All articles by Dana Schulz

Dana is a writer and preservationist with a passion for all things New York.  After graduating from New York University with a BA in Urban Design & Architecture Studies, she worked at the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, where she planned the organization's public programs and wrote for their blog Off the Grid. In her free time, she leads walking tours about the social and cultural history of city neighborhoods. Follow her on Twitter @danaschulzNYC.
June 5, 2020

Crown Heights condo is a calming two-bedroom home for under $1M

Image Credit: Warburg Realty/Jamie Fedorko  The whitewashed brick walls and neutral color palette create a calming feel at this Crown Heights condo, located at 658 Park Place. In addition to its visual appeal, the two-bedroom also has a great layout for a small family; the open living area faces the street, while the bedrooms are separated down a hallway at the rear of the apartment.
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June 4, 2020

How this Brooklyn non-profit is producing 500,000+ isolation gowns for NYC hospitals

As of this week, Industry City-based nonprofit workforce development organization Course of Trade has produced 219,279 hand-sewn isolation gowns for New York City hospitals, with an ultimate contract of 520,800 from the New York City Economic Development Corporation. Course of Trade was started by Malia Mills’ production director Libby Mattern to offer free sewing instruction and job placement assistance in the garment industry. When COVID hit the city, Libby knew it was time to innovate yet again, and she put in place a partnership with the city in which a 300-person team across South Brooklyn is sewing these life-saving gowns.
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June 4, 2020

250-name waitlist opens for barely affordable units at East Harlem rental

When we wrote about the initial affordable housing lottery at 111 East 115th back at the beginning of 2018, we questioned how these "affordable" apartments provided any financial relief when they were, in some cases, even more expensive than the market-rate units. The same conundrum holds true now, as the East Harlem rental has just opened up a 250-name waitlist for those earning 130 percent of the area median income. The apartments include $2,253 - $2,675 one-bedrooms and $2,784 - $3,207 two-bedrooms. A recent market-rate one-bedroom rented for $2,575, while a two-bedroom rented for $2,716.
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June 4, 2020

Two-family Prospect Heights townhouse has outdoor space and an array of fun woodwork for $3.5M

The stand-out feature of this $3,495,000 Prospect Heights townhouse is the variety of woodwork found throughout, from the restored original carved staircase to fun new features like red-and-white oak flooring repurposed from Carolina horse barns and a terrace made from NYC water tower wood to the gigantic herringbone wall in the kitchen. On the practical side, the home at 154 Underhill Avenue is configured as an owners' duplex with an income-generating, garden-level rental. There's a beautiful backyard, as well as a front garden and terrace, along with plenty of other fun and functional touches.
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June 3, 2020

New York restaurants can open for outdoor dining during phase two of reopening

With seven of 10 regions across the state now in phase two of the reopening plan, Governor Cuomo announced today that he was adding outdoor dining at restaurants to the list of businesses and operations allowed during this second stage. Restaurants in these regions can begin this tomorrow June 4th, as long as outdoor tables are spaced six feet apart, all staff wear face coverings, and customers also wear face coverings when not seated.
Find out more
June 3, 2020

$1M East Williamsburg duplex has Scandinavian vibes and sunny terraces

We're loving how this $1,050,000 duplex mixes Scandinavian vibes with Brooklyn cool to create a very stylish yet understated home. The one-bedroom apartment at 199 Humboldt Street in East Williamsburg has a duplex layout, allowing for convenient separation of living and sleeping spaces. It also boasts two terraces for optimal outdoor space.
Go inside
June 3, 2020

Navigating rental leases in NYC during COVID: Negotiating, re-signing, moving

The summer months are typically the busiest when it comes to real estate in New York City, especially the rental market. But with the city still not out of the woods of the coronavirus crisis, and with so many facing job and financial uncertainty, the idea of signing or renewing a lease becomes increasingly complicated. With this in mind, 6sqft spoke to real estate agents and building managers to get their thoughts on how to navigate this situation, from requesting your lease go month-to-month to setting up a payment plan. We also provide information on what to do if you're struggling to pay rent.
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June 2, 2020

The Met Opera will not resume performances until New Year’s Eve

After last performing on March 11 and facing revenue losses nearing $100 million, The Met Opera has announced that it's cancelling its fall season with hopes to resume with a New Year's Eve gala. The opera's general manager Peter Gelb told the New York Times that "It’s transparently obvious that social distancing and grand opera cannot go together. It’s not just the audience; it’s the health of the company. You cannot put a symphony orchestra inside a pit, and performers and a chorus in intimate proximity on the stage of the Met."
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June 2, 2020

New Jersey set to open hair salons, in-store retail, and outdoor dining this month

In his press conference yesterday, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced that his state was looking to enter stage two of its reopening on Monday, June 15. On this date, outdoor dining and limited in-store retail would begin, with hair salons and barbershops following on the 22nd and youth summer programs in early July. This second stage would also phase in museums and libraries, as well as limited capacity at gyms and in-person government services such as motor vehicles.
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June 2, 2020

In Hell’s Kitchen, this $2.3M penthouse has a roof deck with views of Billionaires’ Row

Having private outdoor space, especially now, is highly covetable, but having private outdoor space with views like this is next level. Recently listed for $2,345,000, this two-bedroom Hell's Kitchen penthouse has its own roof deck with incredible views of the Hearst Building and the nearby supertalls of Billionaires' Row. Located at the condo 318 West 52nd Street, the two-bedroom apartment is full of high-end perks such as an Italian marble kitchen, smart built-ins, and custom-designed closets.
Go inside
June 1, 2020

Eleanor Roosevelt’s childhood home in the Hudson Valley lists for $960K

As a child, after both her parents had passed away, Eleanor Roosevelt left her family's New York City apartment to spend her summers at her grandparents' Hudson Valley estate known as Oak Terrace. She even returned back to the Germantown property after high school, spending half her time there until she married FDR in 1905. According to Brownstoner, the family estate was sold off in parcels in the 1930s, one of which is the brick gatehouse that marked the entrance. Built in 1872, this charming brick structure known as the Oaklawn Gatehouse has just hit the market for $960,000.
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June 1, 2020

10 virtual things to do this week: Brandi Carlile, The Apollo, dinosaurs, and more

New York City is finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't remain vigilant in our social distancing efforts. Thankfully, there are plenty of cool online events this week to make staying at home that much easier. There's good music, from the kick-off concert in a new series from Brandi Carlile to a benefit concert to support Harlem's The Apollo, as well as some newsy discussions like a talk about life after COVID-19 with Fareed Zakaria and a new virtual open newsroom with THE CITY and the Brooklyn Public Library. You can also go on a virtual dino bone dig with the American Museum of Natural History and watch Puccini’s masterwork Tosca with the Met Opera.
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May 29, 2020

79 affordable senior apartments come online near Crotona Park in the Bronx

In the Crotona Park East section of the Bronx, 79 affordable apartments are available for senior households earning between $0 and $51,200 annually. Those who qualify and have one household member who is 62 years of age or older will pay 30 percent of their income for the studio and one-bedroom apartments. Located at 1490 Southern Boulevard, the brand new building has a laundry room, fitness room, community room, elevator lobby lounge, bike, storage, and on-site social services. It also boasts a landscaped rear yard and a large outdoor terrace on the eighth floor with plantings and plenty of seating.
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May 29, 2020

Billionaire art collector drops price of Montauk estate to $15.5M

Billionaire investor, art collector, and gallery owner Adam Lindemann has dropped the price of his Montauk mansion to $15.5 million. He originally listed the sprawling property in 2015 for $29.5 million. Earlier that same year, Lindemann bought another nearby property that had once belonged to Andy Warhol and was listed for $85 million. His "smaller" estate is a 7,500-square-foot, traditional wood-shingled estate that sits atop the Montauk bluffs. In addition to its incredible shoreline views and three-acre lot, the home was renovated by architect David Adjaye. The interiors are fabulous, and the grounds boast a large heated pool and jacuzzi, several covered and uncovered patios, and a private staircase leading down to a secluded cove. Adding to the selling points is that it's available fully furnished, including some of the high-end contemporary art.
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May 28, 2020

9 of 10 New York regions have met reopening metrics, NYC still waiting

After the New York PAUSE order was put into effect on March 22, all but one of the state's 10 regions have met the metrics to start phase one of reopening since it expired on Friday, May 15. As outlined on an interactive dashboard that monitors regional status, New York City is the only region not to have hit this benchmark. The city has not reached a 30 percent threshold of the share of total hospital beds available and has not gotten its contact tracing program up to the required level. As 6sqft reported, phase one allows construction, manufacturing, agriculture, forestry, fishing, and select retail that can offer curbside pickup to reopen.
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May 28, 2020

Hoboken will allow gyms to use parks and fields for outdoor workout classes

Hoboken, New Jersey Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla signed an executive order yesterday that permits fitness clubs to "utilize certain City fields and parks in order to facilitate safe, socially distanced outdoor workouts." Because of reopening measures outlined by Governor Murphy that will reduce capacity at indoor gyms and fitness facilities, Mayor Bhalla is encouraging owners of such businesses licensed in Hoboken to apply to host outdoor classes of up to 15 people with "strict social distancing guidelines of at least six feet between each participant at all times." With the permission of property owners, gyms can also hold outdoor classes in parking lots.
More details here
May 28, 2020

$2.3M Park Slope rowhouse has tranquil interiors and a party-ready backyard

This uber-charming brick rowhouse on the Park Slope/Gowanus border is pretty perfect for quarantine; it has soothing interiors to keep you calm during this stressful time, but the backyard is party-ready for those times when you need to let loose. Located at 720 Sackett Street and just listed for $2.3 million, the 19th-century home was renovated in 2017 and has three bedrooms, a gated front yard, and a finished basement.
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May 27, 2020

Meet iMakr, the Brooklyn 3D-printer that’s made 5,000 face shields for NYC’s healthcare workers

When the Mayor and the Governor spoke out about the city's dire need for PPE, many hero companies stepped up to the plate, including Industry City's iMakr, an outpost of the world's largest 3D-printing and 3D-scanning store. They knew they had enough equipment and the know-how to create simple but much-needed face shields, and so their three-man team in Brooklyn immediately got to work. To date, they've distributed more than 5,000 face shields to more than 20 local hospitals. Ahead, we chat with Jack Keum, iMakr's business manager, to learn more about the company's mission to help our frontline workers through this crisis.
Hear from Jack
May 27, 2020

This Saturday, partake in a virtual dachshund festival for peak cuteness

If quarantine's got you down, the Washington Square Park Conservancy has just the thing to lift your mood. This Saturday afternoon, along with their partner the Dachshund Friendship Club, the organization is taking its annual Dachshund Spring Fiesta virtual for a full hour of adorableness, including a sing-along to the "Dachsong."
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May 27, 2020

$2.8M restored Victorian brings suburban living to Prospect Park South

If working from home has you dreaming of a simpler life in the suburbs, this gorgeous house in Prospect Park South could be the perfect middle ground. Just listed for $2,825,000, the 1903 Victorian at 79 Argyle Road has been completely restored and updated, boasting tons of historic charm and plenty of modern upgrades. Not only does it have seven bedrooms, but there's a spacious alcove guest studio apartment. Other perks include an enclosed porch, stone patio, rear deck and garden, and a private two-car garage.
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May 26, 2020

8 virtual things to do this week: Outer space, sourdough, Questlove, and more

If you're having a tough time coming back to work after the long weekend, this roster of virtual events will help soften the blow. From an all-day celebration of the first US human mission to space in almost a decade to a virtual dinner party hosted by Questlove to a six-part sourdough class, there's plenty to do this week to keep busy and stay entertained.
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May 26, 2020

Watch the winner of New York’s mask-awareness video competition

After a photo of a jam-packed Hudson River Park filled with non-mask-wearers went viral earlier this month, Governor Cuomo launched a new competition that asked New Yorkers to submit videos that show why it is so important to wear a mask in public. After receiving more than 600 submissions, the state narrowed it down to five finalists last week. And today, after 186,117 votes were counted, the winning video was announced, titled "We <3 New York."
Watch the winner and the runners up here
May 26, 2020

206 affordable apartments available at mixed-used development in East New York, from $375/month

In East New York, a new affordable housing lottery has just launched for 206 units at a large new development at 2858 Linden Boulevard. Ranging from $375/month studios to $2,143/month two-bedrooms, the apartments are available to those earning 30, 40, 50, 60, and 100 percent of the area median income. The building was designed by Magnusson Architecture and Planning, which is responsible for three buildings on the mixed-use site. They all surround a landscaped courtyard terrace, and this building, site one, also has a community room, children’s playroom, bike room, on-site card-operated laundry room, and parking.
Find out if you qualify
May 26, 2020

For $7,000/month, rent this modern Clinton Hill townhouse with a treehouse-like backyard

Listing images courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens This adorable three-story carriage house in Clinton Hill has just about everything you'd want from Brooklyn townhouse living--curb appeal, modern interiors, and amazing outdoor space. And if you're looking to get your feet wet in the home market, this could be the perfect place to start, as it's available as a $7,000/month rental. Located at 435 Waverly Avenue, the brick house has three or four bedrooms, a top-floor balcony, and both a deck and garden that feel like a grownup version of a treehouse.
Look around
May 22, 2020

$599,000 Kensington co-op gets plenty of light for your plant collection

Kensington tends to be an overlooked neighborhood, but it's close to Green-Wood Cemetery and the southeastern end of Prospect Park, and this building at 350 Ocean Parkway is also right near all the shops and restaurants on Cortelyou Road and Church Avenue. Plus, the price is most certainly right for this $599,000 co-op. The listing says it's one-and-a-half bedrooms, but the second room is still plenty bright and big. And speaking of bright, the unit gets natural light from three exposures, perfect for this lovely plant collection.
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