Residential buildings replaced nearly half of NYC hospitals shuttered in last two decades

The Greenwich Lane condo building replaced St. Vincent’s Hospital; Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

April 10, 2020

Residential buildings replaced nearly half of NYC hospitals shuttered in last two decades

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Why is New York facing a shortage of hospital beds during the current crisis despite having the "best health care system on the planet," as Gov. Andrew Cuomo claimed? In the last two decades, 18 hospitals have closed in New York City, a loss of more than 20,000 beds. And new health care facilities did not replace the shuttered sites, residential buildings did.
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Watch New York’s moving ‘How You Save A Life’ video

Photo by Thomas Jansen on Unsplash

April 10, 2020

Watch New York’s moving ‘How You Save A Life’ video

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"The statisticians when they did their curve did not know how New Yorkers would respond... they didn't know how unified New Yorkers can be and how responsible they can be and how caring they are and how they rally for one another... that's what they couldn't count in those models. They couldn't count the spirit of New Yorkers and the love of New Yorkers to step up and do the right thing," said Governor Cuomo in his press conference earlier today before revealing the state's powerful new "How You Save A Life" video. The moving montage, set to The Fray's "How to Save a Life," is a compilation of the photos real New Yorkers shared of themselves staying home.
Watch it here
Plans to convert Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine into field hospital have been canceled

Photo by Kripa Chettiar on Flickr

April 10, 2020

Plans to convert Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine into field hospital have been canceled

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Update 4/10/20: Plans to convert the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine into an emergency field hospital have been canceled. ABC News reported on Thursday that tensions between the progressive church and the Samaritan's Purse, known for its anti-LGBTQ and Islamaphobic views, may have halted the project. A spokesperson with the church told ABC the space could either become a hospital with a different agency, a morgue, or nothing if the number of hospitalizations continues to drop. One of the largest churches in the world will be converted into a field hospital this week. The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in Manhattan's Morningside Heights neighborhood said it will have nine climate-controlled medical tents installed in its 600-foot-long nave and underground crypt by the end of the week, the New York Times first reported. The site is expected to house at least 200 patients, who could start arriving as early as this week.
Find out more
See NYC landmarks turn blue in honor of essential workers

Photo by Jörg Angeli on Unsplash

April 10, 2020

See NYC landmarks turn blue in honor of essential workers

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To show support for New York City's essential workers on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic, a number of buildings turned blue Thursday night. Madison Square Garden, One World Trade Center's spire, Beacon Theatre, Pier 17, Hudson Yards' Vessel, and more join more than 100 landmarks across the country as part of the #LightItBlue campaign. The nationwide lighting will occur weekly every Thursday.
Find out more
This Sunday’s Easter Parade is going virtual

Photo from last year’s parade, by Phil Roeder via Flickr cc

April 10, 2020

This Sunday’s Easter Parade is going virtual

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While it won't be an actual procession, this year's annual New York City Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival will take place virtually on Sunday, April 12. The festive event dates back to the 1870s but was, of course, canceled this year due to the coronavirus crisis. But the Fifth Avenue Association is taking it to Instagram, encouraging participants to "dress up in their most creative, home-crafted Easter outfits, strike a pose in quintessential Fifth Avenue style and participate in a virtual parade."
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New-York Historical Society is collecting objects related to the COVID-19 pandemic

Business sign 3.20.20, photo by Stephen Harmon, courtesy of New-York Historical

April 10, 2020

New-York Historical Society is collecting objects related to the COVID-19 pandemic

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The New-York Historical Society is asking New Yorkers to donate any materials related to the coronavirus pandemic as a way to preserve this moment in the city's history. First created during September 11, the museum's History Responds initiative has collected objects related to movements like Black Lives Matter, Occupy Wall Street, marriage equality, and others.
Find out more
New Yorkers share their ‘silver linings’ during these tough times

Photo by Rehan Syed on Unsplash

April 9, 2020

New Yorkers share their ‘silver linings’ during these tough times

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Times are tough in New York, but New Yorkers are even tougher. Though we're facing a lot of challenges right now, one way to get through it is to try to find a "silver lining." Here at 6sqft, we thought all of us in NYC could use some positivity, so we asked our fellow New Yorkers to share their personal silver linings. From 3D printing face masks to spending more time with family to stepping it up in the kitchen to witnessing communities coming together, here are some of the things that are providing some light in these dark times.
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Own three private islands off the Connecticut coast for $5.3M

Photo of Belden Island (top left) by Dan Milstein, photo of Jepson Island (top right) by Planomatic, and photo of Wheelers Island (bottom) by Dan Milstein

April 9, 2020

Own three private islands off the Connecticut coast for $5.3M

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Take social distancing to its full extent by living on a private island (or three). A trio of private islands off the coast of Connecticut has hit the market for a total of $5.3 million. The properties, part of the Thimble Islands and located in the Long Island Sound, was last for sale in 2016 as part of a $78 million eight-island package.
See the private escapes
A third of U.S. renters didn’t pay rent on time, report says

Photo by Anthony Formin on Unsplash

April 9, 2020

A third of U.S. renters didn’t pay rent on time, report says

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Just 69 percent of apartment renters in the United States paid rent during the first week of April, according to a new report released this week by the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC). This a decrease of 12 percentage points compared to the percentage of households that paid rent last month. The data is one of the first looks at the impact of the coronavirus pandemic--which has put millions of Americans out of work-- on the housing market.
More this way

Distinctive Homes

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Middle-income housing lottery launches at luxury Long Island City rental, from $2,241/month

Photo courtesy of Modern Spaces

April 9, 2020

Middle-income housing lottery launches at luxury Long Island City rental, from $2,241/month

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Prices for high-end rentals in Long Island City have been steadily increasing in recent years, but here's a chance to live in one of these new, luxury buildings for less. ONE LIC, located at 42-10 27th Street in Court Square, just launched a middle-income housing lottery for New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the median income. The units range from $2,241/month studios to $3,283/month three-bedrooms. Normally, units in this building rent from about $3,000 to $5,500. The apartments all have luxe finishes, and the amenities include a barbecue deck with skyline views and a 20th-floor fitness center.
Find out if you qualify
Two terraces and a grassy rooftop oasis make this $7.85M Tribeca penthouse a dream

Photos by Travis Mark for The Corcoran Group

April 9, 2020

Two terraces and a grassy rooftop oasis make this $7.85M Tribeca penthouse a dream

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The outdoor space at this Tribeca penthouse would be enviable at any time, but during New York State on PAUSE it's truly a dream. Located at 49 Murray Street, there are two large terraces, as well as a huge, grassy rooftop with a full outdoor kitchen and incredible lower Manhattan views. The interior is just as incredible; it's spread over three floors and has five bedrooms, a floating steel-and-glass staircase, and sleek, contemporary finishings. It's currently listed for $7,850,000 or as a $30,000/month rental.
Go inside
J.Lo and A-Rod help Governor Cuomo launch ‘stay home’ social media campaign

Graphic courtesy of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s coronavirus response campaign toolkit

April 8, 2020

J.Lo and A-Rod help Governor Cuomo launch ‘stay home’ social media campaign

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To reach more New Yorkers, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday launched a multi-platform awareness campaign to encourage everyone to stay home during the coronavirus pandemic. With help from Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez, the governor's new social media push asks New Yorkers to use the hashtag #IStayHomeFor and nominate friends to participate.
Learn more
Latino and black communities in NYC face disproportionate rates of death from coronavirus

Photo by Chris Barbalis on Unsplash

April 8, 2020

Latino and black communities in NYC face disproportionate rates of death from coronavirus

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Early data released by New York City this week shows a disparity in deaths caused by coronavirus among people of color. Of those who have died from COVID-19, 34 percent were Hispanic and 28 percent were black, according to preliminary numbers from April 6. Those groups make up 29 percent and 22 percent of the city's population, respectively.
Details on the data
Cat Greenleaf lists her famous ‘Talk Stoop’ townhouse in Cobble Hill for $3M

Listing photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

April 8, 2020

Cat Greenleaf lists her famous ‘Talk Stoop’ townhouse in Cobble Hill for $3M

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"If These Steps Could Talk," starts the listing. From 2009 to 2017, this utterly charming Cobble Hill townhouse flashed on television screens for Cat Greenleaf's talk show Talk Stoop, where she interviewed celebrities from her own Brooklyn stoop. The brick rowhouse at 12 Wyckoff Street has just hit the market for $2,995,000, and the interior is even better than we imagined, with contemporary furnishings and art mixing with farmhouse-chic architecture. Cat designed much of the quirky decor herself, from a life-size chessboard in the backyard to a Harry Potter closet under the staircase to a dreamy Moroccan-style den in the basement.
You don't want to miss this
All of the beach, boardwalk, and park closures in NJ

Bradley Beach, NJ; Photo by Ryan Loughlin on Unsplash

April 8, 2020

All of the beach, boardwalk, and park closures in NJ

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As the number of coronavirus cases in New Jersey continues to climb, state and city officials are furthering social distancing measures by closing public spaces across the state. Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday signed an executive order shuttering all state parks and forests, as well as county parks. A number of Jersey Shore towns have closed beaches and boardwalks, with some even banning short-term rentals to curb visits from out-of-towners. "My focus and our focus, our sole mission right now is the health of every New Jersey family," Murphy said. "And we must not just flatten this curve, we must crush this curve." Ahead, find out which public spaces in NJ have been temporarily closed as a result of the pandemic.
More here
$1.35M Upper West Side co-op has two floors and a sunny private garden

Photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group

April 8, 2020

$1.35M Upper West Side co-op has two floors and a sunny private garden

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One of the toughest things for families living in an NYC apartment versus a suburban home during this time is not having a backyard. But this Upper West Side co-op, listed for $1,350,000, has enough space for everyone inside and outside. Located at 204 West 92nd Street, the 1,100-square-foot apartment has three bedrooms on two levels, as well as a sunny garden patio that's "perfect for grilling, entertaining, or private sunbathing," says the listing.
Go inside

Photo by Daniel Lee on Unsplash

April 7, 2020

Tenants would not be evicted for unpaid rent accrued during state of emergency, under proposed law

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Landlords would not be able to evict tenants for any unpaid rent that accumulated during New York's state of emergency and for six months afterward, under proposed legislation introduced by state lawmakers Tuesday. State Sens. Brad Hoylman and Liz Krueger and Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz announced the "NYS Tenant Safe Harbor Act" that would strengthen the current 90-day eviction freeze put in place by the state last month.
Get the details
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$1.67M duplex is a woodsy escape in Brooklyn Heights

Photo credit: Virginia Carey/ Brown Harris Stevens

April 7, 2020

$1.67M duplex is a woodsy escape in Brooklyn Heights

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Some New Yorkers might be wishing they could escape to a cabin in the woods right about now, but awesome co-op gives off that feeling without having to leave the city. Located at 30 Willow Place in Brooklyn Heights, the two-bedroom duplex is asking $1,675,000. It's full of rustic charm, including huge swaths of exposed brick walls, wooden window frames, and wood-paneled ceilings. The bohemian-meets-folksy design aesthetic seals the deal.
Have a look
4,000 spots open on waitlist for middle-income units across Bushwick, Bed-Stuy

Photo by Manny Moss on Flickr

April 7, 2020

4,000 spots open on waitlist for middle-income units across Bushwick, Bed-Stuy

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Applications are currently being accepted to replenish a 4,000-name waitlist for income-restricted apartments across central Brooklyn. Located at 806 St. John's Place, 924 Myrtle Avenue, 682 Chauncey Street, 1140 Bushwich Avenue, and 18 Stanhope Street, the buildings are located in Crown Heights, Bed-Stuy, and Bushwick. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which include studios starting at $1,700/month and two-bedrooms from $2,000/month.
Find out if you qualify
Once a WWII ship-building site, Brooklyn Navy Yard returns to its ‘wartime factory’ days

Photo by Michael Appleton/ Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

April 7, 2020

Once a WWII ship-building site, Brooklyn Navy Yard returns to its ‘wartime factory’ days

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During World War II, 70,000 workers at the Brooklyn Navy Yard built and repaired thousands of battleships and sent supplies to troops stationed around the world. Today, the 300-acre waterfront site is returning to its roots, with manufacturing companies coming together to create medical supplies from scratch for healthcare workers in support of the city's coronavirus pandemic response.
Get the details
Brooklyn nursing home and Staten Island psychiatric center will open as COVID hospitals this week

Photo via PxHere

April 7, 2020

Brooklyn nursing home and Staten Island psychiatric center will open as COVID hospitals this week

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As 6sqft explained earlier, "with car accidents, construction accidents, trauma cases, and crime all down due to Cuomo’s New York State on PAUSE order," early estimates that temporary overflow hospitals would be needed have been replaced with a critical need for more COVID beds. To meet this demand, last week, the 2,500-bed temporary hospital at the Javits Center was turned into a COVID-only facility, as was the 500-bed USNS Comfort naval hospital ship yesterday. In addition, both the South Beach Psychiatric Center on Staten Island and the Brooklyn Center nursing home in Weeksville will open this week specifically to treat COVID-19 patients.
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Before + After: A Hudson Heights co-op goes from drab to a modern, family-friendly home

“After” photos by Kate Glicksberg for Sweeten

April 7, 2020

Before + After: A Hudson Heights co-op goes from drab to a modern, family-friendly home

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When Erin and Chris first started their family, they bought a one-bedroom in Hudson Heights and fell in love with the neighborhood. But three kids and nine years later, Chris' job took them to the California Bay Area. After two years, they had the chance to come back to NYC and jumped at the chance to return to Hudson Heights. They found a three-bedroom in its "original, fifties-era condition," but knew the space and layout were perfect. Ahead, see how they came to Sweeten to find a contractor and took the co-op from drab to a contemporary and comfortable family home.
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To relieve NYC hospitals, USNS Comfort hospital ship becomes COVID center

Photo by Darren McGee for the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

April 7, 2020

To relieve NYC hospitals, USNS Comfort hospital ship becomes COVID center

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When Governor Cuomo first announced that New York would be receiving hospital assistance in the form of the USNS Comfort naval hospital ship arriving in New York Harbor and the Javits Center being turned into a temporary FEMA hospital, health officials outlined those as overflow facilities. However, as the coronavirus caseload has increased, mainly in New York City, the need for more COVID-only beds has grown imminent. Therefore, last week, the governor announced that the Javits Center was becoming a 2,500-bed COVID-only facility, and yesterday he received approval from Donald Trump to also transition the Comfort "to serve as a relief valve for our stressed hospital system."
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With signs of a possible plateau, social distancing fines in New York double to $1,000

Photo of Central Park on 4.6.20 © 6sqft

April 6, 2020

With signs of a possible plateau, social distancing fines in New York double to $1,000

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With the total number of COVID-19 cases in New York State now at 130,689 and the number of deaths at 4,758, Governor Cuomo announced today that he was extending his executive New York State on PAUSE order through April 29th. However, the reason for this is slightly optimistic; the state is seeing early signs of a possible plateauing in daily new cases, which indicates that social distancing measures are working. But in order for them to continue working, residents in NYC must remain vigilant, which was not the case over the weekend, with parks and public spaces once again becoming overcrowded. Therefore, the governor is increasing the social distancing fine from $500 to $1,000.
More details here
Jon Bon Jovi puts waterfront NJ mansion on the market for $20M

Listing images courtesy of Christie’s International Realty

April 6, 2020

Jon Bon Jovi puts waterfront NJ mansion on the market for $20M

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Fifteen acres, an 18,000-square-foot main house designed by Robert A.M. Stern, a dock and boat lift, a pool with two cedar cabanas, a personal pub, a recording studio--and that's just the beginning of what you'll find at Jon Bon Jovi's incredible Central Jersey mansion. First spotted by Mansion Global, the rocker's property on the Navesink River in Middletown has just hit the market for $20 million, and as Christie's listing agent Kathleen Coumou told MG, "He’s looking for the right buyer, someone who will appreciate what he’s done to the house."
Take the full tour
Some NYC landlords are waiving rent payments amid the coronavirus pandemic

Photo by Josh Wilburne on Unsplash

April 6, 2020

Some NYC landlords are waiving rent payments amid the coronavirus pandemic

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Some New York City landlords are providing their tenants financial respite during the coronavirus pandemic by waiving or discounting rent. The sudden closure of much of the economy has resulted in the loss of income for millions of New Yorkers, a burden felt especially by the city's five million renters. One landlord who owns 18 buildings in Brooklyn suspended rent for the month of April for all of his tenants. Another is giving a Manhattan pizzeria owner three months of free rent as he continues to feed hospital workers at no charge.
More here

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After just 10 days, de Blasio ends open street program

Photo of 2019 Summer Streets, courtesy of NYC DOT/Flickr

April 6, 2020

After just 10 days, de Blasio ends open street program

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Pointing to an overuse of NYPD personnel as the main reason, Mayor de Blasio said in his press conference on Sunday that he would not be extending the Safe Streets pilot that he launched 10 days ago. The program closed one six-block stretch of road to vehicles in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx in order to provide more open space for pedestrians. But despite continued overcrowding in parks, the Mayor has decided the resources used to keep the streets open are better allocated elsewhere.
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New York State launches daily COVID-19 tracker

Screen shot of NYSDOH COVID-19 Tracker on April 4, 2020

April 4, 2020

New York State launches daily COVID-19 tracker

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At 6pm on Saturday evening, the New York State Department of Health went live with a new in-depth COVID-19 tracker. The interactive portal shows state-wide data broken down by county and will be updated twice daily. It includes a map view, table view, daily totals charts, and fatality data broken down by both county and age group.
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Co-Op City’s 15,000+ apartments will stay affordable for 30 more years

Photo by David L Roush on Wikimedia

April 3, 2020

Co-Op City’s 15,000+ apartments will stay affordable for 30 more years

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Photo by David L Roush on Wikimedia The world's largest housing cooperative will remain affordable for another three decades, the city announced Friday. Home to more than 15,300 apartments across 72 buildings in the Bronx, Co-Op City opened in 1968 as part of the Mitchell-Lama program. The deal reached between the co-op board and the city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development guarantees the development's participation in the Mitchell-Lama program until 2052.
Find out more
Rustic Sunset Park one-bedroom is just right for $420,000

Credit: Rayon Richards/VHT, courtesy The Corcoran Group

April 3, 2020

Rustic Sunset Park one-bedroom is just right for $420,000

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It's not all the time that you find an actual one-bedroom for under $500,000, but this Sunset Park co-op is priced well below that and is quite charming to boot. Reclaimed wood shelving and a country-chic kitchen add to the rustic feel already in place from the exposed brick wall and wood ceiling beams. At 683 41st Street, the location is great too; it's directly across from Sunset Park, just a couple blocks from Greenwood Cemetery, and a quick walk to the D train at 9th Avenue and the N, R trains at 45th Street.
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6sqft Trivia: How much do you know about New York City heroes over the years?

Photo by Toms Rīts on Unsplash

April 3, 2020

6sqft Trivia: How much do you know about New York City heroes over the years?

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In the face of adversity or when tragedy strikes, New Yorkers band together in a remarkable way. Over the years, from World War I to the AIDS epidemic to 9/11, residents of NYC have emerged as true heroes, aiding in war efforts, saving lives, and at times, making the ultimate sacrifices. In today's current crisis, we are seeing thousands of heroes every day working in our hospitals and grocery stores and who are fighting day in and day out to save lives and flatten the curve of coronavirus. Ahead, we've put together 11 questions that will test your knowledge of New York City heroes over the years and hopefully remind you that we will get through this.
Take the quiz!
Find out which NYC construction sites are ‘essential’
April 3, 2020

Find out which NYC construction sites are ‘essential’

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Last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo temporarily banned all non-essential construction statewide, as part of his "pause" executive order. The updated order allows only emergency construction, or work "necessary to protect the health and safety of the occupants" to occur during the coronavirus pandemic. To track projects that are considered essential in New York City during this time, the city's Department of Buildings on Friday launched an interactive map that identifies sites where work can continue.
Explore the map
De Blasio calls for a national draft of medical personnel to fight virus

Photo by Artur Tumasjan on Unsplash

April 3, 2020

De Blasio calls for a national draft of medical personnel to fight virus

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Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday called for a national draft of medical personnel to help New York fight the coronavirus. With more than 50,000 positive cases and 1,500 deaths, New York City remains the hardest-hit city in the country by the virus and now faces a shortage of health care workers, in addition to a lack of supplies. The request from the mayor echos similar demands from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has also asked for a national rolling deployment of health care workers and equipment to be sent to New York first, with the promise of returning the favor to any community next in need.
Learn more
All the performances, events, and classes in NYC you can stream online

Anna Netrebko in the title role of Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor.” Photo: Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera

April 3, 2020

All the performances, events, and classes in NYC you can stream online

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Although the coronavirus has shuttered most of the city, many museums, performance venues, theaters, and famous New Yorkers are offering free (or low-cost) online resources to entertain New Yorkers throughout this difficult period. From virtual storytime with Brooklyn Public Library librarians to live-streamed performances by the Metropolitan Opera to baking classes with Milk Bar's Christina Tosi to dance lessons from the Radio City Rockettes, support local organizations safely from your home. This list was lasted updated at 10:00 a.m. on April 3, 2020.
The full list, ahead
Real estate work is essential, but showings must be virtual

Photo by Jonathan Riley on Unsplash

April 3, 2020

Real estate work is essential, but showings must be virtual

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Certain real estate work is still considered essential by New York, but showings cannot take place in-person, the state clarified on Thursday. In a notice to the New York State Association of Realtors, the Empire State Development earlier this week said home inspections, residential appraisals, back-office real estate work, and residential and commercial showings can continue during the coronavirus outbreak. But despite being newly categorized as essential, agents still cannot host traditional showings, as was previously reported.
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Javits Center will now provide 2,500 COVID beds

Photo by Darren McGee- Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, via Flickr cc

April 2, 2020

Javits Center will now provide 2,500 COVID beds

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When it first opened on Monday, the temporary hospital set up at the Javits Center was to serve as an overflow site, treating non-COVID patients to ease the burden on the city's hospitals. But as the severity of the situation has worsened throughout the week, Governor Cuomo asked President Trump for approval on using Javits' 2,500 beds solely for COVID-19 patients. He received the approval this evening.
More details
Local nonprofit is offering grants up to $40K to help 30 NYC restaurants stay open

Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

April 2, 2020

Local nonprofit is offering grants up to $40K to help 30 NYC restaurants stay open

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A local nonprofit is helping more than two dozen New York City restaurants stay open amid mass coronavirus-related closures. Last month, Rethink Food NYC launched a "Restaurant Response" program that partners with restaurants in need of financial support and provides free or subsidized food to New Yorkers in need. As part of the program, the nonprofit will award 30 New York City restaurants a grant of up to $40,000 to help make 24,000 meals in total per day.
Find out more
20 NYC hotels sign on as temporary hospitals, will add 10,000 beds

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

April 2, 2020

20 NYC hotels sign on as temporary hospitals, will add 10,000 beds

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New York City's hotels have seen more than an 80 percent drop in occupancy since the coronavirus crisis, but that unfortunate fact has at least opened one positive door. As Mayor de Blasio announced in his press conference yesterday, 20 hotels have signed contracts to be converted to temporary hospitals, which will add roughly 10,000 additional beds. As NY1 reported, on Wednesday, Dr. Mitchell Katz, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals, said, "We are in disaster mode so that contracts can be quickly signed. When it’s operational, patients who don’t need to be incubated, who are recovering but not well enough to leave the hospital, will be sent to hotels."
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Deal reached to redevelop MTA’s former Midtown East headquarters, making way for new tower

Street view of 341-347 Madison Avenue; Map data © 2020 Google

April 2, 2020

Deal reached to redevelop MTA’s former Midtown East headquarters, making way for new tower

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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and New York City reached an agreement to redevelop the agency's former headquarters in Midtown as part of a revenue-generating plan, officials announced on Thursday. The redevelopment of the site at 341-347 Madison Avenue is expected to create more than $1 billion for the cash-strapped agency's capital program. The deal, delayed due to a prior dispute between city and state officials, comes nearly a decade after the MTA first announced plans to sell or lease its three-building complex.
Get the details
Cast iron accents and a glassed-in loft bring the drama to this $750K Gramercy co-op

Photo credit: Chalom + Blaylock Photography, courtesy The Corcoran Group

April 2, 2020

Cast iron accents and a glassed-in loft bring the drama to this $750K Gramercy co-op

By
If you're holed up in a small apartment with nowhere to escape your significant other or roommate, this split-level Gramercy listing very well might leave you with major apartment envy. The one-bedroom co-op at 215 East 24th Street just hit the market for a cool $750,000, and it's full of industrial accents--exposed brick, tons of original cast iron, wooden ceilings beams--combined with a contemporary glass-walled second floor that has enough space for a bonus bedroom and airy office.
See the rest
State says real estate industry is an essential business during shutdown

Photo © 6sqft

April 2, 2020

State says real estate industry is an essential business during shutdown

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Some real estate industry work is considered essential and can continue during the coronavirus outbreak, New York State announced on Wednesday. The reversal in policy, first spotted by the Real Deal, means real estate agents can now host in-person residential and commercial showings, as long as social distancing measures are taken (open houses are still prohibited). However, the Real Estate Board of New York quickly reached out to brokers and advised them against in-person showings.
More here
Could Mount Sinai’s new self-reporting app help map coronavirus in NYC?

Map by the Department of Health showing total count of people testing positive for COVID-19 by zip code

April 1, 2020

Could Mount Sinai’s new self-reporting app help map coronavirus in NYC?

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It makes sense that New Yorkers would want to know many positive cases of COVID-19 are in their neighborhoods, but can you really provide the information accurately? Yesterday, the Department of Health released a zip code-based map that shows the number of patients testing positive for coronavirus, which, as the Post first reported, alarmingly points to the fact that wealthier zip codes have far fewer positives. However, this does not take into account the rate of testing or population of a given area, leading many experts to say the map actually paints a picture of testing behavior, not positive cases. This is why the Mount Sinai Health System today launched an app where New Yorkers can self-report their symptoms and test results.
More details ahead
How NYC’s open-air greenmarkets are dealing with the coronavirus outbreak

Photo by James and Karla Murray exclusively for 6sqft

April 1, 2020

How NYC’s open-air greenmarkets are dealing with the coronavirus outbreak

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In response to the coronavirus outbreak, grocery stores across New York City have adopted new policies to ensure the safety of both workers and customers. Similarly, the city's 50 open-air farmers markets--also deemed essential by the state-- are adapting to the health crisis, while continuing to serve fresh produce safely to New Yorkers who rely on them. And many shoppers are choosing to shop outside at GrowNYC farmer's markets over the confined, indoor space of a store.
Find out more
All NYC playgrounds will now be closed

Image by F. Muhammad from Pixabay

April 1, 2020

All NYC playgrounds will now be closed

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Just one day after Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that 10 playgrounds across the city were closed because of overcrowding issues, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday that all NYC playgrounds would be closed, seemingly going over the mayor's head. The governor did note that parks and other open spaces will remain open, though, he said, "The NYPD has to get more aggressive. Period," referring to social distancing requirements.
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Queens’ US Open tennis complex will become a 350-bed hospital to relieve Elmhurst Hospital

Photo by Michael Vadon on Flickr

April 1, 2020

Queens’ US Open tennis complex will become a 350-bed hospital to relieve Elmhurst Hospital

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A 350-bed medical facility will be built at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens to ease the pressure the Elmhurst Hospital has been facing amidst the coronavirus outbreak. Construction began at the site in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, which hosts the US Open tournament, yesterday. The city's Emergency Management selected the site to serve as a temporary facility, which will begin treating COVID non-ICU patients beginning next Tuesday, April 7th. The center's indoor courts will be converted into the medical facility, with its Louis Armstrong Stadium set to become a place for volunteers to assemble 25,000 meal packages per day for patients, workers, and students.
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Health and high-rise living: Is higher healthier?

Photo by Aleksandr Rogozin on Unsplash

April 1, 2020

Health and high-rise living: Is higher healthier?

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In 2019, NYC saw the completion of more than 15 new buildings over 500 feet, and in the coming couple of years, even more tall buildings are slated for completion, including Central Park Tower, the world's tallest residential building at 1,500 feet. None of this is a surprise. By building up, New York is able to maximize available space and even diversify certain neighborhoods by creating mixed-income housing communities. At their best, high-rise developments can drive economic and social change, but are these buildings also good for our health? Ahead, we look at the risks and benefits of high-rise living, many of which have taken on a new meaning during a time when New Yorkers are mainly confined to their homes.
more on high-rise living and health this way
$9.9M Chelsea penthouse has Empire State Building and Hudson Yards views

Listing photo credit: Tim Waltman of Evan Joseph Studios, courtesy of Douglas Elliman

April 1, 2020

$9.9M Chelsea penthouse has Empire State Building and Hudson Yards views

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The west side of Chelsea is known for its collection of starchitecture projects, and this $9,950,000 penthouse at 520 West 19th Street is not only an architectural feat in itself, but it has views of all the surrounding projects (like Bjarke Ingels' XI and Thomas Heatherwick's Lantern House), the entirety of Hudson Yards, and even the Empire State Building. And all of these views can best be enjoyed from the 50-foot-long terrace. The two-floor interior is a sprawling 4,100 square feet and has five bedrooms, six bathrooms, and lots of bonus space and storage.
Take the tour
John Legend and Chrissy Teigen drop $7.7M on another penthouse in their Nolita building

Streetview of 374 Broome Street; Map data © 2020 Google

April 1, 2020

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen drop $7.7M on another penthouse in their Nolita building

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John Legend and Chrissy Teigen have picked up a second penthouse apartment at their Nolita building. As the Real Deal first reported, the power couple paid $7.7 million for a three-bedroom at the landmarked Brewster Carriage House at 374 Broome Street, joining the $9 million pad bought by the duo in 2018. They seem to really like the building; Legend and Teigen also lived in a one-bedroom unit at the building until they sold it in 2016 for $4 million.
Details here
De Blasio’s open street pilot gets extended through Sunday

Photo courtesy of NYC DOT/Flickr

March 31, 2020

De Blasio’s open street pilot gets extended through Sunday

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After receiving pressure from both Governor Cuomo and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson to close some streets to vehicular traffic in an effort to give New Yorkers more outdoor space to exercise, Mayor de Blasio finally launched a Safe Streets pilot from Friday, March 27, to Monday, March 30 that included a roughly six-block stretch in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, totaling 1.6 miles of the city's 6,000 miles of roads. Today, the Mayor's office announced that they'll be extending the pilot program through Sunday, April 5th with the same hours of 10am-7pm.
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