Policy

Two blocks of brownstones in Bed-Stuy now an NYC historic district

Photos courtesy of the Landmarks Preservation Commission

June 25, 2024

Two blocks of brownstones in Bed-Stuy now an NYC historic district

New York City's newest historic district is a two-block stretch of homes in Bed-Stuy. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to designate the Willoughby-Hart Historic District, which includes two streets of intact 19th-century rowhouses between Marcy and Nostrand Avenues. Built primarily in the Neo-Grec style between the 1870s and 1890s, the 150-year-old homes are architecturally cohesive and reflect a period of Brooklyn's transformation from farmland to residential, according to the commission.
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Amtrak and NJ Transit service in NYC disrupted again

NJ Transit hall in Penn Station. Photo by Chris Rycroft on Flickr.

June 21, 2024

Amtrak and NJ Transit service in NYC disrupted again

By Aaron Ginsburg

It's been a rough week for Northeast Corridor commuters. New Jersey Transit and Amtrak service in and out of New York City was disrupted this morning for a third time this week. On Friday, a disabled train at Penn Station caused NJ Transit to suspend service and led to delays in Amtrak service. The delays came just hours after Amtrak suspended service on Thursday evening for over three hours due to power outages. Rail service on both lines was halted earlier in the week because of overhead wire issues and a disabled train on the tracks. As of this morning, Amtrak service is expected to resume by 1 p.m., with delays. Some NJ Transit trains were diverted to Hoboken.
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NYC launches $3.2B ‘Vital Parks’ plan to improve green spaces

Photo courtesy of Santosh Janardhanan on Flickr

June 20, 2024

NYC launches $3.2B ‘Vital Parks’ plan to improve green spaces

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is making moves to bolster its public green space for the future. The city's Parks Department on Thursday unveiled Vital Parks for All, a $3.2 billion initiative to preserve existing park facilities, expand accessibility in underserved communities, and help New Yorkers understand the health of their local park. To accompany the plan, NYC Parks has released an interactive map comparing park access among neighborhoods across the city.
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Policy

The Brooklyn Edison Building is designated a landmark

Photo credit: NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission

June 20, 2024

The Brooklyn Edison Building is designated a landmark

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to designate the Brooklyn Edison Building in Downtown Brooklyn. Located at 345 Adams Street, the office building was designed by renowned architectural firm McKenzie, Voorhees & Gemlin and constructed between 1922 and 1926 for the Brooklyn Edison Company. The structure stands out for its important role in the borough's development and its striking Renaissance Revival architectural features, according to the commission.
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MTA stops work on Second Avenue Subway extension after congestion pricing delay

125th Street entrance. Rendering courtesy of the MTA

June 19, 2024

MTA stops work on Second Avenue Subway extension after congestion pricing delay

By Aaron Ginsburg

Work to extend the Second Avenue subway has stopped following Gov. Kathy Hochul's delay of New York City's congestion pricing program. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Tuesday announced that work on the transformative transit project, which would extend the Q line from its current endpoint at 96th Street to East Harlem at 125th Street, is now paused. The extension was one of the projects that would have been funded in part from congestion pricing revenue.
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NYC opens 500 cooling centers during heat wave

NYC children in hot weather, playing under spray of fire hydrant (1910). Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress’s Print and Photographs Division.

June 18, 2024

NYC opens 500 cooling centers during heat wave

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's first heat wave of the season is here. The city's Emergency Management Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on Monday issued an official heat warning, with temperatures expected to exceed 90 degrees and peak later this week. To give New Yorkers a place to cool off and rest amidst the scorching weather, the city has made it easy to locate hundreds of cooling centers across the five boroughs with an interactive map.
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Policy

Pre-Civil War Village row house with NYC theater and Black history ties may be landmarked

The 13th Street Repertory Company. Photo (left): Courtesy of Village Preservation. Current view of the building (right): Courtesy of the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

June 18, 2024

Pre-Civil War Village row house with NYC theater and Black history ties may be landmarked

By Aaron Ginsburg

A nearly 180-year-old rowhouse in Greenwich Village that has been home to one of the city's first "Off-Off-Broadway" theaters and has significant ties to Black history may be saved from demolition. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to calendar the Jacob Day Residence at 50 West 13th Street, an 1845 rowhouse once home to one of NYC's most successful African American businessmen, a famous suffragist and Civil Rights leader, and most recently, to the 13th Street Repertory Company. Although preservationists were first told by the LPC the structure was not distinguished enough to warrant designation, further research proved the building's immense cultural and historical significance and now the rowhouse is one step closer to becoming a landmark.
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Policy

Rent to increase for NYC’s one million stabilized apartments for third year in a row

Photo courtesy of Maxim Pierre on Flickr

June 18, 2024

Rent to increase for NYC’s one million stabilized apartments for third year in a row

By Devin Gannon

Rent is going up for about one million regulated apartments in New York City. The Rent Guidelines Board on Monday approved rent hikes of 2.75 percent for one-year leases and 5.25 percent on two-year leases. The increase will affect the leases of about two million New Yorkers and marks the third year in a row that rents on stabilized apartments will increase.
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Policy

Hochul weighing mask ban on the NYC subway system

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

June 14, 2024

Hochul weighing mask ban on the NYC subway system

By Aaron Ginsburg

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday said she is considering banning face masks on the city's subway system after a rise in anti-Semitic acts. Recently a video circulated on social media showing protestors on a crowded subway car asking any Zionists aboard "to raise their hands," followed by "this is your chance to get out." Specific policy details are still unclear, but any mask ban would include exemptions for health, cultural, or religious reasons. The governor said she is currently in talks with lawmakers on the matter.
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Policy

NYC transit advocates, officials consider legal action to resume congestion pricing

Pro-congestion pricing rally held outside of 1 Centre Street on June 12. Photo courtesy of New York City Comptroller on Flickr

June 13, 2024

NYC transit advocates, officials consider legal action to resume congestion pricing

By Devin Gannon

A coalition of legal experts and transit advocates is considering legal action to resume congestion pricing. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander on Wednesday announced plans to explore "all legal avenues" to restart the program, which Gov. Kathy Hochul shut down last week less than a month before it was scheduled to start. The coalition is made up of legal professionals and potential plaintiffs, including residents and business owners within the central business district, MTA board members, and New Yorkers with disabilities.
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What to know about the NYC broker fee bill

By Devin Gannon

Broker fees are once again up for debate in the New York City Council. A seven-hour public hearing on Wednesday brought hundreds of tenant advocates and real estate professionals to City Hall over Intro 360, or the Fairness in Apartment Renal Expenses (FARE) Act. The legislation, sponsored by Council Member Chi A. Ossé, calls for shifting the payment of broker fees to the party who hired the broker, often the landlord or management company. Agents argue landlords would bake the fees into the monthly rent, threatening their livelihood and increasing the financial burden for renters.
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Pickleball is coming next to the Brooklyn Bridge in Dumbo

Rendering courtesy of NYC Parks

June 12, 2024

Pickleball is coming next to the Brooklyn Bridge in Dumbo

By Aaron Ginsburg

Closed to the public for 15 years, two parking lots underneath the Brooklyn Bridge in Dumbo will transform into a pickleball hub. NYC Parks on Wednesday selected CityPickle to revitalize Anchorage Plaza, a space located on Old Fulton and Washington Streets and connected by a ramp known as "Ash Alley." CityPickle, which currently has courts in Central Park, Long Island City, and Industry City, is expected to operate at the plaza seasonally from March through November next year. Amenities like a dog run, food trucks, public art, and seating would be available year-round, under the proposal.
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MTA to ‘shrink’ capital budget after congestion pricing halted

Views of Kings Highway on the Culver F line. Photo courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

June 11, 2024

MTA to ‘shrink’ capital budget after congestion pricing halted

By Devin Gannon

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will "shrink" and "reprioritize" its capital budget after Gov. Kathy Hochul paused the congestion pricing program last week that would have brought in $1 billion annually for infrastructure projects. On Monday, MTA Chief Executive Janno Lieber said the agency will reorganize the 2020-2024 Capital Program to prioritize basic repair work to ensure the "system doesn't fall apart." The MTA will also work on preserving federal grants that helped fund projects like extending the Second Avenue subway into Harlem and examine how the gap in the capital program will impact the operating budget.
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Couples jitterbug dancing in the 1930s. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs division.

June 7, 2024

New York City officially lifts dancing ban

By Devin Gannon

New York City got its groove back. The City Council this week voted to end zoning regulations that ban dancing in nightlife establishments in many parts of the city. Although officials repealed the outdated Cabaret Law in 2017, zoning rules were not revised, leaving much of the Prohibition-era law in place at small bars and restaurants in 80 percent of the city. On Thursday, the Council passed Mayor Eric Adams' City of Yes for Economic Opportunity plan, which includes updates to zoning allowing dancing and live entertainment as of right in commercial establishments.
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Policy

Christopher Street subway station renamed in honor of Stonewall

Photo courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

June 6, 2024

Christopher Street subway station renamed in honor of Stonewall

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Christopher Street-Sheridan Square subway station in Greenwich Village was renamed in honor of the Stonewall National Monument. A bill sponsored by Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assembly Member Deborah Glick passed the New York State Senate earlier this month, directing the MTA to rename the station to "Christopher Street-Stonewall National Monument Station" to memorialize the site's crucial role in launching the modern LGBTQIA+ rights movement. The unveiling on Friday marks the 55th anniversary of the historic uprising.
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Photo via Wikimedia

June 6, 2024

The NYC transit projects affected by congestion pricing delay

By Devin Gannon

With Gov. Kathy Hochul's last-minute decision to "indefinitely" pause the congestion pricing program, the MTA will lose out on an anticipated $15 billion in revenue. The governor's decision puts a huge gap in the agency's capital program, which planned to use proceeds from congestion pricing to make critical repairs and improvements to New York City's public transportation network. From making subway stations accessible and updating antiquated signaling to extending the Second Avenue Subway to East Harlem, several projects promised to improve the lives of millions of New Yorkers will now be delayed without dedicated funding.
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Hochul pauses congestion pricing plan ‘indefinitely’

Photo by Pranay Pareek on Unsplash

June 5, 2024

Hochul pauses congestion pricing plan ‘indefinitely’

By Aaron Ginsburg

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday officially paused New York City's congestion pricing program, just weeks before it was set to begin. According to Politico, the governor voiced concerns about how the program, which would have charged drivers $15 for entering Manhattan south of 60th Street starting June 30, might hurt Democrats in upcoming House races later this year. In a pre-taped video, Hochul said "circumstances have changed" since the program was approved in 2019 and cited the effects of the pandemic and high inflation on New Yorkers as reasoning behind halting congestion pricing "indefinitely."
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City landmarks Victorian atrium at The Beekman Hotel

Photo by James and Karla Murray exclusively for 6sqft

June 4, 2024

City landmarks Victorian atrium at The Beekman Hotel

By Devin Gannon

The nine-story Victorian atrium at the Beekman Hotel is now a New York City landmark. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to designate the central atrium at 5 Beekman Street in the Financial District as an interior landmark, recognizing both its stunning architecture and the restoration project that returned the space to its 19th-century glory. Built as part of the commercial building Temple Court, and now the centerpiece for the converted Beekman Hotel, the space consists of eight tiers of galleries topped by a pyramid-shaped skylight.
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NYC creates map of public restrooms, announces plan to build more bathrooms

Image courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

June 4, 2024

NYC creates map of public restrooms, announces plan to build more bathrooms

By Aaron Ginsburg

New Yorkers know the struggle of finding a public bathroom, with just around 1,100 public toilets for over 8.6 million residents. To address this ongoing issue, Mayor Eric Adams on Monday launched "Ur in Luck," a new effort to expand public restroom accessibility across the five boroughs by building 46 new public restrooms and renovating 36 existing ones over the next five years. The city is also making it easier to find public restrooms by adding a new layer to Google Maps that New Yorkers can use to locate publicly accessible restrooms.
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Policy

The G train is partially shutting down for six weeks this summer. Here’s what you should know

G train leaving Smith-9th Streets. Photo credit: Mtattrain, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

May 31, 2024

The G train is partially shutting down for six weeks this summer. Here’s what you should know

By Devin Gannon

The G train will partially shut down for six weeks this summer while the MTA replaces a 1930s-era signal system. The agency this week revealed the planned service changes, which will kick off in three phases starting June 28 through September 3 and impact the entire 11.4-mile line. To make it easier for the 160,000 daily commuters who rely on the G train, MTA announced plans to run free shuttle buses no more than every four minutes during peak weekday hours and allow for free transfers at certain stations during the shutdown.
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Policy

Landmarks receives $500K grant to protect historic flood-prone areas from future storms

Image courtesy of Sergei Gussev on Flickr

May 29, 2024

Landmarks receives $500K grant to protect historic flood-prone areas from future storms

By Aaron Ginsburg

With the start of hurricane season this weekend, New York City is bolstering its defenses against storm damage in its historic waterfront areas. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday launched the LPC Climate Resiliency Initiative, an agency-wide effort that will make it easier for the city to respond to future climate-related weather events. LPC received a $500,000 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to identify historic properties that may be flood-prone in case of severe weather.
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Policy

Nearly a million NYC households could lose affordable high-speed internet

Image courtesy of Billie Grace Ward on Flickr

May 28, 2024

Nearly a million NYC households could lose affordable high-speed internet

By Aaron Ginsburg

Nearly one million New York City households could lose access to affordable high-speed internet unless funding for a vital federal program is restored. As reported by Gothamist, a new report from the Center for an Urban Future details the impact the end of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) will have on the New Yorkers enrolled in the initiative. The program, which launched in 2021 and ran out of funding last month, paid a monthly credit to internet providers on behalf of customers who earn at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level or enrolled in public assistance programs. According to CUF, NYC neighborhoods with the lowest income levels saw the highest enrollment in the program.
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Policy

NYCHA to reopen Section 8 voucher waitlist for first time in 15 years

Image courtesy of Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

May 21, 2024

NYCHA to reopen Section 8 voucher waitlist for first time in 15 years

By Aaron Ginsburg

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) will accept applications for its Section 8 housing voucher program for the first time in 15 years. The Housing Choice Voucher (HVC) program allows families to pay no more than 40 percent of their monthly income for rent, with NYCHA covering the remaining amount. Mayor Eric Adams on Monday announced the reopening of the waitlist, which has been closed since 2009, allowing low-income households to apply for rental subsidies on the private market. Eligible households may apply to the program starting Monday, June 3 at 12 a.m. through Sunday, June 9 at 11:59 p.m.
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MTA rolls out 60 electric buses for Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

May 15, 2024

MTA rolls out 60 electric buses for Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island

By Aaron Ginsburg

Dozens of new all-electric buses will soon hit the road in Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday introduced a fleet of 60 electric buses that will operate on routes in neighborhoods most vulnerable to poor air quality, according to a press release. The buses are part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's goal of operating a 100 percent zero-emission bus fleet by 2040.
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NYC to redevelop 122-acre stretch of Brooklyn coastline

Image courtesy of the New York City Economic Development Corporation

May 14, 2024

NYC to redevelop 122-acre stretch of Brooklyn coastline

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is transforming a 122-acre stretch of Brooklyn's coastline into a dynamic, mixed-use community and modern maritime port. Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced an agreement that gives the city full control of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal, enabling its redevelopment into a vibrant community hub with housing, retail, green space, and a modern port. The development zone, primarily controlled by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, spans over a mile from the southern edge of Brooklyn Bridge Park down to Red Hook, as Bloomberg reported. The deal is the city's largest real estate transaction in terms of size in 20 years.
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Policy

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