Brooklyn

May 16, 2018

Vendors unveiled for Williamsburg’s new food hall, set to open next to Radegast Hall this month

Does New York City really need another food hall? Before answering, check out the list of impressive vendors setting up shop in Williamsburg's new food hall at the end of May. The line-up includes iconic Di Fara pizza from Midwood, James Beard-nominated baker Zachary Golper's Bien Cuit, Brooklyn ramen shop Chuko, Greenwich Village's Corner Bistro and over a dozen more well-established food and retail vendors, according to Eater NY. Developer LENY market agency MRKTPL will open the doors on May 29 to its 15,000-square-foot indoor space at 103 North 3rd Street, where it will share a space with popular Radegast Hall & Biergarten, with a limited-vendor menu. Starting June 4, the North 3rd Street Market's hours will be extended and the full roster of vendors will be ready to serve up some tasty fare.
Dig into the details
May 16, 2018

Apply for 39 middle-income units by the Williamsburg waterfront, from $1,999/month

Renderings of 321 Wythe via ND Architecture & Design A newly constructed mixed-use building located near the Williamsburg Bridge has launched a lottery for 39 middle-income apartments. Built on the site of a former parking lot and single-story church, the 19-story tower at 321 Wythe Avenue includes 130 rental units, two floors of amenities, and an adjacent healthcare facility. Notably, because developer Watermark Capital Group is leasing the property from Saints Peter and Paul Church, certain activities "not in line with Catholicism" will be prohibited, DNAinfo reported in 2015. This includes a ban on things related to abortion, birth control, euthanasia, pornography, and stem-cell research. Despite these strange stipulations, the ND Architecture-designed tower does sit in a prime location, just steps from a host of bars, coffee shops, restaurants and the Williamsburg waterfront. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the available 17, $1,999/month one-bedrooms and the 22 $2,399/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
May 15, 2018

Quirky nautical-themed Brooklyn Heights flat where Norman Mailer wrote his novels lists for $2.4M

Not only did Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Norman Mailer write several of his well-known novels including “The Executioner’s Song” and “Ancient Evenings” while living on the top floor of this landmarked 1840 townhouse at 142 Columbia Heights, the author transformed the space to resemble a ship, complete with a double-height glass and wood atrium and a smooth wood ceiling that recalled a sailboat's curves. This unique property, now on the market for $2.4 million, spans 1,636 square feet, and features multiple outdoor terraces with sweeping views of Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty. The sale also includes a separate one-bedroom unit on the third floor.
But there's more
May 15, 2018

Lottery opens for six middle-income apartments near the Greenpoint waterfront

Just two blocks inland from Newton Creek and right near hot spots like the Brooklyn Ice Cream Company, Saint Vitus Bar, and Milk & Roses, a stretch of Box Street is transforming from its industrial past to a more modern, residential block. At 56 Box Street, a new six-story rental, new Greenpoint tenants started moving in last August, and now a middle-income lottery has launched for six of the units, $2,253/month one-bedrooms and $2,716/month two-bedrooms. The market-rate units go from $2,650/month one-bedrooms to $3,300/month two-bedrooms. So while this isn't the deal of the century, there are still some savings to be had in an up-and-coming 'hood.
Find out if you qualify
May 15, 2018

The buzz on Boerum Hill: How an iconic Brooklyn neighborhood blends old and new

Shelly Place, an agent with Triplemint, describes Boerum Hill as “the perfect blend of old and new. Geographically, it is smack dab in the middle of Brooklyn, convenient to downtown [Manhattan], and close enough without being in the middle of the hustle and bustle. You can go days or weeks without ever leaving Boerum Hill but, if you want, you have the rest Brooklyn right there.” Known for tree-lined streets filled with historic brownstones, Boerum Hill is one of those unique neighborhoods that has successfully blended past and present in a way few communities have been able to. There are a ton of great restaurants and creative cocktail lounges and independent specialty stores alongside the big brands, like Apple, Whole Foods’ 365, and Lululemon, lining Smith Street and Atlantic Avenue. And with a slew of new contextual developments springing up, it's time to turn your attention to the buzz on Boerum Hill.
Everything you need to know about Boerum Hill
May 15, 2018

Coney Island boardwalk designated as a New York City landmark

Ninety-five years to the day since it first opened, the Coney Island boardwalk has been officially designated by the Landmarks Preservation Commission as NYC's 11th scenic landmark. The historic designation includes 2.7 miles of public beachfront, stretching from Coney Island's West 37th Street to Brighton 15th Street in Brighton Beach. Since 2014, Council Member Mark Treyger has pushed for the boardwalk to be landmarked, but the commission repeatedly rejected the proposal. "The Coney Island Boardwalk is as much a part of the culture as it is a part of the history of New York City," LPC Chair Meenakshi Srinivasan said in a press release Tuesday. "It is a beloved public space that embodies Coney Island’s democratic spirit and reflects our City’s values of tolerance, inclusivity and equity."
More details here
May 14, 2018

Brooklyn Heights home on historic ‘Colonnade Row’ lists for $5M

Even in the lavish Brooklyn Heights Historic District, the three-story Greek Revival brick home at 45 Willow Place stands out for its colossal portico – namely, the wooden columns which grace its exterior. A single-family townhouse, the property has surprisingly few original details inside despite its unique historic exterior. It was built by John Bayard in 1847 and is part of a strip of homes known as Colonnade Row.
Get a look inside
May 14, 2018

INTERVIEW: New York legend Jay Maisel dishes on 190 Bowery and his new photo archive

Jay Maisel is best known for the incredibly expressive stories he tells through his beautiful photography. But in recent years, he's become perhaps just as well known for his New York City real estate story where he made the deal of the century when he sold his home, the Germania Bank Building at 190 Bowery. What he's not at all known for, though, are the stories he tells through the hundreds of thousands of memories that fill his home and studio. Maisel, who may appear gruff on the exterior (at 87 years-old, he still likes to shock), is actually incredibly kind and sentimental. He misses his home and all his toys that once filled the 35,000-square-foot building. Although he was initially intimidated by the size and upkeep costs of 190 Bowery, Maisel grew to love the home and raise his family there for 50 years. In 2015, he sold the building for $55 million and purchased a stately townhouse on Pacific Street in Cobble Hill for $15.5 million. (At the time, it was the most expensive townhouse sale in Brooklyn.) 6sqft sat down with Maisel and discussed his real estate coup, his move to Brooklyn (which is not “the city” in his view) and his most recent New York City photography series, entitled “Jaywalking.”
Hear from Jay and get an inside look at his life and work
May 14, 2018

52 years ago, Donald Trump’s father demolished Coney Island’s beloved Steeplechase Park

Steeplechase Park was the first of Coney Island's three original amusement parks (in addition to Luna Park and Dreamland) and its longest lasting, operating from 1897 to 1964. It had a Ferris Wheel modeled after that of Chicago's World's Columbian Exposition, a mechanical horse race course (from which the park got its name), scale models of world landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Big Ben, "Canals of Venice," the largest ballroom in the state, and the famous Parachute Jump, among other rides and attractions. After World War II, Coney Island's popularity began to fade, especially when Robert Moses made it his personal mission to replace the resort area's amusements with low-income, high-rise residential developments. But ultimately, it was Fred Trump, Donald's father, who sealed Steeplechase's fate, going so far as to throw a demolition party when he razed the site in 1966 before it could receive landmark status.
Get the full history this way
May 12, 2018

FREE RENT: This week’s roundup of NYC rental news

Hoyt & Horn in Downtown Brooklyn Offers Up to 4 Months Free on a 25-Month Lease [link] Boerum Hill’s Court House Apartments Offers 1 Month Free on New 13-Month Leases [link] Hello Lenox is Now Renting; No Fee Apartments in Prospect Lefferts Gardens has 2-Beds Under $3K [link] TF Cornerstone Launches Rentals at 606W57 and […]

May 11, 2018

$3M Park Slope townhouse has a Japanese-inspired tea room and garden

This somewhat unusual four-and-a-half-bedroom Park Slope townhouse at 641 Warren Street was converted to a single-family home from a three-family dwelling by the building's current owners. Renovations were done with an emphasis on quality and practicality, and elements of their Japanese heritage were integrated throughout including a "chashitsu," or traditional tea ceremony room, with tatami mats, a patio and a kitchen preparation area overlooking a garden that boasts Japanese maple, fruiting peach, and willow trees and bamboo.
Take the floor-by-floor tour
May 11, 2018

Lottery launches for four newly constructed units in vibrant Bushwick, from $1,950/month

An amenity-rich building in the heart of Bushwick is now accepting applications for four middle-income apartments. The rental complex, dubbed Gloria Linden, is located at 359 Linden Street. Apartments come with oversized windows oak flooring, custom LED lighting, Ceaserstone counters and Bertazzoni gas ranges. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for two $1,950/month one-bedroom units and two $2,390/month two-bedroom units.
Find out if you qualify
May 11, 2018

For the first time, Williamsburg’s ‘House on a Roof’ hits the market for $3M

Offered by the original owners, this truly one-of-a-kind penthouse atop Williamsburg's Mill Building has been dubbed the “House on the Roof,” but it could easily be mistaken as a luxurious mountaintop chalet. The red-roofed two-bedroom penthouse is wrapped in glass that opens to a massive rooftop terrace complete with a full kitchen setup. And it's now asking $2.85 million.
You've gotta see this one
May 10, 2018

Apply for 37 affordable units right near the Barclay’s Center and Fort Greene Park, from $867/month

If you don't mind being in the center of all the action, this affordable housing opportunity is for you. The lottery is open for 37 apartments at Hill West Architects' brand new Downtown Brooklyn rental 1 Flatbush Avenue. Not only does the 19-story building offer amenities such as a landscaped roof terrace with BBQs and a gym with a yoga studio, but its location at the intersection of booming Flatbush Avenue and Fulton Street means it's just a few blocks from BAM, the Barclay's Center, almost all major subways at Atlantic Terminal, and Fort Green Park. The units up for grabs are reserved for households earning 60 percent of the area median income, or between $31,612 and $62,580 annually, and range from $867/month studios to $1,123/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
May 9, 2018

Trump could get over $30M from sale of a Brooklyn affordable housing complex he partially owns

Starrett City photo via Matt Green on Flickr, President Trump photo via Wikimedia As he proposes funding cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development's subsidized housing programs, President Donald Trump is set to gain millions of dollars from the sale of an affordable housing complex in East New York, best known as Starrett City. Investors, including Trump who owns a 4 percent stake in the development, sold the 46-building complex to two real estate firms for $906 million, ABC News reported Tuesday. Trump is set to profit about $36 million from the sale (an amount which could drop after mortgage costs and transfer taxes). Home to roughly 15,000 residents across 145 acres, Starrett City is the largest federally subsidized housing project in the country.
Find out more
May 8, 2018

Historic Greenpoint bank building lists for $6.5M with lots of options

The former Greenpoint Mechanics and Traders Bank, built in 1895, is now on the market for $6.5 million along with the many opportunities this unusual building presents. Designed in the Renaissance Revival style composed of large red brownstones, red brick and ornate terra cotta detailed accents with massive arched windows on the third floor, 144 Franklin Street is a 5,760-square-foot landmarked three-story mixed-use building with a full height basement. The property is zoned for up to six office spaces on the ground floor and regular basement use, with residential use on second and third floors.
Find out more about this unusual opportunity
May 8, 2018

Six chances to snag an East Williamsburg one-bedroom for $1,150/month

Photo via David Berkowitz/Flickr A housing lottery launched this week for six affordable units in the East Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn. The newly constructed development at 251 Devoe Street contains seven units, all of them spacious with open layouts. While some of the units in the building include balconies, all have central air and modern appliances. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 60 percent of the area median income can apply for the $1,150/month one-bedrooms. The rental building sits closest to the L and G trains, as well as a dog park and plenty of happening bars and restaurants.
Find out if you qualify
May 7, 2018

Williamsburg’s first ground-up commercial space in over 40 years tops out

Rendering via Steelblue/Gensler Silicon Valley will soon land in Williamsburg, according to the masterminds behind 25 Kent, an office building designed with the tech community in mind. The eight-story building at 25 Kent Avenue, the first ground-up commercial office development in the area in over four decades, has officially topped out. The building offers 500,000 square feet of office space along the Williamsburg waterfront, retail at ground level and underground parking, according to CityRealty. Designed by Gensler with concept designs by Hollwich Kushner (HWKN), 25 Kent will surely attract young professionals, with its millennial-friendly rooftops, terraces and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Details here
May 5, 2018

FREE RENT: This week’s roundup of NYC rental news

Save Thousands in Rent with these Incredible Deals in Manhattan, Brooklyn & Queens [link] EVGB Perks You’ll Love: 2 Months Free Rent, Integrated Alexa + More [link] Ellipse, Record-Setting Jersey City Rental Tower is Now 100% Leased [link] The Alexander, Rego Park’s 27-Story Rental Tower, Offers 1 Month Free [link] Beachfront Living at Saltmeadow, No […]

May 4, 2018

Live in a one bedroom near the Brooklyn Children’s Museum in Crown Heights for $2,253/month

Photo by Julienne Schaer for NYC&Company A housing lottery launched Friday for just three one-bedroom apartments in the northern section of Crown Heights. Located at 730 Prospect Place, the building rises five stories and contains eight units. It sits between the colorful, Rafael Viñoly-designed Brooklyn Children's Museum and Brower Park and the myriad of food and drink options of Franklin and Washington Avenues. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the three $2,253/month one-bedroom units.
Find out if you qualify
May 4, 2018

16 chances to snag an affordable one bedroom in East Williamsburg for $1,080/month

Located in between artist-hipster enclaves of Bushwick and Williamsburg, a newly constructed building at 89 Bartlett Street has launched an affordable housing lottery for 16 affordable one-bedroom units. Qualifying New Yorkers earning between roughly $37,000 and $50,000 annually (or 60 percent of the area median income), can apply for the $1,080/month one-bedroom apartments.
Find out if you qualify
May 3, 2018

Emily Blunt and John Krasinski’s historic Park Slope townhouse sells for $6.5M

After eight months on the market, Emily Blunt and John Krasinski's historic Park Slope townhouse has found a buyer, albeit for $1.5 million less than they'd hoped. The couple first listed the seven-bedroom, 20-room home at 586 4th Street in September for $8 million, but the Post saw through city records that it's closed for $6.56 million. The couple previously said they put the home on the market because work kept them away too much and "The house is so special—someone who can spend every night there should have it."
See exactly why it's so special
May 2, 2018

How did a flock of Argentinian parrots land in Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery?

It's usually the tours and events at Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery that get people talking, but the national landmark has its own chatty group that's attracting a lot of attention. The group happens to be a flock of lime green parrots from Argentina, appropriately named “Monk Parrots” since they are hanging out in the cemetery despite Green-Wood's nonsectarian nature. But how did these loud and exotic birds get all the way from South America to Greenwood Heights?
It's not as crazy as you might think
April 30, 2018

See new renderings of ‘Ocean Dreams,’ Coney Island’s wavy Surf Avenue rental towers

New renderings have been revealed showing real estate mogul John Catsimatidis' Coney Island rental project at 3514 Surf Avenue known as Ocean Dreams, shown here courtesy of CityRealty. The American Institute of Architecture (AIA), which is currently taking votes for their People's Choice award in Brooklyn, has included the 425-unit rental complex among the contenders. The building is being developed by Catsimatidis' Red Apple Group. Catsimatidis, who has big dreams indeed for the development, proposed a trolley-like streetcar service to access the Stillwell Avenue subway station, and once said he wanted to make the development look like Miami Beach.
More renderings this way
April 28, 2018

FREE RENT: This week’s roundup of NYC rental news

Images (L to R): THE LEWIS, THE EAGLE, 83 BUSHWICK PLACE and THE PIERREPONT Sleek, Stylish + Modern Rentals at The Lewis Leasing with 2 Months Free [link] The Eagle, Downtown Brooklyn’s 32-Story Rental Tower Offers 2 Months Free [link] East Williamsburg’s 83 Bushwick Place Leasing with 1 Month Free [link] Brooklyn Heights Luxury Rental […]

April 27, 2018

Nation’s largest offshore wind farm proposes Sunset Park factory

Move over Chicago, you’re no longer the only windy city - Brooklyn is about to get its own wind. Deepwater Wind, the nation’s leading wind-power developer, intends to build an assembly hub in Sunset Park to support the nation's future largest offshore wind farm 30 miles east of Montauk (h/t Brooklyn Daily Eagle). This project is part of Governor Cuomo’s ambitious “Clean Energy Standard,” which intends to generate 50 percent of the state's electricity supply from renewable sources by 2030. The Brooklyn factory is expected to generate $80 million in economic activity and create hundreds of jobs for the area.
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