Manhattan

New York City’s most successful real estate agents make it their business to know the city’s highlights, hot spots, secrets, and specialties; many are NYC natives or longtime residents whose love for the city’s streets and avenues adds indisputable value to their career of choice. We’ve asked a few top agents to tell us about their favorite neighborhoods and share their views on what the city's future may hold. Read on for insights from Leslie Hirsch, an insider with an enviable view from Billionaires' Row.
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A mini forest is coming to Roosevelt Island

Images courtesy of SUGi

March 13, 2024

A mini forest is coming to Roosevelt Island

A mini forest that can prevent flooding during storms and build biodiversity is coming to Roosevelt Island. Conceived by global platform SUGi, the Manhattan Healing Forest will consist of 1,000 native trees, shrubs, and plants and measure just 2,700 square feet in Roosevelt Island’s Southpoint Park. The so-called "pocket forest" will be “strategically positioned to stabilize the land,” capture water, provide a habitat for wildlife, and serve as a “living barrier” against flooding and erosion.
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Architecture And Design

Delmonico’s sister restaurant opening in Noho

Images courtesy of Tucci’s

March 12, 2024

Delmonico’s sister restaurant opening in Noho

The team behind New York City icon Delmonico's is opening a new restaurant in Noho. Fine-dining Italian restaurant Tucci, named after one of the original owners of Delmonico's, will offer contemporary Italian cuisine inspired by dishes found in northern and southern Italy from Chef Edward Hong. Located at 643 Broadway, Tucci officially opens on Friday, March 15.
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Food & Dining

Ethan Hawke’s former Chelsea townhouse lists for $5.98M

Photos courtesy of Richard Caplan for Brown Harris Stevens

March 12, 2024

Ethan Hawke’s former Chelsea townhouse lists for $5.98M

A four-story Chelsea townhouse once owned by actor Ethan Hawke has hit the market for $5,980,000. Located at 353 West 21st Street in the Chelsea Historic District, the six-bedroom, four-and-a-half bathroom residence measures 21 feet wide and features a spacious full-floor primary suite on the top level, an outdoor terrace, and a backyard and garden with a self-irrigation system. Hawke purchased the home in 2005 for $3,000,000 and lived there until 2013 when he sold it for $5,867,000.
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This $2.6M apartment offers classic Upper East Side elegance with condo simplicity

Photo credit: Richard Caplan for Douglas Elliman

March 12, 2024

This $2.6M apartment offers classic Upper East Side elegance with condo simplicity

Located just off Madison Avenue and two blocks from Central Park, this two-bedroom condo at 44 East 67th Street gets classic Manhattan cachet from being in a Rosario Candela building on a tree-lined townhouse block. But the bright, updated Lenox Hill home has the ease of living that comes with a condo purchase–in this case, for $2,595,000.
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Distinctive Homes

Midtown South rezoning plan could create 4,000 new homes

Photo © 6sqft

March 8, 2024

Midtown South rezoning plan could create 4,000 new homes

The city released new details for its plan to create thousands of new homes in a predominantly commercial area of Midtown. The Department of City Planning on Friday released the Midtown South draft zoning plan, which details a 42-block rezoning to allow for high-density, mixed-use districts with 4,000 new homes, up to 1,110 of which would be income-restricted. The zoning changes would permit new housing in areas previously designated solely for commercial and manufacturing uses.
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Harlem’s historic Victoria Theater reopens following decade-long restoration

Photo courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

March 8, 2024

Harlem’s historic Victoria Theater reopens following decade-long restoration

Harlem’s historic Victoria Theater has reopened following a decade-long restoration project, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday. The renovation added two flexible performance spaces, offices, and gallery spaces to the Victoria, which opened in 1917 as a vaudeville theater. The 27,000-square-foot facility will be operated by the iconic Apollo Theater, marking the first expansion of the cultural institution in its 90-year history. The Apollo Stages at The Victoria is part of a broader redevelopment project that includes a 28-story hotel, restaurant, and a residential building with nearly 200 apartments.
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March 7, 2024

New exhibit of vintage travel posters shows how NYC was sold to the world

A new exhibition at Poster House illustrates how the term “Wonder City” became synonymous with New York City. Curated by Nicholas D. Lowry, “Wonder City of the World: New York City Travel Posters” features 80 posters promoting the five boroughs to tourists, immigrants, and travelers during the 20th century through enticing design and portrayal of iconic landmarks. The exhibition will be on view at Poster House at 119 West 23rd Street from March 14 through September 8.
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Events & Things To Do

Photo by James and Karla Murray exclusively for 6sqft. See more here.

March 7, 2024

Veselka to resume 24-hour service

A surefire sign New York City is back? The resumption of 24-hour service at Veselka in the East Village. One of the few spots in the city that served diners all night, the iconic Ukrainian restaurant on Second Avenue stopped the service amid pandemic struggles. But, as first reported by neighborhood expert EV Grieve, the restaurant is looking to bring back around-the-clock hours on weekends.
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Food & Dining

$450K Hell’s Kitchen studio is a cozy refuge in the middle of Manhattan

Photo credit: Kate Norberg, Russ Ross Photography

March 6, 2024

$450K Hell’s Kitchen studio is a cozy refuge in the middle of Manhattan

In Midtown's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, where the vibe is decidedly urban but firmly residential, this classic co-op at 514 West 50th Street would make a great landing pad from which to experience the city. Asking $450,000, the cozy space is framed by wood floors, painted brick, and a decorative fireplace.
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Distinctive Homes

NYC proposes revamped Second Avenue with ‘offset’ bus lane and wider bike lane

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

March 6, 2024

NYC proposes revamped Second Avenue with ‘offset’ bus lane and wider bike lane

New York City wants to redesign a three-mile portion of Second Avenue to improve bus service and make it safer for cyclists. During a presentation to Manhattan Community Board 6 on Monday, the city’s Department of Transportation revealed a proposal to revamp the avenue from East 59th Street to Houston Street with a new "offset" bus lane in the center of the street, to allow for buses to maneuver around commercial curbside loading and unloading. The plan also includes widening bike lanes from six to eight feet, and even 10 feet at some sections.
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Kate Moss and Johnny Depp’s one-time Greenwich Village home sells for $12M

All photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group

March 6, 2024

Kate Moss and Johnny Depp’s one-time Greenwich Village home sells for $12M

The nearly 200-year-old Greenwich Village townhouse that Kate Moss and Johnny Depp called home in the 1990s has found a buyer. After listing for $15,000,000 last May, the Federal-style property at 112 Waverly Place, which measures 6,300 square feet and includes a triplex carriage house, sold last week for $12,005,000.
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Whole Foods to open small-format shop on the Upper East Side this year

Rendering courtesy of Whole Foods

March 5, 2024

Whole Foods to open small-format shop on the Upper East Side this year

Whole Foods is piloting a new, small-format convenience store on the Upper East Side this year. The supermarket chain on Monday announced plans to open a “Whole Foods Market Daily Shop” at 1175 Third Avenue as part of an ongoing effort to provide a quick and convenient shopping experience for customers in urban areas. The Upper East Side location, which will replace The Food Emporium that closed last April, marks the first step in a broader expansion project, with the grocer expecting to open multiple New York City locations and in other cities across the United States in the future.
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Food & Dining

Steve McCurry, “Monks Praying at Golden Rock,” Kyaikto, Myanmar, 1994. Courtesy Cavalier Galleries

March 5, 2024

Interview: Famous photojournalist Steve McCurry on authenticity, truth, and trust in today’s world

As the spring arts season awakens, an exhibition of note will be ending its run at the Cavalier Galleries in Chelsea: Now through March 30, take the opportunity to experience work by American photojournalist Steve McCurry. As one of our most celebrated contemporary photographers, McCurry is best known for his unforgettable portrait of 12-year-old Afghan refugee Sharbat Gula, the "Afghan Girl" who gazed from the cover of National Geographic magazine in 1985. The current solo exhibition marks the release of McCurry’s new book, "Devotion: Love and Spirituality" (Prestel, 2024). The show features over 30 photos that span more than four decades, captured during McCurry's visits to Cuba, Ethiopia, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Tibet. The images are both timeless and current, featuring human struggles and daily lives.
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Lincoln Center taps design team to make Amsterdam Ave side of campus accessible ‘performance park’

Along 62nd Street looking north toward Damrosch Park. Photo by Lawrence Sumulong.

March 4, 2024

Lincoln Center taps design team to make Amsterdam Ave side of campus accessible ‘performance park’

A plan to transform the west side of the Lincoln Center campus into a publicly accessible space for performance and play is moving forward. The Lincoln Center for Performing Arts (LCPA) on Monday announced a design team made up of Hood Design Studio, Weiss/Manfredi, and Moody Nolan will reimagine the Amsterdam Avenue-facing side, starting with turning Damrosch Park into a state-of-the-art outdoor "performance park."
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Architecture And Design

First public e-bike charging station opens in the East Village

All photos courtesy of NYC DOT

March 4, 2024

First public e-bike charging station opens in the East Village

New York City's first public, outdoor e-bike battery charging station opened last week as part of a six-month pilot program to test safer technologies for delivery workers and provide an alternative to charging bikes inside. The first of five to open in the coming weeks, the new station is located at Cooper Square in the East Village. The infrastructure includes a battery-swapping cabinet to swap out dead batteries for fully charged ones and a secure charging rack where workers can lock up their bikes and charge them while parked. The city said 100 delivery workers will initially participate in the pilot program and provide feedback on the charging hubs.
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This $12.5M Chelsea carriage house has a garage, three outdoor spaces, and a two-bedroom flat

Photo credit: Hayley Ellen Day and Joel Pitra of DDreps

March 4, 2024

This $12.5M Chelsea carriage house has a garage, three outdoor spaces, and a two-bedroom flat

Spring will soon be in the air, and warmer weather brings dreams of al fresco dining and backyard entertaining for fortunate city dwellers with patios, decks, and private gardens. This four-story carriage house at 313 West 20th Street has three separate outdoor spaces–and a spacious garage, right in the heart of Chelsea. Asking $12,500,000, the historic home, built circa 1900, is a 25-foot-wide Manhattan mansion–with the option of a top floor apartment for rental income.
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Distinctive Homes

Photo credit: Al Siedman/VHT for The Corcoran Group

March 1, 2024

Tiffany-blue walls and de Gournay designs surround a $1M UES co-op with Deco-era glamour

While this jewel box of an Upper East Side co-op may not be vast, it embodies the dream of a classic Manhattan pre-war apartment. Asking $1,085,000, the beautifully renovated one-bedroom co-op at 175 East 79th Street would make the perfect pied-à-terre (they're allowed, with board approval), from the subtle blue hue of the living room walls to the elegant hand-painted de Gournay wall covering in the foyer–and the 1928 bones that frame the entire space.
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Distinctive Homes

Rubin Museum’s final exhibition to open in March

Prithvi Shrestha; Attachment; 2018; acrylic on canvas; courtesy of the artist.

February 29, 2024

Rubin Museum’s final exhibition to open in March

New York City's Rubin Museum has announced its final exhibition before it closes its doors this fall. The museum-wide exhibition, called "Reimagine: Himalayan Art Now," juxtaposes the works of 32 contemporary artists from the Himalayas, Asia, and diaspora against existing items in the museum's collection, offering viewers new ways to interpret traditional Himalayan art. The exhibition will be on view from March 15 through October 6.
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Events & Things To Do

February 28, 2024

Harlem comfort food spot Melba’s to open in Grand Central

Melba's, a beloved Harlem eatery that has been serving comfort food to New Yorkers for nearly two decades, is coming to Grand Central Terminal. The new outpost, expected to open in the transit hub's dining concourse in June, will feature some of the restaurant's most popular items, like chicken and waffles, fried catfish, and collards, according to Eater NY.
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Food & Dining

MTA reveals congestion pricing exemptions for people with disabilities

Image courtesy of Strolicfurlan on Flickr

February 27, 2024

MTA reveals congestion pricing exemptions for people with disabilities

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Monday announced two plans to provide people with disabilities exemptions from the new congestion pricing toll, which could take effect as early as June. The Individual Disability Exemption Plan (IDEP) allows New Yorkers with disabilities to register one vehicle to be exempt from the Central Business District (CBD) tolling program. The second program, the Organizational Disability Exemption Plan (ODEP), permits organizations transporting people with disabilities, such as Access-A-Ride, to apply for the exemption.
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Stunning nine-story atrium at The Beekman Hotel is up for landmark status

Photo by James and Karla Murray exclusively for 6sqft

February 27, 2024

Stunning nine-story atrium at The Beekman Hotel is up for landmark status

Once part of New York City architectural lore, the nine-story Victorian atrium at The Beekman Hotel may soon be formally recognized. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to calendar the central atrium of 5 Beekman Street for consideration as an interior landmark. Built as part of the 19th-century commercial building Temple Court, the space consists of eight tiers of galleries topped by a cast-iron pyramid-shaped skylight. For decades, the atrium was walled in and off-limits to the public, until work began in 2014 to restore and transform the historic building into a hotel. Now a decade after the project began, the stunning atrium, restored to its former glory and the centerpiece of the luxury Beekman Hotel, is up for landmark status.
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In win for Stuy Town tenants, Blackstone drops challenge to rent stabilization

Image courtesy of Billie Grace Ward on Flickr

February 26, 2024

In win for Stuy Town tenants, Blackstone drops challenge to rent stabilization

Every apartment in Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village is now permanently rent-stabilized. Owner Blackstone Group on Saturday withdrew its appeal of a court ruling last year that found deregulating apartments within Manhattan's largest apartment complex was unlawful. Blackstone, which purchased the 11,200-unit complex in 2015 with plans to charge market-rate rents for half of the apartments, cited its "unwavering commitment" to Stuy Town tenants as the reason for its withdrawal, according to Gothamist.
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Affordable Housing

Westfield sued over plans to ditch Fulton Center

Image courtesy of Lerone Pieters on Unsplash

February 22, 2024

Westfield sued over plans to ditch Fulton Center