City Living

Thankfully, the city has found no mosquitoes carrying Zika, however, as of August 11, they've found 141 mosquito traps with the West Nile virus. If this makes you worry about every itchy bite you've gotten, this handy (albeit stomach-turning) map series may ease some anxiety. The Department of Health has created the Protecting NYC From Mosquitoes maps that show where and how many pests have been trapped on average each week, and what species they are, as well as the locations of catch basins, backpack larvaciding, helicopter and truck spraying, and standing water violations.
READ MORE

City Living

August 22, 2016

Reimagining Streit’s Matzo Factory on the Lower East Side: Two perspectives

The closing of Streit’s Matzo Factory last year was difficult for many long-time Lower East Siders to stomach. The factory was a near century-old institution that represented a bygone era untouched by gentrification. Unsurprisingly as a result, the condos designed to rise on the storied site have come under the scrutiny since their debut. But those grievances reveal just one side of the story. […]

August 22, 2016

How safe is NYC water? An expert weighs in

By Metro New York

New York City’s been in the grips of some unforgiving heat and humidity this summer. One of the top tips for staying healthy during such severe weather (and always) is to stay hydrated by drinking a lot of water. And the city extended hours at many of its public pools to give folks as much […]

City Living

August 21, 2016

Bivouac offers free off-grid camping on a secret NYC rooftop

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

While urban camping might sound like an oxymoron, there are some surprising options for roughing it in the city. Take for example Bivouac, a pop-up campsite on rotating, secret rooftops where you can wake up surrounded by Brooklyn's terraces or admiring Central Park from above--free of charge. Created by artist Thomas Stevenson, the site consists of six waterproof canvas tents with wooden frames and one-inch wool felt flooring for comfort and insulation. There's no electricity or internet to help guests disconnect from daily life, so all you have to do is book your stay in advance through Thomas (the "park ranger") and bring along a sleeping bag and food to share in a communal dinner.
Learn more about the rooftop camping project

August 12, 2016

Spotlight: Douglas Quint on How Big Gay Ice Cream Became a New York Foodie Phenomenon

If you're walking on East 7th Street between 1st Avenue and Avenue A or in the West Village on 7th Avenue near Christopher Street and see a long line on the sidewalk coupled with smiling faces walking by with ice cream cones, you've found Big Gay Ice Cream. The two shops are places where ice cream is not scooped, but swirled, in offerings that have become famous not only for their imaginative ingredients, but their fabulous names. There's the Bea Arthur, named after the "Golden Girls" actress and activist, comprised of vanilla ice cream, dulce de leche and crushed 'nilla wafter; the Cococone with chocolate ice cream and toasted curry coconut; and perhaps their most well-known, the Salty Pimp, made up of vanilla ice cream, dulce de leche, sea salt, and a chocolate dip. One of the visionaries behind Big Gay is Douglas Quint, who, along with Bryan Petroff, founded the business in 2009. While it started out as a summer experiment when the two opened an ice cream truck, it quickly developed into something much bigger (a third location recently opened in Philadelphia and the duo published a cookbook last year). 6sqft recently spoke with Douglas to discuss all the magic that takes place at Big Gay, including how the flavors come to be, their three locations, and the best time to stop by for a cone.
The full interview ahead

August 11, 2016

The Success Story of Industry City as Told by Its Innovative Manufacturing Tenants

Industry City is a six million-square-foot, 30-acre industrial complex on the Sunset Park waterfront. Its 16 buildings made up the former Bush Terminal, a manufacturing, warehousing and distribution center that opened in 1895. After falling into disrepair over the past few decades, in 2013, a new ownership team led by Belvedere Capital and Jamestown began their $1 billion undertaking to update the complex while cultivating a diverse tenant mix that fuses today’s burgeoning innovation economy with traditional manufacturing and artisanal craft. Today, there are more than 4,500 people and 400 companies working in Industry City, and 6sqft recently paid a visit to four of them (a handbag designer, lighting designer, candle company, and chocolatier) to learn why the complex makes sense for their business and what unique opportunities it's afforded them. We also spoke with Industry City CEO Andrew Kimball about the unprecedented success of the complex and his visions for the future, as well as took a tour of the buildings and their wildly popular public amenity spaces such as the food hall, outdoor courtyards, and tenant lounge.
All this and more ahead

August 8, 2016

Brooklyn Bridge May Get Expanded Promenade to Accommodate Growing Crowds

If you’ve ever had the experience of nearly being flattened by something on foot or wheels while walking or biking across the Brooklyn Bridge on a weekend afternoon, try to survive a little bit longer, help may be on the way. City transportation officials announced Monday that plans were in the works to alleviate the pedestrian and bike traffic that threatens to become “Times Square in the Sky.” The New York Times reports that among the possibilities for the aging bridge is a new path to help reduce some of the current congestion.
Find out more

August 5, 2016

Spotlight: Climate Scientist Radley Horton Discusses Extreme Weather in NYC

With increasing concerns about rising sea levels and the large quantity of greenhouse gas emitted into the atmosphere, Radley Horton's work is more important than ever. As a climate scientist at Columbia University, he's working on the applied end of climate change by examining data to make projections about the possibility of extreme weather events. Based on the data and ensuing models, he then considers the impacts these potential events and the overall changing climate might have in a variety of contexts that range from airports to the migration of pests. Radley is on the forefront of understanding what might happen and how cities, countries, and other entities can prepare even in the face of uncertainty. 6sqft recently spoke with Radley about his work, areas of climate concern in New York, and what we all can do to combat a changing planet.
Read the full interview here

August 3, 2016

POLL: Have You Noticed Overcrowding in City Parks?

One day in May last year, Washington Square Park had 54,000 visitors, more than enough to fill Yankee Stadium. Annual attendance at the High Line more than tripled to 7.6 million visitors last year from two million in 2010. And Central Park expects to break records this year with 42 million visits. These statistics come from a New York Times article today that looks at how "more people than ever are jamming into the city’s public parks, pools and beaches, filling the most popular ones to bursting, creating noise and trash problems and making the experience altogether less enjoyable for those looking for a bit of serenity." This overcrowding has led the city to spend $6 million this year hiring an additional 500 seasonal workers. They're also extending beach and pool seasons past Labor Day and implementing more free programs like outdoor movies and yoga classes.
Have you noticed the overcrowding?

City Living

August 3, 2016

Interview: FXFOWLE’s Dan Kaplan on Building a More Sustainable New York City

Since opening in 1978, FXFOWLE has grown to become one of New York’s most prolific architecture firms, transforming the skyline with new and updated additions like the slick and sloping 35XV in Flatiron, showstoppers like 4 and 11 Times Square in Midtown, and their conversion of a massive Village medical complex into a luxurious celeb-filled residence called The Greenwich Lane. While FXFOWLE’s […]

August 2, 2016

New Interactive Subway Game Lets You Build the Transit System of Your Dreams

A new interactive New York City subway planning game created by electrical engineer Jason Wright gives you a chance to try your hand at building the subway system of your dreams. Though based on a similar idea to Dinosaur Polo Club's Mini Metro, the game goes further and gives players a lot more to work with. “Brand New Subway” lets players start from scratch or use current subway maps, modify historic maps dating as far back as the 1900s or use maps from the future (like the planned 2025 subway system map pictured above) (h/t DNAinfo).
Try your hand at playing god of the subways

July 29, 2016

Spotlight: Olympic Silver Medalist Tim Morehouse Hopes to Create a Fencing Hub on the UWS

The opening ceremonies for the 2016 Rio Olympics are a week away, and for many of us it's all about the swimming, gymnastics, and track and field. But for Tim Morehouse, the main event is fencing, a sport with three weapons (sabre, foil, and epee) that has tremendous depth internationally. In 2008, Tim was part of the US men's sabre team that won silver in Beijing, and in 2012 in London, he reached the quarterfinals in the men's individual sabre event. Four years later, Tim has transitioned from a competitor to a fencing ambassador, aiming to raise the sport’s profile in the United States. To accomplish this, he founded and runs Fencing in the Schools, a non-profit organization that teaches physical education teachers the basics of fencing so they can introduce it to their students - especially those who might otherwise not have the opportunity to try it - with the hope of a few of them wanting to take it beyond gym class. In November 2015, Tim continued his mission by opening his own sabre club on the Upper West Side. Though less than a year old, the club is already making a name for itself on 91st, as well as way beyond; at the recent United States Fencing Association's National Championships in Dallas, two of club's students medalled. 6sqft recently spoke with Tim to discuss the Olympics, starting his own club, and his goals of making fencing accessible to everyone.
Read the full interview here

July 28, 2016

How to Research the History of Your Address in NYC

Have you ever wondered if someone famous used to live in your building? Or what architect built it? What about more dramatic things, like police activity and rat infestations? Verifying these facts–who once lived at your address, whether or not it was ever the scene of a crime, past construction work and violations, and its […]

INTERVIEW: George Cominskie on the History and Future of the Westbeth Artist Community

Photo Credit: Fine Art America

July 27, 2016

INTERVIEW: George Cominskie on the History and Future of the Westbeth Artist Community

Westbeth Artists Housing at 55 Bethune Street in the West Village opened in 1970 to provide affordable live/work spaces for artists. A young Richard Meier took the project on as one of his first commissions, transforming the former home of Bell Laboratories into 384 units open to artists of all disciplines. Today, Westbeth remains home […]

July 22, 2016

Spotlight: John D’Agostino Wants You to Go Wild for the Staten Island Yankees

New York is fortunate to not only have two Major League Baseball teams, but two Minor League teams—the Mets-affiliated Brooklyn Cyclones and the Yankees-affiliated Staten Island Yankees. The latter is based right near the Staten Island Ferry in St. George, and for 15 years, it's been a team for Yankees players who are tuning up after rehab or future Major League players to get their start. Unlike the Major Leagues, the SI team has a shorter season that runs from mid-June until September, and the focus at games is all about the entertainment factor. This is where John D'Agostino comes in. John grew up a Staten Island Yankees fan, but now serves as the team’s Director of Entertainment, where he's responsible for making sure every game has a range of fun programming that gets fans laughing and cheering. 6sqft recently spoke with John to learn all about baseball on Staten Island and why more New Yorkers should hop on the ferry and head to a game!
Read the interview here

July 18, 2016

Should You Use FaceTime to Rent a NYC Apartment?

In New York City, scoring an apartment ahead of a move usually involves a bit of insider information (eg. you have a friend of a friend of a friend) or jumping into corporate or short-term living situations for a premium. While these options are great in a pinch, they more often than not fall short of ideal. But now, […]

July 15, 2016

Spotlight: HRCS’ Robert Burke on Teaching City Kids to Sail the Hudson River

Sailing is an expensive sport and often requires a formal introduction at a young age. For many young New Yorkers, particularly those in underserved communities, the chances of getting this exposure are very limited, which is where Hudson River Community Sailing (HRCS) steps in. The eight-year-old organization’s Sail Academy in Chelsea teaches sailing to 150 students from nine public high schools in the neighborhood. The students enroll in a four-year program during which they earn math and science credit as they learn how to sail, study the marine environment, and build boats. In addition to its work with high school students, HRCS offers Community Sailing, where New Yorkers of all ages can come out and learn to sail. 6sqft recently spoke with HRCS’s Executive Director Robert Burke to find out more about this unique program and what students are learning on the Hudson, and more importantly, beyond it.
Read the interview here

Get Your Grill On: Rules, Tips, and Products for Indoor and Outdoor Barbecuing in NYC

6sqft’s ongoing series Apartment Living 101 is aimed at helping New Yorkers navigate the challenges of creating a happy home in the big city. This week, we provide a comprehensive guide to indoor and outdoor grilling in NYC.

July 13, 2016

Get Your Grill On: Rules, Tips, and Products for Indoor and Outdoor Barbecuing in NYC

Nothing says summer like a perfectly charred burger or buttery ear of corn, but for many New Yorkers these warm-weather goodies are reserved for weekend jaunts to the suburbs or sub-par restaurant versions. If you want to get in on the grilling action without leaving the boroughs, there are plenty of options to barbecue both outside and in. It'll just require a little insider knowledge of the city's rules and regulations, so to help in the process, 6sqft has done the research, as well as put together handy tips and some of the best products.
Things are heating up right this way

July 13, 2016

Interactive Map Shows Massive ‘Subway Deserts’ in Underserved ‘Hoods

Last summer, 6sqft shared an interactive map from transit data junkie Chris Whong that laid out all NYC land ares more than 500 meters from one of the city's 470 subway stations. He's now revised his Subway Deserts Map to better take into account walkability, using a 10-minute walk from a station as the buffer zone (h/t Gothamist). The "walkshed" is styled in the same hue as water, leaving only the map portions that are subway deserts. Not surprisingly, Manhattan is pretty well set, save for Alphabet City and the far east and west sides, and the majority of the Bronx is underserved, as is much of Queens, southeast Brooklyn, and the Williamsburg waterfront.
Check out the full map here

July 12, 2016

Is the Mayor’s Plan To Stop Dumping Garbage by 2030 Possible–or Just Trash Talk?

New Yorkers make a lot of garbage. We create more than 44 million pounds of residential and commercial waste every day–about a ton per person annually. Of that, only a third is recycled, composted or burned to generate energy. The rest is dumped in landfills. A recent Crain's article explains how Mayor Bill de Blasio hopes to make a serious dent in all that dumping. He has pledged that by 2030, the city would be sending “zero waste” to landfills: “This is the way of the future if we’re going to save our Earth.” But like most things, the success of any plans to reduce the rubbish pile hinges on two things: management, and incentive (which, for most New Yorkers, means money).
What's the plan to get to zero waste

Spotlight: Alex Gomberg Keeps Up the Tradition at 63-Year-Old Brooklyn Seltzer Boys

L to R: Alex Gomberg, Kenny Gomberg, Irv Resnick

July 8, 2016

Spotlight: Alex Gomberg Keeps Up the Tradition at 63-Year-Old Brooklyn Seltzer Boys

When Alex Gomberg says "I have seltzer in my blood,” he's not referring to the quantity of seltzer he drinks, but rather describing how deep the seltzer tradition runs in his family. It began in 1953 with his great-grandfather, Moe Gomberg, who opened up Gomberg Seltzer Works, a seltzer bottling plant in Brooklyn. The term seltzer man may be new to some, but it refers to someone who delivers seltzer in glass bottles right to your door; no supermarket needed. Over the years, seltzer delivery went out of favor and the family business, currently run by Alex’s father Kenny Gomberg and uncle Irv Resnick, continued to bottle for others, but was no longer doing delivery routes themselves. Four years ago, Alex joined Gomberg Seltzer Works and felt strongly that company should return to its delivery roots. He helped developed a delivery branch, aptly named Brooklyn Seltzer Boys, and today, Alex is well on his way to becoming many New Yorkers’ 21st century seltzer man. His idea of returning to delivery service was right on the mark as the company is benefitting from a myriad of factors including nostalgia, a focus on curated, well made items, and the popularity of home delivery. 6sqft recently spoke with Alex to find out about Gomberg’s seltzer, what it’s like to be a seltzer man, and how he's bringing seltzer delivery back to New York.
Read the full interview here

July 7, 2016

Find Out if a Building Has Rats Using the City’s Interactive Map

From the fine folks at the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene comes this most informative interactive map of the five boroughs that tells you whether you'll need to keep an eye on your pizza. The Rat Information Portal (RIP) gives you the facts about rats in NYC—where they are and what you can do about them. You can search the city, building by building—handy if you're thinking of renting or buying an apartment—to get the 411 on potential pest problems of the furry kind.
Let's find some rats

City Living

July 5, 2016

‘Periodic Table of NYC Trash’ Identifies the City’s Garbage and Odors