Policy

Amtrak reveals first renderings of the new Penn Station

Renderings courtesy of PAU and Penn Transformation Partners

June 9, 2026

Amtrak reveals first renderings of the new Penn Station

A few weeks after announcing the master developer for the redevelopment of Penn Station, Amtrak released the first renderings of the project on Monday. Penn Transformation Partners (PTP), a joint venture led by Halmar and Skanska, is leading the long-awaited redesign of the detested Midtown commuter hub, which aims to transform the station from cramped, dark, and overcrowded into a modern, light-filled civic landmark that can serve 600,000 daily commuters. The overhaul could cost $8 billion; construction is expected to begin late next year.
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Work to bring Second Avenue Subway to East Harlem begins

Photo credit: Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

June 9, 2026

Work to bring Second Avenue Subway to East Harlem begins

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York officials on Monday broke ground on phase two of the Second Avenue Subway, which will bring the Q train to 125th Street. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that excavation has begun at East 119th Street and Second Avenue, where next year a tunnel-boring machine will begin mining the new subway tunnels from 120th Street and Second Avenue to 125th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard. The groundbreaking marks a major milestone for a project first proposed nearly a century ago that has faced multiple failed attempts to bring subway service to East Harlem.
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Here are the NYC neighborhoods with the highest storefront vacancy rates

Photo by Ruoyu Li on Unsplash

June 5, 2026

Here are the NYC neighborhoods with the highest storefront vacancy rates

By Aaron Ginsburg

Though New York City’s storefront vacancy rate has rebounded since the pandemic, some neighborhoods still have retail vacancy rates as high as 20 percent, according to a new report. Released on Thursday by the city's Comptroller Mark Levine, the report, titled "Who's Minding the Storefront? An Analysis of Storefront Vacancies," found that while the citywide vacancy rate has returned to near pre-pandemic levels, parts of Lower Manhattan, Battery Park City, Northern Brooklyn, and Western Queens continue to see retail vacancy rates at or above 20 percent. Citywide, roughly 15,700 storefronts remain vacant, representing an 11 percent vacancy rate, about half a percentage point above pre-pandemic levels.
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Policy

NYC to expand traffic sensor network to study how New Yorkers use streets

Credit: NYC DOT

June 4, 2026

NYC to expand traffic sensor network to study how New Yorkers use streets

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City will expand its use of cutting-edge sensor technology to track road usage and inform safer, more data-driven street design. Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn on Tuesday announced that the agency will install privacy-protected sensors, first piloted in 2023, at about 80 additional locations across the five boroughs, bringing the total to 100. The devices count pedestrians, cyclists, buses, and vehicles to analyze how New Yorkers use city streets, offering insight into pedestrian crossings, where bike access may need improvement, and how cars move through specific areas.
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New York SNAP recipients can now receive free membership to The Met

Photo by Charles Parker from Pexels

June 2, 2026

New York SNAP recipients can now receive free membership to The Met

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Metropolitan Museum of Art on Tuesday launched free membership for New Yorkers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The initiative is offered through the new “Explorer Membership” level, which provides one year of free membership, access to member preview days, a digital membership card, invitations to community programs, and more. The program is a joint effort by the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs, Human Resources Administration, and Department of Social Services, and follows a similar initiative launched by the American Museum of Natural History last July.
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Mamdani restarts plan for 34th Street busway that Trump halted

Credit: NYC DOT

June 2, 2026

Mamdani restarts plan for 34th Street busway that Trump halted

By Devin Gannon

Plans to turn Manhattan's 34th Street into a dedicated busway are back on. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the city's Department of Transportation (DOT) on Tuesday announced that work will restart on the busway, which will cover just over a mile of the corridor from Third to Ninth Avenues. Plans for the busway, which aims to increase speeds for buses that currently move as slowly as 3 miles per hour, were first announced by former Mayor Eric Adams last May, but were halted a few months later after threats from President Trump's administration.
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42nd Street to become dedicated ‘bus corridor’ during World Cup matches

Credit: Taton Moïse on Unsplash

May 29, 2026

42nd Street to become dedicated ‘bus corridor’ during World Cup matches

By Aaron Ginsburg

Manhattan's 42nd Street and several other major thoroughfares will become temporary bus and shuttle corridors for use on World Cup match days this summer. Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Friday announced a Midtown transportation plan to ensure smooth travel to and from MetLife Stadium during the tournament, including converting 42nd Street, portions of Fifth and Sixth Avenues, and West 40th Street into dedicated transit lanes. The streets will be limited to shuttle buses, official World Cup affiliate vehicles, MTA buses, and emergency vehicles beginning six hours before kickoff and continuing until three hours after each match.
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New York passes pied-à-terre tax for luxury NYC second homes

Billionaires’ Row from Harlem. Photo by joiseyshowaa on Wikimedia

May 28, 2026

New York passes pied-à-terre tax for luxury NYC second homes

By Devin Gannon

New York City is getting its pied-à-terre tax. State lawmakers on Wednesday approved the $268.5 billion 2027 state budget, which included a new annual surcharge on second homes in the city valued at $5 million or more. First announced last month by Gov. Kathy Hochul, the new tax will take effect July 1 and could potentially generate $500 million in revenue for the city each year. According to the governor, the tax ensures those who own luxury properties as their second homes are still "fairly contributing towards the funding of essential services," like police and fire departments, sanitations, parks, and more.
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NYC begins redesign of McGuinness Boulevard

Wednesday’s groundbreaking ceremony. Credit: NYC DOT

May 28, 2026

NYC begins redesign of McGuinness Boulevard

By Aaron Ginsburg

Work on the redesign of Greenpoint’s notorious McGuinness Boulevard finally began this week after several years of delays and project changes. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Department of Transportation on Wednesday broke ground on the street revamp, which includes installing parking-protected bike lanes along the corridor from Meeker Avenue to the Pulaski Bridge. The start of construction marks a major milestone for the project, which was scaled back under former Mayor Eric Adams’ administration amid allegations of bribery, as 6sqft previously reported.
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Mayor’s audit shows aggressive ICE tactics are on the rise in NYC, with arrests up 71 percent

An ICE arrest in New York in January 2025. Photo by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Flickr

May 28, 2026

Mayor’s audit shows aggressive ICE tactics are on the rise in NYC, with arrests up 71 percent

By Michelle Cohen

Mayor Zohran Mamdani's office last week released the findings of an audit examining how city agencies adhere to the city's sanctuary laws in the face of growing federal immigration enforcement efforts under the current Trump administration. The report showed that immigration enforcement activity has increased dramatically, with a 71 percent jump in arrests between January 2025 and March 2026 compared to the same number of days under former President Joe Biden. Findings include a sharply escalating number of detainer requests, targeting of city shelters, and a rise in aggressive enforcement tactics.
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Policy

Hochul signs reforms to New York’s environmental law to accelerate new housing development

By Aaron Ginsburg

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday signed legislation to reform the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), cutting red tape that critics say has long delayed housing development. The "common-sense" reforms, the most significant changes to SEQRA since its passage in 1975, are expected to accelerate the construction of new housing by up to two years. Hochul first unveiled the changes in February alongside Mayor Zohran Mamdani and included it in her fiscal year 2027 budget.
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Mamdani releases blueprint to build 200,000 new affordable homes, target bad landlords

Photo by Michael Appleton/ Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

May 26, 2026

Mamdani releases blueprint to build 200,000 new affordable homes, target bad landlords

By Devin Gannon

Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday released a comprehensive plan to address the city's current housing crisis, detailing a goal to build 200,000 new affordable homes over the next decade, the most ambitious target by a New York City mayor ever. The housing plan, dubbed "Block by Block," says $22 billion in capital investments over five years will fund new affordable housing and help preserve another 200,000 existing homes. The report also details the expansion of tenant protections and homeownership opportunities, as well as the largest capital investment in NYCHA in recent history.
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NYC to widen protected bike lane on Sixth Avenue before World Cup

An example of a double-wide bike lane on Second Avenue. Credit: DOT

May 22, 2026

NYC to widen protected bike lane on Sixth Avenue before World Cup

By Aaron Ginsburg

Sixth Avenue’s protected bike lane will be widened along one of its most congested stretches as part of a series of street safety projects launched by the Mamdani administration ahead of the World Cup this summer. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Wednesday that the corridor’s bike lane will expand from six to 10 feet between 14th Street and West 31st Street, removing one travel lane and allowing for safer passing and side-by-side biking, as first reported by Streetsblog. The project had previously been announced under former Mayor Eric Adams but was never implemented.
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Mott Haven affordable development approved after just 90 days, thanks to new expedited review

Renderings courtesy of STAT Architecture PC

May 21, 2026

Mott Haven affordable development approved after just 90 days, thanks to new expedited review

By Aaron Ginsburg

An affordable housing project that would have taken seven months of review before being approved got the green light from the New York City Council this week after just 90 days. Thanks to the new Expedited Land Use Review Procedure (ELURP), a ballot measure approved by voters last November, 351 Powers Avenue in Mott Haven received the fastest land-use approval in decades. The project, which entered review in February, will transform a vacant city-owned lot into more than 80 apartments, a community theater, and public outdoor space, as 6sqft previously reported.
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NYC residents can enter lottery for $50 World Cup tickets

Mayor Mamdani announced the initiative in Little Senegal in Harlem. Credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

May 21, 2026

NYC residents can enter lottery for $50 World Cup tickets

By Aaron Ginsburg

Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Thursday announced that his administration had secured 1,000 World Cup tickets, which will be made available to New Yorkers for $50 through a lottery system. As first reported by The Athletic, 150 tickets will be distributed for each of the five group stage matches and two knockout round matches at MetLife. The $50 ticket includes free round-trip bus fare to the stadium. The lottery opens May 25 at 10 a.m. and closes May 30 at 5 p.m., with up to 50,000 entries accepted daily. Winners will be able to purchase up to two tickets each.
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Penn Station redesign moves forward with selection of master developer

ASTM North America’s Penn Station overhaul proposal from 2023. Rendering courtesy of ASTM, PAU, and HOK

May 20, 2026

Penn Station redesign moves forward with selection of master developer

By Devin Gannon

Penn Station's overhaul took a big step forward on Wednesday. The U.S. Department of Transportation and Amtrak announced the selection of Penn Transformation Partners, a joint venture made up of Halmar International and Skanska, as the master developer of the project following a bidding process. The developer will build a "brand-new world-class station," according to an announcement on Wednesday, with open concourses and expanded track capacity, while keeping Madison Square Garden in its current location. The news comes a day after Transportation Secretary Duffy announced the federal government would spend $8 billion to rebuild Penn Station.
details here

NYC looks to rezone neighborhoods south of Prospect Park for new housing

McDonald Avenue and Church Avenue in Kensington. Photo by Nick Gulotta on Flickr

May 20, 2026

NYC looks to rezone neighborhoods south of Prospect Park for new housing

By Devin Gannon

The first rezoning proposal under Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration will target Brooklyn neighborhoods south of Prospect Park and Green-Wood Cemetery. As first reported by Gothamist, the Department of City Planning on Wednesday kicked off the community planning process for updating zoning rules on commercial stretches of Coney Island Avenue and McDonald Avenue in Kensington and surrounding areas, to allow new housing to be built.
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NYC Ferry boosts service this summer ahead of the FIFA World Cup

Five custom-wrapped NYC Ferry vessels will celebrate each borough this summer. Photo courtesy of NYCEDC

May 20, 2026

NYC Ferry boosts service this summer ahead of the FIFA World Cup

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City ferry service is receiving a major boost this summer, just in time for the FIFA World Cup. The summer schedule for NYC Ferry will offer the most extensive service in the system’s history ahead of an expected influx of visitors for the soccer tournament at MetLife Stadium, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the city's Economic Development Corporation announced on Tuesday. Running now through September 13, the extra service includes additional route connections, expanded weekend service, and the return of the Rockaway Rocket and Rockaway Reserve ticket programs. The city also unveiled five wrapped vessels featuring World Cup-inspired branding that highlights each borough.
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May 19, 2026

NYC reveals design proposals for Billie Holiday monument in Queens

By Aaron Ginsburg

More than seven years after it was first commissioned, a monument honoring Billie Holiday in New York City is moving forward. The city's Department of Cultural Affairs on Tuesday unveiled proposals from six artists for a new permanent artwork celebrating the jazz legend that will be installed at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center in Queens. The monument is part of a long-delayed effort to increase the representation of influential women in public spaces across the five boroughs. The public can review the proposals and submit feedback through the end of May. An artist will be chosen this summer.
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Long Island Rail Road strike ends as MTA and unions reach tentative deal

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

May 19, 2026

Long Island Rail Road strike ends as MTA and unions reach tentative deal

By Aaron Ginsburg

Long Island Rail Road service will resume at 12 p.m. on Tuesday after the five unions behind the agency’s first strike in more than 30 years reached a tentative deal with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday night that the two sides had reached a “fair deal” that would not require additional fare hikes or tax increases. Details of the tentative agreement have not yet been released, as the deal must still be ratified by union members and approved by the MTA board.
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First city-owned grocery store to open next year at mixed-use development in Hunts Point

Credit: WXY Studios

May 18, 2026

First city-owned grocery store to open next year at mixed-use development in Hunts Point

By Aaron Ginsburg

Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday announced that New York City’s first city-owned grocery store will open next year at a new affordable housing development in the South Bronx. The store will be located at The Peninsula, a Bronx project transforming the former Spofford Juvenile Detention Center in Hunts Point into a mixed-use development with 740 affordable apartments. The announcement builds on Mamdani’s campaign pledge to open five city-owned grocery stores, one in each borough, and follows a plan announced last month for a store in East Harlem.
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What makes New York a sanctuary city—and is its status under threat?

Photo credit: via Pixabay

May 18, 2026

What makes New York a sanctuary city—and is its status under threat?

By Michelle Cohen

With a proud history of immigration through Ellis Island, New York City is home to more than three million foreign-born residents, 38 percent of the population, and over 500,000 undocumented immigrants, according to the Center for Migration Studies. With a long-held reputation as a safe haven, the city prides itself on being a “sanctuary city,” with policies firmly in place that aim to protect anyone targeted by immigration authorities, regardless of their status, except those with serious criminal convictions. New York City offers some of the nation’s most robust protection, but state legislation has lagged behind. What do sanctuary laws actually accomplish—and what's being done to improve their reach?
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Policy

Long Island Rail Road workers strike for first time in more than 30 years

Credit: 6sqft

May 18, 2026

Long Island Rail Road workers strike for first time in more than 30 years

By Aaron Ginsburg

Commutes for more than 250,000 daily Long Island Rail Road riders were upended Monday as workers at the nation’s busiest commuter rail service remained on strike amid a wage dispute. More than 3,500 workers represented by five unions walked off the job Saturday, shutting down rail service as they pushed for a 14.5 percent raise over four years, which union leaders say is necessary to keep pace with inflation, according to ABC News. A full day of negotiations that began Sunday and ran into Monday morning failed to produce an agreement, forcing commuters to rely on alternate transportation or work from home while talks continue.
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NYC to create dedicated bus lane for Q70 to LaGuardia Airport

A Q70-SBS travels along Broadway in Jackson Heights, Queens. Credit: NYC DOT

May 14, 2026

NYC to create dedicated bus lane for Q70 to LaGuardia Airport

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new dedicated bus lane along Broadway in Queens will speed commutes to and from LaGuardia Airport, just in time for an influx of visitors ahead of the FIFA World Cup this summer. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that the city's Department of Transportation (DOT) would begin installing a center-running eastbound bus lane along Broadway between 69th Street and Roosevelt Avenue, a busy corridor used by roughly 9,000 daily riders on the Q70-SBS, also known as the “LaGuardia Link.” The plan would maintain one travel lane in each direction for general traffic while improving bus speeds, which currently drop to as low as 2.7 mph during evening rush hour, slower than walking pace.
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NYC to MetLife bus fares for World Cup cut by 75%

Credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

May 13, 2026

NYC to MetLife bus fares for World Cup cut by 75%

By Aaron Ginsburg

Riding a shuttle bus to the FIFA World Cup at MetLife Stadium this summer just got much cheaper. On Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that, with financial support from the state and other sponsors, round-trip shuttle tickets will cost $20, down from the previously announced $80 fare, as first reported by The Athletic. Of the roughly 18,000 shuttle tickets available per match, 20 percent will be reserved for New York residents. NJ Transit has also lowered round-trip train fares to MetLife Stadium to $98, after initially setting prices at $150 before reducing them to $105 last week.
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Policy

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