Policy

NYC Council approves plan to rezone Soho and Noho, which will add 900 affordable units

A rendering of West Broadway in Soho, looking downtown; courtesy of City Planning Commission

December 16, 2021

NYC Council approves plan to rezone Soho and Noho, which will add 900 affordable units

The New York City Council on Wednesday voted to approve the plan to rezone Soho and Noho, a major policy win for Mayor Bill de Blasio in his final days in office. The rezoning aims to bring about 3,000 new homes, with roughly 900 of them permanently affordable, to the Lower Manhattan neighborhoods, which are two of the wealthiest in the city.
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New York City bans natural gas in new buildings

“Ally Block” will include the city’s first all-electric skyscraper; Rendering: Alloy Development

December 16, 2021

New York City bans natural gas in new buildings

By Devin Gannon

New York City is now the largest city in the United States to phase fossil fuels out of new construction. The City Council on Wednesday approved legislation banning the use of natural gas in new buildings under seven stories tall starting in 2023 and in structures over seven stories in the middle of 2027. The legislation means new buildings in the city, with very few exceptions, will be all-electric.
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One year after NYC’s first Covid vaccination, 90% of adults have received at least one dose

Photo Scott Heins/Office of former Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

December 14, 2021

One year after NYC’s first Covid vaccination, 90% of adults have received at least one dose

By Devin Gannon

On December 14, 2020, Sandra Lindsay, a nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens, received the first coronavirus vaccine in the country. One year later, New York City has hit a significant milestone in its fight against the virus: 90 percent of all adults in the city have received at least one dose of the vaccine. "We've come a long, long way," Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a press conference on Monday.
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Policy

All New York businesses will mandate masks indoors unless there’s a vaccine requirement

Photo courtesy of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office on Flickr

December 10, 2021

All New York businesses will mandate masks indoors unless there’s a vaccine requirement

By Devin Gannon

As coronavirus cases and hospitalizations rise statewide, Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday announced a new mask requirement for all indoor public places in New York that don't require proof of vaccination for entry. The new measure comes as the state experiences a "winter surge." Since Thanksgiving, the statewide seven-day average case rate has jumped by 43 percent and hospitalizations have increased by 29 percent. "I have warned for weeks that additional steps could be necessary, and now we are at that point based upon three metrics: Increasing cases, reduced hospital capacity, and insufficient vaccination rates in certain areas," Hochul said in a statement.
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Policy

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

By Michelle Cohen

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.
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Policy

Senator Schumer calls for free, at-home Covid tests in New York

Mayor Bill de Blasio is tested for COVID-19 in 2020. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

December 6, 2021

Senator Schumer calls for free, at-home Covid tests in New York

By Devin Gannon

Sen. Chuck Schumer on Sunday called for free rapid at-home coronavirus test kits to be available at community health centers across New York as the number of virus cases continues to grow. While last week President Joe Biden announced private health insurers will reimburse those who purchase over-the-counter tests starting January 15, Schumer said it's important to offer free tests to New Yorkers in the meantime, with the arrival of winter and the new Omicron variant.
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Policy

New York City announces vaccine mandate for all private employers

Photo of NYC vaccine hub, The Jefferson by Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

December 6, 2021

New York City announces vaccine mandate for all private employers

By Devin Gannon

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday announced a new coronavirus vaccination mandate for all private-sector employers in New York City, described as a "preemptive strike" to stop the spread of the Omicron variant. The city has already put in place a vaccine mandate for all city workers and for most indoor activities. The new mandate, considered to be a first in the United States, goes into effect on December 27.
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Policy

‘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 Michelle Cohen

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.
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New bill seeks to bring back propane heaters for outdoor dining in NYC

Image courtesy of Bubby’s

November 30, 2021

New bill seeks to bring back propane heaters for outdoor dining in NYC

By Michelle Cohen

New York City Council Member Keith Powers last week introduced legislation that would allow the ongoing use of propane heaters for outdoor restaurant dining. The heaters, given the green light last year but banned again in October, helped restaurants stay afloat last winter by keeping diners cozy at Covid-safe outdoor tables.
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Hochul declares a state of emergency for New York to prepare for omicron variant

Photo: Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

November 29, 2021

Hochul declares a state of emergency for New York to prepare for omicron variant

By Devin Gannon

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday declared a state of emergency for the state of New York to prepare for the new omicron variant of the coronavirus. The order allows the Department of Health to stop non-urgent surgeries at hospitals with less than 10 percent of beds available. While the new variant has not yet been detected in New York, "it's coming," according to Hochul, who in her order said the state is now experiencing Covid transmission rates not seen since April 2020.
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Policy

NYC Council approves sweeping Gowanus rezoning

By Devin Gannon

The New York City Council on Tuesday approved the biggest rezoning of Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration just weeks before his term ends. In a near-unanimous vote, the Council approved plans to upzone 82 blocks of Gowanus, a former industrial hub turned affluent residential neighborhood. As the first rezoning of de Blasio's administration in a predominantly white and wealthy neighborhood, the decision could pave the way for upzoning in similar communities, including the proposal to rezone Soho and Noho, scheduled for a vote next month.
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Policy

See billionaire Bill Ackman’s plan for a glass house atop a historic UWS building

All renderings designed by Foster+ Partners, courtesy of the Landmarks Preservation Commission

November 17, 2021

See billionaire Bill Ackman’s plan for a glass house atop a historic UWS building

By Devin Gannon

A plan funded by one of the world's wealthiest people and designed by one of the world's most famous architects still can't get approved in New York City. Billionaire Bill Ackman on Tuesday presented to the Landmarks Preservation Commission his plan to construct a new glass penthouse addition designed by Norman Foster on top of a 100-year-old Upper West Side co-op building where he owns an apartment. After hours-long public testimony, LPC Chair Sarah Carroll sent Ackman and his team back to the drawing board, calling for a scaled-down design.
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Gowanus rezoning deal reached, with affordable housing and sewer upgrades on board

Photo by Danny Navarro / Flickr cc

November 11, 2021

Gowanus rezoning deal reached, with affordable housing and sewer upgrades on board

By Michelle Cohen

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s ambitious plan for the rezoning of Brooklyn's formerly industrial Gowanus neighborhood was finally approved by the city's Land Use Committee on Wednesday, after a decade of debate and drama. As Gothamist reports, the rezoning plan, the current administration's largest, was given the green light after Council Members Brad Lander and Stephen Levin, the borough's Community Board 6, and members of the Gowanus Neighborhood Coalition for Justice reached a deal with City Hall that includes more investment in public housing and sewer infrastructure.
Find out more about what's ahead for Gowanus

New employer survey shows 54 percent of Manhattan workers remain fully remote

Via Creative Commons

November 10, 2021

New employer survey shows 54 percent of Manhattan workers remain fully remote

By Michelle Cohen

In March, 6sqft reported that only 10 percent of Manhattan's office employees had returned to the workplace full-time. Since then, a recent survey shows, only 28 percent are back in the office on an average weekday. According to a survey of major employers between October 19 and October 29 by The Partnership for New York City, only 8 percent of employees are in the office five days a week and 54 percent are only working remotely. A third of employers surveyed said their need for office space will go down over the next five years, and 13 percent expect a reduction of jobs physically located in NYC, especially in the financial services industry.
-More on who's not heading back to the office->

Policy

One of Manhattan’s most ornate office building lobbies is now a NYC landmark

Photo: George Comfort & Sons via Landmarks Preservation Commission

November 9, 2021

One of Manhattan’s most ornate office building lobbies is now a NYC landmark

By Devin Gannon

One of Manhattan's grandest lobbies is officially a New York City landmark. The Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to designate the ornate, T-shaped first-floor lobby of 200 Madison Avenue on Tuesday. Designed by Warren & Wetmore in 1925--the firm behind Grand Central Terminal--the Murray Hill lobby features a 200-foot-long through-block arcade that boasts a beautiful vaulted ceiling, polished marble walls, and other stunning elements reflective of the era.
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Infrastructure bill will bring billions in funding for NYC transit projects and more

Photo courtesy of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office

November 8, 2021

Infrastructure bill will bring billions in funding for NYC transit projects and more

By Michelle Cohen

The long-awaited bipartisan infrastructure bill passed in the wee hours of last week's end will mean billions of dollars in much-needed investment in New York City's own infrastructure. The bill, which President Joe Biden has said he will sign this week, adds $550 billion to be spent on transportation, bringing the total to $1.2 trillion, as Gothamist reports. The New York City region will see that investment in the form of projects like the addition of subway station elevators, upgrades to Amtrak–and a revival of the long-stalled Gateway Project's Hudson River tunnels. Carlo Scissura, president and chief executive officer of the New York Building Congress, said, “It really does transform the physical part of our region in a way that we haven't had a federal investment like this in decades honestly.”
Find out more about the $$$$ headed for NYC

Hochul wants to rename Penn Station as part of revised renovation plan

All renderings courtesy of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office

November 4, 2021

Hochul wants to rename Penn Station as part of revised renovation plan

By Devin Gannon

Would Penn Station still be as much fun to mock if it wasn't named after the commonwealth of Pennslyvania? Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday unveiled a revised redevelopment plan of the cramped transit hub, a pet project of her predecessor. In addition to redesigning and upgrading the existing facility and adding public space to the surrounding area, Hochul is also calling for the notorious train hall to be renamed.
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NYC to offer Covid vaccine at city schools for students ages 5 to 11

Photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

November 3, 2021

NYC to offer Covid vaccine at city schools for students ages 5 to 11

By Devin Gannon

With an official recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children in the United States ages 5 to 11 can now get a Covid-19 vaccine. Mayor Bill de Blasio on Wednesday said the Pfizer vaccine will be available to young New Yorkers starting Thursday at city-run sites first, followed by other sites (like pharmacies and pediatricians' offices) in the coming days, pending final approval. To reach more children, the mayor announced some school sites will offer the first dose to eligible students during the month of November.
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Policy

New LIRR concourse at Grand Central unveiled as part of long-awaited East Side Access project

Governor Kathy Hochul rode a test train from Jamaica to the East Side Access complex at Grand Central Terminal on Sun., October 31, 2021. (Marc A. Hermann / MTA) Flickr

November 1, 2021

New LIRR concourse at Grand Central unveiled as part of long-awaited East Side Access project

By Devin Gannon

The project that will bring direct Long Island Rail Road service to Grand Central Terminal hit a major milestone this weekend. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Sunday rode the first passenger LIRR train into the new concourse at the Midtown East transit hub and gave the public a first look at the terminal. Expected to officially open in December 2022, the East Side Access project will provide direct service to Manhattan's east side for Long Island and Queens commuters, while also reducing crowds at Penn Station.
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Bedford Union Armory recreation center officially opens in Crown Heights

Photo credit: Brett Bayer

October 28, 2021

Bedford Union Armory recreation center officially opens in Crown Heights

By Devin Gannon

The transformation of a former armory in Brooklyn into a recreation center is now complete. Located in Crown Heights, the Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Community Center opened its doors on Wednesday, bringing a new 60,000-square-foot community center with an indoor swimming pool, three basketball courts, a soccer field, dance studios, and space for local nonprofits to the neighborhood. The long-awaited project also includes 415 units of housing, expected to open in 2023.
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Six blocks of Broadway will become Manhattan’s largest shared street as part of open space plan

Mayor Bill de Blasio and DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman cut the ribbon on new open space on Broadway in the Flatiron District on Monday, October 25, 2021. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office.

October 26, 2021

Six blocks of Broadway will become Manhattan’s largest shared street as part of open space plan

By Michelle Cohen

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Department of Transportation Commissioner Hank Gutman have announced more improvements coming to the city's streets, including six blocks of Broadway that will be fully dedicated to pedestrians or modified so that cars, cyclists, and pedestrians can share the street. The DOT’s “Broadway Vision” will reimagine 12 blocks of the Manhattan street as shared public street space.
Find out more of what's coming to the streets

New York City mandates vaccines for all city employees

Photo Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

October 20, 2021

New York City mandates vaccines for all city employees

By Devin Gannon

New York City workers must be vaccinated by the end of the month or be placed on unpaid leave, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Tuesday. The new vaccination mandate eliminates the option for testing and applies to the entire municipal workforce of 160,500 workers, including all police officers and firefighters. About 46,000 unvaccinated city workers need to get at least their first dose by Friday, October 29, or risk losing their paycheck.
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Policy

Thomas Jefferson statue will be removed from NYC Council chambers but new location undecided

Photo by Glenn Castellano. Courtesy of NYC Public Design Commission

October 19, 2021

Thomas Jefferson statue will be removed from NYC Council chambers but new location undecided

By Devin Gannon

A 7-foot-tall statue of Thomas Jefferson will be removed from the New York City Council's legislative chambers after residing there for nearly 100 years. The city's Public Design Commission voted on Monday to take down the statue from the chambers but did not decide where it should be relocated. Calls to remove the statue of Jefferson, who owned more than 600 slaves, first came about two decades ago but intensified in recent years as more attention was paid to memorials and monuments honoring racists and racist symbols.
Details here

Policy

Cuomo’s $2.1B LaGuardia AirTrain project is halted

Rendering courtesy of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

October 13, 2021

Cuomo’s $2.1B LaGuardia AirTrain project is halted

By Michelle Cohen

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced Tuesday that it would be putting the brakes on any further development of the AirTrain, the proposed 1.5-mile elevated rail that would run between the airport and the eastern Queens neighborhood of Willets Point, with a connection to the subway and Long Island Rail Road. The project was a top priority for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. His successor, Gov. Kathy Hochul, has called for a review of alternatives to the project in response to opposition by community groups and local officials who have criticized its environmental review process, its impact on the surrounding community, and a dearth of alternatives being discussed.
Is it the end of the line for AirTran?

NYC’s open streets program falls short of 100-mile promise, report says

Photo: Transportation Alternatives

October 12, 2021

NYC’s open streets program falls short of 100-mile promise, report says

By Devin Gannon

In the summer of 2020, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the city would close 100 miles of streets to cars for use by pedestrians, a policy formed in response to the pandemic and the need for safe, socially distanced outdoor space. Over a year later, just over 24 miles of Open Streets are currently active, according to a report released this week by the advocacy group Transportation Alternatives (TA).
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Policy

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