All articles by Devin Gannon

June 7, 2021

First-ever flower festival will take over the Meatpacking District this weekend

Over a million flowers will blossom across Manhattan this weekend as part of the city's first-ever festival of flowers. Hosted by L.E.A.F in collaboration with the Meatpacking Business Improvement District and TF Cornerstone, the annual festival kicks off on Saturday, June 12, and features a European-style flower market and a series of design installations from 100 different florists that will be displayed across the neighborhood.
Get the details
June 7, 2021

For $8M, a century-old Park Slope townhouse with four outdoor terraces

Located on one of Brooklyn's best blocks, this Federal-style inspired townhouse in Park Slope is asking $8,000,000. The red brick home at 20 Prospect Park West was designed by early 20th-century architect Alfred Freeman. While the five-bedroom home maintains many of its century-old details, a recent renovation added contemporary elements, like a reconfigured finished basement and new outdoor terraces.
READ MORE
June 4, 2021

In the heart of Sag Harbor, a nautical gem designed by Steven Gambrel asks $7M

A designer cottage in the village of Sag Harbor is now available for $6,995,000. Built in 2017 by New York interior designer Steven Gambrel, the property at 52 Glover Street "echoes the charm and vernacular of a seafarer's home," according to the listing. Decked out in blue and gray tones, marble accents, and pine paneling, the Hamptons residence has a historic, nautical feel, all while keeping things modern.
Take the tour
June 4, 2021

After $200M overhaul, NYPL’s central circulating library opens in Midtown with public rooftop terrace

The New York Public Library this week opened a new central circulating library in Midtown following a major $200 million renovation project. Located at 455 Fifth Avenue, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL) was built within the shell and steel frame of the existing building formerly known as the Mid-Manhattan Library. Designed by Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo in collaboration with Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners, the new 180,000 square foot library boasts a dramatic light-filled atrium and an incredible rooftop terrace, which is now the only free and publicly accessible rooftop in Midtown.
Details here
June 4, 2021

Penn South co-op reveals plan to replace Chelsea McDonald’s with 200-unit mixed-income building

A run-down commercial building in Chelsea will be replaced with a 200-unit mixed-income apartment tower. Affordable housing cooperative Penn South announced this week it tapped MAG Partners to redevelop 335 Eighth Avenue as a seven-story residential building with ground-floor commercial space, including a grocery store. The site, located on the corner of West 26th Street and 8th Avenue, is currently home to Gristedes, McDonald's, and a tennis center.
Find out more
June 4, 2021

There’s a landscaped outdoor oasis at this $7.5M penthouse loft in Nolita

This penthouse in Nolita offers the best of both worlds, with a massive outdoor space that feels secluded while still being in the heart of lower Manhattan. Located at 136 Baxter Street, a prewar building that once served as a police stable, the duplex unit boasts an incredibly tranquil wraparound terrace, packed with shrubs and flowering trees. The three-bedroom, three-bath is now on the market for $7,495,000.
Take the tour
June 3, 2021

$3.3M South Street Seaport penthouse will also accept bitcoin

To appeal to more buyers, the owner of this South Street Seaport penthouse will accept digital currency as payment. The loft-style three-bedroom home at 130 Beekman Street is currently on the market for $3,295,000 or 88 bitcoin. The apartment is the first time a Compass listing in Manhattan is available for purchase with cryptocurrency, according to the agent marketing the property, Rachel Glazer.
Find out more
June 3, 2021

NYC to launch vaccination pilot at public schools for students 12+

New York City will open coronavirus vaccination sites at certain public schools as part of a pilot program aimed at increasing the number of young people who are vaccinated. The program will start at four schools in the Bronx on Friday with one school added each in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn on Monday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced this week. In the next few weeks, the city expects to expand the program.
Get the details
June 3, 2021

Historic mansion in Park Slope asking $30M could set record in Brooklyn

The Park Slope mansion owned by the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture for the last 75 years has hit the market for $30 million. If sold for the asking price, the property would set a record for the most expensive home sale in the borough. Located at 53 Prospect Park West, the grand four-story building boasts 5,724 square feet of interior space and a landscaped outdoor space nearly double that size, which the listing describes as the "largest private garden in Brooklyn."
Get the details
June 2, 2021

With a guest house, pool, and golf course views, this $2.2M Hamptons farmhouse is summer ready

A beautifully renovated farmhouse neighboring a golf course in the village of Southampton is now on the market for $2,195,000. In addition to its main residence, the property at 166 Sebonac Road also features an updated guest cottage and heated in-ground pool, two must-haves for a summer spent in the Hamptons.
See more
June 2, 2021

Public art and cultural events planned for elevated terraces at revamped Grand Hyatt

The developers behind the huge tower that will replace the existing Grand Hyatt New York announced last week plans to open up its elevated terraces to the public for events. The Public Art Fund and Lord Cultural Resources will develop a cultural program that will bring art installations, community events, and other programs to 175 Park Avenue, the 83-story mixed-use building proposed by TF Cornerstone and RXR Realty.
Find out more
June 1, 2021

For $4.75M, this Harlem penthouse has a rooftop jacuzzi and direct Central Park views

All of the units at this new condo building in Harlem face Central Park, but the available penthouse definitely boasts the best views. Located at 145 Central Park North, a full-service condo building developed by Grid Group Development with designs by GLUCK+, Penthouse B features four bedrooms, three baths, and a private rooftop terrace that overlooks the park and has a jacuzzi. The home is currently asking $4,750,000.
See inside
June 1, 2021

First post-pandemic Broadway show will open in NYC this August

Broadway is back, even earlier than planned. The Lincoln Center Theater on Tuesday announced that Pass Over, a play produced by Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu and Danya Taymor, will begin previews on August 4, over a month ahead of the expected reopening date for performances. Pass Over will become the first Broadway show to hold performances since the coronavirus pandemic forced all 41 theaters to close on March 12, 2020.
Get the details
June 1, 2021

Lottery opens for 44 affordable apartments at former factory complex in Bed-Stuy, from $1,041/month

A housing lottery launched last week for 44 affordable apartments at a new Bed-Stuy building. Located at 869 Myrtle Avenue, the building is a part of a massive mixed-use project on the site of the former Cascade Linen Supply Company. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 60 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from $1,041/studios to $1,553/month three-bedroom apartments.
Do you qualify?
May 28, 2021

$6.8M serene Southampton mansion has custom meditation room and outdoor yoga platform

For those seeking a home that doubles as a serene oasis, look no further than this Southampton mansion now on the market for $6,750,000. The property at 26 Parrish Pond Lane in Shinnecock Hills features a custom-designed meditation room, infra-red cedar sauna, an outdoor yoga platform with a waterfall backdrop, and a Zen-inspired rock garden. Surrounded by over an acre of landscaped lawns, the home features seven bedrooms, eight and a half baths, and more amenities than found at a resort.
See more this way
May 28, 2021

NYC Council votes to boost value of housing vouchers for homeless New Yorkers

Under legislation approved by the New York City Council on Thursday, the value of rental assistance vouchers provided to homeless New Yorkers will increase, a major step in moving people out of shelters into permanent housing. Sponsored by Council Member Stephen Levin, the bill raises the city's rental subsidy, called CityFHEPS, from a maximum of $1,580/month to $2,217/month for a two-bedroom apartment for a family of three. Homeless advocates say this could help thousands more homeless families find permanent housing each year.
Get the details
May 28, 2021

This Jake Gyllenhaal-designed LOX hoodie from Russ & Daughters supports The Actors Fund

Jake Gyllenhaal is once again teaming up with New York City icon Russ & Daughters for a good cause. In collaboration with the 100-year-old smoked fish seller, the actor designed a hoodie with the word LOX displayed on the front. Proceeds from the sale of every hoodie, which is going for $150, will go to The Actors Fund, which supports local theater workers.
Find out more
May 27, 2021

For the price of a Manhattan apartment, get a 10-acre horse ranch and cabin in Connecticut for $1.25M

An equestrian estate in Connecticut found about 90 minutes from Manhattan is now on the market for $1.25 million. Located in the town of Sherman within the Housatonic Valley, the 10-acre Blue Bell Farm contains a nine-stall barn, riding ring, and a log cabin that serves as the cozy main residence. The quiet property is surrounded by 200 acres of protected land, adding to its peacefulness.
Take the tour
May 27, 2021

New York officially gives real estate agents the go-ahead to collect broker fees

The state of New York this week walked back the broker fee ban that was never really a ban. Last year, the Department of State issued guidance related to the sweeping rent reform laws from 2019 that said brokers hired by landlords would not be allowed to charge prospective tenants a fee. Following several legal challenges, a judge ruled last month that a ban on broker fees was an "error of law" and struck down the law. The state on Tuesday officially updated the guidance to fall in line with the court ruling.
Find out more
May 27, 2021

An Italian spa with outdoor thermal pools will open on Governors Island this summer

A luxury European day spa will open on Governors Island this summer. From the same group behind Italy's QC Terme Spa & Resorts, QC NY features outdoor thermal pools facing the Manhattan skyline, relaxation rooms, steam rooms and saunas, and a wellness-focused cafe. An official opening date has not been released but is expected to be announced soon.
Get the details
May 26, 2021

In 2020, NYC subway saw a billion fewer total trips than year prior

Roughly a billion fewer passengers entered the New York City subway system in 2020 than in 2019, according to new data released this week by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The annual total ridership on the subway in 2019 was 1,697,787,002 passengers and 639,541,029 passengers in 2020. When the coronavirus pandemic hit last spring and Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered all nonessential businesses to close, both city subway and bus ridership hit record lows. In April 2020, subway ridership hit just 8 percent of what it was in 2019.
Get the details
May 26, 2021

Asking $2.1M, author E.L. Doctorow’s former Sutton Place home is perfect for any aspiring writer

With a library, built-in bookshelves, and views that could cure writer's block, this Sutton Place home is perfect for any aspiring novelist. It worked for the apartment's former owner, the late author E.L. Doctorow, who penned The March, Homer & Langley, and Andrew's Brain here. Located at 333 East 57th Street, the 3,000-square-foot co-op is now on the market for $2,100,000.
Find out more
May 25, 2021

You can rent ‘Real Housewife’ Luann de Lesseps’ Sag Harbor home for the summer

Any Bravo fans looking for a summer rental? Luann de Lesseps, star of "The Real Housewives of New York," is renting her waterfront Sag Harbor home for the months of July and August, as the New York Post first reported. "I want to travel after the pandemic," de Lesseps, who also added she is also getting ready for her cabaret shows scheduled for this fall, told the newspaper. The Hamptons property sits on Sag Harbor Cove and boasts water views and a private dock. According to the listing, renters will pay $100,000 for the month of July, $110,000 for August, or $200,000 for both months.
Get the details
May 25, 2021

For $1.7M, an Arts & Crafts colonial in the Queens enclave of Douglaston

With a suburban-like feel coupled with waterfront parks and a treasure trove of historic homes, the Queens neighborhood of Douglaston is one of New York City's hidden gems. A lovely freestanding Arts & Crafts style colonial located within the Douglas Manor community is now on the market for $1,700,000. Constructed in 1911, the five-bedroom home at 315 Hollywood Avenue boasts oak details, wood-burning fireplaces, a screened-in porch, and an intimate backyard garden.
Full tour ahead
May 24, 2021

NYC public schools will fully reopen this fall without a remote option

New York City public schools will not offer a remote option for students next school year, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Monday. Starting on the first day of school on September 13, all students and school staff will return to the buildings full-time. "This is going to be crucial for families," de Blasio said during a press briefing. "So many parents are relieved, I know."
Get more details