6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

Located in the Mount Eden neighborhood of the South Bronx, this affordable housing building at 1561 Walton Avenue sits just off the Grand Concourse and a block south of the Cross-Bronx Expressway. The 11-story residence contains 60 units total and includes an on-site manager, rear patio, laundry, and storage space for bikes, as well as on-site college application assistance and work-readiness training. Applications are currently being accepted for 50 of the units, ranging from $558/month one-bedrooms to $1,740/month three-bedrooms for those earning 40, 50, 60, or 80 percent of the area median income.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

May 2, 2017

Nearly 80 percent of subway escalators and elevators don’t receive necessary maintenance

The reason behind the incessant breakdown of the subway’s escalators and elevators? Nearly 80 percent of them do not receive the necessary maintenance by the MTA. After an 18-month audit, City Comptroller Scott Stringer’s office found that in a random sample of 65 out of the city’s 407 total escalators and elevators, about 50 had not undergone any preventative maintenance service. As reported by the Wall Street Journal, only 20 percent of machines sampled by the comptroller’s office received the scheduled maintenance on time.
Find out more

May 2, 2017

EVENT: Learn about the history of Tudor City, its micro-apartments, and its struggle to save its parks

Can you locate Tudor City on a map? Did you know it was a development used to clear out undesirable slums along the waterfront? Have you heard it contains more than 2,200 apartments smaller than 400 square feet—"the antique mother load of micro-living"? As far as New York City's hidden gems go, Tudor City is a neighborhood that is often overlooked. But if you're one who is interested in history, architecture, urban design, or all of the above, this verdant east side enclave is one that deserves at least an hour or two of exploration. On May 5th, 6th and 7th you'll get a chance delve deep into the history of this incredible 11-building development, as local historian and activist Brian K. Thompson leads several free public tours through early 20th-century development.
more details here

My 850sqft: DJ and influencer Isaac Hindin-Miller opts for Mid-Century modern in his Alphabet City home

6sqft’s ongoing series “My sqft” checks out the homes of New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to the Alphabet City apartment of style blogger and DJ Isaac Hindin-Miller. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch!

May 2, 2017

My 850sqft: DJ and influencer Isaac Hindin-Miller opts for Mid-Century modern in his Alphabet City home

For DJ and influencer Isaac Hindin-Miller, style comes easy. The native New Zealander has been a fixture in the fashion world for nearly a decade, working for top menswear brands and writing for publications like the Business of Fashion, Man Repeller, and GQ. Unsurprisingly, his success has brought him to every corner of the world, and his day-to-day is one that most of us can only dream of. But while Isaac's life has revolved around all that is beautiful, it wasn't until a couple of years ago that his style started to carry over into his home. In 2015, Isaac's roommate left their apartment in Alphabet City, and instead of hunting for another body to fill the space, he jumped on the opportunity to turn the two-bedroom into an Instagram-ready home. Ahead, tour his once uninspiring 850-square-foot apartment, now a bright and airy top-floor escape outfitted with soft-hued Mid-century modern furniture, framed art, and lots of plants!
more inside Isaac's apartment here

May 2, 2017

Mapping New York City’s 280 miles of scaffolding

Sidewalk sheds, or scaffolding, are so pervasive in New York City they almost become part of a neighborhood’s landscape. While used to protect people from falling debris, scaffolding continues to be an omnipresent eyesore that blocks sunlight and views, attracts crime and slows foot traffic. Now, thanks to a new map by the city’s Department of Buildings, residents can explore more than 7,700 sidewalk sheds, each labeled with a color-coded dot highlighting the reason for its construction, its age, and its size. As the New York Times covered, there are currently 280 miles of sidewalk scaffolding in front of 7,752 buildings in the city (way up from the 190 miles we covered just a little over a year ago), which is enough to encircle Manhattan nearly nine times.
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Live around the corner from Penn Station for $833/month

Rendering via GHWA (L); Construction topped off as of September 2016 via CityRealty (R)

May 2, 2017

Live around the corner from Penn Station for $833/month

By Dana Schulz

That might not sound like the most enticing location, but with Chelsea's galleries nearby, Nomad's booming restaurant and fitness scene just a five- or 10-minute walk away, and Hudson Yards shaping up to the northwest, this newly constructed building at 221 West 29th Street might have more to offer than you'd think. And as of tomorrow, those earning 60 percent of the area median income can apply for 19 units here through the city's affordable housing lottery, ranging from $833/month studios to $1,082/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

May 2, 2017

Congress budget deal will reimburse NYC for Trump Tower security in ‘protection package’ split with Florida

Congress agreed to a budget deal Sunday night that allocates money to pay New York City back for funds spent on protecting Trump Tower, reports the New York Daily News. The bipartisan agreement creates a $68 million "protection package," which will reportedly be split with Florida, where Trump's Palm Beach Mar-a-Lago mansion serves as his vacation home.
Find out more

May 2, 2017

On the market since 2009, $36.5M Upper East Side mansion has just about everything but a buyer

This undeniably grand home of pale carved limestone in the Beaux Arts style, designed by turn-of-the-20th-century architects Clinton & Russell, is in its element on what's known as the most valuable corridor on the Upper East Side just across from Central Park. And unlike many of its kind, the interiors of the 25-foot-wide, 11,500-square-foot mansion at 7 East 67th Street are neither overly opulent and intimidating nor tastelessly renovated. There's an elevator, gym, double-height library, two grand staircases, and decks and terraces around every turn. Why, then, has this home been seeking a buyer since 2009? It's certainly possible that when other houses like this are asking less than half its current price of $36.5 million, an ask of $37 million nearly a decade ago that hopped to $49.5, fell to $42.5, and steadily dropped since then might have less appeal for buyers when the choices are many.
Take the tour, from the gym to the roof deck

Distinctive Homes

Distinctive Homes

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

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

For $825K, a sweet South Slope co-op near Prospect Park

This $3.5M Noho co-op remembers the origins of loft living

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

This $3M West Village co-op gets warmth from brick, wood, and stone

Greenwich Village townhouse where Oscar Wilde once stayed asks $7.45M

This $8M Dumbo condo with a private rooftop spa embodies penthouse living

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

This $4M Park Slope duplex is house-sized, with condo simplicity and outdoor space

VIEW ALL

May 1, 2017

Recently renovated three-bedroom pad in an 1844 West Village townhouse asks $2.7M

Morton Street--a five-block stretch between Bleecker and the Hudson River Greenway--is one of the best streets of the West Village. It's full of great architecture and historic townhouses, like this one at 44 Morton. The Greek Revival townhouse, built in 1844 and now landmarked, sits at the "turn" in the middle of street as it approaches Seventh Avenue. (According to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, it's the earliest house built on this side of the block.) The property has been broken up into four condos, and this one is asking $2.7 million. Once occupied by the Nobel Prize laureate Josef Brodsky, it was recently renovated into quite the charming three-and-a-half-bedroom pad.
Take a look around

Distinctive Homes

Target to open at Essex Crossing in the Lower East Side

Rendering of LES Target courtesy of Beyer Blinder Belle

May 1, 2017

Target to open at Essex Crossing in the Lower East Side

New York City is experiencing a Target-takeover. The retailer has just signed a lease to open a 22,500 square-foot store in the Lower East Side at Essex Crossing, a 1.9 million-square-foot development stretching across several Manhattan blocks. As the Wall Street Journal reports, the new store will be located on the second floor of 145 Clinton Street, a 15-floor tower currently under construction. A Trader Joe’s supermarket will be on the lower level and apartments will be housed above.
Find out more

May 1, 2017

NYC’s Citywide ferry service officially sets sail today!

The much-anticipated NYC Ferry service begins today, lessening the commute to Manhattan for many outer borough residents. The first commuter ferry took off from the new Rockaway route at 5:30 a.m. Monday, picked up more passengers at Sunset Park and then arrived in Lower Manhattan in just about one hour. Newly renovated ferries will also launch today on the East River Route, which services Midtown and Financial District communities. On Sunday, Mayor de Blasio held a christening ceremony and took the first ferry ride from the Rockaways to Wall Street.
Find out more

NYC anticipated to become a major hub for self-driving cars

Image of Uber’s self-driving vehicle via Nathan Ingraham for Engadget

May 1, 2017

NYC anticipated to become a major hub for self-driving cars

On top of plans to roll out flying taxis in NYC within five years, ride-hailing company Uber, in addition to many similar companies, hopes to make driverless cars next on their list of proposals. As reported by Crain’s, shared driverless vehicles could account for a quarter of all miles driven in the U.S. by 2030. Since the cars would be shared, driverless and electric, the low-cost would allow many people to give up their personal cars, especially in densely populated cities. New Yorkers own fewer vehicles than residents in any other U.S. city, making it the biggest market for ride-hail services as well as the perfect guinea pig for companies to test driverless vehicles.
Find out more

May 1, 2017

Asking $14.8M, this renovated 1875 townhouse on the Upper East Side might be just a little too perfect

Perfectly situated in the we-never-heard-of-it-either Treadwell Farms Historic District on the Upper East Side, this $14.79 million townhouse at 215 East 61st Street, originally built in 1875, survived a two-year renovation and emerged as a "seamlessly cohesive modern home encased within historic architecture." Within are five stories plus a finished basement and an elevator to navigate them. Five exterior spaces were created to match, including a bluestone-paved landscaped garden with a cedar fence, an automatic watering and lighting system, a sound system and a gas grill.
Take the five-story elevator tour

April 30, 2017

$1.095M duplex in a Park Slope brownstone boasts intricate stained glass and inlaid wood floors

This Park Slope duplex is located just one block from Prospect Park and Grand Army Plaza, and chock full of prewar details inside. Taking up two floors of a historic brownstone at 85 8th Avenue, the rooms are lined with detailed stained glass, the original moldings, hardwood floors with an incredible walnut inlay, and painted brick walls. In the wintertime there's a working fireplace, and for the summer there's a private deck. For such a dreamy Park Slope offering, something that's sure to make old house lovers swoon, it'll cost $1.095 million.
Now see inside

Distinctive Homes

April 30, 2017

This $1.3M converted barn in Garrison, NY hails from the horse and buggy era with the modern feel of a loft

Tucked away amid the dirt roads and country atmosphere of Garrison, NY, fifty miles from Manhattan in Putnam county, this 1840s brick carriage house at 65 Indian Brook Road is the kind of home you rarely find in either city or hamlet. The 4,000 square-foot, three-bedroom home (h/t Circa), asking $1.295 million, has open loft-like proportions, hand hewn beams, a cozy wood-burning stove and high ceilings, with modern details like floor-to-ceiling glass, central air and a gunite pool off the back patio.
Take the tour, and check out the pool

April 29, 2017

A unique 19th-century Hudson Valley home can be yours for $485,000

A beautiful 19th-century clapboard home in Millbrook, New York recently hit the market at an asking price of $485,000. The three bedroom, three bathroom home at 41 Elm Drive was built in 1890 and its original clapboard has been painted a fresh white color. Located on a quiet street in the Hudson Valley, this home, which offers an impressive example of 19th-century architecture, also includes a two-story barn.
See the 19th century pad here

Five million dead in Queens: The history of New York City’s ‘cemetery belt’

You may have noticed when driving from Queens to Brooklyn that at some point you find yourself surrounded by a sea of headstones in every direction. The city's "cemetery belt"–reportedly visible from space–stretches for two and a half miles along the Queens/Brooklyn border and is so populous that there are more than twice as many dead people in Queens than living ones. What's up with this cemetery city?
Find out why the dead outnumber the living in Queens

History

Philip Johnson’s iconic New York State Pavilion to undergo $14.25M renovation

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

April 28, 2017

Philip Johnson’s iconic New York State Pavilion to undergo $14.25M renovation

The iconic New York State Pavilion in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park is set to undergo a $14.25 million renovation funded by the city. As first reported by the Queens Chronicle, repairs of the monument will begin next spring, which will include some structural conservation work and electrical and architectural improvements. The pavilion, which was originally designed for the 1964 World’s Fair by Philip Johnson and Lev Zetlin, has been ignored for the past few decades, largely in part because of the city’s failure to find the money for repairs.
Find out more

Architecture And Design

April 28, 2017

Nearly 900 affordable housing apartments are currently empty

An investigation by Public Advocate Letitia James’ office found that nearly 40 percent, or 884, of the 2,322 apartments in the Tenant Interim Lease (TIL) program sit unoccupied. After hearing multiple complaints from constituents at town halls, the public advocate’s office launched a full review of the program and discovered it does not meet its goal of providing New Yorkers with self-sufficient, low-income rentals (h/t NY Post). Even more shocking, at one TIL building on 615 West 150th Street, tenants had to move out in 1996 for what was supposed to be a two-year renovation. Per a policy briefing by the public advocate, they still have not been able to return to the units, and their possessions are locked up without access.
Find out more

FREE RENT: This week’s roundup of NYC’s rental concessions

Images (L to R): 461 Dean Street, AIRE, 26 West Street and Henry Hall

April 28, 2017

FREE RENT: This week’s roundup of NYC’s rental concessions

By Ondel Hylton

Images (L to R): 461 Dean Street, AIRE, 26 West Street and Henry Hall 30-Story Hudson Yards Rental Opens with Unobstructed Views, Apartments from $3,200/Month + 1 Month Free [link] Views Galore at Top-Notch Tribeca Rental, Now Leasing with 1 Month Free [link] World’s Tallest Modular Building Now Leasing with 2 Months Free [link] Leasing […]

Real Estate Trends

Waitlist reopens for affordable apartments at two rentals near Lincoln Center, from $613/month

One Columbus Place via Brodsky

April 28, 2017

Waitlist reopens for affordable apartments at two rentals near Lincoln Center, from $613/month

One Columbus Place via Brodsky Qualifying New Yorkers aching to be in the thick of the city's performing arts scene now have an opportunity to join the waitlist for two Midtown West rental towers: One Columbus Place and 55-75 West End Avenue. The NYCHDC is currently accepting applications for studio and one-bedrooms priced at $613 and $659, respectively. The towers, both developed by the Brodsky Organization in the mid-90s, boast not only a fantastic location close to Columbus Circle, Central Park, and Lincoln Center, but also come with great perks like roof decks, swimming pools, laundry facilities, gyms, and concierge and doorman service.
find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

April 28, 2017

Port Authority Bus Terminal unlikely to be built anew; gets updated timeline

After multiple feuds, budget concerns and delays, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey may have finally reached an agreement on a timeline to replace or renovate the bus terminal. As the Associated Press reports, the plan to replace the Port Authority Bus Terminal has shifted attention back to the existing midtown Manhattan, instead of relocating it one block west. Board members of the bi-state agency said a study of the original site will be finished by the end of July to determine the cost and schedule of renovation. Following that study, an environmental review is expected later this year, which could take about two years. Construction cannot begin until the review is completed.
Find out more

April 28, 2017

For $6.25M this classy classic 7 on Beekman Place has gorgeous bones and river views

Occupying the full fourth floor of the Campanile building at 450 East 52nd Street amid the understated old Manhattan elegance of Beekman Place on the East River, this renovated 3,000-square-foot three-bedroom home offers stunning river views from every room. The stately co-op building was the Mayfair Yacht Club until 1933 and later home to Greta Garbo, Rex Harrison, H.J. Heinz, Mary Martin and the Rothschilds among others. The apartment's rich original details have been impeccably maintained, while every modern luxury has been painstakingly added.
Check out these rooms with a view

Distinctive Homes

April 28, 2017

Shop and nosh your way through 20 of NYC’s best flea and food markets

With spring weather in full effect, the city's flea and food markets roll out the red carpet and the irresistible edibles, and it's pretty likely there's one happening near you. The shop-and-snack mecca Brooklyn Flea has changed locations yet again, a night market returns in Queens and antiquing, arts and local maker standbys in all corners of Manhattan offer more of what you didn't know you couldn't live without. The goods may be odd, but they're out there, and the list below rounds up 20 of the city's top food and flea picks. Just don't blame us for the tchotchke overload—or the calories.
Find a market this weekend

Events & Things To Do

April 27, 2017

Park Slope townhouse Barack Obama once called home asks $4.3M

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

Before meeting Michelle, but after escaping his cramped rental on West 109th Street, President Barack Obama called this Park Slope brownstone home. Obama occupied the top floor of the three-story house with his then-girlfriend during the '80s, moving in shortly after he graduated from Columbia University. While the home was at the time split up into various rental apartments, in 1994, its new owners turned it into a single-family home. Now, as The Real Deal reports, the five-bedroom beauty has just listed for $4.295 million, up for sale for the first time in 23 years.
see inside here

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

April 27, 2017

Olympic gold medalist Shaun White lists his East Village penthouse for $2.79M

By Annie Doge

Snowboarder, skateboarder, and Olympic gold medalist Shaun White is looking to leave his East Village penthouse. The Post reports that the red-headed wonder has just listed his apartment at 425 East 13th Street for $2.79 million—though he also appears to be open to renters, asking $9,500 a month. The glassy pad is a sleek and modern with 1,174 square feet and some nice downtown views, but we can't say it's as extreme as we'd expect from a guy who does back flips on icy halfpipes.
more inside

April 27, 2017

Tiny MUJI Hut offers a stylish and inexpensive option for homeowners who want another room

It's been about a year and a half since MUJI first announced their MUJI Hut, a modern prefab take on the micro-home. Costing $27,000, it's a well-priced housing option for those with land—and it's finally hit the market. Although the price tag may still be out of reach for most New Yorkers, those blessed with a backyard and some extra cash can easily turn this hut into a stylish extra room or office. That's right, at just 97 square feet this little guy appears to skirt the need for a building permit, keeping well below the 121 square feet that would require plans, approval, and tedious visits to the Department of Buildings.
more details on the design

Second building in Domino Sugar megaproject to break ground next month; new renderings

260 Kent; rendering courtesy of COOKFOX

April 27, 2017

Second building in Domino Sugar megaproject to break ground next month; new renderings

Two Trees Management will break ground next month on 260 Kent Avenue at the corner of Grand Street and Kent Avenue, the second building to rise at the Domino Sugar Williamsburg megaproject site. Designed by COOKFOX Architects, the 462,000 square-foot, 42-story mixed-use tower on the site of the former sugar manufacturing facility will create "a prominent visual corridor that leads to the East River waterfront," according to a press release.
Find out more, more renderings this way

April 27, 2017

Art Nerd New York’s top event picks for the week – 4/27-5/3

By Lori Zimmer

In a city where hundreds of interesting events occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Ahead Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer shares her top picks for 6sqft readers! Spring has sprung, and what better way to celebrate than an afternoon of leisure under the cherry blossoms at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden? You can also spend the day outdoors discovering the non-profit art centers of Soho, head upstate for a truly unique sound experience at Basilica Hudson, or join Creative Time at the Greenwood Cemetery for an event with artist Sophie Calle. Indoors, Stefan Falke’s photographs of artists living along the Mexico/U.S. border provide for a provocative gallery experience, while the Arsenal Gallery in Central Park hosts a group show curated by Antecedent Projects.
More on all the best events this way

Events & Things To Do

April 27, 2017

De Blasio’s new budget boosts funding for anti-Airbnb enforcement

With the announcement of Mayor de Blasio’s new executive budget on Wednesday, the shaky relationship between the short-term rental company Airbnb and New York City continues. As reported by Crain’s, the city plans to crack down on illegal short-term rentals by spending an extra $2.9 million over the next two fiscal years. For the fiscal year 2018, the mayor plans to pour $1.6 million into expanding the city’s Office of Special Enforcement, which inspects and fines landlords who rent entire apartments out for fewer than 30 days.
Find out more

Policy

April 27, 2017

NYPL’s ‘digital time travel’ maps let you compare today’s New York City with the past

6sqft previously reported on the "time machine" map function that allowed users to navigate overlaid maps from 1600 to the present to see what used to occupy our favorite present-day places. Now, the New York Public Library has released the Space/Time Directory, a “digital time-travel service” that puts the library’s map collection–including more than 8,000 maps and 40,000 geo-referenced photos–to work along with geospatial tools to allow users to see the city’s development happen over more than a century, all in one convenient place. Hyperallergic reports that the project, supported by a grant from the Knight Foundation, plots 5,000 digitized street maps across the five boroughs, organized by decade from 1850 to 1950.
Find out more

History

April 27, 2017

First fleet of electric buses will be rolled out in NYC this year

In recognition of Earth Week, Governor Cuomo announced a new pilot program to bring electric buses to New York City this year. The MTA board has approved to lease the first five electric buses, and the lease for the next five will be presented later this year. The program will cost $4 million for three-year leases, which includes six depot charging stations. A charging station will be located at the Grand Avenue Depot in Maspeth, where buses will charge overnight. The first leg of the pilot will also include one "en-route" charging station at the Williamsburg Bridge Plaza in Brooklyn, which will serve as the hub for nine routes.
Find out more

Transit

April 27, 2017

This $28M Upper East Side multi-townhouse-garden-pool megamansion compound is not like the others

6sqft has reported on the townhouse combo mega-mansion phenomenon before, such as when Roman Abramovich clashed with the DOB over a set of Upper East Side townhouses and when Sarah Jessica Parker and the unrelated but also loaded Sean Parker dropped a bundle on their respective two-and three-fers; now another stunning double scoop of insane townhouse living just hit the market at 166 East 81st Street and 179 East 80th Street (just down the street from Madonna's triple Georgian townhouse compound). The two contiguous houses comprise 8,000 square feet of gorgeous 1899 historic details and uptown opulence for the appropriately uptown ask of $28 million. Unlike those other Siamese townhouse siblings, though, these bad boys are adjoined back-to-back through a private 74-foot two-tiered landscaped garden with a swimming pool. Take that, Madonna.
Take the front to back tour, this way

April 26, 2017

Uber hopes to bring flying taxis to NYC within five years

The sky is the limit for the popular ride-hailing app, Uber. The company announced Tuesday that it intends to roll out a network of flying cars, or VTOLs (aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing) beginning in Dallas-Fort Worth and Dubai by 2020. And as reported by the NY Post, one of Uber’s partners, Blade helicopter service, aims to make New York City a target for its plan within five years. If so, these vehicles, which travel at 200 mph, could take passengers from Manhattan to JFK Airport in as little as five minutes.
Find out more

April 26, 2017

Bakery-turned-condo in Williamsburg holds an incredible apartment lined with exposed brick and beams

At the Sophia Lofts, a bakery warehouse in Williamsburg converted to 11 apartments in 2007, you could pick up this one-bedroom condo for $995,000. (It last sold in 2009 for $555,000.) For a hair less than $1 million the pad offers one bedroom, lots of exposed brick, wood beam ceilings, and those big warehouse windows. Although the apartment still has a bit of warehouse grittiness left to it, spaces like the bathroom and kitchen were modernized, while plenty of shelving was added to hold the owner's quirky collection of stuff.
Right this way for more of the interior

Distinctive Homes

April 26, 2017

Hear the natural sounds that made up life in 17th century Manhattan (interactive)

For most modern New Yorkers, it’s hard to imagine the city being anything more than a crowded, noisy, concrete jungle. However, with the website Unsung.NYC, users can now explore the natural sounds of Manhattan, present during the 1600s before European settlers arrived. As the Times reports, “Calling Thunder” lets listeners hear all the chirps, croaks, and laps of waves, all of which coincide with images from four main points in Manhattan—the Collect Pond Park, the High Line, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Inwood Hill Park.
learn more here

April 26, 2017

16 spring house tours to check out in and around NYC

By Dana Schulz

It's that time of year again—house tour season! Architecture buffs, historic home junkies, and garden lovers revel in the spring lineup of events, and to make planning a bit easier, 6sqft has rounded up 16 tours in and around New York City. From Harlem brownstones and Park Slope townhouses to Hamptons estates and Nyack mansions to Jersey shore beachfront homes and Hoboken's secret gardens, there's a little something for everyone.
The full event roster, right this way

April 26, 2017

New Jane Jacobs documentary spotlights her achievements in NYC and lessons to be carried forward

One of the most iconic battles to decide the fate of New York City was waged, in the 1950s and '60s, by Jane Jacobs and Robert Moses. He, a Parks Commissioner turned power broker, was known for his aggressive urban renewal projects, tearing tenements down to build higher, denser housing. She, often dismissed as a housewife, emerged as his most vocal critic—not to mention a skilled organizer with the ability to stop some of Moses' most ambitious plans. A new documentary, Citizen Jane: Battle for the City, takes a close look at the groundbreaking work of Jane Jacobs and its importance in our urbanizing world today. Matt Tyrnauer, the director behind Valentino: The Last Emperor, compiled footage of both Jacobs and Moses alongside 1950s and '60s New York, which is paired with voiceovers of Marissa Tomei and Vincent D’Onofrio as the battling duo. Experts in urban planning—everyone from Paul Goldberger to Robert A.M. Stern—also discuss Jacobs’ massive influence on housing policy and urban planning, as the film makes a convincing argument that Jacobs' planning philosophies are needed now more than ever.
Read our review of the film

April 26, 2017

City will spend $100M on a new esplanade to close the gap along Manhattan’s East River greenway

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday that the city would develop the gap in the Manhattan waterfront greenway that runs between 41st and 61st Streets along the East River. The city has pledged to spend $100 million on closing the largest unfinished space in the 32-mile loop, including a new esplanade, with an additional $5 million to be spent on filling smaller gaps in East Harlem and Inwood. “The Hudson River Greenway has vastly improved quality of life on the West Side, and we want families in every corner in the borough to have that same access to bike, walk and play along the water,” said the mayor in a statement. “This is the first of many big investments we’ll make as we bring the full Greenway to reality.”
Find out more

April 26, 2017

Apply for eight affordable units in the Bronx’s Crotona Park East, from $1,348/month

Adding to the development boom in the South Bronx, eight newly constructed units are available to rent at 1417 Longfellow Avenue. Located in the Crotona Park East neighborhood, which was rezoned six years ago to allow more residential buildings in the former industrial area, the building contains 38 apartments that each are about 636-square units. New Yorkers who qualify can apply for four $1,348 one-bedrooms and four $1,521 two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

April 26, 2017

Manhattan’s last intact Gilded Age mansion can be yours for $50M

A few weeks ago the New York Post reported that the six-story Beaux Arts mansion at 854 Fifth Avenue that had belonged to the granddaughter of railroad baron Cornelius Vanderbilt and which most recently housed Serbia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations was about to hit the market for $50 million. Built in 1905 for stockbroker and future governor of Rhode Island R. Livingston Beeckman and designed by the same firm that designed Grand Central Station, the building is virtually unchanged, including hand-carved balustrades of white marble, ceiling frescoes of angels and clouds and an original working stove. The opulent abode includes two elevators, eight bathrooms and 32 rooms in total. Now officially listed for sale, the storied Upper East Side manse reportedly already has six potential buyers.
Find out more about this rare piece of New York City history

April 25, 2017

New bill would force landlords to disclose bedbug infestations

Whether you want to know or not, NYC landlords may soon be required to tell you of any past or current bedbug infestations in your building when you sign or renew a lease. As reported by the NY Post, a new city council bill would force landlords to file infestation histories with the Department of Housing and Preservation Development and to either publicly post them in the buildings or distribute them to tenants. The agency would also require all histories to be posted on their website.
Find out more

Policy

April 25, 2017

Sale of Brooklyn Navy Yard air rights could fund the BQX streetcar

Although Mayor de Blasio’s proposed BQX project, which would connect the Brooklyn and Queens waterfronts via streetcar, received praise from many, finding money to fund it may be tougher than expected. Earlier this month, a leaked memo obtained by the Daily News laid out a tough assessment of the construction logistics and financial problems facing the project. And while the mayor admitted last week that his plan for the BQX to be self-funded through tax revenue from higher real estate values may not pan out, an article in Crain’s laid out an idea for the city to sell air rights in the Brooklyn Navy Yard neighborhood to raise money for the project.
Find out more

One Domino Square

8 South 4th Street

Williamsburg

Spectacular living on the Williamsburg waterfront

1 beds starting at $1,925,000
2 beds starting at $2,055,000
3 beds starting at $3,030,000

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+POOL may come to Brooklyn Bridge Park, scores a big-name backer

Renderings by PlayLab, courtesy of +POOL.

April 25, 2017

+POOL may come to Brooklyn Bridge Park, scores a big-name backer

Seven years ago the team behind +POOL floated the fanciful–but completely fun–sounding idea of building a pool submerged in NYC's East River that would filter the polluted waterway in addition to being a cool-off spot for New Yorkers. Curbed reports that though the official line is that all options are still being looked at, project designers hope the city will allow +POOL to be located off a pier at Brooklyn Bridge Park.
More the floating pool's progress and new renderings this way

My 360sqft: Realtor Michael Miarecki brings calming beach vibes and clever storage to the Upper East Side

6sqft’s ongoing series “My sqft” checks out the homes of New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to the Upper East Side studio of real estate broker Michael Miarecki. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch!

April 25, 2017

My 360sqft: Realtor Michael Miarecki brings calming beach vibes and clever storage to the Upper East Side

By Dana Schulz

When Michael Miarecki moved from a huge house in Miami Beach to a 360-square-foot studio on the Upper East Side he knew he needed to get creative. As a busy real estate agent with Sotheby’s International, he says his space "is a good example of taking a small space and creating a big story in it." By combining a beachy vibe of neutral tones, light fabrics, and comfortable furniture with clever small-space fixes like his custom-built bed platform, hidden shelving, and a carefully curated selection of mementos, he's created a calming oasis that feels twice its size. He's even worked out how to host eight guests over for a movie, six for a dinner party, and four to sleep. 6sqft recently paid Michael a visit to see how he does it and what a typical day uptown is like for him.
Take the tour

April 25, 2017

Score an affordable apartment near Yankee Stadium from $963/month

Located just a few blocks from Yankee Stadium, this affordable housing project with a beautiful shared courtyard is truly unique, as it was developed on one of the last vacant city-owned lots. Applications are now being accepted for one- and two-bedroom rentals at 12 East Clarke Place and 27 East 169 Street in the Highbridge section of the Bronx, including $963/month one-bedrooms and $1,166/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

April 25, 2017

NYC will get 70 new subway cars before the end of the year

The long-anticipated–and long-delayed–batch of about 70 shiny new subway cars will roll into stations before the end of the year according to the MTA as reported by AM New York. The new cars will replace the system's oldest–and most breakdown-prone–cars on the J, Z and C lines. Another 230 more are scheduled to hit the MTA rails over the course of 2018. Steve Plochochi, the MTA’s vice president of procurement and material, called the cars' arrival "long-awaited good news,” and outlined MTA plans for a “major design change” in subway cars for future models.
What about those future models

Transit

April 25, 2017

$24M full-floor condo in the historic Apthorp would be the building’s largest and most expensive sale ever