6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

Nearly 700 graves have been discovered in an African-American burial ground on Staten Island that dates to the 1830s. [CBS] Take note NYC–the world’s largest aerial tram opened in Vietnam. [Curbed] To make way for glassy condos, Streit’s Matzo Factory is officially coming down. [Bowery Boogie] The city will get 50 new soccer fields over the […]

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July 12, 2016

151 Affordable Apartments Up For Grabs Near Yankee Stadium, Starting at $532/Month

In the Melrose section of the Bronx, just a few short blocks from Yankee Stadium, 151 newly constructed apartments are up for grabs through the city's affordable housing lottery. Located at 3160 Park Avenue, the 12-story building from Trinity Park Avenue Development and Newman Design offers both low- and moderate-income units. As Welcome2TheBronx previously reported, 20 percent of the apartments are reserved for those making 40 percent of the area median income, while the remainder are for those earning 60-80 percent of the AMI. This ranges from $532/month one-bedrooms to $1,683/month three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

July 11, 2016

VIDEO: Drone Footage Shows Rare Views of North Brother Island’s Abandoned Buildings

One of 36 (42 in low tide) uninhabited New York City Islands, North Brother Island is a 20-acre piece of land in the East River between the Bronx and Rikers Island that was once home to a quarantine hospital. Currently off-limits to the public, the island became the home of Riverside Hospital for smallpox patients in 1885; "Typhoid Mary" Mallon was quarantined on the island until her death in 1938. This drone video footage offers a rare and hauntingly beautiful view of the island's decaying bridges and buildings overgrown by forest.
Watch this haunting video footage of the abandoned island

History

July 11, 2016

Mark Cuban Opening Upscale Movie Theater at Bjarke Ingels’ Via 57 West

The lucky residents of Bjarke Ingels' Via 57 West tetrahedron will not only get starchitecture bragging rights and access to the 22,000-square-foot courtyard and amenities such as a swimming pool and gold simulator, but they'll also have a state-of-the-art, eight-screen movie theater right in the building. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Durst Organization has teamed up with Landmark Theatres, owned by billionaire entrepreneurs Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban of "Shark Tank" fame. The 30,000-square-foot theater will take up residency within the 45,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space in Via, which will also welcome the American Kennel Club’s dog-care center and a location from Livanos Restaurant Group.
Find out more

July 11, 2016

Lottery Opens for 110 Affordable Units at Former Site of Kings County Hospital Psych Ward

Several years ago, plans were revealed for CAMBA Gardens, an affordable housing complex set to rise on the campus of the Kings County Hospital, located on the border of Crown Heights and East Flatbush. The buildings were constructed by the city's Supportive Housing Loan Program in conjunction with non-profit CAMBA, which provides employment, education, health, legal, social, business development, and youth services to New Yorkers. CAMBA Gardens I opened in the fall of 2013 with 209 residences spread across two buildings. Now, a lottery for CAMBA Gardens Phase II has just come online and is offering 110 newly constructed units in the LEED Gold building for individuals earning 60 percent of the AMI. These range from $822/month studios to $1,228/month three-bedrooms for households earning between $29,692 and $63,060 annually.
Find out more

Affordable Housing

July 11, 2016

Camp Out in a Sioux Tipi on a Woodstock Waterfall for $168/Night

Forget the hassle of pitching a flimsy tent, and camp out in an authentic, 18-foot Sioux Tipi. Located along a waterfall on the Sawkill Creek in Woodstock, this tipi was handmade and painted by artists at the Nomadics Tipi Makers and features a cozy stone fireplace right in its center, as well as another one outside near the river. Intrigued? It's up for rent for $168/night on Airbnb.
Find out more about the camping rental

July 11, 2016

Germantown NYC: Uncovering the German History of Yorkville

If you read 6sqft's post about Kleindeutschland, or "Little Germany," you know that in 1885 New York had the third largest German-speaking population in the world, outside of Vienna and Berlin, and the majority of those immigrants settled in what is today the heart of the East Village. You also know that the horrific General Slocum disaster in 1904 pushed the last of the Germans out of the area. And as promised, we're here to tell you where that community went-- Yorkville, then commonly known as Germantown. The Upper East Side neighborhood, bounded by 79th and 96th streets and running from the east side of Third Avenue to the East River, exploded with immigrants from the former Prussian Empire in the early 20th century. Those looking for a fresh start after the tragedy saw opportunity in the many available jobs in Yorkville. Like the East Village, Yorkville still has many reminders of its German past, as well as still-thriving cultural spots.
Take a tour of Yorkville's German history

History

July 11, 2016

The Evolution of Related Companies: From Affordable Housing to Hudson Yards

There’s only one developer in New York currently tasked with building an entire city neighborhood, and that’s the Related Cos. In 2008, Related embarked on Hudson Yards, a type of project never before tackled in New York—28 acres of apartments, office space, retail, parkland (and a subway stop, to boot) on top of the West […]

Distinctive Homes

Hudson Valley 1750s stone house with a waterfall on the grounds asks $1.5M

Three bedrooms and plenty of living space make this $1.7M Park Slope condo a special find

Build your own $18.75M trophy penthouse under a copper rooftop overlooking Central Park

185-acre equestrian estate that once belonged to the Carnegie family heads to auction

For $1.6M, this Connecticut estate has an art studio, guest house, pool, and a vintage modern vibe

This $22.5M maisonette offers townhouse privacy with classic Upper East Side co-op luxury

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

An artist's mural in this $1.4M Hit Factory condo will remind you of its colorful past

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

For $5.65M, a ballet legend's former UWS studio is now a three-bedroom home

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July 11, 2016

Proposed Site of Queens’ Once-Tallest Tower Will Be Sold By Developers

Just about a year ago, 6sqft revealed renderings for Queens Plaza Park, an 800-unit 70+ story, 915-foot tall skyscraper planned for Long Island City's Clock Tower Building site (it would've encircled and incorporated the 88-year-old structure). At the time, this proposed height would've made it the tallest tower in Queens, as well as the tallest building outside Manhattan. However, it's now not only lost its superlatives (it's since been outdone by the 964-foot Court Square City View Tower in LIC and JDS' 1,066-foot 340 Flatbush Avenue Extension in Downtown Brooklyn), but the project is being scrapped altogether (h/t Curbed).
More details

New Developments

July 11, 2016

This $1.2M Chelsea Loft Has Great Architectural Details and a Bonus Room

This pretty co-op loft at 131 West 28th Street right in the middle of bustling Chelsea boasts stunning design elements like original arched windows, tin ceilings and custom cabinetry. The one-bedroom space, asking $1.175 million, is currently being used as two (or you'll get a great home office). On one hand that's called a bonus room for a reason; on the other, there are some challenges in the apartment's layout that could use an architect's touch. As far as what's within steps of this 7th Avenue-area address? Basically, everything. The block isn't exactly serene, but we're guessing peace and quiet isn't why anyone's moving to Chelsea (with some possible exceptions).
Check out the rest of the space

Distinctive Homes

July 11, 2016

Last Two Chances to See Manhattanhenge; Prospect Park Dog Beach Getting a Makeover

Visiting Angelica, New York, a quaint village named for Alexander Hamilton’s sister-in-law. [Atlas Obscura] Manhattanhenge returns tonight and tomorrow. [TONY] The Prospect Park Alliance announced the start of a restoration of Dog Beach—a popular swimming area for dogs during off-leash hours. [6sqft inbox] Junior’s, the Downtown Brooklyn restaurant famous for its cheesecakes, is opening a second […]

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July 10, 2016

Classic Flatiron Co-op Has Good Closets, Great Location and a Private Terrace for $825K

This stylish junior one-bedroom co-op at 16 West 16th Street offers the kind of convenience city dwellers crave: Just off Fifth Avenue, it's within a few blocks of Union Square, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, the area's cornucopia of restaurants and hotels, Chelsea shopping and much more, yet on one of the area's classic residential blocks, with both similar elegant towers and pretty townhouses. The apartment itself has obvious covetable qualities on its own. A tasteful, modern renovation erases the cookie-cutter co-op feel found in some postwars. Perhaps best of all, there's a private terrace for enjoying the sunshine.
Get a closer look

Distinctive Homes

July 9, 2016

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks From the 6sqft Staff

Competition Reimagines New York State Pavilion As a Cheeseburger Museum, Hanging Meadow Lottery Opens for 259 Affordable Units in East New York, Starting at $494/Month NYC May Get a Big Ugly Wall Instead of Bjarke Ingels’ Storm Protection System New Jersey’s Oldest and Largest Frank Lloyd Wright House Listed for $2.2M Rare Opportunity to Apply […]

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July 9, 2016

Win a Pass to the NYT’s Cities for Tomorrow Conference (Worth $950)

By Diane Pham

Join the world’s leading urban-thinkers for the New York Times’ 3rd annual Cities for Tomorrow conference. 6sqft has teamed up with the Times to give one lucky reader a free pass (worth $950!) to the event happening July 18-19th in Midtown Manhattan. This year’s talks are centered on identifying and dissecting the best ideas that lead to flourishing cities. Speakers on the […]

July 8, 2016

Actress Lake Bell Lists Clinton Hill Townhouse for Double What She Paid

By Annie Doge

Back in 2013, just a few months before they tied the knot, actress Lake Bell and tattoo artist to the stars Scott Campbell dropped $1.55 million on a quaint Clinton Hill townhouse. Three years and one baby later, they've listed the home at 119 Vanderbilt Avenue for $3 million, double what they previously paid. Located in the Wallabout Historic District, the four-story home was built in 1850 and has been "customized from top to bottom." Bell and Campbell have configured it as a single-family residence--complete with historic details like a wood-burning fireplace, original marble mantles, custom engraved oak floors, panel molding, and antique lighting--but it's a legal two-family duplex.
Check it out

July 8, 2016

Apply For Affordable Condos at Harlem’s Circa Central Park, Starting at $225,000

By Dejah Mcgibbon

Circa Central Park, Harlem’s most anticipated condominium project is currently is offering ten lucky households a chance to buy an affordable new unit within the high-end, curving building. Crescent 110 Equities is spearheading the lottery program, and occupancy of the development is set to begin in 2017. The available apartments range from $225, 294 studios to $381,105 two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

July 8, 2016

Airbnb Pulls 2,233 Listings Ahead of Illegal Hotel Ad Law

Increasingly the subject of criticism from state legislators and advocacy groups, Airbnb reported Thursday that it had removed 2,223 more listings from the site that may have been illegal hotels under the current law, according to the New York Post. Governor Cuomo may soon sign a bill that would make it illegal to advertise these listings–i.e. those available for fewer than 30 days in buildings with more than three units where the original tenant isn’t present–in deference to claims that these illegal hotels are removing much-needed stock from the pool of available housing for those who need it. 6sqft recently cited a new report claiming that 56 percent of the company's New York City listings were illegal.
Why did all those listings get booted?

$995K Bed-Stuy Loft Boasts Custom Closet and Reclaimed Wood Staircase

689 Myrtle Avenue in Bed-Stuy is known as the Chocolate Factory Lofts as this warehouse building was formerly home to the Chocoline Chocolate Factory. Today there are 45 loft apartments in the building, and this one stands out from the rest--at least according to the listing. The one-bedroom pad is decked out with custom, one-of-a-kind details, like a curved, iron and reclaimed wood staircase and a hand-built five section "disappearing" closet. (In that it's storage space that blends right in with the apartment.) This quirky loft has just hit the market for a hair under $1 million.
Take a look around

Distinctive Homes

July 8, 2016

Take to the Seas on a Frank Gehry-Designed Yacht for $100K

By Diane Pham

In between designing international museums and giving journalists the finger, Frank Gehry likes to unwind at sea. The lifelong yachtsman just last year designed a 74-foot wooden sailboat alongside naval architect Germán Frers for real estate bigwig Richard Cohen. While the yacht has thus far been reserved for Cohen's private use, according to Gehry in an interview with Sotheby's (h/t LLNYC), another wealthy seafarer can now raise its sails for a mere $100,000.
more details here

Architecture And Design

July 8, 2016

TBD Design Studio Converted a 19th Century Williamsburg Firehouse Into a Live/Work Haven

When a photographer recently bought this 19th century firehouse in Williamsburg, its interior was in a complete state of disrepair, though the historic facade was intact. To transform it into a live/work home, the owner brought on Josh Weiselberg and Selin Semaan of TBD Architecture + Design Studio, who turned the garage into a ground-floor photo studio and gallery, created a second-floor residence, and added a rooftop penthouse, lounge, and terrace (h/t designboom). The result is an open and airy haven that's sensitive to the original firehouse, but is also functional for its modern use.
See the entire home

Architecture And Design

July 8, 2016

App Alerts Beachgoers of Shark Sightings; Museum of Ice Cream Opening in Meatpacking

Steve Saling, an architect and engineer with ALS, designed a home controlled by blinks. [PBS] Sharktivity is an app that lets beachgoers report shark sightings and then sends out alerts. [Boston Globe] The story behind the gold wall at Herald Square subway stop. [NYDN] A pop-up Museum of Ice Cream is opening in the Meatpacking District. […]

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July 8, 2016

Go Glamping in a Geodesic Dome on a Catskills Farm for $350/Night

Looking for an upstate weekend getaway, but don't want to deal with the mosquitoes and unpredictable weather that often go with traditional camping? This geodesic dome in the Catskills promises to be an "incredible glamping space," and its funky design and foodie-focused community only sweeten the deal. Available on Airbnb for $350/night, the dome is located on a farm in Sullivan County. It has wooden floors and screened-in windows, but you'll need to BYObed if you have more than two guests. There's also outdoor double hot showers, a sink, and a clawfoot tub, as well as a full outdoor kitchen with a grill, fridge, sink, and fire pit.
Get the full experience

Spotlight: Alex Gomberg Keeps Up the Tradition at 63-Year-Old Brooklyn Seltzer Boys

L to R: Alex Gomberg, Kenny Gomberg, Irv Resnick

July 8, 2016

Spotlight: Alex Gomberg Keeps Up the Tradition at 63-Year-Old Brooklyn Seltzer Boys

By Susan Cohen

When Alex Gomberg says "I have seltzer in my blood,” he's not referring to the quantity of seltzer he drinks, but rather describing how deep the seltzer tradition runs in his family. It began in 1953 with his great-grandfather, Moe Gomberg, who opened up Gomberg Seltzer Works, a seltzer bottling plant in Brooklyn. The term seltzer man may be new to some, but it refers to someone who delivers seltzer in glass bottles right to your door; no supermarket needed. Over the years, seltzer delivery went out of favor and the family business, currently run by Alex’s father Kenny Gomberg and uncle Irv Resnick, continued to bottle for others, but was no longer doing delivery routes themselves. Four years ago, Alex joined Gomberg Seltzer Works and felt strongly that company should return to its delivery roots. He helped developed a delivery branch, aptly named Brooklyn Seltzer Boys, and today, Alex is well on his way to becoming many New Yorkers’ 21st century seltzer man. His idea of returning to delivery service was right on the mark as the company is benefitting from a myriad of factors including nostalgia, a focus on curated, well made items, and the popularity of home delivery. 6sqft recently spoke with Alex to find out about Gomberg’s seltzer, what it’s like to be a seltzer man, and how he's bringing seltzer delivery back to New York.
Read the full interview here

July 8, 2016

Friday Five: 5 Buildings in the Heart of Brooklyn Offering Free Rent

By Annie Doge

Rental deals have become increasingly tough to find but they're most definitely still out there. Starting today, every Friday 6sqft is rounding up five of the best deals showcased on CityRealty's newly launched no-fee rental offers page, where NYC house hunters can find the latest and most generous concessions being offered by landlords across the city. This week, we've culled five fabulous buildings in prime Brooklyn that are currently offering FREE RENT on new leases. Among the offers ahead, check out a newly renovated two-bedroom with yard in pretty Carroll Gardens offering a month rent-free on an already reasonable $2,700/month price tag.
Check them out here

Uncategorized

July 7, 2016

Rare Opportunity to Apply for New Upscale Condos in Clinton Hill, Priced From $156,000

By Ondel Hylton

Here's your rare opportunity to purchase a NYC condominium in an upscale building for a fraction of market-rate prices. The developers of Clinton Hill's under-construction condo Waverly Brooklyn are now accepting applications for 11 subsidized homes priced as low as $156,444. Qualified applicants have a chance to purchase the deal of a lifetime with studio, one- and two-bedroom homes priced 86-percent below the neighborhood's market-rate medians. The condos are available to households earning between $32,617 to $48,923.
More details ahead

July 7, 2016

New Jersey’s Oldest and Largest Frank Lloyd Wright House Listed for $2.2M

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

During his prolific career, Frank Lloyd Wright built four houses in the Garden State, the first and largest being the 2,000-square-foot James B. Christie House in Bernardsville, which dates to 1940. At the time, Wright, who coined the term "organic architecture," told his client to find a site with "as much individuality as to topography and features—stream, trees, etc. and as much freedom from adjacent buildings as is possible." Christie obliged, and the resulting home sits on seven acres of secluded woodland. For the physical architecture, Wright employed his Usonian principles of simplicity, practicality, and a connection to nature. As Curbed reports, after selling in 2014 to a private buyer for $1,700,000, the Christie House is now on the market for $2.2 million after receiving a new roof and heating system.
Tour the property

THE 6SQFT SHOP

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8 best places in NYC to thrift for home goods

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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

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July 7, 2016

Can the Second Avenue Subway Bring New Yorkers Back to the Upper East Side?

By Michelle Sinclair Colman

Ah, the Second Avenue Subway. It’s been the topic of discussion for over 96 years (yes, the line has been in the works since 1920) and it is finally nearing completion despite reports of delays due to last minute design changes and absentee workers. But the question is, will the Second Avenue subway revitalize the Upper East Side? […]

July 7, 2016

Find Out if a Building Has Rats Using the City’s Interactive Map

From the fine folks at the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene comes this most informative interactive map of the five boroughs that tells you whether you'll need to keep an eye on your pizza. The Rat Information Portal (RIP) gives you the facts about rats in NYC—where they are and what you can do about them. You can search the city, building by building—handy if you're thinking of renting or buying an apartment—to get the 411 on potential pest problems of the furry kind.
Let's find some rats

City Living

July 7, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week- 7/7-7/13

By Lori Zimmer

In a city where hundreds of interesting happenings occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Art Nerd‘s philosophy is a combination of observation, participation, education and of course a party to create the ultimate well-rounded week. Jump ahead for Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer’s top picks for 6sqft readers! July is heating up in the art world (and on the thermometer!). Take the month to check out my curatorial debut with Times Square Arts every night on the ad screens, head to City Hall Park to enjoy a new sculpture series, and definitely be sure to frolic in the balloon room by Martin Creed at the Park Avenue Armory. Check out the 1920s Chinese screen siren Ruan Lingyu in a film set to a live score by Gary Lucas, or head outdoors for a screening of April and the Extraordinary World in Riverside Park. Head to the Bronx for an all-female show at Wall Works Gallery, or if you're in the Hamptons, spend a day at Market Art and Design at the Bridgehampton Museum.
More on all the best events this way

Events & Things To Do

July 7, 2016

Manhattan View Condo Launches Full Website, Touting Luxury Amenities and Far-Reaching Views

By Katy Cornell

Co-developers Kuafu Properties and SCG America have fully launched their website marketing 151 Jamie Drake-designed condos called Manhattan View. For those in search of an upscale home in Midtown West, it's unlikely that Manhattan View can escape your radar for long. The residences are perched on 13 floors atop the Arquitectonica-designed MiMA Tower at 460 West 42nd Street, and the exclusive collection of apartments will provide richly appointed amenities and far-reaching views of the city and waterways. The new website leads with a fun and quirky film of the building that tours its apartments and amenities and grants a view of the lifestyle it hopes to provide its residents.
More details and the full video ahead

July 7, 2016

Conserve and Reuse Pre-Shower Water With Aguawell

On days like today, a cold shower is often the only way to cool down, but this overindulgence can get quite wasteful, especially if you're guilty of letting the shower run before hopping in. In fact, designboom tells us that those moments of adjusting the temperature can add up to 12 liters of lost water per minute. That's where Aguawell comes in. The simple, practical unit catches clean water before it hits the drain, so you can then use it for everything from watering plants to keeping pets hydrated.
Find out more

July 7, 2016

$15,000/Month Firehouse Offers a Sprawling Live/Work Space in Williamsburg

Check out this 5,000-square-foot live/work space at 246 Frost Street, a former 19th century Williamsburg firehouse. While the historic facade remains intact, the interior has pretty much been transformed into a lofty, two-floor apartment with plenty of exposed brick to go around. And it's full of bonus space: a finished basement, an extra sleeping loft, a deck, parking garage, recording studio and fully-functioning dark room. For all that, it'll cost a cool $15,000 a month.
Take a look

Distinctive Homes

July 7, 2016

The Class Issues of the Tiny House Revolution; Checking in on Zaha Hadid’s High Line Condos

Zaha Hadid‘s High Line condo gets its lavish, chevroned skin of metal and glass. [CityRealty] What it’s like to spend summer at The Silver Gull, a private waterfront beach club in Queens that’s part of a dying breed. [NYT] Could floating airports finally become a reality? [CNN] Cosmopolitan editor Helen Gurley Brown’s pink penthouse in the […]

Uncategorized

July 7, 2016

Flirt, Frolic and Shower Outside at This Indulgent $1.5M Village Co-op

When a listing is advertised as having a "Soho House meets The Standard Hotel design motif,” we already know who the target audience is. But just to be sure, an accompanying video features a pair of bed-headed hotties–one of whom is the listing broker–who would look right at home at either of those establishments as they frolic about the apartment in a steamy state. The smitten pair caress the home's custom fixtures and invite the viewer to imagine a puzzlingly effort-free existence in this chic $1.495 million sixth-floor co-op at 303 Mercer Street's Snug Harbor.
They're gonna need that central air...

Distinctive Homes

July 6, 2016

NYC May Get a Big Ugly Wall Instead of Bjarke Ingels’ Storm Protection System

"Not only is New York City going to build the cheapest, ugliest version of the big dumb wall, there’s a very good possibility that it won’t even be big enough." According to a recent Rolling Stone article titled "Can New York Be Saved in the Era of Global Warming?" the level of storm protection put in place to protect the city from future superstorms may fall short of the elegant solution that was originally promised. According to the story, the city funded a proposal–Danish firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG)'s winning submission in the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Rebuild by Design contest–that involved a 10-mile barrier system that would protect Lower Manhattan from the ruinous effects of storm surges and sea-level rise. Called the Big U, the $540 million infrastructure project would be designed to contain parks and public spaces. But because of cost issues, the project may not materialize as planned.
Find out how the proposal may have changed

July 6, 2016

The History of Bowery Bay Beach, the ‘Coney Island of Queens’

This past holiday weekend, New Yorkers flocked to Coney Island for the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, the fireworks display, and to enjoy the beach and boardwalk. For some, though, traveling all the way out to the end of Brooklyn with beach chairs and coolers is daunting, which is why it's sad to learn that back in the 19th century, there was another amusement destination in the city, at the site of present-day LaGuardia Airport. Bowery Bay Beach (later named North Beach) opened in 1886 on the shores of Bowery and Flushing Bays. Built by noted piano manufacturer William Steinway in partnership with brewer George Ehret, it included beaches, swimming pavilions, a huge beer hall, zoo, and the Gala Amusement Park. At one time it was more popular than the parks in Brooklyn, earning it the moniker "the Coney Island of Queens."
So what happened?

History

July 6, 2016

LES Residents Propose Turning Lowline Site Into a Bus Depot During L Train Shutdown

There's been no lack of ideas for how to deal with the impending L train shutdown, from realistic proposals like the East River Skyway to some more out-there concepts like a giant inflatable tunnel. The latest suggestion was presented at a recent public meeting between the MTA and Manhattan's Community Board 3. DNAinfo reports that local residents discussed taking the old underground trolley station at Delancey and Essex Streets (the same site that's been long proposed for the Lowline) and turning it into a transportation hub for the B39 bus that operates between Williamsburg and the Lower East Side.
Find out more

Transit

July 6, 2016

Hello Albermarle’s ‘Avant-Garde-on-a-Budget’ Condos Take Flight in Flatbush

By Ondel Hylton

Hello Living is extending their Bauhaus-inspired magic deeper into Brooklyn with their latest project Hello Albermarle. It rises from a former parking lot located near the renewed Loew’s Kings Theatre and another upcoming high-rise development by the firm Hello Nostrand. Now having ascended four floors out of its concrete pit, the 44-unit condominium tower will ultimately tower 12 stories and 140 feet over its cozy Flatbush community.
More info ahead

July 6, 2016

Playful Moiré Lights Reveal Magical Patterns As They Rotate

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

Transform your space from stuffy to spectacular with one of these mesmerizing Moiré Lights by designer David Derksen. This artsy yet functional piece takes lighting to a new level by using perforated discs to create a lamp that projects moving patterns as it rotates and glows. As you may have guessed by the name, the hypnotic visage of each lamp is inspired by the Moiré effect.
Learn more about this magical lamp

July 6, 2016

$1.4M Townhouse in Rising-Star Sunset Park Includes a Magical Backyard Studio

While it may not be palatial, this sweet three-bedroom, two-story (plus finished basement) townhouse at 455 37th Street in Sunset Park on a lovely street of tidy 1900s row houses would make a terrific “condo alternative.” Sunset Park, which the listing reminds us was recently dubbed the nation's number one "edgy cool" neighborhood, is indeed a rising star. With exciting projects in the works at Industry City, an amazingly diverse mix of residents, proximity to transportation, parks and the waterfront and even a recent turn as the winter home of the Brooklyn Flea, Sunset Park is one of those places you might wish you’d moved to years ago. But there are still deals to be had among the just-as-diverse housing choices, like this well-preserved home asking $1.405 million. And a magical back yard with an utterly charming garden studio are definitely something you won't find in most condos.
Take a look inside

Distinctive Homes

July 6, 2016

Mapping the Shortest Path Through Every U.S. Zip Code; New York’s Finally Not the Rudest City!

There are nearly 37,000 zip codes in the lower 48 states. This doodle plots the shortest path through each one. [Washington Post] A 26-foot replica of One World Trade Center is now the tallest Lego model in the country. [Curbed] Developer Mitchell Moinian talks about how he got into the family business, their latest project […]

Uncategorized

July 6, 2016

POLL: Should the New York State Pavilion Get a Creative Makeover?

Yesterday, 6sqft shared some of the best and wackiest proposals from an ideas competition reimagining Philip Johnson's iconic New York State Pavilion. Built for the 1964-65 World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, it's struggled in recent years to find financial support, and the competition is a way to drum up enthusiasm for the necessary $52 restoration. The ideas ranged from the expected (elevated parks, event spaces) to the socially conscious (refugee housing, a homeless shelter) to the totally out there (a cheeseburger museum, a UFO landing pad). And while a new incarnation for the historic site would certainly draw visitors and interest, is that the appropriate way to honor the cultural and architectural merit of a structure that was built for a specific purpose at a very special point in time? Plus, preservationists have already secured close to $6 million for repairs, and the structure got a $3 million paint job last year.
Tell us what you think

Architecture And Design

July 6, 2016

Jimmy Choo Co-Founder Offers UES Mansion Penthouse for $60K/Month

Jimmy Choo co-founder Tamara Mellon has long been trying to sell her palatial penthouse pad, which sits atop the Carhart Mansion at 3 East 95th Street. The Carnegie Hill apartment, which boasts five bedrooms and one of the most impressive shoe closets of all time, recently reduced its price from $34 million to $27 million. And now it's on the rental market for $60,000 a month. The 7,000-square-foot penthouse has a long line of impressive owners—Mellon bought this from the Seagram heir Charles Bronfman Jr.
Check out that closet

Distinctive Homes

July 5, 2016

Competition Reimagines New York State Pavilion As a Cheeseburger Museum, Hanging Meadow

Philip Johnson's iconic New York State Pavilion in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park was built for the 1964-65 World’s Fair, but has struggled in recent decades to find its purpose. Because of its architectural and cultural merit, however, preservations have made great strides in the past several years: a restoration task force secured $5.8 million for repairs in 2014; it received a $3 million paint job last fall; and now it's creating quite the buzz thanks to an ideas competition put on by the the National Trust for Historic Preservation and People for the Pavilion (h/t WSJ). The competition, which organizers hope could help drum up enough enthusiasm to aid in the $52 million total restoration, has drawn more than 250 submission, including wacky ideas like a cheeseburger museum, a giant time-telling machine, and a UFO landing pad to more practical functions like a brewery, hanging gardens, live-work space for artists, and event venues.
See some of the entries here

Architecture And Design

255 East 77th Street

Lenox Hill

Upper East Side condos with Central Park views

3 beds starting at $5,300,000
4 beds starting at $7,400,000
5 beds starting at $8,750,000

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July 5, 2016

‘Periodic Table of NYC Trash’ Identifies the City’s Garbage and Odors

By Diane Pham

Easily put a name to New York’s discarded paraphernalia and putrid odors with the help of the Periodic Table of NYC Trash. This nifty design, created by writer Molly Young and graphic designer Teddy Blanks, places 118 recurring New York City elements into a handy tabular array that, like the real periodic table that inspired it, provides a useful framework for analyzing behavior (in this case, that of New Yorkers). All of the trash depicted in the poster was pulled straight off our city's filthy streets and photographed by Young and Blanks. What's featured includes everything from an innocuous Metro Card and stray baby sock to gag-inducing finds like a dead rat and a bottle of pee. Everything has also been handily divvied up into nine different categories that include apparel, beverage, food, hygiene, household, lifestyle, municipal, packing, and vices.
See the full size version here

July 5, 2016

Immigration Map Shows Migration Patterns for Every Country in the World

Puzzled at how many conversations about international issues turned to the subject of immigration no matter what the original context might have been, NYC-based entrepreneur and data visualization geek Max Galka created a map showing the flow of immigration to and from each of the world’s nations to better visualize where the patterns really lay. In addition to topics like terrorism, Brexit, this year’s presidential race and the refugee crisis, according to Galka, immigration was "being mentioned in connection with all sorts of topics I never would have expected.” Finding that the debates on immigration, though sometimes heated, were lacking in factual information, he hopes that his mapping efforts, brought to us via his blog Metrocosm, can provide some real-world context on questions like, "how many migrants are there? Where are they coming from? And where are they going?"
Take a look at the map to see who's coming and going

Uncategorized

July 5, 2016

Location and a Roof Deck With a View Elevate This $1.55M Center Slope Walk-Up

This lofted "duplex" on a gorgeous tree-lined brownstone block right in the center of Park Slope may not have a lot of usable space to spread out, but what it does have has been customized with modern details and creature comforts. For $1.55 million, the fifth floor condo at 486 Third Street could use an elevator (especially given the neighborhood's appeal to families who come with strollers, groceries and plenty of gear), but once you're inside this home in the treetops, great light and a private roof deck make a pretty compelling case.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

July 5, 2016

The Shrine Is a Cubic Cabinet That Will Keep Your Valuables Safe

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

We all have those precious items that we want to keep safe -- grandpa's watch, a childhood diary, a stash of foreign money -- but in cramped apartments it's hard to find adequate space to stash them all. Sigurd Larsen's cubic cabinet called the Shrine, however, has plenty of compartments to keep valuables safe. It's simply a wooden box full of drawers and doors of varying sizes that are only accessible with keys.
Learn more about this intricate cabinet of curiosities

July 5, 2016

$625K for This Charming Two Bedroom in a Prewar Co-op of Jackson Heights