All articles by Devin Gannon

May 21, 2018

Since 1993, NYC has lost 152,000 regulated units after landlords increased rent, report says

In the midst of an affordable housing crisis, rents in New York City continue to rise, a record number of New Yorkers make up the city’s homeless population and the amount of rent regulated apartments are in danger of vanishing completely. An investigation released Sunday by the New York Times found rent-stabilized apartments have been disappearing since city and state lawmakers first eradicated rent laws in 1993. Since then, the city has lost more than 152,000 regulated apartments as a result of landlords exploiting weak regulations and pushing out rent-regulated tenants, with little or no consequence from city and state agencies. And another 130,000 more apartments have been lost due to expiring tax breaks and co-op and condo conversions.
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Three chances to snag a middle-income apartment in East Flatbush, from $1,733/month

Photo via Absolute Consulting/ Michael Avramides Architects

May 21, 2018

Three chances to snag a middle-income apartment in East Flatbush, from $1,733/month

By Devin Gannon

A recently constructed building in the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn launched a lottery this week for three middle-income units. The rental units at 1544 Nostrand Avenue sit just a block from the 2 and 5 trains at Church Avenue and about a mile from the southern part of Prospect Park. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the $1,733/month one-bedroom and $2,089/month two-bedroom apartments. While the lottery offers a discount, it's relatively small, with market-rate one-bedrooms in Flatbush going for $1,917/month for a one-bedroom and $2,120 for a two-bedroom on average, according to RENTCafe.
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Affordable Housing

Live in a new Art Deco-inspired rental in Crown Heights, from $1,080/month

Via CitiHabitats

May 18, 2018

Live in a new Art Deco-inspired rental in Crown Heights, from $1,080/month

By Devin Gannon

A Karl Fischer-designed rental in Crown Heights launched a lottery this week for 40 affordable one- and two-bedroom apartments. Dubbed The Frederick, the building at 564 St. John's Place boasts a masonry and cast stone facade lined with stunning bay windows. To break away from the cookie-cutter look of new developments, the Frederick has residences with "state-of-the-art, but full of uncommon detail," according to the building website. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 60 percent of the area median income can apply for the affordable units, consisting of $1,080/month one-bedrooms and $1,223/month two-bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

Daniel Libeskind will redesign a new star for the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

Image via Swarovski

May 18, 2018

Daniel Libeskind will redesign a new star for the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

By Devin Gannon

Swarovski has tapped architect Daniel Libeskind to redesign a new star to top the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, the first time it will be replaced in 14 years. Libeskind, who is best known for designing the master site plan for the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site, called the star "a symbol that represents our greatest ambitions for hope, unity and peace." According to Architectural Digest, Libeskind's geometric, angular designs made him an easy choice as the new topper's designer.
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Lottery opens for 59 middle-income units near MoMA PS1 in Long Island City, from $2,098/month

Rendering via HAAK architects

May 18, 2018

Lottery opens for 59 middle-income units near MoMA PS1 in Long Island City, from $2,098/month

By Devin Gannon

Applications are now being accepted for 59 newly constructed, middle-income units in the heart of thriving Long Island City in Queens. HAAK architects designed the 12-story building at 11-39 49th Avenue, which boasts a unique patchwork facade made of tricolor brick. The rental sits less than a block from the 7 train and MoMA PS1 and less than a mile from Gantry Plaza State Park on the waterfront. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, which range from a $2,098/month studio to a $3,131/month three-bedroom.
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Affordable Housing

Proposal calls for a floating pedestrian bridge to connect Greenpoint and Long Island City

Rendering via CRÈME / Jun Aizaki Architecture and Design

May 17, 2018

Proposal calls for a floating pedestrian bridge to connect Greenpoint and Long Island City

By Devin Gannon

A Kickstarter campaign launched on Thursday for a civic design project aimed at reconnecting the neighborhoods of Greenpoint and Long Island City and the residents who live there. Brooklyn-based studio CRÈME/ Jun Aizaki Architecture & Design's concept, called Timber Bridge at LongPoint Corridor, calls for constructing a floating bridge made of durable timber that would sit on Newtown Creek and expand past to the LIRR rail yard in LIC. Not only would it provide people greater access to transit options, according to the design team, Timber Bridge would give bikers and pedestrians a safer commute than the Pulaski Bridge, a less-than-ideal path with lots of cars.
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Architecture And Design

Photo via CityRealty

May 17, 2018

A salary of $58,450 or less annually is now considered low income in the New York Metro Area

By Devin Gannon

If you are a single New Yorker earning $58,450 or less per year, you fall under the low income category, according to 2018 estimates released last month by the U.S. Department of Housing (HUD). These income limits are established by the government to help figure out if residents are eligible for subsidized and affordable housing. Even though the median family income in NYC and its surrounding area slightly increased this year to $70,300 from $66,200 in 2017, the high cost of living continues to place a significant burden on New Yorkers (h/t Curbed NY).
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May 16, 2018

27 middle-income apartments up for grabs in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, from $1,807/month

By Devin Gannon

Photo of Prospect Park via Maria Eklind on Flickr A second affordable housing lottery launched for the Lincoln Road Apartments, a two-tower rental building offering up 27 middle-income units. Located in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, the rentals at 31-33 Lincoln Road sit directly across from sprawling Prospect Park. In addition to its proximity to the park, 33 Lincoln provides residents a common roof deck, fitness center, a lounge and lots of storage. The apartments sit less than 500 feet from the B and Q trains at the Prospect Park Subway stop. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for units ranging from $1,807/month studios to $2,733/month two-bedroom apartments.
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Affordable Housing

Vendors unveiled for Williamsburg’s new food hall, set to open next to Radegast Hall this month

Di Fara, considered one of the best pizzerias in NYC, will open at the Williamsburg food hall; photo via apasciuto on Flickr

May 16, 2018

Vendors unveiled for Williamsburg’s new food hall, set to open next to Radegast Hall this month

By Devin Gannon

Does New York City really need another food hall? Before answering, check out the list of impressive vendors setting up shop in Williamsburg's new food hall at the end of May. The line-up includes iconic Di Fara pizza from Midwood, James Beard-nominated baker Zachary Golper's Bien Cuit, Brooklyn ramen shop Chuko, Greenwich Village's Corner Bistro and over a dozen more well-established food and retail vendors, according to Eater NY. Developer LENY market agency MRKTPL will open the doors on May 29 to its 15,000-square-foot indoor space at 103 North 3rd Street, where it will share a space with popular Radegast Hall & Biergarten, with a limited-vendor menu. Starting June 4, the North 3rd Street Market's hours will be extended and the full roster of vendors will be ready to serve up some tasty fare.
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Food & Dining

May 16, 2018

Apply for 39 middle-income units by the Williamsburg waterfront, from $1,999/month

By Devin Gannon

Renderings of 321 Wythe via ND Architecture & Design A newly constructed mixed-use building located near the Williamsburg Bridge has launched a lottery for 39 middle-income apartments. Built on the site of a former parking lot and single-story church, the 19-story tower at 321 Wythe Avenue includes 130 rental units, two floors of amenities, and an adjacent healthcare facility. Notably, because developer Watermark Capital Group is leasing the property from Saints Peter and Paul Church, certain activities "not in line with Catholicism" will be prohibited, DNAinfo reported in 2015. This includes a ban on things related to abortion, birth control, euthanasia, pornography, and stem-cell research. Despite these strange stipulations, the ND Architecture-designed tower does sit in a prime location, just steps from a host of bars, coffee shops, restaurants and the Williamsburg waterfront. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the available 17, $1,999/month one-bedrooms and the 22 $2,399/month two-bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

Landmarks approves three-story glass addition to Willem de Kooning’s former Union Square studio

By Devin Gannon

Last November, the owner of newly-landmarked buildings at 827-831 Broadway, noted for their cast-iron architecture and as the home of artist Willem de Kooning, submitted a proposal for a four-story prismatic glass addition and landscaped roof terrace that architects DXA Studio say was influenced by de Kooning's work. After sending the plan back to the drawing board twice, the Landmarks Preservation Commission on Monday finally approved the revised design, which reduces the height of the addition to three stories and places it more setback from the street. LPC recommends that DXA use a darker cladding material over 47 East 12th Street to give it a totally matte finish.
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New renderings and construction shots of Essex Street Market ahead of fall opening at Essex Crossing

Interior image via SHoP Architects; construction shot via NYCEDC

May 15, 2018

New renderings and construction shots of Essex Street Market ahead of fall opening at Essex Crossing

By Devin Gannon

Construction of Essex Street Market's new home across Delancey Street continues to move along before its scheduled opening this fall. Designed by SHoP Architects, the market sits above the 150,000-square-foot Market Line, which will stretch two levels and connect three sites of the Essex Crossing development. The market's first phase is expected to wrap up in October, bringing 13 new vendors to the site in addition to the 24 vendors from the historic Essex Street Market. Additional renderings released by the city's Economic Development Corporation this week highlight the brightness of the space, courtesy of the huge windows, 60-foot ceilings and use of light-reflective material. "As we near completion on the project, we are excited to soon open a world-class public market for the local Lower East Side community,” NYCEDC President James Patchett said in a statement to 6sqft. “The new Essex Market will preserve the current community-based spirit while creating additional space to expand the market’s offerings, provide new jobs, and present a higher level of goods and services to visitors and area residents alike.”
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Cuomo joins lawsuit against Trump administration for failing to enforce Fair Housing Act

Photo via Pixabay

May 15, 2018

Cuomo joins lawsuit against Trump administration for failing to enforce Fair Housing Act

By Devin Gannon

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday plans for New York State to join a lawsuit against the federal government for failing to carry out the Fair Housing Act, a 1968 law aimed at protecting people from discrimination when renting or buying. The suit seeks to reverse the decision by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to suspend President Barack Obama-era anti-segregation initiatives, known as an Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule. This rule requires local and state governments to address segregated housing patterns as a condition of receiving federal funding for housing. Joining civil rights groups in the lawsuit, with New York as the first state to do so, Cuomo called HUD's decision to delay this rule "repugnant" and "un-American."
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Policy

Coney Island boardwalk designated as a New York City landmark

Photo via Shinya Suzuki’s Flickr

May 15, 2018

Coney Island boardwalk designated as a New York City landmark

By Devin Gannon

Ninety-five years to the day since it first opened, the Coney Island boardwalk has been officially designated by the Landmarks Preservation Commission as NYC's 11th scenic landmark. The historic designation includes 2.7 miles of public beachfront, stretching from Coney Island's West 37th Street to Brighton 15th Street in Brighton Beach. Since 2014, Council Member Mark Treyger has pushed for the boardwalk to be landmarked, but the commission repeatedly rejected the proposal. "The Coney Island Boardwalk is as much a part of the culture as it is a part of the history of New York City," LPC Chair Meenakshi Srinivasan said in a press release Tuesday. "It is a beloved public space that embodies Coney Island’s democratic spirit and reflects our City’s values of tolerance, inclusivity and equity."
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Policy

May 14, 2018

Proposal for NYSE district overhaul calls for curbless streets, greenery and enhanced lighting

By Devin Gannon

In an effort to enhance the accessibility and the appearance of the New York Stock Exchange district, a new proposal is calling for curbless streets, enhanced lighting, multi-functional seating and simplified security structures. The Alliance for Downtown New York released on Monday a study that details ways to improve the historic area to make it more appealing and easier to navigate. While the corner of Wall and Broad Street has witnessed more than 400 years of Lower Manhattan history, starting when Dutch settlers built a wall as the city's northern border, the area is not living up to its potential as one of New York City's crown jewels, according to Jessica Lappin, the president of the Alliance. The study is the result of a nine-month process, with the Alliance working in tandem with local stakeholders, community members and design partners, WXY Architecture + Urban Design. "This report lays out a roadmap," Lappin said in a press release. "It is a grand yet achievable vision that could turn the Stock Exchange District into the jewel it should be." The group estimates the overhaul project will cost roughly $30 million.
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May 11, 2018

Four $2,425/month two-bedrooms near Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx up for grabs

By Devin Gannon

While this housing lottery won't save you a ton on rent, the four middle-income units available do sit in a prime location-- near the beautiful and historic Van Cortlandt Park. According to the city's parks department, the park is home to the country's first public golf course, the oldest house in the borough and the largest freshwater lake in the Bronx. Located at the nexus of the Bronx neighborhoods of Riverdale and Kingsbridge Heights, the building at 3190 Riverdale Avenue offers residents a parking garage and bike storage. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 120 percent of the area median income can apply for the four $2,425/month two-bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

Lottery launches for four newly constructed units in vibrant Bushwick, from $1,950/month

Photo via bslax28 on Flickr

May 11, 2018

Lottery launches for four newly constructed units in vibrant Bushwick, from $1,950/month

By Devin Gannon

An amenity-rich building in the heart of Bushwick is now accepting applications for four middle-income apartments. The rental complex, dubbed Gloria Linden, is located at 359 Linden Street. Apartments come with oversized windows oak flooring, custom LED lighting, Ceaserstone counters and Bertazzoni gas ranges. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for two $1,950/month one-bedroom units and two $2,390/month two-bedroom units.
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Affordable Housing

May 10, 2018

Inside the Ukrainian Institute of America, one of NYC’s best hidden architectural gems

By Devin Gannon

Located on East 79th Street at the corner of Fifth Avenue and across from Central Park, sits one of New York City’s last turn-of-the-century, French-Gothic styled-structures. Designed by Gilded-Age architect Charles Pierrepont Henry Gilbert, the building was home to Isaac D. Fletcher and Harry F. Sinclair, giving it the fitting name of the Fletcher-Sinclair Mansion. Now, the mansion is occupied by the Ukrainian Institute of America, a nonprofit organization that has promoted Ukrainian art, music and literature since 1948. Ahead, join 6sqft on a tour of the landmarked building and check out some of the unique features within this hidden-in-plain sight New York City architectural gem.
Take a tour

May 10, 2018

Fresh renderings for One Beekman, Richard Rogers’ first residential building in the U.S.

By Devin Gannon

Rendering of One Beekman courtesy of Noë & Associates with The Boundary New renderings have been unveiled for One Beekman, a mixed-use development designed by Richard Rogers, and it has nearly reached its 25-story pinnacle in the Financial District. As the firm's first residential project in the United States, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners have designed a tower that provides every single apartment with views of City Hall Park by shifting the circulation core to the south, according to the New York Times. The front of the building is open with oversized windows, allowing for half of the 31 total condo units to have outdoor terraces overlooking the park.
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The city will issue new Section 8 vouchers for the first time in two years

Photo via Creative Commons

May 10, 2018

The city will issue new Section 8 vouchers for the first time in two years

By Devin Gannon

For the first time in two years, New York City this week began issuing new Section 8 vouchers, which serve as a rental subsidy for lower-income families. The new vouchers come after the city's Housing Authority got a boost in funding from the federal government, allowing the authority to dole out 6,200 additional vouchers, according to amNY. Now, NYCHA has started calling possible tenants on its over 100,000-person waitlist and has already distributed 35 vouchers. The city oversees the largest Section 8 program in the country, with roughly 90,000 vouchers currently issued.
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Michael Cohen puts up $9M Trump Park Avenue apartment as collateral against bank debt

Photo of Michael Cohen via Wikimedia; image of Trump Park Avenue via Google Earth

May 9, 2018

Michael Cohen puts up $9M Trump Park Avenue apartment as collateral against bank debt

By Devin Gannon

Michael Cohen, the longtime attorney for President Donald Trump, has put up his family's Park Avenue apartment as collateral against a bank loan worth millions of dollars. The bank valued Cohen's condo, fittingly at Trump Park Avenue in Lenox Hill, for $9 million. The financially troubled lawyer is putting his apartment against $12.8 million in loans he took out for his taxi business in 2014. Cohen secured these loans by New York City taxi medallions, which have dropped in value by 80 percent due to the growth of ride-sharing services, according to Bloomberg.
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Policy

May 9, 2018

Trump could get over $30M from sale of a Brooklyn affordable housing complex he partially owns

By Devin Gannon

Starrett City photo via Matt Green on Flickr, President Trump photo via Wikimedia As he proposes funding cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development's subsidized housing programs, President Donald Trump is set to gain millions of dollars from the sale of an affordable housing complex in East New York, best known as Starrett City. Investors, including Trump who owns a 4 percent stake in the development, sold the 46-building complex to two real estate firms for $906 million, ABC News reported Tuesday. Trump is set to profit about $36 million from the sale (an amount which could drop after mortgage costs and transfer taxes). Home to roughly 15,000 residents across 145 acres, Starrett City is the largest federally subsidized housing project in the country.
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Six chances to snag an East Williamsburg one-bedroom for $1,150/month

Photo via David Berkowitz/Flickr

May 8, 2018

Six chances to snag an East Williamsburg one-bedroom for $1,150/month

By Devin Gannon

Photo via David Berkowitz/Flickr A housing lottery launched this week for six affordable units in the East Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn. The newly constructed development at 251 Devoe Street contains seven units, all of them spacious with open layouts. While some of the units in the building include balconies, all have central air and modern appliances. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 60 percent of the area median income can apply for the $1,150/month one-bedrooms. The rental building sits closest to the L and G trains, as well as a dog park and plenty of happening bars and restaurants.
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Affordable Housing

My 600sqft: A nonprofit fundraiser decorates her Turtle Bay studio with funky, feminine finds

6sqft’s series “My sqft” checks out the homes of New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to the Turtle Bay studio of Erica Greenblatt, director of development for the Anti-Defamation League. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch!

May 8, 2018

My 600sqft: A nonprofit fundraiser decorates her Turtle Bay studio with funky, feminine finds

By Devin Gannon

Erica Greenblatt never seems to stay in one place for long. In addition to her love of travel (she has visited 30 countries across 6 continents so far), she has moved 12 times in the last 14 years all over New York City. Most recently, Erica landed on a surprisingly spacious Turtle Bay studio on 54th Street and 2nd Avenue, her first apartment without any roommates. As the director of development for the Anti-Defamation League, a civil rights organization tasked with fighting bigotry, Erica raises funds needed for the group’s education and advocacy programs. And because of her job, she’s on the move again, headed outside of the five boroughs for the first time in over a decade. Erica moved to Atlanta, Georgia at the end of April, pledging to bring her feminine, eclectic style with her to her new southern pad. Before she left NYC to start a new adventure in the ATL, 6sqft visited Erica and learned about how her love of travel influences her worldly aesthetic, what she describes as her "signature style."
See inside Erica's studio

Wall Street’s historic Trinity Church will partially close during a two-year, $99M renovation

Rendering of the canopy at the graveyard via Trinity Wall Street

May 7, 2018

Wall Street’s historic Trinity Church will partially close during a two-year, $99M renovation

By Devin Gannon

The Trinity Church, whose history in New York City dates back 300 years, will partially close beginning Monday for a two-year, $98.6 million renovation of its nave, the main part of the church. As its first major revitalization in over 70 years, the landmarked church's project will restore parts of the original 1846 Gothic Revival style designed by Richard Upjohn. This includes rebuilding the chancel to its original size, increasing capacity by 140 seats and painting the interior walls and ceilings to reflect the original stone design. The reconstruction will move services and events at the Episcopal parish to nearby St. Paul's Chapel, but the Chapel of All Saints and the churchyard, where Alexander Hamilton is buried, will remain open throughout the project.
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Architecture And Design

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