All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

NYC clears water for drinking at the Jacob Riis Houses after false alarm over arsenic results

Photo courtesy of edenpictures on Flickr

September 12, 2022

NYC clears water for drinking at the Jacob Riis Houses after false alarm over arsenic results

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Positive test results showing dangerous levels of arsenic in an East Village public housing complex were false. Environmental Monitoring and Technologies Inc., the testing firm that originally reported unsafe levels of arsenic at the Jacob Riis Houses, said there had been "trace levels" of arsenic introduced into the original testing samples analyzed on August 26, resulting in a false positive test, as Gothamist reported. The city on Saturday announced the tap water was cleared for drinking following new tests of the original water sample.
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Travel back in time on vintage NYC subway trains this month

Photo courtesy of Ron Yee

September 9, 2022

Travel back in time on vintage NYC subway trains this month

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Here's a rare opportunity to ride on some of New York City's oldest subway trains spanning over a century of the city's transportation history. The New York Transit Museum's Parade of Trains returns this month, offering transit buffs a chance to travel on four historic trains from the museum's collection of vintage fleets. The rides will run continuously from Brooklyn's Brighton Beach B and Q express train platforms from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on September 17 and September 18. Admission is free with subway fare.
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New York pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

Photo of the Freedom Tower; courtesy of Don Pollard/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

September 9, 2022

New York pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

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To honor the life of Queen Elizabeth II, who died on Thursday at the age of 96, landmarks across New York were illuminated purple. Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered all flags on state buildings to be flown at half-staff on Friday; Mayor Eric Adams also directed all flags on city buildings and stationary flagstaffs to be lowered.
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Baz Luhrmann’s Gramercy townhouse hits the rental market for $75K/month

All photos courtesy of Nina Poon/MW Studio for the Corcoran Group

September 8, 2022

Baz Luhrmann’s Gramercy townhouse hits the rental market for $75K/month

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Famed director Baz Luhrmann's Gramercy Park townhouse could be yours to rent for $75,000/month. Located at 243 East 17th Street, the six-bedroom home spans five stories and overlooks Stuyvesant Square Park. The extravagant townhouse is also available for purchase. Luhrmann and his wife Catherine Martin first listed the home for $19,995,000 in March but later dropped the price to $18,999,500, as first spotted by the New York Post.
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New MCNY exhibit explores what New Yorkers eat and why it matters

Mary Mattingly, Biosphere, 2015. Courtesy of Mary Mattingly, the Bronx Museum of the Arts, and the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de la Habana

September 8, 2022

New MCNY exhibit explores what New Yorkers eat and why it matters

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A new exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York dives into the "powerful connections" between New Yorkers and food. Called Food in New York: Bigger Than the Plate, the indoor-outdoor show features the work of more than 20 artists that explores the city's food systems and the challenges that come with it. Food in New York opens on September 16.
Details here
New York lifts mask mandate on public transit

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

September 7, 2022

New York lifts mask mandate on public transit

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Masks are no longer required on public transportation in New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday. During a press conference in Harlem, the governor said masks are now optional for riders traveling on New York City's subways and buses, as well as MetroNorth and Long Island Rail Road. The state's mandate has been in place since April 2020 at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Details this way
Memorial honoring Black lives lost to acts of racism will open in Central Park

Image courtesy of Si B on Flickr

September 7, 2022

Memorial honoring Black lives lost to acts of racism will open in Central Park

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A new exhibition honoring Black lives lost to racial injustice in the United States will open this month in New York City's historical Seneca Village, once home to a thriving black community that was displaced by the city to make way for Central Park in the 1850s. Presented by the San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art (SDAAMFA), the Say Their Names Memorial Exhibition is a month-long augmented reality experience debuting on Saturday, September 17 at West 85th Street in Central Park.
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15 best places to celebrate Oktoberfest in NYC
September 6, 2022

15 best places to celebrate Oktoberfest in NYC

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After two years of cancellations due to the pandemic, the legendary Oktoberfest returns to Germany. While it may not compare to the massive, two-week celebration in Munich, New York City offers many of the same attractions—beer, traditional food, and live music. Ahead, find 15 spots to celebrate the iconic festival, from a month-long event on Pier 15 to German beer gardens throughout the city.
Full list ahead
MTA to replace all MetroCard vending machines with OMNY by end of next year

Photo by Arun D on Flickr

September 6, 2022

MTA to replace all MetroCard vending machines with OMNY by end of next year

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After 23 years of service, the New York City subway system's iconic MetroCard vending machines will be replaced. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will start swapping out the classic machines for OMNY ("One Metro New York") vending machines during the first half of 2023 after finalizing hardware and software testing, as NY1 reported. The entire MetroCard system is expected to be replaced by the end of 2023.
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Investigation underway after arsenic is found in water at East Village public housing complex

Image courtesy of edenpictures on Flickr

September 6, 2022

Investigation underway after arsenic is found in water at East Village public housing complex

By
Residents of the Jacob Riis Houses in the East Village may have been exposed to water with dangerous levels of arsenic for more than a week without being notified by the city's public housing authority (NYCHA) until last Friday, as first reported by the non-profit news site, The City. While recent tests indicate there are no longer high levels of arsenic in the water, the public housing complex's roughly 2,600 residents still lack clean water. The federal monitor overseeing NYCHA opened an investigation this past weekend into the agency's actions surrounding the test results.
Details here
For $3M, a chalet-style estate in the heart of wine country on Long Island’s North Fork

All photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman Realty

September 1, 2022

For $3M, a chalet-style estate in the heart of wine country on Long Island’s North Fork

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An expansive chalet-style estate overlooking vineyards on Long Island's North Fork has hit the market for $2,995,000. Located at 2905 Arbor Lane in the hamlet of Mattituck, the four-bedroom, six-and-a-half-bathroom home sits on a gated five-acre estate with views of greenery as far as the eye can see. Recently renovated in 2021, the home has an indoor and an outdoor pool, and is located just two miles away from North Fork beaches.
Tour the home
NYC Comptroller proposes framework to legalize basement apartments

September 3, 2021: Gov. Kathy Hochul toured several homes in East Elmhurst, Queens that flooded from torrential rains brought on by Hurricane Ida. Photo by Kevin P. Coughlin / Office of the Governor on Flickr

September 1, 2022

NYC Comptroller proposes framework to legalize basement apartments

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Ahead of the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Ida, Comptroller Brad Lander on Tuesday released a new report that lays the groundwork for legalizing New York City's basement apartments. On September 1, 2021, the hurricane hit the city with record rainfall and historic flooding that ultimately killed more than a dozen New Yorkers, a majority of whom lived in basement units, many of them unregulated. Modeled after New York's Loft Law, Lander's proposed "Basement Resident Protection Law" temporarily legalizes existing basement apartments, requires owners to provide basic safety measures, like smoke detectors and backflow preventers, and creates a "Basement Board" to oversee rights.
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A restored mid-century modern NJ home designed by prefab pioneer Carl Koch lists for $1.5M

All images courtesy of Robert Manella

August 31, 2022

A restored mid-century modern NJ home designed by prefab pioneer Carl Koch lists for $1.5M

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A mid-century modern home in New Jersey originally designed in the 1950s by American architect Carl Koch, known as the "grandfather of prefab," and since rebuilt and restored has hit the market. Located at 12 Pardoe Road in Princeton, the three-bedroom, three-bath residence capitalizes on its sunny half-acre corner lot with an abundance of large windows, which bring in lots of natural lighting and serene leafy views. Now available for $1,475,000, the home was revitalized by the current owner, who took it "down to the studs and rebuilt" the property while respecting Koch's original design.
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NYC is looking for volunteer artists to paint its garbage trucks

Image courtesy of James O’Connor/DSNY on Flickr

August 31, 2022

NYC is looking for volunteer artists to paint its garbage trucks

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New York City's Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is looking for volunteer artists to paint murals on their garbage collection vehicles as part of "Trucks of Art," the department's new zero-waste challenge. Artwork that encourages New Yorkers to use litter baskets or that honors DSNY workers will have a higher chance of being selected. The department is accepting applications until September 18, and the trucks are expected to hit the road by October.
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Apply for 43 mixed-income units in the Bronx’s Morris Heights neighborhood, from $545/month

Renderings courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

August 30, 2022

Apply for 43 mixed-income units in the Bronx’s Morris Heights neighborhood, from $545/month

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Applications are now being accepted for 43 mixed-income units at a new residential development in the Bronx. Located at 2 Mount Hope Place in Morris Heights, the 11-story apartment building offers residents affordable units and a variety of amenities. New Yorkers earning 40, 60, 90, and 130 percent of the area median income, or between $21,738 for a single person and $215,150 for a household of seven, can apply for the apartments, which range from $545/month for studios to $2,500/month for three bedrooms.
FIND OUT IF YOU QUALIFY
Urbanspace to bring an outdoor holiday market to Brooklyn this year

Criollas at Columbus Circle Holiday Market in 2021, all images courtesy of Jacob Williamson

August 30, 2022

Urbanspace to bring an outdoor holiday market to Brooklyn this year

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Food hall operator Urbanspace, known for hosting annual holiday markets in Union Square and Columbus Circle, announced last week that it will be opening a new location in Downtown Brooklyn just in time for the holiday season. Located in Columbus Park in Downtown Brooklyn, the new Brooklyn Borough Hall market will open on November 28 and run through December 26. Applications are being accepted for vendors at the new market until September 1, which can be submitted here.
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Daffodils to be planted across NYC to honor New Yorkers lost to 9/11 and Covid

All photos courtesy of New Yorkers for Parks

August 29, 2022

Daffodils to be planted across NYC to honor New Yorkers lost to 9/11 and Covid

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As a living memorial for those lost during the September 11 terrorist attacks and the Covid-19 pandemic, the open-space advocacy group New Yorkers for Parks last week launched The Daffodil Project. As New York's largest annual volunteer program, the project distributes hundreds of thousands of daffodils to be planted by volunteers.
Details here
Tribeca’s historic skybridge building finally sells for $24M

All photos courtesy of Eitan Gamliely for Sotheby’s International Realty

August 29, 2022

Tribeca’s historic skybridge building finally sells for $24M

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After nearly a decade on the market, a Tribeca home that has its own skybridge has sold for $24,000,000 in an off-market sale. The unusual listing included a townhouse at 9 Jay Street and a separate loft condo at 67 Hudson Street, connected by the famed footbridge suspended over Staple Street. The deal sets a new record for the highest per square foot sale for a townhouse in the neighborhood.
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NYC renames Harlem street in honor of tennis star Althea Gibson

Althea Gibson was honored with a ticker tape parade in New York City after she won the 1957 Wimbledon Women’s Singles Championship. Photo via Wikimedia

August 26, 2022

NYC renames Harlem street in honor of tennis star Althea Gibson

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A block in Harlem was renamed on Thursday in honor of tennis star Althea Gibson on what would have been her 95th birthday. Gibson broke the color barrier in tennis, becoming the first Black player to compete in the U.S. National Championships and in the tournament at Wimbledon. The section of West 143rd Street between Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard and Malcolm X Boulevard will be called "Althea Gibson Way."
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Brooklyn’s Marsha P. Johnson Park to get new ‘ornamental’ entrance

All renderings courtesy of NY State Parks on Flickr

August 26, 2022

Brooklyn’s Marsha P. Johnson Park to get new ‘ornamental’ entrance

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Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday revealed the design of a new gateway to Williamsburg's Marsha P. Johnson State Park. Located at the Kent Avenue and North Eighth Street entrance, the ornamental entrance is meant to "communicate Marsha P. Johnson's spirit and legacy" while complementing the park and surrounding neighborhood. The design of the gateway will continue through the fall of 2022 and construction is expected next year.
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The Armory Show unveils large-scale sculpture installation at the US Open

Gerald Chukwuma, OGBUNIGWE. All images courtesy of Allison Joseph/USTA

August 25, 2022

The Armory Show unveils large-scale sculpture installation at the US Open

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An art installation of large-scale outdoor sculptures opened this week outside of the US Open tennis tournament in Queens. Created in partnership between The Armory Show and the United States Tennis Association, Armory Off-Site at the US Open includes sculptures by contemporary artists from underrepresented backgrounds. The artworks will be on display outside of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center from August 23 through September 11, coinciding with the tournament and the Armory Show's art fair at the Javits Center.
See the sculptures
NYC to give $150 property tax rebate to low- and middle-income homeowners

Photo by Daryan Shamkhali on Unsplash 

August 25, 2022

NYC to give $150 property tax rebate to low- and middle-income homeowners

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Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday signed legislation that will give hundreds of thousands of New York City homeowners a one-time property tax rebate of up to $150. Those eligible for the rebate are owners of one, two, or three-family residences with annual incomes less than or equal to $250,000 in the tax year 2020. The property must also be the primary residence of the owner.
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For $7.2M, an exclusive penthouse at the Ritz-Carlton Nomad

All renderings courtesy of Douglas Elliman Realty

August 24, 2022

For $7.2M, an exclusive penthouse at the Ritz-Carlton Nomad

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A penthouse suite at one of the world's most iconic hotels has hit the market for $7,200,000. Located at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, New York, Nomad, this two-bedroom corner penthouse is one of 16 residences available for purchase at the building.  Situated above the hotel floors, the one- and two-bedroom homes have access to the five-star services and amenities for which the Ritz-Carlton is known. Owners and their families and guests can stay up to 120 nights per year and have their homes managed by The Ritz-Carlton when away, providing the perfect pied-a-terre opportunity.
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NYC receives $7M federal grant to expand greenway network in underserved communities

Image courtesy of Elvert Barnes on Flickr

August 23, 2022

NYC receives $7M federal grant to expand greenway network in underserved communities

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New York City received a $7.25 million federal grant that will be put towards the expansion of the city's greenway network, Mayor Eric Adams announced Monday. The expansion aims to improve the greenway network's reach in historically underserved, lower-income neighborhoods that lack access to public transportation and jobs by filling in "critical gaps" in the network, improving cyclist and pedestrian safety, and enhancing green transportation alternatives and waterfront access.
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Colorful paintings by artist Wendy Red Star on display at 100 bus shelters across NYC

All images by Nicholas Knight, courtesy of the Public Art Fund, NY

August 23, 2022

Colorful paintings by artist Wendy Red Star on display at 100 bus shelters across NYC

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Artist Wendy Red Star's first-ever public art exhibition was unveiled in New York City this month. Curated by the Public Art Fund, "Wendy Red Star: Travels Pretty" is based on 12 paintings by Red Star inspired by "parfleches," vibrantly painted rawhide bags created by certain nomadic tribes of the Great Plains. Used to store and transport food and other items, the handpainted containers were typically made by women and designed to compel "means of both self and tribal expression for those who created them," according to a press release. Reimagined on 100 bus shelters across New York City, Red Star's paintings celebrate parfleches and bring to light the history and importance of their use.
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