All articles by Devin Gannon

All of the beach, boardwalk, and park closures in NJ

Bradley Beach, NJ; Photo by Ryan Loughlin on Unsplash

April 8, 2020

All of the beach, boardwalk, and park closures in NJ

By Devin Gannon

As the number of coronavirus cases in New Jersey continues to climb, state and city officials are furthering social distancing measures by closing public spaces across the state. Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday signed an executive order shuttering all state parks and forests, as well as county parks. A number of Jersey Shore towns have closed beaches and boardwalks, with some even banning short-term rentals to curb visits from out-of-towners. "My focus and our focus, our sole mission right now is the health of every New Jersey family," Murphy said. "And we must not just flatten this curve, we must crush this curve." Ahead, find out which public spaces in NJ have been temporarily closed as a result of the pandemic.
More here

Policy

Photo by Daniel Lee on Unsplash

April 7, 2020

Tenants would not be evicted for unpaid rent accrued during state of emergency, under proposed law

By Devin Gannon

Landlords would not be able to evict tenants for any unpaid rent that accumulated during New York's state of emergency and for six months afterward, under proposed legislation introduced by state lawmakers Tuesday. State Sens. Brad Hoylman and Liz Krueger and Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz announced the "NYS Tenant Safe Harbor Act" that would strengthen the current 90-day eviction freeze put in place by the state last month.
Get the details

Policy

4,000 spots open on waitlist for middle-income units across Bushwick, Bed-Stuy

Photo by Manny Moss on Flickr

April 7, 2020

4,000 spots open on waitlist for middle-income units across Bushwick, Bed-Stuy

By Devin Gannon

Applications are currently being accepted to replenish a 4,000-name waitlist for income-restricted apartments across central Brooklyn. Located at 806 St. John's Place, 924 Myrtle Avenue, 682 Chauncey Street, 1140 Bushwich Avenue, and 18 Stanhope Street, the buildings are located in Crown Heights, Bed-Stuy, and Bushwick. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which include studios starting at $1,700/month and two-bedrooms from $2,000/month.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Once a WWII ship-building site, Brooklyn Navy Yard returns to its ‘wartime factory’ days

Photo by Michael Appleton/ Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

April 7, 2020

Once a WWII ship-building site, Brooklyn Navy Yard returns to its ‘wartime factory’ days

By Devin Gannon

During World War II, 70,000 workers at the Brooklyn Navy Yard built and repaired thousands of battleships and sent supplies to troops stationed around the world. Today, the 300-acre waterfront site is returning to its roots, with manufacturing companies coming together to create medical supplies from scratch for healthcare workers in support of the city's coronavirus pandemic response.
Get the details

Policy

Some NYC landlords are waiving rent payments amid the coronavirus pandemic

Photo by Josh Wilburne on Unsplash

April 6, 2020

Some NYC landlords are waiving rent payments amid the coronavirus pandemic

By Devin Gannon

Some New York City landlords are providing their tenants financial respite during the coronavirus pandemic by waiving or discounting rent. The sudden closure of much of the economy has resulted in the loss of income for millions of New Yorkers, a burden felt especially by the city's five million renters. One landlord who owns 18 buildings in Brooklyn suspended rent for the month of April for all of his tenants. Another is giving a Manhattan pizzeria owner three months of free rent as he continues to feed hospital workers at no charge.
More here

Co-Op City’s 15,000+ apartments will stay affordable for 30 more years

Photo by David L Roush on Wikimedia

April 3, 2020

Co-Op City’s 15,000+ apartments will stay affordable for 30 more years

By Devin Gannon

Photo by David L Roush on Wikimedia The world's largest housing cooperative will remain affordable for another three decades, the city announced Friday. Home to more than 15,300 apartments across 72 buildings in the Bronx, Co-Op City opened in 1968 as part of the Mitchell-Lama program. The deal reached between the co-op board and the city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development guarantees the development's participation in the Mitchell-Lama program until 2052.
Find out more

Find out which NYC construction sites are ‘essential’

April 3, 2020

Find out which NYC construction sites are ‘essential’

By Devin Gannon

Last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo temporarily banned all non-essential construction statewide, as part of his "pause" executive order. The updated order allows only emergency construction, or work "necessary to protect the health and safety of the occupants" to occur during the coronavirus pandemic. To track projects that are considered essential in New York City during this time, the city's Department of Buildings on Friday launched an interactive map that identifies sites where work can continue.
Explore the map

Policy

De Blasio calls for a national draft of medical personnel to fight virus

Photo by Artur Tumasjan on Unsplash

April 3, 2020

De Blasio calls for a national draft of medical personnel to fight virus

By Devin Gannon

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday called for a national draft of medical personnel to help New York fight the coronavirus. With more than 50,000 positive cases and 1,500 deaths, New York City remains the hardest-hit city in the country by the virus and now faces a shortage of health care workers, in addition to a lack of supplies. The request from the mayor echos similar demands from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has also asked for a national rolling deployment of health care workers and equipment to be sent to New York first, with the promise of returning the favor to any community next in need.
Learn more

Policy

Real estate work is essential, but showings must be virtual

Photo by Jonathan Riley on Unsplash

April 3, 2020

Real estate work is essential, but showings must be virtual

By Devin Gannon

Certain real estate work is still considered essential by New York, but showings cannot take place in-person, the state clarified on Thursday. In a notice to the New York State Association of Realtors, the Empire State Development earlier this week said home inspections, residential appraisals, back-office real estate work, and residential and commercial showings can continue during the coronavirus outbreak. But despite being newly categorized as essential, agents still cannot host traditional showings, as was previously reported.
READ MORE

Local nonprofit is offering grants up to $40K to help 30 NYC restaurants stay open

Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash

April 2, 2020

Local nonprofit is offering grants up to $40K to help 30 NYC restaurants stay open

By Devin Gannon

A local nonprofit is helping more than two dozen New York City restaurants stay open amid mass coronavirus-related closures. Last month, Rethink Food NYC launched a "Restaurant Response" program that partners with restaurants in need of financial support and provides free or subsidized food to New Yorkers in need. As part of the program, the nonprofit will award 30 New York City restaurants a grant of up to $40,000 to help make 24,000 meals in total per day.
Find out more

Food & Dining

Popular Articles

Deal reached to redevelop MTA’s former Midtown East headquarters, making way for new tower

Street view of 341-347 Madison Avenue; Map data © 2020 Google

April 2, 2020

Deal reached to redevelop MTA’s former Midtown East headquarters, making way for new tower

By Devin Gannon

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and New York City reached an agreement to redevelop the agency's former headquarters in Midtown as part of a revenue-generating plan, officials announced on Thursday. The redevelopment of the site at 341-347 Madison Avenue is expected to create more than $1 billion for the cash-strapped agency's capital program. The deal, delayed due to a prior dispute between city and state officials, comes nearly a decade after the MTA first announced plans to sell or lease its three-building complex.
Get the details

State says real estate industry is an essential business during shutdown

Photo © 6sqft

April 2, 2020

State says real estate industry is an essential business during shutdown

By Devin Gannon

Some real estate industry work is considered essential and can continue during the coronavirus outbreak, New York State announced on Wednesday. The reversal in policy, first spotted by the Real Deal, means real estate agents can now host in-person residential and commercial showings, as long as social distancing measures are taken (open houses are still prohibited). However, the Real Estate Board of New York quickly reached out to brokers and advised them against in-person showings.
More here

How NYC’s open-air greenmarkets are dealing with the coronavirus outbreak

Photo by James and Karla Murray exclusively for 6sqft

April 1, 2020

How NYC’s open-air greenmarkets are dealing with the coronavirus outbreak

By Devin Gannon

In response to the coronavirus outbreak, grocery stores across New York City have adopted new policies to ensure the safety of both workers and customers. Similarly, the city's 50 open-air farmers markets--also deemed essential by the state-- are adapting to the health crisis, while continuing to serve fresh produce safely to New Yorkers who rely on them. And many shoppers are choosing to shop outside at GrowNYC farmer's markets over the confined, indoor space of a store.
Find out more

City Living

All NYC playgrounds will now be closed

Image by F. Muhammad from Pixabay

April 1, 2020

All NYC playgrounds will now be closed

By Devin Gannon

Just one day after Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that 10 playgrounds across the city were closed because of overcrowding issues, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday that all NYC playgrounds would be closed, seemingly going over the mayor's head. The governor did note that parks and other open spaces will remain open, though, he said, "The NYPD has to get more aggressive. Period," referring to social distancing requirements.
More here

Policy

Queens’ US Open tennis complex will become a 350-bed hospital to relieve Elmhurst Hospital

Photo by Michael Vadon on Flickr

April 1, 2020

Queens’ US Open tennis complex will become a 350-bed hospital to relieve Elmhurst Hospital

By Devin Gannon

A 350-bed medical facility will be built at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens to ease the pressure the Elmhurst Hospital has been facing amidst the coronavirus outbreak. Construction began at the site in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, which hosts the US Open tournament, yesterday. The city's Emergency Management selected the site to serve as a temporary facility, which will begin treating COVID non-ICU patients beginning next Tuesday, April 7th. The center's indoor courts will be converted into the medical facility, with its Louis Armstrong Stadium set to become a place for volunteers to assemble 25,000 meal packages per day for patients, workers, and students.
More this way

Policy

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen drop $7.7M on another penthouse in their Nolita building

Streetview of 374 Broome Street; Map data © 2020 Google

April 1, 2020

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen drop $7.7M on another penthouse in their Nolita building

By Devin Gannon

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen have picked up a second penthouse apartment at their Nolita building. As the Real Deal first reported, the power couple paid $7.7 million for a three-bedroom at the landmarked Brewster Carriage House at 374 Broome Street, joining the $9 million pad bought by the duo in 2018. They seem to really like the building; Legend and Teigen also lived in a one-bedroom unit at the building until they sold it in 2016 for $4 million.
Details here

Lottery opens for 16 affordable apartments near historic King Manor in Jamaica, from $1,500/month

Photo by Dan TD on Wikimedia

March 31, 2020

Lottery opens for 16 affordable apartments near historic King Manor in Jamaica, from $1,500/month

By Devin Gannon

Applications are now being accepted for 16 middle-income new apartments in Jamaica, Queens. The seven-story residential building at 88-56 162nd Street contains 51 units. Located between busy Parsons Boulevard and Archer Avenue, the rental sits near a number of restaurants and retail spaces, as well as the Rufus King Park, home to the historic King Manor Museum. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from $1,500/month one-bedrooms to $1,980/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

NYC officials propose allowing renters to use security deposit for April rent

Photo by Rachel Martin on Unsplash

March 31, 2020

NYC officials propose allowing renters to use security deposit for April rent

By Devin Gannon

Under a plan introduced by local officials, New York City renters struggling to pay next month's rent would be allowed to use their existing security deposits as payment. As the Daily News first reported, the proposal would let tenants opt into the rent relief program to transfer their pre-paid deposits to rent. The deposit would have to be replaced within 30 days or converted into a monthly installment plan, under the proposal.
Get the details

Policy

PHOTOS: USNS Comfort hospital ship arrives in NYC

Photo by Michael Appleton for the Mayoral Photography Office

March 30, 2020

PHOTOS: USNS Comfort hospital ship arrives in NYC

By Devin Gannon

The 1,000 hospital-bed Navy ship USNS Comfort arrived in New York City on Monday, sent by the federal government to alleviate the burden the city's hospitals are facing as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. With more than 1,200 medical personnel on deck, the floating hospital will serve non-COVID-19 patients to take the pressure off the city's hospitals, which are currently overwhelmed by a growing number of cases. Docked at Pier 90 in Hell's Kitchen, the ship expects to begin receiving patients in 24 hours after its arrival.
Find out more

Policy

A nightly music-to-light show launches at the Empire State Building to keep NYC bright

Photo by Anthony Quintano on Wikimedia

March 30, 2020

A nightly music-to-light show launches at the Empire State Building to keep NYC bright

By Devin Gannon

A New York City landmark is looking to lift the spirits of New Yorkers and keep the light in the city bright during this challenging time. The Empire State Realty Trust on Friday launched a music-to-light show from the skyscraper's famous tower, in partnership with iHeartMedia. A new show, designed by lighting artist Marc Brickman, will premiere every Friday night and play nightly for one week.
More here

Jersey City rental next to Liberty State Park opens, units from $1,910/month

Image of 295J courtesy of Ironstate Development Company and BKSK Architects

March 30, 2020

Jersey City rental next to Liberty State Park opens, units from $1,910/month

By Devin Gannon

A new luxury rental building has opened in the bustling Bergen-Lafayette section of Jersey City, with apartments starting at $1,910/month. Located just steps from Liberty State Park, 295 Johnston Avenue, called 295J, contains 309 units, with a mix of studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. In addition to being next to the 1,212-acre waterfront park, the rental boasts an impressive landscaped courtyard with a pool, fire pits, barbecue grills, and ping pong tables.
See it here

Four more temporary hospital sites approved for NYC, will bring 4,000 additional beds

Photo of the Aqueduct Racetrack via Wikimedia

March 28, 2020

Four more temporary hospital sites approved for NYC, will bring 4,000 additional beds

By Devin Gannon

Facing a shortage of hospital beds, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday announced a plan to build four additional temporary hospitals in each New York City borough, adding 4,000 more beds. On Friday, he toured the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens' South Ozone Park, the Port Authority-owned Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook, the CUNY College of Staten Island, and the New York Expo Center in Hunts Point in the Bronx. On Saturday, Cuomo said President Donald Trump had approved these sites, meaning work can begin immediately. These will be in addition to Manhattan's Javits Center, which opens tomorrow as a temporary 1,000-bed FEMA hospital.
Find out more

Policy

Cuomo temporarily bans all non-essential construction projects

Photo by Nicolas J Leclercq on Unsplash

March 27, 2020

Cuomo temporarily bans all non-essential construction projects

By Devin Gannon

Most construction projects will be temporarily banned during the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Friday. While originally considered an essential service under the state's "pause" order that shutdown most workplaces last week, all non-essential construction must now shut down until April 21 under an updated executive order by the state.
More here

Policy

Can you move in NYC during the coronavirus outbreak?

Photo © Daxiao Productions – Fotolio

March 27, 2020

Can you move in NYC during the coronavirus outbreak?

By Devin Gannon

While most of life seems to be put on hold at the moment, there are a few tasks that can't be avoided. This includes moving apartments, typically a dreadful experience for New Yorkers with or without an ongoing pandemic. But moving companies are considered an essential service, according to New York City and State officials. Ahead, find out what you need to know about moving in NYC during the coronavirus outbreak, from the extra protocols movers are taking to your rights as a tenant.
Get the details

Amazon snags two Fairway Market stores in NJ

Photo by Dougie WII on Wikimedia

March 26, 2020

Amazon snags two Fairway Market stores in NJ

By Devin Gannon

Amazon has acquired the leases for two Fairway Market stores in New Jersey, half the number of stores the company originally hoped to buy. According to Supermarket News, the online retailer will acquire Fairway's Paramus and Woodland Park, N.J. store leases for $1.5 million. It's unclear why Amazon's offer for stores in Red Hook and Westchester fell through. The auction comes just a few months after the beloved New York City grocery store filed for bankruptcy.
Learn more

Real Estate Trends

58
59
60
61
62