Midtown West

A former New York City Police Department tow-pound on the Hudson River will open as a public park this summer, more than 20 years after the state designated the lot as future open space. Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday said work at Pier 76 has already begun, with an expected opening date as early as June 1. The plan for the 5.6-acre park aligns with the governor's ambitious $51 billion redevelopment of over 100 acres of Midtown West, announced earlier this year.
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Architecture And Design

New Hell’s Kitchen condo has an 8,000-square-foot elevated park and a Target

All renderings by VISUALHOUSE

March 16, 2021

New Hell’s Kitchen condo has an 8,000-square-foot elevated park and a Target

Occupying the full block of 10th Avenue between West 44th and 45th Streets, the new 92-unit condo Bloom on Forty Fifth at 500 West 45th Street has officially launched sales. Designed by Marvel, the eight-story building is in keeping with Hell's Kitchen's lower scale, but the geometric architecture mixing glass, concrete, and steel is modern and fresh. The most unique aspect of the residence its 8,000-square-foot elevated terrace between the north and south towers, and, very conveniently, there's a Target in the base. Units start at $750,000 for studios, $892,500 for one-bedrooms, $1,695,750 for two-bedrooms, and $2,875,000 for three bedrooms.
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Affordable, no-fee luxury rentals in Midtown West

All photos courtesy of the Gotham Organization

March 9, 2021

Affordable, no-fee luxury rentals in Midtown West

With its rooftop garden and courtyard, luxury residences, and prime Hell's Kitchen location, Gotham West ticks off all the boxes. What makes the four-building complex truly stand out against other amenity-rich developments, other than its proximity to both Hudson River Park and the culinary darlings of the neighborhood, is its affordable housing. When it opened in 2013, Gotham West was the largest affordable project by a private developer at the time, with about 55 percent of the units restricted by income. Today, applications are being accepted for its no-fee rentals, ranging from studios to three-bedrooms, which are designated for middle-income New Yorkers earning up to 135 percent and 165 percent of the area median income (AMI).
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New York seeks proposals for new hotel or mixed-use development across from Javits Center

Photo by Ajay Suresh on Wikimedia

March 4, 2021

New York seeks proposals for new hotel or mixed-use development across from Javits Center

New York on Thursday issued a request for proposals for a Midtown West site located directly across from the Javits Center. Referred to as Site K, the parcel at 418 11th Avenue is one of the last remaining vacant lots in the area. In the RFP, the Empire State Development requests proposals that could be a commercial or mixed-use development, with interest made in hotels that are "complementary" to the neighboring convention center.
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New Developments

Massive Empire Station Complex project that will revamp Penn Station area moves forward

Rendering of new entrance on 8th Avenue to Penn Station via Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office

February 19, 2021

Massive Empire Station Complex project that will revamp Penn Station area moves forward

Gov. Andrew Cuomo's plan to build an interconnected public transportation hub and revitalize Penn Station took a major step forward this week. The Empire State Development's Board of Directors on Thursday adopted the General Project Plan (GPP) and certified the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Empire Station Complex project, which would link an upgraded Penn Station, the newly opened Moynihan Train Hall, and a tentative new terminal one block south of Penn Station. The board also set a public hearing on the project for March 23, followed by a 30-day public comment period.
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Walk through a kaleidoscope of rotating, glimmering prisms in the Garment District

Photos by Alexandre Ayer / @diversitypics for the Garment District Alliance

January 15, 2021

Walk through a kaleidoscope of rotating, glimmering prisms in the Garment District

The Garment District Alliance has unveiled a new public art exhibit in the Broadway plaza between 39th and 40th Streets. Called Prismatica, it's made up of 25, six-foot-tall pivoting prisms that reflect the colors of the rainbow and turn the street a "glimmering winter kaleidoscope." The piece was created by RAW Design in collaboration with ATOMIC3 and is on view through January 30th.
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Events & Things To Do

Cuomo reveals $51B plan to redevelop Midtown West, replace Port Authority

All renderings courtesy of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

January 15, 2021

Cuomo reveals $51B plan to redevelop Midtown West, replace Port Authority

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday unveiled an ambitious plan to transform over 100 acres of Midtown West as part of a new "transit-oriented" development. The $51 billion proposal adds a new train hall south of Penn Station, replaces the Port Authority Bus Terminal, extends the High Line, and adds up to 1,400 units of new affordable housing. The project is one part of the governor's proposed $306 billion infrastructure plan, introduced on Thursday during his fourth 2021 State of the State address.
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See Cuomo’s proposal to extend the High Line to the new Moynihan Train Hall

Courtesy of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

January 11, 2021

See Cuomo’s proposal to extend the High Line to the new Moynihan Train Hall

The High Line will be extended from its current 10th Avenue terminus to the entrance of the newly opened Moynihan Train Hall, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is expected to announce during his 2021 State of the State address on Monday. As the New York Times first reported, a new L-shaped elevated walkway will link the existing public park at 30th Street to a pedestrian plaza at Manhattan West, a six-building mixed-use development from Brookfield Property Group that stretches from 9th and 10th Avenues and 31st to 33rd Streets.
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Policy

The famous ‘2021’ numerals have arrived in Times Square

All photos courtesy of Times Square Alliance

December 22, 2020

The famous ‘2021’ numerals have arrived in Times Square

2021 has arrived in Times Square. The famous, seven-foot numerals are in the plaza for folks to see up-close and take photos with before they're placed on top of One Times Square underneath the famous New Year's Eve ball. The four numbers use a total of 526 LED bulbs and will be in the Times Square Plaza between 46th and 47th Streets until tomorrow at noon.
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Events & Things To Do

All photos courtesy of Airbnb

December 17, 2020

On New Year’s Eve, you can sleep in a private igloo under the Times Square Ball

"To honor the strength and resilience" of New Yorkers this year, Airbnb has teamed up with Nasdaq and Mariah Carey to offer two lucky locals (from the same household!) the chance to ring in the new year under the Times Square Ball. The 10th-floor terrace of the Nasdaq MarketSite will hold a heated igloo-like geodesic dome to get cozy in, as well as provide panoramic views of all the live, broadcasted events and performances that will be going on that night. The guests will also get a personal, virtual greeting from Mariah Carey, a $5,000 shopping credit, and dinner by a private chef.
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Events & Things To Do

Here’s what you need to know about Times Square’s virtual ball drop this New Year’s Eve

Photo credit: Countdown Entertainment, LLC, courtesy of Times Square Alliance

December 16, 2020

Here’s what you need to know about Times Square’s virtual ball drop this New Year’s Eve

In September, the Times Square Alliance announced that its annual New Year's Eve celebration will take place virtually this year, including the famous ball drop. This will be the first time in 114 years that the December 31 event will not have a crowd. But thanks to a new app developed by Jamestown, Times Square will come to the living rooms of revelers around the world. Turning the New Year's Eve experience into a video game, the app lets users create a personalized avatar, explore a virtual Times Square, play games, and live stream the countdown to midnight. Real-life musical performances, interviews, and countdowns are still happening this year but will be live-streamed instead.
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Events & Things To Do

Can Times Square ever be completely car-free?

Rendering courtesy of 3deluxe

November 10, 2020

Can Times Square ever be completely car-free?

It's been over ten years since cars were first banned in some sections of Times Square. Is it time for additional street closures along bustling Broadway? In a new design study, the Germany-based architecture firm 3deluxe has reimagined Times Square to prioritize pedestrians and cyclists, trading vehicular traffic lanes for recreational activities, landscaped features, and public transportation. The concept comes as New York and other cities continue to reexamine the value of safe public space as the fight to control the coronavirus pandemic continues.
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Photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

October 22, 2020

Midtown condo of the late ‘Odd Couple’ actress Carole Shelley lists for $1.35M

Tony Award-winning actress Carole Shelley, who is best known for her roles as Gwendolyn Pigeon in The Odd Couple and Madame Morrible in the original Broadway cast of Wicked, passed away in 2018 at the age of 79, leaving behind her NYC pied-à-terre at 340 West 57th Street. The Midtown West condo is located in the elegant, pre-war Parc Vendome, which is just a few blocks from Central Park South. The spacious one-bedroom home is listed for $1,350,000.
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After almost closing, famous Theater District tourist spot Ellen’s Stardust Diner will reopen tomorrow

Photo (cropped) by Jazzy Guy via Wikimedia Commons

September 30, 2020

After almost closing, famous Theater District tourist spot Ellen’s Stardust Diner will reopen tomorrow

Ellen's Stardust Diner has been a Theater District fixture since 1987, famous for its retro '50s design, subway car entrance, and singing waitstaff. But like so many other restaurants in New York City, Ellen's struggled to reopen due to the pandemic. As Broadway World reported in July, a photo on Facebook showed a notice posted at the diner from the landlord that said Ellen's owed $618,459.22 in back rent. But good news--Time Out NY now reports that the restaurant and landlord seem to have resolved their conflict, and Ellen's will reopen (singing waiters and all!) as of tomorrow.
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Food & Dining

Huge hound sculptures made of recycled materials take over Midtown

Photos by Alexandre Ayer/Diversity Pictures for the Garment District Alliance

September 21, 2020

Huge hound sculptures made of recycled materials take over Midtown

Over-sized sculptures of dogs have been installed along Broadway in Midtown's Garment District. Created by artist Will Kurtz, the gigantic public art exhibit "Doggy Bags," features six sculptures of different breeds of dogs, all made out of recycled single-use materials, like plastic bags. The exhibit, which can be found between 38th and 40th Streets, will be on display through November 20.
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Events & Things To Do

$66M triplex penthouse at 111 West 57th Street sits 900 feet above Central Park

Penthouse 72 Loggia, courtesy of 111 West 57th Street

September 11, 2020

$66M triplex penthouse at 111 West 57th Street sits 900 feet above Central Park

Two new impressive units just hit the market at New York City's most slender supertall. At 111 West 57th Street, a three-level, four-bedroom penthouse with over 7,000 square feet of interior space and an additional 1,367 square feet in private outdoor space with picture-perfect views over Central Park has hit the market for $66 million. And a duplex with three bedrooms and unobstructed park views is now asking $39.5 million. The latest multi-million dollar listings at the Billionaires' Row tower come after two $30 million units sold earlier this summer during the coronavirus shut down, giving a boost to the city's nearly stagnant luxury market.
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Krispy Kreme unveils new Times Square flagship

All photos courtesy of Krispy Kreme

August 26, 2020

Krispy Kreme unveils new Times Square flagship

Just like their doughnuts, Krispy Kreme says its new 24-hour Times Square flagship will be "fresh and one-of-a-kind." Opening on September 15, the massive, immersive new shop will feature the world's largest glaze waterfall, a doughnut-making theater, and the ability to produce 4,560 doughnuts an hour.
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Food & Dining

Public art campaign lights up Times Square in support of essential workers

PSA by Carrie Mae Weems; Photo by Maria Baranova

May 19, 2020

Public art campaign lights up Times Square in support of essential workers

A public art campaign is lighting up Times Square in support of New York City's healthcare and essential workers. As part of a joint effort by Times Square Arts, For Freedoms, and Poster House, "Messages for the City," now in its second phase, features work from more than 30 artists and designers on digital public service announcements in New York, Boston, and Chicago.
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Events & Things To Do

Artwork titled “Now & Forever” by Tristan Eaton created exclusively for Montefiore and Alto New York’s 2020 “Heroes” campaign

May 12, 2020

Street artist Tristan Eaton reveals new Midtown mural thanking NYC’s nurses

Los Angeles-based painter and designer Tristan Eaton is well known for his street murals, which he's brought to NYC through a collaboration with Montefiore Hospitals. The towering artwork, which sought to capture the heroism of our healthcare workers, is located on 34th Street and 8th Avenue and is part of a larger appreciation campaign for National Nurses Week sponsored by Montefiore and its creative company of record, Alto NY. They wanted to create a "digital" ticker-tape parade and "extend the Canyon of Heroes to the doors of every hospital in New York." Using Eaton's mural as a template, New Yorkers can create their own hero image by uploading a photo on the website or through Instagram. In addition, Montefiore has created a moving video thanking all the brave nurses.
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See NYC landmarks turn blue in honor of essential workers

Photo by Jörg Angeli on Unsplash

April 10, 2020

See NYC landmarks turn blue in honor of essential workers

To show support for New York City's essential workers on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic, a number of buildings turned blue Thursday night. Madison Square Garden, One World Trade Center's spire, Beacon Theatre, Pier 17, Hudson Yards' Vessel, and more join more than 100 landmarks across the country as part of the #LightItBlue campaign. The nationwide lighting will occur weekly every Thursday.
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City Living

Elevated country style and modern convenience define a $7.5M Hell’s Kitchen townhouse

Photo credit: Guillaume Gaudet courtesy of The Corcoran Group.

February 27, 2020

Elevated country style and modern convenience define a $7.5M Hell’s Kitchen townhouse

Amid the new tall towers of midtown Manhattan's west side, we may forget the streets of historic townhouses that have made Hell's Kitchen a unique residential neighborhood for so long. Asking $7.5 million, this beautifully renovated home at 438 West 44th Street sits on a tree-lined block, with 5,223 square feet of living space within, spread over six floors and two family-sized units. The entire home is served by an elevator and has been thoroughly updated with new mechanicals throughout, while retaining its historic character and charm.
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Distinctive Homes

February 25, 2020

Apple signs lease for four floors at 11 Penn Plaza

After the Post first reported speculations of the deal in January, they now report that Apple will lease four floors of space at 11 Penn Plaza. Sources told the Post that the tech giant became interested in the 1.15-million-square-foot building that stretches along Seventh Avenue between West 31st and 32nd streets across from Madison Square Garden after losing out to Facebook on a spot in the Farley Building. However, those with knowledge of the deal say that Apple has only signed a five-year deal, which may suggest that they are still keen on finding a larger, more permanent home in NYC.
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Real Estate Trends

Items at this pop-up grocery store in Times Square are made entirely of single-use plastic

Photograph by Maria Baranova-Suzuki courtesy of Times Square Arts.

February 20, 2020

Items at this pop-up grocery store in Times Square are made entirely of single-use plastic

With the new ban on single-use plastic bags hitting New York on March 1, a conversation has been started–and in some cases, continued–about the effects of our consumption on future generations. As important and complex as the topic may be, award-winning Brooklyn-based artist, puppet designer, and director Robin Frohardt has found a way to shine a creative light on consumption, conveniences, and the impact of single-use plastics. Located in Times Square, "The Plastic Bag Store" is an immersive, site-specific public art installation and three-act puppet show, on view from March 18 to April 12 at 20 Times Square.
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Photo via The Pennsy

February 12, 2020

Penn Station’s food hall, The Pennsy, and neighboring Kmart are closing

By Alexandra Alexa

The retail landscape around Penn Station is set for some changes. The Pennsy Food Hall right above the station will be closing its doors for good on March 31, Commercial Observer reports. The 8,000-square-foot food hall opened at Vornado Realty Trust's 2 Penn Plaza four years ago with a mix of vendors and late-night hours to draw in delayed commuters as well as pre-concert and post-game crowds. The closure is hitting vegan eatery Cinnamon Snail especially hard—the company has confirmed it will be shutting down all operations after The Pennsy shutters. The news came on the same day that the Kmart across the street announced it would close after 24 years at One Penn Plaza.
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Food & Dining

Rendering courtesy of FXCollaborative

February 7, 2020

Macy’s reveals proposed 900+ foot skyscraper to rise above Herald Square flagship

Macy’s, which recently announced plans to close 125 department stores over the next several years, is still hoping to cash in on the thriving office market by building an office tower above its Herald Square flagship store in Midtown. The retail icon revealed that it has proposed the construction of 1.5 million square feet of office space, a sky lobby, and public improvements to the surrounding area, the Wall Street Journal reports. The proposed tower would rise between 700 and 950 feet with, according to renderings revealed by YIMBY, a glass façade, setbacks, and a crown. The department store below could confer it with supertall status (984 feet or taller).
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New Developments

Why are the tracks of the Times Square-Grand Central shuttle curved?

The Times Square shuttle platform, Photo by Helvetica Fanatic on Wikimedia

February 6, 2020

Why are the tracks of the Times Square-Grand Central shuttle curved?