All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

NYC to quadruple number of red-light cameras by 2027

Credit: Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

October 24, 2024

NYC to quadruple number of red-light cameras by 2027

Drivers who blow through red lights beware: the number of cameras at New York City intersections will soon quadruple. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday signed a bill expanding red-light camera programs across the state, allowing the city to install cameras at 600 intersections by 2027, up from the current 150. Since their introduction 30 years ago, red-light cameras have reduced traffic violations at intersections by 73 percent, according to Hochul.
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LaGuardia named best airport in U.S. by Forbes

Credit: PANYNJ on Flickr

October 23, 2024

LaGuardia named best airport in U.S. by Forbes

By Aaron Ginsburg

A decade after then-Vice President Joe Biden compared the airport to a third-world country, and after a $8 billion makeover, LaGuardia Airport is now considered the best airport in the United States. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Tuesday announced that LaGuardia was selected as the best airport in the country by Forbes Travel Guide. The accolade is the latest in a series of achievements earned by the airport after its transformation, which began in 2016 and is now largely complete.
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Transit

Long Island City rental opens lottery for 150 apartments, from $2,900/month

Credit: VUW

October 23, 2024

Long Island City rental opens lottery for 150 apartments, from $2,900/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A housing lottery launched this week for 150 middle-income apartments at a new mixed-use development in the Hunter's Point section of Long Island City. Located at 2-33 50th Avenue, Jasper is a 12-story building that offers residents a holistic living experience with state-of-the-art amenities and convenient access to a grocery store, restaurants, and other retail options on the ground level. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $2,900/month studios to $5,039/month three-bedrooms.
find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Sales launch for boutique condos with private outdoor spaces in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, from $835K

Credit: Palette Architecture

October 23, 2024

Sales launch for boutique condos with private outdoor spaces in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, from $835K

By Aaron Ginsburg

Sales launched this week at one part of a unique two-building luxury development in Brooklyn's Prospect Lefferts Gardens neighborhood. Developed by Kingsdel Real Estate and designed by Palette Architecture, Calvert Villas at 624 New York Avenue is a six-story boutique condo building with 10 two- to four-bedroom apartments, each with private outdoor space. Prices start at $835,500.
see the condos

Whitney Museum to give free admission to all visitors 25 and under

Credit: Filip Wolak

October 22, 2024

Whitney Museum to give free admission to all visitors 25 and under

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Whitney Museum of American Art will begin offering free admission for all visitors 25 and under starting in mid-December. The new program builds upon the museum's free admission on Fridays and the second Sunday of every month, which launched in January.
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Events & Things To Do

City landmarks Village row house with deep ties to Black history and theater

The 13th Street Repertory Company. Photo (left): Courtesy of Village Preservation. Current view of the building (right): Courtesy of the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

October 22, 2024

City landmarks Village row house with deep ties to Black history and theater

By Aaron Ginsburg

A Greenwich Village row house, dating back to before the Civil War and closely tied to Black history and one of the city's first "Off-Off-Broadway" theaters, is New York City's newest landmark. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to designate the Jacob Day Residence at 50 West 13th Street. The 1845 row house was home to Jacob Day, one of NYC's most successful 19th-century African American businessmen, and the 13th Street Repertory Company, one of the city's oldest Off-Off-Broadway theaters.
DETAILS HERE

NJ releases affordable housing requirements for every town, details need for 150,000 new homes

Jersey City, NJ. Credit: Zoshua Colah on Unsplash

October 22, 2024

NJ releases affordable housing requirements for every town, details need for 150,000 new homes

By Aaron Ginsburg

New Jersey towns now know how many affordable homes they need to develop over the next decade to fairly address the state's housing shortage. The Department of Community Affairs last week published the calculations of present and prospective need for affordable housing in all 564 municipalities, required by a law signed by Gov. Phil Murphy in March. The calculations found a present need for 65,410 low- and moderate-income homes and a need for another 84,698 over the next 10 years.
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Affordable Housing

Lottery opens for 50 mixed-income apartments in Gowanus, from $888/month

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

October 21, 2024

Lottery opens for 50 mixed-income apartments in Gowanus, from $888/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Applications are now being accepted for 50 mixed-income apartments at a new rental development in Gowanus. Located at 655 Union Street, the 13-story residential building offers spacious, sun-drenched units with top-tier amenities at the intersection of some of Brooklyn's liveliest neighborhoods. New Yorkers earning 40, 60, 110, and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $888/month one-bedroom units to $3,982/month two-bedrooms.
Learn if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Port Authority reveals vision to rebuild Newark Airport

Photo courtesy of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Flickr

October 18, 2024

Port Authority reveals vision to rebuild Newark Airport

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Thursday unveiled the EWR Vision Plan, a long-term project redeveloping Newark Liberty International Airport. The vision includes building a new Terminal B, enhancing Terminal C, fixing the airport's confusing roadway network, and replacing the AirTrain system.
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NYC’s best sports bars to watch your favorite NFL team

By Aaron Ginsburg

For tourists and non-native New Yorkers, it can be easy to feel lost or left out when trying to find a place to cheer on their hometown's football team. Fortunately, with the city's countless pubs and watering holes, there's a place to catch the action for nearly every NFL team.
go team

Food & Dining

Bronx Music Hall: The borough’s first new music venue in over 50 years is now open

Photos courtesy of Bronx Music Hall

October 18, 2024

Bronx Music Hall: The borough’s first new music venue in over 50 years is now open

By Aaron Ginsburg

For the first time in over 50 years, a new independent music venue has opened in the Bronx. The Bronx Music Hall on Friday celebrated its grand opening, introducing a new 14,000-square-foot performance hall and community cultural center committed to promoting music, dance, theater, and interdisciplinary arts. Located at 438 East 163rd Street in Melrose, the facility, part of the mixed-use Bronx Commons development, includes a 250-seat theater, a grand lobby and exhibition hall, a multipurpose room and dance studio, and more.
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Architecture And Design

Dinosaur has landed: Meet the giant pigeon sculpture sitting on the High Line

Iván Argote, Dinosaur, 2024. A High Line Plinth commission. On view October 2024 – Spring 2026. Photo by Timothy Schenck. Courtesy of the High Line.

October 17, 2024

Dinosaur has landed: Meet the giant pigeon sculpture sitting on the High Line

By Aaron Ginsburg

A giant pigeon sculpture now gazes down upon bustling 10th Avenue. The High Line this week installed Iván Argote’s "Dinosaur" above the intersection of 10th Avenue and 30th Street as part of its High Line Plinth program. The 16-foot-tall, hyper-realistic sculpture, cast in aluminum, aims to challenge the typical power dynamic between humans and birds by elevating the pigeon above car-filled streets and High Line visitors. The sculpture will be on view for 18 months.
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Events & Things To Do

See the plan to transform Fifth Avenue into premier, pedestrian-friendly corridor

Images courtesy of City Hall

October 17, 2024

See the plan to transform Fifth Avenue into premier, pedestrian-friendly corridor

By Aaron Ginsburg

Here's a peek at what a pedestrian-friendly Fifth Avenue could look like. Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday revealed a proposed redesign of the iconic thoroughfare between Bryant Park and Central Park into a pedestrian-focused corridor by cutting the number of traffic lanes from five to three, nearly doubling the width of sidewalks, shortening crosswalks, and planting more than 200 trees. The $350 million project, the first major alteration to Fifth Avenue in its 200-year history, aims to turn the boulevard into a grand shopping street, akin to the Champs-Élysées in Paris and Ginza in Tokyo.
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$10B Port Authority Bus Terminal replacement project moves forward

Rendering courtesy of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

October 17, 2024

$10B Port Authority Bus Terminal replacement project moves forward

By Aaron Ginsburg

The $10 billion project to replace the decrepit Port Authority Bus Terminal is moving forward. The City Planning Commission (CPC) on Wednesday voted unanimously to approve the Midtown bus terminal's revamp project, which replaces the dreary, aging 74-year-old facility with a vibrant, modern transit hub featuring ground-floor retail space and a public park. Plans to replace the terminal first surfaced more than 10 years ago to account for the expected growth in ridership. The plan now heads to the City Council for a vote.
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City begins public review for Atlantic Avenue rezoning plan to create over 4,500 new homes

Rendering of Atlantic Avenue’s improved, and safer streets, courtesy of DCP

October 16, 2024

City begins public review for Atlantic Avenue rezoning plan to create over 4,500 new homes

By Aaron Ginsburg

A plan to create thousands of new apartments and add open space to Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn is moving forward. Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced the start of the public review process for the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan, a rezoning that could create roughly 4,600 new homes—1,440 of which will be permanently income-restricted and affordable—and 2,800 jobs along a 21-block stretch of Atlantic Avenue. The plan will also include traffic safety upgrades at intersections along the corridor to improve pedestrian safety, accessibility, and visibility.
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Pier 97 opens in Hudson River Park after $47.5M transformation

Images courtesy of Hudson River Park

October 16, 2024

Pier 97 opens in Hudson River Park after $47.5M transformation

By Aaron Ginsburg

Pier 97, the northernmost pier in Hudson River Park, reopened this week following a $47.5 million transformation. Designed by !melk in collaboration with the Hudson River Park Trust, the project turned a former docking pier and parking lot into 2.5 acres of public open space, complete with a playground, athletic field, sloping sun lawn, and more—all surrounded by over 16,000 square feet of vibrant flowers and plants. A new building with restrooms and concessions is expected to open this winter.
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Architecture And Design

Waldorf Astoria New York’s reopening delayed until spring

Rendering by Noë &Associates / The Boundary

October 15, 2024

Waldorf Astoria New York’s reopening delayed until spring

By Aaron Ginsburg

The reopening of the iconic Waldorf Astoria hotel has been postponed until next spring. The landmarked Midtown East hotel has been closed since 2017 for a major revamp, which includes turning its 1,400 guestrooms into 375 hotel rooms and 375 condo residences, according to Travel Weekly. The building, a New York City icon since it opened its doors in 1931, had most recently aimed to reopen in 2024.
details here

Macy’s to host new holiday market at Herald Square flagship

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

October 15, 2024

Macy’s to host new holiday market at Herald Square flagship

By Aaron Ginsburg

Macy's will debut its first-ever holiday market at its iconic Herald Square flagship this season. In partnership with Urbanspace, which runs the popular open-air holiday markets in Bryant Park, Union Square, and Columbus Circle, Macy's Holiday Square will open on November 1 inside the store on 34th Street and feature local and holiday vendors. Following the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a new market dubbed the Herald Holiday Market will open on the plazas outside the store starting December 6.
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Events & Things To Do

Rupert Murdoch finally finds buyer for Flatiron penthouse, takes $15M loss

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

October 15, 2024

Rupert Murdoch finally finds buyer for Flatiron penthouse, takes $15M loss

By Aaron Ginsburg

News Corp founder Rupert Murdoch finally found a buyer for his New York City penthouse. Most recently listed for $28.5 million, the triplex top unit at One Madison in the Flatiron District entered contract last week after first listing for $62 million in 2022. The 93-year-old media titan paid $43 million for the apartment in 2014.
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Real Estate Trends

Rental component of One Domino Square opens lottery for 120 apartments, from $2,832/month

One Domino Square. Photo credit: Evan Joseph

October 14, 2024

Rental component of One Domino Square opens lottery for 120 apartments, from $2,832/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A housing lottery launched this week for 120 middle-income apartments at the rental portion of One Domino Square, part of the Domino Sugar Factory redevelopment in Williamsburg. The first residential project designed by architect Annabelle Selldorf, One Domino Square consists of a 39-story building with 160 condos and a 55-story building with nearly 400 rental units, the latter of which is the tallest tower in the neighborhood. The affordable apartments will be available through a lottery to New Yorkers earning 125 and 130 percent of the area median income; apartments are priced from $2,832/month for studios to $4,415/month for two bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Credit: JJBers on Flickr

October 11, 2024

Chrysler Building ownership is in limbo

By Aaron Ginsburg

The owners of the Chrysler Building are fighting to hold onto the iconic Art-Deco skyscraper after falling behind on more than $21 million in rent. RFR, led by Aby Rosen, on Monday, made a legal filing accusing landlord Cooper Union, which owns the land under the Chrysler, of driving away tenants with its response to a campus protest last October, which influenced several tenants to cancel or terminate their leases, as reported by Crain's New York. But data from CoStar shows that the tower's occupancy rose to 85.7 percent as of September 30, up from 82.8 percent in 2023.
get the scoop

Real Estate Trends

NYC unveils proposals to turn dreary areas under the BQE into vibrant public spaces

Rendering of a proposed e-bike charging and storage hub for delivery workers. All rendering courtesy of NYC DOT

October 10, 2024

NYC unveils proposals to turn dreary areas under the BQE into vibrant public spaces

By Aaron Ginsburg

Decrepit, drab spaces beneath the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway could soon be transformed into vibrant public areas. The city's Department of Transportation (DOT) on Wednesday published a report with proposals to convert a space under the BQE at Park Avenue in Fort Greene into an e-bike charging and storage station for delivery workers and to redesign a congested intersection at West 9th Street to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety. The report also proposed capping trenched sections of the BQE in Carroll Gardens, Williamsburg, and Bay Ridge to create parks and public spaces above the expressway.
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Bryant Park’s Winter Village opens this month

Photos by Colin Miller

October 10, 2024

Bryant Park’s Winter Village opens this month

By Aaron Ginsburg

It's time to get into the holiday spirit in New York. The annual Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park is returning for its 23rd season later this month. Starting on October 25, the festive event features New York City's only free-admission ice skating, the park's iconic open-air holiday market featuring more than 180 small businesses, a rinkside food hall and bar, heated private igloos, and more. The Winter Village is open through March 2, 2025.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC to close Randall’s Island migrant shelter in February

Image courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

October 10, 2024

NYC to close Randall’s Island migrant shelter in February

By Aaron Ginsburg

The migrant shelter on Randall's Island that once housed 3,000 adults will close early next year as the number of asylum seekers arriving in New York City declines. Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday announced the humanitarian relief center will shut down at the end of February, following a 14-week decline in the number of migrants living in city shelters, which is now at its lowest point in over a year. In the coming months, the city will gradually reduce the center’s population and begin restoring the island’s athletic fields and parkland.
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Policy

All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

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