6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

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

Events & Things To Do

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

All photos courtesy of Compass

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

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

Image courtesy of Don Pollard/Office of former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo

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

Policy

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

Images courtesy of NYPL

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

City Living

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

All photos by Rise Media

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

Distinctive Homes

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

Photo of an R32 subway car by Mtattrain on Wikimedia

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

All renderings: James Corner Field Operations and BIG- Bjarke Ingels Group

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

New $18.3M sustainable playground opens at the Battery

Image courtesy of Diane Bondareff/AP Images for The Battery Conservancy

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

Distinctive Homes

A long-neglected Clinton Hill townhouse gets a total glow-up and a $5.5M ask

For $2.2M, this two-family Bed-Stuy townhouse has three levels of outdoor space

Doors of steel and glass make this $3M Soho loft feel like a box of light

Trump's childhood home in Queens back on the market for $2.3M after gut renovation

Asking $4.25M, this five-story Crown Heights mansion is filled with gorgeous historic details

For $2.25M, a historic timber and stone cottage in Southampton

This $4.5M Lenox Hill duplex combines pre-war elegance with architectural drama

Amy Schumer sells Brooklyn Heights townhouse at $1.25M loss

For $949K, this Village co-op has a Gold Coast address, prewar charm and a splash of color

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

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

All renderings courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

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

Affordable Housing

Prospect Park’s Vale to undergo $40M restoration

Rendering of the Sensory Garden and Rustic Arbor. Image courtesy of Prospect Park Alliance

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.
Find out more

Architecture And Design

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

Image courtesy of Local Office Landscape/Bernheimer Architecture

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.
Find out more

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

Photo by Billie Grace Ward on Flickr

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.
Find out more

Policy

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

A rendering of West Broadway in Soho, looking downtown; courtesy of City Planning Commission

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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Photo credit: Brown Harris Stevens

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

Distinctive Homes

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

Rendering by Ekoomedia, Inc. / Courtesy of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

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.
Find out more

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

Image courtesy of Edge

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

City Living

New York City bans natural gas in new buildings

“Ally Block” will include the city’s first all-electric skyscraper; Rendering: Alloy Development

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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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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Events & Things To Do

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

New Developments

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

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

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

Affordable Housing

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

Images courtesy of Douglas Elliman

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

Monument honoring investigative journalist Nellie Bly opens on Roosevelt Island

Image credit: Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation

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."
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

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

Images courtesy of Warburg Realty.

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

Distinctive Homes

Rendering by Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

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

Transit

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

Photo Scott Heins/Office of former Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

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.
Find out more

Policy

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

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

December 14, 2021

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

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

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

Affordable Housing

THE 6SQFT SHOP

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15 quintessential NYC gifts for the New Yorker in your life

Raising chickens in NYC: Laws, tips, and everything else you need to know

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

10 best plants for apartment dwellers

New York City's best holiday markets of 2023

VIEW ALL

Habitat enhancement project adds 11 million oysters to New York Harbor

Photo credit: Max Guliani/Hudson River Park

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

Architecture And Design

Get a first look inside the tallest tower in Brooklyn

All renderings courtesy of Gabriel Saunders unless otherwise noted.

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.
Learn more

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

Photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

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

With the opening of Emily Warren Roebling Plaza, original plan for Brooklyn Bridge Park is complete

Photo credit: Alexa Hoyer

December 10, 2021

With the opening of Emily Warren Roebling Plaza, original plan for Brooklyn Bridge Park is complete

A ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday celebrated the completion of Emily Warren Roebling Plaza. With this final section beneath the Brooklyn Bridge and connecting DUMBO with the rest of the park wrapped up, the original plan for Brooklyn Bridge Park is now complete.
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Uncategorized

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

Photo courtesy of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office on Flickr

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

Policy

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

Photo credits clockwise from top left: Park Deli; Frankie Marin/Verameat; Quality Goods; Michele Varian

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

Events & Things To Do

15 holiday trees in NYC that are not at Rockefeller Center

Photo by Charley Lhasa on Flickr

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

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

Photo courtesy of Edge

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

Events & Things To Do

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

Photo credit: Heidi Solander for Sotheby’s International Realty

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

Distinctive Homes

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

Photo credit: Allyson Lubow for The Corcoran Group

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

Distinctive Homes

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.
Learn more

Uncategorized

353 mixed-income apartments available at 25-story rental in Jamaica, from $683/month

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

December 8, 2021

353 mixed-income apartments available at 25-story rental in Jamaica, from $683/month

A housing lottery opened this week for over 350 units of mixed-income housing in Jamaica, Queens. The luxury 25-story rental, called Alvista Rise, is located at 147-25 94th Avenue, across the street from a major train station, home to the subway, Long Island Air Road, and AirTrain to JFK Airport. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 50, 120, and 165 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, priced from $683/month for studios and up to $2,804/month for two-bedroom units.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

See the dramatic amenity space at Robert A.M. Stern’s 35-story tower on the Upper East Side

All renderings: DBOX

December 7, 2021

See the dramatic amenity space at Robert A.M. Stern’s 35-story tower on the Upper East Side

An indoor pool room with vaulted ceilings and floor-to-ceiling arched windows and French doors facing the city skyline is just one unique perk at Robert A.M. Stern's latest residential tower. Located on the Upper East Side at 200 East 83rd Street, the luxury condo launched sales in October for the building's 86 residences and soon after broke a record for priciest sale on Third Avenue when a penthouse went into contract for $27 million. Now, we're taking a look inside the amenity spaces, from the stunning 17th-floor pool room to the romantic "winter garden" and terrace.
Find out more

Photo by Jim Henderson via Wikimedia Commons

December 7, 2021

How to steer clear of NYC SantaCon 2021

The idea behind the annual cosplay event is solid: A "charitable, non-political, nonsensical Santa Claus convention that happens once a year to spread absurdist joy." With booze, of course. But after entering the mainstream and picking up steam for a full 25 years (the event took a year off in 2020, because, you know), the annual pub crawl seems better suited to a 1980s frat house than the streets of NYC. And we're pretty sure there are better ways to spend a day of drunken debauchery than yelling across Midtown bars over a horde of sloshed Santa clones. This year's SantaCon details are here, so you can figure out where not to bring a first date on Saturday, December 11. A few more suggestions, ahead.
Ho, ho, no

Events & Things To Do

Turtle Bay two-bedroom with pair of enclosed terraces asks $1.9M

All photos by Rise-Media

December 7, 2021

Turtle Bay two-bedroom with pair of enclosed terraces asks $1.9M

Next to the East River and just blocks to the United Nations, a recently renovated two-bedroom condo at 345 East 50th Street is available for $1,895,000. The Turtle Bay digs has a comfortable layout, with the two largest rooms, the living area and the primary bedroom, each benefiting from unique glass-enclosed terraces that stretch into balconies. While the building was constructed in 1900, the home, outfitted with modern conveniences like a built-in espresso machine and central air conditioning, very much meets a 21st-century standard of living.
Get the details

Distinctive Homes

Hochul announces $539M fund to help New York homeowners who are behind on payments

Photo by Daryan Shamkhali on Unsplash

December 7, 2021

Hochul announces $539M fund to help New York homeowners who are behind on payments

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday that New York will be the first state to receive the U.S. Department of the Treasury's approval for its Homeowner Assistance Fund. The program offers up to $539 million to help low- and moderate-income homeowners affected by the Covid-19 pandemic avoid mortgage delinquency, default, foreclosure, and displacement.
Find out more

Policy

Senator Schumer calls for free, at-home Covid tests in New York

Mayor Bill de Blasio is tested for COVID-19 in 2020. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

December 6, 2021

Senator Schumer calls for free, at-home Covid tests in New York

Sen. Chuck Schumer on Sunday called for free rapid at-home coronavirus test kits to be available at community health centers across New York as the number of virus cases continues to grow. While last week President Joe Biden announced private health insurers will reimburse those who purchase over-the-counter tests starting January 15, Schumer said it's important to offer free tests to New Yorkers in the meantime, with the arrival of winter and the new Omicron variant.
Details here

Policy

Images courtesy of RiseNY

December 6, 2021

New immersive experience will make you feel like you’re flying high over NYC

The Greenwich by Rafael Vinoly

If you love the vertigo-inducing excitement of SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, Midtown's high-in-the-sky observation deck, you can look forward to RiseNY's pairing of aerial adventure and cultural museum exhibit, powered by the city’s first flight simulation ride. Opening December 17 at 160 West 45th Street, the new immersive attraction combines the ultimate feeling of flight with the inspiration of the city's most famous sites and moments.
Up, up and away

Events & Things To Do

125 Greenwich Street

Financial District

The new altitude of downtown living

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

Learn More

$5M penthouse is a Manhattan classic with 360-degree views and wraparound terraces

Photo Credit: Warburg Realty

December 6, 2021

$5M penthouse is a Manhattan classic with 360-degree views and wraparound terraces

This 5,000-square-foot penthouse at 303 East 57th Street in the Excelsior co-op tower is the sort of apartment you see in your favorite 20th-century New York City films. Asking $4,995,000, the duplex is wrapped by 2,500 square feet of terrace and offers 360-degree views from four exposures including Central Park and the East River.
Take the grand tour

Distinctive Homes

New York City announces vaccine mandate for all private employers

Photo of NYC vaccine hub, The Jefferson by Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

December 6, 2021

New York City announces vaccine mandate for all private employers

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday announced a new coronavirus vaccination mandate for all private-sector employers in New York City, described as a "preemptive strike" to stop the spread of the Omicron variant. The city has already put in place a vaccine mandate for all city workers and for most indoor activities. The new mandate, considered to be a first in the United States, goes into effect on December 27.
Get the details

Policy

This $1.95M Southampton cottage pair is definitely somebody’s dream home

Photo credit: RISE Media for The Corcoran Group

December 3, 2021

This $1.95M Southampton cottage pair is definitely somebody’s dream home

For anyone with cottage dreams, this pretty pair of homes at 10 Schwenks Lane in the Southampton hamlet of Water Mill definitely fits the bill. Asking $1,950,000, the property consists of the main cottage, a second cottage, and a historic barn/garage, all with charming architectural details and bespoke comforts. The equally charming surrounding property offers a koi pond and flowering foliage.
Tour the two cute cottages

Distinctive Homes

New York Public Library honors Stephen Sondheim with new tribute display

Photograph of Sondheim at the piano by Friedman-Abeles (Firm) Courtesy of the New York Public Library Digital Collections.

December 3, 2021

New York Public Library honors Stephen Sondheim with new tribute display

The New York Public Library has opened a new exhibit honoring the legacy of the late Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim, considered one of the best musical theater composers of our time. Sondheim, the mastermind behind works in West Side Story, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, and many others, died last week at age 91. Free and open to the public until early next year, the display features letters and other objects related to Sondheim found in the archives of the Library of the Performing Arts.
Find out more

December 3, 2021

44 perfect gifts for every New Yorker