Policy

City launches initiative to ‘rainproof’ NYC

Heavy rainfall caused major flooding on September 29, 2023. Photo courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

January 17, 2024

City launches initiative to ‘rainproof’ NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

State and city agencies, nonprofits, and community leaders will join forces to develop ideas aimed at dealing with New York City's heavy rainfall problem. The Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice on Tuesday launched "Rainproof NYC," a collaborative initiative to come up with policies and programs addressing the high frequency of heavy rainfall due to climate change. The initiative will complement ongoing Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) projects that are underway across the state, including sewer upgrades, green infrastructure, cloudburst projects, and Bluebelts.
learn more

Policy

Trump name removed from Bronx golf course

Image courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

January 12, 2024

Trump name removed from Bronx golf course

By Aaron Ginsburg

A sign bearing Donald Trump's name has been removed from the Bronx golf course previously operated by the former president. New manager Bally's Corporation rebranded the course, previously called the Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point, Bally's Links, and celebrated with a new sign reveal and ribbon cutting on Thursday. Bally's purchased the lease for the course last September for $60 million and will operate the city-owned site as part of an effort to secure one of the region's three casino licenses.
get more details

Policy

Hochul calls for replacement and extension of 421-a tax abatement in NYC

Photo courtesy of Governor Kathy Hochul on Flickr

January 10, 2024

Hochul calls for replacement and extension of 421-a tax abatement in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

As housing production in New York City hits new lows, Gov. Kathy Hochul is calling once again for a replacement of the 421-a tax abatement program that expired in 2022. During her 2024 State of the State address on Tuesday, the governor said she plans to introduce legislation permitting the city to offer a tax break to developers of new rental construction, as well as an extension of the completion deadline of the expired program. Hochul's previous proposals to replace the program in 2022 and 2023 failed to move forward.
learn more

Hochul wants to extend the Second Avenue Subway west into Harlem

The 96th Street subway station on Second Avenue Subway when it opened in 2017. Photo by Charley Lhasa on Flickr.

January 9, 2024

Hochul wants to extend the Second Avenue Subway west into Harlem

By Devin Gannon

The Q train may go even further. During her State of the State address Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul backed a plan to extend the Second Avenue Subway west along 125th Street with three new stops at Lenox Avenue, St. Nicholas Avenue, and Broadway. The announcement comes as construction prepares to kick off on the second phase of the line, bringing the Q line up to 125th Street in East Harlem.
details here

NYC seeks feedback on rezoning plan around new Bronx Metro-North stations

Rendering courtesy of DCP. A potential revamp of Morris Park Plaza.

January 9, 2024

NYC seeks feedback on rezoning plan around new Bronx Metro-North stations

By Aaron Ginsburg

City officials want New Yorkers to weigh in on a rezoning plan that proposes 6,000 new homes for the area surrounding four new Metro-North Stations in the East Bronx. The Department of City Planning (DCP) on Wednesday will host an online informational session for the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Plan, a rezoning effort proposed for Morris Park, Parkchester/Van Nest, Hunts Point, and Co-Op City. During the meeting, DCP officials will hear feedback and answer questions given by the community about the proposed land use changes ahead of the start of the official public review process.
get more info

Plans to demolish landmarked West-Park Presbyterian Church on hold

Photo by James Russiello on Wikimedia

January 8, 2024

Plans to demolish landmarked West-Park Presbyterian Church on hold

By Devin Gannon

A historic Upper West Side church lives to fight another day. The West-Park Presbyterian Church on Friday withdrew its request to the Landmarks Preservation Commission to demolish the 19th-century Romanesque Revival building at Amsterdam Avenue and West 86th Street. The congregation could not afford the estimated $50 million in urgent repairs needed at the 135-year-old property and sought permission from the commission to demolish the landmarked building with the hopes of selling it to a developer. The church’s application was withdrawn ahead of a vote by LPC scheduled for this Tuesday, but the congregation said it will resubmit in the future.
details this way

Policy

Self-filtering floating pool pilot to be installed in NYC this summer

+POOL Rendering, 2024. Designed by Family New York & Playlab, Inc. Image by proto.

January 5, 2024

Self-filtering floating pool pilot to be installed in NYC this summer

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City will test the waters of a self-filtering floating pool this summer. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams on Friday committed $16 million to the nonprofit +POOL, which has worked for over a decade to build a swimming pool in the East River. The group plans to launch a pilot pool to demonstrate and test +POOL's unique filtration system this summer, with the hopes of opening to swimmers in 2025. The news comes as part of a larger proposal from the governor to expand access to swimming across the state.
DIVE IN

City seeks proposals for sports center at Brooklyn Bridge plaza in Dumbo

Photo courtesy of NYC Parks

January 5, 2024

City seeks proposals for sports center at Brooklyn Bridge plaza in Dumbo

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is looking to reopen nearly 100,000 square feet of open space at the Brooklyn Bridge for the first time in 15 years. As first reported by Streetsblog, NYC Parks this week released a request for proposals (RFP) seeking contractors to operate a seasonal outdoor activity center for up to six years at the two-lot Anchorage Plaza, located on Old Fulton Street and Washington Street and connected by a ramp known as "Ash Alley" underneath the bridge. According to the RFP, the Parks Department seeks proposals for "parks appropriate" activities, including paddle ball, public art or performances, a dog run, and food and drink vendors.
see more

NYC wants artists to spice up sidewalk sheds and construction fencing

Ebony Bolt “Hope and Humanity” Lenox Hill Hospital, Upper East Side, Manhattan, 2021. Image courtesy of ArtBridge

January 3, 2024

NYC wants artists to spice up sidewalk sheds and construction fencing

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is seeking artists to help beautify sections of unattractive sidewalk sheds and construction fencing throughout the five boroughs. The city's Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) has issued an open call for artists for 2024 through 2025 as part of its City Canvas program, which installs temporary, large-scale artworks on protective structures to make them more visually appealing.
see more

Citi Bike prices are increasing this month

Photo courtesy of Shinya Suzuki on Flickr

January 3, 2024

Citi Bike prices are increasing this month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Citi Bike is hiking its prices this month. The popular bike-sharing service operated by Lyft is rolling out its new pricing system in phases in January, with the price of an annual membership jumping from $205 to $219.99 a year starting on January 29. Other increases, including unlock fees, e-bike charges, and extra-time fees, take effect Thursday, January 4.
learn more here

Popular Articles

7 historic places in NYC recommended for state and national designation

William Ulmer Brewery, at the corner of Belvidere Street and Beaver Street, Brooklyn (ca. 1920). Image courtesy of DXA Studio

January 2, 2024

7 historic places in NYC recommended for state and national designation

By Aaron Ginsburg

Gov. Kathy Hochul last week announced the 36 properties and places in New York nominated for potential placement on the State and National Register of Historic Places. The seven New York City recommendations include Bushwick's historic William Ulmer Brewery, the city's first cast-iron office building, and a new historic district in Central Harlem that illustrates the neighborhood's development as a Black working-class residential neighborhood.
get the details

NYC bans street vendors from all city bridges

Photo courtesy of Gedalya AKA David Gott on Flickr

January 2, 2024

NYC bans street vendors from all city bridges

By Aaron Ginsburg

Starting Wednesday, vendors selling New York City-themed souvenirs and cheap eats will be banned from all 789 of the city's bridges. Mayor Eric Adams last week announced new rules prohibiting vending on pedestrian walkways and bike lanes of bridges, as well as their approaches, will go into effect on January 3. Proposed this fall by the mayor, the vending ban specifically targets the overcrowded Brooklyn Bridge, which has seen a surge in both illegal vendors and pedestrians in recent years, creating safety issues on the jam-packed crossing.
see more

NYC rental subsidy aims to build more affordable housing in wealthy neighborhoods

Image courtesy of mari small on Unsplash

December 27, 2023

NYC rental subsidy aims to build more affordable housing in wealthy neighborhoods

By Aaron Ginsburg

The city on Tuesday announced plans to subsidize mixed-income rental projects in neighborhoods with few low-cost homes as a way to jumpstart development following the end of the 421-a tax exemption. The new program, called the Mixed Income Market Initiative (MIMI), would make public money available for the first time to projects with both affordable and market-rate units, with the goal of incentivizing developers to build more affordable homes using revenue generated from the market-rate apartments.
learn more

NYC Council approves bill limiting criminal background checks by landlords

Image courtesy of Emiliano Bar on Unsplash

December 21, 2023

NYC Council approves bill limiting criminal background checks by landlords

By Aaron Ginsburg

The New York City Council on Wednesday passed legislation limiting the use of criminal background checks by landlords when screening tenants. Sponsored by Council Member Keith Powers, "The Fair Chance for Housing Act" amends the city's Human Rights Law to prohibit landlords, owners, and real estate brokers from rejecting applicants based on past convictions. However, landlords can consider misdemeanor convictions from the last three years and felony convictions within five years. Other exemptions to the bill include certain sex crimes and one- or two-family homes where the owner also lives.
learn more

East Midtown Greenway opens, with nearly 3 acres of public open space on the waterfront

Image courtesy of Skanska

December 20, 2023

East Midtown Greenway opens, with nearly 3 acres of public open space on the waterfront

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City has taken a major step forward in its effort to expand the greenway network. The city's Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and NYC Parks on Tuesday officially opened the East Midtown Greenway and the second phase of the Andrew Haswell Green Park, delivering nearly three acres of public open space, a new pedestrian walkway, a pedestrian bridge, landscaping, and a separated bike lane stretching from East 53rd Street to East 60th Street along the East River. The $197.6 million investment fills a significant gap in the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway.
see more

Paul Rudolph’s Modulightor Building is now an NYC landmark

The Modulightor Building. Photo credit: Joe Polowczuk

December 19, 2023

Paul Rudolph’s Modulightor Building is now an NYC landmark

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to landmark the Modulightor Building, an iconic building in Midtown East designed by renowned modernist architect Paul Rudolph. Located at 246 East 58th Street, the building was built between 1989 and 1993 to house the Modulightor lighting company founded by Rudolph with German physicist Ernst Wagner. According to the commission, the building stands out for its special character and its historical and aesthetic significance in New York City.
get more details

After 20 years, Pacific Park faces foreclosure and an uncertain future

Photo credit: Amaury Laporte via Flickr.

December 19, 2023

After 20 years, Pacific Park faces foreclosure and an uncertain future

By Michelle Cohen

As the massive Brooklyn megadevelopment once known as Atlantic Yards reaches its 20th anniversary, news of the project's progress has been scarce. But recent changes affecting the development anchored by Barclays Center may put the 22-acre site–now known as Pacific Park–back in the spotlight. As The Real Deal reported in a wrap-up of its progress over the past two decades, current developer Greenland USA has defaulted on nearly $350 million in loans attached to the project's second phase. With foreclosure imminent, an auction, scheduled for next month, may mean a new developer will be responsible for fulfilling crucial affordable housing agreements and inherit penalties for unbuilt units.
Find out more

Vacant hotel near JFK Airport to become 300+ permanently affordable apartments

Rendering of the indoor/outdoor garden planned for residents at Baisley Pond Park Residences. Courtesy of OSD

December 18, 2023

Vacant hotel near JFK Airport to become 300+ permanently affordable apartments

By Aaron Ginsburg

An empty hotel near John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens will be converted into a permanently affordable housing development with 300 apartments. Slate Property Group, RiseBoro Community Partnership, and the city's Housing Development Corporation on Monday announced the acquisition of the former JFK Hilton Hotel for $64 million, the first step in converting the vacant hotel into homes for low-income households and formerly homeless New Yorkers. Construction is expected to kick off next month.
learn more

NYC’s worst landlord has 3,293 open violations across 306 apartments

The building at 410 West 46th Street is owned by Johnathan Santana and Daniel Ohebshalom. Tenants won a court battle to remedy unsafe conditions in the building, now placed under control by an outside administrator. Streetview of 410 West 46th Street © 2023 Google Maps

December 14, 2023

NYC’s worst landlord has 3,293 open violations across 306 apartments

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's worst landlord broke the city's record for most open housing violations two years in a row. NYC Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams on Wednesday released the 2023 "Worst Landlord Watchlist," an annual list exposing the city's most negligent property owners and ranking them by the number of hazardous housing violations in their buildings. Johnathan Santana took the number one spot for the second year in a row, breaking last year's record of 2,980 violations with a whopping 3,293 open violations across 306 separate apartments.
get more details

Policy

NYC unveils new protected bike lane on 10th Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen

The new, extra-wide bike lane on 10th Avenue. Image courtesy of NYC DOT

December 14, 2023

NYC unveils new protected bike lane on 10th Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen

By Aaron Ginsburg

The city on Wednesday unveiled the first phase of safety upgrades to a stretch of 10th Avenue in Hell's Kitchen. Installed between West 38th Street and West 52nd Street, a new 10-foot wide northbound bike lane will more safely accommodate the growing number of cyclists, e-bike riders, and micro-mobility device users. Additional improvements include new concrete pedestrian islands, new bike corrals, and redesigned intersections to slow down drivers when turning.
see more

New York to spend $50M restoring single-room occupancy units

An SRO in the famous Chelsea Hotel, featured in a 2018 6sqft story. Photo by James and Karla Murray exclusively for 6sqft.

December 13, 2023

New York to spend $50M restoring single-room occupancy units

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York is paying landlords to renovate and repair single-room occupancy (SRO) apartments as a way to provide housing for vulnerable New Yorkers. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced $50 million will be spent to rehabilitate up to 500 existing SROs across the state. Units in SRO buildings usually include one room with a sink and stove and access to a shared bathroom. A common type of housing in New York City until the second half of the 20th century, SROs cost less than the average apartment and appeal to low-income renters or those struggling with homelessness.
get more details

Long-forgotten Bronx burial site of enslaved people designated as a landmark

Photo courtesy of the Landmarks Preservation Commission

December 12, 2023

Long-forgotten Bronx burial site of enslaved people designated as a landmark

By Aaron Ginsburg

A Bronx park with unique New York City history is now a landmark. The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) on Tuesday voted to designate Joseph Rodman Drake Park and Enslaved People's Burial Ground, a colonial-era burial ground in Hunts Point that contains the long-forgotten site of a cemetery for enslaved people, as an individual landmark.
learn more

Policy

Office-to-residential conversions could significantly lower NYC’s carbon emissions: report

Image courtesy of Carl Solder on Unsplash

December 12, 2023

Office-to-residential conversions could significantly lower NYC’s carbon emissions: report

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City could drastically decrease its carbon footprint if the eligibility for office-to-residential conversions is expanded, according to a new report. In the study "Office to Residential Conversions: The Carbon Story," sustainable development consultant Arup found updating zoning rules to allow for more office buildings to become apartments could cut carbon emissions by 54 percent by 2050.
get more details

Hochul unveils plan to bring 2,800 homes to underused Creedmoor campus in eastern Queens

Image via WikiCommons

December 7, 2023

Hochul unveils plan to bring 2,800 homes to underused Creedmoor campus in eastern Queens

By Aaron Ginsburg

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday released the Creedmoor Community Master Plan, a proposal to redevelop 58 acres of the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center campus in Queens into a mixed-use community with over 2,800 homes, green space, bike infrastructure, retail, and amenities. State-owned Creedmoor has operated as a mental health center since 1912 and hit its peak patient population of 7,000 in 1959. Today, a majority of the campus sits vacant. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Empire State Development (ESD), along with the Metropolitan Urban Design Workshop, developed the master plan over six months.
learn more

See plan to replace former Harlem prison next to Central Park with 105 affordable homes

All renderings courtesy of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office

December 6, 2023

See plan to replace former Harlem prison next to Central Park with 105 affordable homes

By Aaron Ginsburg

A plan to replace a former Harlem prison with affordable housing is moving forward. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday unveiled Seneca, the winning proposal for a project that will transform the Lincoln Correctional Facility at West 110th Street, which shuttered in 2019, into 105 affordable homes for purchase. The governor selected a team led by Infinite Horizons, L+M Development Partners, Urbane, and Lemor Development Group to develop the roughly $90 million project, which will go through a public review process before final approval.
get more details

19
20
21
22
23