All articles by Devin Gannon

November 1, 2018

Norman Foster will design new Park Avenue headquarters for JPMorgan Chase

JPMorgan Chase has tapped starchitect Norman Foster to design its new 2.5 million-square-foot headquarters at 270 Park Avenue, as first reported by Bloomberg. The new 70-story tower would replace the bank's current offices, located in the Union Carbide building. Foster + Partners designed the nearby office tower at 425 Park Avenue, as well as Apple's spaceship-like headquarters in California.
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November 1, 2018

Bjarke Ingels tapped to design $110M upgrade for Central Park’s Delacorte Theater

Central Park's beloved Delacorte Theater will get its first major renovation since it was constructed over 50 years ago, the New York Times reported on Wednesday. The Public Theater announced it has tapped architect Bjarke Ingels' firm BIG to design a $110 million upgrade for the open-air theater, home to the free productions of Shakespeare in the Park. Kicking off in 2020, the project aims to reorganize the theater's space, improve its resiliency, and make it overall more safe and efficient.
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October 31, 2018

Affordable lottery launches at a new Bushwick building, but doesn’t save renters a whole lot

Applications are now being accepted for eight middle-income apartments at a newly constructed building in Bushwick. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments at 18 Stanhope Street, which include four $2,175/month one-bedrooms and four $2,270/month two-bedrooms. The units do not offer that much of a discount from the market rate apartments at the building, with current listings starting at $2,500/month for a one-bedroom and $2,700/month for a two-bedroom.
Find out if you qualify
October 30, 2018

The triplex penthouse at Zaha Hadid’s High Line condo relists for $50M

One of New York City's most illustrious penthouses has once again hit the market for $50 million, the same price it was listed for more than two years prior. The grand triplex apartment, Penthouse 37, is located in late starchitect Zaha Hadid's condo building in Chelsea, 520 West 28th Street. Measuring over 6,800 square feet, the apartment's three levels are connected by a sculptural staircase, the architectural centerpiece of this stunning home. The roof level includes a 2,000-square-foot terrace which offers views of the Chelsea skyline and the High Line.
Inside the crown jewel
October 30, 2018

Reopened 86th Street B,C station boasts new murals inspired by Central Park and Beaux-Arts architecture

The 86th Street B, C station reopened last week after five months of renovations and upgrades. The improved Central Park West station now features six colorful mosaic and ceramic murals translated from artist Joyce Kozloff's "Parkside Portals" artwork, which depicts different perspectives of the neighborhood. The art shifts from aerial views of Central Park to close-ups of Beaux-Arts and Art Deco elements found on the iconic facades of surrounding buildings.
See the murals
October 30, 2018

Historic building at Brooklyn Navy Yard to be restored as modern manufacturing space

A former boat repair facility at the Brooklyn Navy Yard will get restored as a modern manufacturing space, the last adaptive reuse project at the 300-acre site. The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) last month closed on $42 million in financing to restore Building 127, which was built in 1904 by the U.S. Navy for ship construction. S9 Architecture is handling the "historically sensitive" gut renovation, which will bring 95,000 square feet of modern industrial space to the Yard by 2020.
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October 29, 2018

Columbus Circle is getting a ‘small-format’ Target next year

New York City is getting its 28th Target store, the retail giant announced on Monday. The company will open a "small-format" store near Columbus Circle on the Upper West Side in 2019. This new Target is part of the company's plan to open 130 small-format stores by the end of next year in urban and highly-populated suburban areas, as well as near college campuses.
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October 29, 2018

Apply for 67 middle-income units near the J, M, Z lines in Bushwick, from $1,759/month

For those looking to move away from the soon-to-be-shuttered L train but remain in Brooklyn, this affordable housing lottery may be a decent solution. Applications are now being accepted for 67 middle-income apartments across two buildings in Bushwick, both conveniently near the J, M, Z subway lines. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, ranging from $1,759/month studios to $2,506/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
October 29, 2018

$9.5M Harlem penthouse sets uptown record for most expensive condo

The sale of a $9.45 million penthouse in Harlem closed last week, setting a new record for the most expensive uptown condo sale, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday. The 11th-floor apartment at Circa Central Park, which hugs the northern end of Central Park on the corner of West 110th Street, features five bedrooms and a private terrace measuring over 1,200 square feet. The sale is the most expensive condo sale above 96th Street on the West Side of Manhattan, and 102nd Street on the East.
See the penthouse
October 29, 2018

NYPL releases limited-edition ‘Knowledge is Power’ library cards

The New York Public Library launched on Monday a limited-edition library card highlighting the message behind all public libraries: knowledge is power. The special black and silver card serves as a reminder to New Yorkers to fight misinformation, stay informed, and, of course, visit your local library. The card is available at NYPL's 92 locations across the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island for a limited time.
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October 26, 2018

Brooklyn Point’s $3.9M penthouse is the highest apartment ever in the borough

The highest apartment ever built in Brooklyn just hit the market for $3.9 million. The penthouse sits on the 68th floor of Extell Development's tower, Brooklyn Point, which at 720 feet remains the tallest building in the borough. The corner residence contains three bedrooms, three baths, and will boast incredible views of Manhattan via windows with North and East exposure. Brooklyn Point, at 138 Willoughby Street in Downtown Brooklyn, is still under construction, but officially launched sales in March, with condos starting at $837,000.
See the penthouse
October 26, 2018

MTA’s five-year spending plan could double to $60B

Fixing the Metro Area's mass transit system may cost $60 billion in a five-year spending plan, Politico New York reported this week. The capital spending plan includes system-wide repairs for the subway, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North, and the bridges and tunnels overseen by the authority. This updated price tag is nearly double the MTA's existing five-year plan of roughly $33 billion.
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October 25, 2018

Month-long ‘winterfest’ and holiday market coming to the Brooklyn Museum

Brooklyn is getting a new winter festival and market this holiday season full of family-fun events, shopping, wine and beer tastings, and more. Dubbed WinterFest, the pop-up will take over 40,000 square feet of outdoor space at the Brooklyn Museum from Nov. 23 to Dec. 31 and feature more than 50 holiday-decorated wooden chalets with local crafts and handmade gifts inside.
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October 25, 2018

Enjoy frightful films and a costume parade judged by Tim Gunn at the NYPL’s Halloween bash

The New York Public Library is hosting the ultimate costume contest this Halloween, forcing participants to really "make it work." Not only must costumes be inspired by a book or author, but they will also be judged by Project Runway star and fashion consultant Tim Gunn. The Halloween Masquerade event takes place on Friday from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.
Get more details here
October 24, 2018

Three new restaurants and possible bank could replace shuttered Union Square Coffee Shop

One of New York City's beloved late-night spots will be replaced with three new restaurants and possibly a Chase Bank, Eater NY reported. The Coffee Shop, an iconic Union Square diner known for its fashion model customers and appearances on shows like Sex and the City, closed earlier this month. While no leases have been signed, the property manager told Eater three of the four retail spaces available will be reserved for new restaurants.
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October 24, 2018

Lin-Manuel Miranda joins effort to encourage travel between NYC and Puerto Rico

The tourism agencies of New York City and Puerto Rico are teaming up to boost travel between the two places. At an event on Tuesday hosted by Lin-Manuel Miranda, NYC & Company and Discover Puerto Rico signed a one-year alliance to encourage "reciprocal travel," with a new advertising campaign and swapping of marketing tips. Miranda is also bringing his award-winning show "Hamilton" to the island from January 8 to January 27 at the Univesity of Puerto Rico's San Juan campus. All proceeds from the engagement will go toward an art fund on the island founded by Miranda.
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October 23, 2018

Amazon to open a cashier-less convenience store at Brookfield Place

Amazon will open its first cashier-less store in New York City in Battery Park City, Recode reported on Monday. Amazon Go is like a futuristic convenience store, offering ready-to-eat meals and groceries without having to wait in line. According to the company, "Just Walk Out Technology" is used, which automatically keeps tracks of products taken or returned via a virtual cart. With no lines or checkout, once you find an item you want, you can just leave.
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October 23, 2018

The full interior of 116-year-old Glaser’s Bake Shop is for sale

For those still struggling with the absence of Yorkville institution Glaser's Bake Shop, which sadly closed its doors in June, there's a chance to hold on to some of that sweet nostalgia. The complete interior of the beloved bakery, which first opened on the Upper East Side in 1902 and is credited with inventing black-and-white cookies, is for sale. The Demolition Depot announced this week they are selling classic features of Glaser's, including its apothecary-style wooden showcases, sliding glass doors, original silvered mirrors, milk glass upper panels, marble countertop, and more (h/t Vanishing New York).
Get the details
October 22, 2018

MTA will add 1,000 new roundtrips each week during the L train shutdown

During the L train shutdown, 1,000 new alternate roundtrips will be added every week, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Starting in April, extra service will be added to the A, E, F, J, Z, M, and G lines, NBC reported. The L train will not run between 8th Avenue and Bedford Avenue for 15 months while the Carnarsie Tunnel, heavily damaged by Hurricane Sandy, is repaired. About 275,000 of the L train's 400,000 daily riders are expected to be affected by the temporary shut down.
More this way
October 22, 2018

Newark and NYC appear to be favored for Amazon’s HQ2 site

The hunt for Amazon's second headquarters is still on, more than a year after the company first announced its plan for HQ2. The tech-giant has narrowed its list of potential cities from over 200 to 20, with Newark and New York City both making the cut. Amazon executives recently revisited both of the cities, as well as others like Chicago and Miami, making it seem like the company favors an urban area, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
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October 22, 2018

With sales still sluggish, Trump Tower sees only its second deal of the year

A one-bedroom on the 57th floor of Trump Tower closed earlier this month for $1.825 million, marking just the second sale of 2018 at the Midtown building, as Mansion Global first reported. Comparatively, there were seven sales in 2017 and eight in 2016 at the building, developed by President Donald Trump. While the sales slump at Trump Tower reflects a broader decline in sales at luxury properties across Manhattan, politics surrounding the building may also be playing a role.
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October 19, 2018

Updated looks for COOKFOX’s Domino Sugar building, Williamsburg’s will-be tallest

Fully above ground, the second tower to rise at the massive Domino Sugar site has a pair of new renderings. Designed by COOKFOX Architects, 1 South First (previously 260 Kent Avenue) is a 42-story mixed-use tower on the Williamsburg waterfront development, which was formerly home to the sugar manufacturing facility. When 1 South First opens next fall, it will join already opened 325 Kent Avenue and Domino Park, all developed by Two Trees Management.
See them here
October 19, 2018

To kick off Halloween weekend, watch NYC architects face off in a pumpkin-carving contest

Don't expect to see typical Jack-o'-lanterns at the Center for Architecture's pumpkin-carving event this Halloween. On Oct. 26, 20 New York City-based architecture firms will face off at Pumpkitecture!, the center's third annual competition, which tests the ability of architects to create amazing designs across any medium (ie: a round, orange gourd). Attendees can watch the architects live-carve inventive structures and vote for the People's Pumpkin.
More on the gourds
October 18, 2018

Over 70 affordable units up for grabs in new luxury Clinton Hill rental, from $913/month

Applications are now being accepted for 73 affordable rentals in a new Brooklyn building located in the middle of Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, and Fort Greene. Developed by RXR Realty, the 12-story building at 810 Fulton Street is expected to open in 2019. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 60 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, which range from $913/month studios to $1,183/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify