All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

NYC to lift ban on e-bikes in city parks this summer

Image courtesy of Shinya Suzuki on Flickr

March 22, 2023

NYC to lift ban on e-bikes in city parks this summer

By Aaron Ginsburg

New Yorkers will soon be able to ride electric bikes and scooters in New York City parks legally. As part of a pilot program starting this summer, the city's Department of Parks and Recreation will drop its current ban on certain electric vehicles on park drives and greenways, lifting a rule that conflicts with state laws. The pilot program is one part of a plan unveiled by Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday aimed at promoting the safe usage of e-bikes and other electric micro-mobility devices and preventing fires caused by lithium-ion batteries.
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144 affordable units available at new development in Woodside, from $1,511/month

Renderings courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

March 21, 2023

144 affordable units available at new development in Woodside, from $1,511/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A housing lottery opened this week for 144 affordable apartments at a major new mixed-use development in Queens. Developed by Madison Realty Capital, Woodside Central occupies a full block from 69th Street to 70th Street on the border of Elmhurst and Woodside and includes over 470 mixed-income homes, a new public school, and public outdoor space. New Yorkers earning 80 percent of the area median income, or between $55,886 annually for a single person and $115,280 annually for a household of five, can apply for the affordable apartments, priced from $1,511/month studios to $1,824/month two-bedrooms.
How to apply

Affordable Housing

NYC public libraries say $36.2M budget cut will impact service, free programs

Image courtesy of the New York Public Library

March 21, 2023

NYC public libraries say $36.2M budget cut will impact service, free programs

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's three public library systems are protesting Mayor Eric Adams' planned $36.2 million budget cuts in the FY24 budget. Brooklyn Public Library President Linda Johnson, Queens Public Library President Dennis M. Walcott, and New York Public Library President Anthony W. Marx testified in front of the City Council on Monday, warning the proposed budget cut could lead to reduced hours of service and fewer free programs, classes, and other opportunities thousands of New Yorkers depend on.
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Policy

New York reimagines Milton Glaser’s ‘I ♥ NY’ campaign for post-pandemic NYC

All images courtesy of WeLoveNYC

March 20, 2023

New York reimagines Milton Glaser’s ‘I ♥ NY’ campaign for post-pandemic NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York officials announced a new campaign using an adaptation of Milton Glaser's iconic "I ♥ NY" slogan. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams on Monday kicked off the new "We ♥ NYC" campaign, aimed to "inspire optimism and civic action" among New Yorkers post-pandemic.
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Williamsburg rental with rooftop and zen garden opens lottery for 43 units, from $2,924/month

Renderings courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

March 20, 2023

Williamsburg rental with rooftop and zen garden opens lottery for 43 units, from $2,924/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Applications are now being accepted for 43 middle-income apartments in the heart of Williamsburg. Located at 130 Hope Street, the seven-story luxury building contains 143 apartments, boutique retail space, and outdoor amenities like a rooftop and zen garden. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income, or between $100,252 annually for a single person and $215,150 annually for a household of seven, can apply for the apartments, priced from $2,924/month studios to $4,296/month three bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

Yayoi Kusama’s upcoming NYC show includes new infinity room

2019 Infinity Mirror Room; Photo by Tracie Hall on Flickr

March 17, 2023

Yayoi Kusama’s upcoming NYC show includes new infinity room

By Aaron Ginsburg

World-renowned artist Yayoi Kusama will unveil new works in New York City this summer at her largest gallery exhibition yet. The exhibition, called "Yayoi Kusama: I Spend Each Day Embracing Flowers," includes new paintings, her signature pumpkin and flower sculptures, and a new edition of Kusama's super popular Infinity Mirror Room. The exhibition, which is free and open to the public, opens on May 12 at David Zwirner's West 19th and West 20th Street galleries in Chelsea.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC looks to ‘beautify’ 191st Street tunnel again

Photo © James and Karla Murray

March 17, 2023

NYC looks to ‘beautify’ 191st Street tunnel again

By Aaron Ginsburg

Two months after painting the mural- and graffiti-covered 191st Street pedestrian tunnel white, New York City announced plans to "beautify" the underground path once again. The Department of Transportation on Thursday issued a request for proposals seeking artists to submit "bold, colorful designs" for the tunnel that reflect the "rich cultural identity of Washington Heights." The request comes after community members criticized the agency for "whitewashing" an iconic piece of the neighborhood, as Gothamist reported.
Details here

Events & Things To Do

East Village icon Veselka opening a second location in Williamsburg

Photo courtesy of Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

March 16, 2023

East Village icon Veselka opening a second location in Williamsburg

By Aaron Ginsburg

Veselka, a staple of the East Village for nearly seven decades, is headed to Brooklyn. As first reported by the New York Post, the 69-year-old Ukrainian diner known for authentic dishes like pierogi and borscht will open a new 5,000-square-foot location in Williamsburg. While the lease isn't finalized yet, Jason Birchard, co-owner of Veselka, expects to announce the location of the new eatery soon. Once the new restaurant opens, owners will temporarily close the Second Avenue location for renovations.
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Food & Dining

New York lawmakers call for $2.75 fare freeze and free bus pilot in NYC

Image via WikiCommons

March 16, 2023

New York lawmakers call for $2.75 fare freeze and free bus pilot in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York lawmakers on Tuesday proposed keeping New York City subway and bus fares at $2.75. As first reported by Crain's New York, the state legislature's one-house budgets rejected Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposal to raise transit fares to $3, and instead called for a freeze on fares and an investment of $50 million for a free bus pilot program.
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City breaks ground on $1.6B project to protect Gowanus Canal from pollution

Image via WikiCommons

March 15, 2023

City breaks ground on $1.6B project to protect Gowanus Canal from pollution

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City on Wednesday broke ground on one of two new underground storage tanks that will prevent pollution of Brooklyn's Gowanus Canal. The $1.6 billion project will prevent up to 12 million gallons of sewer overflow from entering the canal during rainstorms and flooding events. The first tank, bounded by Nevins Street, Butler street, and Degraw Street, will hold up to eight million gallons of sewage waste and include 3.6 acres of public open space on the waterfront.
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Popular Articles

New York lawmakers clash with Hochul’s housing plan in budgets

Photo courtesy of Darren McGee/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

March 15, 2023

New York lawmakers clash with Hochul’s housing plan in budgets

By Aaron Ginsburg

The New York State Assembly and Senate on Tuesday released their budget proposals, which both deviate from the priorities of Gov. Kathy Hochul and set the stage for negotiations over the next two weeks. As first reported by City & State, the Senate's budget discarded some of Hochul's top goals, including the "New York Housing Compact," a plan to build 800,000 new homes over the next 10 years to address the state's looming housing crisis. The Senate did show support for "good cause" eviction protections and the creation of a Housing Voucher Program, two proposals omitted by the governor in the past.
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Two historic FDNY buildings in the Bronx may become city landmarks

Fire Alarm and Telegraph Bureau, Bronx Central Office. Images courtesy of the Landmarks Preservation Commission

March 14, 2023

Two historic FDNY buildings in the Bronx may become city landmarks

By Aaron Ginsburg

Two Bronx buildings associated with the Fire Department of New York may become New York City landmarks. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to calendar the Firehouse, Engine Company 88/Ladder Company 38 in Belmont, and the Fire Alarm and Telegraph Bureau, Bronx Central Office, both of which are architecturally significant and represent historic moments in the development of the city's fire department.
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Plans for AirTrain to LaGuardia have been scrapped

Photo by Tdorante10 on Wikimedia

March 14, 2023

Plans for AirTrain to LaGuardia have been scrapped

By Aaron Ginsburg

Plans to build an AirTrain to LaGuardia Airport are officially dead after the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Monday released the results of a 17-month-long analysis of mass transit options to the Queens airport. A panel of experts recommended the Port Authority abandon the proposed 1.5-mile elevated rail line and instead move forward with improving existing bus service and adding a new non-stop airport shuttle. Estimated costs for the bus options are just under $500 million, according to the report, compared to estimates of between $2.4 billion and $6.2 billion for light rail options.
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Historic McGraw-Hill Building in Hell’s Kitchen to add 224 rentals

Rendering courtesy of MdeAS Architects

March 13, 2023

Historic McGraw-Hill Building in Hell’s Kitchen to add 224 rentals

By Aaron Ginsburg

The 35-story landmarked McGraw-Hill Building in Hell's Kitchen will soon be home to 224 luxury rentals. As first reported by the New York Post, the project includes the redesign of the building's office space, the construction of a second lobby and entrance, and the restoration of the McGraw-Hill name above the residential entrance. Floors 12 through 34 of the Art Deco skyscraper will be converted to residential use, which will cost an estimated $100 million. Work will begin this summer.
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Real Estate Trends

NYC’s redesign of Broadway blocks into pedestrian-friendly stretch begins

Rendering of Greeley Square after capital construction work is completed; Courtesy of “New” New York Panel

March 13, 2023

NYC’s redesign of Broadway blocks into pedestrian-friendly stretch begins

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City will begin its transformation of an iconic stretch of Broadway into a pedestrian-friendly corridor this week, Mayor Eric Adams announced Sunday. The work is part of the first phase of "Broadway Vision," a plan to make the chaotic and crowded streets between Madison Square and Herald Square safer by banning cars on some blocks and creating more space for pedestrians. As part of the first phase, the city will add two new plazas, shared streets, and a two-way bike lane on Broadway from West 25th Street to West 32nd Street.
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NYC Council Speaker revives plan to build new homes on open NYCHA land

NYCHA LaGuardia Houses; Photo via Wikimedia

March 9, 2023

NYC Council Speaker revives plan to build new homes on open NYCHA land

By Aaron Ginsburg

A New York City official is reviving a plan to turn the green spaces on public housing complexes into homes. In her State of the City address on Wednesday, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams proposed the construction of new apartment buildings on existing open spaces, known as "infill development," within New York City Housing Authority properties. Adams said her proposal would help address the city's housing crisis and provide current public housing tenants with an opportunity to relocate into upgraded, modern housing units.
Details here

Upper West Side rejects proposed rest hub for delivery workers

Photo by Jimmy Baikovicius on Flickr

March 9, 2023

Upper West Side rejects proposed rest hub for delivery workers

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Upper West Side voted against a proposed rest stop for delivery workers on 72nd Street and Broadway, as first reported by Gothamist. During a public hearing Tuesday, Manhattan Community Board 7 voted 27-8 against the transformation of an empty newsstand into a charging station for delivery workers.
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156 affordable apartments available at 16-story Bronx rental, from $397/month

Image courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

March 8, 2023

156 affordable apartments available at 16-story Bronx rental, from $397/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

An affordable housing lottery opened this week for 156 apartments in the Bronx. Located at 1923 West Farms Road in West Farms, the 16-story rental dubbed Compass Six offers tenants spacious units and outdoor space. New Yorkers earning 30, 50, 70, and 80 percent of the area median income, or between $16,183 annually for a single person and $132,400 annually for a household of seven, can apply for the apartments, priced from $397/month studios to $2,273/month three bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

City pilot will add more pedestrian space to Prospect Park’s roadway

Photo by Prabu Vasan for Prospect Park Alliance

March 8, 2023

City pilot will add more pedestrian space to Prospect Park’s roadway

By Aaron Ginsburg

Prospect Park's main roadway is getting a revamp. The Prospect Park Alliance and the Department of Transportation on Tuesday released the results of a year-long study of Prospect Park Drive, a busy loop within the park for pedestrians, joggers, and cyclists. Conducted by leading traffic consultancy Sam Schwartz, the NYC Parks Department, and DOT, the study analyzed crash data, roadway grade, pedestrian count, and other metrics to determine ways to improve the roadway. As a result of the study, the city is piloting adding a second lane on the outside of the drive, which would limit the need for crossings and prevent collisions.
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The Museum of Failure exhibit is coming to Brooklyn

Images courtesy of SEE Attractions/Museum of Failure

March 8, 2023

The Museum of Failure exhibit is coming to Brooklyn

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new exhibit in Sunset Park gives an opportunity to learn about some of the biggest failures of the biggest companies. Located in Industry City, the Museum of Failure offers New Yorkers a close look at more than 130 "epic fails" by giant global corporations, including Coca-Cola, Google, and Nokia, with the intention of teaching visitors the importance of learning from your mistakes. Presented by SEE Attractions, the exhibit will be open from March 17 until May 14.
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Events & Things To Do

New plan aims to crack down on NYC’s unsightly scaffolding

Photo courtesy of Billie Grace Ward on Flickr

March 7, 2023

New plan aims to crack down on NYC’s unsightly scaffolding

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new plan aims to cut down the amount of time scaffolding spends hovering over New York City sidewalks. Released this week by Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and City Council Member Keith Powers, the "Shed the Shed" report recommends several strategies aimed at taking down sidewalk sheds quickly, including accelerating construction on buildings, reducing permitting delays, reforming design standards, and holding buildings more accountable by increasing penalties.
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Iconic NYC subway busker Ballerina Mime to perform at Lincoln Center

Photos by Lawrence Sumulong, © Lincoln Center

March 6, 2023

Iconic NYC subway busker Ballerina Mime to perform at Lincoln Center

By Aaron Ginsburg

A New York City busking sensation will emerge above ground to perform at Lincoln Center on Wednesday. The famed living statue the Ballerina Mime will perform alongside original chamber music from cellist Titilayo Ayangade and violist Edwin Kaplan, playing together as duo kayo. The event, called Living Statues, Living Music, will take place at the David Geffen Hall's Kenneth C. Griffin Sidewalk Studio on March 8 at 8 p.m.
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Events & Things To Do

Rafael Viñoly, renowned NYC architect, dies at 78

Photo © Rafael Viñoly Architects

March 6, 2023

Rafael Viñoly, renowned NYC architect, dies at 78

By Aaron Ginsburg

World-renowned architect Rafael Viñoly, known in New York City for his work on many commercial and landmark buildings, passed away last week in his Manhattan home at the age of 78. The modernist designer, best known to many New Yorkers for his work on the controversial 432 Park Avenue condo tower, succumbed to a brain aneurysm, according to the New York Times.
Details here

Architecture And Design

Historic Flatiron Building headed to auction to end dispute between owners

Photo by Jermaine Ee on Unsplash

March 3, 2023

Historic Flatiron Building headed to auction to end dispute between owners

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's iconic Flatiron Building will be put up for auction to resolve a dispute between its current owners, according to a recent judgment filed in state Supreme Court. As first reported by PincusCo, the decision to sell the vacant landmarked building was made by GFP Real Estate, Newmark, Sorgente Group, and ABS Real Estate Partners, which make up 75 percent of the building's owners. The auction is set to take place on March 22 with Mannion Auctions.
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Real Estate Trends

Little Italy’s Alleva Dairy cheese shop finds new home in New Jersey

Image courtesy of Marcela on Flickr

March 3, 2023

Little Italy’s Alleva Dairy cheese shop finds new home in New Jersey

By Aaron Ginsburg

After falling behind on rent and closing its doors due to the pandemic, Little Italy's historic cheese shop has found a new home in New Jersey. Alleva Dairy, the 130-year-old cheese shop that was forced to close in February, will move to a bigger location in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, as first reported by NBC New York. The new location is currently under construction and is expected to open to customers in August.
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