Policy

MTA and Amtrak at odds over Penn Station redesign

All images courtesy of PAU

June 25, 2026

MTA and Amtrak at odds over Penn Station redesign

By Aaron Ginsburg

After being removed from the Penn Station reconstruction project by the federal government, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has rejected an offer from Amtrak to rejoin the effort. Andy Byford, senior adviser at Amtrak, sent a letter to MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber on Monday formally inviting the MTA to return as a “fully involved” partner after the agency was taken off the project last year and its original reconstruction plan was scrapped. Lieber declined to sign an agreement to join, questioning whether President Donald Trump and Amtrak would follow through on the development.
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Rent Guidelines Board member resigns hours before vote on possible rent freeze

Credit: Sebastian Jacobsen on Unsplash

June 25, 2026

Rent Guidelines Board member resigns hours before vote on possible rent freeze

By Aaron Ginsburg

A member of the city’s Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) resigned just hours before the board was set to vote on a possible rent freeze for the roughly two million New Yorkers who live in rent-stabilized apartments. Christina Smyth, a landlord representative on the board who was appointed by former Mayor Eric Adams last year, submitted her resignation Thursday morning ahead of the board’s scheduled 7 p.m. vote, as first reported by Crain’s. Smyth said the RGB has stopped being a “fact-finding body” and instead “starts with an answer” and works backward to justify it, adding that most of the board’s nine members have been appointed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
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Policy

Morris Adjmi’s Soho tower could rise to 21 stories in exchange for Canal Street subway upgrades

All images courtesy of Morris Adjmi Architects

June 24, 2026

Morris Adjmi’s Soho tower could rise to 21 stories in exchange for Canal Street subway upgrades

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday reviewed a proposal to make a Morris Adjmi-designed Soho project larger in exchange for nearby subway station upgrades. United American Land released plans in 2023 to build a 13-story building with 100 apartments at 277 Canal Street, which the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission approved that year. The revised plan presented to the LPC on Tuesday calls for a 21-story building with 159 units, made possible if granted a floor area bonus from the city in exchange for accessibility upgrades to the Canal Street subway station. The commission sent the 277 Canal team back to the drawing board after some commissioners took issue with the building's increased height.
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63-block dedicated bus lane proposed for 6th Avenue

Photo of 6th Avenue and 56th Street. Photo by Tdorante10 via Wikimedia Commons

June 19, 2026

63-block dedicated bus lane proposed for 6th Avenue

By Aaron Ginsburg

The city wants to add 63 blocks of offset bus lanes along Sixth Avenue in Manhattan. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the city's Department of Transportation (DOT) on Friday unveiled a proposal for a dedicated bus lane that runs from Watts Street in Soho to 58th Street in Midtown, along with a wider bike lane from 36th Street to 59th Street. As first reported by amNY, the city presented the plan to Manhattan Community Board 4 this week and will release a final proposal incorporating feedback before installation.
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NYC Council to hold hearing on Ryder’s Law after fatal Central Park horse-drawn carriage accident

Credit: Bee on Unsplash

June 19, 2026

NYC Council to hold hearing on Ryder’s Law after fatal Central Park horse-drawn carriage accident

By Aaron Ginsburg

The City Council will hold a hearing next month on Ryder’s Law, a bill that would phase out horse-drawn carriage rides, after a teenager was thrown from a carriage in Central Park and died this week. Speaker Julie Menin on Wednesday announced a July hearing on the legislation, which would phase out the city's horse-drawn carriage industry. A Council subcommittee nixed a previous version of the law in November despite support from former Mayor Eric Adams. In addition to the death of the 18-year-old tourist on Wednesday, there have been seven additional horse-related incidents over the last 13 months, including last week when a carriage horse had a medical emergency and died, according to the New York Times.
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NY attorney general sues Brooklyn landlords for overcharging rent-stabilized tenants

1075 Dean Street in Crown Heights. Streetview © 2026 Google

June 18, 2026

NY attorney general sues Brooklyn landlords for overcharging rent-stabilized tenants

By Devin Gannon

Two landlords in Brooklyn are the first to be sued by the state as part of a new program enforcing "de facto" rent stabilization. New York Attorney General Letitia James this week announced a lawsuit against John Anderson and Claudette Henry for failing to register units in buildings in Crown Heights and Brownsville and charging market-rate rents for apartments that should be stabilized. The suit also alleges the landlords attempted to illegally evict tenants and violated harassment laws. The effort comes after the Office of the Attorney General in 2025 launched a compliance program to enforce a law that allows buildings built before 1974 with six or more dwelling units to become rent-regulated.
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Policy

Knicks-themed Penn Station subway entrance will stay orange and blue through next season

Images courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

June 18, 2026

Knicks-themed Penn Station subway entrance will stay orange and blue through next season

By Aaron Ginsburg

A subway entrance at 34th Street and 8th Avenue that was transformed during the New York Knicks' playoff run will stay painted orange and blue through at least next season. Gov. Kathy Hochul and the MTA this week announced the spirited entrance will be preserved through the 2026-2027 season in celebration of the team's first NBA championship in five decades. Transformed by the MTA earlier this month, the Knicks-themed station, which included turning the lamp globes into basketballs, became a viral sensation and a destination for fans and those attending games at Madison Square Garden.
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NYC launches program to preserve 39K supportive housing units

Credit: Matthew Moloney on Unsplash

June 17, 2026

NYC launches program to preserve 39K supportive housing units

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City has launched a program aimed at preserving existing supportive housing units for the most vulnerable New Yorkers. The Supportive Preservation Program (SPP), launched on Wednesday by the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), will provide tax exemptions, below-market loans, and other financial assistance to ensure the long-term stability of supportive housing projects. The program is a key part of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s “Block by Block” housing plan, which seeks to preserve the city’s roughly 39,000 supportive homes.
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Protected bike lane coming to Adams Street near Brooklyn Bridge to curb illegal parking

Illegal parking in the existing painted bike lane. All images courtesy of NYC DOT

June 16, 2026

Protected bike lane coming to Adams Street near Brooklyn Bridge to curb illegal parking

By Aaron Ginsburg

A planned protected bike lane linking Downtown Brooklyn to the Brooklyn Bridge aims to close a gap in the borough's cycling network while curbing a hotspot for illegal parking. Detailed by the city's Department of Transportation (DOT) earlier this month in a presentation to Brooklyn Community Board 2, the project would install a two-way protected bike lane along Adams Street and Boerum Place, extending existing protections that currently end at Adams and Johnson Streets and creating a continuous connection to the Brooklyn Bridge. The redesign would also deter illegal parking in the existing painted bike lane, where cyclists are regularly forced into traffic to get around vehicles.
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NYC unveils the first look at the future of sidewalk sheds

Photos courtesy of Gabrielle Beaumont

June 15, 2026

NYC unveils the first look at the future of sidewalk sheds

By Aaron Ginsburg

Two of six prototype sidewalk sheds that forgo the traditional unsightly design have been installed outside the Department of Buildings headquarters in Lower Manhattan. Designed by Arup, the sheds provide additional space to improve circulation and increase light for visibility, while enhancing the streetscape with a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. The structures, on view in front of 280 Broadway for 30 days, are a first look at new shed designs, required by a law passed by the City Council last year.
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Popular Articles

Greenwich Village block co-named for Jimi Hendrix

Credit: Gerardo Romo / NYC Council Media Unit on Flickr

June 12, 2026

Greenwich Village block co-named for Jimi Hendrix

By Aaron Ginsburg

A block in Greenwich Village has been co-named in honor of legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix, paying tribute to the street where he built the historic Electric Lady Studios. After a major snowstorm forced the ceremony in February to be rescheduled, part of West 8th Street was officially co-named "Jimi Hendrix Way" on Wednesday, marking the culmination of a decades-long effort by family members and supporters. The honor recognizes Hendrix’s connection to Electric Lady Studios, which he commissioned in 1968 and opened in 1970, just months before his death at age 27, and which remains one of the most influential recording studios in the world.
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Policy

City Council unveils proposal to build affordable housing on top of libraries

Sunset Park Library and Apartments. Credit: Brooklyn Public Library

June 11, 2026

City Council unveils proposal to build affordable housing on top of libraries

By Aaron Ginsburg

The New York City Council wants to build affordable housing on top of public libraries to ease the current housing crisis. Council Speaker Julie Menin on Thursday called on the Mamdani administration to invest $60 million to support the redevelopment of three initial library sites, one in each of the city’s three public library systems. The plan builds on the city's existing model of co-locating affordable housing and libraries, including Bensonhurst’s New Utrecht Library, which the city issued a request for proposals for just this week, as well as ongoing projects at Grand Concourse and on the Upper West Side. Similar projects in Sunset Park and Inwood opened in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
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Nearly 195,000 people slept in NYC shelters in 2025, the most ever

Credit: Felton Davis on Flickr

June 10, 2026

Nearly 195,000 people slept in NYC shelters in 2025, the most ever

By Aaron Ginsburg

The number of New Yorkers sleeping in homeless shelters rose 27 percent under Mayor Eric Adams' four years in office, driven by overcrowded housing conditions and evictions, according to a new report. The Coalition for the Homeless released its annual "State of the Homeless" report, which found that the number of non-migrant New York City residents needing shelter grew by more than 12,000 between January 2022 and December 2025. Plus, last year, 194,531 individuals used the city's shelter system over the course of the year, the most in its history. The increase excludes asylum seekers and other new arrivals who entered the shelter system during that period.
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NYPD closes area around MSG for Knicks game

Fans celebrated after the Knicks won Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 3. Photo credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

June 10, 2026

NYPD closes area around MSG for Knicks game

By Devin Gannon

The New York Police Department will once again close several blocks around Madison Square Garden during Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday. In a post on X, the NYPD said the same "secure zone" implemented around the arena on Monday, when President Donald Trump attended the game, will be in effect. While originally a ticketed watch party was scheduled for outside MSG, Knicks owner James Dolan canceled the event, blaming Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the NYPD for not allowing more than 1,000 spectators.
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Amtrak reveals first renderings of the new Penn Station

Renderings courtesy of PAU and Penn Transformation Partners

June 9, 2026

Amtrak reveals first renderings of the new Penn Station

By Devin Gannon

A few weeks after announcing the master developer for the redevelopment of Penn Station, Amtrak released the first renderings of the project on Monday. Penn Transformation Partners (PTP), a joint venture led by Halmar and Skanska, is leading the long-awaited redesign of the detested Midtown commuter hub, which aims to transform the station from cramped, dark, and overcrowded into a modern, light-filled civic landmark that can serve 600,000 daily commuters. The overhaul could cost $8 billion; construction is expected to begin late next year.
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Work to bring Second Avenue Subway to East Harlem begins

Photo credit: Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

June 9, 2026

Work to bring Second Avenue Subway to East Harlem begins

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York officials on Monday broke ground on phase two of the Second Avenue Subway, which will bring the Q train to 125th Street. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that excavation has begun at East 119th Street and Second Avenue, where next year a tunnel-boring machine will begin mining the new subway tunnels from 120th Street and Second Avenue to 125th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard. The groundbreaking marks a major milestone for a project first proposed nearly a century ago that has faced multiple failed attempts to bring subway service to East Harlem.
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Here are the NYC neighborhoods with the highest storefront vacancy rates

Photo by Ruoyu Li on Unsplash

June 5, 2026

Here are the NYC neighborhoods with the highest storefront vacancy rates

By Aaron Ginsburg

Though New York City’s storefront vacancy rate has rebounded since the pandemic, some neighborhoods still have retail vacancy rates as high as 20 percent, according to a new report. Released on Thursday by the city's Comptroller Mark Levine, the report, titled "Who's Minding the Storefront? An Analysis of Storefront Vacancies," found that while the citywide vacancy rate has returned to near pre-pandemic levels, parts of Lower Manhattan, Battery Park City, Northern Brooklyn, and Western Queens continue to see retail vacancy rates at or above 20 percent. Citywide, roughly 15,700 storefronts remain vacant, representing an 11 percent vacancy rate, about half a percentage point above pre-pandemic levels.
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Policy

NYC to expand traffic sensor network to study how New Yorkers use streets

Credit: NYC DOT

June 4, 2026

NYC to expand traffic sensor network to study how New Yorkers use streets

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City will expand its use of cutting-edge sensor technology to track road usage and inform safer, more data-driven street design. Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn on Tuesday announced that the agency will install privacy-protected sensors, first piloted in 2023, at about 80 additional locations across the five boroughs, bringing the total to 100. The devices count pedestrians, cyclists, buses, and vehicles to analyze how New Yorkers use city streets, offering insight into pedestrian crossings, where bike access may need improvement, and how cars move through specific areas.
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New York SNAP recipients can now receive free membership to The Met

Photo by Charles Parker from Pexels

June 2, 2026

New York SNAP recipients can now receive free membership to The Met

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Metropolitan Museum of Art on Tuesday launched free membership for New Yorkers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The initiative is offered through the new “Explorer Membership” level, which provides one year of free membership, access to member preview days, a digital membership card, invitations to community programs, and more. The program is a joint effort by the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs, Human Resources Administration, and Department of Social Services, and follows a similar initiative launched by the American Museum of Natural History last July.
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Mamdani restarts plan for 34th Street busway that Trump halted

Credit: NYC DOT

June 2, 2026

Mamdani restarts plan for 34th Street busway that Trump halted

By Devin Gannon

Plans to turn Manhattan's 34th Street into a dedicated busway are back on. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the city's Department of Transportation (DOT) on Tuesday announced that work will restart on the busway, which will cover just over a mile of the corridor from Third to Ninth Avenues. Plans for the busway, which aims to increase speeds for buses that currently move as slowly as 3 miles per hour, were first announced by former Mayor Eric Adams last May, but were halted a few months later after threats from President Trump's administration.
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42nd Street to become dedicated ‘bus corridor’ during World Cup matches

Credit: Taton Moïse on Unsplash

May 29, 2026

42nd Street to become dedicated ‘bus corridor’ during World Cup matches

By Aaron Ginsburg

Manhattan's 42nd Street and several other major thoroughfares will become temporary bus and shuttle corridors for use on World Cup match days this summer. Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Friday announced a Midtown transportation plan to ensure smooth travel to and from MetLife Stadium during the tournament, including converting 42nd Street, portions of Fifth and Sixth Avenues, and West 40th Street into dedicated transit lanes. The streets will be limited to shuttle buses, official World Cup affiliate vehicles, MTA buses, and emergency vehicles beginning six hours before kickoff and continuing until three hours after each match.
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New York passes pied-à-terre tax for luxury NYC second homes

Billionaires’ Row from Harlem. Photo by joiseyshowaa on Wikimedia

May 28, 2026

New York passes pied-à-terre tax for luxury NYC second homes

By Devin Gannon

New York City is getting its pied-à-terre tax. State lawmakers on Wednesday approved the $268.5 billion 2027 state budget, which included a new annual surcharge on second homes in the city valued at $5 million or more. First announced last month by Gov. Kathy Hochul, the new tax will take effect July 1 and could potentially generate $500 million in revenue for the city each year. According to the governor, the tax ensures those who own luxury properties as their second homes are still "fairly contributing towards the funding of essential services," like police and fire departments, sanitations, parks, and more.
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NYC begins redesign of McGuinness Boulevard

Wednesday’s groundbreaking ceremony. Credit: NYC DOT

May 28, 2026

NYC begins redesign of McGuinness Boulevard

By Aaron Ginsburg

Work on the redesign of Greenpoint’s notorious McGuinness Boulevard finally began this week after several years of delays and project changes. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Department of Transportation on Wednesday broke ground on the street revamp, which includes installing parking-protected bike lanes along the corridor from Meeker Avenue to the Pulaski Bridge. The start of construction marks a major milestone for the project, which was scaled back under former Mayor Eric Adams’ administration amid allegations of bribery, as 6sqft previously reported.
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Mayor’s audit shows aggressive ICE tactics are on the rise in NYC, with arrests up 71 percent

An ICE arrest in New York in January 2025. Photo by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Flickr

May 28, 2026

Mayor’s audit shows aggressive ICE tactics are on the rise in NYC, with arrests up 71 percent

By Michelle Cohen

Mayor Zohran Mamdani's office last week released the findings of an audit examining how city agencies adhere to the city's sanctuary laws in the face of growing federal immigration enforcement efforts under the current Trump administration. The report showed that immigration enforcement activity has increased dramatically, with a 71 percent jump in arrests between January 2025 and March 2026 compared to the same number of days under former President Joe Biden. Findings include a sharply escalating number of detainer requests, targeting of city shelters, and a rise in aggressive enforcement tactics.
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Policy

Hochul signs reforms to New York’s environmental law to accelerate new housing development

“Let Them Build” rally in February. Photo credit: Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

May 27, 2026

Hochul signs reforms to New York’s environmental law to accelerate new housing development

By Aaron Ginsburg

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday signed legislation to reform the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), cutting red tape that critics say has long delayed housing development. The "common-sense" reforms, the most significant changes to SEQRA since its passage in 1975, are expected to accelerate the construction of new housing by up to two years. Hochul first unveiled the changes in February alongside Mayor Zohran Mamdani and included it in her fiscal year 2027 budget.
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