February 3, 2022

Brooklyn’s Grand Prospect Hall to be replaced with luxury apartments

Brooklyn's cherished 119-year-old Grand Prospect Hall will be replaced with a new luxury apartment building. The Victorian-era banquet hall located at 263 Prospect Avenue in Greenwood Heights was owned for over 40 years by Michael and Alice Halkias, who captured the attention of New Yorkers through their over-the-top television commercials advertising the hall. As first reported by Yimby, permits were filed last month for a 147-unit apartment building at the site with 180 underground parking spaces, recreational spaces, and a fitness room.
See more here
February 3, 2022

10 cozy NYC bars to stay warm at all winter

Winter in New York City can be tough — bitter winds, slushy sidewalks, walking to the subway in a massive winter parka. But these frigid temps and grey days (will February ever end?!) are the perfect excuses to escape to a cozy bar and warm up with a cocktail. To get you through the rest of winter, we've rounded up some of the coziest bars in the city for the coldest nights.
Check them all out
February 3, 2022

eBay exec’s color-filled $5M Village loft is an instant mood boost

With pops of color and pop art everywhere you look, Bradford Shellhammer's Greenwich Village loft at 34 West 13 Street makes it hard to be anything but cheerful. The eye-popping–yet-stylish decor is no surprise; the entrepreneur, who founded the Fab shopping site among other projects, is well-known for his playful design eye. This two-bedroom loft, asking $4,950,000 and offered for the first time as a resale, is a fine example.
Take a whirlwind tour
February 3, 2022

Lottery opens for 117 affordable units at health-focused complex in Brownsville, from $959/month

Applications are now being accepted for 117 newly constructed apartments in Brooklyn. Located at 535 East 98th Street in Brownsville, Vital Brookdale is a health-focused mixed-use residential development that is part of New York State's Vital Brooklyn Initiative, an ongoing program for underserved communities in Central Brooklyn. New Yorkers earning 50, 60, and 80 percent of the area median income are eligible to apply for the units, which range from $959/month studios to $2,320/month three-bedrooms.
Find out more
February 2, 2022

Apply for 219 affordable units at new sustainable rental in Cypress Hills, from $202/month

On the border of Brooklyn's East New York and Cypress Hills neighborhoods, a newly constructed rental building designed to meet Passive House standards is now accepting applications for 219 affordable apartments. Located at 110 Dinsmore Place, Chestnut Commons rises 14-stories and contains housing for low-income and formerly homeless New Yorkers. Those earning 20, 40, 50, 70, and 80 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from $202/month studios to $2,037/month three-bedrooms.
Do you qualify?
February 2, 2022

NYC commission withholds support for Hochul’s plan to rebuild Penn Station

Gov. Kathy Hochul's massive redevelopment plan of Penn Station hit a roadblock last week. The City Planning Commission said it will withhold support for Hochul's new transit hub due to uncertainties over funding and a lack of improvement to transit and the public realm. Before the city recommends its full support, the project's planners must resolve these issues, as the commission wrote in a letter to the Empire State Development Corporation.
Details here
February 2, 2022

Magnolia Bakery opens new location in Hudson Yards

New York's iconic Magnolia Bakery opened its eighth New York City location at The Shops at Hudson Yards last week. The new 600-square-foot store is located on the fourth floor of the massive mall and will offer the signature treats for which the bakery is known, like their famous banana pudding and cupcakes, including limited-edition items.
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February 2, 2022

$12M Park Slope townhouse with four terraces, a garage, and gym was formerly eight apartments

One in a row of 12 Romanesque Revival townhouses that line the street across from Prospect Park, this graceful five-story Park Slope brownstone at 608 Fifth Street is the result of a $6 million renovation by its owners, design pros The Brooklyn Home Company. The home's covetable attributes befit a mansion with an asking price of $11.995 million, including multiple terraces, a rooftop kitchen, a basement gym, a rebuilt central spiral staircase, and a private garage with a full glass wall. According to the Wall Street Journal, the landmarked home was built in its current grand style at the turn of the 20th century and converted in the 1940s into an eight-unit apartment building.
Tour this Park Slope beauty
February 1, 2022

$5.7M penthouse sale sets new record in Jersey City

Jersey City has a new most expensive condo. A four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bath penthouse at 75 Park Lane closed for $5,700,000, Strategic Capital, the developer of the high-rise, announced on Tuesday. This sale takes the title from the previous record-holder in the city, 99 Hudson Street, where a penthouse sold for $4,438,500 last October.
Learn more
February 1, 2022

NYC’s first skate park in a residential development is open at Waterline Square

Remember when having a group of teenagers with skateboards hang out at your building was considered a bad thing? Times have changed, skateboarding is an Olympic sport, and Waterline Square's skate park, complete with a custom mural by a local artist, is open. Located in the Upper West Side condo and rental complex's 100,000-square-foot amenity center, the Waterline Club, the skate park offers a half-pipe and mini ramp, plus hang-out space with seating.  The new amenity is the first of its kind in a New York City residential development.
More photos, this way
February 1, 2022

NYC-area transit agencies seek ways to restore ridership post-Covid

New York City-area transit agencies are looking for ways to restore public transit ridership to the levels they were before the pandemic. The MTA, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, NJ Transit, the city's Department of Transportation, and the Partnership for NYC announced on Monday the fourth round of the Transit Tech Lab, a program that aims to find solutions to problems facing the city's public transportation system. The agencies put forth two challenges; the first is a solution to help the public transit system recover from Covid-19 and restore its ridership to pre-pandemic levels. The second is a sustainability challenge, looking for innovations that will better prepare the transit system against extreme weather conditions while leaving less of a carbon footprint.
See more here
February 1, 2022

An art lover’s guide to NYC: The best public art installations and museums in FiDi

While the Financial District, located at the southern tip of Manhattan, maybe most closely synonymous with Wall Street and towering office buildings, it is also home to world-class museums, public art installations and performances, and unexpected treasures that make it a worthy destination for art lovers. Better yet, during a time of increasing unknowns and fluctuating Covid statistics, many of FiDi's cultural elements can be safely experienced outside or at a distance. From large-scale sculptures to a landlocked lighthouse, here is the ultimate art lover’s guide to FiDi.
Get the details
February 1, 2022

For $4M, an Upper East Side condo with a designer pedigree

Situated a block from Central Park, this four-bedroom condo at the aptly-named Gatsby at 65 East 96th Street is a design vision at every turn. Asking $4 million, it's the epitome of classic pre-war style, offering not just four bedrooms and three and a half baths, but also a spacious separate living room, dining room, library, a home office, and formal entry foyer. According to Mansion Global, this sprawling combination of two adjacent units is currently owned by designers Gina and James de Givenchy. The latter is the nephew of Hubert de Givenchy, who founded the fashion house that bears his name.
More gorgeous Givenchy pad, this way
January 31, 2022

New food hall at Pier 57 will be curated by the James Beard Foundation

The culinary nonprofit organization the James Beard Foundation (JBF) announced on Friday they will be the anchor tenant of Pier 57's new food hall, which is set to open in the fall of 2022. The food hall will be developed in cooperation with real estate and development firm Jamestown, which will work with the JBF to curate vendors and manage it for Google.
Find out more
January 31, 2022

NYC offers free, same-day home delivery of antiviral Covid treatment pills

Mayor Eric Adams on Sunday announced oral antiviral pills are now available for free same-day, at-home delivery for eligible New Yorkers. Oral antiviral pills–as well as monoclonal antibodies–have been shown to be effective in preventing hospitalization and death from Covid. The medication will be available for people who test positive for the virus, have mild or moderate symptoms, and have a doctor's prescription; due to a limited supply, the city is prioritizing those who are at elevated risk for severe illness from the virus.
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January 31, 2022

This $9.5M pre-Civil War Chelsea townhouse holds five floors of renovated modern home

From its historic red-brick facade, we'd have no reason to doubt that this trim Chelsea townhouse at 258 West 24th Street, asking $9.5 million, dates from before the Civil War. Built in 1848, the 17-foot-wide single-family home spans 4,500 square feet over five floors, from cellar bonus room to private roof deck. Inside, however, the townhouse is totally turnkey, with newly-renovated interiors–and a two-tier backyard garden–that offer every 21st-century comfort and convenience.
More of this turnkey Chelsea home
January 28, 2022

New York requests additional $1.6B in federal rent assistance

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Thursday the state has requested an additional $1.6 billion from the United States Department of Treasury to help fund the state's Emergency Rental Assistance program. Although $1.4 billion has been distributed to New Yorkers struggling to pay rent due to the coronavirus pandemic, there are nearly 174,000 tenants whose applications to the state's program have not yet been fulfilled, according to the governor.
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January 28, 2022

18 places to celebrate Lunar New Year 2022 in NYC

The two-week Lunar New Year festival began this week, ushering in the Year of the Tiger. Kicking off February 1 and running through February 15, the Lunar New Year celebrates the end of the winter and looks forward to spring and new beginnings. Thanks to its multiple Chinatowns and diverse Asian communities across the five boroughs, New York City offers many ways to celebrate the new year, including a fireworks display, parades, lion dance performances, lantern making, and more.
Details here
January 28, 2022

See NYC’s latest Flatiron Building lookalike, the Nova in Long Island City

Queens is getting its own Flatiron Building lookalike in Long Island City. Designed by Fogarty Finger, The Nova is a 24-story mixed-use high-rise located on a triangular plot of land, giving way to a curved structure that evokes the Manhattan landmark. Slated to open in September, the luxury tower has 86 condominium units and ground-floor retail.
See more here
January 28, 2022

Soho’s only free-standing home is back on the market for $7.25M

Located on one of the district's most urban blocks, 514 Broome Street is the only free-standing townhouse in Soho. This fine example of New York City's flair for unexpected architecture is on the market for $7,250,000. 6sqft previously featured the three-story townhouse in 2015, when it changed hands for $6.9 million. Shortly after that sale, it appeared on the rental market for $22,500 a month.
Explore this unique Soho townhouse
January 27, 2022

Queens’ most expensive condo is this $4.995M penthouse in Long Island City

A massive loft penthouse in Long Island City hit the market this week for $4,995,000, the most expensive condo in the borough of Queens. The home measures a palatial 5,400 square feet across two levels on the top floor of the Arris Lofts, once home to the Eagle Electric Manufacturing Factory and now a full-service condo building. The property has three bedrooms, three and a half baths, and two private outdoor spaces that deliver an up-close look at the ever-evolving neighborhood.
Get the scoop
January 27, 2022

Lottery opens for 48 units at Downtown Brooklyn rental with impressive rooftop, from $1,542/month

Adding to the high-rise boom of Downtown Brooklyn is The Guild, a 23-story luxury rental building at 310 Livingston Street. A lottery is now open for 48 middle-income apartments at the mixed-use tower, which was designed by Fogarty Finger Architecture and boasts a dark brick facade and bronzed windows. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which start at $1,542/month for a one-bedroom unit and go up to $3,219/month for a two-bedroom.
Do you qualify?
January 27, 2022

$1.36M gets you NYC waterfront living in this three-bedroom Roosevelt Island co-op

Roosevelt Island may or may not be the city's "best-kept secret," as the listing says when it comes to getting more space for less. But it's not often you find a three-bedroom, two-bath co-op on New York City's waterfront, minutes from the Upper East Side, for $1.36 million. In the 19-story Westview at 625 Main Street, this recently-renovated home offers river views and luxury finishes.
Get a closer look
January 26, 2022

Landmarks approves design for $77M renovation of Delacorte Theater in Central Park

The city's Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday approved plans for the revitalization of Central Park's Delacorte Theater, the city's first major post-pandemic outdoor theater investment. The new design's main goals are to improve accessibility for people with disabilities, protect the building from the ravages of a changing climate, and improve efficiency and comfort.
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January 26, 2022

$8.25M Lincoln Square condo has designer dazzle, celebrity cachet, and skyline views

Measuring over 3,000 square feet, this four-bedroom Lincoln Square condo at the Pelli Clarke Pelli-designed One West End Avenue is currently owned by eight-time Grammy winner Philip Lawrence and his wife, Urbana Lawrence, a celebrity designer/stylist. Now on the market for $8,250,000,  the condo's dazzling interior was created by L.A.-based designers Patrick Dragonette and Charles Tucker, with views courtesy of New York City.
More designer dazzle, this way
January 26, 2022

Lottery opens for 134 apartments at new waterfront rental in Mott Haven, from $1,795/month

A housing lottery opened this week for 134 middle-income units at a new development in the South Bronx. Developed by Brookfield Properties, Third at Bankside is the first phase of Bankside, the most expensive private development in Bronx history. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income are eligible to apply for the apartments, which range from $1,795/month studios to $2,900/month two-bedrooms.
Find out more
January 26, 2022

New York’s mask mandate is reinstated, for now

New York's mask mandate has been reinstated after an appeals court judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked a ruling from a lower-court judge that struck down the policy. One day prior, Nassau County Supreme Court Justice Thomas Rademaker said Gov. Kathy Hochul's mask requirement, which applies to all indoor public places in the state that do not require proof of vaccination, was unconstitutional.
Details here
January 25, 2022

$100M restoration of Midtown’s iconic Lever House skyscraper has begun

Park Avenue's iconic Lever House tower is being redeveloped under the architectural guidance of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the building's original architects, according to an announcement by the building's owners, WatermanClark and Brookfield Properties. The Midtown architectural landmark was completed in 1952 as soap company Lever Brothers' U.S. headquarters. SOM will be helming the restoration seven decades after they first designed the building at 390 Park Avenue.
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January 25, 2022

See inside NYC’s new luxury condo Flatiron House, where gardens bloom into apartments

Sales launched this week at a new luxury condo building in the Flatiron District that utilizes biophilic design principles. Designed by COOKFOX Architects, Flatiron House, located at 39 West 23rd Street, incorporates nature into its appearance, including planted and irrigated Juliet balconies and a lush central garden. Developed by Anbau Development, Flatiron House contains 44 total residences, priced between $1.98 million and $13 million.
See more here
January 25, 2022

This $4.25M Tribeca duplex loft comes with possibilities and planted terraces

Asking $4,250,000, this duplex condo at 55 Vestry Street is a classic Tribeca loft with outdoor space on two floors and a flexible floor plan–if you're willing to do a bit of work. Although it's currently configured as a one-bedroom, the 2,029-square-foot loft was originally a spacious three-bedroom apartment; it can be easily returned to that layout using the already-existing floor plans.
Tour the loft
January 25, 2022

205 moderate-income apartments available on Greenpoint’s waterfront, from $1,528/month

A housing lottery opened this week for 205 moderate-income units in a new residential building in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Developed by Halcyon Management Group, 23 West Street is a 14-story residential building that sits within the Calyer Place development project currently under construction on the Brooklyn waterfront. New Yorkers earning 80 percent of the area median income are eligible to apply for the apartments, which range from $1,528/month studios to $1,955/month for two bedrooms.
Find out more
January 25, 2022

13 unique gift ideas for Valentine’s Day

This year, think outside the box to wow your Valentine. Use these ideas for fun, flirty and family-friendly one-of-a-kind gifts for your one in a million. These gift ideas include something for everyone in your life, from the plant lover to the New York City foodie. In particular, there are plenty of experience gifts for Valentine’s Day. Because why not gift the present of your presence?
See the full list
January 24, 2022

Joe Tsai’s firm revealed as buyer of $190M penthouse at 220 Central Park South

Earlier this month it was reported billionaire Daniel Och sold his penthouse at 220 Central Park South for $190 million, roughly double what he paid for the home in 2019. While the identity of the buyer was unknown at the time, city records first reported last week by Bloomberg show Blue Pool Capital, the firm that manages some fortunes of Alibaba co-founders Joe Tsai and Jack Ma, paid $188 million for the property.
Get the details
January 24, 2022

100% affordable mixed-use project with 376 rentals breaks ground in Coney Island

BFC Partners announced on Monday the groundbreaking for the second phase of their 100 percent affordable housing project in Coney Island. Located at 1607 Surf Avenue, the roughly 361,000-square-foot mixed-use development contains 376 affordable rental units, 9,000 square feet of community space, and 11,000 square feet of commercial space. The $189 million project also includes a new primary care location run by New York City Health and Hospital Corporation.
See more here
January 24, 2022

Sliding glass walls meet outdoor spaces in this $10.8M penthouse atop Chelsea’s Jardim condo

In addition to being Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld’s first New York commission, the pair of buildings known as Jardim, at 527 West 27th Street, make up an architecturally unique West Chelsea oasis. The development, which launched sales in 2016, features two 11-story buildings clad in cast-concrete interspersed with ribbons of glass. Its highlight–and name inspiration–is a verdant multi-level courtyard designed by Future Green Studio. Located in the building's loftiest reaches, this 3,663-square-foot duplex penthouse, asking $10,800,000, offers seamless indoor/outdoor living in addition to three bedrooms and interiors designed by the building's architect.
Penthouse views through sliding glass, this way
January 21, 2022

Theodore Roosevelt statue removed from NYC’s Museum of Natural History

The statue of Theodore Roosevelt that has stood on the steps of the American Museum of Natural History for more than eight decades was removed this week. The city's Public Design Commission voted last summer to take down and relocate the statue, seen as racist for its depiction of Roosevelt on horseback flanked by a Native American figure and an African figure. The bronze statue will soon be shipped to Medora, N.D., where it will be displayed at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, set to open in 2026.
Get the details
January 21, 2022

SNL’s Pete Davidson and Colin Jost rescue retired Staten Island Ferry boat for $280K

"Saturday Night Live" stars Pete Davidson and Colin Jost, along with comedy club owner Paul Italia, were the high bidders for the retired Staten Island Ferry boat John F. Kennedy, the NY Post reports. The boat, recently retired from the Staten Island Ferry fleet, was listed for $125,000 at a public auction that ended Wednesday. The auction price of the vintage vessel, retired after over five decades of service, had been slashed in half, but its new owners bid $280,000 in a last-minute bidding war, armed with plans to transform the ferry into a live entertainment venue.
More on the JFK, this way
January 21, 2022

14-mile ‘Interborough Express’ route between Brooklyn and Queens moves forward

A public transportation project that could ease the lives of thousands of New Yorkers is gaining momentum. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday announced the completion of a feasibility study for the Interborough Express, moving the project into its next phase of development. The feasibility study yielded promising results, revealing that the new line could serve anywhere between 74,000 and 88,000 riders a day while connecting to 17 subway stops and the Long Island Rail Road. From its start in Bay Ridge to its final stop in Jackson Heights, the route would take 40 minutes.
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January 21, 2022

$699K Hudson Heights co-op updates 1930s Deco details for 21st-century life

This two-bedroom co-op at 420 Bennett Avenue in Hudson Heights, asking $699,000, has 1930s Deco details like a sunken living room and arched doorways. A complete renovation has updated that pre-war perfection for 21st-century living. The building's location at the edge of Fort Tryon Park, which sits at one of the highest points in Manhattan, feels a lot like some of the best stretches of the Upper West Side.
Get a closer look
January 20, 2022

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen list pair of penthouses in Nolita for $18M

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen are selling their two penthouses in Nolita for $18 million, the Wall Street Journal first reported. The couple purchased a $9 million unit in 2018 followed by a $7.7 million penthouse in 2020 in the six-story Brewster Carriage House at 374 Broome Street. The A-list duo told the WSJ they wanted to combine the two apartments into one but never did.
More this way
January 20, 2022

New daily, year-round ferry service launches to and from Governors Island

The city's Economic Development and the Trust For Governors Island on Thursday announced that daily, year-round ferry service to Governors Island will begin on Monday, January 24. The NYC Ferry will add a stop at Yankee Pier on its South Brooklyn Route between Red Hook and Sunset Park, connecting New Yorkers to the island from the Lower East Side and Brooklyn. The new service’s hours will coincide with the Island's new winter hours, open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Find out more
January 20, 2022

Hochul outlines replacement for New York’s expiring 421-a tax break program

As part of her State of the State address delivered earlier this month, Gov. Kathy Hochul promised to replace the 421-a tax abatement program with a new "effective" credit. Set to expire in June, 421-a gives New York real estate developers who construct new residential buildings a property tax exemption in exchange for designating a portion of the homes as affordable. As part of her executive budget, Hochul on Wednesday outlined her plan for a replacement program called "Affordable Neighborhoods for New Yorkers." While the new program calls for the units built to be more affordable, much of the structure of the existing tax abatement remains in place.
Get the details
January 20, 2022

Live in a new luxury Long Island City rental, from $1,486/month

A housing lottery opened this week for 31 middle-income units in a brand new luxury building in Long Island City. Designed by Fogarty Finger Architects, Rise LIC is a 10-story residential building offering its residents spacious units with extensive amenities. New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from $1,486/month studios to $3,200/month three bedrooms.
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January 20, 2022

It doesn’t get much grander than this $20M townhouse on the Upper East Side

Situated at 17 East 93rd Street surrounded by the stately townhouses of the Upper East Side, this 20-foot-wide, 7,500-square-foot home was designed in the Renaissance Revival style by William Graul in the late 1800s. It has since had a complete renovation that spanned over three years, resulting in a home that offers beauty, comfort, and luxury behind a restored classic brownstone facade. Asking $20,000,000, the single-family townhouse even has an elevator, putting each of its five floors within easy reach.
Tour five luxurious floors
January 19, 2022

New plans announced for Park Avenue traffic median redesign

New York City Council Member Keith Powers announced this week the next steps in a plan to bring new life to Midtown's Park Avenue traffic medians. The newly-revealed plan will transform the avenue's current malls into "new, world-class, active open space," according to a press release. A landscape architect will be hired by the Department of Transportation to create a master plan according to a request for proposal, to be issued in the spring.
New life for Midtown streets, this way
January 19, 2022

NYC pledges to make 1,000 intersections safer for pedestrians

Last year, New York City experienced the highest level of traffic fatalities in over a decade, a majority of which took place at street intersections. Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday announced a plan to better protect pedestrians, including improving the design of 1,000 intersections across the city, constructing 100 raised crosswalks annually, and enforcing a new traffic rule that requires drivers and cyclists to fully stop for pedestrians when traffic controls are not in place.
Get the details
January 19, 2022

New York’s first-ever Lenape-curated exhibition to open at the Brooklyn Public Library in Greenpoint

The first-ever Lenape-curated exhibition in New York is coming to Brooklyn. Presented by the Brooklyn Public Library and The Lenape Center, Lenapehoking features a collection of masterworks by Lenape artists and educational programs that teach visitors the story of the Lenape community. The collection is curated by Joe Baker, the co-founder and executive director of the Lenape Center and enrolled member of the Delaware Tribe of Indians. The exhibition opens on Thursday, January 20 at the Greenpoint Library and Environmental Education Center and runs through April 30.
Find out more
January 19, 2022

143 middle-income units available at new 34-story tower in Downtown Brooklyn, from $2,523/month

A housing lottery launched this week for 143 middle-income units in a new building in Downtown Brooklyn. Designed by Perkins Eastman, The Willoughby is a 34-story mixed-use residential tower offering prospective tenants the opportunity to save money in the long term with rent-stabilized units. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income are eligible to apply for the apartments, which range from $2,523/month studios to $3,235/month for two bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

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