10 sites in New York City connected to the Titanic

The Titanic’s lifeboats at the White Star Lines Pier 54 in NYC after sinking, via Wiki Commons

April 15, 2019

10 sites in New York City connected to the Titanic

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When you hear “Titanic” you may think of icebergs, tragedy, Jack, Rose, and a two-hour fight between life and death in the North Atlantic some 375 miles off the coast of Newfoundland. You may not necessarily think of New York City. But the ship, which left Southampton, England on April 10, 1912, was bound for New York and due at Pier 59 on April 17th. After sinking during the early hours of April 15th, the Titanic would never dock in New York, but survivors of the tragedy sailed into the city aboard the Carpathia on April 20th and disembarked at Pier 54. Ultimately, New York’s connection to that fateful voyage goes well beyond its waterfront. In fact, you’ll find sites associated with the Titanic and its passengers throughout the city.
10 NYC sites associated with the Titanic
You can book a ‘Game of Thrones’ inspired suite at this Midtown hotel

Photo by Allan Warren

April 12, 2019

You can book a ‘Game of Thrones’ inspired suite at this Midtown hotel

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A hotel near Bryant Park wants to up your "Game of Thrones" viewing party game. The Refinery Hotel, located on West 38th Street, has created "Lannister's Lair," a suite designed for the biggest GOT fans. Starting at $569 per night, the room comes equipped with fur throws, "Dragon egg" candles, and a themed room service menu that would make even George R.R. Martin proud.
How to book
Sun-drenched Midtown West loft offers views of the Empire State Building and Hudson Yards for $1.75M
April 12, 2019

Sun-drenched Midtown West loft offers views of the Empire State Building and Hudson Yards for $1.75M

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Steps away from Hudson Yards, this corner loft at 448 West 37th Street just hit the market for $1,750,000. The Midtown West building is also known as the Glass Farmhouse—a former school building that was converted to condos in 1982—and this sun-drenched unit definitely lives up to that name. Ten 12-foot windows wrap around the 1,500 square-foot open layout, which promises plenty of opportunities for customization. The unit is currently configured as a studio with a sleeping alcove above the bathroom, but the listing shows alternate plans for those who may want to build out walls and transform it into a one or two bedroom.
Take a peek inside
To avoid rent burden in Manhattan and Brooklyn, you’d have to live in a 300 square foot space

Image via Flickr cc

April 12, 2019

To avoid rent burden in Manhattan and Brooklyn, you’d have to live in a 300 square foot space

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Renting remains an increasingly popular choice in cities throughout the country, where on-the-go millennials with mobile jobs and lifestyles prefer to remain untethered to a specific location. But often, making rent doesn’t equate with staying on budget or having the amount of space you really need. A new study by RENTCafe looks into the issue of rent burden, asking how much space a typical income would get you if you limited your rent to no more than 30% of your income. Their findings show that in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Boston spending 30% of your income on rent means you’d have to live in less than 300 square feet of space.
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For $749K this Park Slope parlor co-op is an historic brownstone dream, outdoor space included

Photo by Allyson Lubow for the Corcoran Group

April 12, 2019

For $749K this Park Slope parlor co-op is an historic brownstone dream, outdoor space included

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If you're dreaming of a Park Slope brownstone but don't have the required millions to spend, this one-bedroom co-op at 420 4th Street just a few blocks from Prospect Park asking $749,000 might be the answer. The parlor-floor home has 11-foot ceilings, pocket doors, stained-glass transom windows, a working wood-burning fireplace and even a private deck set in the neighborhood's verdant collection of back gardens.
Take a look inside
South Bronx development with new music hall opens affordable housing lottery, units from $328/month

Bronx Commons via Danois

April 12, 2019

South Bronx development with new music hall opens affordable housing lottery, units from $328/month

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A lottery has officially opened for 288 newly-constructed units at the Bronx Commons development at 443 East 162 Street in the Melrose neighborhood in the South Bronx. In addition to the affordable apartments, the mixed-use development offers retail, a landscaped public plaza–and the 14,000 square foot, 250-seat Bronx Music Hall, a concert hall with rehearsal spaces and an outdoor performance and recreational space among other amenities.
Find out more, this way
L train service between Brooklyn and Manhattan suspended for 10 weeknights

Via Flickr

April 12, 2019

L train service between Brooklyn and Manhattan suspended for 10 weeknights

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Ahead of the revised partial shutdown happening at the end of the month, the L train is shutting down. Starting Monday, April 15, the line will not run for 10 weeknights between Manhattan and Brooklyn from 10:30 p.m. to 5 a.m., Monday through Friday. The shuttered service allows the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to install signal equipment to prepare for rehabilitation work on the Canarsie Tunnel set to begin April 27, as amNY reported.
Get the l train low down
Get ready for another weekend of service changes on every line

Image via Flickr

April 12, 2019

Get ready for another weekend of service changes on every line

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A bunch of service changes are hitting the subways again this week, with no line left untouched. In addition to multiple trains skipping stops or running express, several lines will be rerouted via other trains, and the 6 and L trains are both running in two sections, with delays to be expected. No matter what your plans are for the weekend, we've put together our weekly guide of planned subway service changes below, so you can head out prepared.
See the full damage
Village bookshop Bookbook closing in May, owners planning pop-ups

Image courtesy of Bookbook.

April 12, 2019

Village bookshop Bookbook closing in May, owners planning pop-ups

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Independent Village bookstore Bookbook–born Biography Books–at 266 Bleecker Street will be closing its doors on May 15, according to owners Carolyn Epstein and Charles Mullin, who say a rent hike was the final straw in the shop's 35-year run. The shop was known for its packed bookshelves and browsable book table beneath an outdoor awning. The book-selling pair plan to pop up at various locations, including the Abingdon Square Farmers Market in the neighborhood–but you won't find them selling books online.
Bid farewell with a big sale

Distinctive Homes

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City’s plans to allocate $500M to affordable senior housing not progressing as anticipated

Image via Wikimedia Commons

April 11, 2019

City’s plans to allocate $500M to affordable senior housing not progressing as anticipated

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Last June, the city committed $500 million toward a plan to construct 1,000 new apartments for low-income senior citizens, but now almost a year later those plans are moving forward much slower than expected, Politico reports. The plan had identified six potential sites—two at New York City Housing Authority properties Kingsborough Houses in Brooklyn and Morris Houses in the Bronx, and four on other city-owned lots—but so far the city has only requested developer proposals for one of those sites.
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10 historic sites to discover in Mott Haven, the Bronx’s first historic district
April 11, 2019

10 historic sites to discover in Mott Haven, the Bronx’s first historic district

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This post is part of a series by the Historic Districts Council, exploring the groups selected for their Six to Celebrate program, New York’s only targeted citywide list of preservation priorities. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first historic district designated by New York City in the Bronx. Mott Haven was designated in 1969 by the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission for its architecture "representative of the best of the second half of the nineteenth century." Landmarks later designated the Mott Haven East Historic District and the Bertine Block Historic District, also in the neighborhood, in 1994. Designated the same year as the Greenwich Village Historic District, the Mott Haven Historic Districts Association is working to bring this historic neighborhood to the same level of local and national prominence as its Manhattan sibling. In honor of the 50th anniversary, the Association uncovered the story behind 10 historic sites in Mott Haven--from the ironworking factory that lent its name to the neighborhood to two incredibly intact stretches of rowhouses to an early piano factory.
More here
Will the Wegmans obsession continue in Brooklyn?

Rendering courtesy of S9 Architecture

April 11, 2019

Will the Wegmans obsession continue in Brooklyn?

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Wegmans is officially coming to Brooklyn this fall, more than four years after the beloved grocery store announced plans to open its first ever New York City location. The grocery store will open a 74,000-square-foot spot within Admiral's Row at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, a 300-acre site transforming from a waterfront warship building site into an industrial tech-hub. While the store already has a dedicated following outside of NYC, due mostly to its wide range of brand-name and specialty products, will the Wegmans obsession continue in Brooklyn?
Get the details
Extell’s Upper West Side tower going forward despite city’s amendment on mechanical voids
April 11, 2019

Extell’s Upper West Side tower going forward despite city’s amendment on mechanical voids

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Rendering courtesy of Binyan Studios/ Snøhetta Following a revised design and review by the FDNY, developer Extell has been granted permission to proceed with plans for the Snøhetta-designed tower at 50 West 66th Street, Gothamist reports. This comes a few months after the Department of Buildings threatened to pull the building’s permits over concerns that the project was misusing mechanical voids in order to boost the overall height of units in the building. The DOB approved Extell's revised plans last Thursday, allowing the project to go forward despite a 12-to-1 City Planning Commission vote yesterday to crack down on the mechanical void loophole.
More info
This Park Slope garden duplex has funky vintage style within and a sweet back patio for just over $1M

Photo by Russ Ross.

April 11, 2019

This Park Slope garden duplex has funky vintage style within and a sweet back patio for just over $1M

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This colorful co-op at 487 6th Avenue in Park Slope three blocks from Prospect Park is brimming with vintage-modern charm throughout its two custom-designed levels. The duplex–currently being used as a two-bedroom–is asking $1,050,000, and it's uniqueness goes beyond decor. Just a few cool features in 1,100 square feet of indoor space include a customized office area with a built-in library nook with antique salvage doors and windows and an original mural hand-painted by a celebrated picture book maker; at the rear, a one-of-a kind treehouse overlooks a landscaped garden.
Have a look around
Take a peek inside the new Upper East Side IKEA

Photo Credit: E’lisha Holmes for IKEA U.S.

April 10, 2019

Take a peek inside the new Upper East Side IKEA

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There's a new IKEA in town, right in the middle of the Upper East Side at Third Avenue and East 60th Street; The new IKEA Planning Studio opens to the public on April 15. Here's a snapshot of what to expect from the store's urban-focused sibling. It'll be a little different from the other IKEA locations; you'll be able to browse inspirational room settings focused products and solutions suited for city living and get free home design planning assistance.
More of what you'll find inside
Former 19th-century cigar factory in Long Island City becomes a haven for creatives
April 10, 2019

Former 19th-century cigar factory in Long Island City becomes a haven for creatives

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A former 19th-century cigar factory in Long Island City has been reimagined as mixed-use office space fit for creative companies. The four-story loft building on 35th Avenue offers tenants super high ceilings, exposed beams, and arched windows. Aptly dubbed "The Cigar Factory," the over 120,000-square-foot building also boasts a private landscaped courtyard.
See it here
INTERVIEW: Gothamist’s Jake Dobkin on answering New Yorker’s burning questions in his latest book
April 10, 2019

INTERVIEW: Gothamist’s Jake Dobkin on answering New Yorker’s burning questions in his latest book

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Jake Dobkin was born in Park Slope 42 years ago, and over those years he's never left New York City for longer than 10 weeks. In 2003, he co-founded the website Gothamist with Jen Chung, which emerged as a popular culture and entertainment blog about all things New York. In the summer of 2013, Dobkin decided to channel his native knowledge and newsroom snark with the column Ask a Native New Yorker. The first installment addressed a question to make any New Yorker shudder, "Is It Normal For Roaches To Crawl Through My Hair At Night?" Since then, he's tackled everything from amusing annoyances of city life to more serious issues like homelessness, gentrification, and who deserves a seat on the subway. Dobkin ultimately adapted "Ask A Native New Yorker" into a book, which was just released a few weeks ago. Titled Ask A Native New Yorker: Hard-Earned Advice on Surviving and Thriving in the Big City, it contains answers to 48 new questions on New Yorker's minds including if public transit will be messed up forever and why we complain so much. 6sqft spoke with Dobkin on why he started writing the column, how it's changed over the years, and what's ahead with a new book and Gothamist under the new ownership of WNYC. He also shares the best place to find a peaceful spot in the middle of the city.
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New renderings for Pritzker Prize winner Álvaro Siza’s first U.S. building in Hell’s Kitchen

Rendering via The Boundary

April 10, 2019

New renderings for Pritzker Prize winner Álvaro Siza’s first U.S. building in Hell’s Kitchen

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New renderings of Pritzker Prize-winning architect Álvaro Siza's first United States building were revealed this week, stirring up interest before the Hell's Kitchen tower launches sales this fall. Currently under construction just off 11th Avenue, 611 West 56th Street will reach 37 stories and contain 80 condo units, ranging from one- to three-bedrooms, and penthouses. In addition to the fresh images of the limestone tower, developers Sumaida + Khurana and LENY also released a teaser website for the project.
See it here
Tour Westchester’s Octagon House, the world’s only eight-sided, fully-domed Victorian home
April 10, 2019

Tour Westchester’s Octagon House, the world’s only eight-sided, fully-domed Victorian home

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Known as the Armour–Stiner (Octagon) House, this unique home in Irvington-on-Hudson, NY, is the only known residence constructed in the eight-sided, domed colonnaded shape of a classic Roman Temple. The octagon-shaped domed Victorian-style home was listed for rent a few years ago by its current owner, preservation architect Joseph Pell Lombardi, for a hefty $40,000 a month, as 6sqft reported. Now for the first time in its history the house is open for guided tours, so you don't have to fork over a fortune to experience one of the world's most visually unique homes. The house is also available as a location for film and photography.
Take the armchair tour
$1.4M Hotel des Artistes co-op has a secretive past of forbidden love

Listing images by Andrew Kiracofe for Compass

April 10, 2019

$1.4M Hotel des Artistes co-op has a secretive past of forbidden love

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This Hotel des Artistes apartment has a surprising claim to fame: it was the home of Italian actor Rudolph Valentino’s mistress, while Valentino—who was known as the "Great Lover" of the 1920s for his roles in romantic dramas—lived next door. To facilitate their liaisons, a secret passage linking the two apartments was created, though it’s not clear from the listing if current residents will have access to it. There’s still plenty to love about the one-bedroom co-op at 1 West 67th Street, which features a double-height living room, original oak floors, and an upstairs bedroom with a Juliette balcony overlooking the living area. The Central Park West unit just hit the market seeking $1,425,000.
Take a look inside
Mixed feedback from LPC on proposed open-air pavilion at Fulton Ferry Landing

Rendering by Starling Architecture

April 9, 2019

Mixed feedback from LPC on proposed open-air pavilion at Fulton Ferry Landing

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The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) on Tuesday gave mixed reviews for a proposed new concession pavilion outside of the landmarked fireboat station at the Fulton Ferry Landing. The proposal, chosen last December by the Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP), includes constructing an outdoor restaurant and bar that would connect to an adjacent utility shed and sit in front of the two-story fireboat station, previously home to the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. While Alex and Miles Pincus, the operators of the proposed space, designed the outdoor concession to be simple and airy, some LPC commissioners expressed concern over the structure possibly blocking views of Manhattan and the need to keep the space as open as possible.
See the proposed project
PHOTOS: See Coney Island’s historic Wonder Wheel get ready for the season

The Wonder Wheel with no cars installed; photos © James and Karla Murray

April 9, 2019

PHOTOS: See Coney Island’s historic Wonder Wheel get ready for the season

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Honoring a 60-year tradition of opening on Palm Sunday, Coney Island Amusement Park will be back in business this Sunday, April 14th. One of the many activities will be the annual blessing of the rides at Deno’s Wonder Wheel. The 150-foot-tall, 100-year-old structure is one of the most iconic pieces remaining at Coney Island. But there's a lot that goes into this seasonal opening than even the most well-versed New Yorker may not know. Each winter, the 200-ton ride is repainted, and all of its 24 cars are removed. But come spring, second-generation co-owner Steve Vourderis goes through the process of precisely reinstalling and aligning the cars. We were lucky enough to visit Steve and his brother Dennis on a recent frigid Sunday to watch the magic happen.
Go behind-the-scenes at the Wonder Wheel
Archdiocese of New York reveals new affordable housing on the site of a former Bronx church

Photo courtesy of Magnusson Architecture + Planning 

April 9, 2019

Archdiocese of New York reveals new affordable housing on the site of a former Bronx church

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Magnusson Architecture + Planning (MAP) unveiled a new, mid-rise building known as St. Augustine Terrace that will provide 112 units of affordable housing for low-income families in the Bronx. The project was commissioned by the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York and is the first building in 50 years to be built on the site of a former church, what used to be St. Augustine’s Church in the Morrisania neighborhood of the Bronx.
More info
$3.2M historic Bed-Stuy home keeps the details and gets the designer treatment

Photos by DD Reps, courtesy of Compass

April 9, 2019

$3.2M historic Bed-Stuy home keeps the details and gets the designer treatment

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The landmarked 1894 row house at 386 Stuyvesant Avenue, among the elegant Beaux-Arts limestones of Brooklyn's Stuyvesant Heights neighborhood, has the impressive layout and scale of a trophy brownstone and the interiors of a designer show house. Brought back to life by designer duo Dahill Bunce, the two-family home is asking $3.195 million. Rich in original detail, the 19' x 48' home has a few surprises that set it apart, like a convenient "summer kitchen" leading to an enviable back garden.
Take the tour
Bethenny Frankel chops nearly $1M off her Soho apartment

Listing photos by Tim Waltman for Compass; photo of Bethenny Frankel via Wiki Commons

April 9, 2019

Bethenny Frankel chops nearly $1M off her Soho apartment

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Bethenny Frankel, one of the original cast members of “The Real Housewives of New York City” and founder of Skinnygirl, has just relisted her Soho apartment for $4,375,000, a price chop from the 2017 asking price of $5,250,000 and an optimistic move after listing it as a $13,000/month rental (h/t New York Post). Despite the 17 percent price reduction, Frankel still stands to make a small profit on the unit, which she bought for $4.2 million in 2014. Located on a cobblestone block in the neighborhood’s historic cast-iron district, the residence at 22 Mercer Street is a roomy 2,392-square-foot two-bedroom outfitted with chic designer furnishings.
Take a look inside
Marc Jacobs snags a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home in Westchester for $9.2M

Via Wikimedia

April 9, 2019

Marc Jacobs snags a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home in Westchester for $9.2M

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Fashion designer Marc Jacobs has purchased a Westchester home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for $9.175 million, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday. Located in the wealthy Westchester County neighborhood of Rye, the home was built by Wright in 1955 for European car importer Max Hoffman. Located at the tip of North Manursing Island, the waterfront property will serve as a weekend retreat for Jacobs and his husband Char Defrancesco, who recently wed this month.
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As rail freight expands, an old train line in Brooklyn and Queens could provide congestion relief

Image via Wiki Commons

April 8, 2019

As rail freight expands, an old train line in Brooklyn and Queens could provide congestion relief

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The New York & Atlantic Railway, a little-known freight line that runs through Brooklyn and Queens, is set to receive a significant investment as part of ongoing strategies to relieve congestion in the city, the New York Times reports. Currently, the city’s rail lines only transport two percent of New York’s cargo, while trucks carry about 90 percent. One rail car can carry the equivalent of four trucks, so they could represent a previously "unsung" key to diverting truck traffic, a major contributor to the city’s ongoing battle with gridlock.
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See the stone monoliths being installed at new 9/11 memorial for first responders

Photo courtesy of 9/11 Memorial & Museum

April 8, 2019

See the stone monoliths being installed at new 9/11 memorial for first responders

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The main pieces of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum's new monument were laid in place on Saturday at the corner of the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan. The memorial, dubbed the 9/11 Memorial Glade, honors first responders and those who are sick or who have died from 9/11-related illnesses. The Memorial Glade's six stone monoliths will flank a pathway and point skyward, to represent the "strength and determination through adversity" of rescue and relief workers in the aftermath of September 11.
See the installation
Aussie artist Jeremyville’s renovated Bed-Stuy brownstone asks $2.7M
April 8, 2019

Aussie artist Jeremyville’s renovated Bed-Stuy brownstone asks $2.7M

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This two-family townhouse at 408 Macon Street in Bed-Stuy's Stuyvesant Heights Historic District was renovated a few years ago by Australian expats Jeremy Andrew–the artist Jeremyville whose colorful feel-good graphics have a sizable following–and Megan Mair. The creative pair–she's a creative director, curator and brand strategist–bought the home for $1.5 million in 2013, when it was divided up into three units. They gave it a top-to-toe renovation, as featured in Brownstoner. The 3,400-square-foot four-story Neo-Grec brownstone was built around 1880 by local builder Charles Isbill.
Townhouse tour, this way
Study for Utica Avenue subway extension launches four years after city secured $5M for it

Photo via Flickr

April 8, 2019

Study for Utica Avenue subway extension launches four years after city secured $5M for it

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A study examining the feasibility of extending Brooklyn's Utica Avenue subway line has finally launched, NY1 reported. As part of the Utica Avenue Transit Improvement Study, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the city will look into extending the 3 and 4 train south of Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights to neighborhoods like East Flatbush and Marine Park. Funding for the study has been in place since 2015 when Mayor Bill de Blasio designated $5 million for it as part of his One NYC plan.
Details this way
Roppongi Hills: The Tokyo neighborhood that provided inspiration for Hudson Yards

Photo via Wiki Commons

April 8, 2019

Roppongi Hills: The Tokyo neighborhood that provided inspiration for Hudson Yards

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Now that Hudson Yards has finally moved from construction site to New York City’s newest neighborhood, it may appear to be a made-in-New York City development. In actual fact, Hudson Yards took its blueprint from a similar neighborhood in Tokyo known as Roppongi Hills, which broke ground in the 1990s and officially opened in 2003. While there are a few notable differences—you won’t find any rice paddies on the roofs of Hudson Yards’ new buildings, for one—the similarities are striking. But in many respects, this is no surprise—New York- and London-based architectural firm, KPF, played a hand in the design of both developments.
Comparing Roppongi Hills and Hudson Yards
Construction progresses on $10M retail project with a roof terrace at 70 West 93rd Street

Rendering courtesy of Beyer Blinder Belle

April 8, 2019

Construction progresses on $10M retail project with a roof terrace at 70 West 93rd Street

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It's been in the works since 2015, but the 15,000-square-foot glass-enclosed retail addition fronting the apartment tower at 70 West 93rd Street is quickly coming together, I Love the Upper West Side neighborhood blog reports. The new retail addition, designed by Beyer Blinder Belle, is replacing the outdoor plaza that surrounded the rental building.
More renderings, this way
Chic Noho loft with views of the Merchant’s House is seeking $2.75M

Listing images by Rich Caplan for Compass

April 8, 2019

Chic Noho loft with views of the Merchant’s House is seeking $2.75M

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An apartment with direct views of the Merchant's House, Manhattan's last intact 19th-century family home, has just hit the market for $2,749,000. Spanning 1,800 square feet, the full-floor Noho unit boasts high ceilings, original hardwood floors, and chic designer-curated interiors. You'll feel yourself steeped in the history of the location. 28 East 4th Street—part of the Noho Historic District—is a classic loft building dating back to 1901 when it was filled with tenants in the printing, apparel, and toy businesses. The building still features plenty of original cast iron, limestone,  and brick detailing. 
Take a look inside
Celebrate 50 years of the Greenwich Village Historic District with a neighborhood-wide open house

Via Flickr cc

April 5, 2019

Celebrate 50 years of the Greenwich Village Historic District with a neighborhood-wide open house

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Via Flickr cc The Greenwich Village Historic District was officially landmarked in April 1969. To celebrate the district's 50th anniversary, Village Preservation will host a Village Open House Weekend on April 13th and 14th. Throughout the weekend, more than 70 local businesses, houses of worship, theaters, educational institutions, bars, restaurants, and neighborhood landmarks will open their doors, offering walking tours, events, and promotions.
All the details
$1.25M Williamsburg triplex comes with two terraces and dramatic curved glass walls
April 5, 2019

$1.25M Williamsburg triplex comes with two terraces and dramatic curved glass walls

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A curved wall of floor-to-ceiling windows is the centerpiece of this two-bedroom triplex at 117 Kingsland Avenue. The 1,127-square-foot Williamsburg pad offers some cool custom built-ins, two terraces, and a convertible mezzanine level. Located in a boutique condo built in 2007, the apartment is equidistant from both the L and G trains and within walking distance of McCarren and McGolrick Parks. Last sold in 2017 for $995,000, the unit just hit the market seeking $1,250,000.
Take a look inside
Newly modernized, Irving Berlin’s former Yorkville penthouse is back for a reduced $4M
April 5, 2019

Newly modernized, Irving Berlin’s former Yorkville penthouse is back for a reduced $4M

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American songwriter Irving Berlin moved into the duplex at 130 East End Avenue—an Emory Roth-designed co-op in Yorkville right across from Carl Schurz Park— in 1931, where he went on to write hits like “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” and “Say It Isn’t So.” As Berlin’s biographer Laurence Bergreen described, the formal residence featured antiques and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that “quietly suggested the home of [a] wealthy, cultivated businessman possessed of exacting, if severe, taste.” Though the Berlin’s moved out in 1944, the stately residence with East River views retained it’s formal decor when the unit last hit the market in 2017 for $7,900,000. Over the past two years, the apartment has undergone a modern renovation and is back seeking a much reduced $3,995,000.
Get the tour
12 social change champions 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 rich history, pioneering culture, and charming architecture. Village Preservation 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 13 in Washington Square. Check here for updates and more details. This is part of a series of posts about the Greenwich Village Historic District marking its golden anniversary.

April 5, 2019

12 social change champions of Greenwich Village

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Few places on Earth have attracted more or a broader array of activists and agitators for social change than Greenwich Village. And much of that activity took place right in the heart of the neighborhood in the Greenwich Village Historic District, where that rich history has been preserved through landmark designation for the past half-century. Here are just a few of the many who lived within its bounds and toiled to make the world a better or more just place.
See the full list
Gov. Murphy fears New Jersey will get the short straw in congestion pricing details

Via Flickr

April 5, 2019

Gov. Murphy fears New Jersey will get the short straw in congestion pricing details

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As details like discounts and transit perks are discussed in the wake of New York’s newly approved plan to levy a congestion fee on vehicles entering Manhattan’s business district south of 61st Street, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has voiced objections to the plan, saying it it could be unfair to New Jersey residents, the Wall Street Journal reports. According to the New York Post, commuter rail discounts are on the way for New York City residents coming from areas–such as some in northeast Queens–not served by subways, where the MTA agreed to knock 20 percent–$45–off monthly passes for LIRR commuters entering and leaving Penn Station. The MTA will also invest $3 million for express bus service from Queens to Midtown.
What's the problem here?
1,200-unit Hunters Point development breaks ground and reveals new looks

New rendering by ODA Architects for TF Cornerstone

April 5, 2019

1,200-unit Hunters Point development breaks ground and reveals new looks

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Developer TF Cornerstone officially broke ground Friday on its mixed-use, affordable housing development in Long Island City, a plan that began nearly six years prior. The project, which consists of 1,194 new apartments across two buildings on Center Boulevard, falls under the city's redevelopment of Hunter's Point South, a proposal with the goal of bringing 5,000 units of new housing to the area first backed by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg. In addition to the residences, the project includes construction of a community center, local retail, a new public park designed by Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects, and a K-8 school. A pair of new renderings highlights the open space planned between the new towers.
Get the details
Sample the wares and see what’s new at NYC’s top flea and food markets

Image courtesy of Brooklyn Flea; photo credit: Scott Lynch

April 5, 2019

Sample the wares and see what’s new at NYC’s top flea and food markets

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The city's local flea and food markets set up shop in springtime, bringing irresistible edibles and covetable goods to a neighborhood near you. Though dates and locations vary and favorite vendors come and go, the mighty market phenomenon keeps growing. The shop-and-nosh mecca Brooklyn Flea again changes locations (hello, WTC!), a favorite night market returns in Queens, and the Manhattan classics are back to offer more of what you didn't know you couldn't live without. Some of the best fairs are the most fleeting, and one-offs like the annual Renegade Arts and Crafts Fair are always worth the trip. The list below rounds up the city's top food and flea picks. Let the hunting and gathering begin!
Plan your market strategy
Jendretzki Design wants to transform Rat Island into an off-grid eco hotel
April 5, 2019

Jendretzki Design wants to transform Rat Island into an off-grid eco hotel

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Eight years ago, then 71-year-old Alex Schibli bought an entire NYC island for $160,000. If you've never heard of Rat Island, it's a 2.5-acre land mass off the coast of City Island in the Bronx, where Schibli and his wife live. Originally, he said he had no plans to alter it, but a few months ago, he received a phone call from architect Pablo Jendretzki. "I read an article on him and the island a few months ago and called him to offer to design a project. We met the next morning," Jendretzki told 6sqft. Schibli had expressed a desire to build a self-sustaining hotel that takes advantage of the island's natural surroundings. In response, Jendretzki designed this series of off-grid eco pods that would function as a sort of glamping experience.
Learn more about the proposal
See inside Hudson Yards arts center The Shed

View from Hudson Yards; Photo by Iwan Baan, courtesy of The Shed

April 5, 2019

See inside Hudson Yards arts center The Shed

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A new cultural institution in New York City is finally open after more than a decade in the making. The Shed, which straddles the recently opened Hudson Yards neighborhood and the High Line on 30th Street, will commission and present original artwork across a variety of disciplines. Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Rockwell Group, the building features a 120-foot movable shell, allowing it to physically change on demand and adapt to different performances. Kicking things off today, April 5 is a five-night concert series, "Soundtrack of America," which was directed by Steve McQueen, Quincy Jones, and Maureen Mahon, and explores the impact of African American music on modern culture.
See more here
$2.25M Park Slope penthouse comes with three outdoor spaces and an indoor jungle gym

Photos by Will Ellis of Donna Dotan Photography, courtesy of Compass

April 4, 2019

$2.25M Park Slope penthouse comes with three outdoor spaces and an indoor jungle gym

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Photos by Will Ellis of Donna Dotan Photography, courtesy of Compass This beautifully renovated three-bedroom co-op at 421A Union Street sits atop a historic row house across the street from the Park Slope Food Co-op and a block from Prospect Park. Asking $2.25 million, the duplex-plus-roof-deck offers three outdoor spaces–including a gorgeous glass-walled sunroom–and stunning Manhattan views.
Fun in the sun, this way
Hoboken to become first city in NJ to launch electric scooter rental program

Hoboken’s Transportation Director Ryan Sharp; Photo courtesy of the City of Hoboken

April 4, 2019

Hoboken to become first city in NJ to launch electric scooter rental program

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Hoboken is set to launch an electric scooter sharing program, the first in the state of New Jersey and one of the first in the tri-state area. The city's transportation department on Wednesday night passed an ordinance that allows for a six-month pilot program with companies Lime and P3GM to roll out next month. According to the law, the scooters can travel up to 20 miles per hour in bike lanes, but will not be allowed on sidewalks.
Ride this way
Dean & Deluca debuts a new fast food concept in the Meatpacking District

Images by Julian Faulhaber; drawings courtesy of Buro Ole Scheeren

April 4, 2019

Dean & Deluca debuts a new fast food concept in the Meatpacking District

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Dean & DeLuca has unveiled a new concept—separate from the renowned gourmet market—which seeks to slow down fast food consumption and highlight the artistry that goes into preparing food. STAGE, which opened yesterday at 29 Ninth Avenue in the Meatpacking District, was designed by the German architecture firm Büro Ole Scheeren. It transforms the typical buffet counter into a theatrical space that allows customers to interact with staff and watch their food being prepared.
More info
My 3,000sqft: Power broker Louise Phillips Forbes shows her family-friendly Upper West Side home
April 4, 2019

My 3,000sqft: Power broker Louise Phillips Forbes shows her family-friendly Upper West Side home

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Louise Phillips Forbes moved to NYC from Nashville to further her dance career on Broadway when she was in her 20s. When an injury forced her to change her plans, she fell into real estate, quickly realizing that not only had she found her home in New York, but also her true passion. For close to three decades now, Forbes has been a powerhouse in the real estate field; in fact, her sales team is the number one at Halstead with more than $3.5 billion in career sales. But Louise has the highly coveted ability to truly balance her work and personal lives. At home, everything is about her husband and two sons and their time together. And when she renovated her Upper West Side apartment, this comfortable, welcoming feel was her number one priority. When she's not closing sales or watching her sons' hockey games, Louise can be found at her local Soul Cycle or serving on the board of Change for Kids, as well as the advisory committees for several non-profit arts organizations. To get a glimpse into how she does it all, 6sqft recently visited Louise, took a tour of her home, and got to know her a little better.
Take the tour and meet Louise
Average NYC Parks bathroom costs taxpayers roughly $3.6M to complete, report says

Comfort station of DeWitt Clinton Park in Hell’s’ Kitchen; via Wikimedia

April 4, 2019

Average NYC Parks bathroom costs taxpayers roughly $3.6M to complete, report says

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Bathrooms in the city's parks are flush with cash. The average comfort station built by the New York City Parks Department costs taxpayers just under $3.6 million, according to a report by Yoav Gonen of THE CITY. The Parks Department spent $1.3 million on average for bathrooms in 2011. Last year, the city finished its most expensive park bathroom to date, a $4.7 million station at the Bronx's Ferry Point Park West.
Details here
235-unit affordable building with farm and fresh food market coming to Atlantic Avenue in Bed-Stuy

Rendering of 1921 Atlantic Avenue via Dabar Development Partners.

April 4, 2019

235-unit affordable building with farm and fresh food market coming to Atlantic Avenue in Bed-Stuy

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On March 27 the City Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve an application for a 14-story affordable development that will bring 235 residential units to 1921 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, New York Law School's CityLand reports. The mixed-use project is funded by private developers Dabar Development Partners and Thorobird in partnership with a program run by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development that creates affordable housing and set-asides for the formerly homeless. The proposed project, which will be located on city-owned vacant land and three adjacent private lots, will feature a community facility run by Oko Farms and NHS as well as a fresh food grocery store.
Find out more

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