Financial District

The only house of worship that was totally destroyed during the September 11 attacks finally reopened to the public this week. Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the new St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine, now located at 130 Liberty Street, resumed regular parish life with a prayer service on Monday. Inspired by Byzantine architecture, Calatrava designed a facade that appears to glow from within; the church will be illuminated every night as a beacon of hope at the site.
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Vote for your favorite large-scale can sculpture during 30th annual ‘Canstruction’ contest

All images courtesy of Ashok Sinha

November 4, 2022

Vote for your favorite large-scale can sculpture during 30th annual ‘Canstruction’ contest

The annual competition that brings together architects, engineers, and contractors for a good cause is back for its 30th year. "Canstruction" asks teams to design and build intricate, large-scale sculptures made of unopened food cans, with all of the cans donated to City Harvest, the city’s largest food rescue organization, and distributed to food pantries following the contest. Held at Brookfield Place in the Financial District, the event is free and open to the public. The competition runs through November 14 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Vote for your favorite can sculpture here.
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Events & Things To Do

Your guide to the Financial District, NYC’s oldest new downtown neighborhood

Photo © 6sqft

August 31, 2022

Your guide to the Financial District, NYC’s oldest new downtown neighborhood

Located at the southernmost part of lower Manhattan–and at the center of the global financial universe–New York City's Financial District in many ways represents New York City to the world. Encompassing the area south of City Hall Park, with the corner of Wall and Broad Streets as its center, this bustling grid of streets is also a waterfront neighborhood, surrounded by New York Harbor and the East River. As a backdrop, the towering masts of South Street Seaport's tall ships recall the maritime history of the city's earliest days. The business of finance is still anchored here, but as with all New York City neighborhoods, change is around every corner, and the number of residents who call this downtown district home continues to grow.
What to do and see, and where to live in Fidi

Events & Things To Do

See inside One Wall Street, the largest office-to-residential conversion in NYC

Photo credit: Evan Joseph for Macklowe Properties

August 17, 2022

See inside One Wall Street, the largest office-to-residential conversion in NYC

A New York City Art Deco landmark is showing off its second act as a luxury residential tower. Once one of New York's tallest office buildings, One Wall Street now boasts a new superlative: the largest office-to-residential conversion in the city's history. Developed by Macklowe Properties, the 566-unit tower sits within the restored former Irving Trust Company Building, designed in 1931 by famed architect Ralph Walker. New images of the residences and innovative co-working space were released this week, providing a first peek inside one of the city's most unique new residential buildings.
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Image of the 9/11 Tribute Museum via Wiki Commons

August 16, 2022

NYC’s 9/11 Tribute Museum is closing

The museum which told the stories of September 11 survivors is officially closing its doors. The 9/11 Tribute Museum will close on August 17 due to financial hardships stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic, as NBC New York first reported. The museum will shift to a fully online format to continue telling victims' stories and support those affected by the attacks.
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Events & Things To Do

Image credit: Al Siedman of VHT for The Corcoran Group

August 12, 2022

For $2.5M, this huge FiDi co-op has ornate brass gates and lots of room for transformation

This pre-war co-op at 26 Beaver Street in the Financial District is a loft-like corner unit with plenty of interesting architectural details, not least of which is a stunning set of broad brass gates that stand at the apartment's entrance. Asking $2,450,000, the sprawling 2,400-square-foot home is currently configured with two large bedrooms, but there's more than enough living space to create a three- or four-bedroom home.
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Distinctive Homes

Iconic New York Harbor sailing experience returns to the Seaport after 9 years

Photo Credit: Mike Szpot courtesy of The Howard Hughes Corporation

August 5, 2022

Iconic New York Harbor sailing experience returns to the Seaport after 9 years

After a nine-year hiatus, the Howard Hughes Corporation on Friday announced the return of Manhattan by Sail to Pier 17. Clipper City Tall Ship, its newly-renovated sailboat that will offer daily specialty sails and private charters, will launch this month. Departing from the east side of Pier 17 at 89 South Street, Clipper City will operate seven days a week, taking four trips a day with an additional late-night departure at 10 p.m.
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Portside is Lower Manhattan’s latest waterfront retreat

Renderings courtesy of Brookfield Place

July 5, 2022

Portside is Lower Manhattan’s latest waterfront retreat

Brookfield Properties last week announced the grand opening of their new nautical-inspired pop-up, Portside. Located at Brookfield Place's Upper Plaza in the Financial District, the space is free, open to the public, and offers guests breathtaking views of the New York Harbor. The space will also host weekly programming and events, as well as offer cocktails and food provided by Tartinery. Portside will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. through September.
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Empty Financial District offices at 55 Broad will be converted to 571 apartments

Streetview of 55 Broad. © Google 2022

June 24, 2022

Empty Financial District offices at 55 Broad will be converted to 571 apartments

As many of New York City's workers remain remote and office vacancy shows no signs of reversing, many have suggested the city's empty offices be used for living. In one of the largest office-to-residential conversions to be launched during the pandemic, two local developers have purchased the one-third vacant 55 Broad Street with the intention of creating 571 market-rate apartments, the Wall Street Journal reports.
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Real Estate Trends

Century 21 to reopen flagship store in the Financial District

Photo by ajay_suresh on Wikimedia

May 19, 2022

Century 21 to reopen flagship store in the Financial District

A favorite shopping destination of New Yorkers is coming back home. After undergoing a major renovation, and filing for bankruptcy in 2020, the famed department store Century 21 will return to its flagship location at 22 Cortlandt Street in the Financial District next spring. The new store will encompass four main floors, offering men's, women's, and children's apparel, including footwear, outerwear, handbags, accessories, and fragrances, according to a press release. And to emphasize its connection to the city, Century 21 is adding "NYC" to its logo.
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Real Estate Trends

Chef Daniel Boulud to open casual French restaurant Le Gratin at The Beekman

Courtesy of The Beekman Hotel

April 21, 2022

Chef Daniel Boulud to open casual French restaurant Le Gratin at The Beekman

Michelin-starred Chef Daniel Boulud is opening a new restaurant in one of New York City's most iconic spaces. Located on the ground floor of the Beekman Hotel in the Financial District, Le Gratin will offer a casual dining experience inspired by the bistros of Boulud's hometown, Lyon, France. The menu will feature classic French and Lyonnais specialties and an extensive wine list with over 100 selections. Guillaume Ginther, former chef of New York's Le Coq Rico Bistro and Boulud's Restaurant Daniel, will take up executive chef duties. Boulud's new restaurant is set to open its doors on May 6; reservations will open on Resy on Thursday.
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Food & Dining

Public Design Commission temporarily extends ‘Fearless Girl’ statue’s stay on Broad Street

Photo by Ahmer Kalam on Unsplash

April 12, 2022

Public Design Commission temporarily extends ‘Fearless Girl’ statue’s stay on Broad Street

The New York City Public Design Commission (PDC) voted Monday to extend the iconic "Fearless Girl" sculpture's permit to remain at her current spot across from the New York Stock Exchange, but with the caveat that plans for a permanent location must be presented in six months, the New York Times reports. The city's vote extends the permit for 11 months, but asset management firm State Street Global Advisors, the statue's owner, and Kristen Visbal, the artist who created the statue, must meet with the city again in six months to determine where its permanent home will be.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC’s Smorgasburg, Queens Night Market announce 2022 opening dates

2018 Smorgasburg; Photo by Scott Lynch

March 23, 2022

NYC’s Smorgasburg, Queens Night Market announce 2022 opening dates

Two foodie favorites are returning to New York City and New Jersey next month. Open-air food markets Smorgasburg and the Queens Night Market have announced opening dates for the 2022 season. Now in its 12th season, Smorgasburg's opening weekend kicks off April 1 near the World Trade Center, with a new Jersey City location operating on Saturdays and the old standby Prospect Park spot on Sundays. The flagship riverside location in Williamsburg will be opening in June due to renovations at Marsha P. Johnson State Park. And Queens Night Market is back at Flushing Meadows Corona Park on Saturdays starting April 16 as part of a special sneak peek, with free admission starting on May 7.
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February 1, 2022

An art lover’s guide to NYC: The best public art installations and museums in FiDi

By Emilie Murphy

While the Financial District, located at the southern tip of Manhattan, maybe most closely synonymous with Wall Street and towering office buildings, it is also home to world-class museums, public art installations and performances, and unexpected treasures that make it a worthy destination for art lovers. Better yet, during a time of increasing unknowns and fluctuating Covid statistics, many of FiDi's cultural elements can be safely experienced outside or at a distance. From large-scale sculptures to a landlocked lighthouse, here is the ultimate art lover’s guide to FiDi.
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Events & Things To Do

Famed NYC bar Dante opens winter-themed pop-up at the Seaport

Image courtesy of Dante

January 6, 2022

Famed NYC bar Dante opens winter-themed pop-up at the Seaport

North America’s number one bar returns to the Seaport to serve award-winning food and drink in its seasonal pop-up at Pier 17’s Pearl Alley. Guests can enjoy their food and drink alongside live music in a warm, winter-themed setting. The Greenwich Village staple will offer guests signature cocktails and negronis, as well as espresso, coffee, and pastries.
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See NYC’s sweeping master plan that promises climate resilience for Lower Manhattan

Image credit: NYCEDC

January 4, 2022

See NYC’s sweeping master plan that promises climate resilience for Lower Manhattan

New York City has taken an important step toward protecting one of the country’s largest central business districts from the costly and destructive effects of climate change. The city's Economic Development Corporation and the Mayor's Office of Climate Resiliency recently released the Financial District and Seaport Climate Resilience Master Plan. At a projected cost of up to $7 billion, this environmental blueprint for the Lower Manhattan shoreline imagines a resilient waterfront that can withstand severe storms and rising sea levels.
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New $18.3M sustainable playground opens at the Battery

Image courtesy of Diane Bondareff/AP Images for The Battery Conservancy

December 20, 2021

New $18.3M sustainable playground opens at the Battery

One of New York City's largest sustainable parks officially opened last week. Following a 25-year initiative, the Battery Conservancy on Thursday opened the Battery Playscape, a 1.5-acre playground that triples the size of the former park and aims to reinforce sustainable practices in its users through its eco-friendly design and features.
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Landmarks votes to keep ‘Fearless Girl’ statue across from the Stock Exchange for three more years

Photo by Ahmer Kalam on Unsplash

December 15, 2021

Landmarks votes to keep ‘Fearless Girl’ statue across from the Stock Exchange for three more years

New York City's Landmarks Preservation Commission agreed in a unanimous vote on Tuesday to keep the popular "Fearless Girl" statue in its home on Broad Street across from the New York Stock Exchange for three more years. As 6sqft previously reported, the statue’s permit with the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) expired on November 29. State Street Global Advisors, the statue’s owners, submitted a request for a ten-year permit last year, which will ultimately be addressed at a hearing before the Public Design Commission, which oversees the city’s art collection. The LPC vote was based solely on the statue's placement in a historically significant location.
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Events & Things To Do

‘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

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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16-foot-tall ‘Flyboy’ sculpture from artist Hebru Brantley unveiled at The Battery

All photos: NYC Parks / Malcolm Pinckney

November 17, 2021

16-foot-tall ‘Flyboy’ sculpture from artist Hebru Brantley unveiled at The Battery

A 16-foot-tall steel and fiberglass sculpture of a superhero has been installed at The Battery in Lower Manhattan. Designed by artist Hebru Brantley, the artwork, called The Great Debate, is part of a series featuring the character Flyboy, an aviator goggle-wearing, crime-fighter. The sculpture will be on display through November 13, 2022.
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Events & Things To Do

Live in the Woolworth Tower apartment seen on ‘Succession’ for $23M

Photo by Travis Mark.

October 20, 2021

Live in the Woolworth Tower apartment seen on ‘Succession’ for $23M

The palatial residence perched on the 29th floor of Downtown Manhattan's iconic Woolworth Building is unique enough as it is. Now, Pavilion A at The Woolworth Tower Residences at 2 Park Place has the additional status of having been recently featured in the season three premiere of HBO's Succession. Two years ago, 6sqft reported the apartment's listing for $29.85 million–about $3 million less than when it made its debut. In addition to its star turn on the Emmy-winning drama, the five-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bath duplex has been discounted 30 percent to $23.355 million.
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Distinctive Homes

With Norman Foster back as the architect, 2 WTC construction could begin soon

Photo by Phil Dolby on Flickr

September 9, 2021

With Norman Foster back as the architect, 2 WTC construction could begin soon

Twenty years after the terrorist attacks of September 11, the redevelopment of Lower Manhattan's World Trade Center complex is nearly complete. But one tower still hasn't got off the ground. After architecture firm changes and financing problems, developer Silverstein Properties said construction is set to begin in the coming months on 2 World Trade Center with a new design from Norman Foster's Foster + Partners. As first reported by Commercial Observer, the developer is close to securing an anchor tenant, which would lead to a construction loan and the start of work within "the next six to 12 months."
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World Trade Center’s St. Nicholas National Shrine will be lit for the first time this week

Rendering courtesy of Friends of St. Nicholas

September 8, 2021

World Trade Center’s St. Nicholas National Shrine will be lit for the first time this week

By Dana Schulz

On September 11, 2001, a Greek Orthodox church on Cedar Street was destroyed, resulting in plans to rebuild the structure at a new location on Liberty Street. Construction finally began on this new Santiago Calatrava-designed church, St. Nicholas National Shrine, in 2015, and though there were some hurdles along the way, the domed building will finally be lit for the first time. The church will commence the 20th-anniversary remembrance of 9/11 with a memorial service and the inaugural lighting of the Saint Nicholas National Shrine this Friday evening.
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Architecture And Design

Apply for 63 mixed-income units at new FiDi high-rise with rooftop terraces, from $1,329/month

Renderings courtesy of NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development

September 7, 2021

Apply for 63 mixed-income units at new FiDi high-rise with rooftop terraces, from $1,329/month