Manhattan

Daniel Boulud’s Le Pavillon opens at One Vanderbilt with lush greenery and city views

All photos courtesy of SL Green Realty

May 19, 2021

Daniel Boulud’s Le Pavillon opens at One Vanderbilt with lush greenery and city views

Chef Daniel Boulud this week officially opened Le Pavillon, a new restaurant in the Midtown office tower One Vanderbilt. Located directly across from Grand Central with views of the Chrysler Building, Le Pavillon boasts soaring, 57-foot ceilings and a nature-inspired design by Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld that includes lots of greenery and natural elements.
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Food & Dining

Hamilton Heights brownstone from ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’ can be booked on Airbnb for $20/night

All photos courtesy of Regina Fleming Photography

May 19, 2021

Hamilton Heights brownstone from ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’ can be booked on Airbnb for $20/night

By Devin Gannon

Last week, the Hamilton Heights house made famous in Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums hit the rental market for $20,000 per month. This week, Airbnb announced the iconic mansion will be available to book this Memorial Day Weekend for just $20 per night. Bookings will open on May 26 at noon for one, two-night stay at the 1899 brownstone beginning May 29.
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May 18, 2021

Former NAACP headquarters in Greenwich Village is now a New York City landmark

By Devin Gannon

A building in Greenwich Village that once served as the headquarters for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and housed W.E.B. DuBois' trailblazing magazine The Crisis, is now a New York City landmark. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to designate 70 Fifth Avenue, a Neoclassical Beaux-Arts building designed by Charles A. Rich and built between 1912 and 1914. The commission on Tuesday also landmarked the Holyrood Episcopal Church-Iglesia Santa Cruz in Washington Heights.
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Policy

NYC’s plan to rezone Soho and Noho moves forward

A rendering of West Broadway in Soho, looking downtown; courtesy of City Planning Commission

May 18, 2021

NYC’s plan to rezone Soho and Noho moves forward

By Devin Gannon

A proposal to bring more affordable housing in two of the city's wealthiest neighborhoods is moving forward. The City Planning Commission on Monday certified the application to rezone Soho and Noho, kicking off the public review process. The plan replaces existing 1970s-era zoning rules with medium- to high-density mixed-use districts that could create as many as 3,500 new homes, with 900 units of permanently affordable housing.
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Policy

New renderings revealed for the 1,646-foot tower that may rise next to Grand Central

175 Park Avenue, looking northeast. Rendering by Ekoomedia, Inc. / Courtesy of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

May 18, 2021

New renderings revealed for the 1,646-foot tower that may rise next to Grand Central

By Dana Schulz

In February, we got our first look at the 1,646-foot tower proposed for the Grand Hyatt site next to Grand Central. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the sustainable mixed-use building would rise 83 stories and become the second-tallest tower in NYC behind One World Trade Center. Though 175 Park Avenue takes advantage of the Midtown East Rezoning, developers RXR Realty and TF Cornerstone are still seeking several special zoning permits, including those for hotel use and added height in exchange for transit and infrastructure improvements. To obtain these variances, the project has now entered the city's Uniform Land Use Review Process (ULURP), and with it, has revealed several new renderings.
All the details here

60 Wall Street revamp swaps out postmodern atrium for a skylight and massive 100-foot green wall

New atrium proposed for 60 Wall Street; Conceptual renderings courtesy of Paramount Group

May 18, 2021

60 Wall Street revamp swaps out postmodern atrium for a skylight and massive 100-foot green wall

By Devin Gannon

The eccentric 1980s atrium at the Financial District office tower 60 Wall Street is getting a 21st-century makeover. As part of a major renovation, owner Paramount Group is ditching the indoor palm trees and man-made rock displays and creating a public space they feel is more attractive in a post-pandemic era. With designs from Kohn Pedersen Fox, the updated atrium of the 47-story tower will boast a new skylight and a 100-foot-tall, block-long interior green wall.
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Real Estate Trends

Listing photos by Rich Caplan

May 18, 2021

Rufus Wainwright is selling his Gramercy Park pied-a-terre for $450K

By Dana Schulz

Singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright used this artsy Gramercy studio to write several of his albums, as well as the opera Prima Donna, according to the Compass listing. He's now looking to offload the pied-a-terre at 38 Gramercy Park North, listing it for $450,000. In addition to these celeb-worthy bragging rights, the new owner can get a coveted key to Gramercy Park.
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Jing Fong will stay in Chinatown with new downsized location

Photo by josh s jackson via Flickr cc

May 14, 2021

Jing Fong will stay in Chinatown with new downsized location

By Devin Gannon

New York City's largest Chinese restaurant is downsizing. This Sunday, Jing Fong, will close its Elizabeth Street location, the 20,000-square-foot restaurant known for its 800-person dining room and as a hot spot for dim sum. Thankfully, the iconic spot will be staying in Chinatown, as Eater NY reported, with a new 125-seat restaurant opening in July.
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Food & Dining

Tavern on the Green to host concert series featuring Broadway stars

Photo courtesy Tavern on the Green

May 13, 2021

Tavern on the Green to host concert series featuring Broadway stars

By Devin Gannon

Broadway is back, even sooner than planned. Ahead of the Great White Way's official reopening on September 14, Central Park's iconic Tavern on the Green is offering a sneak peek of the magic to come this fall. The Upper West Side restaurant will host a pop-up concert series, Broadway at Tavern, featuring stars of Broadway, with performances starting on May 25. The event will run through the summer and into the fall.
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Events & Things To Do

170-year-old Greenwich Village buildings will be razed and replaced with high-rise condo tower

Rendering courtesy of Robert A.M. Stern Architects, Acheson Doyle Partners, Hill West Architects

May 12, 2021

170-year-old Greenwich Village buildings will be razed and replaced with high-rise condo tower

By Devin Gannon

Two five-story apartment buildings in the Greenwich Village Historic District will be demolished to make way for a 213-foot-tall luxury condo tower. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday approved plans from Madison Realty Capital and City Urban Realty to raze 14-16 Fifth Avenue, an apartment building that sits just north of Washington Square Park. Preservationists campaigned against the demolition of the building since the project was first announced in 2017, citing the history of the 170-year-old structure as significant enough for protection.
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Policy

The 34th annual Loisaida Festival makes a (virtual) return to the Lower East Side this month

Photo of a previous year’s Festival by Melvin Audaz

May 12, 2021

The 34th annual Loisaida Festival makes a (virtual) return to the Lower East Side this month

By Dana Schulz

In 1987, Avenue C was renamed Loisaida Avenue, "a Spanglish name for the Lower East Side, connoting the Puerto Rican and Latinx community which have had a significant presence there since the mid-20th century," explained Village Preservation executive director Andrew Berman. That same year on the Sunday before Memorial Day, the vibrant community hosted the first Loisaida Festival to celebrate their neighborhood's culture. Thirty-four years later, and the Festival is still going strong. For the second year, the event will be virtual on two Sundays--May 23 and 30--featuring an exciting roster of musicians, performers, and family-friendly entertainment.
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Events & Things To Do

Funky $995K Midtown penthouse was made from a mechanical room and a shipping container

Listing photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group

May 12, 2021

Funky $995K Midtown penthouse was made from a mechanical room and a shipping container

By Dana Schulz

The vision of award-winning design studio LOT-EK, this Midtown West penthouse is truly unique. The main living area was transformed from the building's former mechanical room, and it's topped off by a bedroom suite created from a 20-foot shipping container. The whole industrial-style interior features concrete walls and exposed steel pipes and beams, and it's all surrounded by a lush wrap-around terrace overlooking the Empire State Building. Located at 31 West 31st Street, it's on the market for the first time since it was built in 1996, and it's asking $995,000.
Check it out

Photo of Levitation courtesy of SL Green Realty Corp.

May 11, 2021

Pre-register now for tickets to One Vanderbilt’s 1,000+ foot observation deck and glass skyboxes

By Dana Schulz

This fall, you'll be able to ride an all-glass elevator up more than 1,000 feet to experience Summit One Vanderbilt, the Midtown tower's new observation deck that features two glass-floored overhangs. The attraction doesn't open until October 21, but you can pre-register on its website now for priority access to tickets. Also opening will be an outdoor bar, the highest urban outdoor alpine meadow in the world, and an immersive art installation.
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Events & Things To Do

Photos © Sachyn Mital, courtesy of Lincoln Center

May 11, 2021

See the massive public lawn that has taken over Lincoln Center’s famous plaza

By 6sqft

The Lincoln Center's famed Josie Robertson Plaza has been transformed into a huge green space for the public. Designed by set designer Mimi Lien, the public installation, called "The Green" officially opened on Monday as a place for New Yorkers to lounge, borrow a book from the New York Public Library, and even enjoy pop-up performances hosted by the institution. The Green is the centerpiece of Lincoln Center's "Restart Stages" initiative, which converted the 16-acre campus into 10 new outdoor performance venues last month.
See it here

Events & Things To Do

A self-filtering floating pool is officially coming to the East River

+ POOL, designed by Family New York & PLAYLAB, INC. Rendering by Luxigon

May 11, 2021

A self-filtering floating pool is officially coming to the East River

By Devin Gannon

A plan to build a swimming pool on the East River is finally moving forward after being in the works for over a decade. In an Instagram post published on Saturday, the nonprofit +POOL announced the group had received confirmation from the city to proceed with due diligence on their project: a floating, self-filtering pool on the south side of Pier 35 on the Lower East Side.
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Macy’s unveils $235M plan for public space and subway accessibility with new Herald Square tower

Renderings by FXCollaborative

May 11, 2021

Macy’s unveils $235M plan for public space and subway accessibility with new Herald Square tower

By Dana Schulz

It's been two years since Macy's first floated the idea of building a 700-950 foot office tower atop its Herald Square flagship, and it looks like the plan is getting closer to reality thanks to a $235 million private investment in transit accessibility and public infrastructure. This includes upgraded subway access, improved transit connections, ADA-accessible elevators, and a modernized car-free Herald Square and Broadway Plaza.
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Architecture And Design

New condo 2505 Broadway adapts pre-war elegance for modern Upper West Side living

All renderings by MOSO Studio

May 10, 2021

New condo 2505 Broadway adapts pre-war elegance for modern Upper West Side living

By Dana Schulz

Long known as a family neighborhood rooted in its pre-war history, the Upper West Side has found a new life in recent years, attracting young professionals and a commercial boom that's brought countless downtown restaurants uptown. And, of course, along with this transition comes a reimaging of the residential market. Take for example the 44-unit condo at 2505 Broadway. It was designed by Eran Chen and the architects at ODA in their signature modular style, but it retains the classic sophistication the neighborhood is known for. The residences are refined yet modern, and there is an array of forward-looking amenities such as a state-of-the-art gym with adjacent flexible space used as a sports court or movie theater, a pet spa, and an outdoor terrace overlooking the Hudson River.
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This $2.8M West Village co-op feels like an elegant European salon

Listing photos by Shannon Dupre at DDreps

May 10, 2021

This $2.8M West Village co-op feels like an elegant European salon

By Dana Schulz

This two-bedroom West Village co-op could easily pass as a Parisian or London flat, with its elegant, old-world charm. Located at 237 West 11th Street, the home has gorgeous custom millwork and built-ins, chevroned herringbone oak floors, coffered ceilings, antique transoms, and bespoke finishes throughout. It's currently on the market for $2,795,000.
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Distinctive Homes

Modern glamour comes to a historic Hudson Square townhouse for $1.35M

Listing photos by Brad at DD Reps

May 7, 2021

Modern glamour comes to a historic Hudson Square townhouse for $1.35M

By Dana Schulz

To be precise, this home is located in the Charlton-King-VanDam Historic District, a tiny section of the Hudson Square neighborhood that has the largest concentration of Federal and Greek Revival style houses in New York City. This two-bedroom duplex is within one such 1830s townhouse at 49 King Street, and it's currently on the market for $1,350,000. While it retains historic details like exposed brick and the original pine plank flooring, the home also underwent a modern renovation that added contemporary-glam touches.
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Distinctive Homes

$348M restoration of Riverside Park is part of largest investment in 90 years

Photo of Riverside Park by Momos on Wikimedia

May 6, 2021

$348M restoration of Riverside Park is part of largest investment in 90 years

By Devin Gannon

The city announced this week plans to provide $348 million in funding for the rehabilitation of major infrastructure in Riverside Park, marking one of the largest investments at the waterfront park since the 1930s. The project restores the "overbuild," a series of bridge structures built over the Amtrak tunnels between West 72nd and West 123rd Streets. The deteriorated structure has damaged pathways and affected the park's usability, according to the city.
More here

Architecture And Design

25-foot tall sculpture designed by Sanford Biggers takes over Rockefeller Center

All photos courtesy of Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer

May 6, 2021

25-foot tall sculpture designed by Sanford Biggers takes over Rockefeller Center

By Devin Gannon

A massive bronze sculpture has been installed at Rockefeller Center as part of a new multi-part public art exhibition. Designed by Sanford Biggers, Oracle stands 25 feet tall at the foot of the Channel Gardens and is a continuation of the artist's recent Chimera sculpture series. As the first campus-wide takeover by a solo artist at Rockefeller Center, the exhibition also includes a flag installation at the iconic flagpoles, small-scale sculptures, a virtual experience, and murals, in addition to the sculpture that weighs over 15,000 pounds.
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Events & Things To Do

This compact and clever studio near Tudor City is asking just $319K

Listing photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

May 5, 2021

This compact and clever studio near Tudor City is asking just $319K

By Dana Schulz

Located in the Art Deco Woodstock Tower at 320 East 42nd Street, this studio co-op is small but mighty. A 3/4 full-sized Murphy bed frees up space during the day, while four generously sized closets help keep things clean and open. The compact kitchen doesn't sacrifice functionality, and two large south-facing windows bring in plenty of light. The apartment is asking $319,000.
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Distinctive Homes

Landmarks approves scaled-down South Street Seaport mixed-use project

The approved design. All renderings courtesy of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill / Howard Hughes Corporation

May 5, 2021

Landmarks approves scaled-down South Street Seaport mixed-use project

By Devin Gannon

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to approve plans for a debated mixed-use project and a new museum in the South Street Seaport. The Howard Hughes Corporation presented a revised proposal for 250 Water Street that includes one 324-foot tower to be built on a parking lot instead of the two 470-foot structures originally proposed in January. The project also involves constructing a new building for the South Street Seaport Museum at 89 South Street.
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May 4, 2021

Popular Italian restaurant Rosemary’s has a new location in Stuyvesant Town

By Dana Schulz

The West Village's popular Italian restaurant Rosemary's opened a second NYC location in Stuyvesant Town today. Rosemary's opened on Greenwich Avenue in 2012 and quickly became a neighborhood favorite due in part to its rooftop garden that provides produce for the menu. The huge new outpost, at 350 First Avenue at East 20th Street, will have a 120- seat dining room, 50-person wine bar, 30-seat private dining room, and a 100-seat sidewalk cafe overlooking a planned community garden.
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Food & Dining

This historic Greenwich Village townhouse is a pastel dream with an English garden for $17.75M

Listing photos by Andrew Frasz for Sotheby’s International Realty

May 4, 2021

This historic Greenwich Village townhouse is a pastel dream with an English garden for $17.75M

By Dana Schulz

Located at 76 Washington Place, this Greenwich Village townhouse is often photographed for its pastel-blue facade, complemented by a beautiful blossoming tree out front. But now that it's hit the market, asking $17,750,000, we get a chance to see the interior, which is just as much a serene, pastel dream. Modern additions complement the home's 19th-century bones, and there's a magical English garden, too.
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Distinctive Homes

A new digital cookbook is supporting Chinatown businesses impacted by Covid-19

886’s Taiwanese Fried Rice (left); Wing Hin’s Shrimp Fried Rice (right). Courtesy of Send Chinatown Love + Umamicart.

May 3, 2021

A new digital cookbook is supporting Chinatown businesses impacted by Covid-19

By Dana Schulz

Wing Hing Seafood Restaurant, 46 Mott St., Grand Tea & Imports, 886--these are just a few of the restaurants featured in the new digital cookbook Around the Roundtable: Recipes for Chinatown Favorites that was created to support Chinatown businesses. The free, downloadable cookbook comes from Send Chinatown Love, an entirely volunteer-run organization whose goal is to provide relief to small, immigrant-owned Chinatown businesses impacted by the effects of Covid-19.
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Macy’s annual Flower Show blossoms with hope and love

Photos: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Macy’s

May 3, 2021

Macy’s annual Flower Show blossoms with hope and love

By Devin Gannon

The 46th annual Macy's Flower Show opened on Sunday, transforming the Herald Square store into a whimsical floral oasis. This year's theme, Give. Love. Bloom., aims to inspire hope for New Yorkers after a tough year with grand gardens, flower displays, and larger-than-life butterflies taking over the store, the iconic windows, and even outside, at Herald Square Park.
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Events & Things To Do

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