Policy

City Exceeds 2014 Affordable Housing Goals, but Few Apartments Are Below 96th Street

Photo via Pexels

January 16, 2015

City Exceeds 2014 Affordable Housing Goals, but Few Apartments Are Below 96th Street

Photo via Pexels The Mayor announced yesterday that the city had exceeded its affordable housing goal for 2014 by 1,300 apartments, building or preserving 17,300 affordable units. This represents 8.6 percent of de Blasio's larger goal of 200,000 units over 10 years. But on the heels of the announcement, a report by New York University's Furman Center shows that only 6 percent of new subsidized affordable rental units have been built below 96th Street since 2000, compared with 16 percent in the '70s. The city says it's ramping up its building and preservation efforts to 20,000 affordable units per year, but this likely won't do much to sway the numbers above 96th Street.
More on the affordable housing news here

Daily Link Fix: Eloise Moves from the Plaza to a Williamsburg Hotel; New Wind Turbine Is Powering Up Sunset Park

January 16, 2015

Daily Link Fix: Eloise Moves from the Plaza to a Williamsburg Hotel; New Wind Turbine Is Powering Up Sunset Park

A new book called Ella reimagines the classic Eloise tale with the main character as a hipster living in a Williamsburg hotel. [Gothamist] To mark the 50th anniversary of the NYC landmarks law, here’s a list of the city’s first 38 landmarks. [Curbed] Do you have a weird affinity for the smell of cut grass? Or […]

Policy

Get Free Access to 33 Museums with the New NYC Municipal ID

January 12, 2015

Get Free Access to 33 Museums with the New NYC Municipal ID

Are you one of those New Yorkers who goes to the Met more than any other museum because it's "pay what you wish"? Do you wait in lines wrapped around the block to get into museums' free admission nights? Well, good news. You can now enjoy your favorite cultural institutions across all five boroughs without having to jump through hoops, thanks to the Mayor's municipal ID initiative. In addition to serving as a city identification card, IDNYC will offer a free one-year membership to 33 of the city’s most prominent museums and cultural centers; it will also serve as a cross-borough library card. New Yorkers can begin applying today, and enrollment will remain open until December 31, 2015.
Interested? Find out more here

Community Board Likes Pier55 Floating Park Overall, but Wants More Transparency

January 9, 2015

Community Board Likes Pier55 Floating Park Overall, but Wants More Transparency

It's been relatively quiet over the past six weeks or so as far as news about the proposed offshore park and performance space in the Hudson River known as Pier55. But this week, Community Board 2's Parks and Waterfront Committee reviewed the project, and though they liked Thomas Heatherwick's design overall, they cited their main concern as transparency. The board's issue stems from the fact that billionaire media mogul Barry Diller, who committed $130 million to the 2.7-acre park, and the Hudson River Park Trust had been working secretively for two years on the plans. According to Curbed, committee member Arthur Schwartz said, "Probably the main public critique of this project has been the way that so much of the design was developed in infinite detail before it even became a matter of public knowledge."
More on the outcome of the public meeting

The City Began Rebuilding 1,002 Sandy-Damaged Homes in 2014

January 7, 2015

The City Began Rebuilding 1,002 Sandy-Damaged Homes in 2014

Mayor de Blasio’s 2014 goal for Hurricane Sandy reconstruction was to start the rebuilding of 1,000 homes and distribute 1,500 reimbursement checks to homeowners who paid for repairs out of their own pockets. And not only have those goals been met, but they’ve been exceeded. According to the Daily News, the city has begun construction on 1,002 […]

NYC Sees an Increase in Solar Energy

January 5, 2015

NYC Sees an Increase in Solar Energy

We've been talking so much about real estate trends and all the swanky new condo developments that we can expect to see in 2015, but there's another, more subtle trend that's already taking shape. And it's environmentally friendly. As CNBC reports, "New York City is experiencing a solar renaissance." The city has seen a recent flurry of initiatives that advocate for green building, including Governor Cuomo's $1 billion commitment to solar projects and his law that doubles tax breaks for those who install solar panels on their properties. Plus, in November, the City Council passed a bill that says New York City must cut greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.
Learn how NYC buildings are incorporating solar energy

Manhattan Bed and Breakfasts Are Forced to Close in the Wake of the Airbnb Battle

Image of a B&B Mike Miley via photopin cc

December 24, 2014

Manhattan Bed and Breakfasts Are Forced to Close in the Wake of the Airbnb Battle

We've already taken a close look at how controversial room-sharing startup Airbnb is accused of depleting the already-scarce affordable housing stock in the city, but a new type of fallout is also underway. Thanks to legislation enforced in 2011 that sought to eliminate short-term rentals and illegal hotels in residential or SRO buildings, many legal bed and breakfast owners are being forced to shut their doors.
Read about the issue here

Check Out the NYC Holiday Window Displays with Google Maps

One of the holiday windows at Saks, via Google Maps

December 23, 2014

Check Out the NYC Holiday Window Displays with Google Maps

We're starting to think Google wants us to never leave our apartments again. Not only can we tour the elite Gramercy Park without a key and explore NYC in 3D, but now we can even check out the department store holiday window displays with Google Maps, welcome news for those of us who want to get in the holiday spirit without battling the crowds. The Observer reports that the feature is available in London and New York, the latter showcasing those windows at Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's, and Bloomingdale's. It's part of Google Maps' new Business View feature, which makes it possible to virtually go inside businesses and provides special offerings like a 360-degree tour of the Colbert Report set.
Take a look at this year's holiday windows

Halstead Brings High-Definition Digital Walk-Throughs to the Market

Tour real estate listings at home with Halstead’s 3D Walkthru

December 22, 2014

Halstead Brings High-Definition Digital Walk-Throughs to the Market

House hunting can be quite the time suck, but you can now peruse real estate listings in a whole new way from the comfort of your couch. A new offering from Halstead Property called 3D Walkthru uses 3D technology similar to Google Street View that allows clients to tour an available property online. The digital platform is so advanced that users can get right into a room, peeking out windows and checking out the kitchen appliances.
More details ahead

6sqft Gift Guide: Karma Turns a Cellular Connection into on-the-Go Wireless

December 19, 2014

6sqft Gift Guide: Karma Turns a Cellular Connection into on-the-Go Wireless

This pocket-sized device may be less than three square inches, but it certainly packs a lot of punch. Karma Go takes a cellular connection and turns it into your own personal WiFi signal to power up to eight devices, including laptops, tablets, and cell phones. Plus, the battery lasts for 220 hours of standby time and five hours of internet usage.
More details here

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Explore NYC in 3-D with Google Maps’ Latest Update

December 17, 2014

Explore NYC in 3-D with Google Maps’ Latest Update

For those of you who remember the quirky Times story featuring a Google team's attempt to document every inch of Ellis Island, here comes the the payoff. The awe-inspiring world of Google Maps and Google Earth is growing into an even grander time suck with a slew of new city sites rendered in 3-D. Their latest update now lets us explore New York's landmarks from top to torch to spire, and all the details in between, right from our desktops. Some of the most impressive sites worth a gander include the Statue of Liberty and One World Trade Center.
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Google-Backed Pedal-Powered Pod Cars Coming to a City Near You?

December 15, 2014

Google-Backed Pedal-Powered Pod Cars Coming to a City Near You?

JPods, East River Skyway, an expanding Citi Bike—if one thing is clear, New York City's rapidly growing population has gotten a lot of people worried about how our already taxed infrastructure is going to account for all of these new bodies. The latest transportation idea to come out of the woodwork is not necessarily a new one, but it's one that's recently found a new boost thanks to interest and funding provided by everyone's favorite search giant: Google. Called "SkySMART," this new idea for mobility utilizes a series of sun- and pedal-powered pods that run along an elevated rail high above city traffic.
More on Skysmart here

6sqft Gift Guide: Insane Big Rig Exer-Desk Generates 100 Watts of Electricity

December 12, 2014

6sqft Gift Guide: Insane Big Rig Exer-Desk Generates 100 Watts of Electricity

Do you have a friend who, year after year, promises that they'll work harder and exercise more? Pedal Power's kick-ass Big Rig exer-desk might be exactly what they need to stick with those new year's resolutions. This cool desk is totally "off-grid" and has the potential to generate up to 100 watts of electricity for one motivated user. And because it's modeled off an actual high-performance bike, it features an ergonomic seat for comfort, quick adjustments for different riders, a flywheel to smooth pedaling, and a wide range of gearing—meaning your giftee could easily go from tubby to Tour de France cyclist before the new year's close.
Find out more about the bike here

Ridgewood Gets Its Fourth Historic District with 990 Buildings

Photo © Cameron Baylock

December 12, 2014

Ridgewood Gets Its Fourth Historic District with 990 Buildings

On the heels of the recent landmarks controversy, Queens' hottest new neighborhood just got its fourth landmarked historic district, the Central Ridgewood Historic District. The 40-block, 990-building area joins Ridgewood's three existing historic districts, Ridgewood North, Ridgewood South, and Stockholm Street. The district includes buildings along Madison Street and Catalpa Avenue, as well as others, which were recognized by the Landmarks Preservation Commission for exemplifying working class housing. Most of the Renaissance Revival brick row houses were built by German immigrants between 1906 and World War I.
More on Ridgewood's newest historic district

Turn Your Arm into a Touch Screen Device with the Cicret Bracelet

December 11, 2014

Turn Your Arm into a Touch Screen Device with the Cicret Bracelet

We still can't quite get used to people walking down the street "talking to themselves," but actually using their phone's Bluetooth. We're in for a whole different kind of confusion, though, because a new wearable device can turn your arm into a touch-screen device. Just imagine seeing that during your rush-hour commute. Created by a group of Paris-based designers, the Cicret Bracelet remotely connects to a mobile device and projects the screen of the smartphone onto the user's lower forearm, transforming one's skin into an operable touch screen to check emails, play games, and even answer calls.
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Policy

6sqft Gift Guide: High-Tech ‘Tile’ Helps Those Who Constantly Lose Their Keys

December 11, 2014

6sqft Gift Guide: High-Tech ‘Tile’ Helps Those Who Constantly Lose Their Keys

There are fewer things more annoying than waiting for a friend or family member as they frantically search for their keys. Help them in their hunt (and preserve your sanity) by gifting them a Tile this holiday. This simple but brilliant device takes the mystery out of finding one's most important belongings and takes advantage of something we all have: a smartphone.
How it works

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Computer Scientist Invents Technology That 3D Prints Gardens

December 11, 2014

Computer Scientist Invents Technology That 3D Prints Gardens

By Alyssa Alimurung

At this point, you already know you can 3D print anything from furniture to entire estates, but now you can even add gardens to the list. Yuichiro Takeuchi, a computer scientist at the Sony Computer Science Laboratories in Tokyo, has invented a way to create herb and flower gardens using the incredible technology. And the best part? […]

Traffic Light Installation Lets You Play Pong with Pedestrians on the Other Side of the Street

December 10, 2014

Traffic Light Installation Lets You Play Pong with Pedestrians on the Other Side of the Street

For New Yorkers addicted to their smart phones, standing still at traffic lights must be quite painful (unless they're texting of course), but a fun new invention would help pass those 13 seconds in no time. Known as the ActiWait project, this street light installation allows pedestrians on either side of a street to play pong (or "street pong," if you will) with each other while waiting to cross. There are currently two sets of the touch-screen devices installed in Hildesheim, Germany, so it shouldn't be long before New Yorkers are running late to work due to an intense game of pong on Park Avenue.
More on the ActiWait street pong project here

Cooper Hewitt Design Museum Reopens This Week After a Three-Year High-Tech Renovation

December 10, 2014

Cooper Hewitt Design Museum Reopens This Week After a Three-Year High-Tech Renovation

It's been three years since the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum was first cloaked in scaffolding, but the $91 million, LEED-certified renovation has finally come to a close. The museum, located in Andrew Carnegie's former Gilded Age mansion on Fifth Avenue, is set to reopen this Friday, December 12th. It now boasts 60% more exhibition space and a slew of new high-tech interactive features including downloadable 3D designs, multi-touch surfaces as large as pool tables and an interactive projection that allows guests to view 500 digital images of wallpaper right on the gallery walls.
More details on the revamped museum

Soho Broadway BID Will Support Local Residents in Addition to Businesses

Soho via CityRealty

December 9, 2014

Soho Broadway BID Will Support Local Residents in Addition to Businesses

By definition, a Business Improvement District (BID) "is a public/private partnership in which property and business owners elect to make a collective contribution to the maintenance, development, and promotion of their commercial district." Typically, they're implemented in neighborhoods that need an economic boost, so Soho would seem like an unlikely candidate. Ever since the neighborhood's artist lofts were replaced with designer boutiques, residents have struggled to deal with the "mall-ification" of their home. And when the Soho Broadway BID was presented, local activists opposed it, citing that commercial activity was already bursting at the seams, and it was the residents who needed assistance. Now, after nearly four years of debate, the BID is moving forward, but with a decreased budget and an equal commitment to both residents and businesses.
More details ahead

Policy

Landmarks Drops Proposal to De-Calendar Nearly 100 Historic Sites After Public Outcry

Green-Wood Cemetery via wallyg via photopin cc

December 5, 2014

Landmarks Drops Proposal to De-Calendar Nearly 100 Historic Sites After Public Outcry

Major controversy ensued earlier this week between preservationists and city officials when the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) released a proposal to de-calendar 94 historic sites and two historic districts. The plan would have left these locations, including Long Island City’s Pepsi sign, Manhattan’s Bergdorf Goodman building, and Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, completely unprotected and ripe for alterations […]

December 4, 2014

NYC Sees a 24 Percent Increase in Construction Loans, Especially in Brownstone Brooklyn

It's that time again when everyone starts looking back on the year as it comes to a close, but it's also the time to look ahead to the new year. We already know 2015 will bring a slew of new developments to the New York City skyline, and right on trend with that forecast, Bloomberg has reported that construction loans are up 24 percent in the city. On-the-rise neighborhoods like Bed-Stuy and Harlem are being aided by the construction loan boom, especially for the renovation of multi-family buildings. The loans, often well over $1 million, are appealing for gentrifying areas because they usually require borrowers to only begin making interest payments once the renovation is complete. For example, a Clinton Hill resident secured a $800,000 construction loan to renovate a century-old multi-family brownstone and estimates that the value of the home will more than double to at least $2.2 million after the renovation.
More information here

6sqft Gift Guide: Nokero’s Solar Light Bulb with Phone Charger

December 3, 2014

6sqft Gift Guide: Nokero’s Solar Light Bulb with Phone Charger

Aren't we all a little sick of receiving holiday gifts that are completely useless and end up collecting dust in the junk drawer? Well, here's a gift idea that's extremely useful, but still an exciting product to unwrap, thanks to its sleek design and fun, bulbous shape. Nokero's solar lights are perfect for camping, traveling, or everyday use in a poorly-lit apartment. The Huron N222 (pictured above) can charge a cell phone while it illuminates an entire room, while the Start N182 is compact enough to fit in your pocket (hello, stocking stuffer) but strong enough to light up a small space.
More on Nokero's solar products here

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