Manhattan

Related Companies has released new renderings of the residential interiors in Thomas Heatherwick’s Lantern House condo development on the High Line. The quirky towers—one is ten stories tall and the other rises to 22 stories—flank the High Line at 18th Street and stand out with their billowing glass walls that reinterpret “the modern bay window.”
Check out the renderings

See inside Urbanspace’s new food hall in Midtown West

Photos by Laura Fontaine

January 10, 2020

See inside Urbanspace’s new food hall in Midtown West

A new Urbanspace food hall opened up in Midtown on Wednesday with 15 vendors and plenty of options for the lunch crowd and beyond. It’s the fourth permanent location for the company that’s also behind many of New York City’s seasonal markets and food halls. Located in the space formerly occupied by Bobby Flay’s Bar Americain at 152 West 52nd Street, the list of vendors offers a mix of new and established names “aimed to cater to New Yorkers and visitors alike,” most notably classic Flatiron sandwich shop Eisenberg’s first offshoot.
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Food & Dining

Photo credit: Rich Caplan courtesy of Compass.

January 10, 2020

$1.25M Village loft in the Cast Iron Building has private outdoor space and amenities

The classic Greenwich Village residence known as the Cast Iron Building at 67 East 11th Street is every bit the downtown loft its name implies. In addition, it's a doorman building with luxury amenities. Asking $1.25 million, this dramatic pre-war duplex co-op has the 15-foot ceilings loft-lovers crave, plus private outdoor space in the form of a 100-square-foot terrace–a rare perk in a loft.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

For $7K/month, this Chelsea duplex is both penthouse and townhouse, roof terrace included

Images courtesy of Halstead.

January 9, 2020

For $7K/month, this Chelsea duplex is both penthouse and townhouse, roof terrace included

Available on February 15 as a short- or long-term rental, this duplex occupies the top two floors of a charming brick townhouse at 426 West 22nd Street on a prime Chelsea block. The 1,168-square-foot two-bedroom unit is two flights up, one of three apartments in the townhouse which is also on the market for $7.5 million. The penthouse, asking $7,000 a month, features a 160-square-foot terrace and top floor loft space.
Tour the penthouse-in-a-townhouse

Distinctive Homes

Luxurious Upper East Side mansion with a pool, movie theatre, and library is back for $79M

Listing images courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

January 9, 2020

Luxurious Upper East Side mansion with a pool, movie theatre, and library is back for $79M

The palatial Upper East Side home that almost became the most expensive townhouse ever sold in New York City two years ago is back on the market. The seven-bedroom mansion was first listed in 2013 for a whopping $114 million and then for $98 million in 2014. It was most recently available in 2018 for $88 million and just received another price cut to (a still very formidable) $79 million. The 40-foot wide property at 12 East 69th Street sprawls over 20,000 square feet on six levels and comes with a movie theatre, saltwater pool, double-height library, and a 2,650 square-foot roof terrace overlooking Central Park.
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Distinctive Homes

Community board committee rejects design for proposed Harry Potter store in Flatiron

Rendering of Wizarding World by Studio Superette, courtesy of Manhattan Community Board 5

January 9, 2020

Community board committee rejects design for proposed Harry Potter store in Flatiron

The landmarks committee of a Manhattan community board this week dismissed the design for a proposed Harry Potter-themed store and exhibit in the Flatiron District. Warner Brothers Entertainment announced plans last September to open Wizarding World at 935 Broadway, a landmarked building constructed in 1861. But the company's proposal to alter the historic structure by adding wand-style flagpoles and a fiberglass dragon was rejected as "inappropriate" by Manhattan Community Board 5's landmarks committee on Tuesday, as the Wall Street Journal first reported.
See the design

Cuomo announces expansion of the Museum of Jewish Heritage

An aerial view of Battery Park City showing the Museum of Jewish Heritage, via Wikimedia Commons

January 8, 2020

Cuomo announces expansion of the Museum of Jewish Heritage

By Dana Schulz

An aerial view of Battery Park City showing the Museum of Jewish Heritage, via Wikimedia Commons "To address the disturbing number of anti-Semitic and other discriminatory attacks in New York, the Governor is proposing a first-in-the-nation domestic terrorism law," reads a bullet point from Cuomo's 2020 agenda. As part of this larger hate crime anti-terrorism act, the Governor has directed the Battery Park City Authority to develop an expansion plan for the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust so that it will become a "learning destination for school children across the state."
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Events & Things To Do

New public art installation brings illuminated, interactive seesaws to Midtown West

All photos by Alexandre Ayer

January 7, 2020

New public art installation brings illuminated, interactive seesaws to Midtown West

By Dana Schulz

Yesterday, The Garment District Alliance unveiled its latest public art installation along Broadway between 37th and 38th Streets. Titled "Impulse," it's a collection of 12 oversized seesaws that light up and night and become an "urban instrument" when they emit various sounds as New Yorkers play on them.
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Events & Things To Do

In Hudson Yards, Bjarke Ingels’ The Spiral is more than 50% leased as construction progresses

All renderings courtesy of Tishman Speyer

January 7, 2020

In Hudson Yards, Bjarke Ingels’ The Spiral is more than 50% leased as construction progresses

As The Spiral continues to rise in Hudson Yards—it’s currently the eighth-tallest skyscraper under construction in NYC—its future offices are getting scooped up at a fast pace. Despite being two-and-a-half years away from completion, the Bjarke Ingels Group-designed tower at 66 Hudson Boulevard is now 54 percent pre-leased after adding law firm Debevoise & Plimpton to its roster of tenants. That list also includes pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, who will relocate its global headquarters to the building, and investment management firm AllianceBernstein. Once complete, the 66-story tower will reach 1,032 feet and feature signature cascading terraces and hanging gardens wrapped around the facade in a spiral-like arrangement.
Here's the latest update

After holiday street closures, some city leaders say Rockefeller Center should remain car-free

Photo by Javier Guiterrez Acedo on Flickr

January 7, 2020

After holiday street closures, some city leaders say Rockefeller Center should remain car-free

After having been closed to car and truck traffic during the busiest times of day since November 29th, West 49th and West 50th streets between Fifth and Sixth avenues–the two streets on either side of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree–may become permanently car-free if some city officials have their way. Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday that he believes the vehicle-free streets were safer for the estimated 750,000 pedestrians who were expected to traverse the plaza each day during the crowded holiday season, the Wall Street Journal reports.
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Transit

Snøhetta’s transformed public garden at 550 Madison Avenue receives final city approvals

Renderings courtesy of Snøhetta and MOARE

January 7, 2020

Snøhetta’s transformed public garden at 550 Madison Avenue receives final city approvals

The privately-owned public space (POPS) on the ground floor of Philip Johnson and John Burgee’s Postmodern skyscraper at 550 Madison Avenue declined over time due to multiple alterations and was often described as being “tall, skinny, and dark.” As part of Snøhetta’s transformation of the landmark, the garden is receiving a lot of attention. In December, developer Olayan Group revealed plans to increase the public space by 50 percent while creating “a welcoming sensory retreat in the heart of East Midtown.” After being approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission last year, the open space has now received its final approval from the Department of City Planning.
More details

Architecture And Design

Photo credit: Ben Fitchett courtesy of Compass.

January 7, 2020

$7,200/month Village loft with a rooftop ‘cabin’ was once home to John Barrymore

According to the listing for this utterly charming Greenwich Village penthouse loft at 132 West 4th Street, silent film actor John Barrymore lived here a century ago and christened it "The Alchemist's Corner." While the silver screen connection adds stardust to its image, a spot atop an 1839 townhouse, a massive dramatic skylight, and a rooftop garden with a heated porch and den make this $7,200 a month rental opportunity magical all on its own.
Alchemy and views, this way

Cuomo revives plan to overhaul Penn Station and create new Empire Station Complex

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

January 6, 2020

Cuomo revives plan to overhaul Penn Station and create new Empire Station Complex

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is returning to one of his favorite infrastructure proposals: the overhaul of Penn Station. During an event on Monday hosted by the Association for a Better New York, the governor announced plans to build the Empire Station Complex, a station that would link a modernized Penn Station, the soon-to-be-open Moynihan Train Hall, and a new terminal one block south of the existing site. The plan, first introduced by the governor in 2016, would add eight new tracks and increase train capacity by 40 percent at the station, which currently serves more than 650,000 passengers each day.
See the updated plan

For $1.9M, this spacious Midtown East condo has two bedrooms and a huge roof terrace

Listing images by Bernadett Pava; courtesy of Compass

January 6, 2020

For $1.9M, this spacious Midtown East condo has two bedrooms and a huge roof terrace

This Midtown East condo ticks all the (right) boxes: it's located in a Rosario Candela-designed building at 135 East 54th Street, comes with an expansive roof terrace bigger than most people's apartments, and is only a short walk away from the Museum of Modern Art and Central Park. The approximately 1,200-square-foot, two-bedroom is now on the market seeking $1.895 million.
Look inside

Distinctive Homes

Famed political cartoonist Ranan Lurie lists his Time Warner Center art studio-condo for $5M

Image credit: Donna Dotan courtesy of Compass.

January 6, 2020

Famed political cartoonist Ranan Lurie lists his Time Warner Center art studio-condo for $5M

The Time Warner Center condo at 25 Columbus Circle that Ranan Lurie, who holds the Guinness World Record for most syndicated political cartoonist, used as his art studio and office, is now on the market for $4,995,000. Lurie's "Uniting Painting" at the United Nations HQ is the largest contemporary painting ever exhibited there. The founder and Editor-in-Chief of Cartoonews has been the resident political cartoonist for, among many others, Life magazine, The U.S. News & World Report, Time International, Foreign Affairs magazine and The London Times. He has been syndicated globally to more than 1,100 publications with a daily readership of 300 million. His drawings often include a small trademark smiling sun drawn on the subject's tie or other articles of clothing.
More of this storied condo, this way

Via Wiki Commons

January 3, 2020

New Trader Joe’s on 14th Street and Avenue A opens Monday morning

It's been over two-and-a-half years since Trader Joe's announced its plans to open a new store in a 23,000-square-foot space at 432 East 14th Street across from Stuyvesant Town, just three avenues east of their original 14th Street store. The beloved grocery store is the retail anchor tenant in the newly-constructed residential building called EVE that replaced the former Stuyvesant Post Office at that address. With leasing at the building a year in and an affordable housing lottery open, Trader Joe's now confirms on its website that the store will open on Monday, January 6th at 8am (h/t EV Grieve).
14th Street, street of groceries

City Living

Roosevelt Island’s Nellie Bly memorial revealed

Design by Amanda Matthews; courtesy of RIOC

January 3, 2020

Roosevelt Island’s Nellie Bly memorial revealed

The design of a new memorial honoring investigative journalist Nellie Bly has been officially unveiled. Tapped by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, artist Amanda Matthews of Prometheus Art presented during a town hall last month "The Girl Puzzle" memorial, which will feature sculptures of Bly and four faces of women and girls who she interviewed. The memorial, whose design was first spotted by THE CITY, will be installed in late 2020 at the tip of Lighthouse Park on Roosevelt Island.
See it here

Iconic West Village wooden house drops its price to $8.75M

Photos by Allyson Lubow and Corcoran’s Dean DeCarlo, courtesy of The Corcoran Group

January 3, 2020

Iconic West Village wooden house drops its price to $8.75M

By Dana Schulz

If you follow the NYC streetscape Instagram circuit, the historic 1822 home at 17 Grove Street in the West Village will certainly look familiar. Its adorable facade, corner location, and the fact that it's one of the oldest standing wood-frame houses in the Village, all make this property photo-ready. But looks alone don't seem to be doing the trick, as the Post tells us that the home has lowered its asking price to $8.75 million from the $12 million it listed for in April.
See more here

See inside The Deco, an eclectic new food hall in Midtown West

Photo by Max Lau

January 3, 2020

See inside The Deco, an eclectic new food hall in Midtown West

A new food hall opened this month in Manhattan's Garment District, adding some bold flavors to the mostly lackluster options in the neighborhood. Located at 231 West 39th Street, The Deco Food + Drink features eight family-owned vendors, a cocktail bar, and event space. An ode to 1920s New York, the Carpenter & Mason-designed space features an Art Deco aesthetic, with geometric tiles, bright blues, and brass accents framing each section.
See inside

Food & Dining

Construction of World Trade Center’s St. Nicholas Shrine will resume

The site in December 2018, Photo by Tdorante10 via Wikimedia Commons

January 3, 2020

Construction of World Trade Center’s St. Nicholas Shrine will resume

It's been more than two years since reconstruction work on the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church at the World Trade Center stopped due to lack of funding, but the project is finally set to resume. On Thursday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced plans to form a new non-profit organization with an independent 13-member board—the Friends of St. Nicholas—who will oversee the remaining construction. The expected opening is slated for 2022.
More info

New Developments

Times Square’s Palace Theatre overhaul includes outdoor stage and ‘ball drop’ suites

Rendering courtesy of TSX Broadway

January 2, 2020

Times Square’s Palace Theatre overhaul includes outdoor stage and ‘ball drop’ suites

A mixed-use development project hopes to bring even more bright lights and theatrics to Times Square. A team of developers, led by L&L Holding Company, will provide the ultimate New Year's Eve experience at its new luxury hotel, part of the plan to transform the historic Palace Theatre into TSX Broadway. New renderings of the $2.5 billion project, which involves raising the theater more than 30 feet and building a 669-room hotel above it, show off suites with perfect views of the Times Square ball drop, the neighborhood's first outdoor stage, and immersive retail experiences.
Learn more

Sweeping views and a sculptural staircase stand out in this $8M Sutton Place duplex

Listing images by Evan Joseph; courtesy of Compass

January 2, 2020

Sweeping views and a sculptural staircase stand out in this $8M Sutton Place duplex

This Sutton Place duplex co-op is a corner unit on the 37th of 47 floors so it boasts sweeping views of the Midtown skyline and East River in every room. The five-bedroom, five-and-a-half bathroom residence spans over 6,300 square feet in the Emery Roth-designed tower at 425 East 58th Street, also known as The Sovereign. It's now on the market for $7,995,000, with a minimum 50 percent down payment required.
Get the full tour

Distinctive Homes

The Hell’s Kitchen Antiques Fair & Flea Market closed in 2018; Photo by S.J.I on Flickr

December 30, 2019

Famed flea market in Chelsea has closed