All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

September 23, 2024

Former FiDi office tower launches leasing for luxury rentals, from $4,100/month

A former Financial District office building turned luxury rental tower officially launched leasing this week. Reimagined by CetraRuddy, the 36-story building at 55 Broad Street, once the headquarters for Goldman Sachs, is now home to 571 new apartments and 25,000 square feet of amenities, including a rooftop pool. Pricing for the studio to three-bedroom apartments starts at $4,100/month.
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September 23, 2024

Cherry Walk greenway in Riverside Park closes to cyclists, pedestrians until spring 2025

A section of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, the nation's busiest bike path, will be closed for six months starting this week. The city's Parks Department announced Cherry Walk, a scenic section of the greenway between 100th and 125th Streets in Riverside Park, will close starting Monday through the spring of 2025 for urgent repairs. The $1.5 million project will repave the asphalt damaged by bumps and cracks from tree roots and include restriping the lane markings.
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September 20, 2024

Rainforest Cafe to host pop-up at the Empire State Building

It's for real this time: Rainforest Cafe is coming to the Empire State Building. The beloved jungle-themed restaurant is hosting a pop-up at the skyscraper's 86th-floor observatory from October 3 through 6, offering exclusive Rainforest Cafe and Empire State Building merchandise, along with special food items for fans of the iconic eatery.
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September 20, 2024

New York Knicks’ Miles McBride renting One High Line apartment for $15.5K/month

New York Knicks point guard Miles McBride is renting a luxury Chelsea apartment for $15,500/month. The two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath apartment is at One High Line, the pair of twisting condo towers at 500 West 18th Street designed by Bjarke Ingels. As first reported by the New York Post, the unit spans 1,600 square feet and comes fully furnished with high-end pieces. One High Line offers expansive skyline views from its perch above the elevated park.
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September 20, 2024

NYC public libraries mark Banned Books Week with first-ever national day of action

This year New York City's public libraries will mark Banned Books Week with events, activities, and programming to push back against the alarming rise in nationwide censorship. In 2023, the American Library Association (ALA) recorded the highest number of challenged book titles, marking a 92 percent increase from 2022. Along with Banned Books Week from September 22 through 28, the city's libraries are teaming up with ALA for the first-ever "Freedom to Read Day of Action" on October 19.
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September 19, 2024

Phase two of Greenpoint Hospital conversion begins, adding 311 affordable homes

The Hudson Companies and St. Nicks Alliance on Wednesday, in collaboration with the city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), broke ground on the second phase of Kingsland Commons, a transformation of the former Greenpoint Hospital campus into an affordable housing complex. Designed by Magnusson Architecture and Planning (MAP) and Architecture Outfit, this phase includes an 18-story building with 311 permanently affordable units for extremely low- and very low-income residents, including formerly homeless individuals and families.
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September 19, 2024

MTA unveils $68B capital plan to keep NYC transit system afloat

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on Wednesday released a $68.4 billion capital plan for 2025-2029 mapping out ways to improve the transit system. The plan, "The Future Rides with Us," focuses on maintaining New York City's aging subway system by funding new train cars, improving deteriorating stations, and modernizing the signal system to ensure frequent and reliable service for New Yorkers. Nearly half of the funding remains uncertain, largely due to a $15 billion gap in the current capital plan caused by Gov. Kathy Hochul's indefinite pause on congestion pricing.
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September 19, 2024

Portland’s Salt & Straw to open first NYC ice cream shop on the Upper West Side

The beloved Portland, Oregon-based ice cream shop Salt & Straw is about to sweeten up the Upper West Side with its first-ever New York City location. Famous for its unique flavors, the ice cream company is setting up shop at 360 Amsterdam Avenue on Friday, September 20, offering signature flavors like Double Fold Vanilla and Sea Salt Caramel Ribbons, as well as special NYC-themed flavors like Pastrami on Rye, Cinnamon Raisin Bagels & Schmear, and other creative twists on iconic city fare.
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September 18, 2024

Kellogg’s Diner reopens in Williamsburg with Tex-Mex-inspired menu

Williamsburg's beloved Kellogg's Diner is returning under new ownership with a revamped menu, offering classic diner fare with a Tex-Mex twist. A neighborhood landmark since 1928, Chef Jackie Carnesie will helm the diner's new chapter when it officially reopens this Friday. The 75-seat eatery has received a design refresh by Nico and Matthew Maddy, modernizing the space while preserving its historic charm. Located at 518 Metropolitan Avenue, Kellogg's will be open daily from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., with plans to offer 24-hour service in the coming weeks.
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September 18, 2024

One Williamsburg Wharf launches sales, offering resort-style living from $710K

Sales officially launched this week at One Williamsburg Wharf, the first of five towers in an "urban resort-style" development taking shape along the Williamsburg waterfront. Developed by Naftali Group and designed by Brandon Haw Architecture, the 22-story luxury condo tower features 89 "design-forward" residences and world-class indoor and outdoor amenities, including a rooftop pool deck that transforms into an ice-skating rink in the winter. Pricing begins at $710,000 for studio apartments.
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September 18, 2024

Astoria rental opens lottery for 43 luxury apartments, from $1,974/month

A housing lottery opened for 43 mixed-income apartments at a new residential development in Astoria. Located at 21-11 31st Avenue, the seven-story building offers luxury living, easy access to Manhattan, and endless dining, retail, and entertainment options. New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the one-bedroom apartments, priced at $1,974/month and $2,600/month.
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September 17, 2024

Embrace Italian street food culture at Eataly starting this weekend

Get a taste of classic Italian street food starting this weekend at Eataly's beloved food series. Running from September 20 through October 6, "Icons of Eataly" immerses guests in Italian street food culture, featuring more than 30 new menu items that can be found at Eataly's New York City restaurants and quick-service counters. To kick off the celebration, Eataly Downtown is hosting an all-you-can-eat event on Friday, offering patrons unlimited tastings of Italian bites and refreshing beverages.
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September 17, 2024

Washington Bridge dedicated bus and protected bike lanes now open

The Washington Bridge has undergone a transformative redesign, ensuring safety for pedestrians and cyclists while also speeding up bus service. Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Monday announced the completion of a redesigned intersection at the bridge's approach, along with a dedicated bus lane and a two-way protected bike lane, stretching from Amsterdam Avenue in Washington Heights to University Avenue in the Bronx. The project will deliver quicker, more reliable bus service to the 68,000 daily riders who travel along the corridor.
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September 16, 2024

MTA expands bus lane cameras to 20 more routes

Double-parkers beware. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on Monday began its Automated Camera Enforcement (ACE) in all five boroughs, issuing warnings for vehicles blocking bus stops or illegally double parking in bus lanes during an initial 60-day period. After the warning period, drivers who break the rules will face fines starting at $50, with repeat offenses increasing up to $250.
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September 16, 2024

Celebrate 120 years of the NYC subway with a new exhibit and vintage train rides

The New York Transit Museum is celebrating the 120th anniversary of the city's subway system with a new exhibit and vintage train rides. Debuting September 26, "The Subway Is..." explores how New York City's subway system has shaped its cultural identity and will showcase images and artifacts from the museum's collections. To coincide with the new exhibit, the museum is hosting four Inaugural Run Nostalgia Rides on vintage Lo-V subway cars from 1917, retracing the original route of NYC's first subway line.
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September 13, 2024

Pedestrian plaza, two-way bike lane now on Broadway near Union Square

Broadway is gradually becoming a safer, more welcoming space for pedestrians and cyclists. Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Thursday announced the completion of the latest phase of "Broadway Vision," bringing a new pedestrian plaza, two-way bike connections, and other safety upgrades between East 17th and East 21st Streets. The Union Square Partnership and the Flatiron NoMad Partnership will maintain the new spaces.
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September 13, 2024

NYC to study impacts of slavery, consider reparations

The New York City Council on Thursday passed a package of legislation aimed at addressing the impact of slavery and racial injustice in New York City. The legislation establishes a "Truth, Healing, and Reconciliation" process on slavery in NYC, which was the nation's capital of slavery for nearly two centuries. Other bills require the city to conduct a reparations study, install informational plaques at the site of the city's first slave market in lower Manhattan, and create a task force to explore creating a "freedom trail" recognizing sites linked to the Underground Railroad and the abolitionist movement.
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September 12, 2024

Di Fara Pizza, Fuku coming to JFK Airport’s Terminal 6

John F. Kennedy International Airport has unveiled the lineup of vendors for its new $4.2 billion Terminal 6. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) and JFK Millennium Partners (JMP) revealed their initial roster of 12 local and diverse businesses, including four from southeast Queens, that will operate within the airport's new Terminal 6. The chosen food vendors, which include famous NYC eateries like David Chang's Fuku and Brooklyn's Di Fara Pizza, will offer an "authentic taste of New York," while other businesses will co-manage parts of the terminal as joint venture partners.
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September 12, 2024

MTA could need $100B+ to fund transit projects over next five years

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) needs over $100 billion for transit projects and maintenance over the next five years, significantly more than the funds currently available, according to a new report. State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli on Thursday released a report estimating the MTA's 2025-2029 capital plan could cost up to $92.2 billion. This figure doesn't account for the $15 billion gap in the current plan due to Gov. Kathy Hochul's pause on congestion pricing, which would bring the total funds needed up to $107 billion.
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September 12, 2024

16 best spots to celebrate Oktoberfest 2024 in NYC

Get ready to raise the steins and put on lederhosen: Oktoberfest is almost here. When the city of Munich bursts into Oktoberfest celebrations, the festivities spill far beyond Germany. New York City offers lots of ways to participate in the fun—whether by enjoying traditional German fare like beer and bratwurst or competing in stein-holding contests. Ahead, here are 16 of the best spots to celebrate Oktoberfest in NYC, from German beer gardens to lively block parties across the city.
find out where THE KEGS ARE FLOWING
September 11, 2024

Construction to begin on Bedford Avenue protected bike lane in Bed-Stuy

One of the most dangerous sections of Brooklyn's longest street will soon be safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Tuesday announced work will begin this week on a 1.5-mile protected bike lane from Dean Street to Flushing Avenue in Bed-Stuy, among other safety improvements, including new pedestrian islands and loading zones. Similar bike lane redesigns in NYC have led to a 21 percent drop in injuries, according to a press release.
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September 11, 2024

East River Park partially reopens with new ballfields and pedestrian bridge

New York City officials this week opened two ballfields in East River Park and unveiled the new Delancey Street pedestrian bridge, marking a significant milestone for the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project (ESCR). Ballfields 1 and 2 have been equipped with an advanced drainage system and new amenities to withstand climate change through the $1.45 billion ESCR initiative. The Delancey Street Bridge, manufactured in Italy and installed in the park, provides an ADA-accessible entry point from the Lower East Side to East River Park.
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September 10, 2024

12 ways to commemorate 9/11 anniversary in NYC

Wednesday marks the 23rd anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks and the day that changed New York City forever. For New Yorkers looking to honor the anniversary of 9/11, the city is hosting several commemoration events, including the annual reading of the names of the victims, moving performances at Lincoln Center and in Times Square, and the Tribute in Light installation.
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September 9, 2024

New York’s largest geothermal residential project tops out in Greenpoint

New York's largest geothermal residential project has topped out on the Greenpoint waterfront. Located at 1 Java Street, the two-tower development features 834 rental units, a climate-resilient shoreline, and 13,000 square feet of retail space. Slated for completion in 2026, the all-electric project's sustainable features are expected to reduce annual carbon emissions from heating and cooling by 53 percent compared to traditional residential systems.
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