6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

The Astor Suite at the Plaza Hotel and Residences at 1 Central Park South just hit the market for an Astor-worthy $39.5 million. The listing calls the 4,284 square-foot, three-bedroom home "one of the most historic homes ever to become available in the United States." Currently owned by Esprit founder and former CEO Jürgen Friedrich, the suite boasts a roster of past residents that includes John Jacob Astor, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and John F. Kennedy.
Take the tour, find out more

February 15, 2017

Bethenny Frankel lists renovated Soho loft for $5.25M

If you thought Bethenny Frankel had a scattered personality on "The Real Housewives of New York," just check out her real estate game. After splitting from ex-husband Jason Hoppy, the reality star bought a $4.2 million Soho loft in April 2015, the same month she picked up a $3 million+ Hamptons compound. She also bought a second Soho loft around that time to serve as an office for her "Skinny Girl" empire. Once the embattled couple (he was recently arrested for allegedly harassing her) finalized their divorce, she sold their former $7 million Tribeca loft this past October in just one day. People now reports that Frankel put the Soho loft at 22 Mercer Street on the market for $5.25 in order to find a larger home for herself and daughter Bryn (and from the sound of it, get away from its divorce-era juju), and she admitted to the mag that, "I have been doing really well in real estate and I’ve got the bug."
See the whole spread

February 14, 2017

432 Park owner attempts to sell $20M apartment with iPhone photos

If you've been as curious as we have to know what the inside of 432 Park looks like IRL, look no further than unit #52C, now for sale by owner. LLNYC spotted the listing today which boldly ditches professionally staged photos for somewhat sloppy phone snapshots of the interiors. As the mag points out, 432's developers have been keen on putting the luxury tower's best foot forward, revealing only sleek renderings or retouched images of impeccably outfitted model units to press and onlookers.
more inside here

Distinctive Homes

Download free coloring books from the Met, New York Public Library, and more

Cover image (May 29, 1970) from “Black News” via Brooklyn Public Library (L); Arabesques via NYPL (R)

February 14, 2017

Download free coloring books from the Met, New York Public Library, and more

Combining two trends--adult coloring books and open-access digital policies--#ColorOurCollections is a social media event during which 44 libraries, museums, archives, and cultural institutions from around the world are sharing free coloring pages based on materials in their collections. From the Brooklyn Public Library's 1970 "Black News" cover to the South Street Seaport Museum's ship diagrams to the New York Botanical Garden's floral illustrations, there's something for everyone.
More on the project

February 14, 2017

Where bodega flowers come from; Housing Works’ new online history project

How are bodega flowers so cheap when florists are so expensive? The answer lies in their life cycle. [Gothamist] Housing Works History is a new online multimedia exhibition that uses oral histories, archival ephemera, and architecture to tell the organization’s 27-year history helping New Yorkers who are homeless and living with HIV/AIDS. [Fast Co. Design] Just […]

Uncategorized

How the heart shape became a symbol of love

Via Etsy

February 14, 2017

How the heart shape became a symbol of love

Red and pink hearts are synonymous with love, romance, and, of course, Valentine's Day. But this hasn't always been the case. In fact, according to Eric Jager, author of "The Book of the Heart," the heart shape ❤ had nothing to do with love until after the 1300 and 1400s, when the ideas of devotion and intimacy started to manifest themselves in this singular concept.
more on the history of the romantic heart here

February 14, 2017

Exhibit of migrants’ belongings shows the toll of seeking a new life

The hundreds of backpacks now on display at The New School don’t belong to students there. Many of their owners are not even wondering what became of the mementos, clothes and other items small and light enough to fit inside them—some of them are children’s bookbags. This wall of backpacks that reaches all the way to […]

Uncategorized

February 14, 2017

20 New Yorkers tell 6sqft what they love most about NYC

When you couple recent uncertain times with the gray February weather and frigid temperatures, it can be easy to get bogged down in feeling a bit melancholy. But today is the day of love, and in honor of that, 6sqft asked 20 New Yorkers--from fellow reporters and bloggers to architects and urbanists--what they love most about NYC. From big-picture things like the skyline and street energy to smaller fortunes like having tea with friends and spotting an old ad on the side of the building, there's plenty here to lift your spirits and make you fall in love with this great city all over again.
All the responses right this way

Where I Work

Distinctive Homes

Cobble Hill's most expensive home finds a buyer

For $2.3M, this Amzi Hill-designed Bed-Stuy brownstone gives you plenty of options

This $6.75M Gothic Revival townhouse in Park Slope was once a church rectory

This $4M Brooklyn Heights duplex adds condo convenience to old-world elegance

This $16.7M Cobble Hill home is like having your own private club in a Brooklyn brownstone

This $12M home in a Chelsea Deco icon has a terrace and room for an extra bedroom

This $675K Flatbush co-op has a clean Scandinavian vibe and a flexible layout

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

For $5.25M, this Gramercy townhouse has a live-work option for a very short commute

For $6.25M, a stately 1847 Boerum Hill townhouse has historic charm and a dramatic glass solarium

VIEW ALL

February 14, 2017

One57 apartment underneath the supertall’s arched-glass walls asks $13.94M

Here's your chance to live in an iconic unit of the super-luxury Midtown tower One57 at a relative discount. According to CityRealty, the "usual" average price per square foot for an apartment at the building is $6,120—but this four-bedroom, four-and-a-half bath pad is asking $13.9 million at a price of $3,742 per square foot. It's also located right under the skyscraper’s distinctive arched-glass walls at both the top and middle of the tower.
Take a look

Distinctive Homes

February 14, 2017

Repairs to New York state’s water infrastructure could cost $40B

New York City already has planned a $3.4 billion investment over the next five years to repair the decaying infrastructure of the century-old Catskill Aqueduct. As 6sqft previously explained, the 92-mile network of tunnels, dams and reservoirs brings the city's water supply from the Catskill/Delaware and Croton watersheds. If you think this figure is steep, consider the $40 billion that a report from state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli estimates it would cost to repair and upgrade the entire state's aging water infrastructure over the next 20 years. As the Daily News explains, in NYC alone there were 562 water main breaks in 2015, and throughout the state, contamination is leading to concerns over clean drinking water.
Find out more

Policy

Hamptons home prices sag as luxury buyers head to hipper Hudson Valley

Image: Hudson Woods by Drew Lang

February 14, 2017

Hamptons home prices sag as luxury buyers head to hipper Hudson Valley

The megawatt real estate of the Hamptons may be suffering from shrinkage as a new generation of glitterati increasingly chooses the rustic charm of upstate New York instead. Business Insider reports a surge in the popularity of second homes and tourist activity in Hudson Valley and Catskills towns—and a corresponding dip in Hamptons home prices—in 2016.
Is Upstate the new East End?

Dreamy Scandi-chic Soho studio renting for $5K deserves a big <i>hygge</i>

February 14, 2017

Dreamy Scandi-chic Soho studio renting for $5K deserves a big hygge

Other than "expensive," (at $5,000 for a diminutive studio), we really can't think of a better description for this clean and cozy pad than hygge, the Scandinavian super-meme that has recently been sweeping the lifestyle and interiors world. Pronounced “hoo-guh,” and defined as "a concept, originating in Denmark, of creating cosy and convivial atmospheres that promote wellbeing," it pretty much sums up this sweet studio at 110 Thompson Street.
Come in and relax

Distinctive Homes

February 13, 2017

ODA’s crystalline 10 Jay Street gets new renderings of retail and office space

It's been eight months since ODA Architecture received its final approvals from the Landmarks Preservation Commission to convert the former Arbuckle Brothers sugar refinery building in Dumbo into a modern retail and office site. We've previously seen renderings of 10 Jay Street's prismatic East River-facing elevation--which was inspired by sugar crystals, the nearby Manhattan Bridge, and the neighborhood's historic steel and brick facades--and now that the rehab is in full swing, CityRealty noticed that the leasing team has debuted a new website with never-before-seen renderings of the brick east wall, adjoining waterfront plaza, retail space, and offices.
See all the renderings ahead

February 13, 2017

VIDEO: Watch the NYC subway move 7 million people in 1949

Despite the fact that NYC today has more than 8.5 million residents, the subway system had some of the highest ridership numbers back in the 1940s. In fact, a 1948 record was only recently beat in 2015 when 5.7 million rode the train daily, with annual ridership hitting 1.7 billion–another high not reached since the 1940s. To show just how packed the subway was 60 years ago, 6sqft has uncovered this 1949 film footage of daily subway operations from the New York Transit Museum Archives, which shows the crew working all the angles to keep trains running on time, while crowds jostle and shove to get to where they’re going.
Watch the video

February 13, 2017

$5.5M Park Slope townhouse built in 1906 is drenched in historic details

Mahogany millwork, plaster ceiling moldings, stained-glass windows: these are just a few of the stunning details to be found inside this historic Park Slope townhouse at 566 First Street. A restoration sought to restore as much of the limestone home--which was built in 1906--as possible, while at the same time integrating modern amenities from a dumbwaiter to audio and lighting systems. And now the 4,900-square-foot stunner is on the market for $5.475 million.
Take the grand tour

February 13, 2017

The vanishing restaurants of Chinatown; burn calories while taking in the art at the Met

Chinatown’s traditional restaurants are being replaced by “uptown-style” establishments. Is this causing the entire ‘hood to lose its charm? [NYP] 105 Valentines for architects and architecture lovers. [ArchDaily] How the Queens museum supports immigrant communities. [Next City] At 8:30am at the Met, you can partake in the the “Museum Workout,” a dance-art-performance fitness class that goes […]

Uncategorized

February 13, 2017

A French-style McDonald’s debuts in Chelsea

America may have started the fast-food chain restaurant, but France perfected it. McDonald’s has been testing a new kind of restaurant design overseas, and today debuted the first U.S. restaurant based on the concept at 809 Sixth Ave. The French-style McDonald’s has three distinctive features: its architecture, concierges and a standalone McCafe with an expanded pastry […]

Uncategorized

De Blasio’s 2017 affordable housing plan includes $1.9B for 10,000 new units and Elder Rent Assistance program

In preparation for his State of the City address this evening at the Apollo, the Mayor announced two major affordable housing initiatives. The first will allocate $1.9 billion for 10,000 new apartments reserved for households earning less than $40,000, 5,000 of which will be set aside for seniors and 500 for veterans. The second implements a new Elder Rent Assistance program to provide 25,000 seniors with monthly rental assistance of up to $1,3000, to be funded by the city's proposed Mansion Tax.
More details ahead

February 13, 2017

Tips and storage ideas for couples living in small apartments

6sqft’s series Apartment Living 101 is aimed at helping New Yorkers navigate the challenges of creating a happy home in the big city. This week we offer up some tips for couples living together in a tiny pad. When New York City couples move in together, it often means searching for, or being absorbed into, a modest one-bedroom apartment. For many, taking this plunge will be both exciting (think of all that saved rent!) and excruciating, as sharing a space will mean compromises, fights over housework, and the paring down of personal items so everyone's stuff can fit. So for those about to take the plunge—and those who could benefit from a bit more squabble-proofing at home—we've culled a list of our favorite self-preservation and storage tips for shacking up in small apartments.
our top tips here

February 13, 2017

As subway delays double, Cuomo may cut MTA funding by $65 million

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s executive budget includes a "hidden" $65 million cut to state funding headed for the MTA, the Daily News reports. The $244 million in funding–compared to $309 million in 2016–represents a 21 percent drop in money from the state’s general fund intended to shore up the MTA after a drastic 2011 payroll tax cut on regional businesses the transit agency serves. The funding cut comes on the heels of data that show subway delays have more than doubled during that same time period according to the New York Times.
So much to look forward to on the morning commute

Transit

February 13, 2017

Thrillist co-founder Ben Lerer lists colorful, pop art-filled Soho loft for $7.4M

This 3,800-square-foot townhouse-sized spread at 101 Wooster Street right in the middle of Soho's Cast Iron Historic District combines the industrial cool factor of a loft with the space and storage of a house, throwing in a generous helping of color, texture and modern luxury. With so much going for it, we can see this impressive co-op's appeal to its previous owner, comedienne Whoopi Goldberg, who sold it for just over $3 million in 2010. The current owners, tech and VC heavyweight Ben Lerer (he's a founder of Thrillist and investor in scores of others; father Ken was a HuffPo founding partner) and his wife, Emily, were the parties responsible for the current riot of art, color and general eye candy–and the current $7.395 million price tag.
Prepare to be amazed

Distinctive Homes

February 13, 2017

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz drops $40M on the Greenwich Lane’s most expensive penthouse

It's safe to say this $40 million penthouse is of the "venti" size, considering it's the priciest unit in new mega-development the Greenwich Lane and, at $7,159/square foot, one of the most expensive residential sales in Greenwich Village to date. Though The Real Deal reports that the buyer is Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, whose estimated $3 billion net worth makes this a drop in the bucket. The 5,587-square-foot duplex spans the 16th and 17th floors and boasts floor-to-ceiling windows with skyline views and more than 1,600 square feet of private outdoor space.
READ MORE

February 13, 2017

143 chances to live in Downtown Brooklyn from $897/month, lottery open at 33 Bond Street

A new 25-story rental building in booming Downtown Brooklyn is nearing completion at 33 Bond Street, just a block or two away from almost every subway line and a few blocks from BAM. Developer TF Cornerstone paid $70 million for the site, a former parking garage, in early 2014, partnering with Handel Architects on the rather standard, bulky, glassy design. In total, there will be 714 apartments, 143 of which have been set aside as affordable. These below-market rate units are now up for grabs through the city's affordable housing lottery and range from $897/month studios to $1,166/two-bedrooms for households earning 60 percent of the area median income.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

February 13, 2017

FREE RENT: A roundup of NYC’s latest rental concessions

By Ondel Hylton

More Amenities Unveiled at Extell’s Midtown Rental 555Ten; Leasing Continues with Free Rent Offer [link] Stonehenge Offering Two Months Free + $1,000 Security Deposits at 101W15 in Chelsea [link] Long Island City’s 1QPS Tower Launches Leasing with Two Months Free; Studios from $1,989/Month [link] 100 West 143rd Street Offering One Month of Free Rent on […]

Real Estate Trends

February 12, 2017

375,000 images now free from the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Times may have recently questioned whether or not the Metropolitan Museum of Art is "a great institution in decline" (referring to its $40 million deficit and decision to put on hold its $600 million expansion), but the paper is much more positive when reporting on the Met's new Open Access policy. This allows free and unrestricted use of 375,000 high-resolution images of artworks in their collection, ranging from paintings by Van Gogh, El Greco and DeGas to ancient Egyptian relics to classical furniture and clothing.
Find out more

February 11, 2017

Charming $615K slip of a West Village co-op shuns the generic box

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

Though this narrow pre-war alcove studio with some interesting angles at 138 West 10th Street may not be big, it's not cookie-cutter either. The Village location is about as pricey as you can get in Manhattan, so anyone questioning the $615,000 ask might keep that in mind; there's also a landscaped roof deck, so you never have to feel boxed-in.
Take a look

Distinctive Homes

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

50 places to shop locally in NYC for that perfect gift

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

10 best plants for apartment dwellers

VIEW ALL

February 11, 2017

Weekly highlights: Top picks from the 6sqft staff

By 6sqft

Concert pianist Inon Barnatan looks to unload his Harlem loft for $2.25 million NYC’s top 10 wealthiest ZIP codes will surprise you VIDEO: How a man lives and works in a 78-square-foot Hell’s Kitchen ‘studio’ Vince Clarke’s gorgeous Park Slope townhouse asks $6M after Roman and Williams haute-goth makeover A High Line-esque bridge and park […]

Uncategorized

February 11, 2017

The Urban Lens: Sam Golanski gives Park Avenue doormen their moment in the spotlight

6sqft’s ongoing series The Urban Lens invites photographers to share work exploring a theme or a place within New York City. In this installment, Sam Golanski gives Park Avenue doormen their moment in the spotlight. Are you a photographer who’d like to see your work featured on The Urban Lens? Get in touch with us at [email protected]. Sam Golanski grew up in a small town in Poland, but has been residing in Manchester, U.K. since 2005. Though he thinks New York is "a tough place to live," he fell in love with its energy as a child watching films set in Manhattan from the '60s and '70s. Now all grown up, he comes to New York frequently to visit friends and work on his urban and social photography projects ("I have to admit I shredded a few pairs of shoes by just walking up and down for days everywhere with my camera bags," he says). In his series "Park Avenue Doormen," Sam gives the men who safeguard the Upper East Side's ritziest buildings an opportunity to step from behind the velvet ropes and in front of the camera.
See all the photos

February 10, 2017

This Windsor Terrace townhouse reno by Barker Freeman was inspired by the owner’s love of books

Barker Freeman Design Office got creative with this townhouse renovation in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn by taking the interior structural columns of the home and transforming them into bookshelves. The result was a win for architect Alexandra Barker's book-loving clients Gayle Forman, a prolific author of young-adult books, and Nick Tucker, her musician-librarian husband. Barker told Brownstoner that the shelving system is essentially a "low-cost design feature." And she noted, "They add visual interest using something most people already have." But that was only one element in an overhaul that modernized the main floor of this historic 20-foot-wide wood frame house.
See the full renovation

February 10, 2017

Morgan Stanley may move to Hudson yards; $375 box of chocolates for sale at Chelsea Market

BlackRock has already signed on for 15 floors at Norman Foster’s 50 Hudson Yards (the will-be most expensive office building in the city). Now, Morgan Stanley may take the remaining two million square feet. [WSJ] Iconic New York writer Fran Lebowitz paid $3.1 million for a condo at the Chelsea Mercantile. [LL NYC] Don’t know […]

Uncategorized

February 10, 2017

Building superintendents union wants to hire more women

Carmen La Luz has painted, plumbed and performed assorted odd jobs from Chelsea to the Bronx for 40 years. On the brink of her 87th birthday, she can look back on her life as a pioneer, a woman in what had traditionally been a man’s job: a building superintendent. Female supers in New York City […]

Uncategorized

February 10, 2017

From stationery store to the famous blue box: The 180-year history of Tiffany & Co.

By Penelope Bareau

The recent shake-up at Tiffany, involving the replacement of CEO Frederic Cumenal and the departure of its design director, is said to be predicated on disappointing sales and a resultant decline in share prices. Since last fall, many upscale shops in the area have complained about a negative impact they felt was caused by the hullabaloo around Trump Tower—both rubber-necking and security barricades. A change in marketing emphasis toward a younger consumer—witness the hiring of Lady Gaga for advertising—and designs reflecting that shift are reportedly in the offing to reverse disappointing balance-sheet figures. Not everyone is worried, though. Tiffany & Co. has weathered many a storm in its 180 years, and the ambiance on the floor is still serene, the merchandise still beautiful. For a sense of perspective, and just in time for Valentine's Day, 6sqft looks at Tiffany's history.
The full story, right this way

History

Construction Update: Greenpoint’s first skyscraper tops off

Rendering: Neoscape; Construction photo: Will Femia

February 10, 2017

Construction Update: Greenpoint’s first skyscraper tops off

Greenpoint's new waterfront skyline is quickly taking shape, as CityRealty reports the neighborhood's first skyscraper has just topped off. The tower, measuring 400 feet, will be Greenpoint's tallest, stretching 39 stories above the characteristically low-slung neighborhood now dominated by squat residential buildings and warehouses. With a somewhat uninspired name, The Greenpoint (as it will be known) will bring 95 high-end condos and 287 rental apartments to a block-long stretch of the area.
more details here

February 10, 2017

Brazilian supermodel Caroline Trentini lists her East Village duplex for $2.65M

Brazilian supermodel Caroline Trentini is hoping to unload her East Village condo, a 1,355-square-foot, two-bedroom duplex, for $2.65 million. She purchased the pad, which is located at 311 East 11th Street, in 2010 for $1.715 million, according to LLNYC. For a glamorous supermodel the interior is pretty tame, although the garden-floor apartment does boast an enviable 750-square-foot private backyard.
Take a look

February 10, 2017

NYC’s top 10 wealthiest ZIP codes will surprise you

There's no argument that Tribeca is home to the priciest real estate in all of New York City, but when it comes to wealth as measured by median net worth and household income, its residents don't even register in the top 10. A new study by ESRI conducted for the NY Business Journal reveals that 11363—or Little Neck, Queens (where Governor Cuomo once owned a mansion, to give you and idea)—is, in fact, New York's richest ZIP code. Here, the median household income clocks in at an impressive $94,192 with median net worth reaching $326,104.
the surprising results here

February 10, 2017

It may cost NYC taxpayers up to $28M to clean up yesterday’s snow storm

For fiscal year 2017, the city budgeted $88 million for snow removal and has already spent $26 million. But yesterday's dump of the white stuff could bring that number up to $54 million. DNAinfo reports that Comptroller Scott Stringer estimates it could cost NYC taxpayers between $19.9 and $27.9 million to dig out from Winter Storm Niko, which is based on the average of $1.99 million per inch of snow that the city has paid over the past 14 years.
Find out more

Policy

February 10, 2017

Greenwich Village studio with wall of windows and private backyard gets a price chop to $995K

This charming Greenwich Village studio costs just a hair under $1 million after a recent price chop. Located at the cooperative 45 West 10th Street, the pad first hit the market last summer asking $1.075 million and the price has whittled away in the months since down to $995,000. (It last sold in 2007, for $495,000.) This studio does boast some perks, like a separate bedroom nook that creates space for a charming, bookshelf-lined living room, as well as a massive private backyard.
Take a look

Distinctive Homes

February 9, 2017

Mapping where undocumented immigrants live in America

Of the estimated 11.1 million undocumented immigrants living across the U.S., 6.8 million or 61 percent live in just 20 metro areas, according to an analysis of the Census Bureau’s 2014 American Community Survey by the Pew Research Center. And as CityLab points out, this is an extremely high concentration considering just 36 percent of the country's total population lives in these areas. The highest population is, not surprisingly, right here in the New York-Newark-Jersey City area, with 1.15 unauthorized immigrants calling these cities home. We're followed by the Los Angeles area with 1 million residents, but after that it drops drastically to 575,000 immigrants in Houston.
Learn more here

City Living

February 9, 2017

Matthew Perry checks out a sleek $25K Midtown West rental

The Chick and The Duck would surely approve of those river views. LLNYC reports that actor Matthew Perry, a.k.a. Chandler Bing from the long-running sitcom "Friends," is on the hunt for some NYC digs. Perry's rep was recently spotted scoping out a $25,000/month apartment at the luxurious Atelier on 42nd Street. The sleek spread includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, unobstructed river views and a location just a short subway ride from the MCC Theater where the actor will star in play he wrote called "The End of Longing" this summer.
more details here

Celebrities

Upcoming photo auction will include iconic images of NYC through the ages

Ormond Gigli (1925- ) Girls in the Windows, New York City. Image courtesy of Swann Galleries

February 9, 2017

Upcoming photo auction will include iconic images of NYC through the ages

An auction to be held at Swann Auction Galleries in Manhattan on February 14th will feature historic photos that capture the essence of New York City through the ages. The event, titled "Icons & Images: Photographs & Photobooks," will put up for bid everything from classics from 19th century portraiture to Edgar Allan Poe tintypes to Nan Goldin's evocative images of 1990s NYC. This will also be a rare opportunity to own a contemporaneous print of Lewis W. Hine's dramatic "Empire State Building," (c. 1930).
Preview the prints up for auction

Events & Things To Do

February 9, 2017

Buy a tiny ‘Seinfeld’ apartment for $400; Greta Van Susteren ditched Midtown penthouse along with Fox News

An artist worked with the original production designer of “Seinfeld” to create a miniature version of Jerry’s apartment. The $400 model features more than 100 tiny elements. [Gothamist] For one week, Times Square is getting a Pop-Tarts cafe, complete with personal Pop-Tarts pizzas and burritos. [TONY] After a year and a half on the rental market, the […]

Uncategorized

Winter Storm Niko watch: Track the city’s plows live with this handy map

A real-time plow update today

February 9, 2017

Winter Storm Niko watch: Track the city’s plows live with this handy map

With close to 10 inches of snow already on the ground and more to come, Winter Storm Niko is certainly making getting around a challenge. But before taking a chance and entering that winter wonderland, check out the city's handy interactive map called PlowNYC, which tracks the progress of the Department of Sanitation's 2,300 salt spreaders and plows.
Find out more

February 9, 2017

Art Nerd New York’s top event picks for 2/9-2/15

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! Love is in the air with Valentine's Day around the corner, and Times Square is proving that Love Trumps Hate with a day of weddings, engagements and of course public art. Brookfield Place is celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year with a site specific installation by Amy Kao, and the New York Transit Museum is celebrating the long-awaited opening of the Second Avenue Subway. The Center for Architecture is highlighting 20 talented African American Architects, and there's a 6,000-pound ice spectacle to be found in Central Park. More details on these events and a flurry of others ahead.
More on all the best events this way

Events & Things To Do

February 9, 2017

Proposed East Harlem mixed-use development may contain city’s tallest building with affordable housing

The Greenwich by Rafael Vinoly

Looking to take advantage of the newly opened Second Avenue Subway stop at 96th Street, the New York City Educational Construction Fund and AvalonBay Communities are working their way through the city approval process to build a 1.14 million-square foot, full-block, mixed-use development in East Harlem. CityRealty tells us that the project located at 321 East 96th Street would hold two new school buildings for three different local schools, 20,000 square feet of retail space, a rebuilt playground, and a 68-story, 760-foot residential tower that would offer between 1,100 and 1,200 units and possibly become the city's tallest building to contain affordable housing (roughly 330 below-market rate units).
More details and renderings

125 Greenwich Street

Financial District

The new altitude of downtown living

studios starting at $1,110,000
1 beds starting at $1,495,000
2 beds starting at $2,785,000
3 beds starting at $3,600,000

Learn More

February 9, 2017

Love snow and money? NYC needs snow laborers

Now that it seems like winter is rearing its ugly head in New York, the city is looking for some extra help to keep its residents safe. As the white stuff piled up around the five boroughs Thursday morning, the Department of Sanitation shared on its Twitter account a posting calling for temporary snow laborers. FIND […]

Uncategorized

February 9, 2017

‘Freedom Ticket’ will offer a transit discount to those in outer Queens and Brooklyn

New Yorkers living in the outer reaches of Brooklyn and Queens may soon find some relief when it comes to their daily commutes. The MTA’s New York City Transit Riders Council (NYCTRC) is looking to make travel more efficient and affordable for those residing in the city's transit deserts through a "Freedom Ticket" pilot initiative that will, says Gothamist, temporarily offer discounted flat-fee tickets for bus, subway and commuter rail travel with unlimited free transfers.
more details here

Transit

February 9, 2017

VIDEO: How a man lives and works in a 78-square-foot Hell’s Kitchen ‘studio’

The going rate for a Hell's Kitchen studio is upwards of $2,000/month, but when now 32-year-old Luke Clark Tyler moved into his pad in 2011, he signed a lease for only $750. This might sound like a bargain, but the freelance designer/architect is living (and working!) in an astonishingly small 78 square feet, which by Sharably's account is the smallest apartment in America. And when you break that down by price per square foot, he's actually paying almost twice as much as the neighborhood average. But nevertheless, Tyler is happy to have the extra cash to enjoy the many dance performances in his 'hood and says that after living tiny for more than five years, "we adapt very easily as people."
Let Luke give you a tour of his VERY humble abode

Distinctive Homes

February 9, 2017

$399K for an adorable Bay Ridge co-op with plenty of potential and space to spare

We sometimes see a floor plan that makes this much sense, but not often. This window-wrapped Bay Ridge apartment at 6665 Colonial Road currently has one bedroom, but the potential for another–or even two more–is immediately evident. The flow of space through the home makes important spaces like the kitchen and bath easy to get to from everywhere, while keeping private space private. The home's interiors are sunny and cozy without being cramped. And $399,000 isn't a number you see too often in New York City, even in well-kept secret Bay Ridge.
Have a look around

Distinctive Homes

February 8, 2017

Awesome bookmarks shrink four famous NYC buildings to 1:5000 in scale