All articles by Devin Gannon

August 3, 2021

Vibrant new street mural takes over Union Square’s 14th Street

A huge nature-themed street mural was installed along the 14th Street Busway in Union Square this week. Titled "Collective Vision," the mural was painted on the pedestrian areas of the busway between Broadway and Union Square West. Brooklyn-based street artists GERALUZ and WERC designed the piece to highlight the strength of nature and unity, with a ruby-throated hummingbird at the center representing the "power of resilience in standing together against injustice and extinction." Over the last five days, community volunteers have helped the artists fill in the vibrant colors of the mural.
See it here
August 3, 2021

NYC to require proof of vaccination for indoor dining, fitness, and entertainment

New York City will require residents to provide proof of vaccination against the coronavirus to dine inside at restaurants, exercise at the gym, and visit indoor entertainment venues, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Tuesday. The new policy, which will take effect this month, comes as part of the city's effort to boost the vaccination rate while fighting the highly contagious Delta variant, which now accounts for nearly 90 percent of new cases analyzed by health officials.
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August 3, 2021

Gloria Vanderbilt’s Midtown East apartment lists for $1.1M

The apartment in Midtown East where Gloria Vanderbilt lived for nearly 25 years is for sale. CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, the son of the late heiress-businesswoman-artist, is selling the three-bedroom, two-bath residence at 30 Beekman Place for $1,125,000, as first reported by the New York Times. Filled with artwork and family treasures, much of the apartment has remained the same since Vanderbilt's death in 2019 at the age of 95.
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August 2, 2021

Asking $18M, this waterfront estate in Quogue was designed by Norman Jaffe with a nautical feel

A stunning waterfront estate in the Hamptons designed by the late architect Norman Jaffe is on the market for just under $18,000,000. Located on Seascape Lane in the village of Quogue, the residence sits on five acres overlooking Quantuck Bay. With angular lines and an abundance of natural materials, the shingled home is an example of Jaffe's signature modernist style. The ship-like property boasts a massive wraparound outdoor deck, two docks, a tennis court, putting green, and a resort-like swimming pool.
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August 2, 2021

8 income-restricted Upper West Side apartments available to buy for under $315K

Eight income-restricted condos on the Upper West Side are available for purchase for under $315,000 as part of two housing lotteries that launched last week. Located at 107 West 105th Street and 981 Amsterdam Avenue, the apartments are Housing Development Fund Corporation (HDFC) co-ops, which means they are priced below market rate and designated for New Yorkers with certain household incomes. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 110 percent of the area median income, or between $88,500 and $141,790 annually, can apply for the available two-bedroom apartments.
Find out if you qualify
July 30, 2021

See the tall residential towers coming to Jersey City’s low-rise Journal Square

More dense housing developments are headed to transit-rich low-slung parts of Jersey City. In the city's Journal Square neighborhood, developer Namdar Group plans to add several high-rise residential towers in an area near the PATH train that is currently made up mostly of two- and three-story homes. In total, the Long Island-based developer is bringing six new towers designed by C3D Architecture to a few blocks of Journal Square.
More this way
July 30, 2021

Hudson Yards’ Vessel may close permanently after fourth suicide in two years

The 150-foot climbable sculpture in Hudson Yards may shut down permanently after a teenager jumped to his death from the structure on Thursday. Vessel, an interactive public art piece designed by Thomas Heatherwick that opened in 2019 as the centerpiece of the $25 billion development, temporarily closed in January after three suicides, reopening a few months later with a new "buddy system." The death of a 14-year-old boy on Thursday marks the fourth suicide at Vessel in less than two years.
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July 29, 2021

Hip hop legends to perform at four free concerts in NYC for ‘Homecoming Week’

Four free concerts featuring both legendary and up-and-coming hip hop musicians are coming to a borough near you. Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday revealed the lineup of the shows, which are taking place as part of the city's "Homecoming Week," a weeklong celebration of New York City's comeback following the pandemic. Produced by the Universal Hip Hop Museum, the concerts will feature stars like KRS-One, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, Big Daddy Kane, George Clinton & The P-Funk All Stars, and nearly 40 more performers.
See the lineups
July 29, 2021

On the 66th floor of the world’s tallest residential building, a carefully curated condo for $22M

As residents start to move into the world's tallest residential building, we're getting another look at one of the impressive residences there. The three-bedroom, three-bathroom on the 66th floor of the Central Park Tower, the 1,500-foot tall condo tower on Billionaires' Row, has interiors designed by Australian-based Blainey North & Associates and features bold and elegant, but welcoming, elements throughout. The 3,165-square-foot sky-high home with incredible city and Central Park views is asking $21,890,000.
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July 28, 2021

New York orders all state workers to be vaccinated or tested regularly

All workers employed by New York State will be required to be vaccinated against Covid-19 or get tested for the virus on a regular basis, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday. The governor put in place an even more stringent mandate for state hospitals: all patient-facing healthcare workers must now be vaccinated, with no test option offered. The announcement comes days after Mayor Bill de Blasio rolled out a similar requirement for all city workers and as President Joe Biden plans to announce all federal employees and contractors must be vaccinated or submit to testing.
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July 28, 2021

Free four-week arts festival with 160 performances headed to offshore park Little Island

A month-long arts festival featuring more than 160 events and 460 artists will take place in New York City's newest public park next month. Called NYC FREE, the celebration will bring a variety of music, dance, and comedy performances to Little Island, the offshore park in Hudson River Park that opened this spring, over four weeks starting in August. The festival is the culmination of the state's "NY PopsUp" initiative, which launched earlier this year to revive New York's art and culture scene.
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July 27, 2021

Robert A.M. Stern’s affordable housing building Edwin’s Place opens in Brownsville

An affordable housing development designed by an architecture firm known for its pricey condo towers officially opened in Brooklyn this week. Located on the corner of Livonia Avenue and Grafton Street in Brownsville, Edwin's Place was designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA), the team behind renowned buildings like 220 Central Park South, 15 Central Park West, and 70 Vestry Street, all of which have apartments that cost millions of dollars. At Edwin's Place, there are 125 units of affordable and supportive housing set aside for formerly homeless families and low-income New Yorkers.
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July 27, 2021

Andrea Bocelli, The Killers, Wyclef Jean & a dozen more stars to perform at Central Park concert

More than a dozen iconic musicians will take the stage in Central Park next month as part of a mega-concert celebrating the city's recovery from the coronavirus. Announced on Tuesday, the lineup for the concert, dubbed "WE LOVE NYC: The Homecoming Concert," includes major stars like Andrea Bocelli, Wyclef Jean, Barry Manilow, Earth, Wind & Fire, Jennifer Hudson, The Killers, LL COOL J, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon, Patti Smith, Bruce Springsteen, Rob Thomas, and more.
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July 26, 2021

Conversion of Chelsea’s historic Terminal Warehouse into offices moves ahead with new looks

With construction financing secured and new renderings released, the conversion of the historic Terminal Warehouse in Chelsea into a holistic office complex is moving forward. L&L Holding Company and Columbia Property Trust announced last week they closed on a $1.25 billion construction loan for the project, which involves restoring and adapting the former freight distribution hub into modern office space that incorporates original design elements. New renderings show off the project's planned cascading terraces and interior courtyard, rooftop amenity, and ground-floor cafe.
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July 26, 2021

New minor league baseball team officially headed to Staten Island next year

America's pastime will return to Staten Island next year. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Friday a plan to reopen the former Staten Island Yankees stadium with a new minor league baseball team. The Richmond County Bank Ballpark did not open in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. This year, the waterfront stadium sat empty after Major League Baseball removed the "Baby Bombers" from its parent team as part of a reorganization of its farm system.
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July 23, 2021

For $15M, this 160-acre Upstate estate dates to 1775 and has amazing restored barns

An enchanting estate in Upstate New York that has 160 acres of land and a residence constructed in 1775 is asking $15,000,000. The property, dubbed White Bridge Farm, is located in Old Chattam, a historic hamlet in Columbia County. In addition to the 18th-century home, which has been renovated but maintains some original detail, the farm includes multiple converted barns, horse stables, and a stunning pool and pool house, all surrounded by a landscape that looks like it was pulled from the pages of a storybook.
Take the tour
July 22, 2021

NYC will host 5 free concerts as part of ‘Homecoming Week’

New York City will host five huge free concerts in every borough next month to mark the city's recovery from the pandemic. Earlier this summer, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced plans for a "mega-concert" on Central Park's Great Lawn in August and later revealed the show's three major headliners: Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, and Jennifer Hudson. On Thursday, the mayor said there will be four additional free concerts, one in each borough, as part of a weeklong celebration dubbed "Homecoming Week."
Get the details
July 22, 2021

16-story sustainable office tower 555 Greenwich breaks ground in Hudson Square

With tenants like Google and Disney soon moving in, Hudson Square is on its way to becoming the city's next big business district. Joining the burgeoning campus is 555 Greenwich, a 16-story office tower designed by COOKFOX Architects that broke ground this week. Developed by Hudson Square Properties, a joint venture of Trinity Church Wall Street and Norges Bank Investment Management with Hines, 555 Greenwich is expected to be one of the most efficient buildings in New York City, projected to exceed the city's 2030 climate goals for office towers by 45 percent.
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July 22, 2021

11 best spots for outdoor concerts in NYC this summer

After a year without live music, it's finally time to move and groove again. As part of the recovery of New York City's arts and culture scene, outdoor concerts are back. From rooftops and islands to city parks across the five boroughs, there are lots of places hosting outdoor shows this summer. Take in the sounds of summer, whether it be DJ sets on the steps of the Brooklyn Public Library, jazz and classical tunes under the Manhattan Bridge, or silent discos at Lincoln Center's Josie Robertson Plaza.
Full list ahead
July 21, 2021

Celebrity wedding planner David Tutera lists Connecticut estate for $1.45M

The sprawling countryside estate of celebrity wedding planner David Tutera is on the market for $1,450,000. Located at 176 Tater Hill Road in the Connecticut town of East Haddam, the property contains four separate buildings, including a renovated main residence originally constructed in the 19th century. With a guest home, three-car garage with a loft, and a one-room schoolhouse surrounded by nine acres of land, the next owner has plenty of opportunities to turn the grounds into a dream residence.
Get the details
July 21, 2021

Cuomo’s $2.1B AirTrain to LaGuardia gets federal approval

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey can move forward with its proposal to build a $2.1 billion AirTrain to LaGuardia Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration announced on Tuesday. The 1.5-mile elevated rail would run between the airport and the eastern Queens neighborhood of Willets Point, with a connection to the subway and Long Island Rail Road. The agency's final decision was delayed last month after community groups and elected officials raised concerns about the review process and the logistics of building the AirTrain.
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July 20, 2021

New looks for the performing arts space coming to the World Trade Center

About a month after the Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC) topped out at the World Trade Center complex, new renderings of the unique project were released this week. As first spotted by Yimby, images showcase the flexible cube-shaped building and its glowing marble facade, the grand staircase, theaters, bar and restaurant, and terrace space. First envisioned nearly two decades prior, PAC is expected to open in 2023.
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July 20, 2021

Ariana Grande’s former condo at Zaha Hadid’s High Line building sells for $12M

The apartment where pop star Ariana Grande and ex-fiance Pete Davidson once lived has sold for roughly $12,000,000. Located at 520 West 28th Street, the condo building on the High Line designed by the late architect Zaha Hadid, the residence measures an impressive 4,000 square feet, with five bedrooms and four and a half baths. As 6sqft previously reported, the apartment was listed for $16,000,000 in 2018 when the Grammy Award winner moved in.
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July 19, 2021

New York City pol calls for renewal of indoor mask mandate as cases climb

As New York City sees an uptick in coronavirus cases for the first time in months, an elected official is calling for the renewal of an indoor mask mandate. Council Member Mark Levine, who also chairs the Council's Committee on Health, plans on asking the state Health Department to reinstate the face-covering rule, even for those fully vaccinated, as the New York Post first reported.
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July 19, 2021

Construction set to begin on five-building Alloy Block development in Downtown Brooklyn

After securing $240 million in financing, Alloy Development announced construction will kick off this month on its huge mixed-use, multi-building project in Downtown Brooklyn. Formerly known as 80 Flatbush, Alloy Block includes five buildings with 850 apartments, 200,000 square feet of office space, 40,000 square feet of retail, and two public schools designed to meet Passive House standards. Since first announcing the project roughly four years ago, developers have cut the height of the residential towers, swapped out planned office space for additional residences, and pushed back the expected completion date.
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