6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

Surrounded by a 1,344-square-foot network of lushly landscaped terraces–including a rooftop with a hot tub, outdoor kitchen, shower, and pergola–this duplex penthouse at 15 Renwick Street in Hudson Square feels like a garden in the sky. Asking $8,975,000, the 2,859-square-foot duplex has floor-to-ceiling windows and a windowed kitchen to gaze at the greenery.
Tour this indoor-outdoor paradise

Hochul announces 14-mile-long ‘Interborough Express,’ connecting Bay Ridge to Jackson Heights

Image courtesy of the MTA

January 6, 2022

Hochul announces 14-mile-long ‘Interborough Express,’ connecting Bay Ridge to Jackson Heights

After decades of speculation and discarded plans, better train access could be on the way for New Yorkers living in Queens and Brooklyn. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday announced in her 2022 State of the State address plans for the development of the "Interborough Express," a major transit service expansion that would connect the boroughs. The proposed expansion takes the Bay Ridge Branch, a freight rail line that already runs through Brooklyn and Queens, and transforms it into a 14-mile arching track stretching from Bay Ridge to Jackson Heights. The new track would link up to 17 existing subway lines across the two boroughs, as well as provide a connection to the Long Island Rail Road.
Find out more

Colorful Ditmas Park Deco co-op has style, space, and amenities for $599K

Photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

January 6, 2022

Colorful Ditmas Park Deco co-op has style, space, and amenities for $599K

For $599,000, this bright one-bedroom-plus-office co-op at 1825 Foster Avenue in Flatbush/Ditmas Park has fresh, updated interiors, eastern and southern exposures, and treetop views. A pre-war 1931 building means the space is framed by hardwood floors and graceful moldings.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

Photo via Flickr

January 6, 2022

Hochul’s sweeping New York recovery agenda addresses affordable housing crisis, homelessness

In her first State of the State address Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a sweeping agenda that would address housing affordability, equity, and stability by growing the state's affordable housing stock and expanding the housing supply. She also proposed a set of initiatives to address homelessness and housing instability. Hochul called the state's housing needs "a complex challenge that requires an all-levers approach."
See Hochul's housing proposals

Famed NYC bar Dante opens winter-themed pop-up at the Seaport

Image courtesy of Dante

January 6, 2022

Famed NYC bar Dante opens winter-themed pop-up at the Seaport

North America’s number one bar returns to the Seaport to serve award-winning food and drink in its seasonal pop-up at Pier 17’s Pearl Alley. Guests can enjoy their food and drink alongside live music in a warm, winter-themed setting. The Greenwich Village staple will offer guests signature cocktails and negronis, as well as espresso, coffee, and pastries.
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Hochul wants to make to-go cocktails legal again in New York

Photo of New Yorkers drinking on St. Mark’s Place by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

January 5, 2022

Hochul wants to make to-go cocktails legal again in New York

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday plans to introduce legislation permanently allowing the sale of to-go alcoholic beverages. First permitted at the start of the coronavirus pandemic to support the restaurant industry during the lockdown, the state ended takeout cocktails last June, coinciding with the lift of Covid-related restrictions. Legalizing the sale of to-go drinks will help local restaurants and bars recover from the pandemic, according to Hochul's proposal. "Cheers, New York," Hochul said Wednesday during her State of the State address.
Get the details

$4.2M penthouse condo sets sale record in Hoboken

Photo courtesy of Douglas Elliman

January 5, 2022

$4.2M penthouse condo sets sale record in Hoboken

A penthouse at the Hudson Tea Building at 1500 Hudson Street has set a new record for Hoboken, New Jersey condo sales. The three-bedroom, three-bath home just sold for $4.2 million, the city's priciest condo sale ever. The newly-renovated loft–a two-unit combo–spans 2,820 square feet with direct New York City skyline views in three directions. A previous Hoboken record was held by Eli Manning's 2018 sale in the same building. The Giants quarterback sold his three-bedroom pad in the waterfront loft building for $3.55 million.
This is what $4.2M in Hoboken looks like

Real Estate Trends

$850M South Street Seaport project gets final approval

Photo credit: The Howard Hughes Corporation/SOM

January 5, 2022

$850M South Street Seaport project gets final approval

The Howard Hughes Corporation last week got the official go-ahead from the city to build a mixed-use tower on a parking lot in the South Street Seaport. Originally proposed as a 1,000-foot-tall tower, the plan for 250 Water Street has changed many times over the last few years due to feedback from community groups and local officials, with the final result being a 324-foot-tall tower with roughly 270 apartments. The $850 million project is expected to break ground this year following remediation of the site.
Get the details

Distinctive Homes

This 1834 sea captain's home in Connecticut was redesigned as a $6M modern retreat that remembers its roots

For $59.5M, live in Bobby Axelrod's Tribeca penthouse from 'Billions'

This $6.75M Gothic Revival townhouse in Park Slope was once a church rectory

$45M for a two-for-one penthouse palace at the top of the Plaza

Japanese gardens and a koi pond surround the clean geometric forms of this modern Hudson Valley home, asking $4.2M

Bob Dylan's historic Harlem townhouse sells for $2.8M

This $545K studio captures the romantic spirit of the West Village

This $4.6M upstate New York property is a modern woodland sanctuary

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

For $2.3M, this Amzi Hill-designed Bed-Stuy brownstone gives you plenty of options

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Leasing begins at 51-story Brooklyn Crossing, Pacific Park’s largest building

Image courtesy of VMI Studio for IF Studio

January 5, 2022

Leasing begins at 51-story Brooklyn Crossing, Pacific Park’s largest building

The Brodsky Organization and Greenland USA on Tuesday announced the beginning of leasing for Brooklyn Crossing, the latest, and currently tallest, addition to Prospect Height’s 22-acre development Pacific Park. Located at 18 Sixth Avenue between Atlantic Avenue and Pacific Street, the 51-story residential tower offers 858 mixed-income units, ranging from studios to one-to-three bedroom apartments, with 258 of the units to be designated as affordable for middle-income earners. Occupancy is expected this month.
See more here

New Developments

For $2.8M this newly-minted Brooklyn duplex has four bedrooms, a private terrace and parking

Photo credit: DD Reps

January 5, 2022

For $2.8M this newly-minted Brooklyn duplex has four bedrooms, a private terrace and parking

Here's an opportunity to live in the classic, historic Brooklyn neighborhood of Carroll Gardens while getting the benefits of new construction. Asking $2,825,000, this duplex condo at 480 Degraw Street boasts four bedrooms, two and a half baths, a spacious private terrace, and amenities like a parking garage and a pet spa.
Get a closer look

How New York keeps its cool: A history of ice skating in NYC

Central-Park Winter, 1862, via NYPL Digital Collections

January 5, 2022

How New York keeps its cool: A history of ice skating in NYC

By Lucie Levine

While we haven't had much snow yet this year, New York is already a winter wonderland thanks to the many ice skating rinks found across the city. If you choose to glide through the season on ice, taking a spin anywhere from Central Park to Coney Island, you’re sliding into a New York winter tradition that includes the nation’s first organized ice rink, a decade of “Icetravaganzas” that drew millions, a glittery trend of hotel ice gardens throughout Midtown, and even a relationship to the origins of baseball. So lace up, and read on for a history of ice-skating in New York City.
Glide into this story!

History

Photo by Daniel Lee on Unsplash

January 4, 2022

Manhattan housing market makes record rebound to close out 2021

New York City real estate made a major comeback to close out 2021, experts say. According to a new report from Compass, condo and co-op sales volume hit $7 billion in the last quarter of the year, the highest of any fourth quarter on record. More than 3,400 apartments were sold in this quarter, between October 1 and December 31, up 79 percent from the previous year and the highest total in a Q4 since 2013. After Covid crippled much of the market in 2020, 2021 saw an impressive turnaround in Manhattan, particularly with the sales of luxury properties, new development condos, and townhouses.
Find out more

See NYC’s sweeping master plan that promises climate resilience for Lower Manhattan

Image credit: NYCEDC

January 4, 2022

See NYC’s sweeping master plan that promises climate resilience for Lower Manhattan

New York City has taken an important step toward protecting one of the country’s largest central business districts from the costly and destructive effects of climate change. The city's Economic Development Corporation and the Mayor's Office of Climate Resiliency recently released the Financial District and Seaport Climate Resilience Master Plan. At a projected cost of up to $7 billion, this environmental blueprint for the Lower Manhattan shoreline imagines a resilient waterfront that can withstand severe storms and rising sea levels.
Find out more about the plan

NYC unveils plan for 100% affordable homeownership development in Bed-Stuy

Rendering courtesy of Leong Leong

January 4, 2022

NYC unveils plan for 100% affordable homeownership development in Bed-Stuy

The city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development last week announced their plan for the construction of a 100 percent affordable homeownership development in Bed-Stuy as part of the Bedford-Stuyvesant Housing Plan. HPD, along with Almat Urban and the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, will work to develop the Norma, an 11-story mixed-use development that will bring 44 homeownership opportunities to first-time home buyers. Located on Fulton Street and Howard Avenue, The Norma will offer a mix of condo-style units ranging from one to three bedrooms designated for those with low to moderate household incomes.
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This $4.5M penthouse has the breathtaking bridge and Manhattan skyline views you only get in Dumbo

Photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

January 4, 2022

This $4.5M penthouse has the breathtaking bridge and Manhattan skyline views you only get in Dumbo

Asking $4,500,000, this penthouse loft condo sits atop the Sweeney Building at 30 Main Street in Dumbo. The 1,887 square-foot loft has three bedrooms and 18 windows for taking in panoramic, unobstructed views of the East River, bridges, and city skylines. But the most coveted perk may be the huge private terrace where said views can be enjoyed outdoors.
Wait til you see the roof deck

Brooklyn Heights co-op with charming bay window and original stained glass asks $825K

Photo credit: Shannon Dupre with DDreps

January 3, 2022

Brooklyn Heights co-op with charming bay window and original stained glass asks $825K

This available, cozy Brooklyn Heights one-bedroom radiates pre-war charm, while also boasting modern interiors. Located at 149 Willow Street on a tree-lined block, the co-op features a renovated kitchen and spacious layout. A major highlight of the apartment is the living room's lovely bay window that overlooks treetops and features original stained glass at the top. It's currently on the market for $825,000.
See inside

Distinctive Homes

Hochul announces Covid ‘surge plan 2.0’ as New York sees record number of daily cases

Photo of Gov. Kathy Hochul announcing the Winter Surge Plan 2.0 by Don Pollard/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

January 3, 2022

Hochul announces Covid ‘surge plan 2.0’ as New York sees record number of daily cases

On Friday, the state of New York recorded over 85,000 new cases of the coronavirus, the highest daily total since the start of the pandemic. Nearly 50,000 of those cases were reported in New York City alone. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced over the holiday weekend a "winter surge plan 2.0," an attempt to strengthen the state's fight against Covid with more testing, additional testing sites, and an increase in access to vaccines.
Find out more

Policy

Lottery opens at Williamsburg’s 45-story rental One South First, from $1,550/month

A housing lottery opened this week for 89 middle-income apartments in Williamsburg's tallest building, One South First. Developed by Two Trees Management and designed by COOKFOX Architects, One South First is a 45-story mixed-use building developed on the former Domino Sugar Factory site. New Yorkers earning 80, 125, and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from $1,550/month studios to $3,169/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Walk-in Covid testing now available at 7 subway stations across NYC

Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

January 3, 2022

Walk-in Covid testing now available at 7 subway stations across NYC

Pop-up coronavirus testing sites are now open at seven subway stations across New York City. After opening two walk-in PCR testing sites at Grand Central and Times Square stations last week, Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority opened additional sites at five subway stations, including Penn Station, Broadway Junction in Brooklyn, East 180th Street in the Bronx, and Roosevelt Avenue and Jamaica-179th Street in Queens. The state is currently experiencing a record surge in new Covid cases, which officials are attributing to the highly contagious Omicron variant.
Get the details

Policy

The 2007 Times Square Ball during construction. Image courtesy of Focus Lighting.

December 30, 2021

How the Times Square Ball is made

By Dana Schulz

When midnight hits this New Year's Eve, the Times Square Ball will dazzle people just the same from five feet away or on their television. Making this magic happen is no easy feat, though. To learn a bit more about how the nearly 12,000-pound ball was created, we chatted with principal designer Christine Hope of Focus Lighting, the architectural lighting design firm that conceptualized the current ball more than 10 years ago. From engineering a new system to make all 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles sparkle to dreaming up the magical light show that plays leading up to the ball drop, Focus Lighting shares the inside scoop on this world-famous tradition.
READ MORE

NYC Ferry continues expansion with new Bronx stop in Throgs Neck

NYC Ferry launched service in Throgs Neck in the Bronx with the opening of a new landing at Ferry Point Park. Tuesday, December 28, 2021. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

December 29, 2021

NYC Ferry continues expansion with new Bronx stop in Throgs Neck

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday cut the ribbon on a new ferry landing in the Bronx. Located at Ferry Point Park in Throgs Neck, the new landing extends NYC Ferry's Soundview route, which stops on the Upper East Side, Midtown, and the Financial District. With the addition of this new stop, the Soundview route begins at Ferry Point Park, continuing onto stops in Soundview, East 90th Street, 34th Street, Stuyvesant Cove, and Wall Street/Pier 11. The entire route takes a total of 60 minutes.
Details here

Lottery opens for 324 units at world’s largest affordable Passive House, from $388/month

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

December 29, 2021

Lottery opens for 324 units at world’s largest affordable Passive House, from $388/month

A housing lottery opened this week for more than 300 apartments at the world's largest fully affordable Passive House. Sendero Verde is a mixed-use project currently under construction in East Harlem that includes affordable housing, community space, retail, outdoor gardens, and a school. As part of phase one, the 100 percent affordable building designed by Handel Architects is now accepting applications for 324 mixed-income units. New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 50, 60, 80, and 110 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from $388/month studios to $2,524/month three bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

NYC schools will reopen in January with increased Covid testing

Image courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office

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.
Find out more

Policy

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

Image courtesy of Photographer/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

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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Photos courtesy of Warburg Realty

December 28, 2021

A terrace and high-floor views make this $4.6M pre-war classic six the perfect Park Avenue pad

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

Asking $4,575,000, this two-bedroom co-op at 1095 Park Avenue is the epitome of a classic Upper East Side co-op with six rooms, pre-war details, and lots of living space. Not every "sky-townhouse" has a terrace, but this one does.
Take the grand tour

Distinctive Homes

THE 6SQFT SHOP

The 6 best furniture rental companies in NYC

8 best places in NYC to thrift for home goods

The best websites for buying and selling used furniture in NYC

Everything you need to know about using a guarantor in NYC

15 quintessential NYC gifts for the New Yorker in your life

50 places to shop locally in NYC for that perfect gift

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

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

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

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.
Find out more

Affordable Housing

Announcing 6sqft’s 2021 Building of the Year!

Photo credits, clockwise: Colin Miller, Related Companies, Colin Miller, Related Companies

December 27, 2021

Announcing 6sqft’s 2021 Building of the Year!

By 6sqft

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.
Read more

New Developments

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

Image by Anthony Quintano via Flickr

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

Events & Things To Do

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

Photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

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

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

Photo credit: Image Habitat for The Corcoran Group

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

Distinctive Homes

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

Photo by cottonbro on pexels

December 23, 2021

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

By Lizzy Briskin

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

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

All photos: Compass/ Michael J. Franco

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

Distinctive Homes

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

Image courtesy of Times Square Alliance

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.
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

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

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

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.
See more

Affordable Housing

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

Photo by Edoardo Tommasini from Pexels

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

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

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

255 East 77th Street

Lenox Hill

Upper East Side condos with Central Park views

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

Learn More

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.
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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.
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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