6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

To accelerate housing development across the state, Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed a series of reforms to New York’s environmental laws, which have delayed new projects for years. During an event with several elected officials on Tuesday, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the governor unveiled “common sense” reforms to the state’s Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), as well as executive actions to accelerate critical projects that, while not posing significant environmental impacts, have been caught in red tape and delays. The reforms also seek to cut bureaucratic hurdles for infrastructure projects, including clean water, green infrastructure, and parks, which are frequently slowed down by lengthy environmental review processes.
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For $8M, this newly-constructed Williamsburg townhouse has every design trend covered

All photos courtesy of Case[Study]

February 10, 2026

For $8M, this newly-constructed Williamsburg townhouse has every design trend covered

If you like the energy of Williamsburg, but you love the space and ease of townhouse living, this 4,000-square-foot new construction home at 172 North 6th Street, asking $7,975,000, hits all the high notes. Behind a refined brick facade, the four-story townhouse, designed by Bowerbird Architects, is a showcase of bold, contemporary interior design. A landscaped backyard and a planted roof deck make this a true urban retreat in the heart of a bustling Brooklyn hub.
modern craftsmanship and design, this way

Distinctive Homes

30-story condo will be the tallest building in Greenwich Village

11 West 13th Street in July 2025, ahead of construction. © Ondel Hylton

February 10, 2026

30-story condo will be the tallest building in Greenwich Village

The tallest building in Greenwich Village is moving forward. Construction financing was secured last week for a new luxury condominium at 11 West 13th Street, a planned 30-story tower with 34 residences that will rise well above the neighborhood's next tallest buildings. Despite backlash from preservationist groups, which filed a zoning challenge with the Department of Buildings, the project is moving ahead, after developers Legion Investment Group and EJS Group secured $190 million in construction financing last week.
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February 9, 2026

Lunar New Year 2026: How to celebrate the Year of the Horse in NYC

New York City’s vibrant Lunar New Year celebrations return to the five boroughs for a two-week run from February 17 through March 3. This year marks the Year of the Horse, the seventh animal in the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle, which is said to embody enthusiasm, speed, and fieriness—ushering in a year of ambition and exploration. Across the city, there are plenty of ways to take part in the festivities, from museum-hosted festivals to parades and firecracker ceremonies.
Find ways to celebrate ahead

Events & Things To Do

The rentals reshaping Gowanus: A guide to the neighborhood’s new apartment buildings

Photo by Alan Harris on Flickr

February 9, 2026

The rentals reshaping Gowanus: A guide to the neighborhood’s new apartment buildings

Thanks to a 2021 rezoning expected to create 9,000 new apartments, paired with an environmental clean-up of the long-contaminated canal, Gowanus is booming. More than 140 residential buildings are planned for the neighborhood, and several are already completed, attracting individuals and families seeking amenity-rich buildings and easy access to Manhattan and other parts of Brooklyn, while being relatively more affordable than neighboring Carroll Gardens and Park Slope. At the center of the community is the Gowanus Canal, which, as its federally-mandated Superfund cleanup continues, is expected to become a new waterfront park, flanked by a promenade, retail, and recreational space. As development continues to reshape the neighborhood, we're taking a look at the best new rental projects in Gowanus.
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New Canarsie library to be one of NYC’s first mass timber public buildings

Renderings courtesy of Studio Joseph

February 9, 2026

New Canarsie library to be one of NYC’s first mass timber public buildings

Canarsie's new library will become one of New York City's first public buildings constructed from mass timber. City officials on Saturday celebrated the groundbreaking of the new Canarsie Library, a two-story, 11,000-square-foot branch on Rockaway Parkway and Avenue J that doubles the size of the previous building to better serve current and future patrons. The project highlights the city’s adoption of mass timber, a sustainable, low-carbon building method that combines natural beauty with climate-related benefits. The new library is scheduled to open next year.
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Architecture And Design

Judge allows Trump’s Gateway funding freeze to continue until Thursday

Credit: Gateway Development Commission

February 9, 2026

Judge allows Trump’s Gateway funding freeze to continue until Thursday

After ordering the Trump administration to resume funding for the Gateway project, a federal judge has agreed to temporarily allow the funding freeze to continue while an appeal moves forward. The order, issued Friday by Manhattan Judge Jeannette Vargas, follows a lawsuit filed by NY and NJ seeking emergency relief to stop the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) from withholding funds for the project. However, after the administration filed an appeal Sunday, Vargas agreed to pause the order until February 12 to allow the appeal to proceed, according to New Jersey Monitor.
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Trump said he’d restore Gateway funding if New York renames Penn Station after him

Photo of Penn Station by Don Ramey Logan via WikiCommons

February 6, 2026

Trump said he’d restore Gateway funding if New York renames Penn Station after him

President Donald Trump told Sen. Chuck Schumer last month that he'd resume funding for the Gateway project, but only if New York's Penn Station and Washington’s Dulles International Airport are renamed after him. Trump said he would release $16 billion in previously allocated federal funds for the critical infrastructure project on that condition, as CNN reported. Funding, which had been secured under the Biden administration, was frozen during October’s government shutdown. Construction on the project will stop at 5 p.m. on Friday if the funding does not resume.
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Michelangelo Sistine Chapel sketch sells for $27.2M, setting new auction record

Credit: Touhey Photography

February 6, 2026

Michelangelo Sistine Chapel sketch sells for $27.2M, setting new auction record

A recently discovered Michelangelo drawing tied to the Sistine Chapel has sold at auction for more than $27 million, shattering its $1.5 million to $2 million estimate and setting a new auction record for the artist. The drawing—a study for the right foot of the Libyan Sibyl—is the first unrecorded study of the famed ceiling ever to come to auction, and one of only about 10 Michelangelo drawings known to be in private hands. On Thursday, the sketch sold for $27.2 million after a 45-minute bidding war at Christie’s New York, surpassing the artist’s previous auction record of $24.3 million.
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Architecture And Design

Distinctive Homes

Live in a former Park Slope bank for $5.5M

Asking $2.8M, this two-family Bed-Stuy townhouse looks like a good place to spend a sunny afternoon

For $9M, a Noho penthouse that captures the spirit of the neighborhood's past, and then some

From cozy to bold, this $10M Soho condo embodies post-loft luxury

This $3.5M Noho co-op remembers the origins of loft living

Greenwich Village townhouse where Oscar Wilde once stayed asks $7.45M

Steve Madden's former Trump Palace pad lists for $11.5M

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

Amy Schumer sells Brooklyn Heights townhouse at $1.25M loss

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

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NYC invests nearly $40M to bring clean heat pumps to Rockaways NYCHA complex

Credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

February 5, 2026

NYC invests nearly $40M to bring clean heat pumps to Rockaways NYCHA complex

New York City is investing nearly $40 million to bring clean heating and cooling to more than 700 homes at a public housing complex in the Rockaways. Announced on Wednesday by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the $38.4 million investment will install clean, reliable heat pumps in 712 apartments at NYCHA’s Beach 41st Houses in Edgemere, among the first NYCHA residences to receive custom-designed heat pumps under the agency’s “Clean Heat for All” initiative. The initiative aims to expand clean heat pump installations to more than 10,000 NYCHA apartments by 2030.
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Policy

NYC Council will bring back year-round outdoor dining

King, a restaurant in the Village. Photo by GuardianKC, CC BY-SA 4.0

February 5, 2026

NYC Council will bring back year-round outdoor dining

The New York City Council will make outdoor dining year-round again. During a speech at A Better New York's (ABNY) Power Breakfast on Wednesday, City Council Speaker Julie Menin said she plans to advance legislation introduced last year that would bring back the pandemic-era program, allowing for roadway dining in winter and reducing the cost to businesses.
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$17.5M Dumbo penthouse seen in Denzel Washington’s ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ movie finds a buyer

All photos courtesy of Pavel Bendov for Olympia DUMBO

February 4, 2026

$17.5M Dumbo penthouse seen in Denzel Washington’s ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ movie finds a buyer

Denzel Washington's fictional home in the 2025 movie "Highest 2 Lowest" has found a real-life buyer. A full-floor penthouse at Olympia, a sail-like condominium at 30 Front Street in Dumbo, entered contract this week. Last asking $17,500,000, the home's incredible views of the Manhattan skyline are on full display in the Spike Lee thriller, which stars Washington, A$AP Rocky, and Ilfenesh Hadera.
see the views

Real Estate Trends

February 4, 2026

NYC opens low-barrier shelter with 100+ units in Lower Manhattan

New York City has opened a new safe haven shelter in the South Street Seaport, offering secure temporary housing to more than 100 unhoused New Yorkers, as deaths linked to the city’s ongoing stretch of extreme cold continue to rise. On Tuesday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the opening of a long-stalled shelter at 320 Pearl Street, offering 106 beds, on-site services, and no curfews or similar restrictions in an effort to encourage more homeless New Yorkers to come in from the cold, according to Gothamist. The new shelter is part of a series of measures Mamdani has enacted since the city entered this historic cold snap, including the opening of 50 additional shelter units in Upper Manhattan on Monday.
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Policy

NY and NJ sue Trump administration for withholding Gateway funding

Credit: Gateway Development Commission

February 4, 2026

NY and NJ sue Trump administration for withholding Gateway funding

New York and New Jersey are suing the Trump administration for withholding $15 billion in federal funding previously set aside for the transformative Gateway project. Announced Tuesday, the lawsuit seeks emergency relief to prevent the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) from continuing to withhold critical funding for the project, which is building a new rail tunnel and rehabilitating a dilapidated one. The legal action follows the Gateway Development Commission’s announcement last week that work would stop on February 6 unless federal funding is restored.
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Photo credit: Tina Gallo for The Corcoran Group

February 3, 2026

Live in a former Park Slope bank for $5.5M

The 30-foot-wide single-family townhouse at 383 10th Street occupies what was once a limestone-clad bank. Asking $5,480,000, this architectural standout in the heart of Park Slope has 4,000 square feet of living space on multiple levels, making use of the building's dramatic ceiling heights and unusual details. As a bonus, the owner gets access to condo-level amenities from The Slope condominium.
what it's like to live in a bank

Distinctive Homes

Schomburg Center releases special list of 100 books by Black authors

Credit: NYPL

February 3, 2026

Schomburg Center releases special list of 100 books by Black authors

Marking the start of Black History Month and its centennial, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture has released a curated list of 100 Black-authored books from the past century. The "100 Black Voices: Schomburg Centennial Reading List" is now available at the New York Public Library’s circulating and research branches, with instant e-book and audiobook access to select recommendations and book giveaways at participating locations. The selections were curated by the Schomburg Center’s reference division and feature recommendations from leading figures in Black history, literature, scholarship, and art.
see the list

Events & Things To Do

20-story Murray Hill luxury rental opens lottery for 48 apartments, from $1,842/month

Credit: NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

February 3, 2026

20-story Murray Hill luxury rental opens lottery for 48 apartments, from $1,842/month

Applications are now being accepted for 48 mixed-income apartments at a new CetraRuddy-designed luxury rental development in Murray Hill. Rising 20 stories at 255 East 39th Street, The Lotus is a sustainability-focused building whose cutting-edge amenities, modern residences, and building systems are all designed in accordance with “vegan principles,” according to Brause Realty. New Yorkers earning 70 and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $1,842/month studios to $4,518/month two bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

25 thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift ideas

Photo by alleksana on Pexels

February 3, 2026

25 thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift ideas

By Terri Williams

Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate the people you love, and to show just how thoughtful and versatile you can be. Classic gifts are always appreciated, but practical and self-care presents can be just as meaningful. Ahead, find 25 Valentine’s Day gift ideas that are sure to please.
gift guide this way

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Vornado and Newmark to expand Penn District with more retail

Vornado Realty Trust’s Penn District in Midtown East will grow further as the firm teams up with another major real estate company to create a new retail corridor along Seventh Avenue between 33rd and 34th Streets. On Monday, Vornado announced that Newmark has been named the exclusive leasing agent for the next stage of the Penn District, which will feature a street-level "retail experience" alongside existing anchors Macy’s and Primark, whose 78,000-square-foot flagship is set to open this spring. Newmark will also assist Vornado in developing the Moynihan Retail Corridor, the primary commercial hub of Moynihan Train Hall.
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Real Estate Trends

Manhattan Municipal Building to open rooftop for free tours

Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

February 2, 2026

Manhattan Municipal Building to open rooftop for free tours

One of New York City's first skyscrapers will open its rooftop to the public for the first time this summer. Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday announced that the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building, the grand Beaux-Arts government building at 1 Centre Street, will offer free guided tours of its 36th-floor cupola starting in June. The mayor also announced a $6 million renovation of the building to prepare for its new public observation deck.
details here

Photo credit: Hayley Ellen Day

February 2, 2026

Asking $2.8M, this two-family Bed-Stuy townhouse looks like a good place to spend a sunny afternoon

From the outside, the stylish, mansard-roofed townhouse at 521 Monroe Street looks right at home on a historic Bed-Stuy block. Inside, the two-family home is the picture of 21st-century Brooklyn brownstone living. Asking $2,825,000, the home's interiors are optimized for sunlight and flexibility, with the bonus of a two-bedroom garden apartment for even more options.
take the tour

Distinctive Homes

Shuttered Downtown Brooklyn Macy’s becomes pulsing light installation

Images courtesy of Downtown Brooklyn Partnership

January 30, 2026

Shuttered Downtown Brooklyn Macy’s becomes pulsing light installation

The shuttered Macy’s in Downtown Brooklyn now hosts an interactive light installation that pulses along to the soundtrack of Fulton Street. Unveiled on Friday, "In Every Transition, A Pattern" illuminates the windows of the former department store with rhythmic patterns and kaleidoscopic displays that respond to the energy of the streetscape. On view through March 16, the installation brings new life to the now-empty Macy's, which closed along with four other NYC locations in January 2025.
see it here

NYC passes landmark street vendor reform, including expanding permit cap

Credit: Hiroko Nishimura on Unsplash

January 30, 2026

NYC passes landmark street vendor reform, including expanding permit cap

Legislation to reform New York City street vending officially passed this week, after the City Council overrode Mayor Eric Adams' vetoes. One of the bills, Intro. 0431, sponsored by Council Member Pierina Ana Sanchez, makes an additional 2,200 supervisory license applications available annually from 2026 through 2031 and creates 10,500 new general vending licenses in 2027. The legislation package was part of 19 bills vetoed by former Mayor Eric Adams on his last day in office, despite Council approval in December. This week, the Council overrode 17 of the 19 vetoes.
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Policy

SHOP THE LISTING: This $3.75M co-op is an architect-designed masterpiece in a classic Village loft

Photo credit: Michael Weinstein

January 30, 2026

SHOP THE LISTING: This $3.75M co-op is an architect-designed masterpiece in a classic Village loft

Loft proportions give this Village apartment at 35 East 10th Street a head start in life, with tall ceilings and gracefully arched windows overlooking the downtown Manhattan street scene below. Masterfully designed interiors, courtesy of AD 100 design firm RP Miller, give this two-bedroom home star power. Asking $3,750,000, this pre-war co-op is a showcase of stellar design trends that not only stand out but also stand the test of time. If you love the interior design of this home, we’ve sourced a few key pieces that are identical or similar to the items in the listing photos, so you can get the look for your own space.
shop the listing, this way

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Rare Sistine Chapel drawing on display in NYC ahead of auction

All photos by Touhey Photography, unless noted otherwise

January 29, 2026

Rare Sistine Chapel drawing on display in NYC ahead of auction

New Yorkers can view a recently discovered Michelangelo draft, later reflected in the Sistine Chapel, during a free exhibition ahead of its auction next week. On view through February 5 at Christie’s New York at 20 Rockefeller Plaza, the newly identified drawing—a study for the right foot of the Libyan Sibyl—is the first unrecorded study for the famed ceiling ever to come to auction and one of only about 10 Michelangelo drawings known to be in private hands. The work will be auctioned off as part of Christie’s Old Master Drawings sale, with an estimated price tag of $1.5 million to $2 million.
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Full Amtrak service from NYC to Albany resumes in March, Metro-North expansion scrapped

Credit: Phil Richards on Flickr

January 29, 2026

Full Amtrak service from NYC to Albany resumes in March, Metro-North expansion scrapped

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

Full Amtrak service between New York City and Albany will resume in March, ending plans for a more affordable Metro-North expansion. In response to reduced service between the city and Albany due to ongoing repair work on the East River Tunnel, Gov. Kathy Hochul last October announced plans to run Metro-North service between Grand Central and Albany starting this spring. But with the full restoration of Empire service, Amtrak has walked back plans for added Metro-North service.
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THE 6SQFT SHOP

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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

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New York City's best holiday markets of 2023

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See the Flatiron Building’s first publicly listed apartments

All images courtesy of the Flatiron Building

January 28, 2026

See the Flatiron Building’s first publicly listed apartments

As condos at the iconic Flatiron Building continue to be snapped up off-market, new details emerged this week about the first publicly listed apartments at the landmarked tower. The 22-story Fifth Avenue building is currently being converted from offices to 38 condominiums, with many units entering contract without being publicly advertised. This week, though, two four-bedroom apartments hit the market: a south-facing unit for $16 million and another north-facing for $18.9 million.
details here

New Developments

This $9.75M Harlem brownstone reflects neighborhood history with five floors of 19th-century elegance

Credit: Russ Ross for The Corcoran Group

January 28, 2026

This $9.75M Harlem brownstone reflects neighborhood history with five floors of 19th-century elegance

This Middlesex brownstone-clad townhouse at 12 Mount Morris Park West is a five-floor single-family home with a history that has been preserved with care. Set within the Mount Morris Park Historic District, overlooking Marcus Garvey Memorial Park, the distinctive home was built in 1888, designed by James E. Ware. Asking $9.75 million, the 25-foot-wide Queen Anne-style was last listed for $8.2M in 2021. According to the current listing, it has had only three owners in its over-a-century-long existence.
Take the townhouse tour

Distinctive Homes

Work on Gateway project will stop next week unless Trump restores funding

In December 2025, the Tonnelle Ave bridge structure was completed, opening the passage beneath the highway that will be used to bring the TBM components in for assembly. Credit: Gateway Development Commission

January 28, 2026

Work on Gateway project will stop next week unless Trump restores funding

Construction of a crucial rail tunnel between New York and New Jersey will stop next week unless federal funding is restored. The Gateway Development Commission announced on Tuesday that funding for the Hudson Tunnel Project will run out on February 6. President Donald Trump's administration initially paused funding until the project's contracts were reviewed for compliance with new rules governing businesses owned by women and minorities—rules the GDC has pledged to follow—but funding has still not been restored, according to the New York Times.
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NYC Ferry service suspended because of ice in the East and Hudson Rivers

View of the icy East River from Williamsburg on Tuesday. Photo © Karen Palacios

January 28, 2026

NYC Ferry service suspended because of ice in the East and Hudson Rivers

NYC Ferry has suspended service on Wednesday because of ice in the East and Hudson Rivers and across the New York Harbor. The ferry announced the suspension in a post on X, citing "significant, continuing ice build-up" in surrounding waterways. Crews will continue monitoring conditions, but officials warned the shutdown could last several days as freezing temperatures persist.
details here

During extreme cold, NYC will expand warming centers, homeless outreach

Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

January 27, 2026

During extreme cold, NYC will expand warming centers, homeless outreach

New York City is stepping up efforts to protect its most vulnerable residents amid this week’s extreme cold. On Tuesday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced 10 new warming centers, 10 warming buses, and expanded outreach to help connect people experiencing homelessness with shelter. The measures come as at least 10 New Yorkers have been found dead outdoors amid potentially life-threatening cold, with wind chills expected to reach 9 degrees below zero by Wednesday morning, according to NBC New York.
FIND A WARMING CENTER

Policy

Photo credit: Brown Harris Stevens

January 27, 2026

Steve Madden’s former Trump Palace pad lists for $11.5M

The 47th-floor condo at 200 East 69th Street, with six balconies and six bedrooms, once owned by legendary shoe designer Steve Madden, has 360-degree views of Central Park, both rivers, and the city skyline. And at $11,500,000–the fashion mogul paid $15 million for the apartment in 2013–you could even call it a deal. The Lenox Hill home is a combination of two units within Trump Palace, a 57-story building completed in 1991.
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Distinctive Homes

NYC landlords must now disclose if buildings have rent-stabilized apartments

Credit: Matthew Moloney on Unsplash

January 27, 2026

NYC landlords must now disclose if buildings have rent-stabilized apartments

New York City renters are now legally entitled to clear, accessible information about whether stabilized apartments exist in their buildings. Last week, Local Law 86, aka the Rent Transparency Act, took effect, requiring landlords of buildings with at least one stabilized unit to post notices in common areas informing tenants that units may be rent-stabilized and how to get more information. The law aims to empower renters to know if they are being illegally overcharged.
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Policy

NYC’s Museum of Jewish Heritage to light facade, host events for Holocaust Remembrance Day

The museum launched Collections Online, a new digital portal providing free public access to more than 10,000 digitized artifacts from its permanent collection. Photo credit: Museum of Jewish Heritage

January 27, 2026

NYC’s Museum of Jewish Heritage to light facade, host events for Holocaust Remembrance Day

For International Holocaust Remembrance Day, commemorated on January 27 to mark the liberation of Auschwitz, the Museum of Jewish Heritage will illuminate its facade in vibrant yellow and host a weeklong series of programs. The Battery Park City museum will be symbolically lit on Tuesday, anchoring exhibitions and events running from Sunday, January 25, through Thursday, January 29. The museum has honored the day annually since 1997, and this year’s programming reflects the urgency of preserving the stories of Holocaust survivors as their generation continues to dwindle.
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Events & Things To Do

How does the MTA deal with snowstorms? Jet engine-powered snow blowers

LIRR jet snow blower at Jamaica. Photo courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

January 26, 2026

How does the MTA deal with snowstorms? Jet engine-powered snow blowers

New York City's biggest snowstorm in several years brought nearly a foot of snow to Central Park this weekend, with a mix of snowfall and sleet hitting all five boroughs and the broader region. While a travel advisory remains in effect through Monday, the city's subways, buses, and commuter rail services are running, although with some delays, thanks to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's fleet of super-powered snow throwers, jet-powered snow blowers, and specially designed de-icing cars.
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This $1.5M Woodstock compound was a recording studio for rock icons from Ozzy Osbourne to R.E.M.

Photo credit: This Old Hudson Team at Houlihan Lawrence

January 26, 2026

This $1.5M Woodstock compound was a recording studio for rock icons from Ozzy Osbourne to R.E.M.

Built in 1873, this landmarked upstate New York property, known as Bearsville Record House, holds a place in the history of American rock music. Asking $1,495,000, the colorful 3.78-acre compound at 1 Wittenberg Road was the recording destination for iconic albums by Ozzy Osbourne, Todd Rundgren, Meat Loaf, R.E.M., Jeff Buckley, Dave Matthews Band, Phish, and more. Located in Woodstock, the property includes a main farmhouse, a guest cottage, and a studio building, surrounded by a creek, woods, lawns, patios, and a pool.
get a closer look

Distinctive Homes

January 26, 2026

Extell to purchase Park Ave development site

Extell Development’s Manhattan expansion continues as the firm moves to acquire a prime Midtown site and air rights from an adjacent synagogue. On Sunday, Gary Barnett's firm entered a contract to purchase 405–415 Park Avenue and air rights from Central Synagogue, as first reported by The Promote. The company is also reportedly negotiating to acquire the adjacent office building at 110 East 55th Street, which, combined with the Park Avenue site, could become a major new mixed-use or office development in Midtown.
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Real Estate Trends

Manhattan’s first purpose-built film and TV studio opens in Hell’s Kitchen

All photos courtesy of Sunset Studios

January 26, 2026

Manhattan’s first purpose-built film and TV studio opens in Hell’s Kitchen

The cameras are now rolling at Pier 94 in Hell's Kitchen, where Manhattan’s first purpose-built film and TV studio complex has officially opened. Last week, Sunset Pier 94 Studios debuted its 232,000-square-foot production campus, which includes six soundstages, production support and office space, as well as public waterfront open space along Manhattan’s West Side. The studio has already secured its first tenant, with a lease signed for the second season of "Dexter: Resurrection," and additional productions are expected to be announced soon.
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Architecture And Design

New bill requires air conditioning in most NYC apartments by 2030

Credit: Thomas Layland on Unsplash

January 23, 2026

New bill requires air conditioning in most NYC apartments by 2030

It may seem ludicrous to think about turning on your air conditioner during this bitter cold, but a new bill passed this week will eventually require most New York City apartments to have one—though it will be a few years before it takes effect. Enacted last weekend, the bill requires landlords to provide air conditioning, prompted by hotter summers and rising heat-related illnesses and deaths. The bill gives landlords until 2030 to comply, after which the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) will enforce the rule, Council Member Lincoln Restler, the bill’s sponsor, told Gothamist.
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Policy

New rental at Gowanus Wharf opens lottery for 65 apartments, from $903/month

Credit: Fogarty Finger Architects

January 23, 2026

New rental at Gowanus Wharf opens lottery for 65 apartments, from $903/month

A new 15-story rental at a growing residential complex along the Gowanus Canal has launched a housing lottery for 65 mixed-income apartments. Located at 251 Douglass Street, Douglass Port is the newest phase of Gowanus Wharf, a four-building development bringing 1,000 new residences, modern amenities, and a public waterfront esplanade to the neighborhood. New Yorkers earning 40, 60, and 100 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $903/month studios to $3,048/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Colorful mural added behind Richmond Barthé’s Kingsborough Houses frieze

All photos by Tameek Williams, unless noted otherwise

January 23, 2026

Colorful mural added behind Richmond Barthé’s Kingsborough Houses frieze

A colorful mural now adorns the backside of the recently restored Richmond Barthé frieze at the Kingsborough Houses in Crown Heights. On Thursday, the Public Housing Community Fund (PHCF), the city's Housing Authority (NYCHA), and local artists Gerard Pefung and Greg Roberson unveiled "From Weeksville to Kingsborough: Still We Rise," a vibrant tribute to the two neighborhoods’ histories and the enduring legacies of their residents. The piece sits directly behind Harlem Renaissance sculptor Richmond Barthé’s "Exodus and Dance" frieze, which was restored in August after 80 years on display.
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Architecture And Design

Mamdani bans hidden ‘junk fees’ at NYC hotels

Credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

January 22, 2026

Mamdani bans hidden ‘junk fees’ at NYC hotels

Hotels in New York City and beyond are now barred from charging hidden “junk fees” that often add unexpected costs to bookings. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the final rule Wednesday, which is projected to save millions by banning fees labeled as “destination” or “resort” charges, as well as unexpected credit card holds or deposits. Taking effect February 21, the rule also applies to businesses outside the city that advertise prices to New Yorkers.
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Policy

January 22, 2026

NYC’s top 2 worst landlords of 2025 hold most violations in city history

New York City released its 2025 list of the worst landlords, with the top violator holding more building-code violations than any landlord on record. On Wednesday, NYC Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams released the 2025 "Worst Landlords Watchlist," the annual list that exposes the city's 100 most negligent property owners and ranks them according to the number of housing violations in their buildings. Margaret Brunn of A&E Real Estate topped the list with 4,872 open violations across 24 buildings, and last week the company reached a $12 million settlement with the Mamdani administration to resolve thousands of them.
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Policy

Nathan’s Famous, home of the hot dog eating contest, sells for $450M

Credit: Jeremy Thompson on Flickr

January 22, 2026

Nathan’s Famous, home of the hot dog eating contest, sells for $450M

Nathan’s Famous, the century-old Coney Island hot dog institution that grew from a single stand into a global brand, has been sold for $450 million. On Wednesday, Smithfield Foods said it would pay $102 per share to acquire the iconic brand. Smithfield, a Chinese-owned food processor based in Virginia, has held the rights to produce and sell Nathan’s products in the U.S. and Canada since 2014, which were scheduled to expire in 2032. For fans worried about the future of the famed Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, fear not—Smithfield said it plans to continue hosting the event, according to The Hill.
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One Domino Square

8 South 4th Street

Williamsburg

Spectacular living on the Williamsburg waterfront

1 beds starting at $1,925,000
2 beds starting at $2,055,000
3 beds starting at $3,030,000

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NYC faces $12B budget deficit, new comptroller warns

Credit: Matthew Moloney on Unsplash

January 21, 2026

NYC faces $12B budget deficit, new comptroller warns

Mark Levine, New York City’s new comptroller, is sounding the alarm on a $12 billion budget shortfall—the city’s largest since at least the 2008 recession. Levine shared the figures with The City ahead of a report set for Friday, estimating that the current budget will close this fiscal year in June with a $2 billion deficit, while next year’s gap could reach $10 billion, posing a major challenge for Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration. The comptroller attributed the financial difficulties to sluggish economic growth and fiscal mismanagement under former Mayor Eric Adams.
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Policy

Lily Allen and David Harbour’s Brooklyn townhouse finds buyer

Photo credit: Hayley Ellen Day

January 21, 2026

Lily Allen and David Harbour’s Brooklyn townhouse finds buyer

A Carroll Gardens townhouse referenced in Lily Allen’s latest album, following her split from actor David Harbour, has found a buyer. As first reported by the New York Post, the former couple’s home at 381 Union Street has sold with a last asking price of $7.3 million after hitting the market for nearly $8 million in October. The 22-foot-wide brownstone was fully renovated by architect Ben Bischoff of MADE and features a distinctive interior by AD100 designer Billy Cotton, as 6sqft previously reported.
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Photo courtesy of Edward Menashy, Evan Joseph Studio

January 21, 2026

For $8M, a proper Park Avenue penthouse with an artistic pedigree

Among the many coveted residences of the Upper East Side, 535 Park Avenue was among the first Park Avenue cooperatives built by the original shareholders. Asking $7.95 million, the building's highest home was designed to be the residence and studio of society portraitist Lydia Field Emmet. Enhanced by a spare-no-expense renovation, the two-bedroom home's pre-war architecture and expansive terrace overlooking Park Avenue remain peerless in the 21st century.
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Distinctive Homes

January 20, 2026

The 15 best free and cheap winter activities in NYC

Winter came early to New York City this year, and jacket season is in full swing across the five boroughs. The long stretch until spring and summer’s outdoor activities can feel discouraging, but there are still plenty of free and affordable ways to enjoy the city in the meantime. Ahead, here's a list of the best affordable and free activities NYC has to offer during the winter months, from getting your fitness on during Zumba classes in public parks to dining for cheap at over 600 restaurants during winter Restaurant Week.
Cheap ways to enjoy nyc WINTER, ahead

Events & Things To Do

January 20, 2026

NYC landlord to pay $2.1M to resolve 4,000+ building-code violations