All articles by Devin Gannon

Waitlist opens for 400+ middle-income units near Flushing Meadows Corona Park

Via Paul VanDerWerf on Flickr

August 8, 2018

Waitlist opens for 400+ middle-income units near Flushing Meadows Corona Park

By Devin Gannon

A lottery to get on the waitlist for more than 400 moderate-income units launched this week across a few rental buildings in Forest Hills, a residential neighborhood of Queens. The buildings, located at 62-27 108th Street, 108-53 62nd Drive, and 110-01 62nd Drive, are being developed by Phipps Houses, a major developer of affordable housing. The buildings sit nearby Flushing Meadows Corona Park, home to the Queens Museum, New York Hall of Science, Citi Field, and the Arthur Ashe Tennis Stadium. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 100 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from a $1,462/month studio to a $2,170/month three-bedroom.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

LPC approves Morris Adjmi’s condo project for East Village gas explosion site

Courtesy of Morris Adjmi Architects

August 8, 2018

LPC approves Morris Adjmi’s condo project for East Village gas explosion site

By Devin Gannon

The Landmarks Preservation Commission approved on Tuesday a seven-story condo on the site of the 2015 East Village gas explosion. Designed by Morris Adjmi Architects, the project was first presented to the commission in July but was sent back to the drawing board over concerns regarding the windows and gloomy coloring. According to Curbed NY, the firm's new design features a brighter facade, more traditional windows to reflect the character of the East Village and a permanent plaque to honor the two people that died during the explosion.
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In Bushwick, 3 middle-income units located steps to the M, J and Z trains, from $2,714/month

Photo via Manny Moss on Flickr

August 7, 2018

In Bushwick, 3 middle-income units located steps to the M, J and Z trains, from $2,714/month

By Devin Gannon

Starting on Wednesday, applications will be accepted for three new, middle-income units in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bushwick. Found at 1157 Myrtle Avenue, the rental sits just a block away from the J, M and Z trains as well as the B54 and B 15 buses. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the two $2,714/month two-bedrooms and one $3,131/month three-bedroom.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

20 affordable studios in Bed-Stuy up for grabs for $666/month

Photo via Matthew Rutledge on Flickr

August 7, 2018

20 affordable studios in Bed-Stuy up for grabs for $666/month

By Devin Gannon

A newly constructed Bed-Stuy rental launched a lottery this week for 20 affordable studios. Located at 500 Gates Avenue, the five-story, 68-unit apartment building sits on the corner of budding Thompkins Avenue, a block home to nearby favorites like Bed-Vyne Brew and Peaches Hot House. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 60 percent of the area median income can apply for the $666/month studio apartments.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

De Blasio signs bill forcing Airbnb to disclose names and addresses of hosts

Via CityRealty

August 7, 2018

De Blasio signs bill forcing Airbnb to disclose names and addresses of hosts

By Devin Gannon

Update 8/7/18: Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday signed into law a bill that cracks down on the number of illegal Airbnb listings in New York City. Taking effect in February 2019, the new law requires the company to disclose the names and addresses of its hosts. The information will be turned over to the Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement. The New York City Council passed a bill on Wednesday that requires Airbnb and other home-sharing sites to provide the names and addresses of its hosts to the city. Under state law, it remains illegal in most buildings to rent out an apartment for less than 30 days unless the permanent tenant is there. Just hours before the council unanimously voted for this legislation, an Airbnb host from Brooklyn, Stanley Karol, sued the city in federal court for fining him $30,000 after speaking out against the bill. "I believe that the City has sought to silence me, by not only saddling me with massive fines, but also making me feel unsafe in my own home," Karol said.
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The L-train will not run between Brooklyn and Manhattan for 15 weekends

L train stop at Bedford; via Roshan Vyas on Flickr

August 7, 2018

The L-train will not run between Brooklyn and Manhattan for 15 weekends

By Devin Gannon

The MTA announced on Saturday that the L train will not run between Manhattan and Brooklyn over 15 weekends. Between this coming weekend and mid-April, the L will only operate between Broadway Junction and Carnasie-Rockaway Parkway during specific weekends. As Gothamist reported, this "pre-shutdown shutdown" will prepare for the 15-month shutdown of the L-train scheduled to begin sometime in April.
More L-shutdown nightmares

‘Bites of the Big Apple’ maps around-the-clock eating habits of New Yorkers

August 6, 2018

‘Bites of the Big Apple’ maps around-the-clock eating habits of New Yorkers

By Devin Gannon

Not only are New Yorkers eating at all hours of the day, they're also posting photos of the grub on Instagram. An animated map from Crimson Hexagon dubbed "Bites of the Big Apple" displays all of the food-related posts on Instagram published over a 24-hour period across the five boroughs. Not surprisingly, the number of photos of fried chicken, burgers and pizza increased after midnight, with snapshots of salads most prevalent around lunch time. And proving NYC is the city that never sleeps, photos of coffee were popular at every hour.
Explore it here

Food & Dining

The city is looking to bring Metro-North service to the South Bronx

Photo via Wikimedia

August 6, 2018

The city is looking to bring Metro-North service to the South Bronx

By Devin Gannon

It's no surprise the Bronx ranks as the fastest-growing county in New York. In the last year alone, plans announced for the South Bronx have included the city's first soccer stadium, a 1,300-unit residential project on the waterfront, a development with Hip-Hop museum and food hall and a $10M revitalization investment from Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Furthering the area's development boom, a study officially launched last week to look at the expansion of Metro-North service East and South Bronx communities, including Hunts Point, Parkschester/Van Nest, Morris Park and Co-op City.
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Pilot program to legalize basement apartments developing in East New York

Via HPD

August 3, 2018

Pilot program to legalize basement apartments developing in East New York

By Devin Gannon

Mayor Bill de Blasio in June announced the city would help landlords create and renovate legal basement and cellar apartments in Brooklyn. This includes making the apartments up to code by ensuring proper safety requirements and windows, among other modifications. As a part of the pilot program, homeowners can apply for the basement pilot program through a city-approved, community-based organization. "This program will increase the stock of affordable housing in East New York, provide additional income to homeowners, and ensure tenant safety," de Blasio said. The deadline for the basement conversion program is August 15 (h/t City Limits).
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Sales launch at David Adjaye’s first NYC skyscraper in FiDi, from $780K

August 2, 2018

Sales launch at David Adjaye’s first NYC skyscraper in FiDi, from $780K

By Devin Gannon

Sales launched this week for 130 William, starchitect David Adjaye's first skyscraper in New York City. Available residences at the Financial District tower include studio, one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom condos, as well as and loggia/penthouse units. The apartments just listed range in price from $780,990 to just over $6.96 million. According to Lightstone, there's been enormous interest in the building: over 30 contracts have been signed in under 30 days, over a year before 130 William is set to open in 2020.
See the floorplans

Architecture And Design

Popular Articles

After years of delays and $20M increase, Lower Manhattan pedestrian bridge won’t meet fall deadline

Rendering via WXY Architecture

August 2, 2018

After years of delays and $20M increase, Lower Manhattan pedestrian bridge won’t meet fall deadline

By Devin Gannon

After two Battery Park City bridges were destroyed during the terrorist attacks on 9/11, the city quickly built the Rector Street Bridge, a temporary solution to let pedestrians safely cross West Street. The state's department of transportation released a proposal in 2006 to reconstruct the promenade but opted to renovate the bridge in 2009 instead. WXY Architecture released a new proposal in 2013 to replace the Rector Street Bridge with a 230-foot-long light-filled, permanent pedestrian walkway at West Thames Street. But, as Crain's first reported, the project won't meet its fall deadline and the project's budget has grown from $20 million to roughly $40 million.
Find out more

Architecture And Design

City seeks proposals for film and television studio at Bush Terminal in Sunset Park

Rendering via WXY architecture + urban design

August 1, 2018

City seeks proposals for film and television studio at Bush Terminal in Sunset Park

By Devin Gannon

New York City is seeking proposals to develop and operate a 200,000-square-foot media production space on the Sunset Park waterfront. The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment and the New York City Economic Development Corporation announced Thursday it is looking to build a state-of-the-art film, television, sound recording or other similar production space at the Made in New York Campus at Bush Terminal. Scheduled to open in 2020, the campus is expected to become a hub for garment, manufacturing and media production.
Get the details

New Developments

MTA ‘deeply apologizes’ for announcing N train tunnel closure via Twitter

Photo via Wiki Commons

August 1, 2018

MTA ‘deeply apologizes’ for announcing N train tunnel closure via Twitter

By Devin Gannon

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Monday morning began work on the N, R and D line tunnels running in Brooklyn from 36th Street to 59th Street, causing massive delays. But the agency never told rush-hour commuters, who checked the MTA's website to find it labeled it as "good service" on the yellow lines. Only after about an hour of frustrated tweets directed at the MTA did the agency announce the long-term structural project, via Twitter.
More here

Transit

IKEA’s 2019 catalog comes to life at this free pop-up event in Soho

“Haven in the city”

July 31, 2018

IKEA’s 2019 catalog comes to life at this free pop-up event in Soho

By Devin Gannon

To mark 75 years of sleek, affordable design, IKEA is hosting a free pop-up event for just five days in Soho. Starting on Wednesday, design nerds and interior newbies alike will enjoy walking through different homes and get inspired by the various products and furniture, many which can be found in the company's 2019 catalog (officially released on Tuesday). Dubbed the IKEA Inspiration Experience, the event, located at 477 Broadway, runs between August 1 and August 5.
Get the details

$1.2M duplex on Tompkins Square Park offers rare East Village quiet

July 31, 2018

$1.2M duplex on Tompkins Square Park offers rare East Village quiet

By Devin Gannon

Unlike many East Village apartments, noise won't be an issue for this duplex at 323 East 8th Street. The two-bedroom home sits on the same block as Tompkins Square Park, so there is no through traffic on the street. Asking $1.19 million, it's been recently renovated with modern finishes but retains classic pre-war features like high ceilings and exposed brick.
Check it out

Distinctive Homes

Small living advocate Graham Hill lists his 350-square-foot Soho micro apartment for $750K

Photo by Christopher Testani for LifeEdited

July 30, 2018

Small living advocate Graham Hill lists his 350-square-foot Soho micro apartment for $750K

By Devin Gannon

When eco-conscious architect and entrepreneur Graham Hill listed his famously tiny 420-square-foot apartment in Soho, we thought a unit couldn't get any smaller. But Hill has done it again, listing another micro apartment at 150 Sullivan Street for $750,000. The itty-bitty digs, dubbed LifeEdited 2, measures just 350 square feet but manages to seat 10 for dinner, host two guests and have space for a home office.
Tour the tiny space

Distinctive Homes

The city’s first shared electric moped service launches in Brooklyn

Photo via Revel Transit

July 30, 2018

The city’s first shared electric moped service launches in Brooklyn

By Devin Gannon

More than 60 electric mopeds will hit the streets of Greenpoint, Williamsburg and Bushwick on Monday, as part of a new ride-sharing program. Developed by Revel Transit, the mopeds are available to anyone with a driver's license and for rides within Brooklyn in Queens, as the Wall Street Journal reported. Through an app, users can find nearby mopeds and reserve one up to 15 minutes in advance. While moped sharing exists in a few other cities, including Berlin and Paris, this is the first service of its kind in New York City.
Roll this way

Transit

Cap on ride-hailing services in NYC is a civil rights issue, racial justice groups say

July 30, 2018

Cap on ride-hailing services in NYC is a civil rights issue, racial justice groups say

By Devin Gannon

Photo via Wikimedia As New York City prepares to become the first major city in the country to cap the number of vehicles driving for services like Uber, racial justice organizations are rallying against the legislation, calling it a civil rights issue. Groups like the National Urban League and the N.A.A.C.P say the City Council's plan to place a freeze on the amount of for-hire vehicle licenses for one year hurts minority New Yorkers who have trouble hailing taxis on the street. "Some yellow cabs won't even go uptown or to parts of Brooklyn," Rev. Al Sharpton told the New York Times. "If you are downtown they won't stop."
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Explore ‘faces and voices’ of Manhattan storefronts with new exhibit from James and Karla Murray

Photos © James and Karla Murray

July 27, 2018

Explore ‘faces and voices’ of Manhattan storefronts with new exhibit from James and Karla Murray

By Devin Gannon

Whether it's their photography from our My Sqft series, images from their best-selling Storefront books or their most recent "Mom-and-Pops" life-size installation in Seward Park, chances are you've already admired the work of Karla and James Murray. And now there's an opportunity to further appreciate their work and the work of those they have mentored. Earlier this year, James and Karla hosted two, two-session workshops, which taught the art of capturing New York City storefronts. Starting August 1, the workshop's participants will show off their photos at the Jefferson Market Library's Little Underground Gallery. Celebrate with them during a free opening reception for the exhibit next Friday, August 3 from 5 pm to 7 pm.
Learn more about the event

Events & Things To Do

Merchant’s House Museum files petition in court against construction of adjacent eight-story hotel

The museum via Google street view

July 27, 2018

Merchant’s House Museum files petition in court against construction of adjacent eight-story hotel

By Devin Gannon

The Merchant's House Museum and its supporters filed a petition on Monday in New York Supreme Court against the construction of an eight-story hotel planned next door. The 186-year-old East Village home at 29 East Fourth Street belonged to hardware merchant Seabury Tredwell, who bought the 10,000-square-foot residence for $18,000 in 1832. The museum, which has been remarkably preserved since then, became the first property in Manhattan to be designated a New York City landmark in 1965. But landmark status does not guarantee protection from any adjacent construction projects. The museum is now taking legal action against the hotel project because, as its executive director, Margaret "Pi" Halsey Gardiner, told the WSJ: "It's not going to be able to survive construction next door, I guarantee you."
Get the details

15 must-see attractions and adventures on Staten Island

July 26, 2018

15 must-see attractions and adventures on Staten Island

By Devin Gannon

With major developments underway, Staten Island is slowly losing its nickname as the "forgotten borough." While projects like Empire Outlets, the Bay Street Corridor rezoning, and the expansion of the former Stapleton homeport hope to revitalize the borough with new residential and commercial space, Staten Island already offers visitors a ton of unique attractions to explore. Just take the free Staten Island Ferry to discover the miles of coastline and 12,300-acres of parkland in the city's greenest and least populated borough. For the best spots in the borough, follow 6sqft's list ahead of the 15 most unforgettable attractions on Staten Island.
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

880+ affordable homes, new performing arts center and public space upgrades coming to Brownsville

July 26, 2018

880+ affordable homes, new performing arts center and public space upgrades coming to Brownsville

By Devin Gannon

A proposal to revitalize Brooklyn's Brownsville neighborhood was announced one year ago, with a plan to bring a seven-building housing development to the area unveiled last month. And on Thursday, city officials released more details about the massive project, with new renderings and updates on its progress. As part of the Brownsville Plan, the city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development will bring a new arts center and school run by a group from the Brooklyn Music School and a media lab run by BRIC, new retail and commercial space, and a rooftop greenhouse with locally sourced produce. Plus, two proposals were selected as the NYCx Co-Lab Challenge winners, a competition that sought to find ways to enhance the area's "nighttime experience."
Find out more

5 chances to live in the hip hub of Bushwick, from $926/month

July 26, 2018

5 chances to live in the hip hub of Bushwick, from $926/month

By Devin Gannon

Photo via Victoria Pickering on Flickr If you live at 682 Bushwick Avenue, chances are you would never go hungry. The rental building, which sits at the corner of Bushwick and Willoughby Avenues, is near local bars like Happyfun Hideaway and Birdy's, Mexican eatery Regalo De Juquila and artsy cafe Little Skips. A lottery launched this week at the building for five units set aside for New Yorkers earning 60 percent of the area median income. Available apartments include two $926/month one-bedrooms and three $1,042/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

MTA set to hike fares next year, despite poor service and fewer riders

Image by Ged Carroll via Flickr CC

July 26, 2018

MTA set to hike fares next year, despite poor service and fewer riders

By Devin Gannon

Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials announced Wednesday it will stick with its plan to increase fares and tolls that net four percent in 2019 and 2021 as the agency faces budget deficits in the coming years, the Daily News reported. The MTA said it expects to lose roughly $376 million over the next four years, or $90 million per year, due to a drop in ridership. Between 2016 and 2017, there was a loss of 69 million rides on the city's subway and buses. The fare hike would be the sixth since 2009 when the state legislature approved a plan that included increasing fares every other year.
More here

You can soar down Centre Street on a 165-foot-long zipline this August

2017 Summer Streets; photo via DOT on Flickr

July 25, 2018

You can soar down Centre Street on a 165-foot-long zipline this August

By Devin Gannon

Summer Streets is back! Starting August 4, New Yorkers can enjoy seven miles of car-free fun along Park Avenue, from Central Park to the Brooklyn Bridge. As part of the Department of Transporation's 11th annual event, activities will be offered on three Saturdays in August, from 7 am to 1 pm. While there's sadly not a dishwasher-looking waterslide this year, there will be a 165-foot-long, 30-foot-high zip line, fun hand-cycles to test out, and an eight-foot-tall bouldering wall.
Plan your summer streets fun

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