All articles by Devin Gannon

Fifth Ave’s highest condo fetches $11.5M

Photo Credit: Alden Studios

February 6, 2025

Fifth Ave’s highest condo fetches $11.5M

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The highest condo on Fifth Avenue has found a buyer. As first spotted by CityRealty, Penthouse 80 at 520 Fifth Avenue sits 880 feet in the air, surrounded by iconic views in every direction. The trophy residence first hit the market two months ago for $11,500,000; the deal will likely close by the end of the year when the building wraps up construction.
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Governors Island oyster bar closing, new outdoor restaurant to open next year

Photo @ Julienne Schaer

February 4, 2025

Governors Island oyster bar closing, new outdoor restaurant to open next year

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The first full-fledged restaurant to ever open on Governors Island will close this year. Island Oyster opened its doors in 2017 and became a summer destination for seafood, island-inspired cocktails, and stunning skyline views. This week the Trust for Governors Island issued a request for proposals seeking a new seasonal food and beverage operator for the 32,000-square-foot waterfront site starting in 2026. The James Beard award-nominated Island Oyster will operate one final season before ending its run on October 31, 2025.
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Waitlist opens for affordable apartments at Bjarke Ingels’ Harlem rental, from $1,056/month

Photo © CityRealty

February 3, 2025

Waitlist opens for affordable apartments at Bjarke Ingels’ Harlem rental, from $1,056/month

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Applications are now being accepted to replenish a waitlist for affordable apartments at The Smile, an 11-story rental in East Harlem designed by renowned architect Bjarke Ingels. Named for its grin-like shape, the building opened in 2020 and contains 233 apartments, 77 of which are priced below market-rate. New Yorkers earning 60 and 130 percent of the area median income can apply to be considered for current and future vacancies; prices range from $1,056/month for studios to $2,849/month for two-bedrooms.
do you qualify?
Nation’s largest office-to-residential conversion starts leasing for 1,300 apartments in FiDi

All renderings courtesy of Streetsense

January 30, 2025

Nation’s largest office-to-residential conversion starts leasing for 1,300 apartments in FiDi

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The largest office-to-residential conversion in the country officially began leasing in the Financial District. The former 1960s office tower at 25 Water Street, once home to JPMorgan Chase and the New York Daily News, is now a luxury apartment building with 1,320 homes and 100,000 square feet of amenities, following a two-year redevelopment designed by CetraRuddy. Dubbed "SoMA," for its location in "South Manhattan," according to a press release, the rental is the first to take advantage of the 467-m tax break, a new incentive for converting offices to residential space.
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First full-scale recreation of Anne Frank annex opens in NYC

All photos courtesy of John Halpern

January 27, 2025

First full-scale recreation of Anne Frank annex opens in NYC

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One of Europe's most visited historical sites has come to New York City. Coinciding with International Holocaust Remembrance Day, "Anne Frank The Exhibition" opened at the Center for Jewish History on Monday, marking the first full-scale recreation of the secret annex where Anne Frank and her family spent two years hiding during World War II. Through a mix of artifacts, photos and videos, sound clips, and a replica of the annex, the stirring exhibit covers Anne's early years in Frankfurt and the rise of the Nazis, her move to Amsterdam, and her arrest, deportation, and death at a concentration camp in Germany at age 15.
details here
Trump reinstates classical architecture demand for federal buildings

The U.S. Capitol. Photo by Quick PS on Unsplash

January 23, 2025

Trump reinstates classical architecture demand for federal buildings

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With the signing of a flurry of executive orders targeting birthright citizenship, the environment, and transgender Americans during his first week back in office, President Donald Trump is wasting no time pushing through his MAGA agenda. One particular order has architects and design groups concerned. On Monday, Trump issued an executive order promoting a classical style for federal buildings. He had issued a similar order in 2020 but the measure was repealed by President Joe Biden.
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A corpse flower is about to bloom at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Amorphophallus gigas at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden on January 22, 2025. Photo credit: Peter Slattery/BBG

January 22, 2025

A corpse flower is about to bloom at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

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New York City's favorite funky-smelling flower is preparing to bloom in Brooklyn. "Amorphophallus gigas," nicknamed the "corpse flower" for the rotting flesh odor it emits, is expected to blossom at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden this week. The foul flower blooms every two to 10 years and only lasts a few days.
learn more
Hayden Panettiere’s charming childhood home in Palisades, NY asks $4M

Photos courtesy of Ian Nelson

January 16, 2025

Hayden Panettiere’s charming childhood home in Palisades, NY asks $4M

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The childhood home of Hayden Panettiere in Palisades, New York is now on the market for $3,999,5000. The "Heroes" and "Nashville" actress lived at the charming French-style home at 129 Washington Spring Road in the private Snedens Landing enclave from 1998 to 2013, according to the listing agents. The four-bedroom turnkey home was built in the late 1980s but has a European-style design with storybook details, like a mansard roof and casement windows.
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City approves gate for Village townhouse to keep ‘Sex and the City’ fans out

66 Perry Street in 2022. Photo by Jim.henderson on Wikimedia

January 14, 2025

City approves gate for Village townhouse to keep ‘Sex and the City’ fans out

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The city's Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) on Tuesday approved an application to install a gate at the foot of a townhouse in the Greenwich Village Historic District. Not just any home, the property, located at 66 Perry Street, appeared as Carrie Bradshaw's apartment on the HBO show "Sex and the City." Despite being off the air for 20 years, the show's popularity continues today, leading tourists and TikTokers to visit the front stoop at all hours and film themselves on the famous steps. When a chain and a "no trespassing" sign at the base of the stoop failed to stop the mayhem, the brownstone's owner, Barbara Lorber, asked the LPC to approve a new gate for the landmarked property and commissioners agreed.
details here
More NYC migrant shelters to close this year, including controversial Clinton Hill facility

An Asylum Seeker Application Center in Midtown, August 9, 2023. Photo by Michael Appleton/ Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

January 13, 2025

More NYC migrant shelters to close this year, including controversial Clinton Hill facility

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Mayor Eric Adams last week announced the closure of more than a dozen emergency migrant shelters by June, including a facility in Brooklyn that housed roughly 3,500 people and led to protests by residents. The closures come as the number of asylum seekers in the city's care has decreased for 27 straight weeks and is currently at its lowest point in 18 months.
details here
NYC Restaurant Week is back with discounted meals at more than 500 local spots

Tin Building. Courtesy of The Seaport

January 9, 2025

NYC Restaurant Week is back with discounted meals at more than 500 local spots

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Cure your winter blues with a cheap meal. Reservations are now open at more than 500 local eateries participating in NYC Restaurant Week, the semi-annual program that offers a chance to dine at some of New York's best restaurants at a special price. This year, book prix-fixe two-course lunches and three-course dinners for $30, $45, and $60 at restaurants across the five boroughs from January 21 through February 9.
book a table
Announcing 6sqft’s 2024 Building of the Year!

All images courtesy of Naftali Group

December 23, 2024

Announcing 6sqft’s 2024 Building of the Year!

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The votes have been counted. 6sqft's 2024 Building of the Year is One Williamsburg Wharf, one of five 22-story luxury residential towers coming to the Williamsburg waterfront. The Naftali Group-developed building easily nabbed first place, receiving 302 votes out of the total 1,294 votes cast. Designed by Brandon Haw Architecture, with Hill West as architect of record, One Williamsburg Wharf offers 89 modern condos and a collection of amenities, including a waterfront park and a rooftop pool deck.
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REBNY sues to block NYC broker fee law

James Whelan, President of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), at a rally opposing the FARE Act in June. Courtesy of REBNY

December 17, 2024

REBNY sues to block NYC broker fee law

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The Real Estate Board of New York sued the city on Monday to stop a new law that would shift the payment of broker fees from renters to landlords. The Fairness in Apartment Rental Expenses (FARE) Act, which requires the party who hired the broker to pay the fees, became law over the weekend and takes effect in six months. In a lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court, REBNY argues the FARE Act violates brokers' rights to free commercial speech under the First Amendment and will lead to "higher rents, fewer properties advertised, and decreased overall transparency of the markets for consumers."
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See inside $19.5M Dumbo penthouse, Brooklyn’s most expensive condo for sale

Photo credit: Pavel Bendov for Olympia DUMBO

December 16, 2024

See inside $19.5M Dumbo penthouse, Brooklyn’s most expensive condo for sale

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New photos released this week provide a first look inside the most expensive condo currently for sale in Brooklyn. On the market for $19,500,000, Penthouse B takes up the entire 32nd floor of Olympia Dumbo, a new 33-story luxury development at 30 Front Street with a sail-inspired design. The residence, which first hit the market in 2022, measures nearly 5,000 square feet and boasts viral-worthy 360-degree views of the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan skyline, and beyond.
take the tour
Vote for 6sqft’s 2024 Building of the Year!
December 13, 2024

Vote for 6sqft’s 2024 Building of the Year!

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This year, New York City's residential market started heating up, particularly at the top. For the first time in two years, the city recorded sales exceeding $100 million, including a $135 million penthouse at the Aman New York and a $115 million penthouse at Central Park Tower. In addition to the nine-figure deals, new luxury developments sparked interest beyond Billionaires' Row, including a pink-wrapped condo in Fort Greene and an "urban-style resort" on the Williamsburg waterfront. Historic hotels and iconic office buildings entered new chapters, while long-anticipated projects, and some repeat Building of the Year candidates, either marked their completion or are finally nearing the finish line. 6sqft has narrowed our picks down to 16 of the most notable residential projects of the year. Which do you think deserves to be crowned the 2024 Building of the Year? Polls for our 10th annual competition will remain open through 5 p.m. on Friday, December 20. A winner will be announced on Monday, December 23. Happy voting!
cast your vote
Met Museum unveils design for new modern and contemporary art wing designed by Frida Escobedo

Exterior rendering of The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Tang Wing(view from the southwest corner). Visualization by © Filippo Bolognese Images, courtesy of Frida Escobedo Studio

December 10, 2024

Met Museum unveils design for new modern and contemporary art wing designed by Frida Escobedo

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art on Tuesday unveiled the design for its new wing dedicated to contemporary and modern art. Designed by Mexico City-based architect Frida Escobedo, the five-story Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Wing, named for the couple who gave a lead donation of $125 million, includes a three-story base, a recessed fourth floor, and a further setback fifth floor, a scaled facade inspired by the 1971 masterplan from Roche Dinkeloo. The $550 million new wing will better connect to the rest of the museum's galleries and address accessibility and sustainability needs. The project, the first Met Museum wing designed by a woman in its 154-year history, will go through a public review process starting in 2025. It is expected to open in 2030.
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8 best spots for holiday lights in NYC

Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Botanic Garden

December 5, 2024

8 best spots for holiday lights in NYC

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With Christmas trees illuminated, festive bars and restaurants decked out in tinsel, and seasonal markets in full swing, the holiday season has officially landed in New York City. In addition to gift-giving and Santa selfies, an easy way to get into the holiday spirit is by experiencing one of the city's many holiday light installations, whether it be in gardens, zoos, or on the Hudson River.
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One High Line penthouse sells for $47M

Photo by Nicole Franzen

December 4, 2024

One High Line penthouse sells for $47M

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The most expensive Downtown deal of the year belongs to One High Line in Chelsea. According to public records, a penthouse at the Bjarke Ingels-designed condominium on West 18th Street sold for $47 million last month. Last June, the apartment entered contract after asking $52 million. According to CityRealty, Penthouse 36 is the most expensive apartment to sell at One High Line to date; another penthouse at the building asking $49 million entered contract in January but has not closed yet.
details this way
New York Public Library announces the best books of 2024

Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash

December 3, 2024

New York Public Library announces the best books of 2024

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The New York Public Library has released its annual list of the best books of the year. The list, selected by committees and librarians who read hundreds of books across several genres, chose the best books of 2024 for kids, teens, and adults. This year, the library staff also released books about, or set in, New York City. The lists build on NYPL's century-old tradition of recommending the most-loved titles to New Yorkers of all ages, choosing books that reflect the city's diverse readership.
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Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade by the numbers: Fun facts and figures

The 2023 parade. Photo courtesy of Macy’s, Inc.

November 26, 2024

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade by the numbers: Fun facts and figures

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One of New York City's most cherished traditions returns on Thursday. The annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will hit the streets of Manhattan for the 98th time on Thursday, November 28. As one of the city's biggest events (30 million people watch from home and 3.5 million in person), the parade kicks off the holiday season with giant character balloons, intricately designed floats, marching bands, and musical performances. Ahead of the big event, learn some fun facts and figures about the parade, from the number of volunteers (5,000) and the hours of work by the Macy's team (8,000+) to the number of new balloons (6).
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Fifth Ave celebrates 200th anniversary with car-free birthday bash

View of Fifth Avenue looking north from 45th Street, Dec. 1919. Photo courtesy of Fifth Avenue Association.

November 22, 2024

Fifth Ave celebrates 200th anniversary with car-free birthday bash

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One of the world's most famous streets turns 200 this year. In 1824, the first section of Fifth Avenue opened, marking the start of its transformation from a country road to an iconic thoroughfare known for its upscale retail and residences and cultural clout. In celebration of this milestone, the Fifth Avenue Association and the City of New York announced plans to throw the Avenue a 200th birthday party on December 8, kicking off a year-long series of anniversary programming.
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46 affordable co-ops in Bed-Stuy for sale, from 206K

37 Rochester. All renderings courtesy of NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

November 20, 2024

46 affordable co-ops in Bed-Stuy for sale, from 206K

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First-time homebuyers can apply to own an affordable co-op in Bed-Stuy through a new housing lottery. The Belle Gardens cooperative includes 46 newly constructed one- and two-bedroom apartments at four buildings in the neighborhood, including 37 Rochester Avenue, 20 Suydam Place, and 331-335 Ralph Avenue. New Yorkers earning 90, 110, and 130 percent of the area median income, and who have 10 percent of the purchase price available for the down payment, can apply for the apartments, priced from $205,827 for a one-bedroom.
how to apply
NYC’s best spots for Thanksgiving takeout

Courtesy of Bubby’s

November 19, 2024

NYC’s best spots for Thanksgiving takeout

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Life is stressful enough without having to also prepare an elaborate meal in a tiny New York City kitchen. Instead, order from one of the many restaurants offering special Thanksgiving takeout dinners and desserts. A few classic, comforting choices, like the Turkey Day feast with all the fixings from Bubby's and an Italian spread from Tino's Deli to less traditional options, including Kubeh's Middle Eastern-inspired meal and spicy fried chicken from Pecking House. Don't skip dessert, be it a jumbo chocolate turkey or a chocolate babka pie.
where to order
Deal reached to build 355-unit development across from Brooklyn Botanic Garden

962-972 Franklin Avenue. Streetview © 2024 Google.

November 12, 2024

Deal reached to build 355-unit development across from Brooklyn Botanic Garden

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Several years and project iterations later, a new mixed-use building will rise across from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Developer Continuum Company and Council Member Crystal Hudson reached a deal to develop a 10-story project with 355 apartments, 30 percent of which will be income-restricted, at 962-972 Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights. The revised rezoning proposal, approved by the City Council's subcommission on zoning on Tuesday, features additional changes to the roof slope to minimize shadows on the garden's rare plant collection.
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