All articles by Alexandra Alexa

Will Hudson Yards developer swap promised public green space for walled off private park?

Image by Timothy Schenck; courtesy of Related-Oxford

January 10, 2020

Will Hudson Yards developer swap promised public green space for walled off private park?

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Related Companies is gearing up for the second phase of Hudson Yards—the Western Yard—but there's uncertainty about what exactly the developer has planned. To balance the addition of another batch of towering skyscrapers, the Western Yard promised to open itself up to the public with a new school and accessible, High Line-adjacent green space. Now Related appears to be considering walling that part of the development off with a 700-foot-long structure "that would overshadow the High Line, accommodate a parking garage and help make the site more like a quasi-gated community," as the New York Times reports.
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Lantern House, Thomas Heatherwick’s quirky High Line condo, rises and reveals residences

Photo of Lantern House on 1/3/20 by CityRealty

January 10, 2020

Lantern House, Thomas Heatherwick’s quirky High Line condo, rises and reveals residences

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Related Companies has released new renderings of the residential interiors in Thomas Heatherwick’s Lantern House condo development on the High Line. The quirky towers—one is ten stories tall and the other rises to 22 stories—flank the High Line at 18th Street and stand out with their billowing glass walls that reinterpret “the modern bay window.”
Check out the renderings
See inside Urbanspace’s new food hall in Midtown West

Photos by Laura Fontaine

January 10, 2020

See inside Urbanspace’s new food hall in Midtown West

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A new Urbanspace food hall opened up in Midtown on Wednesday with 15 vendors and plenty of options for the lunch crowd and beyond. It’s the fourth permanent location for the company that’s also behind many of New York City’s seasonal markets and food halls. Located in the space formerly occupied by Bobby Flay’s Bar Americain at 152 West 52nd Street, the list of vendors offers a mix of new and established names “aimed to cater to New Yorkers and visitors alike,” most notably classic Flatiron sandwich shop Eisenberg’s first offshoot.
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Luxurious Upper East Side mansion with a pool, movie theatre, and library is back for $79M

Listing images courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

January 9, 2020

Luxurious Upper East Side mansion with a pool, movie theatre, and library is back for $79M

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The palatial Upper East Side home that almost became the most expensive townhouse ever sold in New York City two years ago is back on the market. The seven-bedroom mansion was first listed in 2013 for a whopping $114 million and then for $98 million in 2014. It was most recently available in 2018 for $88 million and just received another price cut to (a still very formidable) $79 million. The 40-foot wide property at 12 East 69th Street sprawls over 20,000 square feet on six levels and comes with a movie theatre, saltwater pool, double-height library, and a 2,650 square-foot roof terrace overlooking Central Park.
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De Blasio releases non-discriminatory housing plan as Trump rolls back Obama-era ‘Fair Housing’ rule

Photo by Daryan Shamkhali on Unsplash 

January 8, 2020

De Blasio releases non-discriminatory housing plan as Trump rolls back Obama-era ‘Fair Housing’ rule

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Photo by Daryan Shamkhali on Unsplash  First announced in March 2018, the Where We Live NYC initiative has finally released a draft plan for public review. Described as a “comprehensive fair housing planning process to study, understand, and address patterns of residential segregation,” the report outlines key goals and strategies to eliminate discrimination in the housing market. As part of the plan, the city will launch the Fair Housing Litigation Unit “comprised of researchers, lawyers, and market testers who will go into the community as ‘secret shoppers’ and identify discriminatory practices,” per a recent press release.
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In Hudson Yards, Bjarke Ingels’ The Spiral is more than 50% leased as construction progresses

All renderings courtesy of Tishman Speyer

January 7, 2020

In Hudson Yards, Bjarke Ingels’ The Spiral is more than 50% leased as construction progresses

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As The Spiral continues to rise in Hudson Yards—it’s currently the eighth-tallest skyscraper under construction in NYC—its future offices are getting scooped up at a fast pace. Despite being two-and-a-half years away from completion, the Bjarke Ingels Group-designed tower at 66 Hudson Boulevard is now 54 percent pre-leased after adding law firm Debevoise & Plimpton to its roster of tenants. That list also includes pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, who will relocate its global headquarters to the building, and investment management firm AllianceBernstein. Once complete, the 66-story tower will reach 1,032 feet and feature signature cascading terraces and hanging gardens wrapped around the facade in a spiral-like arrangement.
Here's the latest update
Snøhetta’s transformed public garden at 550 Madison Avenue receives final city approvals

Renderings courtesy of Snøhetta and MOARE

January 7, 2020

Snøhetta’s transformed public garden at 550 Madison Avenue receives final city approvals

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The privately-owned public space (POPS) on the ground floor of Philip Johnson and John Burgee’s Postmodern skyscraper at 550 Madison Avenue declined over time due to multiple alterations and was often described as being “tall, skinny, and dark.” As part of Snøhetta’s transformation of the landmark, the garden is receiving a lot of attention. In December, developer Olayan Group revealed plans to increase the public space by 50 percent while creating “a welcoming sensory retreat in the heart of East Midtown.” After being approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission last year, the open space has now received its final approval from the Department of City Planning.
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With a $300M proposal, the Erie Canal could become a reinvented upstate attraction

Renderings courtesy of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office

January 6, 2020

With a $300M proposal, the Erie Canal could become a reinvented upstate attraction

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This is what a renewed Erie Canal could look like in the years to come. Gov. Andrew Cuomo revealed a $300 million proposal on Monday to revamp the 19th-century waterway that was started by Gov. DeWitt Clinton in 1817. The multi-phase plan originates in research conducted by the "Reimagine the Canals" task force assembled by Cuomo last May. The first phase will begin later this year and comprises two parts: a $100 million economic development fund to invest in communities along the canal and $65 million toward preventing ice jams and flooding in the Schenectady area. The remaining $135 million will be allocated based on recommendations made in the task force’s report.
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For $1.9M, this spacious Midtown East condo has two bedrooms and a huge roof terrace

Listing images by Bernadett Pava; courtesy of Compass

January 6, 2020

For $1.9M, this spacious Midtown East condo has two bedrooms and a huge roof terrace

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This Midtown East condo ticks all the (right) boxes: it's located in a Rosario Candela-designed building at 135 East 54th Street, comes with an expansive roof terrace bigger than most people's apartments, and is only a short walk away from the Museum of Modern Art and Central Park. The approximately 1,200-square-foot, two-bedroom is now on the market seeking $1.895 million.
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Construction of World Trade Center’s St. Nicholas Shrine will resume

The site in December 2018, Photo by Tdorante10 via Wikimedia Commons

January 3, 2020

Construction of World Trade Center’s St. Nicholas Shrine will resume

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It's been more than two years since reconstruction work on the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church at the World Trade Center stopped due to lack of funding, but the project is finally set to resume. On Thursday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced plans to form a new non-profit organization with an independent 13-member board—the Friends of St. Nicholas—who will oversee the remaining construction. The expected opening is slated for 2022.
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The Queens bus network is getting redrawn for the first time in a century

Photo by Tdorante10 via Wikimedia Commons

January 2, 2020

The Queens bus network is getting redrawn for the first time in a century

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On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced a sweeping draft plan that will completely redesign the Queens Bus Network for the first time in a century. The agency took a "blank slate" approach to completely redraw the routes, which were mostly adapted from old trolley lines from the turn of the 20th century. The plan focused on creating faster North-South connections between Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx and increasing service speed by expanding the average bus stop from 850 feet to 1,400 feet.
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Sweeping views and a sculptural staircase stand out in this $8M Sutton Place duplex

Listing images by Evan Joseph; courtesy of Compass

January 2, 2020

Sweeping views and a sculptural staircase stand out in this $8M Sutton Place duplex

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This Sutton Place duplex co-op is a corner unit on the 37th of 47 floors so it boasts sweeping views of the Midtown skyline and East River in every room. The five-bedroom, five-and-a-half bathroom residence spans over 6,300 square feet in the Emery Roth-designed tower at 425 East 58th Street, also known as The Sovereign. It's now on the market for $7,995,000, with a minimum 50 percent down payment required.
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For $1.9M, this Bed Stuy townhouse mixes historic details with modern upgrades

Listing images by DDreps; courtesy of Compass

December 31, 2019

For $1.9M, this Bed Stuy townhouse mixes historic details with modern upgrades

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Having last sold in February for $830,000, this Bed Stuy townhouse at 610 Bainbridge Street has since been transformed by a complete renovation. The modern upgrades live alongside restored classic details from the original 1899 construction, including a wood-burning fireplace in the living room and charming pocket doors. The five-bedroom, 3,200-square-foot property also has income-generating potential with a separate two-bedroom unit on the garden floor. It’s now asking $1,895,000.
Take a look around
How to get around NYC this New Year’s Eve

Image by Anthony Quintano via Flickr

December 30, 2019

How to get around NYC this New Year’s Eve

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Tomorrow roughly one million people will brave the cold and uncomfortable conditions to witness a quintessential New York celebration: New Year’s Eve in Times Square. The event is free and open to the public but NYPD will begin restricting traffic in the area as early as 4 a.m. and the viewing areas will start filling up around 11 a.m. so planning ahead is crucial. Here’s what you need to know.
All the NYE details here
Jersey City set to get its first Whole Foods at Harborside

Rendering courtesy of Mack-Cali

December 26, 2019

Jersey City set to get its first Whole Foods at Harborside

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Whole Foods will be opening its first Jersey City location as part of Mack-Cali's Harborside development, Jersey Digs first reported. The 47,000 square-foot market will be housed within an existing office building at 286 Washington Street that will be retrofitted to accommodate the popular grocer. Construction hasn't started yet and an opening date has yet to be confirmed but it will likely be at some point in 2020.
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A look back at the City Hall Christmas tree lighting, a bygone NYC tradition
December 24, 2019

A look back at the City Hall Christmas tree lighting, a bygone NYC tradition

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Image of the first Christmas tree in City Hall park in 1913; via Library of Congress In 1912, the nation's first public Christmas tree went up in Madison Square Park and sparked a new trend that would soon spread to parks across the city and beyond. The following year, acting Mayor Ardolph Kline initiated a similar tradition when he asked a young boy to help him light a Christmas tree in City Hall Park. By 1934, tree lighting celebrations became a citywide effort, with the Parks Department putting up 14 fifty-foot Norway Spruce trees throughout the city. Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia dedicated the trees from City Hall Park and broadcasted the ceremony to sites across the city.
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North America’s first indoor ski resort is now open at New Jersey’s American Dream mega-mall

Images courtesy of Big SNOW

December 23, 2019

North America’s first indoor ski resort is now open at New Jersey’s American Dream mega-mall

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New Jersey's three-million-square-foot American Dream mega-mall has added another attraction to its phased opening: a 16-story, climate-controlled indoor ski slope. Big SNOW is the first of its kind in North America and aims to make it easier for skiers and snowboarders to hit the slopes. The location offers equipment rentals, lessons, private coaching, children's programs, and private events.
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NYC Council seeks to terminate Trump Organization’s contracts with the Parks Department

The Central Park Carousel is one of four NYC Parks properties operated by the Trump Organization; image by Shelley Panzarella via Flickr

December 20, 2019

NYC Council seeks to terminate Trump Organization’s contracts with the Parks Department

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Manhattan Councilman Mark Levine introduced a resolution on Thursday urging Mayor Bill de Blasio to terminate the Trump Organization's ongoing contracts with the city, the Daily News reports. The president's company has four contracts with the Parks Department to operate the Lasker and Wollman Skating Rinks in Central Park, the Central Park Carousel, and the Trump Golf Links in the Bronx. Levine—who issued similar demands in 2018 and 2015—argued that the contracts violate the Domestic Emoluments Clause of the Constitution and that Trump's association with the venues is causing the city to lose money.
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Artist Kent Monkman’s new murals at The Met reexamine Manhattan’s colonial past

Photos by Anna-Marie Kellen

December 19, 2019

Artist Kent Monkman’s new murals at The Met reexamine Manhattan’s colonial past

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Two new paintings by Canadian Cree artist Kent Monkman are now on view in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Great Hall. As part of a new series in which the museum invites contemporary artists to make work in response to the Met collection, Monkman reappropriated motifs from Western artists such as Emanuel Leutze and Eugéne Delacroix to tell a different narrative that foregrounds themes of arrival, migration, displacement, and the Indigenous experience.
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For $24 million, a penthouse in Rafael Viñoly’s latest Nomad tower features an impressive loggia

Images by Colin Miller

December 19, 2019

For $24 million, a penthouse in Rafael Viñoly’s latest Nomad tower features an impressive loggia

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As we’ve watched Rafael Viñoly’s Nomad tower at 277 Fifth Avenue rise, its pared-down yet distinctive facade has drawn our attention to the building’s double-height, open-air loggias that appear to be carved out of the building’s uppermost corners. Now that the building is complete, new images of a recently listed penthouse offer a glimpse of what those spaces are like from the other side. Seeking $24 million, the residence is one of four penthouses atop the 720-foot tower, spanning roughly 4,520 square feet.
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The Collective announces a new Williamsburg co-living location with student housing included

Renderings by Scuares, courtesy of The Collective

December 18, 2019

The Collective announces a new Williamsburg co-living location with student housing included

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The Collective is wrapping up a busy year with news of its latest co-living development at 292 North 8th Street in Williamsburg. Stonehill Taylor will design a 100,000-square-foot building comprised of 224 studios. Ninety-seven of those are to be set aside for students, and the remaining 127 rooms will be geared toward nightly and monthly stays. The North 8th Street location is one of three now underway in Brooklyn. A forthcoming flagship location is in the works at 555 Broadway in South Williamsburg, and a Sou Fujimoto-designed building will soon take shape at the site of the former Slave Theater in Bed-Stuy. All three Brooklyn locations are set to open in 2022.
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Chase, Joe Coffee, and By CHLOE. are now open in former Union Square Coffee Shop location

Photo by 6sqft

December 18, 2019

Chase, Joe Coffee, and By CHLOE. are now open in former Union Square Coffee Shop location

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The prominent Union Square storefront on 16th Street and Union Square West that was home to sceney restaurant Coffee Shop for 28 years has changed quite a bit since the former diner closed its doors last October. Reports that yet another Chase branch and an outpost of vegan chain By CHLOE. would open in its place were confirmed a few months ago, and now the transformation is complete. A new location for Joe Coffee is also open in the building, and, interestingly, is part of a partnership with Chase, according to the Wall Street Journal. With an entrance on 16th Street, By CHLOE.'s colorful storefront stands where the former diner's back dining room used to be, while the Union Square side has lost its iconic neon sign for ubiquitous Chase branding.
Find out more right here
The city’s first LGBT-friendly affordable senior housing opens in Fort Greene

Rendering courtesy of BFC Partners and Marvel Architects

December 18, 2019

The city’s first LGBT-friendly affordable senior housing opens in Fort Greene

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New York City’s first affordable LGBT-friendly senior housing complex has opened in Fort Greene. Originally called the Ingersoll Senior Residences, the project—which is the first to be completed under the city’s controversial plan to lease NYCHA land to private developers—was dubbed Stonewall House in honor of the 1969 riots that launched the modern LGBT movement. The building comprises 145 apartments that will be available to seniors 62 years and older who make 50 percent or less of the area median income, with 25 percent of the units set aside for formerly homeless tenants.
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Billionaire’s Row tops list of most expensive streets in the world

Looking north towards Billionaires’ Row in early October © 6sqft 

December 17, 2019

Billionaire’s Row tops list of most expensive streets in the world

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A new study of the top "ultra-prime" locations in the world dispels any doubt that Billionaire's Row is living up to its name. London-based property consultancy Knight Frank, along with Douglas Elliman, looked at the number of homes sold for over $25 million since 2015 and found the greatest concentration along Midtown's 57th Street, where 41 transactions have been closed in the last five years at an average price of $38.5 million. Manhattan cracked the top ten three more times, with Central Park South coming in third, followed by Park Avenue and Fifth Avenue in fourth and seventh place.
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Practice your putting at this $3.65M Tribeca penthouse, featuring three outdoor spaces

Listing images by DDreps; courtesy of Compass

December 16, 2019

Practice your putting at this $3.65M Tribeca penthouse, featuring three outdoor spaces

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This duplex at 73 Worth Street in Tribeca comes with three terraces, one of which has been converted into a private putting green. Despite boasting a true rarity, the unit has a history of being competitively priced in one of Manhattan’s most expensive neighborhoods: It last sold in 2010 for $2.475 million and is now seeking $3.650 million, making it the only four-bedroom with outdoor space currently available in Tribeca under $5 million.
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