6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

According to an analysis by Property Shark, the area surrounding the thoroughfare once known as the “Park Avenue of the Middle Class” has seen an elevated housing demand that has brought median home sales prices along with it, showing an increase in just 5 years that ranges from 56.2 percent in Bedford Park to a whopping 124.5 percent in Mott Haven.
Bronx rising, this way

Real Estate Trends

March 1, 2019

$650K Chelsea studio proves maximalism is possible in 500 square feet

It doesn't take much for a studio to feel cramped, but this maximalist co-op at 465 West 23rd Street manages to toe that fine line. Asking $650,000, this cozy, sun-drenched unit packs a lot into just 500 square feet. And if you ever need to stretch out, the studio is located in Chelsea's massive London Terrace Towers—a virtual mini-city in itself—which offers residents a ton of amenities.
Look inside

Distinctive Homes

Image via CityRealty

March 1, 2019

Cuomo pleads with Amazon to reconsider Long Island City deal

Update 3/1/19, 1:10pm: According to Crain's, Governor Cuomo said today on WNYC's Brian Lehrer Show, "They have given no indication that they would reconsider. I have no reason to believe that Amazon is reconsidering. Would I like them to? Certainly. But I have no reason to believe that." Amazon's Valentine's Day breakup with New York City has been rough on Governor Andrew Cuomo; the New York Times reports that Cuomo has continued to beseech the retail giant to build one of its two new headquarters in Long Island City, Queens, as it had announced plans to do last November. According to the Times, Cuomo has privately assured Amazon officials that he would ease the company's path to any needed approvals and is "working intensely behind the scenes"–including a personal pitch to founder Jeff Bezos–to get Amazon to reconsider.
Baby, come back

Policy

6 and 7 trains are the only lucky ones this weekend

Image via Flickr cc

March 1, 2019

6 and 7 trains are the only lucky ones this weekend

We're looking forward to another weekend of convoluted service changes impacting nearly every line. The 6 (lucky you!) is the only line with no planned changes, but the 7 is also looking good. Service changes will continue to spill into late night and early morning hours over the week. Take note: The A needs some last minute "urgent track repairs" and will not run between Jay Street-MetroTech and Utica Avenue on Monday and Tuesday. Read on for the full details.
Know before you go

Transit

Rendering of “Big Bend” via Oiio Studio

February 28, 2019

Win tickets to hear Rafael Viñoly, José Andrés, and more speak at the 92Y’s ‘City of Tomorrow’ summit

By 6sqft

Some of the leading voices in architecture, real estate, city planning, and design will meet next month for a two-day symposium full of panel discussions and interactive workshops. Presented by the 92nd Street Y and Hundred Stories PR, the City of Tomorrow: Real Estate, Architecture & Design Summit features conversations with renowned architects like Rafael Viñoly and Annabelle Selldorf, restaurateurs José Andrés and Missy Robbins, developer Steven Witkoff, and dozens more. 6sqft has partnered with the organizers to offer two lucky readers a pair of tickets to the March 15 and 16 conference.
Find out how to enter

Events & Things To Do

Karlie Kloss and Joshua Kushner just put their Nolita condo on the market for $7M

Photo of Karlie via Flickr

February 28, 2019

Karlie Kloss and Joshua Kushner just put their Nolita condo on the market for $7M

Recently-wed supermodel Karlie Kloss and Joshua Kushner, venture capitalist, and brother of presidential son-in-law/advisor Jared Kushner have just listed their two-bedroom condo at 211 Elizabeth Street for $6.995 million, the New York Post reports. The 2,000-square-foot home boasts interiors by Roman and Williams and a 1,120-square-foot landscaped, irrigated terrace.
Get a closer look

Spin your wheels at MCNY’s upcoming exhibit ‘Cycling in the City: A 200 Year History’

New York Awheel―On the Riverside Drive, Near the Great Monument, Munsey’s Magazine, May 1896, Illustrator: J.M. Gleeson, Private collection courtesy of the Museum of the City of New York

February 28, 2019

Spin your wheels at MCNY’s upcoming exhibit ‘Cycling in the City: A 200 Year History’

With 100+ miles of protected bike lanes, a flotilla of Citi Bikes, and the robust Five Boro Bike Tour, New York City ranks as one of the top 10 cycling cities in the country. In fact, the nation's very first bike lane was designated on Brooklyn's Ocean Parkway in 1894, and the city's cycling history reaches back two centuries. Beginning March 14th, the Museum of the City of New York will celebrate and explore that history in the new exhibit, "Cycling in the City: A 200 Year History."
READ MORE

Distinctive Homes

This $7M Gilded-Age mansion on the Upper West Side has a private garage and a theatrical history

A long-neglected Clinton Hill townhouse gets a total glow-up and a $5.5M ask

The highest penthouse in Brooklyn's tallest residence lists for $16.75M

This $9.75M Harlem brownstone reflects neighborhood history with five floors of 19th-century elegance

Location, location, location–and a pretty renovation–make up for square footage in this $620K East Village co-op

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

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

For $2.25M, a historic timber and stone cottage in Southampton

Amy Schumer paid $6.25M for Central Park West condo

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

VIEW ALL

Long Island City restaurant owner traveled to Seattle in an attempt to revive Amazon deal

John Brown Smokehouse on 44th Drive in LIC via Flickr

February 28, 2019

Long Island City restaurant owner traveled to Seattle in an attempt to revive Amazon deal

The owner of a Long Island City barbecue restaurant flew to Seattle on Monday in an attempt to revive the city's deal with Amazon. Josh Bowen, who owns neighborhood joint John Brown Smokehouse, met with executives from the company for two hours, according to Qns.com. Earlier this month, Amazon announced it would no longer open a headquarters at the proposed waterfront location in Queens after facing resistance from local politicians and activist groups. During the meeting, the businessman asked if they would reconsider their decision to pull out of the project. Their response? "Never say never," the executives told him, according to Bowen.
More here

Policy

Why Ken Griffin’s $238M condo is taxed like it’s worth $9.4 million

220 Central Park South. Image via Vornado Realty Trust and Robert A.M. Stern Architects.

February 28, 2019

Why Ken Griffin’s $238M condo is taxed like it’s worth $9.4 million

We've heard it before, but it's always a shock to hear about how the city’s tax system undervalues big-ticket apartments in expensive neighborhoods. The Wall Street Journal reports that the effective tax rate on billionaire hedge funder Ken Griffin’s sky mansion at 220 Central Park South comes out to about 0.22 percent–compared with about one percent in the city's less affluent neighborhoods. The reasoning behind this is tied to a complicated city property tax system that assesses all co-ops and condos as if they were rental properties. Rental income at nearby buildings is assessed in order to estimate a condo's value.
What's going on here?

Policy

From natural history museum to municipal weather bureau: The many lives of Central Park’s Arsenal

The Arsenal c. 1914, via Library of Congress

February 28, 2019

From natural history museum to municipal weather bureau: The many lives of Central Park’s Arsenal

New York City boasts more than 1,700 parks, playgrounds, and recreational facilities covering upwards of 14 percent of the land across all five boroughs. This sprawling network of greenery falls under the jurisdiction of the NYC Parks Department. Once the storied provenance of Robert Moses, the Department functions today under the less-Machiavellian machinations of Mitchell Silver. Though no longer the fiefdom it once was, Parks still operates out of a medieval fortress known as the Arsenal, a commanding bulwark stationed in Central Park at 5th Avenue and 64th Street. The Arsenal also houses the Arsenal Gallery, the City Parks Foundation, the Historic House Trust, and the New York Wildlife Conservation Society. This wide array of agencies reflects the varied legacy of building itself. Since construction began on the Arsenal 1847 (completed 1851), it has served a stunning array of purposes, from police station to menagerie to weather bureau. The Arsenal has had time to live so many lives: it is one of just two buildings in Central Park that predate the park itself, which was established in 1857.
Hear more history of this historic headquarters!

History

City Winery files lawsuit against Trinity Church following $650M deal with Disney

Via Wikimedia

February 28, 2019

City Winery files lawsuit against Trinity Church following $650M deal with Disney

The Walt Disney Company announced last July it would move its offices from the Upper West Side to Hudson Square after buying the rights to develop a property owned by Trinity Church. For $650 million, Disney plans to develop 4 Hudson Square, which currently contains four buildings. One of those buildings was occupied by City Winery, an entertainment space whose flagship has been located at 143 Varick Street for over ten years. Now after being forced to relocate because of the deal with Disney, the venue's owner, Michael Dorf, is filing a lawsuit against its landlord Trinity Church seeking over $2 million in damages for “misleading” information.
More details here

Real Estate Trends

180 East 88th tower tops out at 524 feet, set to be tallest tower north of 72nd Street

Rendering via DDG; Construction shot of 180 E 188th in early January via CityRealty

February 28, 2019

180 East 88th tower tops out at 524 feet, set to be tallest tower north of 72nd Street

The highly anticipated tower rising at 180 East 88th Street recently topped out, taking the title of the city’s tallest building north of 72nd Street, as CityRealty first reported. Developed by DDG, the 524-foot structure will bring 48 expansive condos to the Upper East Side and is expected to open this Spring. Photos from a recent construction visit show crews adding the final pieces of the concrete-enclosed rooftop bulkhead. Crews are still working to fully cover the facade of the 32-story tower in hand-laid Kolumba brick (there are 593,987 individual bricks) which will be accented by bronze-colored window frames.
See the shots

Gowanus landmarking group wants to save historic sites; Webster Hall reopens in May

Gowanus via Wally Gobetz/Flickr cc (L); Webster Hall via Flickr cc (R)

February 27, 2019

Gowanus landmarking group wants to save historic sites; Webster Hall reopens in May

By 6sqft

After being closed for nearly two years for renovations, Webster Hall will reopen on May 1st with a show from Patti Smith. [Gothamist] Check out the progress of the glassy office tower rising about Downtown Brooklyn’s Macy’s. [Brownstoner] A bill introduced in the Senate wants to make baseball New York state’s official sport. [amNY] These 10 […]

Uncategorized

Trump’s Soho hotel experiences business boom after rebranding without the president’s name

Image: Trump Soho; Donald Trump via Wikimedia Commons

February 27, 2019

Trump’s Soho hotel experiences business boom after rebranding without the president’s name

After a prolonged economic slump and a not-so-subtle rebranding, Soho’s Dominick Hotel—formerly known as the Trump Soho—has experienced a formidable increase in revenue, as Bloomberg reports. The revenue per available room rose more than 20 percent from last year. The hotel’s average nightly rate increased by $51 (a 20 percent increase compared to just 2 percent among the hotel's competitors) and had 7,000 more bookings in 2018 than in 2017.
More info

Events & Things To Do

Senior housing complex at Elizabeth Street Garden site gets borough president approval

Rendering courtesy of Curtis + Ginsberg Architects

February 27, 2019

Senior housing complex at Elizabeth Street Garden site gets borough president approval

Update 3/6/19: The Elizabeth Street Garden (ESG) and the garden's creator Allan Reiver filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against the city and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development to challenge the development of Haven Green. The plan to build an affordable senior housing development at the site of the Elizabeth Street Garden in Nolita got a much-needed push forward on Tuesday after receiving approval from Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer. In December 2017, the city revealed plans for Haven Green, a passive house with units reserved for seniors earning between roughly $20,000 and $40,000 to be built on the site of the park. Elizabeth Street Garden advocates are fighting the city's plan to demolish the one acre of green space to make way for affordable housing and are taking legal action to save the park.
More here

Reservations to climb Hudson Yards’ giant public sculpture are open!

Rendering of the completed Vessel and plaza, courtesy of Heatherwick Studios for Related-Oxford

February 27, 2019

Reservations to climb Hudson Yards’ giant public sculpture are open!

As of today, those who did not sign up for advanced tickets to enter Thomas Heatherwick's 150-foot-tall, honeycomb-shaped public art installation at Hudson Yards can reserve their one-hour time slot. Formerly known as The Vessel, (it's now awaiting an official name), the climbable sculpture officially opens along with the entire development this Friday. The free tickets must be reserved 14 days in advance, so chances are even though the structure can hold a whopping 1,000 people at a time, it's going to be a crowded spring.
More details

Events & Things To Do

My 1,300sqft: Artist Rob Wynne’s glass installations mix with eclectic decor in his Soho loft

"If you have something to say, you figure out what material will help you fulfill that destiny," said artist Rob Wynne, referencing the various mediums in which he works, from hand-embroidered paintings to sculpture to molten glass. It's this "alchemy" that is currently being explored through his exhibit "FLOAT" at the Brooklyn Museum, a show of 16 works that "seemingly floating within the American Art galleries." But Wynne's talent is perhaps on display nowhere more so that his home and studio in Soho. Wynne moved to the artist's loft in the '70s, and what has resulted is an organic and eclectic mix of decor and furniture from decades of travel, meeting fellow NYC artists, and finding inspiration through various disciplines. 6sqft recently visited Rob at his home and explored his collections of curiosities. We also got an up-close look at the process behind his large-scale mirrored glass installations, as well as many of his other incredible works.
Hear more from Rob and explore his studio

Partial shutdown of Hudson River tunnel would cause NY and NJ home values to drop by $22B, report says

Via Amtrak

February 27, 2019

Partial shutdown of Hudson River tunnel would cause NY and NJ home values to drop by $22B, report says

If the only rail link between New Jersey and Manhattan shuttered, homes in the region would see a drop in home value by $22 billion, according to a report released on Tuesday. An analysis from the Regional Plan Association highlights the economic effects of a partial shutdown of the Hudson River tunnel, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy and carries 200,000 daily passengers via Amtrak and NJ Transit. To make repairs to the 110-year-old tunnels, officials have called for a $13 billion project that would construct a second tunnel to keep service operating while the existing tunnel is restored. But President Donald Trump's administration said it will not support the Gateway tunnel project, making a partial shutdown of the tunnel more likely, according to the RPA (h/t Crain's).
Get the details

February 27, 2019

This classic Upper West Side one-bedroom is a steal for $595K

Half a block from the American Museum of Natural History, this classic one-bedroom offers a prime Upper West Side location on a tree-lined block in the midst of the bustling Broadway Corridor, where you'll find some of the area's best cultural institutions, restaurants, and shops. It boasts high ceilings, a decorative fireplace, and a fully renovated kitchen and bathroom. Best of all, this cozy co-op at 155 West 80th Street is asking just $595,000.
Take a look inside

Distinctive Homes

IKEA’s newest curtains will purify indoor air

Images courtesy of Ikea

February 26, 2019

IKEA’s newest curtains will purify indoor air

The World Health Organization estimates that 90 percent of people worldwide are impacted by the harmful effects of pollution, which provoke a range of life-threatening diseases. While pollution is thought to cause around eight million deaths a year, more than half of those are the result of indoor pollution, not the smog-filled city streets we’re more commonly wary of. To help with this problem, IKEA is preparing to launch GUNRID, an air-purifying curtain. The low-cost, low-tech option will give New Yorkers (who are always short on space) a simple way of destroying indoor air pollution without using any bulky filtering systems.
Get the scoop

Usonian-style Bronxville home built in 1950 by Frank Lloyd Wright collaborator asks $5M

Images courtesy of William Pitt/Julia B. Fee for Sotheby’s International Realty; photo credit: Chris Collins Studio.

February 26, 2019

Usonian-style Bronxville home built in 1950 by Frank Lloyd Wright collaborator asks $5M

This unique home tucked into a gorgeous wooded landscape in Bronxville, NY, was built in 1950 by architect and Frank Lloyd Wright apprentice David Henken in the iconic Usonian style. A complete renovation by renowned architect Markus Dochantschi in 2012 modernized and expanded the 5,500-square-foot home; Dochantschi, founder of StudioMDA, is a former director of Zaha Hadid Architects and specializes in minimalist, functional design. The property is on the market for $4.995 million.
See more, this way

Cuomo and de Blasio endorse congestion pricing and reorganization of MTA in new 10-point plan

Via Flickr

February 26, 2019

Cuomo and de Blasio endorse congestion pricing and reorganization of MTA in new 10-point plan

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio endorsed congestion pricing and a proposal to reorganize the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in a joint 10-point plan released on Tuesday. The joint plan, which requires legislative approval, calls for tolls to be collected south of 61st Street in Manhattan, with the exception of FDR Drive. Cuomo said on Tuesday he hopes the package of transit proposals is included in the state budget, which lawmakers must pass by April 1. The tolls would not take effect until December 2020, if approved.
Find out more

Area median income: What it means and how it’s calculated

Photo via Flickr cc

February 26, 2019

Area median income: What it means and how it’s calculated

By Cait Etherington

If you’ve ever applied for affordable housing in New York City, you’ll know that it is all about the area median income, or the AMI. If you make too little or too much, you won’t qualify at all for affordable housing. Even if you do qualify, however, your AMI will impact your likelihood of actually acquiring a unit since most buildings have more units available in some AMI bands than others. For most New Yorkers, this is one of the most confusing aspects of affordable housing, so we've broken it down, from how AMI is calculated and what the current NYC parameters are to the many controversies surrounding the guidelines.
Everything you need to know

Finalists announced in Transit Tech Lab accelerator program to help modernize NYC public transit

Image via Flickr

February 26, 2019

Finalists announced in Transit Tech Lab accelerator program to help modernize NYC public transit

As part of the much-needed effort to modernize New York City public transit, the MTA and the Partnership for New York City have announced six finalists for the inaugural Transit Tech Lab accelerator program. The eight-week program, which began this week, will give the six chosen companies an opportunity to try new technologies customized to solve for specific subway and bus priorities such as reducing cost and cutting down subway delays by employing predictive maintenance, deploying a transit network planning platform, using computer vision to untangle bus lane traffic and using sensors to address platform crowding.
More innovation this way

Pied-à-terre tax backed by NYC Council members

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

February 26, 2019

Pied-à-terre tax backed by NYC Council members

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

Update 2/26/19: Council Members Mark Levine and Margaret Chin announced on Monday that they plan on introducing a resolution in support of the pied-à-terre tax, as amNY reported. The tax would be modeled after the measure sponsored by State Sen. Brad Hoylman and apply an annual surcharge on non-primary homes worth more than $5 million. Last month, billionaire Ken Griffin closed on a penthouse at 220 Central Park South for over $239 million, making it the most expensive home ever sold in the United States. Griffin, the founder of the hedge fund Citadel, said he will not use the pricey pad as a primary residence, but instead as "a place to stay when he's in town." The staggering sale has renewed support from public officials for a pied-à-terre tax, which would place a yearly surcharge on homes worth $5 million and up, and apply to non-primary residences, as reported by the New York Times.
Learn more

THE 6SQFT SHOP

The 6 best furniture rental companies in NYC

8 best places in NYC to thrift for home goods

The best websites for buying and selling used furniture in NYC

Everything you need to know about using a guarantor in NYC

15 quintessential NYC gifts for the New Yorker in your life

Raising chickens in NYC: Laws, tips, and everything else you need to know

Everything you need to know about affordable housing: applying, getting in, and staying put

10 best plants for apartment dwellers

New York City's best holiday markets of 2023

VIEW ALL

February 26, 2019

An unusual layout and original details paint a pretty picture at this $4.25M Soho artist’s loft

A rare find, this quintessential Soho artist’s loft in original condition has hit the market for the first time in 40 years, seeking $4,250,000. Located at 133 Wooster Street in the heart of Soho's Cast-Iron Historic District, the sprawling 3,300-square-foot space has no shortage of pre-war details. The sunny corner unit boasts 17 oversized windows with southern and eastern exposures, 10-foot tin ceilings, and original cast-iron columns. Currently the home and studio of a painter, the space is configured with two bedrooms and one-and-a-half baths, but the open, angular layout offers a lot of flexibility for future owners.
Peek inside

Distinctive Homes

Thousands of Soviet espionage artifacts on view at Chelsea’s new KGB Museum

Inside the KGB Spy Museum. All photos in this post are courtesy of the KGB Spy Museum

February 25, 2019

Thousands of Soviet espionage artifacts on view at Chelsea’s new KGB Museum

After entering the new KGB Spy Museum on 14th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues on a recent afternoon, a young Russian man wearing all black said, "Do you know who that is?" Pointing to a stoic portrait of Vladimir Lenin on the wall, he added, "He is like a God to the Soviet people." The Soviet Era is the stock-in-trade of New York's new KGB Spy Museum, which houses a staggering collection of never-before-seen Soviet espionage artifacts used by the KGB, Soviet Russia's spy organization or "State Security Committee," once known as "the sword and shield of the Communist Party."
Get a preview

Events & Things To Do

February 25, 2019

Anne Hathaway’s former Midtown love nest hits the market for $19.5M

By Annie Doge

The Midtown five-bedroom condo once owned by actress Anne Hathaway hit the market this week for $19.5 million. The A-list Oscar winner rented the duplex in the 52-story Olympic Tower on Fifth Avenue for $37,000 per month with ex-boyfriend Raffaello Follieri, who was jailed in 2008 for fraud and money-laundering. Hathaway previously owned a loft in Dumbo's Clocktower building, which sold for $4.25 million in 2014, and a few years later picked up a Central Park-adjacent penthouse on the Upper West Side for $2.55 million.
See inside

Image: Wikimedia commons.

February 25, 2019

East River Esplanade projects to receive $75M in mayoral funding

NYC Parks has announced that Mayor Bill de Blasio has allocated $75 million in additional funding for ongoing East River Esplanade reconstruction projects underway from East Midtown through East Harlem. The new funding has been allocated to three distinct esplanade projects: East Harlem from 114th to East 117th Streets, the Upper East Side from East 90th to East 94th Streets and Midtown East from East 62nd to East 63rd Streets.
Find out more

Uncategorized

February 25, 2019

Star opera tenor Michael Fabiano lists Battery Park City condo for $1.2M

Newlywed star tenor (and private pilot) Michael Fabiano and husband Bryan M. Fabiano, associate director of the Metropolitan Opera’s board of directors, just put their pristine Battery Park City condo at 70 Little West Street on the market for $1,195,000. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space in light while custom built-in storage solutions make the 930-square-foot one bedroom as efficient as possible.
Take a look inside

Distinctive Homes

MTA touts subway improvements as more service disruptions lie in wait

Via Colin Mutchler on Flickr

February 25, 2019

MTA touts subway improvements as more service disruptions lie in wait

The subway has seen its best on-time performance and the fewest number of delays across the system in four years, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced on Sunday. But while the stats reveal a promising start for the Subway Action Plan, launched by the agency and Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2017, the gains come at a cost for straphangers with off-peak commutes. The rescue plan, as well as New York City Transit President Andy Byford's $40 billion plan to fix the subway, both which require new sources of funding, will require many subway lines to close on nights and weekends for years, as the New York Times reported.
Learn more

Transit

February 25, 2019

MTA announces public meetings to discuss revised L train repair plans

The MTA said in a press release that 100 percent of riders during high ridership hours will have full service under the revised approach to L train repairs. Also, added transit options such as more G, 7 and M service, new Williamsburg Link buses and free transfers will benefit evening and weekend riders. Starting in March, the MTA will be holding open houses with the community to discuss the plan.
Open house dates and more info this way

Plan for affordable housing and industrial space back on the table for ex-Amazon site in LIC

A rendering from 2017 depicting the proposed mixed-use site; courtesy of TF Cornerstone

February 25, 2019

Plan for affordable housing and industrial space back on the table for ex-Amazon site in LIC

The city's plan to bring a thousand residential units and a mix of industrial space to Long Island City is back on the table after Amazon last month announced it will not open a complex in the neighborhood. James Patchett, the president of the city's Economic Development Corporation, said during the Crain's New York Business breakfast on Thursday that the city will forge ahead with its original plan of bringing a mix of businesses and homes to the Queens neighborhood, Gothamist reported.
More here

Affordable Housing

Delays, disruptions, and despair: Nearly every subway line to see service changes this week

Image via Flickr

February 25, 2019

Delays, disruptions, and despair: Nearly every subway line to see service changes this week

This week's slate of planned subway service changes rivals the weekend's—and maybe even exceeds it. Service on parts of the B and D will continue to end early, 5 service between E 180 Street and Bowling Green will end at 8:30 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, and the L is only running every 24 minutes during the day. The A and C are the only lines without scheduled work, but unplanned signal issues are likely to shake things up there as well.
Know before you go

Transit

February 22, 2019

Sotheby’s announces $55M expansion and redesign of NYC headquarters by Rem Koolhaas’ OMA

Renowned auction house Sotheby’s has revealed renderings of its reimagined Upper East Side headquarters, designed by OMA New York’s Shohei Shigematsu. Slated to open on May 3rd to coincide with their auctions of Impressionist & Modern and Contemporary Art, the redesign features 40 galleries across four completely transformed floors and will increase Sotheby’s exhibition space from 67,000 square feet to more than 90,000 (a whopping two acres of space!).
Find out more

Architecture And Design

February 22, 2019

Waterline Square’s Italian food hall will open on the Upper West Side this summer

If getting to 23rd Street is tricky for you (or you'd just rather not deal with the Eataly tourists), another Italian food mecca will be opening on the Upper West Side this July or August. As 6sqft previously reported, GID Development Group tapped the Cipriani family to create a 28,000-square-foot "experiential food market" for their Waterline Square mega-development. After attending a recent Community Board 7 meeting, West Side Rag got more details about what the food hall will offer, including a full-service restaurant, pasta lab, bellini bar, and, of course, cheese shop.
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INTERVIEW: Architect Nancy Ruddy on 30 years in NYC, adding to the skyline, and restaurant design

Photo courtesy of CetraRuddy

February 22, 2019

INTERVIEW: Architect Nancy Ruddy on 30 years in NYC, adding to the skyline, and restaurant design

When Nancy Ruddy and her husband John Cetra formed architecture firm CetraRuddy in 1987, they wanted to "create inspirational spaces and buildings based upon the ideas of craft and the human touch." Thirty-one years later, and the 100-person firm has achieved this goal and then some, marking the skyline with their soaring One Madison tower, transforming Tribeca's 443 Greenwich Street into the hottest celebrity residence, and adapting historic buildings by prolific architects such as Ralph Walker and Rosario Candela. They've also distinguished themselves by combing architecture and design practices, which was most recently showcased at their designs for the new Time Warner Center restaurant Bluebird London. Ahead, 6sqft talks with Nancy Ruddy about how all of these successes came to be, where she sees the architectural landscape of NYC heading, and what it was like creating a destination dining space overlooking Central Park.
Hear from Nancy

NYHS exhibit celebrates cartoonist Mort Gerberg’s witty take on city life and social issues

Mort Gerberg, “No, not a ‘D’ – it’s a ‘B’! You know, like in Beowulf…Botticelli…Brahams…”, cartoon for the Saturday Review, 1965 Courtesy of the New York Historical Society

February 22, 2019

NYHS exhibit celebrates cartoonist Mort Gerberg’s witty take on city life and social issues

Sometimes, the daily grind of New York City life - from waiting for the subway, to getting hit with unidentified "New York Drip," to sharing an apartment with God-knows-how-many people, can be overwhelming. Other times, you just have to laugh. Beloved cartoonist Mort Gerberg has been helping New Yorkers laugh about the various predicaments of city life, current events, politics, and even sports for more than 50 years. Now through May 5th, the New-York Historical Society is hosting "Mort Gerberg Cartoons: A New Yorker's Perspective," a retrospective of his work that offers over 120 cartoons, drawings, and pieces of sketch reportage spanning the whole of Gerberg's career.
READ MORE

Events & Things To Do

Another Manhattan condominium building tries to dump Trump name

Photo via Nick Normal’s Flickr

February 22, 2019

Another Manhattan condominium building tries to dump Trump name

The condominium board at 120 Riverside Boulevard announced Thursday that they had voted to remove the "Trump Place" sign from their building's facade, the Washington Post reports. The vote follows a decision last October to remove the Trump Place sign from the nearby condo at 200 Riverside Boulevard. Since Trump was elected president, five New York City buildings have opted to remove the Trump stamp in an expression of displeasure with the former reality show host who got his start here.
Hey, we didn't vote for the guy

Uncategorized

February 22, 2019

$5M Park Slope mansion was built as a gift of love from an architect to his bride

Situated on a stately Park Slope street lined with Victorian-era row houses, this 25-foot-wide red brick Neo-Georgian mansion at 633 2nd Street was, according to its $4,995,000 listing, constructed in 1908 as a token of love by architect Thomas O'Connor for his bride. Between the historic home's grand center stair and rare double parlor, it would still be quite the fabulous romantic offering today. With its historic details beautifully preserved, the 4,127-square-foot, six-bedroom house is comprised of three stories over an English basement.
Take the grand tour

Distinctive Homes

Not a single subway line to be left unscathed this weekend

Image via Flickr

February 22, 2019

Not a single subway line to be left unscathed this weekend

By Andrew Berman of Village Preservation

A majority of train lines will have to deal with service changes this weekend, with lots of skips, delays, and convoluted routes, especially on the E. To top it all off, the MTA just announced there will be no 7 service on Saturday between Queensboro Plaza and 34 Street-Hudson Yards from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., due to urgent track repair needs.
Know before you go

Transit

February 21, 2019

CNN anchor Chris Cuomo and wife Cristina list cute Hamptons retreat for $2.9M

By Annie Doge

Journalist Chris Cuomo and his wife Cristina, the editor in chief of Purist, have listed their Southampton's home for $2.9 million, the New York Post reported Thursday. The five-bedroom, four bathroom measures roughly 3,000 square feet and sits on a little under an acre of land. The shingle-style home is fit for summer, with a full-length back deck, backyard, an in-ground heated pool, and a quick drive to the beach.
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February 21, 2019

10 (more) of the most charming spots in the Greenwich Village Historic District

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the designation of the Greenwich Village Historic District on April 29, 1969. One of the city’s oldest and still largest historic districts, it’s a unique treasure trove of rich history, pioneering culture, and charming architecture. GVSHP will be spending 2019 marking this anniversary with events, lectures, and new interactive online resources, including a celebration and district-wide weekend-long “Open House” starting on Saturday, April 13th in Washington Square. This is part of a series of posts about the unique qualities of the Greenwich Village Historic District marking its golden anniversary. Trying to limit oneself to just 10 of the most charming spots in the Greenwich Village Historic District is truly a fool’s errand. And not one without controversy -- since the last column, more than a few disgruntled New Yorkers whose favorites didn’t make the list have reached out (in almost all cases these were places which actually originally made the list, but something had to be cut). So by popular demand (of sorts), here are 10 more of the most charming spots in the Greenwich Village Historic District, from the smallest piece of privately owned property in New York to a series of "squares" that are anything but.
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History

720 West End Avenue

Upper West Side

Serene Upper West Side homes near Riverside Park

1 beds starting at $1,005,000
2 beds starting at $2,495,000
3 beds starting at $3,495,000
4 beds starting at $5,850,000

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Siah Armajani: “Bridge Over Tree” 1970/2019; wood, steel and evergreen tree. Photo: Timothy Schenck.

February 21, 2019

Siah Armajani’s ‘Bridge Over Tree’ now open in Brooklyn Bridge Park

Iranian-born, Minneapolis-based artist Siah Armajani’s installation "Bridge Over Tree" (1970) was unveiled Wednesday at Brooklyn Bridge Park on the Empire Fulton Ferry Lawn between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges. The seminal work, which was first shown as a temporary sculpture at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis in 1970, is comprised of a 91-foot-long walkway with open, trussed sides and a shingled roof. A set of stairs at the sculpture's midpoint climb up and down over a small evergreen tree. This is the first re-staging of the installation in almost 50 years
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Events & Things To Do

February 21, 2019

The massive roof deck at this $15.5M Flatiron penthouse has a 20-foot pool and full bar

Spanning an entire block, this sprawling penthouse at 5 East 17th Street boasts four bedrooms, two private elevators, a 25-foot glass atrium, and a 4,000-square-foot “private sky yard” with a swimming pool, fire pit, and gorgeous city views. No luxury has been spared in this fully-renovated, sleek, and abundantly sunny condo, centrally located on the border of Flatiron and Union Square. A previous sale fell through at the last moment, and now the $15,500,000 unit is back on the market.
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Distinctive Homes

February 21, 2019

Pols suggest R train be split to save Brooklyn riders from Manhattan delays

A few Brooklyn elected officials asked the MTA to halt half of R subway service at Court Street, with Queens-Manhattan service covering the Whitehall and 71st Avenue stations on the other half, in the interest of streamlining the route and avoiding the traffic delays that plague the line, AM New York reports.
R they serious?

Transit

February 21, 2019

Leasing launches for first rental at Astoria’s Halletts Point mega-development, from $2,150/month

Leasing has officially begun at 10 Halletts Point, the first tower of seven to rise at the Durst Organization's development in Astoria. Designed by Dattner Architects, the rental building features two towers, at 22- and 17-stories, originating from the same base. The no-fee rentals at 10 Halletts Point start at $2,150/month for studios, $2,525/month for one-bedrooms, and $3,595/month for two-bedrooms. According to a Durst spokesperson, two studio apartments rented the same day leasing opened and "a couple of thousand" more people have expressed interest. Current concessions offered include one free month of rent on a 13-month lease, and two months free on a 26-month lease.
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Lottery opens for 38 affordable units in Hamilton Heights’ new Dance Theater of Harlem building

Rendering via BRP Companies

February 20, 2019

Lottery opens for 38 affordable units in Hamilton Heights’ new Dance Theater of Harlem building