April 24, 2019

Built in 1842, this $9.8M Gramercy mansion is one of the neighborhood’s oldest homes

Located within the Gramercy Park Historic District, this classic four-story Greek Revival-style townhouse at 216 East 18th Street, asking $9.75 million, was one of the first in the district to be built. It was constructed–along with its neighbor at 214 East 18th Street–in 1842 for wealthy businessman, civic leader and Native American rights activist William E. Dodge. The townhouse is a rare 25 feet wide; within are 5,000 square feet of living space that includes 15 rooms and seven fireplaces with original mantles intact. Also intact is a stunning combination of plaster molding, high ceilings and tall windows.
Take the tour
April 24, 2019

New Essex Market officially opens on the Lower East Side next month

Essex Market's new home on the ground floor of the mega-development Essex Crossing officially opens to the public on May 13. Located across the street from its nearly 80-year-old home, the market is hosting a free event on Saturday, May 18 at 88 Essex Street to celebrate, as Eater NY first reported. The market's more than 20 existing vendors will make the move across the street, to be joined by 18 new vendors and two restaurants. The old market will officially close its doors on May 5.
Find out more
April 24, 2019

18 middle-income apartments with Hudson River views available in Hell’s Kitchen, from $2,135/month

Photo courtesy of The Helux Applications are now open for 18 fully renovated units at 520 West 43rd Street in Midtown West. Located between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues, the 33-story building was built in 1998 and boasts Hudson River views and proximity to Port Authority Bus Terminal, Times Square, and Hudson Yards. Known as The Helux, the building's name is a combination of "Hell's Kitchen" and "Luxury." The building comes with a pretty amenities package and no shortage of transportation options. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, ranging from a $2,135/month studio to a $2,760/month two-bedroom.
Get the details
April 24, 2019

Artists chosen for Shirley Chisholm statue in Prospect Park

In New York City's five boroughs, only five out of 150 monuments of historic figures depict women. Launched last year, a program from Women.nyc called She Built NYC is attempting to narrow that gap by commissioning monuments throughout the city honoring visionary women who have helped define the city and made an impact on the world. To that end, acclaimed artists Amanda Williams and Olalekan Jeyifous have been selected to design the first of these monuments, which will honor celebrated New York congresswoman Shirley Chisholm.
More of the winning design, this way
April 24, 2019

With loan secured, Brooklyn’s tallest skyscraper is finally ready to rise

The on-again, off-again construction of a Brooklyn skyscraper got a major push forward Tuesday. The Wall Street Journal reported that 9 DeKalb Avenue's developer Michael Stern of JDS Development has acquired a more than $664 million loan package to fund the development of the skyscraper. While the plan was first approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission three years ago, lack of financing and a change of developers stalled the project. Expected to reach 1,066 feet high upon completion, the SHoP Architects-designed tower will become the borough's tallest.
Get the details
April 24, 2019

14th Street busway is back on, private vehicles will be banned during L train shutdown

It seems plans for a "busway" on 14th Street are back on, according to a draft release of the de Blasio administration’s plans obtained by amNY. The city will ban most private vehicles on 14th Street to help speed up the flow of buses and mitigate overcrowding during the L train shutdown. While the L train Canarsie Tunnel rehabilitation work is scheduled to begin on April 26, the 14th Street changes won’t kick into effect until June.
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April 24, 2019

Paul Simon lists 32-acre New Canaan, Connecticut ‘private park’ for $14M

Musician Paul Simon has just listed his New Canaan, CT countryside estate for $13.9 million–16 percent less than he paid for it (h/t Wall Street Journal). The 32-acre property that Simon and his wife, singer-songwriter Edie Brickell and their three children, have called home since 2002 includes a 8,500-square-foot main house and a private recording studio, formal walled gardens and a courtyard, landscaped grounds with a brook, meadows, woodlands, a great lawn, a pond, waterfalls and a three-car garage.
See more of the marvelous, musical mansion
April 24, 2019

Where I Work: How Kerry Brodie helps empower refugees through food at Emma’s Torch in Brooklyn

While volunteering at a Washington, D.C. homeless shelter a few years ago, Kerry Brodie witnessed how food can facilitate conversations among diverse groups of people. “If I have one background, someone else a different one, but we have this shared experience of cooking with our mothers and grandmothers, there’s got to be something else we can do to propel change,” Kerry said. With the idea to help those from disenfranchised communities find jobs and feel empowered doing so, she quit her job in public policy, moved to New York, and enrolled in culinary school. A month after graduating, Kerry founded Emma’s Torch, first as a pop-up in Red Hook to now a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Carroll Gardens, where it’s been for about a year. The nonprofit, named after Emma Lazarus whose poem is inscribed on the Statue of Liberty, serves as a culinary school for refugees, asylum seekers, and survivors of trafficking. Applicants who are accepted to the 12-week paid program not only learn how to cook in a high-pressure setting but also work on English language skills and career planning. 6sqft recently sat down with Kerry at Emma's Torch ahead of a graduation dinner, a night where the students take over the menu and "cook from the heart." Ahead, learn more about the mission of Emma's Torch, the challenges of operating as a nonprofit, and Kerry's plan to expand beyond New York City.
See the space and meet the founder of Emma's Torch
April 24, 2019

The Doe Fund is redeveloping a former army reserve center in the Bronx into affordable housing for veterans

The Doe Fund has announced plans to develop 90 new units of affordable housing in the Bronx on the site of the former Joseph A. Muller Army Reserve Center at 555 Nereid Avenue in Wakefield. The New York City-based nonprofit organization acquired the long-dormant structure in 2013 and has since worked with Wakefield residents to create a redevelopment plan that responds to the community’s needs. As a result, the site will be converted into 90 studio apartments, 54 of which will be reserved for formerly homeless veterans.
More info
April 23, 2019

Pacific Park construction accelerates with groundbreaking at tallest tower

Long in the works, construction at the Pacific Park complex in Brooklyn is set to ramp up after Greenland Forest City Partners announced a partnership with the Brodsky Organization to develop 18 Sixth Avenue. Designed by Perkins Eastman, the building will exceed 500 feet and become the tallest in Pacific Park. As 6sqft previously reported, Brodsky was also tapped for another apartment building in the complex at 664 Pacific Street, which will also include public space and a school. Groundbreaking at both sites is set to take place within the next two weeks.
More info
April 23, 2019

Rumored one-time Upper East Side home of Barbara Walters lists for $10.4M

Reported to have been the one-time home of television personality Barbara Walters, this four-bedroom residence is the picture of pre-war elegance, with soaring coffered ceilings, custom millwork, and dark parquet floors throughout. Located in one of the most prestigious corners of the Upper East Side at 555 Park Avenue, the property is listed at $10,350,000 but is also available for rent at $37,500 a month.
Take a look inside
April 23, 2019

De Blasio’s Green New Deal would ban ‘inefficient’ all-glass and steel skyscrapers

New York City will prohibit the construction of new "inefficient"all-glass and steel skyscrapers, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday. Dubbed by the mayor as the city's version of the Green New Deal, the $14 billion plan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent by 2030 as a way to fight climate change. Under the bill, developers would have to meet strict energy codes before getting a building permit from the city. During a press conference Monday, de Blasio said glass skyscrapers that do not meet strict performance guidelines "have no place in our city or on our Earth anymore."
Learn more
April 23, 2019

16 affordable units now available in new Greenpoint building on McCarren Park, rents from $1,114/month

A lottery offering 16 affordable apartments is now officially open at the newly-constructed mixed-use building at 848 Lorimer Street overlooking McCarren Park in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Qualifying New Yorkers earning between 80 and 130 percent of the area median income can apply, with rents ranging from a $1,125/month studio to a $2,684/month two-bedroom. The brick-and-glass building is six stories tall with 52 residential units total, and includes a street-level parking garage.
Fabulous amenities, this way
April 23, 2019

My 800sqft: Art curator Blair Russell brings Miami to Midtown with graffiti art and fluorescent finds

 apartment. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch! Florida native Blair Russell spends half of every month in Miami. And for the other two weeks, Miami comes with him to his New York City apartment. The curator-creative has decked out his Midtown abode, located in a 1910 building formerly home to an upscale children's apparel store, with fluorescent colors, graffiti art, and international finds, all while mixing in a mid-century modern flair. Blair first bought his home on 35th and 5th one month after September 11, at a time when living next to the Empire State Building wasn’t exactly a selling point. “It used to be called the dirty 30’s when I moved here in 2002,” Blair told us. A self-described third-generation artist, Blair made a career in Florida by helping developers outfit South Beach properties with art. Later, with housing experience under his belt, he began converting abandoned buildings into affordable housing for local artists. Now with real estate further in his rearview mirror, Blair is focusing on traveling and curating art for clients. “Everything I’ve done, I do it for one to 10 percent of the population. If more than 10 percent like it, it’s probably not going to happen with me," he said. Ahead, see Blair's eclectic apartment, from his orange-painted orgy centerpiece done by a Warhol protégé to a door he took from the last peep show on 42nd Street.
Take a tour
April 23, 2019

TWA Hotel reveals first look at rooftop infinity pool and observation deck

When the TWA Hotel opens, guests will be able to "pull up a chaise lounge, sip a Mile High Spritz and take a dip in the infinity pool with panoramic views of the busiest runways at JFK." According to a press release sent out today by MCR and Morse Development, the rooftop infinity pool and observation deck is set to open on May 15th along with the rest of the project and remain open 365 days a year thanks to its ability to reach 100 degrees and turn into a "pool-cuzzi." And if you haven't booked a stay at the hotel, you can still reserve a table on the rooftop to take a dip and order a cocktail.
Find out more
April 23, 2019

Pier 35 eco-park and ‘urban beach’ is open to the public

After years of anticipation, Pier 35 on the East River waterfront is officially open (h/t Curbed). The project, designed by SHoP with Ken Smith Workshop, consists of a new eco-park and an "urban beach" anchoring the northern flank of the East River waterfront esplanade and providing much-needed public space on the waterfront. The park also functions as a habitat restoration feature: "Mussel Beach" was created to replicate the characteristics of the original East River shoreline.
See more of pier 35, this way
April 23, 2019

56 chances to live in an amenity-rich Crown Heights rental, from $1,168/month

Applications are now being accepted for 56 middle-income apartments at a brand new luxury building in Crown Heights. Facing Brooklyn's historic thoroughfare, 409 Eastern Parkway sits just one block from bustling Franklin Avenue and two blocks from the Brooklyn Museum, Botanic Garden, and Prospect Park. Plus, the building offers residents more than 17,000 square feet of amenities, including a fitness center, pet spa, children's playroom, co-working spaces, landscaped roof with bocce ball courts, and more. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 80 and 120 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, ranging from a $1,168/month studio to a $2,759/month two-bedroom.
Find out if you qualify
April 22, 2019

Get your sweet fix while exploring downtown Manhattan on an Underground Donut Tour

After finding success in Chicago and Philadelphia, the Underground Donut Tour has officially launched in New York City (h/t amNY), where there’s no shortage of both modern and classic takes on the popular dessert. And while it’s the perfect way to fulfill your cravings and try new flavor profiles, you don’t have to be a donut fanatic (or a cop) to enjoy yourself. During the two-hour tour, participants will hit up four of the city’s best donut shops while traversing several historic neighborhoods in downtown Manhattan and learning a fun array of facts about the city.
Donut details this way
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April 22, 2019

For $12M, a wooden West Village townhouse built two centuries ago

One of the oldest buildings in the West Village is for sale. Located at 17 Grove Street, the rare, wood-frame townhouse built in 1822 is now on the market for $12 million. The unique property includes the main, three-bedroom house, and a two-story backhouse at 100 Bedford Street. Because the city banned the construction of wooden homes in the area in 1849, 17 Grove Street is one of the oldest remaining wood-frame homes in the Village, although not quite the overall oldest home in the neighborhood.
Take the tour
April 22, 2019

Age-friendly NYC: The best neighborhoods for New Yorkers 65+

More than 17 percent of New Yorkers are over the age of 60, and over the coming two decades, this number is expected to rise to well over 20 percent. To address the specific needs of older New Yorkers and to ensure the city is able to fully benefit from their presence, New York City has launched an Age-Friendly Neighborhoods Initiative. Modeled after similar initiatives in cities around the world, it is described as “an opportunity to build upon the rich experiences of older adults and leverage the strengths of local neighborhoods that make each New York City community unique.” This article explores what “age-friendly” neighborhoods look like and examines five NYC neighborhoods where at least 25 percent of residents are already 65 years of age or older, from the Upper East Side to Brighton Beach.
All the info ahead
April 22, 2019

Staten Island’s Bay Street Corridor rezoning proposal moves forward

Update 4/23/19: The City Planning Commission voted on Monday to approve the Bay Street Corridor rezoning plan, despite opposition from Staten Island Borough President Jimmy Oddo and local community groups, City Limits reported. As the plan now goes in front of the City Council, housing advocates will continue to push for the rezoning to include deeply affordable units. The City Planning Commission will vote Monday on the rezoning proposal for Staten Island's Bay Street Corridor, an area between Tompkinsville Park and Tappan Park. Ahead of the agency's vote, questions remain about the plan's affordable housing portion, expected to bring 1,800 new residential units to the area. According to a report from Clifford Michel of THE CITY, the rezoning sets aside affordable housing for middle-class professionals, allowing developers to build units for households earning as much as $127,000 per year for a family of three. Based on that income requirement, the "affordable" apartments would rent for more than $3,000 per month.
More details this way
April 22, 2019

New rendering shows 277-foot tower rising next to Williamsburgh Savings Bank

The 26-story tower rising at 159 Broadway next to South Williamsburg's landmarked, domed Williamsburgh Savings Bank is making progress on its way to becoming 21 condos and a hotel. A new rendering courtesy of architectural firm Stonehill Taylor depicts the 277-foot-tall tower on the rise thanks to air rights above the bank, purchased by developer Cornell Realty Management along with the lot adjacent the bank hall.
More this way
April 22, 2019

At 9 DeKalb, SHoP Architects reveal a rooftop pool wrapping around Dime Savings Bank’s dome

A fresh rendering of 9 Dekalb Avenue first published in the New York Times last week revealed a new aspect of the project: the Dime Savings Bank's roof will be transformed into an outdoor lounge for residents, including a pool that will partly wrap around the ornate Guastavino dome. Inside, the Beaux-Arts interior will become a flagship store, with further details to be announced. The rising 1,066-foot-tower is being developed by JDS Development, with SHoP Architects leading the design, and is set to become the tallest tower in Brooklyn upon completion.
More info
April 19, 2019

Barbra Streisand’s former Central Park West penthouse hits the market for $11.25M

Barbra Streisand's former penthouse at an Emery Roth-designed building on the Upper West Side is asking $11.25 million. Found at 320 Central Park West in the Ardsley, one of the city's most notable Art Deco residential towers, the duplex includes four bedrooms, three and a half baths, and 2,500 square feet of terraces. The "EGOT" winner moved to the building in 1963 and remained there for over 30 years, according to the New York Times.
See inside
April 19, 2019

Parts of every NYC borough will go car free next weekend for Earth Day

To celebrate Earth Day next weekend, New York City is closing some of its streets to cars. As part of an annual event run by the city's Department of Transportation, 30 blocks of Broadway from Times Square to Union Square will be closed on April 27 to allow pedestrians and cyclists to roam and ride free between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Along the nearly two-mile route, the city will offer some environmental programs and nonprofit organizations will be on-site to educate walkers about climate change and sustainability.
Learn more
April 19, 2019

14 of this year’s best spring house tours in and around New York City

House tour season is kicking off on May 2 this year with the opening of the Kips Bay Decorator's Show House and will continue throughout the summer at various sites throughout the city, New Jersey, and farther afield. For architecture buffs, history junkies, and avid gardeners, this time of year offers the rare opportunity to get an insider's look at some of the most spectacular homes and surprising gardens in and around New York City. Below we've rounded up 14 of the season's best tours, from the Upper East Side to Park Slope to Nyack to Long Beach Island, and we're sure everyone will find something to suit their interests and budget.
All the Spring House Tour info ahead
April 19, 2019

Live in a charming Park Slope co-op one block from Prospect Park for just $695K

Listing images by Shannon Dupree; courtesy of Compass On the top floor of a brownstone at 111 Eighth Avenue in Park Slope and just one block away from Prospect Park, this one-bedroom co-op offers quintessential Brooklyn living for just $695,000. While a fifth-floor walk-up isn’t ideal, if you don’t mind the effort you’ll be rewarded with a cozy home filled with pre-war details, multiple built-ins, and lots of warm western light. The unit last sold in 2013 for $415,000.
Take a look inside
April 19, 2019

As the Easter Parade hits Midtown this weekend, here’s how subways will be running

If you're heading to the annual Easter Parade and Easter Bonnet Festival this Sunday—beginning at 10 a.m. at Fifth Avenue and 49th Street and marching up to 55th Street—you'll want to take the E to Fifth Avenue-53rd Street, the N and R to Fifth Avenue-59th Street, the 4, 5, and 6 to Grand Central, or the 7 to Fifth Avenue. If you have other plans this weekend, check out our guide to planned service changes so you can get there with minimum headaches.
Know before you go
April 18, 2019

Netflix to open new production centers in Bushwick and Flatiron

Netflix plans to expand its New York City footprint with new production centers in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Thursday that the streaming-service company will take up 100,000 square feet at 888 Broadway in Flatiron and roughly 160,000 square feet at 333 Johnson Avenue in Bushwick. "Netflix is innovative, creative and bold - just like New Yorkers - and the expansion of this cutting-edge company in New York once again demonstrates the Empire State is open for business," Cuomo said.
More here
April 18, 2019

This cute slice of a Clinton Hill townhouse has rooms for everyone, a garden and a roof deck for $2.8M

This beautifully renovated single-family brick townhouse at 151 Willoughby Avenue among the elegant brownstone blocks of Clinton Hill may be narrow, but within its walls are five bedrooms, seven working wood burning fireplaces, a gracious parlor, a stylish and well-appointed eat-in kitchen, a family room, a back yard, and a roof deck. Though the home, asking $2.795 million, is ready for modern living, it's filled with unique details.
Take the townhouse tour
April 18, 2019

Yankees legend David Cone relists Greenwich Village apartment for a reduced $9.9M

Former Yankee pitcher and current commentator David Cone—known for the perfect game he threw in 1999—has just relisted his Greenwich Village apartment at 160 West 12th Street for a slightly reduced $9,900,000, the New York Post reports. Cone scored the four-bedroom pad back in 2016 for $8,130,000 and first listed it in 2017 for $10,500,000. The 2,818-square-foot, floor-through unit is part of the amenity-filled Greenwich Lane, a redevelopment of the historic St. Vincent's Hospital Campus designed by FXCollaborative.
Take a look inside
April 18, 2019

11 landmarks of immigration in Greenwich Village

Each year, immigrant history week is celebrated in late April, commemorating the day in 1907 when more immigrants came through Ellis Island than any other day in history. More than a few of those immigrants came through Greenwich Village, which has a long and storied history of welcoming newcomers from across the city, country, and globe. Here are just a few of the sites within the Greenwich Village Historic District where landmarks of our nation’s rich and varied immigrant history can be found, from the oldest surviving Jewish cemetery in the country to a hub of "Little Spain."
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April 18, 2019

Census data shows New York City’s population has been shrinking for the first time in over a decade

According to U.S. Census Bureau information released Thursday, the number of people moving into New York City's five boroughs has fallen for the first time in decades, the Wall Street Journal reports. The city's population saw a drop of 0.47 percent to 8.4 million–still the highest of any U.S. metro area–between 2017 and 2018. And more people left than arrived: International migration dipped, lowering the city’s population in 2017 and 2018. Overall, cities in the nation's south and west saw the biggest population growth, with the area that includes Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington seeing the most growth of any metropolitan area.
A trend reverses
April 18, 2019

Proposed law forces big NYC buildings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030

New York City is ramping up its fight against climate change with a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from high-rise buildings by 40 percent over the next decade. The City Council is expected to pass on Thursday an eight-bill legislative package that has been called its own version of the Green New Deal. The most ambitious bill of the lot requires NYC buildings 25,000 square feet or bigger to meet new standards to reduce greenhouse gas outputs by upgrading them with energy-efficient technology.
Get the details
April 17, 2019

Spring cleaning in NYC: Where to dispose of and donate your unwanted items

Spring may have started on March 20, but it’s only now that the weather’s warming up in New York City, which means it’s time for spring cleaning. Thanks to the recent Marie Kondo mania, cleaning has transformed from a chore to a celebration, but once you've taken stock of your life and separated that which sparks joy from that which simply takes up space, what do you do with all that unwanted stuff? From disposing of bulk items and electronics to making donations, here's a handy NYC spring cleaning guide.
Here are our tips
April 17, 2019

Four-acre Hamptons retreat offers private beach access and a saltwater pool for $14.5M

This 9,000-square-foot Hamptons home is a full-fledged resort offering a version of paradise for warm weather outdoor enthusiasts. The four-acre, ocean-front property not only comes with 113 feet of private beach rights, but it also includes a saltwater pool, bocce court, a gourmet outdoor kitchen, a fire pit and outdoor fireplace, and multiple decks and patios for both entertaining and private retreats. Built in 2007, the sprawling eight-bedroom residence just hit the market for $14,500,000—the highest priced residence ever to go on sale in East Quogue.
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April 17, 2019

Renovation Diary: A Clinton Hill townhouse makes room for layers of history and modernist design

Our Renovation Diary has been following 6sqft writer Michelle Cohen as she takes on the challenge of transforming a Brooklyn townhouse in the historic Clinton Hill neighborhood into a site-sensitive modern home. She previously shared plans for the 150-year-old building and the first big steps she and her husband, a public health lawyer and antique lighting dealer, have taken to make their dream home a reality, including two years of hunting, planning the renovation, and assembling the professionals needed to make it happen (and how the homeowners made the best of all the waiting time). With Landmarks' signoff and permits in hand, a year-long renovation began. Below, the results, with plenty of hindsight, advice, resources and construction photos on the way.
Hear from Michelle and see the transformation
April 17, 2019

Marymount School puts grand Upper East Side mansion on the market for $32M

Currently home to Marymount School of New York, this grand–even by Upper East Side standards–12,300-square-foot property at 2 East 82nd Street, asking $32 million, could give new meaning to the term "private school." Originally built as a residence around 1898 by architect Alexander McMillan Welch of Welch, Smith & Provot, the home's first owners were Mr. Albert Gould Jennings, owner of a Brooklyn lathe works, and his wife, who lived here until 1940. Behind its landmarked limestone-and-brick facade, many of the original turn-of-the-century details remain, and an elevator services all floors.
Tour this unusual city mansion-turned-school
April 17, 2019

144 mixed-income units up for grabs at new East Harlem building, from $328/month

Applications are now being accepted for 144 mixed-income apartments at a brand new East Harlem building. Developed by SKA Marin, the building at 1912 First Avenue, called The Gilbert on First, rises 16 stories and contains just over 150 apartments. Qualifying New Yorkers earning between $13,200 and $199,650 annually can apply for the apartments, which range from a $328/month studio to a $3,009/month three-bedroom.
Here's how to apply
April 17, 2019

Marc Jacobs lists Robert A.M. Stern-designed West Village townhouse for $16M

Shortly after purchasing a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home in the New York suburb of Rye, designer Marc Jacobs has put his West Village townhouse on the market for $15,996,000, as the Wall Street Journal first reported. Jacobs is looking to downsize in Manhattan as he prepares to split his time between New York City and Rye. The three-bedroom townhouse at 68 Bethune Street is part of the Superior Ink condominium project designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects in the late 2000s. Property records show that Jacobs bought the residence for $10.495 million in 2009.
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April 17, 2019

New renderings show rebuilt, non-bouncing Squibb Bridge in Brooklyn Bridge Park

Brooklynites are hoping the third time's a charm for the trouble-plagued Squibb Bridge, a 450-foot-long wooden walkway connecting Squibb Park to Pier 1 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. The bridge has had what Brooklyn Bridge Park president Eric Landau called a "challenged history.” But the park has been working with engineers at Arup to find ways to make the new bridge safe (h/t Curbed). Possible solutions included retrofitting the existing bridge, which would cost $4 million and take about a year, and building a new bridge from scratch atop the current concrete in-ground support structures, with a cost of about $6.5 million and an 18-month schedule. The latter plan was chosen, and the new bridge will be made from pre-fabricated steel, which means it should be safe for years to come rather than needing significant maintenance soon.
More on Squibb Bridge 3.0, this way
April 16, 2019

Extell’s 720-foot Brooklyn Point tops out, becomes tallest tower in borough

Brooklyn Point, Extell’s first outer-borough tower rising at 138 Willoughby Street officially topped out this week at 720 feet, and the views from near the top are even more incredible than expected. The 68-story high-rise designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox will contain 458 luxury units, ranging from studios to three-bedrooms, starting at $850,000 and reaching over $4 million. On track to be completed by 2020, it’ll be Brooklyn's tallest building (at least until the 1,000-foot building planned for 9 DeKalb Avenue rises) and boast the highest outdoor infinity pool in the western hemisphere.
Check out the views!
April 16, 2019

Upper East Side carriage house once owned by John D. Rockefeller Jr. seeks $19M

Listing images by Donna Dotan One of the city’s last remaining carriage houses at 163 East 70th Street has hit the market seeking $18,950,000, as Mansion Global first reported. Designed by CPH Gilbert in 1902 for banker, philanthropist, and art collector Jules Bache, it was built at a grander scale than typical carriage houses to accommodate a ground floor carriage-wash, a horse ramp, and double-height stalls for a dozen horses. In 1944, John D. Rockefeller Jr.—who lived just two houses down at 740 Park Avenue—purchased the house and had his architect Grosvenor Atterbury convert it into his family’s private automobile garage and chauffeur’s quarters. The 25-foot wide property spans over 7,500 square feet across four floors with an additional 2,500 square-foot cellar and a 12-foot private garage.
Take a look inside
April 16, 2019

Apply for 143 affordable units in East New York’s Spring Creek neighborhood, from $426/month

An affordable housing lottery launched on Tuesday for 143 units in Spring Creek, a neighborhood in East New York once known only for its landfills and undeveloped marshland. As part of a multi-phase, decades-long project by the city, the area has been slowly transforming into a community of mixed-income and mixed-use developments. The fourth phase of a development called Nehemiah Spring Creek is now accepting applications for studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, set aside for New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 50, 60, and 90 percent of the area median income. Apartments up for grabs range from a $426/month one-bedroom to a $1,660/month three-bedroom.
Find out if you qualify
April 16, 2019

Mayor de Blasio begins first-ever lead paint testing program in 135,000 NYCHA apartments

Mayor Bill de Blasio kicked off a new lead-based paint testing program today, to be implemented in NYCHA apartments. 135,000 apartments will be tested with portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzers as part of the mayor's LeadFreeNYC plan to eliminate childhood lead exposure. The effort will determine whether lead paint is present and abate any hazards found in the tested units, which were built before the federal ban on lead paint in 1978.
Find out more
April 16, 2019

My 1,000sqft: Preservationist Cristiana favors family heirlooms and antiques for her Brooklyn home

Cristiana Peña is one of those people who will make you feel like you've known her for years when you've only just met her--especially when you visit her at her equally warm Prospect-Lefferts Gardens home. After growing up in Rapid City, South Dakota (her father was in the Air Force) Cristiana moved to NYC for grad school in 2006 to study preservation. She quickly became a force in the field, working at Woodlawn Conservancy and Cemetery and lending her expertise and advocacy skills to countless groups across the city. Today, Cristiana also works as a social media strategist, a perfect fit for her creative and snappy personality and natural knack for striking up a conversation. So it comes as no surprise that her pre-war apartment is also full of personal stories. From a mobile that her dad got while deployed in Saudi Arabia to a lobster-shaped wine decanter she found while on a trip to Maine, nearly every eclectic find in Cristiana's home comes with a childhood memory or a great tidbit about an antiquing outing.
Get to know Cristiana and take a tour of her home
April 16, 2019

MTA maps L train service changes and alternative transit options ahead of partial shutdown

Starting Friday, April 26 through the summer of 2020, L train service will be suspended on weeknights and weekends. The halt of train service is part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's revised plan to repair the Canarsie Tunnel, proposed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in January as an alternative to shuttering the line completely. While the L train will run normally during peak times for the next year and a half, service on the line will be reduced starting as early as 8 p.m. on weekdays. To ease the impending headache for commuters, the MTA has released a map that shows service alternatives, transfer points, and planned wait times for the L train.
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April 16, 2019

Renovated $3.2M Chelsea co-op has great details inside and a lush garden outside

This Chelsea co-op at 475 West 22nd Street is less than a block away from the High Line and comes with its own fully landscaped garden oasis so you’ll never be far from nature. Recently renovated, the residence boasts wide oak floors throughout, exposed wood ceilings, two fireplaces, and large casement windows alongside all the modern amenities you’d need to live in comfort. The three-bedroom unit just hit the market for $3,195,000 after previously selling in 2014 for $2,400,000.
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