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Days after filing building permits for 1215 Fulton Street in Bed-Stuy—the site of the former Slave Theatre—London-based co-living startup The Collective has announced it will be partnering with renowned Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto on the design, his first in New York. The 10-story structure will span over 240,000 square feet and be comprised of three buildings connected by an expansive “ground-floor hub” designed to feel like “an extension of the street.” The project aims to create “a new idea of how a community can come together in a building,” as the architects explained in a design statement.
Take a first look at the renderings

City’s Gowanus Canal cleanup plan gets squashed by Trump’s EPA

Photo by Danny Navarro / Flickr cc

September 25, 2019

City’s Gowanus Canal cleanup plan gets squashed by Trump’s EPA

Photo by Danny Navarro / Flickr cc Since taking office, Donald Trump and his administration have been proposing cuts to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that would decrease funding for the cleanup of the Gowanus Canal. Declared a federal Superfund site in 2010, the Canal has a major issue with combined sewer overflow (CSO), which occurs when heavy rainfall overtaxes the sewer system and causes stormwater runoff and wastewater to empty into the waterway. As Brooklyn Eagle reports, the city's proposal to mitigate this issue was to "replace two [CSO] retention tanks holding 8 and 4 million gallons with a 16 million-gallon CSO tunnel running beneath the upper portion of the canal." However, in a letter obtained by the Eagle, Trump EPA appointee Pete Lopez said that they would instead install two large retention tanks along the Canal walls.
What next?

Policy

As Hart Island nears capacity, city seeks new public cemetery sites

Photo by cisc1970 on Flickr

September 25, 2019

As Hart Island nears capacity, city seeks new public cemetery sites

The city is looking for land to build a new public cemetery for residents who were unclaimed or unable to afford a burial. The city's Human Resources Administration on Tuesday issued a request for information (RFI) from private burial companies to develop ideas for new cemeteries, citing concerns over the lack of space on Hart Island, land located off the Bronx where more than one million people have been buried since the Civil War. The RFI comes as the City Council recently finalized a package of bills to reform the Island, as well as the city's process for public burials.
More here

Policy

Famed Clinton Hill Pfizer Mansion with a rock-n-roll past and a $5M renovation lowers ask to $10M

Photo credit: Rayon Richards and Connie Zhou, courtesy The Corcoran Group

September 25, 2019

Famed Clinton Hill Pfizer Mansion with a rock-n-roll past and a $5M renovation lowers ask to $10M

Photo credit: Rayon Richards and Connie Zhou, courtesy The Corcoran Group In brownstone Brooklyn, there are dozens of grand homes that have historic significance and even more that are dazzling showcases of considered design. The unique 10,000-square-foot double mansion at 280 Washington Avenue in Clinton Hill happens to be one of Brooklyn's finest examples of both. Known as the Pfizer Mansion–it was built in 1887 by Charles Erhart, co-founder of the Pfizer pharmaceutical company and brother-in-law to Charles Pfizer–the block-through property had a full slate of interesting inhabitants, from a library to industrial band rockers, before receiving an epic renovation from its current owner. That same owner, designer Jessica Warren, who purchased the property in 2007 for $3.2 million, spent many years and many millions restoring the house to a stunning degree that surpassed even its former glory. The home, which has been featured in numerous design publications, has most recently been a beloved B & B known as The Notorious B.N.B. The current owners put the house on the market in 2018 for $13.5 million. After a year and a broker switch, it's now asking $9.995 million–and it's worth every penny, from its graceful, curving windows to a working Otis elevator and private parking space.
Tour this colorful and beautiful Brooklyn home

Facebook sets its sights on Midtown’s former Farley Post Office for new office space

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

September 25, 2019

Facebook sets its sights on Midtown’s former Farley Post Office for new office space

Facebook has been on the hunt for office space in NYC for several months and now the tech giant has set its sights on the former James A. Farley Post Office, as the New York Post first reported. Sources say the company plans to lease all 740,000 square feet of office space currently being built in the old post office across from Penn Station and Madison Square Garden. The landmarked building—redubbed Moynihan Train Hall—is being redeveloped by a team including Related, Vornado Realty Trust, Skanska USA and architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. It's on track to open next year.
Here's what we know so far

Uncategorized

The making of Hudson Yards’ Spanish market: Meet the team behind Mercado Little Spain

All photos taken by James and Karla Murray exclusively for 6sqft.

September 25, 2019

The making of Hudson Yards’ Spanish market: Meet the team behind Mercado Little Spain

When New York Times food critic Pete Wells visited José Andrés' Mercado Little Spain, he declared that it had "more great food and drinks per square foot than anywhere else in New York." From Ibérico hams and Peking duck to the seemingly simple yet ever-pleasing pan con tomate, the food at Hudson Yards' Spanish market has certainly made its mark on the gastronomy scene. But what sets Andrés apart from other chefs and restauranteurs is his entire vision. Mercado Little Spain is designed as a series of "streets," with the various kiosks leading guests on a curated experience. Most of the design elements and materials were sourced from Spain, and the artists commissioned represent different regions of the country. To bring his vision to life, Andrés assembled a stellar team, including Michael Doneff, the Chief Marketing Officer at his ThinkFoodGroup; Juli Capella, co-founder of Spanish architecture and design firm Capella Garcia Architecture; and NYC-based design studio (and NYC food hall experts) ICRAVE. Ahead, take a behind-the-scenes tour of Mercado Little Spain and hear from all these amazing and talented collaborators on what it was like working on the project.
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See inside Long Island City’s new public library designed by Steven Holl Architects

Photo © Paul Warchol

September 25, 2019

See inside Long Island City’s new public library designed by Steven Holl Architects

Despite standing just 82 feet tall, the new Hunters Point Library manages to stand out among its skyscraper neighbors on the Long Island City waterfront. The concrete structure, designed by Steven Holl Architects, officially opened to the public Tuesday, about two decades after officials proposed building a new Queens Public Library branch. The delays, and the whopping $40 million price tag, appear to have been worth it, as the building, with its carved windows and incredible skyline views, continues to garner approval from top architecture critics.
Take the tour

Architecture And Design

Rendering courtesy of IKEA U.S.

September 24, 2019

IKEA will open in Queens next summer

IKEA is coming to Queens. The Swedish furniture store announced on Tuesday plans to open a new location at a shopping center in Rego Park next summer. The store, located in the Rego Center, will be the first in the United States with a new layout, according to the company.
More here

Uncategorized

Distinctive Homes

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

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

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

Doors of steel and glass make this $3M Soho loft feel like a box of light

$10.25M Chelsea condo atop Shigeru Ban's Metal Shutter Houses is everything a penthouse should be

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

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

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

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

Greenwich Village townhouse at the center of NBA gambling scandal listed for $22.5M

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Image via Wiki Commons

September 24, 2019

Owner of The Strand Book Store will challenge landmark status in court

Following a City Council Land Use Committee vote on Monday that confirmed the landmark designation of The Strand, store owner Nancy Bass Wyden said she will sue the city. Wyden has been staunchly opposed to the designation since the building at 826 Broadway was first calendered, citing concerns about costly construction and renovation work that could force her out of the business her grandfather started 92 years ago. Wyden will sue the Landmarks Preservation Commission in Manhattan Federal Court "to start," according to the Daily News, who spoke with her lawyer, Alex Urbelis. Politicians "picked the wrong bookstore and they certainly picked the wrong woman,” Urbelis said.
More details

Policy

Landmarked ‘castle’ in NJ relists for $39M

Photo courtesy of Christie’s International Real Estate

September 24, 2019

Landmarked ‘castle’ in NJ relists for $39M

An English-style castle in New Jersey has returned to the market, offering potential buyers the chance to feel like royalty near the Ramapo Mountains. Asking $39 million, the three-story Darlington Mansion sits on over 12 acres in Mahwah and contains 58 rooms. Constructed in 1907 by George Crocker, the son of railroad baron Charles Crocker, the estate has been modernly restored over the last decade, all while retaining original materials and architectural elements. The mansion, also known as the Crocker Mansion, last listed in 2017 for $48 million.
See inside

September 24, 2019

Own a 6,670-square-foot Tribeca townhouse with a garden, private garage and condo amenities for $15M

From the outside, the five-story townhouse at 3 Collister Street gives the appearance of being a modernist loft building, customized with a facade wall of windows to provide lucky homeowners with light and views. Within, the Tribeca home is a 6,670-square-foot mansion of a luxury home, with five bedrooms, a private garage, a private elevator, a back garden and a roof deck. But unlike even the most tricked-out of city townhouses, this home, asking $14.995 million and offered to the public for the first time, comes with the amenities of a full-service condominium–in this case one designed by BKSK Architects.
The best of all possible worlds, this way

Distinctive Homes

$1.7M Upper East Side duplex offers classic uptown elegance

Listing images by VHT; courtesy of The Corcoran Group

September 24, 2019

$1.7M Upper East Side duplex offers classic uptown elegance

Right in the middle of the block between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue, this two-bedroom duplex at 12 East 64th Street boasts an impressive address on the Upper East Side's posh Gold Coast, just steps away from Central Park and surrounded by the area's grand limestone mansions. Inside, original architectural details like elaborate molding, woodwork, and mantels bring charm to every room. The classic residence is now on the market, seeking $1.7 million.
Take a look around

Distinctive Homes

Governors Island gains its first year-round home for the arts

Photo by Zachary Tyler Newton for LMCC

September 23, 2019

Governors Island gains its first year-round home for the arts

A permanent arts center opened on Governors Island last week, becoming the 172-acre site's first year-round tenant dedicated to arts and culture. The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC) has transformed a 19th-century warehouse into a 40,000-square-foot space for arts and educational programming. LMCC partnered with the Trust for Governors Island on the $12 million renovation, with designs from PEI Cobb Freed & Partners and Adamson Associates Architects. Historic details of the building were retained while enabling space for galleries, studios, rehearsal space, and an indoor cafe.
See the space

September 23, 2019

Site of former Slave Theater in Bed-Stuy will get a 10-story co-living and hotel building

London-based communal living company The Collective filed a building permit application last week for a planned development on the site of the former Slave Theater in Bed-Stuy, which the company bought earlier this year for $32.5 million. As Brownstoner first reported, the application is for a 10-story, roughly 161,000-square-foot structure that will comprise residential units, a hotel, and community space. Ismael Leyva Architects will lead the project, which is expected to include 136 apartments, 222 hotel rooms, underground parking, a restaurant, a public courtyard, spa lounges, and other amenities. The finished building is expected to open in 2022.
Find out more

New Developments

September 23, 2019

The original honeycomb skylight shines at this $2.65M Soho loft

If you're looking for a quintessential downtown loft, 16-foot ceilings, exposed brick, lofted bedrooms and all, but don't want to deal with renovations and taming a raw space, this two-bedroom co-op at 41 Crosby Street (also known as 428 Broome Street) fits the bill. Traditional loft proportions and 1870s detail frame modern necessities like central air, heated floors, custom closets and a mansion-worthy kitchen. Asking $2.65 million, this Soho home spans 2,452 square feet, with a layout that emphasizes privacy (for a loft, that is) and comfort.
Tour the loft

Distinctive Homes

$139M street repair and infrastructure upgrade project kicks off in Far Rockaway

Rendering of Mott and Central Avenues next to the planned new public library, courtesy of NYCEDC

September 23, 2019

$139M street repair and infrastructure upgrade project kicks off in Far Rockaway

About 25 blocks of Downtown Far Rockaway will soon see major changes as the Queens neighborhood gears up for one its largest infrastructure project in decades. Construction will kick off this week on a $139 million plan to revamp the area's streets, pedestrian space, and stormwater drainage, city officials announced Wednesday. The project, expected to take three years to complete, falls under the city's Far Rockaway rezoning plan, which was approved in 2017.
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Policy

New City of Women map assigns a significant female figure to all 424 subway stations

A portion of the map by Rebecca Solnit and Joshua Jelly-Schapiro, courtesy of the New York Transit Museum

September 23, 2019

New City of Women map assigns a significant female figure to all 424 subway stations

Three years ago, journalist Rebecca Solnit and geographer/writer Joshua Jelly-Schapiro created City of Women, a subway map that replaces stations with significant women in NYC's history and cultural landscape. The map was originally part of their book “Nonstop Metropolis: A New York City Atlas,” but they've now done an updated version that's currently for sale at the New York Transit Museum. In this revamp, they've assigned a woman to all 424 subway stations and have added 80 names, including Cardi B and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Ahead, we chat with Joshua to learn more about the inspiration behind the map, how they chose the names, and what's next.
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Where I Work

Rent a Federal-era West Village home with an industrial-chic makeover for $15K/month

Originally built in 1855, this landmarked Federal-era home at 35 Perry Street in the heart of the West Village was last sold in 2015 for $6 million. Soon after, the current owner realized the building was in rather unstable condition and embarked on an ambitious gut renovation. Reclaimed wood from the original structure was used for the extensive detailing and steel framing was added and left exposed, contributing to the home’s industrial-chic vibes. Now divided into several units, the garden duplex is available for a long-term lease at $15,000 a month.
Take a look around

Distinctive Homes

Rare Tribeca townhouse with wine cellar and duplex roof terrace seeks $15M

Listing images courtesy of Compass

September 20, 2019

Rare Tribeca townhouse with wine cellar and duplex roof terrace seeks $15M

Just listed for $15 million, this rare Tribeca townhouse was designed by John L. Petrarca, the architect credited with bringing “a modern sensibility” to the neighborhood’s “old blocks,” as his New York Times obituary put it. The seven-story residence at 152 Reade Street is one in a row of three—completed in 2001—that are notable for being “the first new single-family dwellings built in Tribeca in more than a century.” The current owners bought the property in 2005 for $7.4 million and soon embarked on a gut renovation helmed by Philip Koether Architects. Among many upgrades, they built out a temperature-controlled wine cellar in the basement, installed an elevator, and created a two-story roof deck complete with a hot tub.
Get the full tour

Distinctive Homes

Free cannolis and major pastry discounts for Veniero’s 125th anniversary celebration

Photo by James and Karla Murray exclusively for 6sqft

September 20, 2019

Free cannolis and major pastry discounts for Veniero’s 125th anniversary celebration

A longtime Italian pastry shop is celebrating its 125th anniversary this month and celebrating in the best way possible: free cannolis. Family-owned and operated since 1894, Veniero's has grown from a small immigrant-owned candy shop in the East Village to a New York City institution, selling more than 150 desserts today. On Monday, Sept. 23, the bakery will offer free mini cannolis (while supplies last), live music, and a discount of 18.94 percent on all orders, according to Time Out.
Get the delicious details

Events & Things To Do

Image courtesy of Urban Archive.

September 20, 2019

Urban Archive’s new History Crush feature lets you swipe right on your favorite images of NYC’s past

6sqft previously featured Urban Archive, the technology nonprofit that has been building (no pun intended) connections  between people, places, and historical institutions through a growing map of New York City’s unique architecture, culture, and stories for several years. Last February saw the launch of their citywide project seeking crowd-sourced histories and photographs to be included in the UA app. Now, the Urban Archive app has a fun new feature: History Crush serves users a steady randomized supply of historic images of NYC buildings, places and events. You can weigh in with a swipe left or right on each new image; yes, it's like the dating app (without the stress). This Adderall-era add-on actually makes the app even more addictive–and encourages users to check out more images. Even better, right-swiped and liked images are saved to a folder in your My Archive collection for future investigation.
Every picture tells a story

September 20, 2019

$5.9M townhouse on Prospect Park comes fully loaded with a garage, gym, sauna, & so much more

Starting with a semi-private driveway and private garage, the attractive if unassuming neo-Federal townhouse at 31 Prospect Park West, built in 1919 by Brooklyn architect W. J. McCarthy, has just about every luxury you could imagine under its roof, and 600 square feet of irrigated, landscaped terrace on the actual rooftop. Recently given a truly spare-nothing renovation by local design duo Delson or Sherman Architects, this townhouse is already blessed with a prime Park Slope location across from Prospect Park. Asking $5.895 million, the home packs perks that include a fully-stocked gym and sauna to a wet bar and dual gas and wood-burning fireplace into its 2,800+ square feet of interior space. And that's without the fountain in the backyard.
Step inside this amazing townhouse

Distinctive Homes

How to get around NYC during this year’s United Nations General Assembly

Image via Flickr

September 20, 2019

How to get around NYC during this year’s United Nations General Assembly

The United Nations General Assembly already began on Sept. 17 but Midtown has yet to experience the traffic nightmare that will hit the neighborhood next week. With meetings taking place through Sept. 30, the city has designated weekdays between Sept. 23 and Sept. 30 as gridlock alert days. On top of UNGA, Climate Week events will add to the congestion. “Drivers should leave their cars at home next week if they can—and try walking, taking mass transit, or getting on a bicycle," Polly Trottenberg, commissioner of the Department of Transportation, said in a statement. Here's a handy guide to getting around the city during the busy week ahead, including street closures and traffic updates for those of you with nerves of steel.
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Partial stop work order issued for 200 Amsterdam after wet concrete hits playground

Rendering of 200 Amsterdam courtesy of Binyan Studios

September 20, 2019

Partial stop work order issued for 200 Amsterdam after wet concrete hits playground

Update 9/20/19: NYC Parks reopened P.S. 199's playground on Friday after determining the area was no longer at risk. SJP Properties, the developer of 200 Amsterdam Avenue, said in a statement: "We are pleased that the school park has been reopened following review by the school and Parks Department, which deemed the area safe." Wet concrete fell 55 stories from an under-construction Upper West Side tower on Wednesday, hitting a school playground below. The Department of Buildings issued the condo project at 200 Amsterdam Avenue a partial stop work order to prevent work above 40 stories on that side. A parent told West Side Rag that his son and his friends were hit by the falling concrete while playing at P.S. 199's playground during recess, but no injuries have been officially reported to the DOB.
More here

New Developments

Apple’s Fifth Avenue flagship reopens with famed glass cube and new public plaza

Photo by Aaron Hargreaves for Foster + Partners

September 20, 2019

Apple’s Fifth Avenue flagship reopens with famed glass cube and new public plaza

Apple's famous Fifth Avenue flagship reopens Friday after more than two years of renovations. The glass cube has returned as an entrance to the store, set above the newly updated and locust tree-lined public plaza. As 6sqft previously reported, it cost $2 million to remove the cube in 2017 during the Midtown Manhattan store's expansion.
Take a step inside

Uncategorized

Robert de Niro-funded studio taps Bjarke Ingels to design $400M ‘vertical village for film’ in Astoria

Renderings courtesy of Bjarke Ingels Group and Wildflower Ltd.

September 20, 2019

Robert de Niro-funded studio taps Bjarke Ingels to design $400M ‘vertical village for film’ in Astoria

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

The star power involved with Robert de Niro’s planned production studio in Astoria continues to grow. The development group—which includes developer Wildflower Ltd, Raphael De Niro, and Jane Rosenthal—has just revealed a first look at the 650,000-square-foot facility designed by Bjarke Ingels Group. The $400 million project, called Wildflower Studios, will establish a hub for the creation of film, television, and other forms of entertainment, including augmented reality and virtual reality. The facility is expected to create more than 1,000 daily union jobs.
Get a first look at the renderings

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A man wearing a fez selling drinks in Little Syria in the early 1900s (Bain News Service, 1916), via Wiki Commons/Library of Congress

September 19, 2019

GIVEAWAY: Win a pair of tickets to MAS’ walking tour of the lost ‘Lower West Side’

By 6sqft

The Lower West Side is not a common neighborhood name used, mainly because much of what made this enclave notable has since been forgotten. As 6sqft previously explained, "encompassing the area west of Broadway from Liberty Street to Battery Place, it was originally home to Irish and German immigrants, followed by Little Syria, the nation’s first and largest Arabic settlement, from roughly the 1880s to 1940s." The neighborhood all but disappeared during the construction of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel and World Trade Center, but several vestiges and stories remain, which will be explored in a walking tour on October 6th with historian Joe Svehlak for the Municipal Art Society.
Enter to win a pair of tickets!

Events & Things To Do

Photo courtesy of Via

September 19, 2019

Jersey City to launch on-demand bus service operated by ride-sharing app Via

Commuters in Jersey City will soon be able to hail a city bus from their smartphones. In a partnership with ride-sharing app Via, the city will launch on-demand bus service as an alternative to often delayed-plagued New Jersey Transit, Mayor Steven Fulop announced Thursday. Passengers can request a shared trip using Via's app and then will be given a "virtual" bus stop within walking distance from both pickup and drop-off locations.
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Transit

Development plans for ex-Amazon site in LIC move forward with emphasis on local community goals

Previous rendering of Anable Basin, courtesy of WXY architecture + urban design

September 19, 2019

Development plans for ex-Amazon site in LIC move forward with emphasis on local community goals

Soon after Amazon canceled plans to build a new headquarters in Long Island City, the city began reviving earlier plans to bring a mix of residential and industrial spaces to the neighborhood. Developers and city officials are still in talks over how the 28-acre site—which includes land owned by both the city and plastics company Plaxall—will be used. As Politico recently reported, the vision is starting to come into sharper focus with property owners now engaging the neighborhood and community board to help determine the future of the waterfront site.
Here's what we know so far

Uncategorized

September 19, 2019

Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent buy swimsuit photographer’s $1.6M modern Montauk home

They just listed a fully decorated Village pad they'd bought in 2013 along with their former penthouse at 2 East 12th Street earlier this month, and the famed interior designer duo have made another real estate move, purchasing an appropriately stylish house at 53 Kettle Hole Road in Montauk that was most recently listed at $1.599 million. The seller is renowned contemporary artist and photographer Raphael Mazzucco, who has eight Vogue covers and three Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues under his belt in addition to numerous campaigns for brands like Victoria's Secret and Ralph Lauren.
Tour the unique Hamptons home

Rendering of the larger, 30-story tower by Dattner Architects

September 19, 2019

Designs revealed for major mixed-use project on Lower East Side synagogue site

In 2017, the Lower East Side's abandoned 1850 Beth Hamedrash Hagadol synagogue, which once housed the city's oldest Jewish Orthodox congregation, was severely damaged in a fire. The following year, the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) and developer Gotham Organization began floating plans for a two-towered, mixed-use development on the site, and they've now announced that the project is entering the city's uniform land use review procedure (ULURP). The plan includes a new headquarters for the CPC, retail space, and 488 new rental units, 208 of which will be permanently affordable with 115 set aside for affordable senior housing. Dattner Architects will also incorporate the remains of the former synagogue into a new meeting space and cultural heritage center for the congregation.
All the details this way

The city wants to put a self-filtering floating swimming pool on the East River

Rendering by Family New York, Courtesy of Friends of +POOL

September 19, 2019

The city wants to put a self-filtering floating swimming pool on the East River

Swimming in the East River may once again become a reality. The city's Economic Development Corporation is seeking ideas for a floating pool that would filter the water of the East River to allow for safe swimming, according to a request for expressions of interest (RFEI) released Wednesday. A similar idea was first announced in 2010 by the nonprofit +POOL, which has been working with the city for years, as THE CITY first reported. The pool would likely be built between the north side of Brooklyn Bridge and the south side of Pier 35 on the Lower East Side, according to the request.
Get the details

Architecture And Design

Photography by Tim Waltman for CORE; staging by ASH NYC

September 19, 2019

Just listed for $4.7M, Kanye West’s former Soho home wears ego-soothing neutral hues

This sleek and civilized condo at 25 West Houston Street was the long-time Soho residence of musician and fashion powerhouse Kanye West and his wife, Kim Kardashian. Designed by Italian minimalist architect and designer Claudio Silvestrin, the home is a study in tobacco and beige, guaranteed not to upstage the personality of its owners. And like its (former) owners, it has been showcased in the pages of Vogue and Elle Décor. The 2,427-square-foot Soho one-bedroom (easily convertible to two) just hit the market for $4.7 million.
Soft lighting, ample closets, this way

City expands benefits of rent freeze programs for seniors and New Yorkers with disabilities

Image via Flickr

September 19, 2019

City expands benefits of rent freeze programs for seniors and New Yorkers with disabilities

The city has released updated guidelines for its rent freeze programs that help senior citizens (aged 62 and over) and tenants with qualifying disabilities (aged 18 and over) stay in affordable housing by freezing their rent. Eligible tenants living in rent-controlled apartments can now freeze their rent at the preferential level, instead of the legal rent. “The City’s rent freeze programs have given tens of thousands of New Yorkers peace of mind and housing stability,” said Mayor de Blasio. “Now that we can freeze preferential rents, the program will bring even more relief.”
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The final Vendy Awards are coming to Governors Island this Saturday

Via Flickr

September 18, 2019

The final Vendy Awards are coming to Governors Island this Saturday

This weekend is your last chance to enjoy New York City's famous annual street food showdown. The competition between New York City's finest street vendors, known as the Vendy Awards, is ending on Saturday, Sept. 21 after 15 years. The last event ever will be held on Governors Island, providing one last chance to enjoy one of the city's most anticipated food events. Organized by the Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center, the contest began with only four vendors in 2005. It has since expanded to feature vendors from across the city, serving nearly two thousand food-loving attendees annually and providing a career boost for vendors. The highlight of the event will be the 15 nominees who will compete for the top award, the Vendy Cup.
Check out the finalists, this way

$8M Village townhouse has an underground tunnel that connects to its carriage house

Listing images by Kenneth Chen at Evan Joseph photography, courtesy of Compass

September 18, 2019

$8M Village townhouse has an underground tunnel that connects to its carriage house

For those who are up for a significant project, this unique Greenwich Village property has a lot of potential and some unusual features, starting with its configuration. The 1830 townhouse at 10 Bedford Street—now on the market for just shy of $8 million—sits on a 101-foot deep lot along with a separate carriage house that can be accessed via a tunnel or an elevated walkway in the garden. For the right buyer, this unusual setup could be a big enough draw by itself, despite the renovation work required inside.
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Distinctive Homes

September 18, 2019

REVEALED: $150M renovation of Central Park North includes new pool, skating rink, and more

The north end of Central Park around the Harlem Meer is one of its most beautiful vistas, but because of the large, obtrusive Lasker Rink and Pool, it is currently disconnected from the North Woods below it, as well as the rest of the park. To better connect the area, the Central Park Conservancy and the City of New York today revealed a $150 million project to build a new pool and rink that will bring year-round recreation, as well as integrate into the surrounding landscape and restore lost pedestrian connections.
See all the renderings and plans

September 18, 2019

Citi Bike expansion in Bushwick and Ridgewood begins next week

Next week, Citi Bike will begin the first phase of a four-year expansion that will double the system’s New York City footprint. The blue bikes are coming to a larger area of Bushwick and, for the first time, Ridgewood, Streetsblog reports. L train riders will have more options thanks to 85 new stations in those neighborhoods.
More on the rollout, this way

Transit

Review of mechanical space use continues at Extell’s Upper West Side tower

Rendering of 50 West 66th Street courtesy of Binyan Studios/Snøhetta

September 18, 2019

Review of mechanical space use continues at Extell’s Upper West Side tower

Extell's Snøhetta-designed Upper West Side tower at 50 West 66th Street has cleared one set of legal challenges but the building's contested use of mechanical spaces remains an issue. As Crain’s reported on Tuesday, the city’s Board of Standards and Appeals voted down challenges to the building’s split zoning lots—upholding the Department of Buildings permits for the project—but voted to further scrutinize the tower’s use of mechanical floor spaces by initiating a review of whether Extell is “appropriately occupying” those spaces.
Get the scoop

September 18, 2019

Sublime interiors and two terraces make this $1.9M Brooklyn Heights brownstone duplex extraordinary

Asking $1.895 million, this circa 1844 brownstone duplex at 44 Remsen Street sits on one of the most sought after blocks in Brooklyn Heights. Situated on two floors of what was once a single-family home, the co-op's crown jewel is also what may have been the original home's grandest room: A 15-foot-by-20-foot great room is framed by a 12-foot-high coffered ceiling, paneled walls, intricately detailed oak trim and a southern elliptical wall featuring stained glass windows that depict the four seasons.
More brownstone beauty, this way

Distinctive Homes

Get free tickets to 1,500 museums nationwide on Smithsonian’s Museum Day

Photo by James and Karla Murray exclusively for 6sqft

September 18, 2019

Get free tickets to 1,500 museums nationwide on Smithsonian’s Museum Day

Smithsonian Magazine's Museum Day is drawing near–this year it's on Saturday, Sept. 21. It's a chance to get free admission to museums across the country, including more than 30 New York City options. Tickets became available on August 15 on Smithsonian's website, where you can download two free tickets to museums, galleries, and cultural institutions like the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum, the Museum of Arts and Design, the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum and many more.
Choose from over 1,500 museums throughout the US

Events & Things To Do

Robert A. M. Stern’s 220 Central Park South passes $1B in sales

Via Vornado Realty Trust and Robert A.M. Stern Architects

September 18, 2019

Robert A. M. Stern’s 220 Central Park South passes $1B in sales

Since its first closing nearly a year ago, Robert A.M. Stern's 220 Central Park South has now surpassed the $1 billion mark in sales according to data compiled by CityRealty. The milestone is definitely not surprising considering this is the same building where Billionaire Ken Griffin bought the country's most expensive home ever sold for $239,958,219. And with an average sales price of $6,934 per square foot for its 39 total closings, 220 is also the city's most expensive condo building.
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Real Estate Trends

September 17, 2019

Take a food tour of Little Italy’s Feast of San Gennaro

By James and Karla Murray

Food, faith, family, and more food. The Feast of San Gennaro is in full swing, bringing the best of Italian cuisine and culture to a few blocks of Little Italy for 11 straight days. In its 93rd year, the Feast has evolved from its early 20th-century roots, as has the former immigrant enclave. Despite these changes, the Feast of San Gennaro remains one of the largest and most popular street fairs in New York City, as well as a way to preserve Italian American culture. Ahead, photographers and New Yorkers James and Karla Murray take us on a whirlwind food tour of the Feast of San Gennaro, from powdered sugar zeppoles and fried Oreos to Italian sausage and calzones.
Dig in

Events & Things To Do

September 17, 2019

One Vanderbilt tops out at 1,401 feet, becomes tallest office building in Midtown

The Greenwich by Rafael Vinoly

The Grand Central Terminal-adjacent supertall One Vanderbilt officially topped out this week, reaching its full 1,401-foot height. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, the tower is now Midtown's tallest office building and the fourth-tallest skyscraper in New York City. One Vanderbilt, developed by SL Green, measures 1.7 million square feet and boasts a unique terra cotta facade as well as the fourth-highest observation deck in the city.
Another supertall makes its mark

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You can now take a private helicopter to brunch at JFK’s TWA Hotel

Image courtesy of MCR and Morse Development

September 17, 2019

You can now take a private helicopter to brunch at JFK’s TWA Hotel

It'll cost you a pretty penny—$340 per person, to be exact—but you can now take a private helicopter to brunch at JFK's buzzy new TWA Hotel. Helicopter service Blade and the Gerber Group have partnered on the limited-edition offering, which is open for reservations on Sundays only through November 3rd.
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Trump’s childhood home heads back to the auction block after failing to find a $2.9M buyer

Images courtesy of Paramount Realty USA

September 17, 2019

Trump’s childhood home heads back to the auction block after failing to find a $2.9M buyer

President Donald Trump’s boyhood home in Jamacia Estates is headed to auction after spending 19 days on the market last February for $2.9 million, the New York Times reports. The home is no longer owned by Trump or his organization; the current owner bought the property in 2017 for $2.14 million anonymously via Trump Birth House LLC. The unassuming five-bedroom Tudor has since been used as an Airbnb rental, and it was briefly rented by refugees via anti-poverty organization Oxfam to bring attention to the refugee crisis during the 2017 UN General Assembly.
It's not about real estate

September 17, 2019

The world’s tallest residential building, Central Park Tower, tops out at 1,550 feet

Central Park Tower officially topped out on Tuesday, breaking the record set by nearby 432 Park Avenue for the tallest residential building in the world. Reaching 1,550 feet high, the skyscraper at 217 West 57th Street would be the tallest building in New York City if not for the 400-foot spire of One World Trade, as New York Magazine reported. Developed by supertall-specialists Extell, Central Park Tower includes a seven-story Nordstrom flagship store and 179 luxury condos.
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New design revealed for Central Park women’s suffrage statue, but objections delay vote

Rendering of “Women’s Rights Pioneer Monument” (courtesy of Monumental Women).

September 17, 2019

New design revealed for Central Park women’s suffrage statue, but objections delay vote

Last year’s unveiling of designs for the first statue in Central Park’s 165-year history that depicts real historic women–a sculpture of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, set to be dedicated in August of 2020 to mark the 100th anniversary of nationwide women’s suffrage–was met with the criticism that it didn't adequately represent the many African-American women who aided in the cause. As 6sqft previously reported, a redesigned statue honoring women’s rights advocates will now include Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and escaped slave and abolitionist Sojourner Truth, who aided in the fight for women’s rights. The updated design has been revealed. But, as AM New York reports, The city's Public Design Commission has said the statue still falls short, and has postponed the vote to confirm the new design–possibly jeopardizing an August 26, 2020 unveiling.
Critics weigh in

Gorgeously grand 11-room residence at the Dakota asks $11M

Listing images courtesy of Douglas Elliman

September 17, 2019

Gorgeously grand 11-room residence at the Dakota asks $11M