Midtown West

The $500 million redevelopment of One Times Square, home of the New Year's Eve ball drop, is moving closer to completion. Developer Jamestown on Thursday celebrated the topping out of the project, which is transforming one of the world's most famous buildings into a year-round entertainment hub with a new visitor center, a viewing deck overlooking Times Square, a museum, and lots of advertisements. Located at 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue, One Times Square is expected to reopen to the public in 2025.
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New Developments

Penn Station opens new accessible entrance with glass canopy at 7th Ave and 32nd Street

All images courtesy of Fernando Sandoval/MW

November 20, 2023

Penn Station opens new accessible entrance with glass canopy at 7th Ave and 32nd Street

Travelers will now have a much easier time entering Penn Station. The transit hub's busiest entrance at 7th Avenue and 32nd Street reopened on Sunday following a renovation led by Amtrak and Vornado Realty Trust. The passageway is now fully ADA-accessible, with a 50 percent wider entrance, a new elevator, two new escalators, and a new glass canopy designed by Norman Foster's Foster + Partners that replaces the original concrete overhang.
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An illuminated steel whale has surfaced on Broadway

Photos courtesy of Alexandre Ayer / @DiversityPics for the Garment District Alliance

September 18, 2023

An illuminated steel whale has surfaced on Broadway

A massive, illuminated steel whale has arrived on the streets of the Garment District. Located on the Broadway pedestrian plazas between 38th and 39th Streets, "Echoes – A Voice from Unchartered Waters" is a 55-foot-long interactive art and sound installation meant to inspire deeper thought about the ways our daily routines affect the environment. Created by artist, designer, and researcher Mathias Gmachl, "Echoes" is free and open to the public through November 13. The installation is the latest public artwork sponsored by the Garment District Alliance.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC Council approves five-year permit for Madison Square Garden

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

August 29, 2023

NYC Council approves five-year permit for Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden will remain above Penn Station, but for not as long as its owners want. Two New York City Council committees on Monday voted to renew the arena's special permit for five years, which would be the shortest operating permit given to the Garden if approved by the full Council next month. MSG owner James Dolan had hoped to secure a permanent extension of the operating permit which expired earlier this year.
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4 NYC seafood spots that will make you feel like you’re on vacation

Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Crab

August 16, 2023

4 NYC seafood spots that will make you feel like you’re on vacation

By Lidia Ryan

Nothing says summer in the Northeast like sitting by the water with fresh seafood and a cold drink. Lobster rolls, oysters, and steamers on the coast probably conjure up images of weekends in the Hamptons, Cape Cod, or Maine, but there are some hidden gems right here in New York City that will make you feel like you’re on a summer getaway — and you don’t even have to battle that weekend traffic. Here are four spots to check out while summer is still in full swing.
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$28M Midtown duplex has epic private terrace and 5-star hotel perks

All photos courtesy of DDreps

August 8, 2023

$28M Midtown duplex has epic private terrace and 5-star hotel perks

This duplex apartment offers the seemingly impossible: more than 3,000 square feet of private outdoor space in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. Located on the 18th and 19th floors of the elegant Baccarat Hotel & Residences on West 53rd Street, this mansion-in-the-sky, asking $27,950,000, has been gut renovated with top-of-the-line everything and is wrapped by a marble-capped terrace that is surrounded by iconic cityscape. Residents have access to the five-star hotel's amenities, including 24-hour room service, a heated pool, a fitness center, and the notable La Mer spa.
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Distinctive Homes

The Dead Rabbit to open contemporary Irish pub in Moynihan Train Hall

Photo courtesy of Crown Creative/The Dead Rabbit

July 21, 2023

The Dead Rabbit to open contemporary Irish pub in Moynihan Train Hall

The Dead Rabbit, one of New York City's most famous bars, is opening a new outpost in Moynihan Train Hall this September. Jack McGarry, who founded the decade-old pub in the Financial District with business partner Sean Muldoon in 2013, will open the Irish Exit, a 216-seat bar serving Irish spirits, boilermakers, Guinness on draft, and the Dead Rabbit's signature Irish coffees, according to Eater New York. The bar will be open seven days a week from 10 a.m. until midnight.
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Food & Dining

Photo credit: Rich Caplan

July 10, 2023

Live at the Plaza with hotel-style service and condo convenience for $9.5M; minimalists need not apply

This two-bedroom condominium in the Plaza Private Residences at 1 Central Park South offers one of New York City's most iconic addresses and suitably lavish interiors by AD 100 designer Richard Keith Langham. Pristine and newly-renovated, this parkside home, asking $9,500,000, has 12-foot ceilings and all of the conveniences of modern living, along with the peerless hotel services available to Plaza residents.
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Distinctive Homes

Private firm unveils Penn Station redesign plan, claims it’s $1B cheaper than MTA’s

Renderings courtesy of ASTM, PAU, and HOK

June 29, 2023

Private firm unveils Penn Station redesign plan, claims it’s $1B cheaper than MTA’s

A private development firm unveiled a proposal for rebuilding Penn Station that is $1 billion cheaper than what is proposed by the MTA. ASTM North America on Wednesday revealed details of their $6 billion renovation of the transit station, which involves keeping Madison Square Garden in its current location, wrapping it in a massive stone facade, and creating a more unified train hall. The firm's unveiling of the comprehensive plan comes days after Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that Penn Station's renovation will move forward with the preliminary design process without the development of several office towers.
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Elevated pathway connecting the High Line and Moynihan Train Hall opens

Photos courtesy of © Andrew Frasz

June 21, 2023

Elevated pathway connecting the High Line and Moynihan Train Hall opens

A new elevated pedestrian path connecting the High Line to Moynihan Tran Hall opens to the public this week. The 600-foot-long High Line-Moynihan Connector consists of two bridges, one full of lush landscape that runs along West 30th Street and another made of Alaskan yellow cedar wood that is suspended over Dyer Avenue. Officially opening on June 22, the $50 million project connects Manhattan West's public plaza to a pedestrian pathway at West 31st Street, allowing commuters to easily and safely access the train station and the rest of Midtown West.
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MSG should stay above Penn Station, says Manhattan borough president

Rendering: ASTM North America

May 22, 2023

MSG should stay above Penn Station, says Manhattan borough president

Madison Square Garden should be granted a new operating permit and be allowed to stay put, as long as it gives up some of its space for the expansion of Penn Station, Manhattan Borough Mark Levine said on Monday. As first reported by Crain's New York, Levine's recommendation includes demolishing MSG's theater and replacing it with a new grand entrance facing Eighth Avenue, a new mid-block entrance, and a double-height concourse. To do this, Levine advises giving MSG a new five-year special permit, if the Garden works with the city, state, and railroads to redevelop Penn Station and the surrounding area.
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300-foot timber bridge connecting the High Line and Moynihan Train Hall has been installed

All photos © 6sqft

May 11, 2023

300-foot timber bridge connecting the High Line and Moynihan Train Hall has been installed

The elevated pathway that will connect the High Line to the new Moynihan Train Hall hit a major milestone this week. The 260-foot-long timber bridge has been craned into place and is currently suspended 25 feet over Dyer Avenue. The new footbridge connects Manhattan West's public plaza Magnolia Court to a pedestrian pathway at West 31st Street, providing an easier way of accessing the Moynihan Train Hall without having to cross multiple streets. The timber bridge will link to the so-called Woodland Bridge, which will extend east from the existing northern terminus of the High Line. The new linear park, dubbed the High Line-Moynihan Train Hall Connector, is expected to open in late June.
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Dine-in movie theater to open at Bjarke Ingels’ VIA 57 West

Image via WikiCommons

April 27, 2023

Dine-in movie theater to open at Bjarke Ingels’ VIA 57 West

A new dine-in movie theater is opening inside a luxury residential building in Midtown next month. Located within the Bjarke Ingels-designed and Durst Organization-developed VIA 57 WEST, Look Dine-In Cinema's new flagship location offers a premium movie experience with large screens, state-of-the-art sound systems, luxury seating, and extensive food and beverage options. The theater opens on Thursday, May 4.
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80+ free outdoor performances happening in Times Square this summer

Images courtesy of the Times Square Alliance

April 20, 2023

80+ free outdoor performances happening in Times Square this summer

New York City's annual celebration of its diverse creative community returns to Times Square this May. Hosted by the Times Square Alliance, TSQ Live will offer over 80 free, open-air performances at plazas throughout the neighborhood, allowing performers to show their craft on one of the world's most public stages. Running through September, TSQ Live features a variety of events, including live DJ sets, concerts, and dance performances from NYC institutions like Carnegie Hall, Pioneer Works, and Jazz at Lincoln Center.
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Events & Things To Do

New Penn Station overhaul proposal adds Vishaan Chakrabarti to design team

All images courtesy of ASTM North America

April 17, 2023

New Penn Station overhaul proposal adds Vishaan Chakrabarti to design team

Earlier this year, Vornado Realty Trust shelved plans to redevelop the area around Penn Station with several office buildings, citing poor economic conditions. Revenue from the proposed 18-million-square-foot redevelopment of Midtown West was expected to help fund the renovation of the despised transit hub. With that proposal on hold, an alternative plan has materialized that promises to leave Madison Square Garden in place and cost less money than the original project. And on Monday, the design team announced a new addition: Vishaan Chakrabarti of Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU).
Details here

Architecture And Design

NYC’s redesign of Broadway blocks into pedestrian-friendly stretch begins

Rendering of Greeley Square after capital construction work is completed; Courtesy of “New” New York Panel

March 13, 2023

NYC’s redesign of Broadway blocks into pedestrian-friendly stretch begins

New York City will begin its transformation of an iconic stretch of Broadway into a pedestrian-friendly corridor this week, Mayor Eric Adams announced Sunday. The work is part of the first phase of "Broadway Vision," a plan to make the chaotic and crowded streets between Madison Square and Herald Square safer by banning cars on some blocks and creating more space for pedestrians. As part of the first phase, the city will add two new plazas, shared streets, and a two-way bike lane on Broadway from West 25th Street to West 32nd Street.
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A Central Park Tower penthouse asks $175M to live in the world’s tallest residential tower

Photo courtesy of Extell

March 10, 2023

A Central Park Tower penthouse asks $175M to live in the world’s tallest residential tower

Trophy pad alert: A 12,557-square-foot penthouse in Central Park Tower at 217 West 57th Street just hit the market, asking for a skyscraping $175,000,000. The duplex Billionaires' Row condo spans the 107th and 108th floor of what is to date the Western Hemisphere's tallest residential tower. It's a tower filled with superlatives–including the world's highest residence, a $250 million triplex just a few floors above. If this two-story sky mansion gets its asking price, it could be New York City's second-biggest residential sale ever.
Behold this Central Park Tower penthouse in the sky

Distinctive Homes

For $3M, this light-filled Midtown duplex loft is surrounded by Manhattan skyline views

All photos courtesy of Compass

March 9, 2023

For $3M, this light-filled Midtown duplex loft is surrounded by Manhattan skyline views

This sun-filled penthouse co-op at 241 West 36th Street, asking $3,000,000, has the kind of size and layout that make a classic loft apartment so special. Atop a Schwartz & Gross-designed former button factory completed in 1928, the space has plenty of authenticity, lots of natural light, and panoramic New York City views framed by 22 windows. The same views can be had outdoors on the 2,750-square-foot, three-bedroom apartment's terrace.
Take the penthouse tour

Distinctive Homes

Michelin-starred Chef Gabriel Kreuther to run two restaurants at Hudson Yards’ Spiral tower

Rendering courtesy of Tishman Speyer

February 22, 2023

Michelin-starred Chef Gabriel Kreuther to run two restaurants at Hudson Yards’ Spiral tower

A starchitect-designed office tower in Hudson Yards will offer cuisine curated by a Michelin-starred chef. The Spiral, the 66-story building designed by Bjarke Ingels, will be home to two new dining concepts created by Gabriel Kreuther, known for his eponymous restaurant near Bryant Park, developer Tishman Speyer announced Wednesday. Kreuther will operate a full-service restaurant and an all-day cafe serving breakfast and lunch; both are expected to open next year.
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Food & Dining

See the Garment District’s new Big Button sculpture

Photo © 6sqft

February 16, 2023

See the Garment District’s new Big Button sculpture

The Garment District's iconic button & needle sculpture has been replaced with a new, permanent art installation. The Garment District Alliance on Thursday unveiled the new Big Button sculpture on the corner of Fashion Avenue and 39th Street. Designed by Local Projects and UAP Company, the sculpture measures 28 feet tall and has a 15-foot diameter aluminum button with a bright yellow automotive finish and a 32-foot brushed stainless steel needle, honoring the neighborhood's rich history in the world of fashion.
See the button

Events & Things To Do

Vornado pauses plan to redevelop area around Penn Station

Rendering courtesy of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office

February 16, 2023

Vornado pauses plan to redevelop area around Penn Station

The plan to redevelop the area around Penn Station with several new skyscrapers is officially on hold. During a conference call this week, Steven Roth, the chief executive officer at Vornado Realty Trust, the developer behind the project, said new construction is "almost impossible" because of current market conditions, as Crain's first reported.
Details here

Policy

Take a tour of a duplex penthouse at Jean Nouvel’s tower above MoMA

Image courtesy of Evan Joseph

February 15, 2023

Take a tour of a duplex penthouse at Jean Nouvel’s tower above MoMA

New images of a fully-furnished penthouse atop Pritzker-Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel's tower 53 West 53 were released this week, showing off the one-of-a-kind duplex apartment's soaring ceiling heights, expansive living spaces, and breathtaking views of Central Park and the city skyline. The four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bathroom penthouse was designed by Fox-Nahem Associates in collaboration with Elle Decor and spans nearly 8,000 square feet across the 76th and 77th floors of the Midtown Manhattan skyscraper. Although this penthouse is not currently on the market, the identical unit above it, Penthouse 78, is available for $64,730,000.
Take a look around

Heart-shaped hedges blossom with real roses as part of Valentine’s Day installation in Times Square

Photo by Jonathan Hokklo

February 2, 2023

Heart-shaped hedges blossom with real roses as part of Valentine’s Day installation in Times Square

Love is in bloom in Times Square this February. As part of its 15th annual Love & Design competition, Times Square Arts on Wednesday unveiled a new public art installation on Duffy Square that invites visitors to get lost in love. This year's winner, Almost Studio, created an interactive configuration of four artificial hedge rows that form a maze-like structure with heart-shaped interiors. Called Love’s h|Edge, the sculpture features illuminated benches and trellises, the latter of which will be filled with fresh roses by passersby.
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Events & Things To Do

New 34th Street station entrance features mosaic depicting clock from old Penn Station

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

January 27, 2023

New 34th Street station entrance features mosaic depicting clock from old Penn Station

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Thursday unveiled new accessibility improvements at Penn Station. In addition to four newly modernized elevators, the new, fully accessible entrance at 7th Avenue and 33rd Street features artwork by Diana Al-Hadid. Measuring nearly 15 feet tall, the glass mosaic, called The Time Telling, was inspired by a photograph of the clock that hung at the entrance of the old Penn Station.
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This $950K Midtown co-op has the colorful, creative look of a classic Manhattan loft

Photo credit: Kellen Houde for Sotheby’s International Realty

January 24, 2023

This $950K Midtown co-op has the colorful, creative look of a classic Manhattan loft

If this colorful studio at 529 West 42nd Street embodies the creative-industrial vibe of a classic New York City loft, it might be because the home's current owner, Lisa Menichino, is a downtown nightlife denizen; Menichino runs Cubbyhole in the West Village, the city's best-known lesbian bar. Located in The Armory, a true live/work building, the $950,000 co-op has pre-war charm and a clean, modern interior.
Get a closer look

Distinctive Homes

Everything you need to know about the Times Square ball drop this New Year’s Eve

Image by Anthony Quintano via Flickr

December 29, 2022

Everything you need to know about the Times Square ball drop this New Year’s Eve