace and offers 360-degree views from four exposures including Central Park and the East River.
Take the grand tour
This $1.95M Southampton cottage pair is definitely somebody’s dream home

Photo credit: RISE Media for The Corcoran Group

December 3, 2021

This $1.95M Southampton cottage pair is definitely somebody’s dream home

By
For anyone with cottage dreams, this pretty pair of homes at 10 Schwenks Lane in the Southampton hamlet of Water Mill definitely fits the bill. Asking $1,950,000, the property consists of the main cottage, a second cottage, and a historic barn/garage, all with charming architectural details and bespoke comforts. The equally charming surrounding property offers a koi pond and flowering foliage.
Tour the two cute cottages
44 perfect gifts for every New Yorker
December 3, 2021

44 perfect gifts for every New Yorker

By
As much as we all want the same things sometimes, when it comes to the goodies that peek from stockings and hide in wrapped boxes, it can be a real challenge to find the right match. New Yorkers are finicky, have it all, and want everything and nothing–all at the same time. Our 2021 gift guide is up to that challenge. All of these products have been hand-selected by team 6sqft. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these affiliate links. All prices reflect those at the time of publishing.
This way for the 2021 gift guide
‘Fearless Girl’ statue faces possible eviction as permit expires

Image via Anthony Quintano’s Flickr

December 2, 2021

‘Fearless Girl’ statue faces possible eviction as permit expires

By
In 2018, 6sqft reported that artist Kristen Visbal's "Fearless Girl" statue was on the move to her current spot across from the New York Stock Exchange. Now, the diminutive statue is in the news once again, as her time there may be drawing to a close. The statue's permit with the Landmarks Preservation Commission expired on November 29, and with a city hearing scheduled for December (or even later), the fate of "Fearless Girl" is not a sure thing.
Find out more
In Murray Hill, $4.5M townhouse has two gracious apartments and a romantic Broadway history

Images courtesy of Compass.

December 1, 2021

In Murray Hill, $4.5M townhouse has two gracious apartments and a romantic Broadway history

By
Built in 1857, the 4,000-square-foot townhouse at 113 East 35th Street on a tree-lined Murray Hill block is a fine example of Italianate brownstone style. Inside, a thorough renovation of the home's five floors has resulted in two spacious apartments–a two-bedroom lower duplex and four-bed upper triplex–that offer the best of Manhattan living. Asking $4,500,000, the home has kept its historic details while adding modern style and convenience. It has also been blessed with well-deserved fame of the best New York City kind: Former residents include film and stage stars Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy, who lived here in the 1940s and 1950s, during the heady days of their legendary romance.
Have a look inside
This luxury-filled $15M Brooklyn Heights townhouse has passive house tech behind its historic grandeur

Photo credit: Evan Joseph for The Corcoran Group

November 30, 2021

This luxury-filled $15M Brooklyn Heights townhouse has passive house tech behind its historic grandeur

By
This 7,040 square foot townhouse at 37 Sidney Place in the postcard-pretty Brooklyn Heights Historic District spans six stories of living space–all accessed by a bronze-mirrored elevator. From the gym and sauna in the basement to the top-floor treehouse room, there are six bedrooms, nine baths, a landscaped garden, and two terraces. Asking $14,950,000, the Greek Revival-style home was built in 1846. A complete renovation by Baxt Ingui Architects has added every modern luxury and a sustainable future: The house is under review for passive house certification.
Hop on the elevator for a six-floor tour
NYC plans to replace Coney Island boardwalk with sustainable plastic decking

Photo via Shinya Suzuki’s Flickr

November 29, 2021

NYC plans to replace Coney Island boardwalk with sustainable plastic decking

By
The New York City Parks Department announced this month $114.5 million in funding will be used to kick off the reconstruction of Coney Island's landmarked Riegelmann Boardwalk in the first such overhaul since the wooden walkway was built in the 1920s. But not everyone is on board with the reconstruction, which involves replacing the length of the hardwood boardwalk with recycled plastic decking as part of a sustainability plan. Some residents feel the synthetic material is a poor choice for the waterfront icon.
Find out more about the proposed new boardwalk
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