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The New York Botanical Garden's popular orchid show will return for its 18th season this Saturday with a special exhibit from "floral designer to the stars" Jeff Leatham. The Orchid Show: Jeff Leatham’s Kaleidoscope employs the artist's love of color, transforming various galleries with thousands of orchids and their own color schemes. Highlights of the very-Instagrammable show include a kaleidoscopic tunnel of lights, a 10-foot tall mirrored orchid sculpture set above a water fountain, and a series of yellow and orange orchid arches.
Take a tour of this year's show!

February 12, 2020

450-unit affordable housing development planned for New York Botanical Garden property

A two-building development with 450 affordable housing units will be constructed on property owned by the New York Botanical Garden, developers announced Tuesday. Douglaston Development has entered a 99-year lease with NYBG for a lot on Webster Avenue and Bedford Park Boulevard, located about a block from the 250-acre garden.
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Affordable Housing

50-year-old R-42 subway cars are finally being retired

The final run of the R42 trains on the A line near Hammels Wye in the Rockaways on February 12, 2020. Photo by Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit

February 12, 2020

50-year-old R-42 subway cars are finally being retired

The NYC subway rolls a little further into the 21st century today: The MTA is finally retiring its Nixon-era R-42 trains. The silver half-century-old R-42s, first rolled out in 1969 (the same year "Sesame Street" debuted), will make their last run today along the A line before being permanently retired, having already been mostly replaced by the R-160 fleet (h/t NYPost). The new R-179s cars will eventually replace them (h/t Gothamist). The R-42 cars were scheduled to disappear in December, but the R-179s were pulled from the system due to problems with their door-locking mechanisms.
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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.
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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

Image courtesy of Douglas Elliman.

February 12, 2020

$839K South Bronx condo offers loft living in Mott Haven

In the bustling and buzzy South Bronx community of Mott Haven, this bonafide loft at 305 East 140th Street is also a 2008 condominium conversion known as Bronx Bricks. Constructed in 1904, the classic loft building features a ground-floor art gallery and adjacent theater performance space, both of which highlight the neighborhood's vibrant arts community. The 1,290-square-foot unit is asking $839,000.
Just don't call it SoBro

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.
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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

Distinctive Homes

This $18.5M penthouse is Village living on a luxury level

This $4.5M Sutton Place penthouse has a wraparound terrace and a literary pedigree

'Secret' live-work compound on Tribeca's skybridge street lists for $30M

Park Slope 'pink house,' now in a more muted hue, asks $5M

This $2.85M Crown Heights townhouse is an unspoiled historic beauty on an extra-long lot

World's highest duplex lists for $128M at Central Park Tower

For $6.75M, everything you'd want in a Park Slope brownstone

Sky mansion with dramatic curves on Billionaires' Row asks $10M

Andrew Rannells lists his Chelsea triplex with a terrace for $2.4M

For $14.5M, Gilded Age opulence in a designer's Upper East Side mansion the size of a country estate

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City launches design competition to fix Brooklyn Bridge congestion problem

Image by Ali Vidler from Pixabay

February 11, 2020

City launches design competition to fix Brooklyn Bridge congestion problem

The city is looking for ideas to fix the jam-packed promenade of the Brooklyn Bridge. City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and the Van Alen Institute on Tuesday launched a design competition seeking creative improvements to the 137-year-old structure's narrow walkway, where thousands of pedestrians and cyclists fight for space each day. The overcrowded conditions have made the number of cyclists crossing the bridge drop to about 3,000 daily riders, compared to 3,600 two years prior, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Find out more

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

Billionaires’ Row property taxes would dramatically increase under proposed system overhaul

Image courtesy of Vornado Realty Trust and Robert A.M. Stern Architects

February 11, 2020

Billionaires’ Row property taxes would dramatically increase under proposed system overhaul

Last month, the city's Advisory Commission on Property Tax Reform revealed a report outlining sweeping changes to the property tax code that would essentially raise the same amount of money but substantially redistribute where it comes from. Under the current system, property owners pay taxes based on assessed value rather than market value, so working-class homeowners often pay a higher tax rate than those who can afford the city's multimillion-dollar luxury condos. Mansion Global took a closer look at the numbers and found that property taxes along Billionaires' Row could increase up to five times their current rate under the proposed system.
More details

Policy

Temporary restraining order rolls back broker fee ban

Photo by Rachel Martin on Unsplash

February 11, 2020

Temporary restraining order rolls back broker fee ban

In an update made last week to the state's recent rent reform laws, the Department of State said real estate brokers hired by landlords could no longer charge tenants a fee. The ruling sparked a widespread backlash from the real estate industry, particularly rental brokers. In response, a group of industry representatives filed an Article 78 petition in Albany, which resulted in a temporary restraining order on Monday, The Real Deal reported. The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) and a number of high-profile brokerages have filed a lawsuit claiming the new guidance was an “unlawful, erroneous, and arbitrary” interpretation of the rent reform law passed in June and wreaked “havoc and confusion” on the industry. The restraining order means agents acting on behalf of landlords can collect a commission from tenants until further notice without fear of discipline by the DOS.
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You can have a sleepover at IKEA in Red Hook next month

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

February 10, 2020

You can have a sleepover at IKEA in Red Hook next month

Lull yourself to sleep surrounded by ready-to-assemble furniture and Swedish meatballs during a sleepover at Ikea's showroom in Brooklyn next month. The home goods store is launching a raffle to give shoppers a chance to spend the night at its Red Hook store on March 13. Coinciding with World Sleep Day, the "Swede Dreams" event aims to help the "tired, weary and sleep-deprived fans" of the store, according to a press release.
Get the details

Events & Things To Do

For $799K, this well-outfitted Bed-Stuy condo is set up for easy living

Image credit: Rise Media courtesy of the Corcoran Group.

February 10, 2020

For $799K, this well-outfitted Bed-Stuy condo is set up for easy living

This one-bedroom-plus-office condominium in Bed-Stuy near the Clinton Hill border at 197 Spencer Street is ready to hit the ground running when it comes to modern convenience. From the keyed elevator landing to the wide-plank oak floors, central heat and air, designer lighting and private outdoor space, this 1,195-square-foot unit, asking $799,000, is a ready-for-anything contemporary home.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

Plans for NYC’s first soccer stadium inch forward in the Bronx

Image by A.V. Flores from Pixabay

February 10, 2020

Plans for NYC’s first soccer stadium inch forward in the Bronx

The long-anticipated plan to build a home stadium for New York City's soccer team in the Bronx inched forward last week, the New York Times first reported. The group of developers and the New York City Football Club are close to reaching a deal with the city to bring a 25,000-seat stadium to the South Bronx as part of a $1 billion development plan that also includes a hotel, new school, and affordable housing. New York City F.C., which has been looking for a permanent home for years, currently plays games at nearby Yankee Stadium.
More here

Affordable Housing

February 10, 2020

Renters insurance in NYC: Why you should get it right now

Renters insurance is one of those things that you know is a good idea–and like so many New York City renters, you’ve been meaning to do it, but you may not have gotten around to it–until you wish you had. And though we hope we’ll never need it, it's one of the few things in city life that's simple, inexpensive, and worth every penny. Below, we explain why it's an important investment to make, how to navigate the process of getting a quote and getting covered, and which provider might be best for you.
All about renters insurance, this way

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

Feel like you’re in the French countryside in this $1.6M Westchester home with a grape arbor

It's hard to pinpoint the exact style of this Westchester home; there's a Spanish-style-roof, a Tudor configuration, and a stone cottage-esque facade. But this eclectic mix somehow makes you feel like you've stepped into the French countryside, highlighted by a lovely patio complete with a grape arbor. Built in 1888, the five-bedroom home has been completely renovated inside and is currently asking $1.6 million (h/t CIRCA).
Have a look around

Distinctive Homes

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

Affordability, climate change take center stage during de Blasio’s ‘State of City’ address

Billionaires’ Row © 6sqft

February 7, 2020

Affordability, climate change take center stage during de Blasio’s ‘State of City’ address

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday laid out his vision to "save" New York City, pledging to focus on affordability, climate change, and protections for small businesses during his last two years in office. "This city and everything it stands for must be saved. And we are the ones who have to save ourselves," the mayor said during his State of the City address. De Blasio's vision involves building on initiatives his administration has put forward during his tenure, including creating more affordable housing, increasing tenant protections, legalizing basement apartments, and launching the second phase of the Green New Deal.
Find out more

Photo credit: Allyson Lubow courtesy of The Corcoran Group.

February 7, 2020

Loft living comes to Bay Ridge in this $939K two-bedroom

The facade of the new-construction condo building at 9907 Third Avenue in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, with its red brick and arched factory windows, could just as easily be in Dumbo. The loft aesthetic (minus the double-height ceilings and actual factory pedigree) carries through to the interior of this $939,000 third-floor home just a block from Shore Road and Parkway and New York Harbor. The 12-unit building was designed by Elizabeth McDonald, who, according to the listing, is known for her modern aesthetic and high-end interiors in Tribeca. The two-bedroom unit has an elevator landing that opens right into the open-plan living space, a designer kitchen, Siberian oak floors, and nine-foot ceilings.
Bay Ridge condo/loft tour, this way

9 patriotic places to spend Presidents’ Day in NYC

Painting of George Washington: Rembrandt Peale, George Washington (1732–1799), 1853, Oil on canvas; New-York Historical Society, Bequest of Caroline Phelps Stokes

February 7, 2020

9 patriotic places to spend Presidents’ Day in NYC

By 6sqft

New York City is rich with presidential history, from hosting the inauguration of the country's first president to being home to Grant's Tomb, the largest mausoleum in North America. Presidents' Day celebrates the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln each year on the third Monday in February. Those who get the day off from work or school can spend the holiday learning about the city's presidential history, from Federal Hall to the Flatiron District. Or, for a more low key (but still patriotic) three-day weekend, eat cake, go bowling, or catch a Commander in Chief-themed comedy show.
Full list, ahead

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.
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For $599K, this two-bedroom Prospect Lefferts condo is a block from the park

Photo credit: Rise Media courtesy of The Corcoran Group.

February 6, 2020

For $599K, this two-bedroom Prospect Lefferts condo is a block from the park

This cozy home in a condo conversion at 41 Clarkson Avenue in Prospect Lefferts Gardens gets plenty of sun, a tax abatement and a spot just off Prospect Park. And since it's a condominium, it's likely to be a good investment as a rental for which you could count on a steady income stream to offset the $599,000 this two-bedroom unit is asking.
Get a closer look

Distinctive Homes

Photo credit: Alkenz courtesy of Artechouse

February 6, 2020

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

Snag the Greenest Seat in Town: Gufram's 1972 Pratone Chair is Shaped Like a Patch of Grass

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

THE 6SQFT SHOP

The 6 best furniture rental companies in NYC

8 best places in NYC to thrift for home goods

The best websites for buying and selling used furniture in NYC

Everything you need to know about using a guarantor in NYC

15 quintessential NYC gifts for the New Yorker in your life

Raising chickens in NYC: Laws, tips, and everything else you need to know

Everything you need to know about affordable housing: applying, getting in, and staying put

10 best plants for apartment dwellers

New York City's best holiday markets of 2023

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New York renters no longer have to pay broker fees

Photo by Rachel Martin on Unsplash

February 6, 2020

New York renters no longer have to pay broker fees

Renters in New York will no longer have to pay a broker fee when they lease an apartment, the state ordered Tuesday. In an updated set of guidelines for last year's rent reform laws, the state department said real estate brokers hired by landlords "cannot be compensated by the prospective tenant." While brokers can still charge a fee, landlords are now responsible for paying it, according to the revised rules. However, if a renter hires a broker to find apartments on their behalf, a fee can be collected.
Find out more

After 55 years, the Verrazzano Bridge gets a second ‘Z’

Photos: Patrick Cashin/Metropolitan Transportation Authority

February 6, 2020

After 55 years, the Verrazzano Bridge gets a second ‘Z’

On Tuesday crews from MTA Bridges and Tunnels began addressing a 55-year-old spelling mistake by replacing the first of 19 signs on agency property to feature the correct spelling of Verrazzano with two Z's instead of just one. The bridge was named after Giovanni de Verrazzano—the first European explorer to sail into New York Harbor—but a longstanding dispute over the name's proper spelling led to the bridge being inaugurated as the Verrazano-Narrows bridge in 1964. In 2018, Governor Cuomo signed legislation to add a second Z into the name.
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Transit

Elegant Brooklyn Heights one-bedroom is an easy starter home at $540K

Listing images courtesy of The Corcoran Group

February 5, 2020

Elegant Brooklyn Heights one-bedroom is an easy starter home at $540K

Original pre-war details give this Brooklyn Heights co-op its undeniable charm, but the price tag is pretty appealing too. For $540,000—well below the neighborhood average—this one-bedroom starter home at 55 Hicks Street is well maintained with a recently renovated kitchen and bathroom. Being on the fourth floor, the walk-up situation is a bit of a drag but for someone, it'll be well worth the effort. The elegant home features some of our favorite details, like picture frame moldings in the living room and a restored tin ceiling in the kitchen.
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Distinctive Homes

MTA looks to ride-share services to help late-shift workers in the outer boroughs

Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

February 5, 2020

MTA looks to ride-share services to help late-shift workers in the outer boroughs

Subway service in New York City runs 24 hours a day, but late-night commutes for outer-borough residents—who often have to make multiple connections—can get inconvenient quickly. To ease the burden on those commuters, the MTA is looking to make an unlikely partnership with ride-share companies like Uber and Lyft. The agency announced a Request for Proposals (RFP) on Tuesday from transportation companies that could shuttle riders to the subway during late-night hours. Whoever is selected will participate in the "Late-Shift" pilot program beginning later this year.
More details

Transit

February 5, 2020

Target signs lease for Food Emporium space on Union Square East

Don't get too excited yet--it's not opening until at least 2023, when the lease expires for the space's current tenant, the Food Emporium grocery store. The Post reports that Target signed a lease for the 32,579-square-foot space at the base of 10 Union Square East. Target currently has seven stores in Manhattan, with two more set to open in Times Square, Columbus Circle, and Washinton Heights. One of their stores is just a few avenues east on 14th Street at Avenue A.
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City Living

For $588K this Upper East Side co-op is chic, efficient and totally New York City

Photo credit: Al Siedman of VHT, courtesy of The Corcoran Group

February 5, 2020

For $588K this Upper East Side co-op is chic, efficient and totally New York City

It's easy to overcomplicate things when it comes to real estate, but this Upper East Side co-op at 333 East 66th Street keeps things simple. It's basically an alcove studio, but custom-designed built-in storage makes great use of every inch of space. A recent designer renovation makes it easy on the eyes, and a high floor means light and city views.
Have a look around

Distinctive Homes

Live off trendy Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg, from $1,174/month

Photo by MTA New York City Transit/ Marc A. Hermann on Wikimedia

February 5, 2020

Live off trendy Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg, from $1,174/month

Two new buildings in prime Williamsburg are launching affordable housing lotteries this week. The rental at 196 North 4th Street is accepting applications from New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income for studios to two-bedroom apartments, starting at $1,174/month. At 660 Driggs Avenue, those earning the same AMI can apply for units, starting at $1,458/month for a two-bedroom and going up to $2,320/month for a one-bedroom.
Details this way

Affordable Housing

Photo courtesy of Metrograph LLC/Minu Han

February 5, 2020

12 places to watch the Oscars in New York City

We're living in a Netflix, Disney Plus world, and that means that a lot of New Yorkers don't have cable to watch big events like the Oscars. But if you want to get in on the Academy Awards action this Sunday, fear not. There are tons of bars, restaurants, and theaters hosting viewing parties. Step back to 1920s Hollywood at Metrograph or the Roxy Cinema, take an Oscars-themed cocktail class before the show at Parklife, spoof the nominees at Brooklyn Comedy Collective, and much more. Ahead, we've rounded up 11 spots around NYC to watch the 92nd Oscars on February 9th.
Check out the list

Events & Things To Do

‘Pressed: Images from the Jewish Daily Forward’ tells the story of American Jews in the early 20th century

Lower East Side Matzoh Line, 1930; image courtesy of the Museum at Eldridge Street.

February 5, 2020

‘Pressed: Images from the Jewish Daily Forward’ tells the story of American Jews in the early 20th century

An exhibition now on view at the Museum at Eldridge Street shares a treasure trove of photographs and documents from the Jewish Daily Forward, a newspaper that has been published on the Lower East Sid since 1897–and today still thrives in digital format. For over 120 years, the Forward was the go-to source for news, culture, and opinion both global and everyday for New York City's Jewish community. The printed paper's deep archives trace its history and the stories it covered in "Pressed: Images from the Jewish Daily Forward."
Find out more

K-pop boy band BTS brings Antony Gormley’s ‘New York Clearing’ to Brooklyn Bridge Park

Antony Gormley, “NEW YORK CLEARING,” 2020; Approximately 18km (11mi) of 25.4mm (1in) square section aluminum and steel spigots. Installation view, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 3, New York City, 2020. Photograph by Christopher Burke. © the artist

February 5, 2020

K-pop boy band BTS brings Antony Gormley’s ‘New York Clearing’ to Brooklyn Bridge Park

Top British sculptor Antony Gormley's "giant drawing in space" opened Wednesday at Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 3 as part of an international public art project, Connect, BTS. The project is a collaboration between popular South Korean boy band BTS, who introduced the project's New York City installation, and a select group of artists in cities around the globe. The installation, "New York Clearing" (2020), will be open to the public from February 5 to March 27, 2020.
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

180 Broome Street on left; Rendering by Moso Studio

February 4, 2020

Lottery launches for 121 units at new Essex Crossing rental, from $562/month

An affordable housing lottery is set to launch Wednesday for 121 mixed-income units at a brand new Lower East Side rental. The Artisan, located at 180 Broome Street, is part of the nine-site Essex Crossing development. The tower contains 263 apartments, retail at street level, office space on levels two through five, and underground access to the Market Line. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 40, 60, 130, or 165 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from $562/month studios to $3,770/month three-bedrooms.
Do you qualify?

Affordable Housing

A closer look inside Waterline Square’s starchitect-designed rentals, from $3,938/month

Living area inside an apartment at One Waterline Square; photo by Evan Joseph

February 4, 2020

A closer look inside Waterline Square’s starchitect-designed rentals, from $3,938/month

When rental units at the Waterline Square development on the Upper West Side hit the market last fall it was clear that the price tags reflected the starchitect lineup involved with its design: The trio of glassy towers was designed by Richard Meier & Partners (One Waterline Square), Kohn Pedersen Fox (Two Waterline Square), and Rafael Viñoly (Three Waterline Square), with Hill West Architects serving as executive architect for the master plan. Located on Riverside Boulevard between 59th and 61st Streets, the complex holds 868 rental units (in addition to 263 condos), which start at $3,938/month for a studio and go up to $15,000/month for a four-bedroom. If you’re curious about what those pricey rentals look like inside, here’s a look at three model homes in each of the towers.
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For just $200K, you can buy your own Jersey Shore island

Photo by Runa Parvin, courtesy of Private Islands, Inc.

February 4, 2020

For just $200K, you can buy your own Jersey Shore island

Listings for private islands are already rare, but to find a property listed below $1 million is nearly inconceivable. Asking just $200,000, this 19-acre private island off the coast of a Jersey Shore resort town wants to make your archipelago-owning dreams come true. Christened "No Mans Island," the undeveloped property sits in the Grassy Sound near West Wildwood, located at the southern tip of the state, and is only accessible via boat.
Any takers?

Distinctive Homes

See the car-free pedestrian plaza opening outside of Grand Central and One Vanderbilt this summer

Aerial rendering of Vanderbilt Plaza courtesy of SL Green

February 4, 2020

See the car-free pedestrian plaza opening outside of Grand Central and One Vanderbilt this summer

A car-free public space will open this summer between Grand Central Terminal and Midtown's newest, tallest office building, One Vanderbilt. Renderings released this week, which were first spotted by the New York Post, show a new plaza on a strip of Vanderbilt Avenue between East 42nd Street to East 43rd Street, situated at the southern end of the iconic terminal. The open space, dubbed "Vanderbilt Plaza," is part of SL Green's commitment to invest $220 million in transit improvements in exchange for zoning changes agreed to by the city in 2014.
See the plaza

New Developments

Luxury senior housing set to open in Brooklyn Heights’ former Leverich Towers Hotel

Photo courtesy of Watermark at Brooklyn Heights

February 4, 2020

Luxury senior housing set to open in Brooklyn Heights’ former Leverich Towers Hotel

A luxury senior housing community is coming to Brooklyn Heights at 21 Clark Street. Built in 1928 as the Leverich Towers Hotel (famous for hosting the Brooklyn Dodgers when they were in town for home games), the 16-story building was bought by the Jehovah's Witnesses in 1975 and used as a residence hall for about 1,000 local volunteers. The current project is being co-developed by Watermark Retirement Communities and Kayne Anderson Real Estate, who bought the building from the Witnesses for $200 million in 2017 and poured an additional $130 million into renovations across the 310,000 square-foot property. The revamped residences are on schedule to open in March with units starting at $10,000 a month, according to Commercial Observer.
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New Developments

Lenox Terrace rezoning in Harlem gets green light from City Planning

Photo: Lenox Terrace Aerial; Credit: Davis Brody Bond

February 4, 2020

Lenox Terrace rezoning in Harlem gets green light from City Planning

A plan to bring a mixed-use development with five buildings and 1,600 apartments to Central Harlem got a much-needed approval on Monday. The City Planning Commission voted in favor of an application from the Olnick Organization to rezone part of the neighborhood, clearing the way for five 28-story luxury towers to be constructed at the existing Lenox Terrace complex.
More here

Policy

A private sleeping nook makes this $400K Park Slope studio feel like a one-bedroom

Photo credit: Elizabeth Dooley for Lisa Garcia and Cindy Fazio, Compass

February 4, 2020

A private sleeping nook makes this $400K Park Slope studio feel like a one-bedroom

Along the hip "main drag" in the heart of Park Slope, this charming co-op at 285 Fifth Avenue is priced like a studio, asking $400,000, but a separate internal sleeping area keeps the one-room-living blues at bay. What's more, monthly maintenance is only $290, so your monthly outlay won't overwhelm, even in this pricey, though heavenly neighborhood.
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Distinctive Homes

Live in the artsy section of Astoria, from $990/month

Part of the Welling Court Mural Project; via Wikimedia

February 3, 2020

Live in the artsy section of Astoria, from $990/month

Located just steps from the Welling Court Mural Project and Socrates Sculpture Park, a new rental building in Astoria has launched an affordable housing lottery. Fifteen newly constructed units are up for grabs at the Amana Astoria, located at 14-47 29th Avenue. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 70, 80, and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from a $990/month studio to a $2,770/month two-bedroom.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

One Domino Square

8 South 4th Street

Williamsburg

Spectacular living on the Williamsburg waterfront

1 beds starting at $1,925,000
2 beds starting at $2,055,000
3 beds starting at $3,030,000

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Fitzhugh Karol’s “Approach” sculpture, installed at the beginning of the bridge path in Rockland County; rendering courtesy of The New York State Thruway Authority

February 3, 2020

The Hudson Valley’s Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge is getting an artsy makeover

Eight local artists have been selected to install artworks along the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge’s 3.6-mile bicycle/pedestrian path. The New York State Thruway Authority partnered with ArtsWestchester and the Arts Council of Rockland to commission the works, which include five sculptures, four bicycle racks, and one mural. They’ll be placed at both ends of the bridge, at the Rockland and Westchester Landings, and along the side path in South Nyack. All of the commissions are currently underway and will be installed in the Spring.
More details

Events & Things To Do

Photo of The Strand Rare Book Room (top left) by Aaron and Whitney Photography; all others cited below

February 3, 2020

The 10 best places in NYC to propose

By Rebecca Fishbein

Some people think Valentine’s Day is a good day for a proposal, but those people are wrong. Valentine’s Day is a holiday that belongs to Hallmark, but the day you propose is one that belongs to you, without any intrusion on the part of a greeting card company. Still, if you’re going to pop the question, you’re best off doing it before February 14, so the pressure’s off and no one’s sitting at dinner stressing out over whether or not they’re going to accidentally swallow a ring in their champagne. Luckily, this city’s full of romantic spots ripe for love and impending marriage. Here are a few of our favorites, from a bookstore and a movie theater to parks and restaurants.
Get the full list

Williamsburg park to be renamed after LGBTQ advocate Marsha P. Johnson

Photo of East River State Park by Harold Navarro on Flickr

February 3, 2020

Williamsburg park to be renamed after LGBTQ advocate Marsha P. Johnson

Brooklyn's East River State Park will be renamed after black transgender rights activist Marsha P. Johnson, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Saturday. The park, located on the waterfront in Williamsburg and known for hosting outdoor market Smorgasburg, will become the first state park that honors a member of the LGBTQ community. Johnson, who passed away in 1992, played a significant role in the Stonewall Uprising and helped found the advocacy group the Gay Liberation Front.
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Policy

Win a private dinner for two ‘under the stars’ of Grand Central Terminal this Valentine’s Day

Photo courtesy of Grand Central Terminal

February 3, 2020

Win a private dinner for two ‘under the stars’ of Grand Central Terminal this Valentine’s Day

One of the most unique Valentine's Day events in New York City is happening at one of the city's busiest transit hubs. Grand Central Terminal announced it will provide one couple a romantic, private evening under the stars of its iconic main hall as part of a new contest announced Monday. The winning couple, who will get the space to themselves on February 14 between 2:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m., will enjoy a three-course dinner provided by Michelin-starred restaurant Agern and a live piano performance from a Steinway Artist, all under the terminal's constellation ceiling.
How to enter

Events & Things To Do

This $10M Hudson Valley equestrian estate is spread across 150 acres

Photo credit: Ren Nickson/Heather Croner Real Estate/Sotheby’s International Realty

February 3, 2020

This $10M Hudson Valley equestrian estate is spread across 150 acres