Manhattan

Ambitious plans to transform the abandoned Williamsburg Bridge Trolley Terminal on the Lower East Side into the world's first underground park are no longer viable due to waning funds, Crain's reports. The founders of the Lowline—Dan Barasch and James Ramsey—dreamed up the idea more than a decade ago and as of last year, the $83 million project was under construction with an expected opening date in 2021.
What happened?

Architecture And Design

Image by Scott Frances for Related-Oxford

February 19, 2020

See the views from NYC’s highest outdoor residential space at 15 Hudson Yards

Adding to Hudson Yards' height superlatives, the city's highest outdoor residential amenity space has opened at 15 Hudson Yards. Rising 900 feet in the air, "Skytop" features 6,000 square feet of curvy indoor-outdoor space, which follows the shape of the building's crown. Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro with interiors by Rockwell Group, the amenity space offers unobstructed views of the Hudson River and beyond.
See the sky-high views

See more of the historic residences inside 111 West 57th Street’s landmarked Steinway Building

Listing images courtesy of 111 West 57th Street

February 18, 2020

See more of the historic residences inside 111 West 57th Street’s landmarked Steinway Building

Two more listings inside Midtown’s historic Steinway Hall have just hit the market: a two-bedroom with a private terrace for $8,750,000 and a four-bedroom duplex seeking $17,995,000. The landmarked building at 111 West 57th Street was designed by renowned firm Warren & Wetmore and finished in 1925. The longtime home of the Steinway & Sons piano company was acquired by developers JDS Development, Property Markets Group, and Spruce Capital Partners in 2013 for $217.5 million and has since become incorporated into SHoP Architects’ super-slender supertall tower rising next to it. The Beaux-Arts structure serves as the project’s grand entryway and will hold the amenity spaces and a small handful of residences designed by Studio Sofield. We previously got a look inside the striking duplex penthouse that hit the market for $21 million last November—a price it still holds.
Get a look around

Trader Joe’s looks to open UES store in former Food Emporium space under Queensboro Bridge

Photo by missvancamp on Flickr

February 18, 2020

Trader Joe’s looks to open UES store in former Food Emporium space under Queensboro Bridge

Trader Joe's footprint in New York City is growing again. The popular grocery chain will likely open a new store on the Upper East Side in a space beneath the Queensboro Bridge. Formerly occupied by Food Emporium, the space features a 5,000-square-foot Guastavino-tiled arcade and was landmarked by the city in 1974 as part of the bridge's designation. Last month, Trader Joe's opened a new location in the East Village, its 10th store in the city, with possible plans to move to a condo tower in Long Island City.
Details this way

City Living

February 18, 2020

For $4.5M, a giant Greenwich Village loft with a sunken living room and 1,000-square-foot master

The sunken living room at this Greenwich Village co-op is giving off "Mad Men" vibes, while the exposed brick and cast-iron columns are quintessentially downtown loft. Taking up the entire fourth floor at 43 West 13th Street, the three-bedroom apartment is a whopping 5,000 square feet, 1,000 of which is dedicated to the master suite. Other features include 14-foot ceilings, a kitchen with two of everything, and 10 oversized south-facing windows.
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Distinctive Homes

Latest court ruling against 200 Amsterdam Avenue could result in the removal of 20 floors

Rendering courtesy of Binyan Studios

February 18, 2020

Latest court ruling against 200 Amsterdam Avenue could result in the removal of 20 floors

The Upper West Side's tallest tower north of 61st Street may soon be getting a major trim, the New York Times reports. In a dramatic ruling last week, State Supreme Court Judge W. Franc Perry ordered the city to revoke 200 Amsterdam Avenue's building permit and decided the developers will have to remove floors from the top of the building to fall in line with zoning limits. It's not yet been decided how many floors will need to be removed from the nearly-complete 52-story tower, but it could be as many as 20. Co-developers SJP Properties and Mitsui Fudosan America are expected to "vigorously" appeal the decision, according to their lawyer.
What's the deal?

Policy

Listing photos by Rich Caplan for The Michael Graves Team, Compass

February 14, 2020

Carmelo Anthony lists his massive Chelsea condo with High Line views for $12.85M

After saying goodbye to the Knicks, NBA star Carmelo Anthony is also hoping to bid adieu to his massive, full-floor Chelsea condo. According to Compass, who holds the $12,850,000 listing, Melo is looking for another (we'd guess smaller) NYC-area home as he recently signed a new contract with the Portland Trailblazers. The apartment is in the boutique condominium 508 West 24th Street, and thanks to its fifth-floor location, it has beautiful views of the High Line below.
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Live across the street from The Strand in this $695K loft duplex

Listing images by Evan Joseph; courtesy of Compass

February 14, 2020

Live across the street from The Strand in this $695K loft duplex

By Andrew Berman of Village Preservation

Just around the corner from the bustle of Broadway at 49 East 12th Street, this one-bedroom duplex features dramatic 16-foot ceilings and a full-height lofted bedroom. Though it technically falls within Greenwich Village, it's just two blocks south of Union Square and practically across the street from beloved bookstore The Strand. Best of all, its $695,000 price tag falls nicely within the "under $1 million" category, though maintenance fees will add $1,175 to your monthly expenses.
The full tour, this way

Distinctive Homes

February 14, 2020

Civil Rights, the NAACP, and W.E.B. DuBois: The African American history tied to 70 Fifth Avenue

When we think of great African American historic sites in New York, we typically think of Harlem’s Apollo Theater, Lower Manhattan’s African Burial Ground, or Brooklyn’s Weeksville Houses. But one building that should perhaps join the list is 70 Fifth Avenue in Greenwich Village, which housed the headquarters of the NAACP, the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization; The Crisis, the first magazine published for an African American audience; and the first magazine dedicated to African American children, meant to combat the commonplace demeaning stereotypes of the time, headed by none other than civil rights icon W.E.B. DuBois.
Learn all this history ahead

History

All Barneys New York stores to close by end of the month

Photo by Jim.henderson on Wikimedia

February 14, 2020

All Barneys New York stores to close by end of the month

It's the end of an era. Once an icon in the luxury fashion world, Barneys New York is officially closing its doors this month. All stores will shutter on Feb. 23, the New York Post reported on Thursday, with 719 employees losing their jobs at the retailer's flagship location at 660 Madison Avenue, its store in Chelsea at 101 Seventh Avenue, an outlet in Central Valley, and its corporate offices at 575 Fifth Avenue. Barneys California stores in Beverly Hills and San Francisco will also close Feb. 23.
More here

Real Estate Trends

Wealthy Russian family lists gilded Plaza apartment full of onyx and crystal for $45M

All photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

February 14, 2020

Wealthy Russian family lists gilded Plaza apartment full of onyx and crystal for $45M

Russian oligarch and co-owner of Moscow's Domodedovo Airport Valery Kogan and his wife Olga Kogan have put their insanely opulent Plaza apartment on the market for $45 million. The billionaire couple bought two units in the iconic building in 2007/2008 for $26 million and then combined them, according to the Wall Street Journal. The massive home that they're now trying to unload--which the listing describes as being "reminiscent of French royalty"--is dripping with gold detailing, crystal chandeliers, ornate moldings, and a master bathroom wrapped from floor to ceiling in imported onyx. It even has an alcove in one of the building's turrets.
You've gotta see this place to believe it

Distinctive Homes

February 13, 2020

CNN anchor Don Lemon is selling his stylish Harlem condo for $1.75M

CNN journalist Don Lemon has listed his condo in a luxury Harlem apartment building for $1.75 million, according to the New York Post. Located at 2280 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, the tower, known as 2280 FDB, is a few short blocks from Morningside Park and all that Central Harlem has to offer. The TV news anchor first bought the three-bedroom home for $1.48 million in 2013, followed by a neighboring one-bedroom unit for roughly $867,780 the next year. He sold the smaller unit in 2017 for $969,000.
Take the tour

Pierogis, borscht, and Ukrainian history: Behind the scenes at East Village restaurant Veselka

All photos taken by James and Karla Murray exclusively for 6sqft

February 13, 2020

Pierogis, borscht, and Ukrainian history: Behind the scenes at East Village restaurant Veselka

21,000 pierogis, 2,500 latkes, and 110 gallons of borscht--that's how much Veselka is serving up each week. But it's impossible to quantify how many memories have been made at the famous East Village Ukrainian restaurant, which has been in operation since 1954. Whether it's grandparents who remember going to what was then a small candy shop and newspaper stand at a time when the East Village was a thriving Eastern European community, or counter-culture icons of the 1970s, or club kids of the '90s, or the NYU students of today, you can bet that nearly every New Yorker has some story of enjoying a meal at Veselka. 6sqft recently got a behind-the-scenes tour of Veselka's kitchen to see how the magic happens, in addition to chatting with third-generation owner Jason Birchard. Ahead, check out all the photos and learn about the history of Veselka.
Check it out

This year, celebrate the centennial of women’s suffrage and Susan B. Anthony

New York City women’s march, October 23 ,1915. Photo: Library of Congress.

February 13, 2020

This year, celebrate the centennial of women’s suffrage and Susan B. Anthony

2020 is an American presidential election year, and whether or not we finally see a woman in the country's highest office, this year officially marks the centennial of the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote. Among the celebrations we'll see throughout the nation, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and Monumental Women will be honoring the life and accomplishments of Susan B. Anthony in Madison Square Park on Friday, February 14th, a day before the pioneering feminist's 200th birthday on February 15th. Brewer also issued a proclamation declaring February 15th as Susan B. Anthony Day in Manhattan.
Susan B. Anthony Day and more celebrations of women's right vote, this way

Events & Things To Do

Photo via The Pennsy

February 12, 2020

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

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.
More details

Food & Dining

February 12, 2020

LPC approves Rafael Viñoly’s revamp of National Academy building, but without rooftop addition

The plan to restore a historic Upper East Side townhouse and transform it into a new art gallery was partially approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission Tuesday. The neo-Renaissance townhouse at 3 East 89th Street in the expanded Carnegie Hill Historic District, as well as two connecting buildings, was formerly home to the National Academy Museum. Salon 94 owner Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn purchased the property last summer with the intention of consolidating her three art galleries at the property. Led by Rafael Viñoly Architects, the revamp includes a facade rehabilitation, new central gallery space, and a restoration of the original porte-cochere from 1915. While there was overwhelming support for the new gallery space, the LPC rejected the project's proposed sixth-floor rooftop addition, with most commissioners having issues with its bulk and visibility.
Find out more

Architecture And Design

Stuy Town’s new affordable housing lottery caters to those earning six-figures

Photo by Kelly on Wiki Commons

February 12, 2020

Stuy Town’s new affordable housing lottery caters to those earning six-figures

A single person earning $123,000 a year is probably not what you'd consider an appropriate candidate for affordable housing, but the new 2020 waitlist at Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village is set for households earning 165 percent of the area median income. Under those guidelines, $2,985/month one-bedrooms are reserved for individuals earning between $89,550 and $123,255 annually, up to three-person households earning between $89,550 and $158,565. The $3,745/month two-bedrooms are set aside for two-person households earning $112,350 to $140,910 up to five-person households earning $112,350 to $190,245.
Want to apply?

Affordable Housing

Rendering courtesy of the Olnick Organization

February 12, 2020

Alternative plan for Harlem’s massive Lenox Terrace development gets rid of affordable units

Amidst pushback from locals and activists, the Olnick Organization has released a Plan B proposal for its Lenox Terrace expansion, reports the Post. Last week, the City Planning Commission approved an application from the complex's owner to rezone part of the neighborhood and allow five 28-story towers with a mix of market-rate and affordable units to be built at the site. The alternate plan unveiled on Tuesday presents a scaled-down version that wouldn't require a zoning change but also wouldn't include any of the affordable units or public amenities in the original plan.
Find out more

Policy

$525K East Village studio features lots of storage and a hidden solution for overnight guests

Listing images courtesy of Halstead Real Estate

February 11, 2020

$525K East Village studio features lots of storage and a hidden solution for overnight guests

Exposed brick walls and a decorative fireplace give this East Village alcove studio at 186 East 2nd Street charm to spare while clever space-saving solutions and plenty of storage make it adaptable to modern life. Asking $525,000, it's got a prime East Village location to boot, just two blocks away from the Second Avenue F train station and a short walk to Tompkins Square Park.
Get the full tour

Distinctive Homes

Image courtesy of The Corcoran Group.

February 11, 2020

This $1.9M Harlem penthouse comes with a ground-floor studio, a roof terrace, and lofty aspirations

Asking $1.895 million, this two-bedroom Harlem condominium penthouse at the building known as Strivers Lofts at 223 West 135th Street spans 1,700 square feet with the light and views you'd expect from the top floor. A bit more unexpected is the added perk in the form of a separate 200-square-foot home office with a powder room on the building's ground floor. The penthouse has high ceilings, tall windows, and a large planted roof deck in a former light industrial building, which is now home to full-floor lofts.
Lofty aspirations, this way

Distinctive Homes

Stylish $2.25M West Village loft comes with a fresh renovation and celebrity neighbors

Listing images by Matt Vacca for Doug Kampsen; courtesy of Compass

February 10, 2020

Stylish $2.25M West Village loft comes with a fresh renovation and celebrity neighbors

Fresh off a stylish renovation, this move-in ready loft is a prime example of downtown living on the border of the West Village and Meatpacking District. Now listed for $2.25 million, the 1,200 square foot unit is located in The Gansevoort at 321 West 13th Street, a boutique condominium known for its Neo-Classical facade, unique layouts, and intimate scale. You’ll be able to count at least one celebrity as a neighbor—Ralph Fiennes has lived in the building since 2008.
Take a look around

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).
Find out more

New Developments

19th-century West Village townhouse comes with an owner’s triplex and five rental units for $12M

Listing images by DDReps; courtesy of Compass

February 6, 2020

19th-century West Village townhouse comes with an owner’s triplex and five rental units for $12M

Described as "a delightful and interesting street in which to live" by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, Perry Street is a sought after stretch of the West Village and home to several noteworthy structures. Sited within the Greenwich Village Historic District and now on the market for the first time in 50 years, the townhouse at 73 Perry Street is almost directly across the street from two of the most recognizable facades on the block: 64 and 66 Perry Street, famous for being Carrie Bradshaw's home on Sex and the City. It's seeking $11.995 million.
Take the full tour

Distinctive Homes

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?

At the platform of the Times Square-Grand Central shuttle, a train track is hidden in plain sight. At both ends of the two-station line, tracks are numbered 1, 3 and 4, with no Track 2 to be found. As the New York Times explained, Track 2 once ran in its appropriate spot, between Tracks 1 and 3, but was taken out of operation nearly 100 years ago. After an attempt to expand the original 1904 line turned to major confusion for commuters, transit officials covered Track 2 with wooden flooring to make it easier for New Yorkers to walk to the new tracks.
More this way

Photo credit: Alkenz courtesy of Artechouse

February 6, 2020

‘Submerge’ yourself in Pantone’s Color of the Year at this hypnotic Chelsea installation

With a press preview on February 4, Artechouse NYC kicked off its 2020 season with "Submerged," an immersive installation inspired by Pantone Color of The Year 2020, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue. The new Chelsea art space dedicated to immersive digital art launched the exhibition during New York’s Fashion Week, and it will be on view until February 23, 2020. Artechouse opened in September in the 6,000-square-foot boiler room beneath Chelsea Market’s main concourse.
Immersion, submersion and multi-sensory exploration, this way

Events & Things To Do

February 5, 2020

Target signs lease for Food Emporium space on Union Square East