All articles by Devin Gannon

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

Rendering courtesy of NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development

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?

Affordable Housing

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

All photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

May 28, 2021

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

By Devin Gannon

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

Distinctive Homes

Photo via Flickr

May 28, 2021

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

By Devin Gannon

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

Photo courtesy of Russ & Daughters

May 28, 2021

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

By Devin Gannon

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.
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City Living

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

Listing photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

May 27, 2021

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

By Devin Gannon

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

Distinctive Homes

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

Photo by Daryan Shamkhali on Unsplash

May 27, 2021

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

By Devin Gannon

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.
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Policy

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

All renderings courtesy of QC NY

May 27, 2021

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

By Devin Gannon

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

City Living

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

Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

May 26, 2021

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

By Devin Gannon

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

Photos by Erickson Jaquez, Empire Optix for Sotheby’s International Realty

May 26, 2021

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

By Devin Gannon

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

All photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

May 25, 2021

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

By Devin Gannon

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

By Devin Gannon

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

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

Photo courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

May 24, 2021

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

By Devin Gannon

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

Policy

May 21, 2021

For $1.95M, this Hudson Valley mansion has Tiffany stained glass windows and intricate wood paneling

By Devin Gannon

This historic mansion in the Hudson Valley has lived many lives, starting in 1906 as a hunting lodge for an heir to a soap fortune to most recently, a bed and breakfast decked out with antiques. Today, the seven-bedroom property at 317 Allen Street in Hudson, New York, now dubbed Tiger House, is on the market for $1,950,000, giving the new owners a chance to shape the unique home's next chapter.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

Live performances return to the subway as part of ‘Music Under New York’ program

Photo: Patrick Carey/ MTA on Flickr

May 21, 2021

Live performances return to the subway as part of ‘Music Under New York’ program

By Devin Gannon

It's music to our ears. Live music will return to subway platforms across the city next month as part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's "Music Under New York" program. The program, which typically includes thousands of live shows performed each year, will resume June 4, about 14 months after public performances were halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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NYC’s newest park Little Island finally opens on the Hudson River

All photos: Michael Grimm Photography

May 20, 2021

NYC’s newest park Little Island finally opens on the Hudson River

By Devin Gannon

The offshore public park in the Hudson River that almost didn't get built officially opens on Friday. Designed by Heatherwick Studio and MNLA, Little Island at Pier 55 is designed to resemble a leaf floating on water, with an undulating base of tulip-shaped concrete pots ranging in elevation from 15 feet to 62 feet. The two-acre park features a 687-seat amphitheater, a plaza with concessions, a small stage, and incredible views, all surrounded by an abundance of greenery.
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42nd-floor members-only rooftop pool reopens at the American Copper Buildings

All photos by Max Touhey, courtesy of JDS Development Group

May 20, 2021

42nd-floor members-only rooftop pool reopens at the American Copper Buildings

By Devin Gannon

A 42nd-story rooftop pool overlooking the East River is coming back to New York City for the summer. Located atop the American Copper Buildings in Murray Hill, The Sentry is currently accepting membership applications for its 2021 season, which kicks off ahead of Memorial Day Weekend. Sky-high swimming does not come cheap, however. Memberships start at $2,600 for a single member, $4,300 for couples, and $3,000 for non-residents.
Get the details

City Living

Hamilton Heights brownstone from ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’ can be booked on Airbnb for $20/night

All photos courtesy of Regina Fleming Photography

May 19, 2021

Hamilton Heights brownstone from ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’ can be booked on Airbnb for $20/night

By Devin Gannon

Last week, the Hamilton Heights house made famous in Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums hit the rental market for $20,000 per month. This week, Airbnb announced the iconic mansion will be available to book this Memorial Day Weekend for just $20 per night. Bookings will open on May 26 at noon for one, two-night stay at the 1899 brownstone beginning May 29.
Get the details

May 18, 2021

Former NAACP headquarters in Greenwich Village is now a New York City landmark

By Devin Gannon

A building in Greenwich Village that once served as the headquarters for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and housed W.E.B. DuBois' trailblazing magazine The Crisis, is now a New York City landmark. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to designate 70 Fifth Avenue, a Neoclassical Beaux-Arts building designed by Charles A. Rich and built between 1912 and 1914. The commission on Tuesday also landmarked the Holyrood Episcopal Church-Iglesia Santa Cruz in Washington Heights.
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Policy

NYC’s plan to rezone Soho and Noho moves forward

A rendering of West Broadway in Soho, looking downtown; courtesy of City Planning Commission

May 18, 2021

NYC’s plan to rezone Soho and Noho moves forward

By Devin Gannon

A proposal to bring more affordable housing in two of the city's wealthiest neighborhoods is moving forward. The City Planning Commission on Monday certified the application to rezone Soho and Noho, kicking off the public review process. The plan replaces existing 1970s-era zoning rules with medium- to high-density mixed-use districts that could create as many as 3,500 new homes, with 900 units of permanently affordable housing.
Get the details

Policy

60 Wall Street revamp swaps out postmodern atrium for a skylight and massive 100-foot green wall

New atrium proposed for 60 Wall Street; Conceptual renderings courtesy of Paramount Group

May 18, 2021

60 Wall Street revamp swaps out postmodern atrium for a skylight and massive 100-foot green wall

By Devin Gannon

The eccentric 1980s atrium at the Financial District office tower 60 Wall Street is getting a 21st-century makeover. As part of a major renovation, owner Paramount Group is ditching the indoor palm trees and man-made rock displays and creating a public space they feel is more attractive in a post-pandemic era. With designs from Kohn Pedersen Fox, the updated atrium of the 47-story tower will boast a new skylight and a 100-foot-tall, block-long interior green wall.
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Real Estate Trends

May 17, 2021

The NYC Marathon returns this November at 60% capacity

By Devin Gannon

Runners, take your mark. The annual New York City Marathon will be held this fall after last year's event was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday announced the world's largest marathon will take place on November 7, the 50th running of the race. Participation will be limited to 60 percent capacity, or 33,000 runners, according to the governor.
Get the details

24/7 subway service resumes in New York City

NYC Transit employees remove overnight closure signs. Courtesy of MTA on Flickr

May 17, 2021

24/7 subway service resumes in New York City

By Devin Gannon

New York City's subway system resumed 24-hour service on Monday for the first time in over a year. Last May, Gov. Andrew Cuomo closed the subway overnight as part of a disinfection plan created in response to the coronavirus pandemic. It was the first time the trains closed overnight since the subway first opened 116 years ago. The return of 24/7 service this week comes just two days before most capacity restrictions in New York are lifted and as rates of COVID have fallen across the state.
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Jing Fong will stay in Chinatown with new downsized location

Photo by josh s jackson via Flickr cc

May 14, 2021

Jing Fong will stay in Chinatown with new downsized location

By Devin Gannon

New York City's largest Chinese restaurant is downsizing. This Sunday, Jing Fong, will close its Elizabeth Street location, the 20,000-square-foot restaurant known for its 800-person dining room and as a hot spot for dim sum. Thankfully, the iconic spot will be staying in Chinatown, as Eater NY reported, with a new 125-seat restaurant opening in July.
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Food & Dining

You can have a sleepover at Monica and Rachel’s ‘Friends’ apartment

Photo courtesy of Booking.com

May 14, 2021

You can have a sleepover at Monica and Rachel’s ‘Friends’ apartment

By Devin Gannon

Here's a chance to fulfill your Friends fantasy. The Friends Experience, the interactive exhibit featuring those too-good-to-be-true apartments and iconic scenes from the television series, has teamed up with travel company Booking.com to provide the "ultimate sleepover." Fans have the chance to book two overnight stays at a set re-creation of Monica and Rachel's apartment this month for just $19.94, a nod to the year the sitcom first premiered.
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You can roller skate outside on the TWA Hotel’s tarmac

All photos courtesy of TWA Hotel unless otherwise noted

May 13, 2021

You can roller skate outside on the TWA Hotel’s tarmac

By Devin Gannon

Roller skating is having a major moment, brought on by the pandemic and possibly quarantine boredom. New Yorkers can now embrace the nostalgia at one of the most fitting places in the city: the TWA Hotel at John F. Kennedy Airport. The retro 1960s-inspired hotel is opening a roller skating rink this month on the tarmac outside of the 1958 Lockheed Constellation "Connie" airplane-turned cocktail bar. Roll-A-Rama at the Runway Rink launches May 14 and will operate on weekends.
More here

All articles by Devin Gannon

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For $1.95M, this Hudson Valley mansion has Tiffany stained glass windows and intricate wood paneling

Live performances return to the subway as part of ‘Music Under New York’ program

NYC’s newest park Little Island finally opens on the Hudson River

A Victoria's Secret model's angelic East Village flat with a solarium and terrace asks $2.9M

42nd-floor members-only rooftop pool reopens at the American Copper Buildings

Hamilton Heights brownstone from ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’ can be booked on Airbnb for $20/night

Former NAACP headquarters in Greenwich Village is now a New York City landmark

NYC’s plan to rezone Soho and Noho moves forward

60 Wall Street revamp swaps out postmodern atrium for a skylight and massive 100-foot green wall

The NYC Marathon returns this November at 60% capacity

24/7 subway service resumes in New York City

Jing Fong will stay in Chinatown with new downsized location

You can have a sleepover at Monica and Rachel’s ‘Friends’ apartment

You can roller skate outside on the TWA Hotel’s tarmac

138 Willoughby Street in Downtown Brooklyn

All articles by Devin Gannon

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