December 28, 2021

NYC schools will reopen in January with increased Covid testing

Despite a surge in new coronavirus cases, New York City officials said classrooms will reopen after winter break and stay open. Mayor Bill de Blasio and Mayor-elect Eric Adams announced on Tuesday public schools will reopen as scheduled on January 3 with new health and safety measures in place, moving away from the remote learning model which many schools across the country have shifted to due to the recent surge in cases. Put together by the de Blasio administration and incoming Adams administration, the “Stay Safe and Stay Open" plan utilizes a massive increase in testing that will allow classrooms to stay open even if students test positive.
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December 28, 2021

6SQFT’S TOP STORIES OF 2021!

For New Yorkers, 2021 was a year of ups and downs, from the rollout of coronavirus vaccines and the gradual reopening of our beloved city to the return of mask mandates and canceled events. Throughout, though, 6sqft readers stayed informed on all things Covid, real estate news, and fun things to do, while celebrating the opening of new public green space, sky-high observation decks, and unique apartments for sale. Ahead, discover the most read 6sqft stories of 2021, from a first look at the offshore park Little Island to a listing for a condo in the real-life "Arconia" from Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building.
Our most-read stories of the year, here
December 28, 2021

NYC to invest $75M towards completion of long-awaited Bushwick Inlet Park

After 16 years, the 27-acre waterfront park planned for North Brooklyn has taken a major step towards completion. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Monday that the city has allocated $75 million of its budget for the construction of the final piece of Bushwick Inlet Park. The funding will be for work on the next phases of the park, which begins with the demolition of the CitiStorage warehouse that sits on a parcel of land the city purchased in 2017 but has yet to rebuild.
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December 27, 2021

164 affordable units available at the Peninsula complex in the South Bronx, from $396/month

A housing lottery opened this week for more than 160 affordable apartments at a new development in the South Bronx. Developed by Gilbane Development Company, Hudson Companies, and the Mutual Housing Association of New York, Peninsula 1B is a mixed-use building that is part of a project to replace the notorious former Spofford Juvenile Detention Center in Hunts Point. New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 50, 60, and 80 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments which range from $396/month studios to $2,131/month three-bedrooms.
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December 27, 2021

Announcing 6sqft’s 2021 Building of the Year!

The votes are in. The 2021 Building of the Year title belongs to Lantern House, the pair of bubbled towers on the High Line. The Chelsea condo project edged out the competition with 618 votes, or 23.9 percent of the 2,587 votes cast. Developed by Related and designed by Heatherwick Studio with SLCE Architects, Lantern House contains a mix of 181 one- to four-bedroom units split between the two towers, one which rises 10 stories and the other, 22 stories. This year's contest was a photo finish, with The Brooklyn Tower in a close second place with 615 votes, or 23.8 percent of the total votes.
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December 27, 2021

New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square to be scaled back because of Covid

After announcing last month that this year's Times Square New Year's Eve celebration will return to maximum capacity, Mayor Bill de Blasio broke the news on Thursday that the celebration will be scaled back to protect attendees from the Omicron variant. Usually hosting 58,000 guests, the celebratory event will be reduced to 15,000 attendees and include additional safety measures like the use of masks. Those planning on taking part in the celebration must provide full proof of vaccination with photo identification.
See more here
December 27, 2021

For $1.8M, a charming Clinton Hill duplex with a two-level backyard and a downstairs rec room

Asking $1,825,000, this airy duplex garden condo at 260 Greene Avenue in Clinton Hill has two official bedrooms and two and a half baths. A sunny backyard spans both levels, serving as an outdoor extension of a lower-level rec room. Known as Copper House, the new-construction condominium residence was completed in 2014.
Tour the duplex
December 23, 2021

$3M waterfront home on Long Island offers East End living with a Nantucket vibe

This unique home at 127 Senix Avenue in Center Moriches offers south-of-the-highway waterfront living without the Hamptons crowds. The property, asking $2,990,000, sits on Moriches Bay, anchored by a classic circa 1890 Nantucket-style home. In addition to renovated interiors, a quaint guest house, a boathouse, and an in-ground pool, verdant grounds make this a dream vacation residence.
Tour the waterfront compound
December 23, 2021

Everything you need to host a NYE party in your NYC apartment

Ring in 2022 on a festive note with these tips and easy buys to make your apartment (no matter how small) party-ready. Whether you’re eager to leave 2021 behind or you’re looking forward to a night spent reminiscing on the highs of the past year, your New Year's Eve party should feel decadent, festive, and sophisticated. If you’re planning a party for a small New York City space, good news: we have the best tips, tricks, and products that will ensure you and your guests have a night to remember.
More here
December 22, 2021

On the Upper West Side, an Emery Roth-designed co-op overlooking Central Park asks $7.4M

A pre-war Upper West Side co-op designed by an influential architect with views of Central Park? It doesn't get much more classic New York City living than that. A stunning eight-room duplex at 15 West 81st Street is now on the market for $7,350,000. Stretching across floors 12 and 13, the spacious apartment not only benefits from a prime address, but also pre-war features, like herringbone floors, original banister, and moldings.
Take the tour
December 22, 2021

‘2022’ numerals arrive in Times Square after cross-country trip

The New Year has arrived in New York. The iconic seven-foot-tall numerals that sit beneath the New Year's Eve crystal ball arrived in Times Square on Monday. The numbers are available for viewing at Times Square Plaza between 46th and 47th Street until noon on December 23 until they take their place on top of One Times Square.
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December 22, 2021

Apply for 59 middle-income apartments in South Williamsburg, from $1,382/month

A housing lottery opened this week for 59 luxury apartments at a new development situated near the border of South Williamsburg and Bed-Stuy in Brooklyn. Developed by Riverside Developers, the eight-floor residential building, dubbed the Rose Castle Project, is located at 33 Little Nassau Street, between Kent and Franklin Avenues. New Yorkers earning 70, 90, and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, which range from $1,382/month one-bedrooms to $2,520/month two-bedrooms.
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December 22, 2021

10 ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2021 in NYC without the Times Square crowds

New Yorkers are emerging and socializing, but we're still being cautious. That means you might not feel like mixing and mingling with a massive crowd of revelers from all over the planet. If you’d rather enjoy a more subtle celebration, check out the events we've listed below. Note that while the parties and performances were still on the calendar at publication, some venues are canceling more populous events in the name of extra caution, so double check before heading out. For all events, you can be sure mask and vaccine-proof protocols will be in place, so plan accordingly.
2022, this way
December 21, 2021

Former Fort Greene home of Notorious B.I.G. sells for $2M

After just over three months on the market, the Fort Greene home that once belonged to the late rapper Notorious B.I.G. sold last week for $2,000,000, as the New York Post first reported. Located at 159 Carlton Avenue, the two-bedroom duplex sits within a former stable building and underwent a major renovation by the current owner, a well-known costume designer. The home, which is where Biggie lived when he released his iconic 1994 album "Ready to Die," was listed for $1,700,000 in September.
Get the details
December 21, 2021

NYC is offering $100 to New Yorkers who receive Covid booster by end of year

To combat the rapid upsurge of Covid cases in New York City due to the Omicron variant, the city is offering New Yorkers an incentive to get their booster shot. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Tuesday city-run vaccination sites, as well as city-partnered SOMOS clinics, will be giving $100 to every New Yorker getting their booster starting today through December 31.
Find out more
December 21, 2021

These are the library books New Yorkers checked out the most in 2021

In another year dominated by the coronavirus pandemic, New Yorkers looked to the public library system for solace. New York City’s public libraries on Tuesday released their annual list of the most checked-out books of 2021. At the New York Public Library, which includes branches in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island, the most borrowed book for the second year in a row was Brit Bennett’s The Vanishing Half. In Brooklyn, Bennett’s novel also took the top spot. In Queens, the most borrowed book was The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah.
Full list ahead
December 21, 2021

East Village duplex with a dreamy garden and balcony asks $3.5M

For many homebuyers in New York City, outdoor space is a must-have amenity. While most will settle for any slice of green space or sliver of a balcony, this available East Village duplex offers both. The two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath condo at 62 East 1st Street offers a dreamy 1,000-square-foot backyard garden and patio, with a spacious balcony above it. The home is now on the market for $3,488,000.
Take the tour
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December 20, 2021

Ride NYC’s oldest operating subway cars one last time before the MTA retires them

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is set to retire the R-32, one of the oldest operating subway cars in the world, in early 2022. The R-32 has carried New Yorkers to their destinations for 58 years but has fallen out of use due to the modernization of the subway system. To honor their incredible legacy, an R-32 train will run on each consecutive Sunday in December before being officially retired in early January.
See more here
December 20, 2021

Plan for Bjarke Ingels-designed high-rises and public beach in Williamsburg is approved

Two massive high-rise towers with over 1,000 apartments and a resilient waterfront public park are officially coming to Williamsburg. The New York City Council last week voted to approve River Ring, a development planned for River Street between North 1st and North 3rd Streets on the Brooklyn waterfront. Developed by Two Trees Management, the project includes two mixed-use buildings designed by Bjarke Ingels Group that will hold 1,050 units of housing, with 263 of them priced below market rate, as well as a new YMCA and public park. Construction is expected to begin in 2024.
Get the details
December 20, 2021

New $18.3M sustainable playground opens at the Battery

One of New York City's largest sustainable parks officially opened last week. Following a 25-year initiative, the Battery Conservancy on Thursday opened the Battery Playscape, a 1.5-acre playground that triples the size of the former park and aims to reinforce sustainable practices in its users through its eco-friendly design and features.
Details here
December 20, 2021

Lottery opens for nearly 700 mixed-income units at huge Far Rockaway complex, from $388/month

A housing lottery opened this week for 692 affordable apartments at a brand new development in Far Rockaway, Queens. Developed by Phipps Houses, the Rockaway Village Apartments consist of three buildings within a massive complex, which is currently under construction on site of a former abandoned shopping center. New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 50, 60, 80, and 100 percent of the area median income can apply for the lottery units, which range from $388/month studios to $1,885/month three-bedrooms.
Details here
December 17, 2021

Prospect Park’s Vale to undergo $40M restoration

On Thursday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the allocation of $40 million to restore Prospect Park’s Vale. This funding is the largest in the history of Prospect Park Alliance, the non-profit organization that manages the park. The Vale, also known as the “Vale of Cashmere,” is a 26-acre portion of the park's northeast corner known for its breathtaking foliage.
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December 17, 2021

NYC’s first net-zero community moves forward in Far Rockaway

After more than 40 years of planning, the construction of  New York City's first net-zero community is moving forward. L+M Development Partners, the Bluestone Organization, and Triangle Equities have agreed on $30.3 million in financing, signaling the beginning of phase one of Arverne East, a sustainability-focused, mixed-use development project in Far Rockaway. The project will bring 1,650 new units of housing, with 80 percent of them affordable, to a 116-acre oceanfront site that has been vacant for more than four decades.
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December 17, 2021

As Covid cases surge, NYC to give out a million masks and 500K free at-home tests

With a sudden surge of coronavirus cases in New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday announced several new measures to curb the spread of the virus. The city will distribute one million free KN95 face masks and 500,000 rapid antigen self-testing kits, open new testing sites, and expand hours at existing sites. City officials say the new highly-contagious variant is to blame for the rising number of cases; the seven-day average for new cases has tripled in the last month. "It is clear the Omicron variant is here in New York City in full force," de Blasio said on Thursday.
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December 16, 2021

NYC Council approves plan to rezone Soho and Noho, which will add 900 affordable units

The New York City Council on Wednesday voted to approve the plan to rezone Soho and Noho, a major policy win for Mayor Bill de Blasio in his final days in office. The rezoning aims to bring about 3,000 new homes, with roughly 900 of them permanently affordable, to the Lower Manhattan neighborhoods, which are two of the wealthiest in the city.
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December 16, 2021

This $2.6M classic Soho loft is a collector’s dream

This loft co-op at 421 West Broadway has the covetable loft bones that exemplify the Soho neighborhood: 11-foot-high wood-beamed ceilings, tall windows, big, open rooms, and wood floors. Anyone with a serious collection should take note: This particular loft, asking $2,600,000, belongs to an artist and collector, and while the space is the perfect home for loft lovers, it doubles as a fascinating gallery.
Step into the collectors' loft
December 16, 2021

City Council approves massive Grand Hyatt redevelopment project at 175 Park Avenue

The New York City Council voted on Wednesday to allow the proposed development at the site currently occupied by the Grand Hyatt Hotel at 175 Park Avenue. New Greater East Midtown zoning rules permit developers to construct supersized towers if they are accompanied by hefty contributions to transit and public amenities. In addition to the construction of a 2.1-million-square-foot, 1,575-foot-high building with retail and office space, a new 500-room hotel, a sky lobby, a lounge, and a restaurant, the site will include 25,000 square feet of elevated, publicly accessible terraces that will host cultural and arts events. The project also promises to bring hundreds of millions of dollars in transit improvements.
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December 16, 2021

Ring in the New Year hanging 1,271 feet above NYC

Thrill-seekers will have the opportunity to ring in the New Year while hanging over the edge of the highest open-air building climb in the world. On Tuesday, City Climb introduced the exclusive event with spots open for eight people. City Climb, located on top of 30 Hudson Yards, offers participants breathtaking views of New York City as they scale a set of open-edged stairways and platforms on the outside of the building. Those who are daring enough and want to welcome the new year on a ‘high’ note can join the digital queue here, which begins at noon on December 22.
More here
December 16, 2021

New York City bans natural gas in new buildings

New York City is now the largest city in the United States to phase fossil fuels out of new construction. The City Council on Wednesday approved legislation banning the use of natural gas in new buildings under seven stories tall starting in 2023 and in structures over seven stories in the middle of 2027. The legislation means new buildings in the city, with very few exceptions, will be all-electric.
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December 15, 2021

Landmarks votes to keep ‘Fearless Girl’ statue across from the Stock Exchange for three more years

New York City's Landmarks Preservation Commission agreed in a unanimous vote on Tuesday to keep the popular "Fearless Girl" statue in its home on Broad Street across from the New York Stock Exchange for three more years.  As 6sqft previously reported, the statue’s permit with the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) expired on November 29. State Street Global Advisors, the statue’s owners, submitted a request for a ten-year permit last year, which will ultimately be addressed at a hearing before the Public Design Commission, which oversees the city’s art collection. The LPC vote was based solely on the statue's placement in a historically significant location.
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December 15, 2021

Vote for 6sqft’s 2021 Building of the Year!

After New York City's construction and real estate industries ground to a halt last year because of the pandemic, 2021 saw a flurry of activity, thanks to the arrival of the coronavirus vaccine and federal funding for states and cities. This year, we saw positive signs that the road to recovery for New York real estate has started. More apartments sold in Manhattan in the third quarter of 2021 than at any point during the last 30 years. Brooklyn gained its first supertall. The priciest private development ever built in the Bronx opened. Records were broken, set, and broken again. As the city adapts to a new normal, so do residential projects. Amenities now focus on health and wellness, like stunning sky-high pools, curated fitness centers, and landscaped outdoor space. With work-from-home culture likely not going anywhere, developers offer designer-crafted co-working spaces, libraries, and lounges. Our picks are down to 16 of the most notable residential projects this year. Which do you think deserves 6sqft’s title of 2021 Building of the Year? Polls for our seventh annual competition will remain open through midnight on Sunday, December 26. A winner will be announced on Monday, December 27. Happy voting!
Vote here
December 15, 2021

119 affordable apartments available in the South Bronx, from $362/month

Applications are now being accepted for 119 newly constructed apartments in the South Bronx. Located at 980 Westchester Avenue in Foxhurst, the seven-story mixed-use building is being developed by Atlantic Building Ventures and designed by GF55 Partners. New Yorkers earning 40, 50, 60, and 70 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from $362/month studios to $1,760/month three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
December 15, 2021

For $2.5M, this five-story Georgian townhouse on Strivers’ Row is a well-preserved Harlem gem

This five-story Georgian-style townhouse at 2362 Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard was built in 1896 and has only been home to two owners since that time. Its original owner was among the first African-American dentists living and practicing on Strivers' Row. The single-family townhouse may be only just over 15 feet wide, but a wealth of history and intact original details make it a gracious home. Asking $2,495,000, the 4,112 square-foot 14-room home contains seven bedrooms and nine fireplaces.
Tour the historic uptown townhouse
December 15, 2021

Monument honoring investigative journalist Nellie Bly opens on Roosevelt Island

A monument honoring trailblazing investigative journalist Nellie Bly opened to the public on Friday. The structure was designed by Amanda Matthews of Prometheus Art to bring attention to women who have overcome adversity. Located at the tip of Lighthouse Park on Roosevelt Island, the monument is named after Bly’s first published work, "The Girl Puzzle." 
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December 14, 2021

Asking $6M, Upper East Side pre-war co-op is the picture of Park Avenue living

The spacious, elegant pre-war co-op at 625 Park Avenue embodies the classic ideal of Manhattan apartment living, starting with a private elevator landing. Asking $5,995,000, the two-bedroom home has spacious entertaining rooms and convenient staff spaces–which could easily be repurposed as bedrooms or office/studio space–rarely found in new construction apartments. Rooms have gracious proportions, subtle architectural details, wood-burning fireplaces, and plenty of Park Avenue frontage.
This way for more classic Park Avenue good looks
December 14, 2021

Hochul announces plan for new $9.5B international terminal at JFK Airport

One of New York's busiest airports will be getting a new $9.5 billion terminal, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Monday. Led by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYJ), a planned 2.4 million-square-foot state-of-the-art terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport will become its largest international terminal. "The time to get large infrastructure projects done is now, and I'm committed to getting JFK's brand new Terminal One underway and completed as soon as possible," Hochul said.
Finally, the future of JFK, this way
December 14, 2021

One year after NYC’s first Covid vaccination, 90% of adults have received at least one dose

On December 14, 2020, Sandra Lindsay, a nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens, received the first coronavirus vaccine in the country. One year later, New York City has hit a significant milestone in its fight against the virus: 90 percent of all adults in the city have received at least one dose of the vaccine. "We've come a long, long way," Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a press conference on Monday.
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December 14, 2021

Apply for 200 rent-restricted rentals in Far Rockaway, from $522/month

In the Queens neighborhood of Far Rockaway, a brand new mixed-use building with a host of amenities launched an affordable housing lottery this week. Located at 10-47 Beach 21st Street, the 10-story building features 224 rent-restricted apartments, a restaurant, a daycare and childhood center, and parking for vehicles and bikes. New Yorkers earning 40, 50, 60, and 100 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, ranging from $522/month studios to $2,121/month three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
December 13, 2021

Habitat enhancement project adds 11 million oysters to New York Harbor

The Tribeca Habitat Enhancement Project announced it has completed what has been the largest habitat enhancement project to date, and the first large-scale restoration initiative in Hudson River Park's 400-acre Estuarine Sanctuary between Pier 26 and Pier 34. A key indicator of the project's success: the installation of 11.2 million juvenile oysters to help support marine life in the Hudson River.
Many oysters, this way
December 13, 2021

Get a first look inside the tallest tower in Brooklyn

After officially becoming Brooklyn's tallest building in October, the Brooklyn Tower is now showing off its sumptuous interiors. When the 1,066-foot-tall tower, the first and only supertall in the borough, opens at 9 DeKalb Avenue next year, there will be 550 total residences, with 150 condos for sales and 400 rentals. New images provide a sneak peek of the interiors designed by Gachot Studio, which was able to manipulate the tower's unique hexagonal shape for sweeping incomparable city views.
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December 13, 2021

This $1.15M Crown Heights condo has a colorful Plain English kitchen and plenty of space for dinner guests

This $1,149,000 Crown Heights condo at 720 Nostrand Avenue has high-floor light, a spacious layout, and a custom kitchen that transcends the ordinary. On the fifth floor of a six-story elevator building, the two-bedroom, two-bath home also has a private balcony off the master bedroom, a washer/dryer, and pale hardwood floors throughout.
Take the tour
December 10, 2021

All New York businesses will mandate masks indoors unless there’s a vaccine requirement

As coronavirus cases and hospitalizations rise statewide, Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday announced a new mask requirement for all indoor public places in New York that don't require proof of vaccination for entry. The new measure comes as the state experiences a "winter surge." Since Thanksgiving, the statewide seven-day average case rate has jumped by 43 percent and hospitalizations have increased by 29 percent. "I have warned for weeks that additional steps could be necessary, and now we are at that point based upon three metrics: Increasing cases, reduced hospital capacity, and insufficient vaccination rates in certain areas," Hochul said in a statement.
More here
December 10, 2021

The 30+ best neighborhood shops in NYC for finding the perfect gift

We've been shopping online for what seems like forever, and there's not a thing wrong with it–except when we crave that amazing experience of finding just the right thing and getting to take it with us now. While brick-and-mortar shops aren't going away anytime soon, we appreciate the good ones that much more. If you're lucky enough to live in New York City–where shopping is high art–some of the best shops on the planet could be just around the corner from where you live. You're sure to find something fabulous for everyone on your list among the local addresses below.
Amazing local NYC shops, this way
December 9, 2021

15 holiday trees in NYC that are not at Rockefeller Center

The Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center may be the most popular conifer in New York City, with 125 million people visiting the tree each year, but it certainly is not the only one. Every holiday season, spruces adorned with colorful lights and ornaments pop up across the five boroughs. The city’s many holiday trees each offer a unique take on the tradition, which began in NYC in 1912 when the first public Christmas tree was erected in Madison Square Park. For those looking to skip the Midtown crowds this year, we’ve rounded up 15 of the best holiday trees, from the origami tree at the American Museum of Natural History to the flotilla of trees in Central Park’s Harlem Meer.
Get the full list
December 9, 2021

Edge switches on the holidays with 50,000 twinkling lights high over Hudson Yards

New York City's highest outdoor sky deck is putting a high priority on holiday spirit this year: Edge, suspended in mid-air 100 stories above Hudson Yards, is gearing up to give you a spectacular view of the season with 50,000 lights, switched-on trees, giant hot air balloon displays and a mouth-watering batch of holiday beverages.
More details, this way
December 9, 2021

Behind a double-height glass wall this $5M Flatiron co-op has architectural flair and a private terrace

This impressive Flatiron penthouse at 30 East 21st Street gets instant attention for the sloping double-height wall of framed glass that opens the home up to the city skyline–and the sky. But the $4,995,000 co-op has more enviable attributes: Off the living room is an equally sizable private piazza. In addition, two bedrooms and two baths, endless closet space, and a laundry room are just a few more of the luxuries found in this modern aerie, which was featured in Architectural Digest.
Soak up some sun, this way
December 8, 2021

See the city and the stars from your bedroom’s glass ceiling or your private Village roof deck for $1.8M

Asking $1,825,000, this two-bedroom co-op duplex at 49 East 12th Street in Greenwich Village is perfect for star-gazers and urban gardeners. A prime location near Union Square makes this pre-war penthouse a find, but the primary bedroom's solarium effect and a bi-level private roof deck are the details that truly shine.
Take a look
December 8, 2021

Trader Joe’s new Williamsburg store opens this week

Brooklynites, rejoice: Trader Joe's third location in the borough is opening this week. Bright and early on Friday, December 10, the grocery store will open at 200 Kent Avenue in Williamsburg. Kicking off at 8 a.m., the grand opening celebration includes live music and a reusable bag giveaway.
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