All articles by Devin Gannon

October 22, 2019

City approves design for Central Park’s first statue of women

New York City's most famous park will get a new statue honoring women for the first time ever. The city's Public Design Commission on Monday approved a design for a new Central Park monument that depicts women's rights activists, Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Set to debut next summer on the 100th-anniversary of the 19th amendment's ratification, the statue's approval comes as the city looks to address the lack of women honored in public spaces. Currently, all 23 historical monuments in Central Park are of men.
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October 21, 2019

Stay at the creepy and kooky ‘Addams Family Mansion’ in Clinton Hill this Halloween

A 19th-century townhouse in Brooklyn has undergone a creepy and kooky makeover just in time for Halloween. Travel company Booking.com transformed the Clinton Hill home at 272 Lafayette Avenue into a real-life replica of The Addams Family Mansion from the hit 1960s comedy sitcom. For just over $100 per night, guests can spend Halloween playing with Wednesday's beheaded dolls, calling Lurch on his "you rang" bell, and getting scared by Thing.
It's creepy and it's kooky
October 21, 2019

Live in the ‘pavilion’ apartment at the historic Woolworth Building for $30M

More than 100 years after its construction, the Woolworth Building's transformation into a luxury residential tower is complete. Now, four years after condo sales first launched, there's an opportunity to live in one of the building's most unique residences. Developer Alchemy Properties has listed a 29th-floor five-bedroom, called Pavilion A, for $29.85 million, an asking price roughly $3 million less than when the apartment first listed in May. And while the unit's size and custom features make this apartment special, the setback duplex terrace, which lets you rub elbows with the historic building's stunning terra-cotta exterior, puts it in another league.
See inside
October 18, 2019

Nordstrom’s 7-level flagship opens at Central Park Tower next week

Nordstrom's massive flagship store officially opens to the public next week, seven years after the company first announced its move to New York City. The department store sits in the base of the Central Park Tower, currently the tallest residential building in the world, and takes up seven floors. And while the tower no longer shares the company's name, the sheer size of the flagship, along with its unique glass facade, will still make the store stand out. To celebrate the store's opening on Oct. 24 at West 57th and Broadway, there will be grand opening festivities taking place with lots of free samples, complimentary food, and live entertainment.
Details here
October 18, 2019

Prospect Park will host first-ever ‘bike day’ this weekend

Does your child want to ditch the training wheels? Need a new helmet? Head to Prospect Park this weekend for the park's first annual "Bike Day." Hosted by the Prospect Park Alliance with Citi Bike and Bike New York, the free event on Sunday, Oct. 20 hopes to encourage a more diverse group of New Yorkers to take up biking by offering demonstrations, classes, prizes, and a one-month free trial of Citi Bike.
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October 18, 2019

NYC Council approves plan to replace Rikers Island with four new jails

The New York City Council on Thursday approved a plan that would close the notorious Rikers Island complex and replace it with four smaller jails across the city. The nearly $9 billion proposal, released by Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2017, pledges to shutter Rikers in 10 years by dramatically reducing the city's jail population. It involves housing inmates in new facilities in Lower Manhattan, the South Bronx, Downtown Brooklyn, and Kew Gardens that are better integrated with the surrounding communities, as well as located closer to court systems.
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October 17, 2019

Brookfield unveils $400M redevelopment of 666 Fifth Avenue

Hoping to start a new chapter for the problem-plagued tower, Brookfield Asset Management has unveiled its plan to overhaul 666 Fifth Avenue. The 41-story Midtown office building will undergo a $400 million overhaul designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, including a new glass exterior, floor-to-ceiling windows, revamped rooftop spaces, and updated mechanical systems, as the Wall Street Journal first reported. And separating itself further from its past, the building's address will now be 660 Fifth Avenue.
New details this way
October 16, 2019

Facebook and Apple are battling for office space at Midtown West’s former Farley Post Office

Two major tech companies are vying for office space at the former James A. Farley Post Office in Manhattan. The New York Post reported on Tuesday that Facebook and Apple both want to lease space at the former post office which is being converted by Vornado Realty Trust into a mixed-use site with 740,000 square feet of office space and a new train hall underneath. In September, it was reported that Facebook was in advanced talks for office space, but according to the Post, Apple has "suddenly decided it, too, wants all four floors of Farley's office space."
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October 16, 2019

Coast Guard bans Portal Bridge openings during rush hour to reduce Northeast Corridor delays

A 109-year-old swing bridge will no longer be the bain of commuters' existence. The United States Coast Guard agreed last week to permanently restrict when boats can pass under the Portal Bridge, which carries about 200,000 passengers daily to and from Penn Station via New Jersey Transit and Amtrak. The 1910 bridge's aging mechanics frequently malfunction while opening and closing for maritime traffic, causing hourslong delays, felt especially during rush hour.
Learn more
October 15, 2019

Permits filed for 30-story ‘affordable luxury’ condo tower on the Lower East Side

A developer this month filed an application with the city to build a 30-story condo building next to a landmarked nursing home on the Lower East Side. The plan comes a year after developer Round Square failed to obtain air rights from the Seward Park Cooperative to build two towers at 232 East Broadway, adjacent to the Bialystoker Nursing Home. After ditching the original two-building project, Round Square is now moving forward with a proposed one tower that will contain 54 condos, as Patch reported.
Details here
October 15, 2019

Essex Crossing’s second condo tower tops out on the Lower East Side

The Essex Crossing mega-development hit another milestone this week, with its seventh building topping out at the Lower East Side site. The mixed-use tower at 202 Broome Street includes 83 luxury condominiums, 175,000 square feet of office space, and 34,500 square feet of retail space. Designed by CetraRuddy, the building joins 242 Broome as the nine-site development's second condo building.
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October 15, 2019

Live in a new Williamsburg rental with rooftop views and L train access, from $2,176/month

A lottery launched on Tuesday for 17 middle-income units at a new building in Brooklyn. Located at 188 Humboldt Street, the rental borders Williamsburg and Bushwick and sits just one block from the L train at Montrose Avenue. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from a $2,176/month studio to a $2,758/month two-bedroom apartment.
Find out if you qualify
October 14, 2019

See inside MoMA’s $450M revamped, expanded campus

Following the completion of a $450 million renovation project, the Museum of Modern Art is set to reopen next week on October 21. In addition to expanding gallery space by nearly 50,000 square feet, the project reorganized the layout of exhibits, which now will be displayed chronologically instead of by discipline. Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with Gensler, the new museum expanded west into the former site of the American Folk Art Museum and within the base of Jean Nouvel's new residential tower, 53W53.
See inside
October 11, 2019

PHOTOS: See the views from the Empire State Building’s new 102nd-floor observatory

After four years and $165 million, the revamp of New York City's first supertall is nearly complete, bringing a more contemporary and visitor-friendly experience to one of the world's most historic buildings. The Empire State Building's 102nd-floor observatory, which boasts 360-degree panoramic views at 1,250 feet above street level, officially opens to the public on Saturday, Oct. 12. Building owner Empire State Realty Trust redesigned the observatory to be less obstructive for guests, allowing more picture-perfect views and less time waiting.
All the way up
October 11, 2019

What you need to know about Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day events in NYC

A three-day weekend is upon us as New Yorkers get ready to celebrate Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day on Monday, Oct. 14. Major events include the 75th annual Columbus Day parade on Fifth Avenue and the two-day Indigenous Peoples' Celebration of New York City on Randall's Island. Ahead, get the low-down on both holidays, including additional planned activities, how to get around, and street closure information.
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October 10, 2019

Ken Griffin drops another $4M on Central Park South condos after record $240M penthouse purchase

Billionaire Ken Griffin really likes 220 Central Park South. The hedge fund mogul picked up two more apartments at the Robert A.M. Stern-designed skyscraper last month, less than a year after he bought a record-breaking $240 million penthouse there. The New York Post first spotted the sales, which includes apartments 20H for $1.89 million and 20J for $2.06 million, bringing his total investments at the property to roughly $244 million.
And another one
October 10, 2019

Pricing revealed for starchitect-designed Waterline Square rentals, with studios from $3,938/month

Update 10/10/19: More details about Waterline Square rentals were released on Tuesday, following the official lease launch last month. At the three-tower Upper West Side development, studios start at $3,938/month, one-bedrooms at $5,425/month, two-bedrooms at $8,625/month, three-bedrooms at $9,933/month, and four-bedrooms at $15,000/month. These prices include concessions for three months of free rent on a 12-month lease. Currently, the priciest unit available to rent is a $19,208/month four-bedroom at One Waterline Square, which measures just over 2,200 square feet. After topping out nearly two years ago, the trio of glassy high-rise towers known as Waterline Square on Monday kicked off leasing for its rental units. GID Development tapped three major architects, Richard Meier, Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), and Rafael Viñoly, to design the Upper West Side buildings, which include roughly 260 condos, 800 rental units, and 100,000 square feet of amenities. Rentals, ranging from studios to four-bedroom apartments, start at $4,130 per month, without concessions. Hill West Architects serve as the project's architect of record.
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October 9, 2019

Names of celebrities and wealthy New Yorkers buying condos under LLCs could be disclosed

The names of some wealthy property owners in New York City will soon be made public under a new state law signed last month by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. In response to reports of illegal home conversions in Rockland County, state lawmakers drafted a bill to prevent buyers from purchasing homes through limited-liability companies. The new law requires the name and address of each member of the LLC for both buyers and sellers in New York State. According to the Wall Street Journal, the change in law may affect buyers of Manhattan real estate who wish to remain undisclosed.
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October 9, 2019

Construction kicks off at Google’s new Hudson Square campus

Construction has officially kicked off at Google's massive new campus in Hudson Square. The tech company plans to open office space across three properties 315 Hudson Street, 345 Hudson Street, and 550 Washington Street, which formerly served as a freight terminal. The project involves a gut renovation of the terminal building and an addition of eight new floors. As CityRealty reported Tuesday, the northern sections of the St. John's Terminal building are now demolished.
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October 8, 2019

NYPL celebrates centennial of J.D. Salinger’s birth with archive of 200 rare items from the author

The life of famously private author J.D. Salinger will be the focus of a new New York Public Library exhibit. To mark the centennial of The Catcher in the Rye writer's birth, the library will display more than 200 items from Salinger's life, most of which have never before been seen by the public. The exhibition, "J.D. Salinger," includes family photographs from his time growing up in Manhattan, his own typewriter, and original typescript and proofs.
More this way
October 8, 2019

My 750sqft: A marketing strategist’s passion for sustainability is on full display in her Park Slope pad

Many New Yorkers fill their apartments with second-hand goods for that vintage aesthetic or because it's affordable. But Long Island-native Natalie Skoblow thrifts because it also benefits the environment. "From the clothes in my closet to the photos on the wall, almost everything in our apartment is either locally made, thrifted, or sustainably made," Natalie told us on a recent tour of her Park Slope apartment. What began as a hobby in high school became a "full-fledged love affair" with supporting sustainable, ethical brands. From the books found on the sidewalks of her neighborhood to the antique maps of Brooklyn above the piano, Natalie and her boyfriend Jesse's apartment brings new life into old pieces. Ahead, meet Natalie, along with the couple's newly adopted puppy Ollie, and tour her apartment, which she describes as "playful, vibrant, and welcoming."
Meet Natalie and see inside
October 8, 2019

Thomas Heatherwick’s pair of bubbled condos on the High Line gets rebranded as ‘Lantern House’

The pair of unique condo buildings with a bubbled facade rising on the High Line will officially be called Lantern House. Located at 515 West 18th Street, the two condo towers were designed by Thomas Heatherwick's Heatherwick Studio, the firm behind the climbable "Vessel" at Hudson Yards and the under-construction floating park at Pier 55. Along with the rebranding, Related Companies announced on Tuesday that sales for the development's 181 residences will launch next year, starting at $1.7 million for one-bedroom units.
Details here
October 7, 2019

26-story boutique office building planned on top of Calvary Baptist Church on Billionaires’ Row

Developers are planning to build a massive office project on top of a Billionaires' Row church. The Real Deal reported on Monday that Alchemy and ABR Investment Partners have partnered to buy properties owned by Calvary Baptist Church at 123-141 West 57th Street. The proposed boutique office building would rise 26 stories atop church space and sit next to Extell Development's supertall, One57.
More here
October 7, 2019

Climate change research center proposed for Governors Island

A research center dedicated to climate change could open on Governors Island, the New York Times reported on Sunday. The city is seeking proposals for a "major center for climate adaptation research, commercialization, conversation, and policymaking," to be built on the southern portion of the island, according to documents obtained by the Times. The city has looked to transform Governors Island into a 24/7 community since taking over control of the 172-acre site from the federal government in 2003.
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October 4, 2019

Winter festivities come early to NYC, with ice rinks and holiday markets opening this month

Before it's even truly felt like fall, winter is coming to New York City. Ice skating rinks and holiday markets will open this month, giving an early taste of cold-weather activities. The Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park, which includes holiday vendors and 17,000-square-foot ice rink, officially opens on Oct. 31, letting you trade trick-or-treating for shopping and skating. The iconic skating rink at Rockefeller Center will open on Oct. 12 for the fall and winter season and Lasker Rink in Central Park will open sometime later this month.
Who's ready?