$20.3M penthouse on the Brooklyn Heights waterfront is borough’s most expensive sale ever

Image courtesy of MOSO Studio

April 15, 2020

$20.3M penthouse on the Brooklyn Heights waterfront is borough’s most expensive sale ever

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Back in October of 2018, a $20 million penthouse in Brooklyn Heights' Quay Tower went into contract. It's now closed (virtually!) for $20,301,000, making it the borough's most expensive residential sale ever. It takes the crown from the $16.7 million penthouse Matt Damon bought in late 2018 at The Standish, also in Brooklyn Heights. Andrew Anderson of Douglas Elliman, who facilitated the sale, said: "Closing on the most expensive residential sale in Brooklyn history at this period in time is a testament to the beautiful, serene homes created at Quay Tower and the desirability of waterfront living in Brooklyn Heights."
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Landmarks Preservation Commission to resume public hearings virtually

Photo of One Centre Street by Alexander Lorenz on Flickr

April 14, 2020

Landmarks Preservation Commission to resume public hearings virtually

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The city's Landmarks Preservation Commission will resume its public hearings next week after being suspended for a month as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. As first reported by Brownstoner, the meetings and hearings will be held virtually on the video conferencing app Zoom, with the first happening on Tuesday, April 21.
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$45M oceanfront estate is the priciest sale in the Hamptons since 2016
April 14, 2020

$45M oceanfront estate is the priciest sale in the Hamptons since 2016

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Mansion Global reports that the sprawling oceanfront estate at 26 and 32 Windmill Lane in East Hampton has closed for $45 million, as per sources close to the deal. Though they can't confirm the final sale price, Douglas Elliman does tell us that it's the most expensive sale in the Hamptons since 2016. The 6.7-acre property, which was listed for $60 million in July and most recently for $55 million, was built in 1989 for former Union Pacific president and chairman James Evans. There's a massive main house with beautiful beachy interiors and tons of outdoor space including a 50-foot pool, as well as a separate guest house.
Get a look around
The Met Opera will present a live-streamed gala with 40+ artists

Photo via Wikimedia

April 14, 2020

The Met Opera will present a live-streamed gala with 40+ artists

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The show must go on. The Metropolitan Opera on Monday announced plans to host a virtual "At-Home Gala" this month with over 40 artists participating around the world. On Saturday, April 25 at 1 p.m., leading Met artists will perform live from their homes for a free three-hour concert. The event comes after the venue was forced to cancel the rest of its season because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Get the details
By early May, NYC will start purchasing and producing 100,000 COVID tests per week

Photo of a COVID test by CDC via Wikimedia Commons

April 14, 2020

By early May, NYC will start purchasing and producing 100,000 COVID tests per week

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"We have scoured the world looking for test kits on the open market. It's been extraordinarily frustrating," said Mayor Bill de Blasio in a press conference this morning. Therefore, he announced that Aria Diagnostics, a biotech firm in Indiana that donated 50,000 test kits to the city, has now confirmed that they can start producing this quantity on a weekly basis. Therefore, the NYC Economic Development Corporation will begin purchasing 50,000 of these kits per week starting Monday, April 20. In addition, by early May, local academic and commercial labs, manufacturers, and 3D printers will begin producing 50,000 more test kits per week, with the ambition of increasing this number.
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As NYC restaurants struggle amid COVID-19, GrubHub and other delivery services sued over fees

Photo by Patrick Connor Klopf on Unsplash

April 14, 2020

As NYC restaurants struggle amid COVID-19, GrubHub and other delivery services sued over fees

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A number of food delivery platforms were sued in New York on Monday for charging excess fees and forcing restaurants to raise prices for dine-in customers. Through contracts with restaurants, GrubHub, Uber Eats, Postmates, and DoorDash are able to determine the price of meals, even those ordered directly from the restaurant, according to the lawsuit. On top of that, the companies charge fees that can be high as 40 percent of revenue, eating away from the restaurant's profits. The legal battle comes as the city's restaurants struggle to survive during the coronavirus outbreak, with dining rooms temporarily closed and most businesses relying on take-out orders.
Find out more
Regional governors announce task force for reopening economy

Photo by Kevin Rajaram on Unsplash

April 13, 2020

Regional governors announce task force for reopening economy

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This afternoon, Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York hosted a public conference call with Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey, Governor Ned Lamont of Connecticut, Governor Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania, Governor John Carney if Delaware, and Governor Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island to announce a multi-state council that will "develop a fully integrated regional framework to gradually lift the states' stay at home orders while minimizing the risk of increased spread of the virus." The task force will include one health expert, one economic development expert, and the respective chiefs of staff from each state. The group will begin talking tomorrow. "We want a [timetable] ASAP, but we want it smart," said Governor Cuomo, also stating that it will be done sooner than weeks. Update 4/14/20: Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker joined the group, becoming the first Republican governor to do so.
More information here
NYC will move more homeless New Yorkers to empty hotel rooms to curb COVID-19 spread

Photo by Filip Mishevski on Flickr

April 13, 2020

NYC will move more homeless New Yorkers to empty hotel rooms to curb COVID-19 spread

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Starting this week, about 2,500 individuals experiencing homelessness in New York City will be transferred from shelters to hotels, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Saturday. The single adults who will be prioritized for the hotel rooms will include seniors and those who tested positive for the coronavirus or have symptoms of the disease. The move comes as 340 homeless New Yorkers have tested positive for COVID-19 and 20 have died, according to the city's Department of Social Services.
Find out more
31 apartments up for grabs at amenity-rich rental in Flushing, from $1,750/month

Photo by Chris Hamby on Flickr

April 13, 2020

31 apartments up for grabs at amenity-rich rental in Flushing, from $1,750/month

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A housing lottery kicked off on Monday for 31 new, middle-income apartments in the Queens neighborhood of Flushing. The rental at 144-74 Northern Boulevard contains 100 units and ground-floor retail, including the Korean supermarket H Mart and a Burger King. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from $1,750/month studios to $2,400/month two-bedrooms.
Do you qualify?

Distinctive Homes

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De Blasio urges state to act on NYC rent relief proposals

Photo by Daryan Shamkhali on Unsplash

April 13, 2020

De Blasio urges state to act on NYC rent relief proposals

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Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday urged the state to act on a number of rent relief proposals amid the coronavirus pandemic, including a deferment of rents for tenants, the use of pre-paid security deposits in lieu of rent, and an extension of the current moratorium on evictions. The mayor has also called on the Rent Guidelines Board--the entity that determines yearly rent increases for the city's rent-stabilized units--to enact a rent freeze.
More details
These videos show the empty streets of NYC during coronavirus shutdown

Photo of Grand Central on Saturday, April 4 © James and Karla Murray

April 13, 2020

These videos show the empty streets of NYC during coronavirus shutdown

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Photographers James and Karla Murray have made their mark with their famous "Store Front" books, where they photograph mom-and-pop shops and restaurants around New York City and interview their owners. But these businesses, those which are very often the heart and soul of a neighborhood, are being hit especially hard by the current crisis. James and Karla, who are also husband and wife, have been continuing to highlight places offering delivery and takeout and those providing food to healthcare workers. They've also been filming the walks they're taking with their dog Hudson that show just how empty the city has become. Ahead, take tours of a deserted Times Square, Grand Central, Greenwich Village, and the East Village on a typically busy Saturday night.
Watch the videos
This $769,000 Billionaires’ Row studio is roomy and reasonable

Photo credit: VHT, courtesy The Corcoran Group

April 10, 2020

This $769,000 Billionaires’ Row studio is roomy and reasonable

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Old and new NYC collide in this $769,000 studio that's roughly 600 square feet. It's located at 100 West 58th Street, a classic 1928 Rosario Candela-designed apartment building. But today, this location, just a block south of Central Park at the corner of 6th Avenue, puts it smack in the middle of Billionaires' Row. And with a sizable separate kitchen and enough room for two distinct areas in the living space, it's quite a reasonable buy.
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Residential buildings replaced nearly half of NYC hospitals shuttered in last two decades

The Greenwich Lane condo building replaced St. Vincent’s Hospital; Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

April 10, 2020

Residential buildings replaced nearly half of NYC hospitals shuttered in last two decades

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Why is New York facing a shortage of hospital beds during the current crisis despite having the "best health care system on the planet," as Gov. Andrew Cuomo claimed? In the last two decades, 18 hospitals have closed in New York City, a loss of more than 20,000 beds. And new health care facilities did not replace the shuttered sites, residential buildings did.
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Watch New York’s moving ‘How You Save A Life’ video

Photo by Thomas Jansen on Unsplash

April 10, 2020

Watch New York’s moving ‘How You Save A Life’ video

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"The statisticians when they did their curve did not know how New Yorkers would respond... they didn't know how unified New Yorkers can be and how responsible they can be and how caring they are and how they rally for one another... that's what they couldn't count in those models. They couldn't count the spirit of New Yorkers and the love of New Yorkers to step up and do the right thing," said Governor Cuomo in his press conference earlier today before revealing the state's powerful new "How You Save A Life" video. The moving montage, set to The Fray's "How to Save a Life," is a compilation of the photos real New Yorkers shared of themselves staying home.
Watch it here
Plans to convert Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine into field hospital have been canceled

Photo by Kripa Chettiar on Flickr

April 10, 2020

Plans to convert Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine into field hospital have been canceled

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Update 4/10/20: Plans to convert the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine into an emergency field hospital have been canceled. ABC News reported on Thursday that tensions between the progressive church and the Samaritan's Purse, known for its anti-LGBTQ and Islamaphobic views, may have halted the project. A spokesperson with the church told ABC the space could either become a hospital with a different agency, a morgue, or nothing if the number of hospitalizations continues to drop. One of the largest churches in the world will be converted into a field hospital this week. The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in Manhattan's Morningside Heights neighborhood said it will have nine climate-controlled medical tents installed in its 600-foot-long nave and underground crypt by the end of the week, the New York Times first reported. The site is expected to house at least 200 patients, who could start arriving as early as this week.
Find out more
See NYC landmarks turn blue in honor of essential workers

Photo by Jörg Angeli on Unsplash

April 10, 2020

See NYC landmarks turn blue in honor of essential workers

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To show support for New York City's essential workers on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic, a number of buildings turned blue Thursday night. Madison Square Garden, One World Trade Center's spire, Beacon Theatre, Pier 17, Hudson Yards' Vessel, and more join more than 100 landmarks across the country as part of the #LightItBlue campaign. The nationwide lighting will occur weekly every Thursday.
Find out more
This Sunday’s Easter Parade is going virtual

Photo from last year’s parade, by Phil Roeder via Flickr cc

April 10, 2020

This Sunday’s Easter Parade is going virtual

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While it won't be an actual procession, this year's annual New York City Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival will take place virtually on Sunday, April 12. The festive event dates back to the 1870s but was, of course, canceled this year due to the coronavirus crisis. But the Fifth Avenue Association is taking it to Instagram, encouraging participants to "dress up in their most creative, home-crafted Easter outfits, strike a pose in quintessential Fifth Avenue style and participate in a virtual parade."
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New-York Historical Society is collecting objects related to the COVID-19 pandemic

Business sign 3.20.20, photo by Stephen Harmon, courtesy of New-York Historical

April 10, 2020

New-York Historical Society is collecting objects related to the COVID-19 pandemic

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The New-York Historical Society is asking New Yorkers to donate any materials related to the coronavirus pandemic as a way to preserve this moment in the city's history. First created during September 11, the museum's History Responds initiative has collected objects related to movements like Black Lives Matter, Occupy Wall Street, marriage equality, and others.
Find out more
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New Yorkers share their ‘silver linings’ during these tough times

Photo by Rehan Syed on Unsplash

April 9, 2020

New Yorkers share their ‘silver linings’ during these tough times

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Times are tough in New York, but New Yorkers are even tougher. Though we're facing a lot of challenges right now, one way to get through it is to try to find a "silver lining." Here at 6sqft, we thought all of us in NYC could use some positivity, so we asked our fellow New Yorkers to share their personal silver linings. From 3D printing face masks to spending more time with family to stepping it up in the kitchen to witnessing communities coming together, here are some of the things that are providing some light in these dark times.
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Own three private islands off the Connecticut coast for $5.3M

Photo of Belden Island (top left) by Dan Milstein, photo of Jepson Island (top right) by Planomatic, and photo of Wheelers Island (bottom) by Dan Milstein

April 9, 2020

Own three private islands off the Connecticut coast for $5.3M

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Take social distancing to its full extent by living on a private island (or three). A trio of private islands off the coast of Connecticut has hit the market for a total of $5.3 million. The properties, part of the Thimble Islands and located in the Long Island Sound, was last for sale in 2016 as part of a $78 million eight-island package.
See the private escapes
A third of U.S. renters didn’t pay rent on time, report says

Photo by Anthony Formin on Unsplash

April 9, 2020

A third of U.S. renters didn’t pay rent on time, report says

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Just 69 percent of apartment renters in the United States paid rent during the first week of April, according to a new report released this week by the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC). This a decrease of 12 percentage points compared to the percentage of households that paid rent last month. The data is one of the first looks at the impact of the coronavirus pandemic--which has put millions of Americans out of work-- on the housing market.
More this way
Middle-income housing lottery launches at luxury Long Island City rental, from $2,241/month

Photo courtesy of Modern Spaces

April 9, 2020

Middle-income housing lottery launches at luxury Long Island City rental, from $2,241/month

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Prices for high-end rentals in Long Island City have been steadily increasing in recent years, but here's a chance to live in one of these new, luxury buildings for less. ONE LIC, located at 42-10 27th Street in Court Square, just launched a middle-income housing lottery for New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the median income. The units range from $2,241/month studios to $3,283/month three-bedrooms. Normally, units in this building rent from about $3,000 to $5,500. The apartments all have luxe finishes, and the amenities include a barbecue deck with skyline views and a 20th-floor fitness center.
Find out if you qualify
Two terraces and a grassy rooftop oasis make this $7.85M Tribeca penthouse a dream

Photos by Travis Mark for The Corcoran Group

April 9, 2020

Two terraces and a grassy rooftop oasis make this $7.85M Tribeca penthouse a dream

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The outdoor space at this Tribeca penthouse would be enviable at any time, but during New York State on PAUSE it's truly a dream. Located at 49 Murray Street, there are two large terraces, as well as a huge, grassy rooftop with a full outdoor kitchen and incredible lower Manhattan views. The interior is just as incredible; it's spread over three floors and has five bedrooms, a floating steel-and-glass staircase, and sleek, contemporary finishings. It's currently listed for $7,850,000 or as a $30,000/month rental.
Go inside
J.Lo and A-Rod help Governor Cuomo launch ‘stay home’ social media campaign

Graphic courtesy of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s coronavirus response campaign toolkit

April 8, 2020

J.Lo and A-Rod help Governor Cuomo launch ‘stay home’ social media campaign

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To reach more New Yorkers, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday launched a multi-platform awareness campaign to encourage everyone to stay home during the coronavirus pandemic. With help from Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez, the governor's new social media push asks New Yorkers to use the hashtag #IStayHomeFor and nominate friends to participate.
Learn more
Latino and black communities in NYC face disproportionate rates of death from coronavirus

Photo by Chris Barbalis on Unsplash

April 8, 2020

Latino and black communities in NYC face disproportionate rates of death from coronavirus

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Early data released by New York City this week shows a disparity in deaths caused by coronavirus among people of color. Of those who have died from COVID-19, 34 percent were Hispanic and 28 percent were black, according to preliminary numbers from April 6. Those groups make up 29 percent and 22 percent of the city's population, respectively.
Details on the data
Cat Greenleaf lists her famous ‘Talk Stoop’ townhouse in Cobble Hill for $3M

Listing photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

April 8, 2020

Cat Greenleaf lists her famous ‘Talk Stoop’ townhouse in Cobble Hill for $3M

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"If These Steps Could Talk," starts the listing. From 2009 to 2017, this utterly charming Cobble Hill townhouse flashed on television screens for Cat Greenleaf's talk show Talk Stoop, where she interviewed celebrities from her own Brooklyn stoop. The brick rowhouse at 12 Wyckoff Street has just hit the market for $2,995,000, and the interior is even better than we imagined, with contemporary furnishings and art mixing with farmhouse-chic architecture. Cat designed much of the quirky decor herself, from a life-size chessboard in the backyard to a Harry Potter closet under the staircase to a dreamy Moroccan-style den in the basement.
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All of the beach, boardwalk, and park closures in NJ

Bradley Beach, NJ; Photo by Ryan Loughlin on Unsplash

April 8, 2020

All of the beach, boardwalk, and park closures in NJ

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As the number of coronavirus cases in New Jersey continues to climb, state and city officials are furthering social distancing measures by closing public spaces across the state. Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday signed an executive order shuttering all state parks and forests, as well as county parks. A number of Jersey Shore towns have closed beaches and boardwalks, with some even banning short-term rentals to curb visits from out-of-towners. "My focus and our focus, our sole mission right now is the health of every New Jersey family," Murphy said. "And we must not just flatten this curve, we must crush this curve." Ahead, find out which public spaces in NJ have been temporarily closed as a result of the pandemic.
More here
$1.35M Upper West Side co-op has two floors and a sunny private garden

Photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group

April 8, 2020

$1.35M Upper West Side co-op has two floors and a sunny private garden

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One of the toughest things for families living in an NYC apartment versus a suburban home during this time is not having a backyard. But this Upper West Side co-op, listed for $1,350,000, has enough space for everyone inside and outside. Located at 204 West 92nd Street, the 1,100-square-foot apartment has three bedrooms on two levels, as well as a sunny garden patio that's "perfect for grilling, entertaining, or private sunbathing," says the listing.
Go inside

Photo by Daniel Lee on Unsplash

April 7, 2020

Tenants would not be evicted for unpaid rent accrued during state of emergency, under proposed law

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Landlords would not be able to evict tenants for any unpaid rent that accumulated during New York's state of emergency and for six months afterward, under proposed legislation introduced by state lawmakers Tuesday. State Sens. Brad Hoylman and Liz Krueger and Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz announced the "NYS Tenant Safe Harbor Act" that would strengthen the current 90-day eviction freeze put in place by the state last month.
Get the details
$1.67M duplex is a woodsy escape in Brooklyn Heights

Photo credit: Virginia Carey/ Brown Harris Stevens

April 7, 2020

$1.67M duplex is a woodsy escape in Brooklyn Heights

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Some New Yorkers might be wishing they could escape to a cabin in the woods right about now, but awesome co-op gives off that feeling without having to leave the city. Located at 30 Willow Place in Brooklyn Heights, the two-bedroom duplex is asking $1,675,000. It's full of rustic charm, including huge swaths of exposed brick walls, wooden window frames, and wood-paneled ceilings. The bohemian-meets-folksy design aesthetic seals the deal.
Have a look
4,000 spots open on waitlist for middle-income units across Bushwick, Bed-Stuy

Photo by Manny Moss on Flickr

April 7, 2020

4,000 spots open on waitlist for middle-income units across Bushwick, Bed-Stuy

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Applications are currently being accepted to replenish a 4,000-name waitlist for income-restricted apartments across central Brooklyn. Located at 806 St. John's Place, 924 Myrtle Avenue, 682 Chauncey Street, 1140 Bushwich Avenue, and 18 Stanhope Street, the buildings are located in Crown Heights, Bed-Stuy, and Bushwick. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which include studios starting at $1,700/month and two-bedrooms from $2,000/month.
Find out if you qualify
Once a WWII ship-building site, Brooklyn Navy Yard returns to its ‘wartime factory’ days

Photo by Michael Appleton/ Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

April 7, 2020

Once a WWII ship-building site, Brooklyn Navy Yard returns to its ‘wartime factory’ days

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During World War II, 70,000 workers at the Brooklyn Navy Yard built and repaired thousands of battleships and sent supplies to troops stationed around the world. Today, the 300-acre waterfront site is returning to its roots, with manufacturing companies coming together to create medical supplies from scratch for healthcare workers in support of the city's coronavirus pandemic response.
Get the details
Brooklyn nursing home and Staten Island psychiatric center will open as COVID hospitals this week

Photo via PxHere

April 7, 2020

Brooklyn nursing home and Staten Island psychiatric center will open as COVID hospitals this week

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As 6sqft explained earlier, "with car accidents, construction accidents, trauma cases, and crime all down due to Cuomo’s New York State on PAUSE order," early estimates that temporary overflow hospitals would be needed have been replaced with a critical need for more COVID beds. To meet this demand, last week, the 2,500-bed temporary hospital at the Javits Center was turned into a COVID-only facility, as was the 500-bed USNS Comfort naval hospital ship yesterday. In addition, both the South Beach Psychiatric Center on Staten Island and the Brooklyn Center nursing home in Weeksville will open this week specifically to treat COVID-19 patients.
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Before + After: A Hudson Heights co-op goes from drab to a modern, family-friendly home

“After” photos by Kate Glicksberg for Sweeten

April 7, 2020

Before + After: A Hudson Heights co-op goes from drab to a modern, family-friendly home

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When Erin and Chris first started their family, they bought a one-bedroom in Hudson Heights and fell in love with the neighborhood. But three kids and nine years later, Chris' job took them to the California Bay Area. After two years, they had the chance to come back to NYC and jumped at the chance to return to Hudson Heights. They found a three-bedroom in its "original, fifties-era condition," but knew the space and layout were perfect. Ahead, see how they came to Sweeten to find a contractor and took the co-op from drab to a contemporary and comfortable family home.
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To relieve NYC hospitals, USNS Comfort hospital ship becomes COVID center

Photo by Darren McGee for the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

April 7, 2020

To relieve NYC hospitals, USNS Comfort hospital ship becomes COVID center

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When Governor Cuomo first announced that New York would be receiving hospital assistance in the form of the USNS Comfort naval hospital ship arriving in New York Harbor and the Javits Center being turned into a temporary FEMA hospital, health officials outlined those as overflow facilities. However, as the coronavirus caseload has increased, mainly in New York City, the need for more COVID-only beds has grown imminent. Therefore, last week, the governor announced that the Javits Center was becoming a 2,500-bed COVID-only facility, and yesterday he received approval from Donald Trump to also transition the Comfort "to serve as a relief valve for our stressed hospital system."
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With signs of a possible plateau, social distancing fines in New York double to $1,000

Photo of Central Park on 4.6.20 © 6sqft

April 6, 2020

With signs of a possible plateau, social distancing fines in New York double to $1,000

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With the total number of COVID-19 cases in New York State now at 130,689 and the number of deaths at 4,758, Governor Cuomo announced today that he was extending his executive New York State on PAUSE order through April 29th. However, the reason for this is slightly optimistic; the state is seeing early signs of a possible plateauing in daily new cases, which indicates that social distancing measures are working. But in order for them to continue working, residents in NYC must remain vigilant, which was not the case over the weekend, with parks and public spaces once again becoming overcrowded. Therefore, the governor is increasing the social distancing fine from $500 to $1,000.
More details here
Jon Bon Jovi puts waterfront NJ mansion on the market for $20M

Listing images courtesy of Christie’s International Realty

April 6, 2020

Jon Bon Jovi puts waterfront NJ mansion on the market for $20M

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Fifteen acres, an 18,000-square-foot main house designed by Robert A.M. Stern, a dock and boat lift, a pool with two cedar cabanas, a personal pub, a recording studio--and that's just the beginning of what you'll find at Jon Bon Jovi's incredible Central Jersey mansion. First spotted by Mansion Global, the rocker's property on the Navesink River in Middletown has just hit the market for $20 million, and as Christie's listing agent Kathleen Coumou told MG, "He’s looking for the right buyer, someone who will appreciate what he’s done to the house."
Take the full tour
Some NYC landlords are waiving rent payments amid the coronavirus pandemic

Photo by Josh Wilburne on Unsplash

April 6, 2020

Some NYC landlords are waiving rent payments amid the coronavirus pandemic

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Some New York City landlords are providing their tenants financial respite during the coronavirus pandemic by waiving or discounting rent. The sudden closure of much of the economy has resulted in the loss of income for millions of New Yorkers, a burden felt especially by the city's five million renters. One landlord who owns 18 buildings in Brooklyn suspended rent for the month of April for all of his tenants. Another is giving a Manhattan pizzeria owner three months of free rent as he continues to feed hospital workers at no charge.
More here
After just 10 days, de Blasio ends open street program

Photo of 2019 Summer Streets, courtesy of NYC DOT/Flickr

April 6, 2020

After just 10 days, de Blasio ends open street program

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Pointing to an overuse of NYPD personnel as the main reason, Mayor de Blasio said in his press conference on Sunday that he would not be extending the Safe Streets pilot that he launched 10 days ago. The program closed one six-block stretch of road to vehicles in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx in order to provide more open space for pedestrians. But despite continued overcrowding in parks, the Mayor has decided the resources used to keep the streets open are better allocated elsewhere.
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New York State launches daily COVID-19 tracker

Screen shot of NYSDOH COVID-19 Tracker on April 4, 2020

April 4, 2020

New York State launches daily COVID-19 tracker

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At 6pm on Saturday evening, the New York State Department of Health went live with a new in-depth COVID-19 tracker. The interactive portal shows state-wide data broken down by county and will be updated twice daily. It includes a map view, table view, daily totals charts, and fatality data broken down by both county and age group.
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Co-Op City’s 15,000+ apartments will stay affordable for 30 more years

Photo by David L Roush on Wikimedia

April 3, 2020

Co-Op City’s 15,000+ apartments will stay affordable for 30 more years

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Photo by David L Roush on Wikimedia The world's largest housing cooperative will remain affordable for another three decades, the city announced Friday. Home to more than 15,300 apartments across 72 buildings in the Bronx, Co-Op City opened in 1968 as part of the Mitchell-Lama program. The deal reached between the co-op board and the city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development guarantees the development's participation in the Mitchell-Lama program until 2052.
Find out more
Rustic Sunset Park one-bedroom is just right for $420,000

Credit: Rayon Richards/VHT, courtesy The Corcoran Group

April 3, 2020

Rustic Sunset Park one-bedroom is just right for $420,000

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It's not all the time that you find an actual one-bedroom for under $500,000, but this Sunset Park co-op is priced well below that and is quite charming to boot. Reclaimed wood shelving and a country-chic kitchen add to the rustic feel already in place from the exposed brick wall and wood ceiling beams. At 683 41st Street, the location is great too; it's directly across from Sunset Park, just a couple blocks from Greenwood Cemetery, and a quick walk to the D train at 9th Avenue and the N, R trains at 45th Street.
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6sqft Trivia: How much do you know about New York City heroes over the years?

Photo by Toms Rīts on Unsplash

April 3, 2020

6sqft Trivia: How much do you know about New York City heroes over the years?

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In the face of adversity or when tragedy strikes, New Yorkers band together in a remarkable way. Over the years, from World War I to the AIDS epidemic to 9/11, residents of NYC have emerged as true heroes, aiding in war efforts, saving lives, and at times, making the ultimate sacrifices. In today's current crisis, we are seeing thousands of heroes every day working in our hospitals and grocery stores and who are fighting day in and day out to save lives and flatten the curve of coronavirus. Ahead, we've put together 11 questions that will test your knowledge of New York City heroes over the years and hopefully remind you that we will get through this.
Take the quiz!
Find out which NYC construction sites are ‘essential’
April 3, 2020

Find out which NYC construction sites are ‘essential’

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Last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo temporarily banned all non-essential construction statewide, as part of his "pause" executive order. The updated order allows only emergency construction, or work "necessary to protect the health and safety of the occupants" to occur during the coronavirus pandemic. To track projects that are considered essential in New York City during this time, the city's Department of Buildings on Friday launched an interactive map that identifies sites where work can continue.
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De Blasio calls for a national draft of medical personnel to fight virus

Photo by Artur Tumasjan on Unsplash

April 3, 2020

De Blasio calls for a national draft of medical personnel to fight virus

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Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday called for a national draft of medical personnel to help New York fight the coronavirus. With more than 50,000 positive cases and 1,500 deaths, New York City remains the hardest-hit city in the country by the virus and now faces a shortage of health care workers, in addition to a lack of supplies. The request from the mayor echos similar demands from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has also asked for a national rolling deployment of health care workers and equipment to be sent to New York first, with the promise of returning the favor to any community next in need.
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All the performances, events, and classes in NYC you can stream online

Anna Netrebko in the title role of Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor.” Photo: Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera

April 3, 2020

All the performances, events, and classes in NYC you can stream online

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Although the coronavirus has shuttered most of the city, many museums, performance venues, theaters, and famous New Yorkers are offering free (or low-cost) online resources to entertain New Yorkers throughout this difficult period. From virtual storytime with Brooklyn Public Library librarians to live-streamed performances by the Metropolitan Opera to baking classes with Milk Bar's Christina Tosi to dance lessons from the Radio City Rockettes, support local organizations safely from your home. This list was lasted updated at 10:00 a.m. on April 3, 2020.
The full list, ahead
Real estate work is essential, but showings must be virtual

Photo by Jonathan Riley on Unsplash

April 3, 2020

Real estate work is essential, but showings must be virtual

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Certain real estate work is still considered essential by New York, but showings cannot take place in-person, the state clarified on Thursday. In a notice to the New York State Association of Realtors, the Empire State Development earlier this week said home inspections, residential appraisals, back-office real estate work, and residential and commercial showings can continue during the coronavirus outbreak. But despite being newly categorized as essential, agents still cannot host traditional showings, as was previously reported.
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Javits Center will now provide 2,500 COVID beds

Photo by Darren McGee- Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, via Flickr cc

April 2, 2020

Javits Center will now provide 2,500 COVID beds

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When it first opened on Monday, the temporary hospital set up at the Javits Center was to serve as an overflow site, treating non-COVID patients to ease the burden on the city's hospitals. But as the severity of the situation has worsened throughout the week, Governor Cuomo asked President Trump for approval on using Javits' 2,500 beds solely for COVID-19 patients. He received the approval this evening.
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Local nonprofit is offering grants up to $40K to help 30 NYC restaurants stay open

Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

April 2, 2020

Local nonprofit is offering grants up to $40K to help 30 NYC restaurants stay open

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A local nonprofit is helping more than two dozen New York City restaurants stay open amid mass coronavirus-related closures. Last month, Rethink Food NYC launched a "Restaurant Response" program that partners with restaurants in need of financial support and provides free or subsidized food to New Yorkers in need. As part of the program, the nonprofit will award 30 New York City restaurants a grant of up to $40,000 to help make 24,000 meals in total per day.
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