Brooklyn

Photo courtesy of Amazon/ Whole Foods

September 2, 2020

First online-only Whole Foods ‘store’ opens in Brooklyn

While new Whole Foods stores in New York City typically open to fanfare from lovers of the grocery chain, a new location in Brooklyn won't get the same in-person hoopla. The first-ever online-only Whole Foods "store" opened in Brooklyn on Tuesday, dedicated exclusively to fulfilling online grocery orders. The new store, which has been in the works for over a year, will not allow any customers inside.
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City Living

$6M Park Slope brownstone has an old-world wine cellar and four outdoor spaces

Photo credit: Shannon Dupre

September 1, 2020

$6M Park Slope brownstone has an old-world wine cellar and four outdoor spaces

By Dana Schulz

Take one look at the old-world wine cellar at this Park Slope brownstone, and it'll make perfect sense that the owners are selling because they're winemakers relocating to California. And the absolutely gorgeous home, listed for $6 million, also has plenty of places to enjoy a nice glass of vino, including four outdoor spaces. The townhouse was completely renovated, retaining its impeccable historic details, while adding modern conveniences and a wonderful, income-producing apartment on the garden floor.
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Distinctive Homes

A modern reno turned this $2.35M Prospect Lefferts Gardens townhouse into a serene family home

Photo credit: DDreps

August 28, 2020

A modern reno turned this $2.35M Prospect Lefferts Gardens townhouse into a serene family home

By Dana Schulz

This townhouse at 179 Midwood Street in Prospect Lefferts Gardens was built as a classic limestone residence in 1905, but in 2012, local firm von Dalwig transformed it into a modern, serene family home. By removing interior walls and opening up the rear facade to the garden, the architects were able to "accommodate the open living and views desired within a compact house and lot," according to their project page. The three-bedroom house is now listed for $2,350,000.
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Distinctive Homes

$499K Crown Heights condo got a makeover from a major plant influencer

Photos by Katherine Marks

August 27, 2020

$499K Crown Heights condo got a makeover from a major plant influencer

By Dana Schulz

When 6sqft took a tour of model Summer Rayne Oakes' apartment in 2016, her home was filled with more than 500 plants. Today, that collection has grown to 1,100 and Summer has written a book on how to "cultivate green space in your home and heart." Most recently, she took this idea and applied her style to a studio apartment at the new Crown Heights condo 111 Montgomery Sreet (h/t NY Post). Listed for $499,000, the apartment is a cool mix of contemporary finishes, boho decor, and, of course, plants galore.
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August 27, 2020

The best NYC apartments for sale under $500K

By Devin Gannon

Like New York City, the real estate market is slowly starting to recover, with hundreds of new apartment listings posted each day. With some industry experts calling it a buyer's market due to an increase in inventory citywide, we're taking a look at some of the best deals for apartments on the market that are listed for under $500,000. From a spacious two-bedroom with a balcony and an outdoor pool in Riverdale to a charming studio with unique architectural details in Prospect Heights, find out what $500,000 can get you in NYC right now.
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Distinctive Homes

Photos by VHT, courtesy of The Corcoran Group

August 27, 2020

$1.75M townhouse is a modernist hideaway in Prospect Heights

By Dana Schulz

This townhouse clad in zinc and Brazilian Ipe definitely doesn't look like the rest in Prospect Heights, and that may be its biggest selling point. The modernist single-family home is like a secret hideaway in the middle of Brooklyn--enter through the gate on Underhill Avenue and find yourself in a landscaped corridor/front yard complete with bamboo, native grasses, and hydrangeas. Pair it with the sleek contemporary interiors, and this home earns its $1,750,000 price tag.
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Distinctive Homes

Coney Island’s colorful Mermaid Parade will take place virtually this weekend

Photo by Shinya Suzuki on Flickr

August 26, 2020

Coney Island’s colorful Mermaid Parade will take place virtually this weekend

By Devin Gannon

Coney Island's beloved Mermaid Parade returns this weekend with a twist. The annual event will be live-streamed online Saturday, August 29 as a "Tail-a-Thon," a parody of a telethon that will raise real money for charity. Marchers, dancers, and musical groups will be performing live from remote locations and available to view online, starting at 1:30 p.m.
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Events & Things To Do

See designs for the Brooklyn park dedicated to LGBTQ advocate Marsha P. Johnson

Renderings courtesy of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office and NY State Parks

August 25, 2020

See designs for the Brooklyn park dedicated to LGBTQ advocate Marsha P. Johnson

By Devin Gannon

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday dedicated Brooklyn's East River State Park to Black transgender rights activist Marsha P. Johnson, making it the first state park in New York named after an LGBTQ person and transgender woman of color. Located on the Williamsburg waterfront and known for hosting popular outdoor market Smorgasburg, the park will feature a new colorful public art installation honoring Johnson, who played a significant role in the Stonewall Uprising and was a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front. The dedication comes on what would have been Johnson's 75th birthday.
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Policy

Photo by sebastien cordat on Unsplash

August 21, 2020

Why can’t Coney Island’s rides reopen?

By Dana Schulz

On Monday, bowling alleys were allowed to reopen, and as of this Monday, gyms and fitness studios, as well as museums and indoor cultural institutions can also reopen at a reduced capacity. So why are Coney Island's amusements still closed? As reported by NY1, Coney Island's amusement operators have joined the New England Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (NEAAPA) to advocate for a reopening before the end of the summer.
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Policy

37 middle-income units available at new Brooklyn rental with rooftop movie screen, from $2,370/month

Courtesy of Aufgang Architects

August 20, 2020

37 middle-income units available at new Brooklyn rental with rooftop movie screen, from $2,370/month

By Devin Gannon

Applications are now being accepted for 37 middle-income units at a new rental in Brooklyn. Located on the Clinton Hill-Fort Greene border, 810 Fulton Street (also known as 475 Clermont Avenue) rises 12 stories and contains 363 apartments. The building boasts a number of amenities, including a parking garage, children's playroom, fitness center, and a large landscaped rooftop with grills, a catering kitchen, and an outdoor movie theater. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, ranging from a $2,370/month studio to a $3,063/month two-bedroom.
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Affordable Housing

$1M Carroll Gardens condo mixes historic church details with mid-century vibes

Photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group

August 20, 2020

$1M Carroll Gardens condo mixes historic church details with mid-century vibes

By Dana Schulz

The landmarked South Congregational Church in Carroll Gardens was built in 1857 in the Romanesque Revival style. Located at 360 Court Street, it was converted to condos in 2008. Many of these residences, like this one-bedroom duplex, retain original church details like stained glass windows and vaulted ceilings. But this 880-square-foot home also has been thoroughly modernized with a cool, mid-century vibe. It's currently listed for $999,000.
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Distinctive Homes

Slight jump in COVID-19 cases in Borough Park linked to large wedding

Photo by Christopher Macsurak on Wikimedia

August 19, 2020

Slight jump in COVID-19 cases in Borough Park linked to large wedding

By Devin Gannon

City health officials this week discovered an uptick in coronavirus cases in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Borough Park. Mayor Bill de Blasio on Wednesday said 16 new cases were found in the last week, with some linked to a large wedding that recently took place in the community. The mayor said the city will work with local leaders and organizations to spread the word about testing and social distancing and distribute masks at houses of worship.
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Policy

$450K Prospect Heights studio has old-world details and a work-from-home nook

Photos by Allyson Lubow, courtesy of The Corcoran Group

August 19, 2020

$450K Prospect Heights studio has old-world details and a work-from-home nook

By Dana Schulz

No matter how big or small, we could all use a work-from-home nook these days, and this lovely little studio in Prospect Heights has a perfect one. It also has a cool mix of industrial and old-world architectural details, including tin ceilings, exposed brick, and carved wooden window and door frames, along with creative, modern updates throughout. Located at 675 Vanderbilt Avenue, the co-op is asking $449,000.
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Distinctive Homes

Winning design proposal brings better mobility and biodiverse ‘microforests’ to the Brooklyn Bridge

“Brooklyn Bridge Forest,” Pilot Projects Design Collective, Cities4Forests, Wildlife Conservation Society, Grimshaw and Silman, New York and Montreal

August 18, 2020

Winning design proposal brings better mobility and biodiverse ‘microforests’ to the Brooklyn Bridge

By Devin Gannon

Two proposals have been chosen as the winners of a design contest launched earlier this year that sought ways to improve pedestrian space on the crowded Brooklyn Bridge. The Van Alen Institute and the New York City Council on Monday announced that "Brooklyn Bridge Forest," a design that calls for lots of green space and an expanded wooden walkway, won the professional category. And "Do Look Down," which would add a glass surface above the girders and make space for community events and vendors, took the top prize in the young adult category.
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New large-scale installation of ringing bells to open at Brooklyn Bridge Park

Photos: Nicholas Knight, Courtesy of Public Art Fund NY

August 17, 2020

New large-scale installation of ringing bells to open at Brooklyn Bridge Park

By Devin Gannon

A new art installation featuring five giant bells in 14-foot-tall structures will open at Brooklyn Bridge Park this week. Created by San Francisco-based artist Davina Semo, Reverberation allows visitors to ring each bell, drilled with a variety of holes to produce different tones and pitch. The exhibition, curated by the Public Art Fund, will be on view at the waterfront park from August 20 through April 18, 2021.
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Events & Things To Do

Steiner Studios to open film and TV hub at Bush Terminal in Sunset Park

Credit: Synoesis

August 13, 2020

Steiner Studios to open film and TV hub at Bush Terminal in Sunset Park

By Devin Gannon

Steiner Studios will open a second film and television production facility in Brooklyn, city officials announced Thursday. The city's Economic Development Corporation and the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment selected Steiner to open a 500,000-square-foot production space at Bush Terminal in Sunset Park, as part of the Made in New York Campus, currently being transformed into a garment manufacturing and media production hub. The studio has operated a facility across 50 acres at the Brooklyn Navy Yard since 2004, one of the largest production spaces outside of Hollywood.
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New Developments

This $4.5M Carroll Gardens townhouse looks like it’s straight off Pinterest

Listing photos by RISE Media, courtesy of The Corcoran Group

August 13, 2020

This $4.5M Carroll Gardens townhouse looks like it’s straight off Pinterest

By Dana Schulz

Boho accents, a mix of mid-century and vintage decor, and original historic details--all of this and more is on display at this gorgeous Carroll Gardens townhouse. Located at 371 Clinton Street, the brownstone home recently listed for $4,499,000 after an impeccable renovation. It has 3,400 square feet, four bedrooms, and a lovely rear garden.
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Distinctive Homes

8 middle-income units available at new Bed-Stuy rental, from $2,156/month

The recently reopened Nostrand Avenue LIRR station. Photo: Metropolitan Transportation Authority/Patrick Cashin via Flickr cc

August 12, 2020

8 middle-income units available at new Bed-Stuy rental, from $2,156/month

By Dana Schulz

The recently reopened Nostrand Avenue LIRR station. Photo: Metropolitan Transportation Authority/Patrick Cashin via Flickr cc On the border of Bed-Stuy and Crown Heights, a new rental building at 570 Nostrand Avenue is accepting applications for eight middle-income apartments. The $2,156/month studios, $2,245/month one-bedrooms, and $2,710/month two-bedrooms are available to households earning 130 percent of the area median income. The building has washer/dryers in the units, and is conveniently located to three major subway lines and the LIRR, as well as to all the cool restaurants and bars along Franklin Avenue.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

NYC ramps up testing in Sunset Park after uptick in COVID cases

Photo by Sam on Flickr

August 12, 2020

NYC ramps up testing in Sunset Park after uptick in COVID cases

By Devin Gannon

The city will intensify test and trace efforts in Sunset Park after health officials identified over 220 cases of the coronavirus in the Brooklyn neighborhood over the last two weeks. Mayor Bill de Blasio on Wednesday announced that members of the Test and Trace Corps will knock on every door, call all 38,000 households, and direct residents to expanded testing in the community. "Our idea is to saturate Sunset Park over the next few days, literally reach every member of the community we possibly can, get as many people tested as possible, as quickly as possible," de Blasio said.
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Policy

August 11, 2020

Brooklyn’s ‘greenest block’ is one step closer to becoming a historic district

By Devin Gannon

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday calendared a block in Brooklyn's East Flatbush neighborhood for consideration as a new historic district. The proposed strip on East 25th Street between Clarendon Road and Avenue D consists of 56 remarkably cohesive limestone and brownstone buildings built by a single developer between 1909 and 1912. The effort to landmark the block, which has been awarded the "greenest block in Brooklyn" by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden four times, is being led by the community, which asked the LPC to evaluate the area last year.
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Policy

Photos by Allyson Lubow, courtesy of The Corcoran Group

August 11, 2020

Creative touches and a charming patio set this $2.2M Park Slope loft apart

By Dana Schulz

Buildings like this one, Ansonia Court, are full of lofts will all the classic details--beamed ceilings, exposed brick, and cast iron accents. And though this unit is no different, its creative touches and charming little patio give it a bit of extra selling power. Listed for $2,180,000, the three-bedroom Park Slope co-op is spread over two floors and has bright, cheerful rooms.
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Distinctive Homes

Sales launch at new Prospect Park-facing condo tower, from $2.4M

Renderings courtesy of Binyan Studios

August 7, 2020

Sales launch at new Prospect Park-facing condo tower, from $2.4M

By Devin Gannon

A condo building across from Prospect Park in Brooklyn launched sales this week, with two-bedrooms starting at $2.395 million. Located next to landmarked Grand Army Plaza, One Prospect Park West in Park Slope was built in 1925 and once served as a hotel for the Knights of Columbus and later as a senior home. Developer Sugar Hill Capital Partners is converting the historic 10-story building into a luxury condominium with 64 residences with 40 unique floor plans.
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Apply for 15 affordable apartments off Williamsburg’s Metropolitan Avenue, from $818/month

Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit

August 4, 2020

Apply for 15 affordable apartments off Williamsburg’s Metropolitan Avenue, from $818/month

By Devin Gannon

A housing lottery launched this week for 15 affordable apartments in Williamsburg. The rental at 31 Ainslie Street is currently accepting applications from New Yorkers earning 60 percent of the area median income, or an annual household income of between $28,286 and $73,680. Just steps from the Metropolitan G and L trains, the building is near a number of notable bars, restaurants, and vintage shops.
Do you qualify?

Affordable Housing

$1.5M Boerum Hill beauty has a backyard sanctuary and barnyard-chic interiors

Image Credit: Alex Mahgoub/Compass

August 4, 2020

$1.5M Boerum Hill beauty has a backyard sanctuary and barnyard-chic interiors

By Dana Schulz

This duplex at 50 3rd Avenue in Boerum Hill definitely looks like it could've been designed by Chip and Joanna Gaines. Though we're pretty sure they didn't travel to Brooklyn to design this two-bedroom condo, it has plenty of their famous "modern farmhouse" design elements, most notably reclaimed wood on the walls and ceiling. The aesthetic is carried over to the backyard, where twinkly lights and climbing vines set the stage for a true outdoor oasis. The apartment has just listed for $1,474,000.
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Distinctive Homes

Outdoor dining comes to two NYC food halls

The Market Line Patio; Credit: Greater Studio

August 3, 2020

Outdoor dining comes to two NYC food halls

By Devin Gannon

With nearly 10,000 New York City restaurants open for outdoor dining, now even food halls are getting in on the Open Restaurants program. The Market Line at Essex Crossing on Friday opened a spacious outdoor patio and a menu made up of a mix of vendors from the Lower East Side food hall. And Time Out Market will reopen its fifth-floor rooftop and seating along the waterfront in Dumbo this week.
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Food & Dining

For $3M, this Williamsburg townhouse was designed as an airy artist’s home

Photo credit: DDReps

July 31, 2020

For $3M, this Williamsburg townhouse was designed as an airy artist’s home

By Dana Schulz

At first look, you might assume that this townhouse at 580 Driggs Avenue in North Williamsburg is new construction, but it was actually built in 1899 and completely gut renovated inside and out in 2019. The "custom artist's home," as the listing calls it, was designed as "an airy open layout and plenty of room to spread out, work from home, or relax on the roof deck or in the garden." Listed for $2,950,000, it's just over 2,300 square feet and has four bedrooms.
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Distinctive Homes

Photo credit: Gamut Photos

July 30, 2020

Second Empire brownstone in Fort Greene has been beautifully restored for $4M

By Dana Schulz

There's something very romantic about this brownstone at 374 Vanderbilt Avenue in Fort Greene. The interiors have been beautifully preserved and the home modernized, but not so much so that it's lost its old-world charm. The five-bedroom Second Empire townhouse was built in 1899 and is part of the Fort Greene Historic District. It's asking $3,995,000, and has a studio apartment in the basement level for added income.
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Distinctive Homes

Bergen Brooklyn

323 Bergen Street

Boerum Hill

World-class design rooted in Brooklyn charm

studios starting at $825,000
1 beds starting at $1,200,000
2 beds starting at $1,925,000
3 beds starting at $3,050,000
4 beds starting at $6,000,000

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Brooklyn

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