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.

Apply for seven affordable units in the Bronx’s Morris Heights area, starting at $1,292/month

January 3, 2017

Apply for seven affordable units in the Bronx’s Morris Heights area, starting at $1,292/month

2016 saw a huge influx of new affordable housing developments and subsequent lotteries in the Bronx, and the new year is kicking off with yet another. As of Thursday, qualifying New Yorkers can apply for seven brand new units at 74 West Tremont Avenue, a small, eight-story building in the borough's easily accessible Morris Heights neighborhood. The availabilities include $1,292/month one-bedrooms and $1,458/month two-bedrooms for those earning 80 percent of the area media income.
All the details

Affordable Housing

40 percent of Sandy-damaged homes still not fixed; NYPD K9 unit gets a calendar

January 3, 2017

40 percent of Sandy-damaged homes still not fixed; NYPD K9 unit gets a calendar

Forty percent of homes damaged by Hurricane Sandy are still not fixed, despite the city’s goal of completing work by the end of 2016. [NYDN] A software engineer created a visualization of all 20,520 words in “Hamilton.” [Fast Co. Design] How much you need to save each day to become a millionaire by age 65 (it […]

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City may continue to house homeless New Yorkers in hotel rooms for nine years

January 3, 2017

City may continue to house homeless New Yorkers in hotel rooms for nine years

Though Mayor de Blasio said early last year that he would phase out the process of using hotel rooms to fill the gaps in supporting the city's growing homeless population "as quickly as possible," a new request from the Department of Homeless Services would extend the practice for up to nine years. The Post reports that the agency's proposal is in response to the record 60,686+ New Yorkers in shelters, and they're asking for vendors to supply "emergency shelter social services in commercial hotels."
Find out more

Policy

New renderings and details for Rafael Viñoly’s 125 Greenwich Street

January 3, 2017

New renderings and details for Rafael Viñoly’s 125 Greenwich Street

Construction at Rafael Viñoly’s slender skyscraper 125 Greenwich Street has reached street level, but as CityRealty uncovered, the tower that was slated to be taller than 1,000 feet over the summer (and previously 1,400 feet), is back down to 898 feet. Though this now makes it shorter than Fumihiko Maki’s 977-foot 4 World Trade Center one block north, fresh renderings show that the 88-story condo will still offer sweeping views of the city and harbor, which are shown for the first time from interior shots.
More views and details ahead

Lottery opens for 63 affordable units at former Bushwick convent, starting at $519/month

January 3, 2017

Lottery opens for 63 affordable units at former Bushwick convent, starting at $519/month

All the way back in 2012, the Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council and developer Georgica Green announced plans to redevelop Bushwick's former Our Lady of Lourdes convent into affordable and supportive housing, and now, nearly five years later, the lottery has opened for 63 brand new units at the site. The available apartments are reserved for those earning 40, 50, 60, or 80 percent of the area media income and range from $519/month studios to $1,740/month three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Secret Russian compound on Long Island shut down after Obama-issued sanctions

A Google Earth image of the property

December 30, 2016

Secret Russian compound on Long Island shut down after Obama-issued sanctions

News of President Obama imposing sanctions against the two Russian intelligence agencies that were allegedly involved in the DNC hacking that affected the 2016 presidential election is perhaps the biggest news in the world right now, but it hits a lot closer to home than many New Yorkers may realize. The administration expelled 35 intelligence officials from the country and ordered two intelligence compounds closed, one of which is a 49-room mansion on a 14-acre property in Glen Cove on Long Island's ritzy Gold Coast (h/t Gothamist). NBC New York reports that, although the Soviet Union purchased it in 1951 to be used as weekend home for its UN delegates, many locals were never aware of its existence as a "longtime getaway for Russian diplomats" that was "also used for Russian intelligence purposes."
The full story

NYC’s best and worst subway lines of 2016

December 30, 2016

NYC’s best and worst subway lines of 2016

Despite the fact that its impending shutdown dominated negative subway headlines this year, the L train is tied for one of the three best-performing lines, along with the 1 and 7. The worst? The A and E. The rankings come from the Straphangers Campaign's 2016 State of the Subways Report Card (h/t Gothamist), which graded the system's 20 lines based on six indicators from MTA transit data--service regularity, breakdown rate, crowding, cleanliness, and in-car announcements.
More findings ahead

Transit

Gamma Real Estate files plans for 850-foot tower at long-stalled Sutton Place site

December 30, 2016

Gamma Real Estate files plans for 850-foot tower at long-stalled Sutton Place site

When Gamma Real Estate's $98 million bid won the debt-beleaguered site at 3 Sutton Place just a couple weeks ago at a bankruptcy auction, 6sqft noted that the firm could either re-sell, bring the original plan for a 900-foot condo tower by starchitect Norman Foster to fruition, take on a joint-venture partner, or move forward with a plan of its own. The Real Deal now tells us that Gamma filed plans with the Department of Buildings for an 844-foot, 67-story tower with 389 apartments. However, he says this is to "safeguard the property" while the firms weighs all the aforementioned options.
Find out more this way

New Developments

Ride Coney Island’s Wonder Wheel for free on New Year’s Eve

Image via Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park

December 29, 2016

Ride Coney Island’s Wonder Wheel for free on New Year’s Eve

Since it opened on the Coney Island boardwalk in 1920, the landmarked Wonder Wheel has given more than 35 million rides. If you want to add to this number, a press release from Deno's Wonder Wheel tells us that it will offer free rides from 6 to 10pm on New Year's Eve. They'll also charge only $5 from 11am to 2pm on New Year's Day to coincide with the annual Polar Bear Plunge (50 percent of January 1st's profits will go to the Plunge's charity Camp Sunshine).
READ MORE

Events & Things To Do

Popular Articles

City says Trump Tower evacuations to be ‘a common occurrence’

December 28, 2016

City says Trump Tower evacuations to be ‘a common occurrence’

Yesterday afternoon, after a suspicious package was found in the building atrium, Trump Tower was evacuated along with the entire area between 50th and 59th Streets and Madison and 6th Avenues. Ultimately, it was found to be a bag of children's toys left behind, but in a tweet after the incident, de Blasio spokesman Eric Phillips said such evacuations at the Tower "will be a common occurrence." According to the Daily News, Trump spokesman Dan Scavino sent out a thank you tweet, to which Phillips replied, "No problem. We’ll send you the bill."
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Celebrities

New Yorkers love ‘It’s a Wonderful Life:’ Mapping every state’s favorite holiday movie

December 23, 2016

New Yorkers love ‘It’s a Wonderful Life:’ Mapping every state’s favorite holiday movie

New Yorkers tend to be a distinct mix of cynicism and optimism, so it's not surprising that our favorite holiday movie is "It's a Wonderful Life," the classic Christmas tale of George Bailey being saved from his suicidal state by a guardian angel who helps him see the positive impact he's had in his life. This data comes from CableTV's fun map of every state's favorite holiday movie, which they arrived at by cross referencing AMC's top-rated holiday movies with state data over the past decade from Google Trends.
See the full map and find out the country's top pick

Events & Things To Do

December 23, 2016

‘Subway Therapy’ gets a book deal; a NYC Santa reveals his identity

Not only will the “Subway Therapy” Post-Its will be preserved in an exhibit at the New-York Historical Society, but they’ll also be made into a book. [Gothamist] Watch how subway cars get loaded onto the tracks. [Business Insider] Bill Ackman bought the $91.5 million penthouse at One57 in hopes of flipping it, but his plans may be changing now that […]

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Bloomingdale’s iconic train car restaurant is closing; the USPS has a package-tracking ornament

December 22, 2016

Bloomingdale’s iconic train car restaurant is closing; the USPS has a package-tracking ornament

Le Train Bleu, Bloomingdale’s French bistro modeled after a historic train dining car, will close on December 28th after 37 years. [Untapped] A new app called Shovler will let New Yorkers hire last-minute snow shovelers. [Brick Underground] The U.S. Postal Service made an ornament that changes color based on when a holiday package is out for delivery, […]

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POLL: Is Governor Cuomo’s plan to get rid of tollbooths a good idea?

December 22, 2016

POLL: Is Governor Cuomo’s plan to get rid of tollbooths a good idea?

In a press release sent out yesterday, Governor Cuomo gave an update on his $500 million overhaul of NYC's bridges' and tunnels' tolling systems. When he first put forth the plan in October, he included flashy renderings of the new cashless collection systems, complete with LED light shows, but his latest announcement tells us that by the end of 2017, old-fashioned tollbooths will be a thing of the past at all MTA-operated bridges and tunnels in the New York metropolitan region.
Is this a good idea?

Transit

Photograph by Jeff Liao, courtesy of the Bronx Museum

December 22, 2016

Apply for 59 affordable apartments throughout the South Bronx, starting at $822/month

Starting tomorrow, qualifying New Yorkers can apply for 59 newly renovated, affordable apartments throughout the South Bronx. Spread across six addresses (1171 Clay Avenue, 1183 Clay Avenue, 1202 Clay Avenue, 384 Grand Concourse, 1129 Morrison Avenue and 1038 Rogers Place), the units are all nearby in the Grand Concourse, Soundview, Foxhurst, and Mott Haven neighborhoods. The availabilities are for those earning 100, 60, and 50 percent of the area media income, ranging from $822/month studios to $1,875/month three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Fairway emerges from bankruptcy with new Bergen Beach store; Meet the half Christmas tree

December 21, 2016

Fairway emerges from bankruptcy with new Bergen Beach store; Meet the half Christmas tree

Pacific Park’s 461 Dean Street, the world’s tallest modular tower, is offering a market-rate studio for $2,134/month. This is less than the affordable units at nearby 535 Charlton Street. [Atlantic Yards Report] Recovering from filing for bankruptcy over the summer, Fairway will soon open its second Brooklyn store in Bergen Beach. [Brooklyn Eagle] With Christmas just around the […]

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VIDEO: Neil Patrick Harris gives a holiday tour of his Harlem brownstone

December 21, 2016

VIDEO: Neil Patrick Harris gives a holiday tour of his Harlem brownstone

Neil Patrick Harris and hubby David Burtka first made real estate headlines when they purchased a $4 million Harlem brownstone in 2013, setting a neighborhood record. They then spent over a year renovating the five-story residence at 2036 Fifth Avenue to be the perfect family home for their twins Gideon and Harper (now five years old) and two dogs. Last year, the couple invited Architectural Digest in for a tour, showing off their elegant but fun design choices, impressive art collection, and restored architectural features. They've now opened up their home again, this time for Vogue's 73 Questions (h/t Apartment Therapy), complete with Christmas decorations.
Watch the video here

First look at the artsy common spaces of 5Pointz-replacing rental towers

December 21, 2016

First look at the artsy common spaces of 5Pointz-replacing rental towers

It's been three years since Long Island City's beloved graffiti mecca 5Pointz was whitewashed overnight and a year and a half since renderings first surfaced of the bland 41- and 47-story rental towers that would replace the site at 22-44 Jackson Avenue. Despite a perceived lack of respect towards the artistic community, G&M Realty’s David Wolkoff eventually said he planned to set aside 20 artists’ studios and displays to make up for those lost at 5Pointz, and it looks like he's making good on his word. HTO Architect, who designed the towers, initially put forth views of a large public park and rotating mural exhibit that would fill the space between the buildings, and now 6sqft has uncovered renderings from Mojo Stumer of the artsy entryway, lobby and pool, which reveal the graffiti-inspired logo for the project.
See it all right here

Subway passageway reopens as a vestige of the original WTC; One57 apartment sells at $13M discount

December 20, 2016

Subway passageway reopens as a vestige of the original WTC; One57 apartment sells at $13M discount

A passageway connecting the Chambers Street subway station to the Oculus Transportation Hub has opened for the first time since the 9/11 attacks, and it’s the last remnant of the original World Trade Center. [NYT] A gingerbread village at the Museum of Food and Drink depicts tiny bakeries from different countries, each serving their traditional bread. […]

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City adds 13,000+ new subway maps ahead of Second Avenue Subway opening

December 20, 2016

City adds 13,000+ new subway maps ahead of Second Avenue Subway opening

With just 11 days left until the public opening of the Second Avenue Subway, Governor Cuomo has made another show of good faith, announcing that more than 13,000 subway maps featuring the new line have been added throughout the transit system. This includes the installation of 12,600 new in-car maps and 1,000 large station maps in addition to even more maps at Metro-North and LIRR hubs and one million pocket maps that are currently being printed.
READ MORE

Transit

Second Avenue Subway will run with limited service for its first week

December 20, 2016

Second Avenue Subway will run with limited service for its first week

If you thought yesterday's news that the Second Avenue Subway would meet its deadline and open on January 1st was too good to be true, you were partially correct. Though service will in fact begin as of the new year, a press release from the Governor's office tells us that for its inaugural week, the line will only run from 6am to 10pm, a blow to late-night commuters and those visiting the city for the holidays.
Find out more

Transit

Map highlights the correlation between evictions and rent stabilization loss in NYC

December 19, 2016

Map highlights the correlation between evictions and rent stabilization loss in NYC

View the map from ProPublica in its interactive form here >> Last year close to 22,000 tenants across the city were evicted from their homes, an issue that the folks at ProPublica trace to a 1994 City Council vote on "vacancy decontrol," which allowed landlords to evade rent regulation and charge market rate for vacated apartments that cost $2,000 or more a month (it's now $2,500). Not only did this incentive rent hikes, but it's led to a major blow to the city's rent stabilized inventory. To show the correlation between evictions and rent regulation, ProPublica has created this interactive map of the more than 450,000 eviction cases filed between January 2013 and June 2015. It shows the number of evictions in a given building (it's shocking how many have had more than 50 in less than three years) and whether or not that building is rent stabilized.
Find out more on the issue

Affordable Housing

Brooklyn’s Morbid Anatomy Museum has closed; $1 happy hour drinks are probably illegal

December 19, 2016

Brooklyn’s Morbid Anatomy Museum has closed; $1 happy hour drinks are probably illegal

Unable to raise the $75,000 it needed to stay afloat, Brooklyn’s Morbid Anatomy Museum has shut its doors. [Gothamist] Jared Kushner and his family have an estimated $1.8 billion fortune. [Forbes] Here’s a list for last-minute shoppers of the latest you can order from major retailers for Christmas delivery. [Quartz] Kiss your $1 martini goodbye; the […]

Uncategorized

Gramercy Park will open to the public for one hour on Christmas Eve

Photo via Bosc d’Anjou/Flickr

December 19, 2016

Gramercy Park will open to the public for one hour on Christmas Eve

For one precious hour, mere mortals will have the chance to walk through Gramercys Park's iron gates sans key. Curbed reports that on Christmas Eve the Gramercy Park Block Association will host its annual holiday caroling hour with the local Parish of Calvary-St. George's, and from 6:00 to 7:00pm all will be welcome.
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

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