6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) along with Council Member Laurie Cumbo, BFC Partners and community members today celebrated the groundbreaking of the redevelopment project finally underway at the historic Bedford Union Armory in Crown Heights. The new community hub will offer affordable space for local non-profits, recreational space for youth and hundreds of units of affordable housing as shown in new renderings. The road to this latest milestone has been a long and storied one since community leaders first envisioned the massive armory as a multi-use gathering space for the Crown Heights community.
New renderings of the redeveloped armory, this way

For just under $1M, this smart little Lower East Side co-op has a private roof deck

Images courtesy of Halstead.

December 11, 2019

For just under $1M, this smart little Lower East Side co-op has a private roof deck

Images courtesy of Halstead. In addition to top-floor light and a never-be-bored location, this one-bedroom Lower East Side walk-up at 118 Suffolk Street has an added bonus: a compact spiral staircase that ascends to a lofted den, which in turn accesses a private roof deck. For that, plus high ceilings, exposed brick, and fabulous finishes, the co-op is asking $950,000.
Have a closer look

Distinctive Homes

December 11, 2019

What to do in NYC on Christmas Day

By Rebecca Fishbein

Despite being the City That Never Sleeps, New York does close down a bit on Christmas Day, with all sorts of museums, shops, restaurants, and other businesses giving their staff a break for the holiday. But for those of us who do not celebrate or won't be spending all of Christmas at home squabbling over politics with family, there’s still plenty to do in town, especially if you get a little creative. Here are seven great options.
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Events & Things To Do

New app launches for dollar vans that serve NYC’s transit deserts

A dollar van in Union City, NJ; Photo by Nightscream on Flickr

December 11, 2019

New app launches for dollar vans that serve NYC’s transit deserts

A new app wants to make it easier for riders and operators of New York City's unofficial transportation system to get around, the New York Times reported. Since 1980, dollar vans have catered to communities underserved by the city's subway and bus system, offering commuters in neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens an affordable (a trip typically costs $2 compared to the subway's $2.75) way to travel. Since much of the system operates underground, riders learn of routes and pick-up spots through word-of-mouth. Developers of a new app, Dollaride, hope to make finding a ride easier for the 120,000 daily dollar van commuters, as well as open up the service to more people.
Get the details

Transit

See inside The Wing’s newest location in Bryant Park

Images by Tory Williams; courtesy of The Wing

December 11, 2019

See inside The Wing’s newest location in Bryant Park

The Wing is celebrating the end of a busy year with the opening of its newest NYC location in Bryant Park at 25 West 39th Street. As we've come to expect from the women-only co-working and community space, the design is warm, inviting, and highly Instagrammable. It occupies roughly 7,000 square feet—the entire 11th floor of the building—with a range of workspaces, personal areas, a mother's room, a full-service cafe, and more.
Take a look around

Architecture And Design

One Vanderbilt’s observation deck named the Summit, will have two glass-floored overhangs

Photo of One Vanderbilt on December 11, 2019 © 6sqft

December 11, 2019

One Vanderbilt’s observation deck named the Summit, will have two glass-floored overhangs

After attending a presentation by One Vanderbilt's developer SL Green, the Post was able to share some juicy new details on the office building's observation deck, which will be the second-highest outdoor deck in the city and is being designed by Snøhetta. Now known as The Summit at One Vanderbilt, the 59th-floor deck will have "two step-out, glass floor ledges that overhang Madison Avenue." Also on this floor will be food and beverage options, and on the floor below will be an "'infinity room' with 40-foot-high ceilings." The building is set to open in August 2020, while the Summit will begin welcoming guests (who will pay $35 for the experience) at the end of 2021.
More details right here

New NYC buildings must be constructed with bird-friendly materials

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

December 11, 2019

New NYC buildings must be constructed with bird-friendly materials

The New York City Council approved on Tuesday a bill requiring new buildings to be constructed with bird-friendly materials. Considered the most extensive policy of its kind in the country, the initiative mandates new glass buildings, as well as projects undergoing a major renovation, to be equipped with materials that are easier for birds to see. Each year, between roughly 90,000 and 230,000 birds die each year in New York City from colliding with glass buildings, according to the NYC Audubon.
Learn more

December 10, 2019

2019 holiday gift guide: 20 gifts for the New Yorker who has it all

Not sure what to get the New Yorker who has it all? We've put together a list of 20 items at every price point that will satisfy even the most jaded New Yorker. From historic prints of old New York and classic mom-and-pops to skyscraper champagne flutes and Brooklyn map coasters to some more offbeat items like a sew-your-own Jane Jacobs doll and an authentic Katz's deli apron.
Check them all out here

Distinctive Homes

A loft-sized Harlem studio in a former school asks $599K

Turn this $6.9M Brooklyn Heights three-family townhouse into an urban mansion with original details galore

For $825K, a sweet South Slope co-op near Prospect Park

Asking $6.35M, this restored 1804 Tribeca townhouse is one of the last remaining homes from the period

This $599K Ditmas Park co-op has a 'secret' private park

A celebrated artist's Upper East Side co-op asks $4.75 million

For $2M, a Boerum Hill co-op with a colorful Scandi kitchen

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

Studio 54 founder Ian Schrager lists Westchester estate for $7.5M

Trump's childhood home in Queens back on the market for $2.3M after gut renovation

VIEW ALL

Giorgio Armani buys William Randolph Hearst’s one-time Central Park West penthouse for $17.5M

Listing images by Evan Joseph; courtesy of Compass

December 10, 2019

Giorgio Armani buys William Randolph Hearst’s one-time Central Park West penthouse for $17.5M

T-Mobile's departing CEO John Legere first listed his palatial penthouse at 91 Central Park West for $22 million in February 2018 and progressively dropped the price to just shy of $18 million in his search for a buyer. In the end, he didn't have to look far. Giorgio Armani—who already owns a unit on the same floor—recently purchased the residence for roughly $17.5 million, as the Wall Street Journal first reported. The one-time home of publishing giant William Randolph Hearst sprawls over 3,000 square feet and comes with a 1,700-square-foot private terrace overlooking the park. Armani will combine the residence with his existing, similarly sized unit and take over the entire floor.
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Nomad’s Tin Pan Alley, birthplace of American pop music, gains five landmarks

Tin Pan Alley buildings; Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

December 10, 2019

Nomad’s Tin Pan Alley, birthplace of American pop music, gains five landmarks

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday designated five Nomad buildings linked to the birthplace of American pop music. Tin Pan Alley, a stretch of West 28th Street named to describe the sound of piano music heard from street level, served as an epicenter for musicians, composers, and sheet music publishers between 1893 and 1910. During this nearly two-decade period, some of the most memorable songs of the last century were produced, including "God Bless America" and "Take Me Out to the Ball Game."
More here

Swedish photography museum Fotografiska to open in the historic Church Missions House

Renderings courtesy of CetraRuddy

December 10, 2019

Swedish photography museum Fotografiska to open in the historic Church Missions House

Stockholm-based photography museum Fotografiska is opening its first stateside outpost in New York City this month. Housed inside the former Church Missions House at 281 Park Avenue South, the organization will bring 45,000 square feet of exhibition and event spaces, alongside a restaurant inspired by European “grand cafés.” New York firm CetraRuddy led the restoration and redesign of the landmarked space, working with Higgins Quasebarth & Partners to preserve the stained-glass windows and limestone and granite facade of the Renaissance Revival building.
More info

2019 holiday gift guide: The best gifts for kids in New York City

Photo by @lordmaui via Unsplash

December 10, 2019

2019 holiday gift guide: The best gifts for kids in New York City

Nobody appreciates a great gift like a child, but New York City kids are a tough audience. They've already got the world at their feet, even if they're not possessed of a pile of material goods. Fortunately, there are lots of options for cool presents for your favorite pint-sized architects, athletes, fashionistas and foodies as well as the Big Apple babies on your list. Check out our list below for a handful of gift ideas for New York City kids.
Great gifts for NYC kids, this way

NYC and Newark agree to temporarily suspend controversial homeless relocation program

Photo of Newark, NJ by Paul Sableman on Flickr

December 10, 2019

NYC and Newark agree to temporarily suspend controversial homeless relocation program

Update 12/10/19: After a long negotiation in federal court on Monday, Newark and New York have agreed to suspend the SOTA Program, Politico reported. "In the spirit of productive conservations and with the goal of moving toward an improved program, we will be temporarily pausing placements in Newark," de Blasio spokesperson Freddi Goldstein said in a statement. New York City will also send Newark a list of participants of the program and their addresses once an agreement is reached. Newark officials are suing New York City and Mayor Bill de Blasio over the city's controversial Special One-Time Assistance (SOTA) Program that provides homeless shelter residents with free rent for a year if they leave NYC. More than 2,200 families have been placed in 62 New Jersey cities through the program, with over half ending up in Newark. Recent investigations have found that some families end up in "illegal and uninhabitable" apartments and are essentially forced to become dependent on Newark social services. The lawsuit was filed in federal court Monday, as NJ.com first reported, just weeks after Newark passed a law to make the program illegal and ban landlords from taking more than a month's worth of subsidized rent.
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Images courtesy of The Corcoran Group.

December 10, 2019

This warm, contemporary home surrounded by the suburban greenery of Riverdale asks $2.6M

The spacious, laid-back architect-designed modern home at 5253 Arlington Avenue in the Hudson Hill section of Riverdale near Wave Hill was built in 1940 on one of the neighborhood's deepest plots (79 feet by 323 feet). The cedar-clad four-bedroom home, asking $2.599 million, is surrounded by private flagstone patios, rolling lawns, and lush plantings. The residence has been well-maintained and tastefully updated over time, but there's potential and space for significant expansion if you're looking for even more room.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

NYC council members to introduce Staten Island secession bill

Photo by InSapphoWeTrust via Flickr

December 10, 2019

NYC council members to introduce Staten Island secession bill

As part of their renewed push for Staten Island secession, Republican Council Members Joe Borelli and Steven Matteo will introduce a bill to the City Council Tuesday to establish a secession task force. As the Staten Island Advance first reported, the task force would have 18 months to gather data showing the “impact and viability” of the borough's secession. While Matteo and Borelli say Island leaders and lawmakers—including Borough President James Oddo—have expressed support for the legislation, they are the only council members to support the bill so far.
More details

Policy

December 9, 2019

Waitlist opens for affordable units in Murray Hill rental near Grand Central, from $858/month

Applications are now being accepted for a 150-person waitlist for a luxury rental building in Murray Hill. Located at 200 East 39th Street, the building, known as Frontier, rises 19 stories and contains just under 100 apartments. Perks include a landscaped rooftop terrace, a fitness center, and a gaming lounge. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 60 percent of the area median income can apply to be placed on the waitlist for affordable units ranging from an $858/month studio to a $1,381/month two-bedroom.
Do you qualify?

Affordable Housing

State recognizes TWA Hotel as historic site, nominates two other NYC buildings

Photo: TWA Hotel/David Mitchell

December 9, 2019

State recognizes TWA Hotel as historic site, nominates two other NYC buildings

The state last week awarded ten projects with historic preservation awards, and nominated a dozen other sites to be nominated for the state and national historic places registers. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation recognized the TWA Hotel at JFK Airport for its preservation of Eero Saarinen's Trans World Airlines terminal, which serves as the lobby for a new 512-room hotel.
Learn more

See NYC’s 2019 holiday windows (without facing the crowds)

The city may have created additional pedestrian space around Rockefeller Center this year, but the throngs of tourists are still filling the streets around the Christmas tree and holiday windows. If you'd rather not deal with the crowds, photographers James and Karla Murray have captured the best of this year's windows, from the magical "Frozen" themed light show at Saks Fifth Avenue to the artistic displays at Bergdorf Goodman. Ahead, see what's on view this year and learn a bit more about what goes into creating these whimsical scenes.
It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Events & Things To Do

A vendor in Soho is selling Christmas trees for as much as $6,500 each

Good luck finding a Christmas tree in NYC for under $75 this year; Photo by Billy Williams on Unsplash

December 9, 2019

A vendor in Soho is selling Christmas trees for as much as $6,500 each

A Christmas tree vendor in Manhattan is selling 20-foot Fraser firs for $6,500 each, most likely the most expensive evergreen in the city, the New York Post reported Sunday. Scott Lechner, the manager of Soho Trees, located near Canal Street, told the newspaper that the exorbitant prices aren't slowing sales. "We're sold out," he said. The steep price tag includes delivery and installation.
More here

Events & Things To Do

Images courtesy of CORE NYC

December 9, 2019

This one-bedroom West Village co-op seems like a dream for $789K

This one-bedroom co-op at 41 Jane Street in one of the most sought-after blocks of the wonderful West Village is just the sort of apartment so many are hoping to find when looking for a pied-a-terre or a place with just enough room for one (or a very close couple). Asking $789,000, the apartment has plenty of pre-war charm, exposed brick, high ceilings, and a wood-burning fireplace.
Get a closer look

Distinctive Homes

Amazon leases office space in Hudson Yards

Photo by Bill Benzon via Flickr cc

December 9, 2019

Amazon leases office space in Hudson Yards

By Andrew Berman of Village Preservation

Less than a year after Amazon dropped plans to build its second headquarters in Long Island City, the tech giant has officially signed a lease for office space in Hudson Yards, as the Wall Street Journal first reported. The Seattle-based company will expand its presence in Manhattan with 335,000 square feet of office space at 410 Tenth Avenue. There are currently about 3,500 employees in the company's existing NYC offices and this latest expansion will bring 1,500 new jobs to the city—all without any incentives.
More details

Uncategorized

From top left: Photo of Robert Frost via Wikimedia, Photo of Emily Post via Library of Congress, Photo of Henry Miller via Wikimedia; From bottom left: Photo of James Baldwin by Allan Warren via Wikimedia, Photo of Patricia Highsmith via Wikimedia, and Photo of Margaret Mead via Smithsonian Institution Archives Wikimedia

December 6, 2019

31 literary icons of Greenwich Village

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the designation of the Greenwich Village Historic District. One of the city’s oldest and largest landmark districts, it’s a treasure trove of history, culture, and architecture. Village Preservation is spending 2019 marking this anniversary with events, lectures, and new interactive online resources. This is part of a series of posts about the Greenwich Village Historic District marking its golden anniversary. Greenwich Village, specifically the historic district at its core, has been described as many things, but “literary” may be among the most common. That’s not only because the neighborhood has an air of sophistication and drama, but because it has attracted some of the nation’s greatest writers over the last 200 plus years. Ahead, learn about just some of the cornucopia of great wordsmiths who have called the Greenwich Village Historic District home, from Thomas Paine to Lorraine Hansberry.
More here

History

Images courtesy of CORE NYC

December 6, 2019

$1.4M West Village duplex has a private garden and a double dose of charm

This just-right West Village co-op is the result of the combination of one lucky pre-war apartment and its downstairs twin; it may be priced like a one-bedroom co-op at $1.445 million, but it has the looks–and back garden–of a classic townhouse. The one-bedroom duplex at 92 Horatio Street has had a recent tasteful renovation, and two floors of space and an enchanting 250-square-foot garden on the ground floor are enviable just to start with. All of those things are located in one of Manhattan's most sought-after neighborhoods.
More Twice the charm, this way

Distinctive Homes

December 6, 2019

69 newly constructed affordable units available in East New York, from $856/month

Linwood Park Apartments, a new development at 315 Linwood Street in East New York, has just launched an affordable housing lottery. The 10-story complex is located in the rezoned Atlantic Avenue corridor and is made up entirely of affordable units, available to those earning 40, 50, and 60 percent of the area median income. 69 apartments are available in the lottery, ranging from $856/month studios to $1,504/month three-bedrooms. Eight of those units have been set aside for those who qualify for Section 8, meaning eligible residents will pay 30 percent of their income for rent.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Facebook in talks for office space at former Farley Post Office in Midtown

Rendering courtesy of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill via Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office

December 6, 2019

Facebook in talks for office space at former Farley Post Office in Midtown

Facebook is looking to expand its New York City footprint once again. The social media company is in talks to lease about 700,000 square feet at the former James A. Farley Post Office, a city landmark in Midtown currently being converted into a mixed-use building. If the deal is inked, Facebook would become one of the largest corporate tenants in the city with 3 million square feet of office space leased, as first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Get the details

Real Estate Trends

The best holiday decorations for modern apartment living

Photo via Pexels

December 6, 2019

The best holiday decorations for modern apartment living

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

So maybe you don't have room for a Norway spruce big enough to rival Rockefeller Center's. Maybe you don't even have a chimney from which to hang stockings with care. Or maybe holiday decorating seems a little old fashioned–which might be just what you're looking for. The good thing about the season is that adding sparkle doesn't take up a lot of space. The choices are nearly endless; what you choose should reflect nothing so much as your own personal style. From classic to retro to contemporary to some more out-of-the-box picks, here are some ideas for small-space holiday decorating.
What's your holiday decorating style?

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

VIEW ALL

Lottery opens for 20 affordable and supportive studios in Brownsville, from $571/month

Photo by DanTD via Wikimedia Commons

December 6, 2019

Lottery opens for 20 affordable and supportive studios in Brownsville, from $571/month

One- and two-person households earning 50 or 60 percent of the area median income (between $21,978 and $51,240 annually) can now apply for 20 affordable studios at 212 Hegeman Avenue, a newly constructed, 71-unit rental in Brownsville. Sixty percent of the units are set aside as supportive housing for formerly homeless and disabled New Yorkers, while 29 percent are open to the public. Residents can take advantage of on-site social services, a computer lab, landscaped rear yard, and laundry room.
READ MORE

Affordable Housing

Lottery launches for 667 mixed-income units at huge new development near Jamaica Station

Rendering courtesy of FXCollaborative and BRP Companies

December 5, 2019

Lottery launches for 667 mixed-income units at huge new development near Jamaica Station

The latest housing lottery to open for applications is a pretty significant one: there are now 667 newly constructed units up for grabs at 148-10 Archer Avenue and 147-10 Archer Avenue in Jamaica, Queens. Otherwise known as The Crossing at Jamaica Station, the FXCollaborative-designed development is a commuter's dream, located at the corner of Archer Avenue and Sutphin Boulevard, right next to the LIRR's Jamaica Station, the Air Link to JFK, and with proximity to four MTA subway lines and several buses. Qualifying New Yorkers earning between 40 and 165 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, ranging from $633/month studios to $4,501/month three-bedrooms.
Do you qualify?

Affordable Housing

Rent this fancy and fully furnished Financial District condo for $5K/month

Photo credit: DDreps, courtesy of Compass

December 5, 2019

Rent this fancy and fully furnished Financial District condo for $5K/month

The 99 John Deco Lofts at 99 John Street in the heart of lower Manhattan's Financial District is one of those FiDi condos where everything is sleek, contemporary and new, and there are so many amenities you hardly have to leave the premises. All of that luxury comes at a price–in this case $4,995 a month–but there's no need to commit to buying. There's also no need to buy (or bring) furniture; it's included with the chic and lofty one-bedroom rental pad. There's plenty of closet space throughout, so whatever you bring can find a home as well.
Take a look around

Distinctive Homes

Take a bus tour of NYC through the eyes of ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’

In the show, Midge Maisel visits New York City’s oldest bar, McSorley’s Old Ale House. In reality, the establishment barred women until 1970. Photo © James and Karla Murray for 6sqft

December 5, 2019

Take a bus tour of NYC through the eyes of ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’

Fans of the Amazon series "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" will soon be able to tour famed New York City locations featured in the show. Starting Dec. 16, On Locations Tours, which runs television and movie-themed tours in NYC and Boston, is offering a bus tour that stops at filming locations of the popular show, coinciding with the release of its third season this week. As first reported by the Wall Street Journal, the tours will be held three times a week and cost $52.
Get the details

December 5, 2019

VOTE for 6sqft’s 2019 Building of the Year

By Emily Nonko

If you had to boil it down, 2019 has been an important year for advancing the city's most noteworthy residential projects. Perhaps no news was more important than the official opening of Hudson Yards, which introduced a collection of sleek towers to the Manhattan skyline. (Two Hudson Yards buildings, 15 and 35 Hudson Yards, have made this list.) But that still didn't overshadow other glittering towers now transforming the skyline: the world's tallest residential tower at Central Park Tower, the most expensive residential sale in the country at 220 Central Park South, and the highest infinity pool in the Western Hemisphere at Brooklyn Point. It's been a year of construction progress, eye-popping sales prices, and exceptionally luxurious apartments and amenities behind unique facades. Our picks are down to 12 of the most notable residential structures this year. Which do you think deserves 6sqft’s title of 2019 Building of the Year? To have your say, polls for our fifth annual competition will be open up until midnight on Friday, December 13th and we will announce the winner on Monday, December 16th.
Cast your vote!

New Developments

Construction begins on Fort Greene’s newest cultural center at 300 Ashland Place

Renderings courtesy of TEN Arquitectos and Andrea Steele Architecture

December 5, 2019

Construction begins on Fort Greene’s newest cultural center at 300 Ashland Place

The city’s Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) is starting construction on a new cultural center housed within the 32-story tower at 300 Ashland Place in Fort Greene. The new L10 Arts and Cultural Center will span across 50,000 square feet and host a range of institutions, including new gallery and performance spaces for the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MoCADA), three cinemas for the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), rehearsal studios and performance space for 651 ARTS, and a new branch of the Brooklyn Public Library.
More info

Events & Things To Do

Target announces new Times Square store, its 10th Manhattan location

Rendering courtesy of Target

December 5, 2019

Target announces new Times Square store, its 10th Manhattan location

New York City is getting another Target. The retailer announced on Thursday plans to open a small-format store in Times Square, its 10th store in Manhattan. The 33,000-square-foot location will be located at a five-level retail complex on 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. The property, owned and managed by Tishman Realty, is currently undergoing a $60 million renovation. The 42nd Street shop is expected to open in 2022.
The Target takeover continues

Uncategorized

Electric cargo bikes will replace some delivery trucks in NYC

Photo courtesy of the Department of Transportation

December 5, 2019

Electric cargo bikes will replace some delivery trucks in NYC

Nearly two million packages on average are delivered in New York City each day, causing vans and trucks to clog already congested streets. Looking to address delivery-related traffic, as well as cut vehicle emissions, the city announced on Wednesday a pilot program that would encourage companies to use cargo bikes instead of trucks to deliver parcels in Manhattan below 60th Street.
Find out more

Work starts on transforming Hudson Street to a ‘grand allée’ with wide sidewalks and bike lanes

Courtesy of Matthews Nielsen Landscape Architecture, P.C. with attribution to W Architecture and Landscape Architecture, LLC

December 4, 2019

Work starts on transforming Hudson Street to a ‘grand allée’ with wide sidewalks and bike lanes

In May, the city announced plans to make Hudson Street between Canal and West Houston Streets in Hudson Square into a grand boulevard with wider sidewalks, parking-protected bike lanes, and small outdoor "living rooms" with seating surrounded by greenery are moving forward with design and construction teams on board. And now, work has officially commenced on the first phase of the project, shortly after Disney revealed its forthcoming Hudson Square headquarters, which will bring 5,000 new employees to the area.
Find out more

David Rockwell-designed food hall to open at Manhattan West complex

Rendering courtesy of Brookfield Properties

December 4, 2019

David Rockwell-designed food hall to open at Manhattan West complex

A new food hall designed by David Rockwell is coming to Manhattan's West Side. Brookfield Properties announced on Tuesday plans to open a 40,000-square-foot venue at Manhattan West, a six-building development currently under construction that includes space for office, residential, retail, and a hotel between 9th and 10th Avenues. Dubbed "Citizens" and run by hospitality company sbe, the concept includes two full-service restaurants, multiple bars, and a fast-casual market.
Learn more

Food & Dining

950-unit ‘Gowanus Green’ development met with skepticism by local residents who hoped for a park

Photo by Danny Navaro via Flickr cc

December 4, 2019

950-unit ‘Gowanus Green’ development met with skepticism by local residents who hoped for a park

During a Brooklyn Community Board 6 meeting on Monday night, architects, developers, and city officials revealed preliminary plans for Gowanus Green, a multi-building development on a 5.8-acre site at the corner of Smith and Fifth Streets. Once home to a gas plant, the city-owned site has been vacant for decades and was designated as a "public place" in 1974. As the Brooklyn Daily Eagle first reported, Carroll Gardens and Gowanus residents who were expecting that the site would become a park widely panned the new proposal for a series of buildings ranging from a five-story school to a 28-story residential tower.
More details

This Saturday, celebrate the 300th anniversary of Brooklyn’s Lott House

Photo by Alyssa Loorya, VP of Friends of the Lott House

December 4, 2019

This Saturday, celebrate the 300th anniversary of Brooklyn’s Lott House

It's been 300 years since the Hendrick I. Lott House was built on a rural piece of land in Marine Park, Brooklyn. One of the few Dutch-American houses remaining in NYC, in its original location no less, the Lott House also has the distinction of being the longest single-family owned and occupied home in the city. Though it is currently closed for renovations, the Lott House still hosts educational events, and this Saturday, they'll be celebrating their milestone anniversary with a holiday celebration, tree lighting, and rare chance to go inside.
More details

New looks for Thomas Heatherwick’s quirky Lantern House condos on the High Line

Rendering courtesy of Related Companies

December 4, 2019

New looks for Thomas Heatherwick’s quirky Lantern House condos on the High Line

New renderings were released this week of Thomas Heatherwick's first residential project in the United States, providing a peek inside one of New York City's most unique new buildings. Developed by Related Companies, Lantern House consists of two High Line-flanking towers, one at 10 stories and the other at 22 stories, both with glassy bubbled exteriors. Four new images reveal its freestanding glass lobby pavilion which connects the two buildings and is pierced by two beams from the elevated park above.
See inside

2019’s top Uber destinations included the Empire State Building–and the Queens Center Mall

Photo by Daniel Schwen via Wikimedia Commons

December 4, 2019

2019’s top Uber destinations included the Empire State Building–and the Queens Center Mall

Photo by Daniel Schwen via Wikimedia Commons Rideshare service Uber took a year-end look at some of its most requested destinations throughgout the world, revealing some surprising facts. For tourists using Uber, the Empire State Building stands as tall as it ever did: The Big Apple icon beat out the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Disneyland as the most requested endpoint on the planet (the Freedom Tower came in at second place). In the state of New York, the most requested destination overall wasn't a tall tower but a bustling mall in Elmhurst, Queens, according to the New York Post.
Where else did we go in 2019

New map shows over 600 languages spoken in NYC

Screenshot of the NYC language map courtesy of the Endangered Language Alliance

December 4, 2019

New map shows over 600 languages spoken in NYC

More than 600 languages are spoken in the New York metropolitan area, making it one of the most linguistically diverse regions in the world. The Endangered Language Alliance (ELA), a non-profit that aims to protect endangered languages across the city and New Jersey, released this week a comprehensive map of the area's 637 languages and dialects at nearly 1,000 sites. As first reported by Gothamist, the map coincides with the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages, declared by the United Nations in 2016, as well as the upcoming 2020 census.
Explore the map

City Living

December 4, 2019

NYC’s 11 most festive bars and restaurants

By Rebecca Fishbein

With its lit-up streets and sidewalk tree-sellers, New York is at its best during the holidays, especially if you can avoid tourist-clogged areas like Rockefeller Center and Times Square. There are lots of lovely festive spots to celebrate seasonal cheer, including local bars and restaurants that transform their spaces into holiday wonderlands, complete with themed drinks, bites, and lots of Christmas lights. Here are some of our favorites.
11 spots to get festive

Everything you need to know about this year’s Rockefeller Center tree lighting

Image by Michael Vadon via Wikimedia Commons

December 4, 2019

Everything you need to know about this year’s Rockefeller Center tree lighting

The 2019 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has been in place for nearly a month, and it's almost ready to get lit. The 87th annual tree lighting ceremony will take place later tonight, with tens of thousands of spectators expected for the festivities and millions more tuning in on television. The event is free to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, so read on for everything you need to know if you plan on getting a spot (or if you'd rather watch from your couch!).
More details

Events & Things To Do

For $10M, an Upper East Side townhouse with downtown loft style

Listing images courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

December 3, 2019

For $10M, an Upper East Side townhouse with downtown loft style

The Greenwich by Rafael Vinoly

Located on the corner of Third Avenue, this five-story townhouse at 182 East 94th Street brings downtown loft living to the Upper East Side. With over 5,800 square feet of interior space, the residence comes with a roof terrace, separate studio apartment on the ground floor, private parking, and nearly 4,500 square feet of unused development rights. The sprawling pad was constructed in 2012 and has yet to change ownership. The property listed last week for $9.975 million and is also available on the rental market for $30,000/month.
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Distinctive Homes

125 Greenwich Street

Financial District

The new altitude of downtown living

studios starting at $1,110,000
1 beds starting at $1,495,000
2 beds starting at $2,785,000
3 beds starting at $3,600,000

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December 3, 2019

Lottery launches for 55 middle-income apartments at chic Clinton Hill rental, from $1,097/month

At the nexus of Crown Heights and Bed-Stuy, a new rental in Clinton Hill launched an affordable housing lottery this week for 55 middle-income units. Located across the street from the Franklin Avenue C, S subway station at 1134 Fulton Street, the building offers residents a gym, on-site laundry, parking, and rooftop access. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, ranging from $1,097/month studios to $2,400/month three-bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

Lord & Taylor is returning to NYC as a Soho pop-up

Photo courtesy of Lord & Taylor

December 3, 2019

Lord & Taylor is returning to NYC as a Soho pop-up

After closing its iconic Fifth Avenue flagship at the start of 2019, department store Lord & Taylor will be popping up again as a Manhattan shopping address, sources told Bloomberg. The department store brand, which was sold by former owner Hudson's Bay to clothing rental company Le Tote for $100 million in cash in August, is reportedly opening a 2,400-square-foot shop for just two weeks in mid-December. The pop-up shop will be located on Wooster Street in Soho–a neighborhood whose current streetscape boasts as many empty storefronts and seasonal pop-ups as high-end designer fashion shops.
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Real Estate Trends

Sione in early October 2019, photo by CityRealty

December 3, 2019

23 affordable apartments available at a brand new Lower East Side rental, from $613/month

The Sioné, located at 171 Suffolk Street on the corner of East Houston, has launched an affordable housing lottery for 23 units, available to those earning 40, 60, and 130 percent of the area median income. Not only does the building sit in a prime Lower East Side location (just one block from Clinton Street Baking Company and three from Katz's), but it offers a slew of amenities like a gym and outdoor terraces, as well as apartments with modern finishings and high-tech upgrades. The available units range from $613/month studios to $2,200/month one-bedrooms, a much lower price than the market-rate rentals which start at $3,926/month for studios and $5,078/month for one-beds.
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Affordable Housing

December 3, 2019

20 ways to celebrate the 2019 holiday season in NYC

If you're lucky enough to find yourself in New York City for the winter holidays, you'll find just about every kind of celebration imaginable from longtime traditions like the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, the Rockettes and the Nutcracker to movie classics in theaters and neighborhoods ablaze with lights. And if you're seeking a break from traditional festivities, there are plenty of creative and unconventional ways to enjoy the season.
and SantaCon ain't one

Events & Things To Do

Design unveiled for New York Philharmonic’s $550M revamped concert hall

Renderings courtesy of the New York Philharmonic and Lincoln Center

December 2, 2019

Design unveiled for New York Philharmonic’s $550M revamped concert hall