6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

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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This $16.7M Cobble Hill home is like having your own private club in a Brooklyn brownstone

All photos courtesy of DD Reps

May 27, 2026

This $16.7M Cobble Hill home is like having your own private club in a Brooklyn brownstone

The luxury bar is being set ever higher for the once humble Brooklyn brownstone, and this 6,300-square-foot home at 168 Pacific Street, asking $16.65 million, is a fine example. The 25-foot-wide Greek Revival home offers six elevator-accessible levels of living, starting with a wine cave and gym and topped by a dazzling penthouse suite with skyline views. Just in time for summer entertaining, outdoor spaces include a south-facing garden, multiple terraces, and roof decks.
top-tier townhouse tour, this way

Distinctive Homes

All photos courtesy of Modern Angles

May 27, 2026

Drew Barrymore finds buyer for gut-renovated Westchester estate

Drew Barrymore's 12-acre estate in Harrison has found a buyer after just two months on the market. Barrymore purchased the expansive property at 19 Winfield Avenue for $4.4 million in 2024 and spent two years revamping the estate and its three homes, curating every detail of each dwelling as part of her Beautiful by Drew design brand. The actor, producer, and talk show host decided to sell the property due to changing family needs. The buyer and final sale price have not been disclosed, but the estate was last listed for $4,995,000.
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Everything you need for your first apartment

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

May 26, 2026

Everything you need for your first apartment

By Terri Williams

Whether you’re leaving the nest, graduating from college, or experiencing some other type of life event, moving into your first apartment can be an exciting time and a fresh start. You want to make your apartment comfortable, practical, and fun, the type of place you want to spend time in, and invite friends over to enjoy as well. Here are some of the best items you’ll want in your first apartment.
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NYPD pulls permits for Knicks watch parties outside MSG, but fans still celebrate

Photos courtesy of NY Knicks/MSG Sports

May 26, 2026

NYPD pulls permits for Knicks watch parties outside MSG, but fans still celebrate

While the police department won't support New York Knicks playoff watch parties outside of Madison Square Garden anymore, fans still celebrated the team's first NBA Finals appearance in 27 years on Monday. After the city’s Police Department denied permits for the watch party for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, citing "very rough" crowds, the event relocated to Radio City Music Hall and Brooklyn Bowl. According to the NYPD, past watch parties have included some people jumping police barriers, throwing glass bottles into crowds, and brawling, with six people arrested last Thursday, the New York Post reported. The lack of permits did not stop fans from heading to 7th Avenue to celebrate the team's historic sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC restaurants to offer $26 dining deals during World Cup

Limited-edition World Cup cups. Credit: NYC Tourism + Conventions

May 26, 2026

NYC restaurants to offer $26 dining deals during World Cup

New York City is launching a series of initiatives to help New Yorkers and visitors support small businesses and explore neighborhoods in every borough during the FIFA World Cup. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on Friday a new $26 dining special at participating restaurants and bars throughout the six-week tournament. According to the city, nearly 600 businesses have signed up to partake in the program, which will run from June 11 through July 19.
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Events & Things To Do

Work on skate park in Mount Prospect Park could begin next spring

Renderings courtesy of NYC Parks

May 22, 2026

Work on skate park in Mount Prospect Park could begin next spring

Work on an $11 million skatepark in Brooklyn's Mount Prospect Park could begin next spring after New York City’s Public Design Commission and the local community board approved the project last month. Known as the Brooklyn Skate Garden, the project is one of four skateparks planned across the five boroughs through a partnership with legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk to bring public skating facilities to underserved communities. Originally planned at roughly 40,000 square feet, the park was scaled back to 19,500 square feet following opposition from some residents, according to BKReader.
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Architecture And Design

Mott Haven affordable development approved after just 90 days, thanks to new expedited review

Renderings courtesy of STAT Architecture PC

May 21, 2026

Mott Haven affordable development approved after just 90 days, thanks to new expedited review

An affordable housing project that would have taken seven months of review before being approved got the green light from the New York City Council this week after just 90 days. Thanks to the new Expedited Land Use Review Procedure (ELURP), a ballot measure approved by voters last November, 351 Powers Avenue in Mott Haven received the fastest land-use approval in decades. The project, which entered review in February, will transform a vacant city-owned lot into more than 80 apartments, a community theater, and public outdoor space, as 6sqft previously reported.
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NYC residents can enter lottery for $50 World Cup tickets

Mayor Mamdani announced the initiative in Little Senegal in Harlem. Credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

May 21, 2026

NYC residents can enter lottery for $50 World Cup tickets

Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Thursday announced that his administration had secured 1,000 World Cup tickets, which will be made available to New Yorkers for $50 through a lottery system. As first reported by The Athletic, 150 tickets will be distributed for each of the five group stage matches and two knockout round matches at MetLife. The $50 ticket includes free round-trip bus fare to the stadium. The lottery opens May 25 at 10 a.m. and closes May 30 at 5 p.m., with up to 50,000 entries accepted daily. Winners will be able to purchase up to two tickets each.
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Distinctive Homes

This $1.55M Fort Hamilton home is ready for spring, inside and out

For $1.3M, easy living with a view in a Brooklyn high-rise condo

This $675K Flatbush co-op has a clean Scandinavian vibe and a flexible layout

This $5M three-family Crown Heights townhouse is a modern triplex with two rental apartments

For $10.5M, a sunny yellow Mediterranean villa on the Upper East Side

For $595K, this Turtle Bay pre-war co-op elegantly maximizes every square inch of space

Drew Barrymore finds buyer for gut-renovated Westchester estate

Drew Barrymore's amazing 12-acre Westchester estate asks $5M

Cobble Hill's most expensive home finds a buyer

Mariah Carey lists Tribeca penthouse for $27M

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“Summer House” season 9 “Snoozefest” reunion. All photos courtesy of Scott Sicari

May 21, 2026

‘Summer House’ set designer kept it ‘classy’ for highly anticipated reunion

By Lidia Ryan

About two decades ago, Scott Sicari was approached to design a reunion set for a show called “Manhattan Moms." "We set up in the Russian Tea Room with some guy that nobody knew named Andy Cohen,” he said. The show, rebranded as "The Real Housewives of New York City,” would become a cornerstone of the Bravo reality TV phenomenon. Sicari has stayed for the ride. "It’s been a nice, really unexpected, beautiful twist in my career," he said.
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Penn Station redesign moves forward with selection of master developer

ASTM North America’s Penn Station overhaul proposal from 2023. Rendering courtesy of ASTM, PAU, and HOK

May 20, 2026

Penn Station redesign moves forward with selection of master developer

Penn Station's overhaul took a big step forward on Wednesday. The U.S. Department of Transportation and Amtrak announced the selection of Penn Transformation Partners, a joint venture made up of Halmar International and Skanska, as the master developer of the project following a bidding process. The developer will build a "brand-new world-class station," according to an announcement on Wednesday, with open concourses and expanded track capacity, while keeping Madison Square Garden in its current location. The news comes a day after Transportation Secretary Duffy announced the federal government would spend $8 billion to rebuild Penn Station.
details here

Photo credit: Wills Studio

May 20, 2026

Kurt Weill’s former New York country estate with a creative pedigree asks $2.3M

Known as Brook House, this five-acre estate at 16 South Mountain Road is an important part of local creative history. Located within the South Mountain Road artist community, the charming country property anchored by an 1880 main house is the former home of legendary composer Kurt Weill, known for penning the popular song “Mack the Knife,” as part of The Threepenny Opera. Previously, the property was owned by Rollo Peters, a major force in American theater stage production. Asking $2,295,000, the property remains a refuge of 19th-century architecture and 20th-century creativity.
get a closer look at a creator's getaway

Distinctive Homes

Katz’s Deli reopens ‘secret’ dining room closed to public for nearly 80 years

All photos courtesy of Katz’s Deli

May 20, 2026

Katz’s Deli reopens ‘secret’ dining room closed to public for nearly 80 years

After nearly 80 years hidden from the public, a "secret" dining room at Katz's Deli has reopened following a restoration. The Ludlow Room, a 68-seat space that once served generations of New Yorkers, opened Tuesday after being closed in 1949 and converted into a giant walk-in refrigerator amid postwar demand for deli meats. Restored to reflect its original appearance, the Ludlow Room features original tin ceilings and period-inspired lighting, as well as the same freight scale used to measure every pound of meat served at Katz's for eight decades.
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Food & Dining

NYC looks to rezone neighborhoods south of Prospect Park for new housing

McDonald Avenue and Church Avenue in Kensington. Photo by Nick Gulotta on Flickr

May 20, 2026

NYC looks to rezone neighborhoods south of Prospect Park for new housing

The first rezoning proposal under Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration will target Brooklyn neighborhoods south of Prospect Park and Green-Wood Cemetery. As first reported by Gothamist, the Department of City Planning on Wednesday kicked off the community planning process for updating zoning rules on commercial stretches of Coney Island Avenue and McDonald Avenue in Kensington and surrounding areas, to allow new housing to be built.
see the plan

NYC Ferry boosts service this summer ahead of the FIFA World Cup

Five custom-wrapped NYC Ferry vessels will celebrate each borough this summer. Photo courtesy of NYCEDC

May 20, 2026

NYC Ferry boosts service this summer ahead of the FIFA World Cup

New York City ferry service is receiving a major boost this summer, just in time for the FIFA World Cup. The summer schedule for NYC Ferry will offer the most extensive service in the system’s history ahead of an expected influx of visitors for the soccer tournament at MetLife Stadium, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the city's Economic Development Corporation announced on Tuesday. Running now through September 13, the extra service includes additional route connections, expanded weekend service, and the return of the Rockaway Rocket and Rockaway Reserve ticket programs. The city also unveiled five wrapped vessels featuring World Cup-inspired branding that highlights each borough.
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After a thorough renovation, this peerless Park Slope mansion asks $13.5M

Photo credit: Tim Walton, Evan Joseph Studio

May 19, 2026

After a thorough renovation, this peerless Park Slope mansion asks $13.5M

6sqft featured this five-story beauty at 60 Montgomery Place in 2019, when it was asking just under $6 million. Designed in the late 1800s by notable architect C. P. H. Gilbert, the 5,000-square-foot Prospect Park-adjacent home is a dramatic example of the neighborhood's finest architecture. With a new top-to-toe renovation behind its historic limestone facade with a dramatic three-story turret, the single-family home is back on the market for $13.5 million. In addition to five floors of living space, the 22-foot-wide townhouse has two fully landscaped outdoor spaces, including a roof terrace with Manhattan views.
understated Brooklyn opulence, this way

Distinctive Homes

May 19, 2026

NYC reveals design proposals for Billie Holiday monument in Queens

More than seven years after it was first commissioned, a monument honoring Billie Holiday in New York City is moving forward. The city's Department of Cultural Affairs on Tuesday unveiled proposals from six artists for a new permanent artwork celebrating the jazz legend that will be installed at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center in Queens. The monument is part of a long-delayed effort to increase the representation of influential women in public spaces across the five boroughs. The public can review the proposals and submit feedback through the end of May. An artist will be chosen this summer.
see the proposals

First look at Paragon, Long Island City’s first new waterfront condo in a decade

Renderings courtesy of Redundant Pixel unless otherwise noted.

May 19, 2026

First look at Paragon, Long Island City’s first new waterfront condo in a decade

Here's an exclusive look at the first new condo development built on the Long Island City waterfront in more than a decade. Developed by ZD Jasper and designed by Archimaera, the 23-story Paragon at 45-40 Vernon Boulevard incorporates the historic Paragon Paint Factory into the tower's base. Residences will range from studios to four-bedrooms and feature interiors by March and White Design (MAWD), with ceiling heights of up to 10 feet and floor-to-ceiling windows offering up views of the Manhattan skyline and East River. Adjacent to Anable Basin, the project also includes a large public open space with a waterfront park and walkway connecting the neighborhood to the East River.
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Bryant Park is hosting a ‘reading party’ on the lawn

Bryant Park is throwing a reading party on its iconic lawn next month. "Read on the Lawn Day" takes place on June 1 as part of programming at the park's Reading Room, a curated selection of books, newspapers, and magazines available for visitors to enjoy for free outside. Hosted in partnership with Reading Rhythms, the event will include quiet reading periods followed by book discussions.
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Events & Things To Do

Long Island Rail Road strike ends as MTA and unions reach tentative deal

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

May 19, 2026

Long Island Rail Road strike ends as MTA and unions reach tentative deal

Long Island Rail Road service will resume at 12 p.m. on Tuesday after the five unions behind the agency’s first strike in more than 30 years reached a tentative deal with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday night that the two sides had reached a “fair deal” that would not require additional fare hikes or tax increases. Details of the tentative agreement have not yet been released, as the deal must still be ratified by union members and approved by the MTA board.
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First city-owned grocery store to open next year at mixed-use development in Hunts Point

Credit: WXY Studios

May 18, 2026

First city-owned grocery store to open next year at mixed-use development in Hunts Point

Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday announced that New York City’s first city-owned grocery store will open next year at a new affordable housing development in the South Bronx. The store will be located at The Peninsula, a Bronx project transforming the former Spofford Juvenile Detention Center in Hunts Point into a mixed-use development with 740 affordable apartments. The announcement builds on Mamdani’s campaign pledge to open five city-owned grocery stores, one in each borough, and follows a plan announced last month for a store in East Harlem.
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What makes New York a sanctuary city—and is its status under threat?

Photo credit: via Pixabay

May 18, 2026

What makes New York a sanctuary city—and is its status under threat?

With a proud history of immigration through Ellis Island, New York City is home to more than three million foreign-born residents, 38 percent of the population, and over 500,000 undocumented immigrants, according to the Center for Migration Studies. With a long-held reputation as a safe haven, the city prides itself on being a “sanctuary city,” with policies firmly in place that aim to protect anyone targeted by immigration authorities, regardless of their status, except those with serious criminal convictions. New York City offers some of the nation’s most robust protection, but state legislation has lagged behind. What do sanctuary laws actually accomplish—and what's being done to improve their reach?
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Policy

Long Island Rail Road workers strike for first time in more than 30 years

Credit: 6sqft

May 18, 2026

Long Island Rail Road workers strike for first time in more than 30 years

Commutes for more than 250,000 daily Long Island Rail Road riders were upended Monday as workers at the nation’s busiest commuter rail service remained on strike amid a wage dispute. More than 3,500 workers represented by five unions walked off the job Saturday, shutting down rail service as they pushed for a 14.5 percent raise over four years, which union leaders say is necessary to keep pace with inflation, according to ABC News. A full day of negotiations that began Sunday and ran into Monday morning failed to produce an agreement, forcing commuters to rely on alternate transportation or work from home while talks continue.
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300 affordable apartments available in Hunts Point, from $465/month

Credit: WXY Studios

May 18, 2026

300 affordable apartments available in Hunts Point, from $465/month

A former juvenile jail in the Bronx that is being transformed into a mixed-use development opened a housing lottery last week for 303 low-income apartments. Phase two of The Peninsula, located at 1221 and 1225 Spofford Avenue in Hunts Point, brings deeply affordable homes to the site of the former Spofford Juvenile Detention Center, which closed in 2011 following reports of abuse and poor conditions. The development is also getting New York City's first city-owned grocery store. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on Monday that a 20,000-square-foot supermarket will open next year as one of five city-owned grocery stores opening in every borough. New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $465/month studios to $2,936/month three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

This $22.5M maisonette offers townhouse privacy with classic Upper East Side co-op luxury

All photos courtesy of Donna Dotan Photography

May 18, 2026

This $22.5M maisonette offers townhouse privacy with classic Upper East Side co-op luxury

Known for their privacy and old-world Manhattan cachet, maisonettes often sound better in theory than in reality. But this massive 5,000-square-foot home at 2 East 70th Street on the Upper East Side, asking $22,500,000, delivers a reality that includes a private four-bedroom Fifth Avenue address, two floors of townhouse-style living, Central Park views, and all the perks that come with one of the city's most coveted Rosario Candela co-ops.
Upper east Side luxury, this way

Distinctive Homes

The Met and the Neue Galerie are merging

The Neue Galerie at 1048 Fifth Avenue. Photo by Eden, Janine, and Jim on Wikimedia

May 14, 2026

The Met and the Neue Galerie are merging

The Neue Galerie New York and the Metropolitan Museum of Art will merge, creating the most significant collection of 20th-century Austrian and German art outside of Europe. The Met will take over the Neue Galerie's collection, which includes iconic works by Gustav Klimt, and its Beaux-Arts building at 1048 Fifth Avenue, in 2028, following necessary approvals.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC launches World Cup ‘neighborhood passport’ to help fans explore the city

Graphic courtesy of Team Wonder. Photo of Mayor Mamdani announced “Soccer Streets,” courtesy of Kara McCurdy, Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

May 14, 2026

NYC launches World Cup ‘neighborhood passport’ to help fans explore the city

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

New York City is launching a “neighborhood passport” to help New Yorkers and visitors explore the five boroughs and find affordable ways to experience this summer’s FIFA World Cup. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the initiative on Thursday, which will allow participants to collect stamps from hundreds of community organizations and public events across the city while encouraging exploration of immigrant neighborhoods, cultural institutions, and small businesses. NYC Tourism + Conventions will also launch a new calendar and interactive digital map to help users discover low-cost events, promotions, and activities during the tournament.
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Events & Things To Do

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

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

50 places to shop locally in NYC for that perfect gift

10 best plants for apartment dwellers

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NYC to create dedicated bus lane for Q70 to LaGuardia Airport

A Q70-SBS travels along Broadway in Jackson Heights, Queens. Credit: NYC DOT

May 14, 2026

NYC to create dedicated bus lane for Q70 to LaGuardia Airport

A new dedicated bus lane along Broadway in Queens will speed commutes to and from LaGuardia Airport, just in time for an influx of visitors ahead of the FIFA World Cup this summer. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that the city's Department of Transportation (DOT) would begin installing a center-running eastbound bus lane along Broadway between 69th Street and Roosevelt Avenue, a busy corridor used by roughly 9,000 daily riders on the Q70-SBS, also known as the “LaGuardia Link.” The plan would maintain one travel lane in each direction for general traffic while improving bus speeds, which currently drop to as low as 2.7 mph during evening rush hour, slower than walking pace.
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NYCxDESIGN 2026: 12 can’t-miss picks from New York City’s annual festival of design

Photo courtesy of NYCxDesign

May 14, 2026

NYCxDESIGN 2026: 12 can’t-miss picks from New York City’s annual festival of design

Each spring, the spotlight returns to New York City as a major hub for global design. The 2026 NYCxDESIGN Festival runs from May 14 to May 20, drawing over 163,000 industry pros, brands, designers, creators, and lovers of interior design from all corners of the world and from the city's own vibrant design scene. Anchored by iconic trade fairs and exhibitions like ICFF and WANTED, a full calendar of tours, talks, and product debuts will be happening throughout the five boroughs. The festival offers a sneak peek at tomorrow’s design trends and provides a chance to discover new talent in the worlds of furniture, lighting, textiles, and objects. Read on for a guide to this year's top design fair picks.
a short list of design must-sees, this way

May 13, 2026

13 best NYC rental buildings with outdoor pools

Summer is on the horizon in New York City, bringing with it poolside lounging and dips in the ocean. While the beach is great for a day trip, and hotel pools offer a fun experience, renters who are lucky enough to live in an apartment building with an outdoor pool can enjoy a resort-style getaway without ever leaving home. With the weather finally warming up, we took a look at the best rental buildings across New York City that offer outdoor pools.
dive in

Photo credit: Allyson Lubow for The Corcoran Group

May 13, 2026

An architect’s vision transformed this $2.15M Park Slope loft with leveled-up modernist design

Located within the former Ansonia Clock Factory at 443 12th Street in Park Slope, this two-bedroom co-op was redesigned in 2014 by architect Philippe Baumann. The result, asking $2,150,000, is a duplex across three volumes that offers clean lines, large, livable spaces, and a stunning loft aesthetic that's in keeping with the history of the 20th-century factory warehouse.
take the loft tour

Aerial view from Amsterdam Avenue, looking east. All renderings by Brooklyn Digital Foundry.

May 13, 2026

Lincoln Center breaks ground on accessible performance park, anchored by new amphitheater

Lincoln Center on Monday broke ground on a $335 million project that will transform the campus into an accessible performance arts park. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Lincoln Center West Initiative reimagines the Amsterdam Avenue side of the campus by removing the wall at Damrosch Park and replacing it with a more welcoming edge that connects to the rest of the institution. The redeveloped Damrosch Park will be centered around the Baron Theater, a 2,000-person outdoor venue that will be Lincoln Center's first new freestanding theater in 50 years, and an inviting open plaza surrounded by gardens, groves, and a new water feature. The opening is scheduled for summer 2028.
details here

NYC to MetLife bus fares for World Cup cut by 75%

Credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

May 13, 2026

NYC to MetLife bus fares for World Cup cut by 75%

Riding a shuttle bus to the FIFA World Cup at MetLife Stadium this summer just got much cheaper. On Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that, with financial support from the state and other sponsors, round-trip shuttle tickets will cost $20, down from the previously announced $80 fare, as first reported by The Athletic. Of the roughly 18,000 shuttle tickets available per match, 20 percent will be reserved for New York residents. NJ Transit has also lowered round-trip train fares to MetLife Stadium to $98, after initially setting prices at $150 before reducing them to $105 last week.
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Landmarked artists’ housing building on Billionaires’ Row is reborn as luxury condos

Model unit. All images courtesy of CO OP

May 12, 2026

Landmarked artists’ housing building on Billionaires’ Row is reborn as luxury condos

A landmarked building on Billionaires' Row has been transformed into 47 luxury condos. Sales launched this week at Parc Beaufort, a 14-story tower at 140 West 57th Street originally built in 1908 as housing for artists. Led by the Feil Organization and MdeAS Architects, the conversion of the luxury condo preserved the building's historic pre-war character while adding contemporary interiors by AD100 firm Stephen Sills Associates. Residences, ranging from studios to three-bedrooms, start at $955,000.
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New Developments

6 best under-the-radar museums in New York City

Photo credit: The New York Historical

May 12, 2026

6 best under-the-radar museums in New York City

By Lidia Ryan

The Met, the MoMA, the Guggenheim. The hallowed halls of these New York City institutions house some of the world’s most renowned works of art. But what if you’re really into posters? Or have a specific love for paintings of dogs? Well, there’s a place for everyone in this great city! Here are six niche museums to spend an afternoon.
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‘Soccer streets’ coming to 50 NYC public school blocks

Credit: Kara McCurdy / Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

May 12, 2026

‘Soccer streets’ coming to 50 NYC public school blocks

Open streets outside 50 public schools across New York City will be transformed into soccer pitches ahead of the FIFA World Cup this summer. On Monday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced "Soccer Streets," a traveling series of field days that will convert car-free streets into soccer pitches, art stations, and block-party celebrations. The initiative launched on May 1 and will visit a different school each day through the end of the school year on June 26.
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A short history of New York City’s foul air shafts

Photo by Bikes And Books on Flickr

May 11, 2026

A short history of New York City’s foul air shafts

By Cait Etherington

If you think there is nothing worse than renting an apartment with windows and no view, think again. At one point in the city’s history, where one may now enjoy a small sliver of daylight and at least some fresh air, there was no light or air at all. Indeed, tenants’ windows looked out onto slits—sometimes a mere 28 inches wide—that were teeming with waste, rancid smells, and noise.
on the history of NYC air shafts

Park Avenue penthouse with enormous terrace owned by Maurice Tempelsman lists for $5.5M

All photos courtesy of Yoo Jean Han for Sotheby’s International Realty

May 11, 2026

Park Avenue penthouse with enormous terrace owned by Maurice Tempelsman lists for $5.5M

The Park Avenue penthouse owned by Maurice Tempelsman, Jackie Kennedy Onassis's longtime companion, is now on the market. Tempelsman, who died last summer at the age of 95, bought the top-floor co-op at 1155 Park Avenue in Carnegie Hill for $3.3 million in 1999, as the New York Times reported. Now asking $5.5 million, the two-bedroom pre-war apartment is surrounded by an enormous, landscaped terrace, providing a serene rooftop garden with views of Manhattan and Central Park.
see the home

Distinctive Homes

NYCHA tenants can voice concerns in new forum series with city officials

Wilson Houses in East Harlem. Photo credit: Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

May 11, 2026

NYCHA tenants can voice concerns in new forum series with city officials

New York City public housing residents will be able to raise concerns directly with city officials as part of a new engagement campaign. Mayor Zohran Mamdani last week announced “NYCHA in Your Neighborhood,” a series of events in May and June that will allow residents to speak with agency officials about issues including repairs, community programming, pests and waste, faulty elevators, lead, and public safety. The forums will focus on neighborhood-wide clusters of NYCHA developments rather than individual properties. The first event will take place in the Bronx on May 20, followed by meetings in Brooklyn on June 3 and Manhattan on June 17.
Find out more

Photo credit: Brown Harris Stevens

May 8, 2026

A colorful converted convent in Hamilton Heights asks $2M

This condo at 463 West 142nd Street begins with the unique details—like double-height ceilings and arched windows—that come with its former life as a church convent. This pre-war frame holds a loft-like interior with thoroughly modern infrastructure. Asking $2,075,000, the colorful space has the advantage of condo convenience, in the heart of historic Hamilton Heights.
take the tour

Distinctive Homes

NJ Transit cuts World Cup train fare to MetLife by 30%

Credit: Charley Lhasa on Flickr

May 8, 2026

NJ Transit cuts World Cup train fare to MetLife by 30%

After fierce backlash over its controversial $150 round-trip fare for service to FIFA World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium, NJ Transit has lowered the train tickets to $105. As first reported by The Athletic, the agency reduced fares for the 18-mile trip by 30 percent after securing new sponsorships, CEO Kris Kolluri confirmed Thursday. After NJ Transit unveiled the original $150 price tag last month, Mikie Sherrill directed the agency to find alternative funding sources to ease costs for soccer fans and ensure New Jersey residents do not bear the cost of the tournament.
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Rent freeze for stabilized apartments backed by NYC board in preliminary vote

Credit: Karya Schanilec for NYS Tenant Bloc

May 8, 2026

Rent freeze for stabilized apartments backed by NYC board in preliminary vote

In a preliminary vote on Thursday, the Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) backed rent adjustments that included leases with no increases, advancing Mayor Zohran Mamdani's promise of a rent freeze for New York City tenants living in one million stabilized apartments. It's not a done deal. The nine-member board voted for proposed adjustments between 0 and 2 percent for one-year leases and 0 and 4 percent for two-year leases, leaving the door open for a potential increase. The final guidelines, likely falling somewhere in that range, will be voted on by the board on June 25.
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Policy

Towering totems in Brooklyn Bridge Park explore the ritual of everyday objects

Woody De Othello. “Reverence,” 2026. “Awareness,” 2026, “Listening,” 2026. Redwood. Photo: Nicholas Knight, courtesy of Public Art Fund, NY. Presented by Public Art Fund as a part of “Woody De Othello: Guardian Spirit” at Brooklyn Bridge Park, New York City, May 5, 2026-March 8, 2027

May 7, 2026

Towering totems in Brooklyn Bridge Park explore the ritual of everyday objects

A new exhibition exploring the ritual of everyday objects opened along the waterfront in Brooklyn Bridge Park this week. Presented by the Public Art Fund, "Guardian Spirit" by Woody De Othello consists of three redwood totems, between 20 and 22 feet tall, and four large-scale bronze sculptures, inspired by "nkisi," ritual objects from Western and Central Africa that "embody spiritual presences and channel protective or healing forces." Located in Pier 1 and at the intersection of Washington Street and Plymouth Street in Dumbo, "Guardian Spirit" is De Othello's first solo public exhibition in New York City.
see it here

Events & Things To Do

City-owned site in Bed-Stuy to become 100% affordable housing and community space

The vacant city-owned lot. Credit: HPD

May 7, 2026

City-owned site in Bed-Stuy to become 100% affordable housing and community space

The city began the community engagement process for a new development coming to public land in Bed-Stuy. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) on Thursday announced plans to redevelop the run-down Bedford-Stuyvesant Multi-Service Center (MSC) and neighboring vacant city-owned land on Fulton Street into a mixed-use project with 100 percent affordable housing and social services. The project, called “Fulton-Howard West,” is the first public development site under Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration.
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New Developments

FiDi office-to-residential conversion with nearly 800 units launches leasing

Images courtesy of StreetSense

May 7, 2026

FiDi office-to-residential conversion with nearly 800 units launches leasing

A massive office-to-residential conversion in the Financial District has launched leasing for nearly 800 luxury rental apartments. Located at 222 Broadway, the 32-story tower, formerly home to tenants including Bank of America, Santander, and American Express, has been transformed by GFP Development and architect CetraRuddy into "Wrey," a residential tower with 788 units and a five-floor amenities club. Prices range from $4,588/month for studios with home offices to $12,088/month for three-bedroom units.
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New Developments

720 West End Avenue

Upper West Side

Serene Upper West Side homes near Riverside Park

1 beds starting at $1,005,000
2 beds starting at $2,495,000
3 beds starting at $3,495,000
4 beds starting at $5,850,000

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Photos by DD Reps

May 7, 2026

Cobble Hill’s most expensive home finds a buyer

Cobble Hill's most expensive home, a five-story brownstone last asking just under $17 million, has entered contract. The 1850s home at 205 Clinton Street reportedly found a buyer after first hitting the market for $22 million last fall. In addition to being a new neighborhood record, if the home fetches near the 16.995 million ask, the property would be the most priciest deal in Brooklyn this year, surpassing the $16.25 million penthouse sale at Olympia Dumbo in February.
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MTA rolls out modern fare enforcement on NYC buses

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

May 6, 2026

MTA rolls out modern fare enforcement on NYC buses

New York City is ramping up efforts to curb bus fare evasion, with agents now using handheld devices to verify payments. During a Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board meeting last week, NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow said that with the adoption of the tap-and-go OMNY system, the transit system’s EAGLE fare enforcers will use “onboard validation devices” that check whether customers paid using an OMNY card or cellphone. The technology has been used on Select Bus Service (SBS) routes, where 52.7 percent of riders do not pay, and the MTA now plans to expand its use to all bus routes, including local lines, where fare evasion is 48.6 percent, according to the New York Times.
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This classic Park Slope townhouse sold for $5.3M in January. Now, it’s asking $10.25M

Photo credit: Haley Ellen Day

May 6, 2026

This classic Park Slope townhouse sold for $5.3M in January. Now, it’s asking $10.25M

This graceful four-story brownstone at 787 Carroll Street is among the rare Brooklyn finds of its kind, with all of the unspoiled architectural details history buffs crave and a stem-to-stern renovation that spared no expense. With an owner's triplex above and a renovated garden flat below, there's an opportunity for rental income, too. Does the covetable combination add up to the home's $10.25 million ask, nearly $5 million more than it sold for last year?
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Distinctive Homes

May 6, 2026

NYC announces record $31M in penalties against two Bronx landlords

New York City secured $31 million in penalties against negligent owners of two Bronx apartment buildings, marking the largest judgment ever obtained by the city. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development announced on Wednesday a record-setting settlement against landlords Karan Singh and Rajmattie Persaud, who own Robert Fulton Terrace and Fordham Towers. After tenants faced years of hazardous conditions, including lack of hot water, rat infestations, and elevator outages, and hundreds of housing code violations, the city sued the owners in 2024, and the properties later entered foreclosure.
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Policy

Bike boulevards planned for Brooklyn’s Bergen and Dean Streets

Mamdani joins the Bergen Bike Bus in Brooklyn on National Bike & Roll to School Day. Photo credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

May 6, 2026

Bike boulevards planned for Brooklyn’s Bergen and Dean Streets