6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

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

All photos © James and Karla Murray

December 9, 2019

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.
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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

Distinctive Homes

This $800K Chelsea two-bedroom co-op is easy on fees and rules

7,000-square-foot 'wellness loft' in the West Village asks $25.8M, working phone booth included

For $1.85M, this Chelsea co-op is a work of art

An elevator makes this $4.2M Greenpoint townhouse a timeless forever home

Park Avenue penthouse with enormous terrace owned by Maurice Tempelsman lists for $5.5M

This classic Park Slope townhouse sold for $5.3M in January. Now, it's asking $10.25M

Sting's former Central Park West pad is back on the market for $45M

This $6.4M Chelsea condo is like having a library, cafe, and office in a three-bedroom loft

For $1.3M, easy living with a view in a Brooklyn high-rise condo

Mariah Carey lists Tribeca penthouse for $27M

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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

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?

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.
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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

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.
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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.
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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

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

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

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

50 places to shop locally in NYC for that perfect gift

10 best plants for apartment dwellers

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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

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.
Get the full tour

Distinctive Homes

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.
Find out if you qualify

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.
Find out more

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.
Find out if you qualify

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

A plan to redesign the New York Philharmonic's concert hall was unveiled on Monday, nearly two decades after the project was first proposed. The $550 million plan aims to create a more intimate experience, acoustically and visually, at David Geffen Hall by moving the stage closer to the audience, improving sightlines, and reducing the seating capacity. Officials estimate the new hall will open in March of 2024.
More here

Architecture And Design

Image by Gerhard Gellinger via Pixabay

December 2, 2019

The 13 best Advent calendars of 2019

Advent calendars–those countdown calendars with little doors or tabs that can be opened each day of the month–are a visual, hands-on way to deal with counting the days 'til Christmas. The idea falls somewhere between a card and a gift, with the added excitement of having each day be a chance to reveal a new bauble, bonbon, potion or prize. Both the ritual of finding out what’s behind the door–and getting to enjoy it–can be almost as fun for grown-ups as kids. Below are 12 cool countdown calendars stocked with treats from chocolates and tea to Marvel figurines and "Game of Thrones" socks (yes, really.)–and one DIY version you can fill with whatever you like.
cool advent calendars, this way

Whimsy and luxury collide in this $19M Soho loft filled with a hand-themed art collection

Listing images courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

December 2, 2019

Whimsy and luxury collide in this $19M Soho loft filled with a hand-themed art collection

After nearly 30 years, Henry Buhl—a former mutual-fund manager turned photographer, philanthropist, and art collector—has listed his four-bedroom Soho loft for a cool $19 million. Buhl bought two adjacent units at 102 Prince Street and 114 Greene Street in 1990 for about $2.5 million and combined them into a sprawling, 7,000+ square-foot residence. Located in a classic Soho cast-iron building, one side of the home is luxuriously decorated in the Renaissance style while the other offers a unique “sculpture garden” filled with Buhl’s hand-themed art collection featuring works by Pablo Picasso, Auguste Rodin, and Fernando Botero. The 89-year-old is looking to downsize, according to an interview with the Wall Street Journal, and is willing to sell prospective buyers “a handful” of his art as well.
Have a look around

December 2, 2019

Iconic Bronx Kosher deli Loeser’s faces an uncertain future

Street View of Loeser's in August 2017; Map Data © 2019 Google Usually, when we talk about historic mom-and-pop businesses closing up shop, it's due to a rent increase. But in the case of Loeser's Kosher Deli, the issue comes down to a potentially faulty gas pipe. As the Riverdale Press tells us, the Department of Buildings issued a violation to the 60-year-old Bronx establishment and a shutdown notice as of November 20th. Now, facing high repair costs and loss of business, the fate of Loeser's seems uncertain.
The whole story

Food & Dining

Empire State Building opens 80th-floor observatory, completing $165M redevelopment

Photo by Evan Joseph for Empire State Realty Trust

December 2, 2019

Empire State Building opens 80th-floor observatory, completing $165M redevelopment

With the opening of the 80th-floor observatory last week, the $165 million, four-year redevelopment of the Empire State Building is now complete. In partnership with the city's tourism agency, NYC & Company, Empire State Realty Trust created an interactive, visitor-focused experience, which includes personalized digital itineraries, the building's classic viewfinders, film, original artwork, and more. The Trust unveiled the 102nd-floor observatory to the public in October, with the second-floor museum opening earlier in the summer.
See it here

Architecture And Design

Get a rare look inside the homes of the Chelsea Hotel’s last residents

The home of Suzanne Lipschutz, owner of antiques store Secondhand Rose. All Images by Colin Miller; courtesy of The Monacelli Press

December 2, 2019

Get a rare look inside the homes of the Chelsea Hotel’s last residents

Despite ongoing legal conflicts and stalled plans to convert the storied structure into a luxury hotel, the Chelsea Hotel remains one of the city’s legendary landmarks. Hotel Chelsea: Living in the Last Bohemian Haven, a new book published last month by The Monacelli Press, documents the homes of nearly two dozen current residents (there are about 50-60 remaining residents in total) who still embody the bohemian spirit of the Gilded Era hotel that was once home to seminal figures like Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, Patti Smith, William S. Burroughs, and Thomas Wolfe.
See more photos

Distinctive Homes

Vintage photos document the origins of Black Friday shopping in NYC

Christmas shoppers on 6th Avenue (1910) via Library of Congress

November 27, 2019

Vintage photos document the origins of Black Friday shopping in NYC

Black Friday marks the start of frantic holiday shopping, the day when retailers offer their best deals of the season to lure in eager shoppers. While some gift-givers now choose to digitally add items to shopping carts from the comfort of bed instead, many still line up outside of stores at the crack of dawn in search of major discounts. This is not a modern phenomenon, as these photographs from the Library of Congress of 20th century New York City reveal. Like today, New Yorkers of the early 1900s were drawn to the magical window shops and displays. Ahead, explore vintage photos of shoppers browsing New York City stores looking for the perfect presents, postcards and more.
See the photos here

200 spots open on waitlist for middle-income units at ritzy Upper West Side rental

Photo by Peter Burka on Flickr

November 27, 2019

200 spots open on waitlist for middle-income units at ritzy Upper West Side rental

A housing lottery launched this week to replenish the waitlist at a high-end apartment building on the Upper West Side. Applications are currently being accepted for a 200-spot waitlist for the West End Towers, a two-tower, 1,000-unit complex at 75 West End Avenue. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the available units, studios between $1,997 and $2,137 per month and one-bedrooms between $2,224 and $2,601 per month. Eligible applicants will be randomly selected and placed on the waitlist for future vacancies.
How to apply

Affordable Housing

Every Sunday during the holidays, ride a vintage 1930s subway around NYC

Photo by Marc Hermann, Courtesy of the New York Transit Museum

November 27, 2019

Every Sunday during the holidays, ride a vintage 1930s subway around NYC

Every Sunday between Thanksgiving and New Year's, the New York Transit Museum will run its Holiday Nostalgia Rides, departing from the 2nd Avenue F train station. The 1930s R1-9 train cars have a "Depression-Era Art Deco aesthetic," complete with "rattan seats, paddle ceiling fans, incandescent light bulbs, roll signs, and period advertisements," the announcement tells us.
See the full schedule

After City Bakery closure, founder will host hot chocolate pop-ups

Modified version of photo by Shawn Rossi on Flickr

November 27, 2019

After City Bakery closure, founder will host hot chocolate pop-ups

The Greenwich by Rafael Vinoly

If there was one thing City Bakery was known for, it was the hot chocolate. The thick and creamy beverage (with the option to add a massive, homemade marshmallow) was created by founder Maury Rubin when he had a fortunate accident while working on a chocolate mousse recipe, Grub Street tells us. They also tell us that Rubin, who closed City Bakery last month due to debt, will be launching a series of pop-ups around town to sell his famous hot chocolate.
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Live between Central Park and Morningside Park in Harlem, from $2,357/month

Photo by Allie Smith on Unsplash

November 27, 2019

Live between Central Park and Morningside Park in Harlem, from $2,357/month

Located in between two of Manhattan's best green spaces, Morningside Park and Central Park, a new rental has launched a lottery for 32 middle-income apartments. The 13-story building at 251 West 117th Street in Harlem sits behind the former St. Thomas the Apostle Church, which has been restored and converted into a community and performance space. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, which include $2,357/month studios, $2,526/month one-bedrooms, and $3,044/month two bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

141 middle-income units up for grabs at Prospect-Lefferts’ tallest tower, from $2,156/month

Rendering courtesy of ArX Solutions

November 26, 2019

141 middle-income units up for grabs at Prospect-Lefferts’ tallest tower, from $2,156/month

A housing lottery launched this week for 141 middle-income apartments at a newly constructed building that borders Brooklyn's Flatbush and Prospect-Lefferts Gardens neighborhoods. Dubbed "PLG," the 26-story tower at 123 Linden Boulevard sits a few blocks from the southern end of Prospect Park and boasts 50,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenity space. As the tallest building in the neighborhood at 320 feet, PLG offers unobstructed panoramic views of Prospect Park, the Manhattan skyline, and the Verrazano Bridge. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, which range from $2,156/month studios to $3,122/month three-bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

TWA Hotel’s vintage Connie bar teams up with ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’

All photos courtesy of Prime Video

November 26, 2019

TWA Hotel’s vintage Connie bar teams up with ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’

"The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," Amazon Prime's hit comedy series about a housewife turned stand-up comedian in 1950s New York City, has certainly used its hometown setting to its advantage when it comes to PR. Last December, ahead of the second season, the show revived the beloved Carnegie Deli for a promotional pop-up pastrami shop. Now, to kick off the third season's launch on December 6th, they're taking over the TWA Hotel's Connie, a real vintage airplane that's been retrofitted as a retro cocktail lounge. Not only is the bar offering special Mrs. Maisel-themed deals for the next couple days, but lead actress Rachel Brosnahan even appears in front of the plane in a national billboard.
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Events & Things To Do

November 26, 2019

Disability rights group files lawsuit challenging inaccessibility of new Long Island City library

A disability rights group filed a lawsuit on Tuesday that claims a new public library in Queens does not provide full access for those with mobility disabilities. The civil suit, filed by the Center for Independence of the Disabled New York and the Disability Rights Advocates (DRA), says the newly constructed Hunters Point Library in Long Island City, which took nearly a decade to build and cost more than $41 million, violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). While the library opened in September to praise from architecture critics for its innovative design, visitors immediately criticized the building's third level fiction section, accessible only by stairs.
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Policy

Netflix reaches deal to keep Midtown’s Paris Theatre open for special events and screenings

Photo courtesy of Netflix, by Marion Curtis

November 26, 2019

Netflix reaches deal to keep Midtown’s Paris Theatre open for special events and screenings