Manhattan

New York City is investing another $250 million to transform Fifth Avenue into a pedestrian-centric corridor. Mayor Eric Adams announced the new funding on Wednesday, bringing the total investment in the project to $400 million, including $152 million the city had previously committed. Focused on the stretch between Central Park and Bryant Park, the Fifth Avenue redesign will reduce traffic lanes from five to three, nearly double the width of sidewalks, shorten crosswalks, and add more than 230 trees, as well as new seating and improved lighting.
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NYC unveils plan for dedicated busway on 34th Street

Images courtesy of NYC DOT

May 21, 2025

NYC unveils plan for dedicated busway on 34th Street

New York City plans to transform a busy stretch of 34th Street in Manhattan into a busway to improve sluggish crosstown commutes. The Department of Transportation (DOT) unveiled plans for a dedicated lane along 34th Street between Third and Ninth Avenues for buses, trucks, and emergency vehicles, which could boost speeds by up to 15 percent for the more than two dozen bus routes that use the corridor. Modeled after the successful 14th Street busway, the plan would still permit other vehicles to enter but require them to make the next available legal turn off the street.
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Breuer Building gets landmarked before Sotheby’s opens headquarters

Photo courtesy of the Landmarks Preservation Commission

May 21, 2025

Breuer Building gets landmarked before Sotheby’s opens headquarters

The city's Landmarks Preservation Commission voted on Tuesday to designate the Breuer Building on the Upper East Side as an individual and interior landmark, protecting the Brutalist icon before auction house Sotheby's opens its global headquarters there. Designed by innovative architect Marcel Breuer, the building at 945 Madison Avenue was home to the Whitney Museum of American Art from 1966 to 2014. Sotheby's acquired the building in 2023; Herzog & de Meuron are currently leading a renovation and restoration of the space.
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Before Chelsea, there was Midtown: The lost art galleries of 57th Street

All photos courtesy Municipal Archives, City of New York

May 20, 2025

Before Chelsea, there was Midtown: The lost art galleries of 57th Street

By Michelle Young

In the interwar years in New York City, the cultural epicenter of New York, particularly its art galleries, was centered around 57th Street. One block, in particular, between Fifth and Madison Avenues was the crème de la crème of addresses. Today, the short 450-foot stretch is populated by luxury brands like Tiffany’s, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Christian Dior, and Burberry. The cluster of art galleries is part of the subject of my new book "The Art Spy: The Extraordinary Untold Tale of WWII Resistance Hero Rose Valland," which covers the flight of Picasso’s art dealer, Paul Rosenberg, and his family to New York City during World War II.
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History

Related drops casino from Hudson Yards plan, but keeps proposal for 4,000 new homes

Renderings courtesy of Related Companies and Wynn Resorts

May 20, 2025

Related drops casino from Hudson Yards plan, but keeps proposal for 4,000 new homes

Related Companies is dropping the casino from its project proposed for the undeveloped section of Hudson Yards, the developer announced Monday. In partnership with Wynn Resorts, Related previously pitched a $12 billion mixed-use development anchored by a casino, dubbed "Hudson Yards West," as part of its bid for one of the state's three downstate gaming licenses. Due to opposition from the community and local elected officials, Related and Wynn announced they would no longer pursue a gaming license. However, the developer plans to move forward with a plan to build 4,000 apartments, nearly 50 percent of which will be affordable under a tentative agreement with the Adams administration.
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Policy

Lincoln Center unveils design for revamped Amsterdam Avenue side of campus

Aerial view from Amsterdam Avenue looking east; visible are new streetscape, gardens, and theater. Rendering by Brooklyn Digital Foundry

May 19, 2025

Lincoln Center unveils design for revamped Amsterdam Avenue side of campus

New renderings reveal a reimagined west side of Lincoln Center, part of a project aimed at making the campus more welcoming and accessible. Lincoln Center for Performing Arts (LCPA) on Monday unveiled a preliminary design for the transformation of its Amsterdam Avenue-facing side, led by Hood Design Studio, Weiss/Manfredi, and Moody Nolan. The proposal includes an outdoor performance venue, new community park spaces, and the removal of a longstanding wall, which cuts the campus off from the rest of the neighborhood.
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Architecture And Design

For $1.25M, aspirational Murray Hill penthouse has an atrium, spa, and impossibly huge roof terrace

Photos courtesy Allyson Lubow for The Corcoran Group

May 19, 2025

For $1.25M, aspirational Murray Hill penthouse has an atrium, spa, and impossibly huge roof terrace

Small but mighty, this one-bedroom top-floor condo at 71 Park Avenue, asking $1,250,000, has all the charm you'd expect in a Park Avenue address that hasn't changed hands in over 25 years. Ambitious architectural features like glass atrium skylights give it character, and a private terrace that's bigger than the 700-square-foot apartment itself is a bountiful surprise.
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Distinctive Homes

If you buy this $19.85M West Village penthouse, you won’t need a yacht

All photos by Matthew Gordon

May 16, 2025

If you buy this $19.85M West Village penthouse, you won’t need a yacht

The penthouse condo atop a historic converted hotel at The Keller at 150 Barrow Street gives the impression of living surrounded by water, sunset and city views included. Asking $19,850,000, this 4,287-square-foot corner duplex, reimagined by interior design pros frenchCALIFORNIA, sits along the Hudson River. A wrap-around terrace of nearly 2,000 square feet makes waterfront entertaining on a grand scale a daily possibility.
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Distinctive Homes

High Line to host festival celebrating NYC pigeons

Iván Argote, Dinosaur, 2024. A High Line Plinth commission. On view October 2024 – Spring 2026. Photo by Timothy Schenck. Courtesy of the High Line.

May 16, 2025

High Line to host festival celebrating NYC pigeons

Celebrate the winged icon of New York City’s gritty streets at the High Line next month. On Saturday, June 14—also National Pigeon Day—Pigeon Fest will take over the elevated park along 30th Street and the Spur with a day of free programming, including games, art workshops, a pigeon impersonation pageant, and more. The festival centers around Iván Argote’s "Dinosaur," a 16-foot-tall hyper-realistic pigeon sculpture installed at the park in October above the intersection of 10th Avenue and 30th Street.
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Events & Things To Do

May 15, 2025

MTA proposes 684-unit development above future Second Avenue Subway terminus in East Harlem

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority wants to rezone a block in East Harlem to allow for a nearly 700-unit residential building above the future terminus of the Second Avenue Subway. The MTA filed plans on Tuesday to rezone the south side of East 125th Street between Third and Lexington Avenues, where the station for the last stop on the Q line will eventually open as part of the Second Avenue Subway extension. As first reported by Crain's, the MTA plans to partner with a private developer to build an apartment tower with up to 684 units on the block's west side, an MTA-owned property.
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World Trade Center to host free watch parties for Yankees-Mets series

Photo courtesy of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

May 15, 2025

World Trade Center to host free watch parties for Yankees-Mets series

It's a big weekend for New York baseball fans. The first Subway Series of the season kicks off on Friday, with the Yankees and Mets facing off as part of Major League Baseball's inaugural "Rivalry Weekend." With both teams currently taking the top spot in their division, and Juan Soto returning to the Bronx for the first time since signing with the crosstown foe for $765 million, the games promise to be can't-miss television. To revel in the rivalry, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will broadcast all three games on giant screens (with sound) at the North Oculus Plaza on the World Trade Center campus.
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Events & Things To Do

Egg rolls, egg creams, and empanadas: Lower East Side street festival returns for 24th year

Photos courtesy of Museum at Eldridge Street

May 14, 2025

Egg rolls, egg creams, and empanadas: Lower East Side street festival returns for 24th year

A street festival celebrating the diverse cultures of the Lower East Side takes place next month. Hosted by the Museum at Eldridge Street, the 24th annual Egg Rolls, Egg Creams, and Empanadas Festival brings together Jewish, Chinese, and Puerto Rican heritage with a day of food, music, crafts, and more. The block party takes place on Sunday, June 15.
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Events & Things To Do

Vacant parking lot in Harlem to become 75 apartments

Credit: Haussmann Development

May 14, 2025

Vacant parking lot in Harlem to become 75 apartments

A vacant parking lot in Harlem will soon become a residential building. Haussmann Development on Monday announced it closed on a land purchase at 16–20 Convent Avenue for $7.5 million. Haussmann plans to build a 10-story residential building with 75 one- and two-bedroom apartments, including 15 affordable units for households earning 60 percent of the area median income.
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Affordable Housing

New public art exhibition in Midtown East explores what it means to be American

All photos courtesy of The Soloviev Group, unless noted otherwise

May 13, 2025

New public art exhibition in Midtown East explores what it means to be American

A new public art installation in Midtown East celebrates the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States with stories of veterans, farmers, activists, and other everyday heroes. Designed by C&G Partners, the nearly 7-acre exhibition, "Path of Liberty: That Which Unites US," immerses visitors in 55 personal stories brought to life through striking visuals and interactive elements. Opening on May 15, the installation is located at the site of the Soloviev Group's proposed Freedom Plaza casino on First Avenue between 38th and 41st Streets.
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Adams allocates $52M to replace West Village rec center in proposed budget

Tony Dapolito Recreation Center. Tdorante10 via Wikimedia Commons

May 12, 2025

Adams allocates $52M to replace West Village rec center in proposed budget

Mayor Eric Adams is allocating $51.8 million to rebuild a beloved, but run-down, recreation center in the West Village. The 100-year-old Tony Dapolito Recreation Center has been closed since 2019 due to significant structural issues, including foundation damage. Under his proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, Adams includes funding for the Parks Department to demolish the existing building on Clarkson Street and construct a modern facility across the street as part of a new mixed-use development.
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It’s time to nosh: Jewish food festival coming to Governors Island

All photos courtesy of The Great Knosh

May 8, 2025

It’s time to nosh: Jewish food festival coming to Governors Island

New York City’s top restaurants are heading to Governors Island this summer for a one-day-only Jewish food and culture festival. Taking place Sunday, June 22 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., The Great Nosh is a picnic-style party with collaborations between some of the city's most iconic restaurants, including Katz’s Deli, Russ & Daughters, Apollo Bagels, and Morgenstern’s.
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Chinatown Restaurant Week to feature 18 eateries with off-menu specials and prix-fixe deals

Photo by Saul Macias on Unsplash

May 8, 2025

Chinatown Restaurant Week to feature 18 eateries with off-menu specials and prix-fixe deals

A week-long culinary festival in New York City will highlight the unique flavors and stories behind some of Chinatown’s best restaurants. Hosted by Welcome to Chinatown from May 19 through May 24, Chinatown Restaurant Week includes 18 neighborhood restaurants, from long-standing favorites like Hop Kee and Jing Fong to newer innovative additions shaping the future of Chinatown's food scene. Each will offer prix-fixe menus and special dishes available exclusively during the event.
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Talk show host Graham Norton’s ‘jewel box’ carriage house on a secret Murray Hill mews asks $5.6M

Photo courtesy of MW Studio for Corcoran

May 7, 2025

Talk show host Graham Norton’s ‘jewel box’ carriage house on a secret Murray Hill mews asks $5.6M

The tiny, close-ended Sniffen Court Mews in the midst of Manhattan's Murray Hill neighborhood is magical even without celebrity cachet. It's one of the city's smallest historic districts, one of those NYC places where you feel like you've completely stepped away from the city altogether. Irish comedian and talk show host Graham Norton's carriage house at 6 Sniffen Court is one of 10 former horse stables built on the mews during the Civil War. Asking $5,595,000, the home is described by Norton in a New York Times feature as a "jewel box of a carriage house." The 20-foot-wide home's interiors aren't the slightest bit old-fashioned: A fabulous renovation by Gachot Studio and a landscaped roof deck are a design-lover's dream within this private paradise.
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City landmarks duplex apartment in Paul Rudolph’s Modulightor Building

Exterior photo courtesy of the Paul Rudolph Institute for Modern Architecture; interior photo courtesy of the Landmarks Preservation Commission

May 6, 2025

City landmarks duplex apartment in Paul Rudolph’s Modulightor Building

The duplex apartment inside Paul Rudolph’s iconic Modulightor Building in Midtown East is officially a New York City landmark. On Tuesday, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted unanimously to designate the third- and fourth-floor residence at 246 East 58th Street as an interior landmark, citing the significance of its "complex, multi-layered interior." With the designation of the Modulightor Building as an individual landmark in December 2023, the interior and exterior of the building are now both protected.
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Behind this $12M West Village townhouse is a private path to a secret garden

Photo credit: Kate Norberg/Russ Ross Photography

May 2, 2025

Behind this $12M West Village townhouse is a private path to a secret garden

On one of the many winding alleyways and streets of the most charming part of the West Village, this 22-foot-wide townhouse at 27 Perry Street has a secret in the back. Between this home and its neighbor is a private horse walk leading to the thoroughly romantic escape known as St. John's Colony gardens. Asking $11,950,000, the four-story, two-unit townhouse has plenty of charm on the inside as well, with historic details and a decorator's touch.
oodles of charm and a magical garden this way

Distinctive Homes

Once a coffee warehouse, this $11M Tribeca townhouse is a three-level condo with a hot tub in the back

Courtesy of The Bogard New York Team / Photos by Andrew Brincka, DDReps

May 1, 2025

Once a coffee warehouse, this $11M Tribeca townhouse is a three-level condo with a hot tub in the back

From the outside, this townhouse condo at 62 Beach Street looks to be every bit the historic loft building. Built in 1860, the former coffee, tea, and spice warehouse known as the Fischer Mills Building is right at home on the cobblestoned Tribeca street. Within, the classic restored warehouse conceals a 4,600-square-foot triplex that brings the loft aesthetic into the 21st century for a $10,995,000 buyer. Loft bones frame luxuries like a home gym, and the whole package includes a private garden with a hot tub.
luxe loft living, this way

Distinctive Homes

Macy’s Flower Show turns 50 with surrealist gardens and thousands of blooms in Herald Square

All photos courtesy of Macy’s, Inc.

May 1, 2025

Macy’s Flower Show turns 50 with surrealist gardens and thousands of blooms in Herald Square

The 50th annual Macy's Flower Show opened in Herald Square on Sunday, transforming the iconic department store into a breathtaking garden filled with thousands of lush plants and flowers. In honor of its semicentennial, this year’s event has been extended to three weeks of festivities, running through May 18. The show also features a partnership with YSL Beauty, offering an immersive experience that encourages guests to embrace freedom and celebrate the transformative power of nature.
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Events & Things To Do

Former sculpture studio turned enchanting live-work space in Kips Bay asks $7.95M

Photos courtesy of Andrew Frasz for Sotheby’s International Realty

April 30, 2025

Former sculpture studio turned enchanting live-work space in Kips Bay asks $7.95M

Every so often, we come across an only-in-New York City-type listing, and this townhouse certainly falls under that category. The four-story home at 218 East 25th Street belonged to the sculpture studio Rochette & Parzini for over six decades. In addition to living quarters, the current owner, photographer Clara Aich, has used the majestic space to host musical performances, plays, and other cultural gatherings that benefit from its soaring ceilings, massive skylights, and loft-like proportions. The unique home hit the market this week for $7,950,000.
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Distinctive Homes

432 Park owners sue again over alleged facade crack cover-up

Photo by Sebastiandoe5 via WikiCommons

April 30, 2025

432 Park owners sue again over alleged facade crack cover-up

Owners at the supertall condo 432 Park Avenue are suing the building's developers again. The Midtown East tower's condo board on Friday filed a lawsuit against developers Harry Macklowe and CIM Group, alleging they knowingly concealed widespread cracking in the building's concrete facade from buyers and inspectors as part of a "deliberate and far-reaching fraud," as first reported by Crain's. The board is seeking $165 million in damages, along with punitive damages and compensation for losses tied to declining property values caused by flooding and erosion from the cracks.
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Real Estate Trends

$1.78M Midtown condo is a renovated pre-war gem with designer details and old-world amenities

Photos courtesy of MW Studios for Sotheby’s International Realty

April 30, 2025

$1.78M Midtown condo is a renovated pre-war gem with designer details and old-world amenities

It's somewhat surprising to find that the elegantly-named Parc Vendome at 340 West 57th Street is a condominium; its old-world charm brings to mind the city's classic pre-war co-ops. In addition to condo convenience, this 14th-floor one-bedroom home offers 1,200 square feet of living space, modern renovations with a designer's eye, and a genteel collection of building amenities that range from a doorman to a private dining room. It's now on the market for $1,775,000.
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Distinctive Homes

This $1.25M Chelsea garden maisonette feels like a cottage in the city

Credit: Courtesy of The Corcoran Group

April 29, 2025

This $1.25M Chelsea garden maisonette feels like a cottage in the city