6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

In 1959, Truman lived in Brooklyn Heights around the corner from 13 Pineapple Street, a Federal-era home that inspired him to write the following lines: “Cheerfully austere, as elegant and other-era as formal calling cards, these houses bespeak an age of able servants and solid fireside ease; of horses in musical harness,” as 6sqft previously noted. The house, one of the oldest in Brooklyn, hit the market for the first time in 26 years in January of 2017 for $10.5 million and received a price chop the following year to $8.4 million. Now, after being on the market for two years, the owners have reduced the price again to a more conservative $7.6 million.
Look around

February 6, 2019

VIDEO: See how bean-to-bar chocolate gets made at the Institute of Culinary Education

If you don't have chocolate on the mind yet, you soon will with Valentine's Day quickly approaching. And while there's plenty of trendy treats out there--think mushroom chocolate bars and a $375 spiked hot chocolate--there's nothing quite like keeping it simple with classic cacoa flavors and traditional cooking methods. Which is exactly the mindset behind the Institute of Culinary Education's bean-to-bar chocolate lab, the first in the nation. James Beard Award-winning chef and ICE’s Creative Director/head of the chocolate lab, recently gave us a private lesson in chocolate making, from roasting and crushing the beans to tempering the final product. Ahead, watch this entire tutorial and learn about the machinery that makes it happen, what makes "real" chocolate real, and how you can get in on the action in the lab.
Watch the video here

Food & Dining

Hudson Yards releases new details about restaurant and food options

View of estiatorio Milos’ outdoor terrace at the Shops and Restaurants at Hudson Yards, courtesy of Related-Oxford.

February 6, 2019

Hudson Yards releases new details about restaurant and food options

Another day, another round of news leading up to Hudson Yards' March 15th opening date. This time, developer Related Companies is whetting our appetites with details about its dining collection. We knew the basics--celebrity chef José Andrés will operate a Spanish food hall and there will be outposts of already-popular spots like Estiatorio Milos, Momofuku, and Bouchon Bakery--but we're now getting the official restaurant names and more details on their concepts. There are also a slew of new names joining the ranks, like sweets from William Greenberg Desserts, Li-Lac Chocolate, and Dylan’s Candy Bar and some more local favorites including Citarella, Blue Bottle Coffee, Bluestone Lane, and Van Leeuwen ice cream.
More details this way

Food & Dining

NYC has fewer accessible subway stations than MTA claims, report says

Photo via Flickr

February 6, 2019

NYC has fewer accessible subway stations than MTA claims, report says

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority currently claims that 114 of its 427 stations—or 24 percent—are accessible. But a new study led by Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer’s office shows otherwise. A team of staffers surveyed 42 of the stations that the MTA deems accessible, visiting each station on four separate days at different times of the day. Based on complaints and conversations with advocates, they assessed elevator accessibility, station signage, and features for vision-impaired riders. As Curbed first reported, their findings show that an already sub-par statistic is actually inflated.
Learn more

De Blasio administration approves $7M study for proposed BQX streetcar

Rendering via EDC

February 6, 2019

De Blasio administration approves $7M study for proposed BQX streetcar

The plan to build a streetcar between Brooklyn and Queens got a much-needed push forward on Wednesday. The city's Economic Development Corporation awarded consulting firm VHB $7.25 million to complete an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) for the proposed Brooklyn Queens Connector (BQX). First announced by Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2016, the streetcar plan has faced many roadblocks, delays, and doubts from public officials. But last year, the mayor announced a revised proposal, which includes a higher price tag, fewer miles on the route, and a delayed start date.
Get the details

My 500sqft: How an architect brought chic sensibility to her Hell’s Kitchen apartment

Our series “My sqft” checks out the homes of New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to architect and designer Nicky Chang’s Hell’s Kitchen apartment. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch!

February 6, 2019

My 500sqft: How an architect brought chic sensibility to her Hell’s Kitchen apartment

Shanghai native Nicky Chang is nothing if not accomplished in her field, having graduated from the Yale School of Architecture and worked for firms such as Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. But when she had a chance to combine her passions of architecture, interior design, and culinary arts, she couldn't pass up the chance. Nicky is now the head of design and strategy at Junzi Kitchen, a fast-casual Northern Chinese restaurant founded on Yale's campus with locations in Morningside Heights, Greenwich Village, and soon at Bryant Park. When Nicky moved from New Haven to Hell's Kitchen, she was downsizing by three times. Luckily, as she jokes, "architects have mild OCD tendencies when it comes to organization," so she was able to maximize her 500-square-foot walk-up without sacrificing style. Ahead, take a tour of Nicky's calm, chic, and cozy home and hear from her about her plant collection, love of cooking, and what it's like to work in hospitality design.
Take the tour

February 6, 2019

Cuomo announces $344M revamp of JFK’s Terminal 8

American Airlines and British Airways will invest $344 million over the next three years to revamp its terminal at John F. Kennedy Airport, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday. The project includes expanding and improving the customer experience at Terminal 8, where British Airways will move to from its current location in Terminal 7. The project falls under Cuomo's $13 billion plan to overhaul JFK announced last October. The Port Authority is not contributing funds to the Terminal 8 project; 90 percent of the governor's JFK plan will be privately funded.
More here

Transit

Lucy Liu’s $5.9M pair of Flatiron condos finds a buyer

Lucy Liu image: Wikimedia commons.

February 6, 2019

Lucy Liu’s $5.9M pair of Flatiron condos finds a buyer

TV Star Lucy Liu of CBS' "Elementary" has just put a pair of condominiums that span the third and fourth floors of a Flatiron District apartment building at 29 West 19th Street into contract, Variety reports. The homes have a combined total of more than 3,500 square feet of living space, and though they haven't been combined, we wouldn't be surprised if a new buyer merged the two modern-on-the-inside pads for an impressive duplex in an historic Manhattan brownstone with only five floors total. Both units have private elevator access, so getting between the two–priced together at $5.9 million or $3 million for each unit separately–is already a luxury endeavor. What's more, the building's penthouse is also for sale, which would top a trophy triplex off nicely.
Imagine the potential

Distinctive Homes

The highest penthouse in Brooklyn's tallest residence lists for $16.75M

Doors of steel and glass make this $3M Soho loft feel like a box of light

Lily Allen's Brooklyn townhouse is for sale for $8M

Tribeca's iconic skybridge property is back on the market for $30M

For $950K, a condo with a terrace that puts the 'green' in Greenpoint

This $4.5M Sutton Place penthouse has a wraparound terrace and a literary pedigree

This $3.5M Noho co-op remembers the origins of loft living

This $599K Ditmas Park co-op has a 'secret' private park

For $4M, East Village living, penthouse-style

This $8M Dumbo condo with a private rooftop spa embodies penthouse living

VIEW ALL

February 6, 2019

Pre-war charm and a modern renovation come together at this one-bedroom Chelsea co-op, asking $575K

The listing describes this co-op on a tree-lined townhouse block as the "quintessential Chelsea apartment," and that's not far off. While it doesn't offer much extra space, the one-bedroom apartment was recently renovated to maintain its pre-war charm while adding clever storage opportunities and modern amenities. For the asking price of $575,000 the 214 West 16th Street property is a smart investment, having last sold in 2014 for $499,000.
Click for the full tour

Distinctive Homes

In East Flatbush, a new middle-income housing lottery is throwing in ‘free rent’

Photo via CityRealty

February 5, 2019

In East Flatbush, a new middle-income housing lottery is throwing in ‘free rent’

The next culprit in a long list of the city's non-affordable "affordable" housing lotteries is an opportunity for "middle-income" New Yorkers to apply for 28 units at East Flatbush's new rental Ensemble. It's available to New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the median income, which begs the question: Is a single person earning $95,000 a year really in need of subsidized housing? But the most questionable part of this lottery is that it's offering "six months free rent on the last six months of one and two-year leases." Rental concessions like this are typically reserved for market-rate buildings that are having trouble leasing or need to attract tenants in a slow market. But since these affordable rents are minimally lower than the market-rate, maybe it's operating as such.
Is $2,600/month affordable?

Affordable Housing

February 5, 2019

Trump’s childhood home in Queens hits market for $2.9M

President Donald Trump's boyhood home in Jamacia Estates is set to hit the market this week for a pricey $2.9 million. The home, which is not owned by Trump or his organization, is decorated somewhat as a shrine to the president, with lots of framed photos of him, a copy of "The Art of the Deal," and a life-size cut out of the Queens native in the living room. The owner, who bought the property in 2017 for $2.14 million under the guise of Trump Birth House LLC, requests offers be submitted via email, along with proof of funds. The home will then be sold through a closed bidding process, as first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
See inside

Distinctive Homes

MoMA will be closed all summer as it wraps up the final phase of its $400M expansion

Exterior view of The Museum of Modern Art on 53rd Street. Rendering by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, courtesy of MoMA.

February 5, 2019

MoMA will be closed all summer as it wraps up the final phase of its $400M expansion

The Museum of Modern Art will be closed throughout the summer as it prepares to open its expanded campus on October 21st. The $400 million expansion, developed by MoMA with architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with Gensler, will add more than 40,000 square feet of gallery spaces and allow the Museum to exhibit more art in new, interdisciplinary ways. The final phase of construction will expand into Jean Nouvel’s new residential tower 53W53 and into the site of the demolished American Folk Art Museum. It will add innovative performance and education spaces, expand the MoMA Design and Bookstore, and add free street-level galleries on the ground floor that will make art more accessible for all.
Get all the details

Real-time security checkpoint and taxi wait times now available for NYC airports

Via Flickr

February 5, 2019

Real-time security checkpoint and taxi wait times now available for NYC airports

Travelers who frequent New York City airports will now be able to plan a slightly smoother trip. Real-time tracking of security and taxi wait times have rolled out at Port Authority-operated terminals at John F. Kennedy, Newark Liberty, LaGuardia, and New York Stuart International airports, the agency announced Monday. Using a real-time measurement tool "BlipTrack," passengers can track the wait times online for TSA checkpoint screening areas and taxi stands at 14 terminals across the four airports.
Details here

Transit

Apple in talks for office and retail space at Hudson Yards

55 Hudson Yards; Via Related Companies, Oxford Properties, Mitsui Fudosan

February 5, 2019

Apple in talks for office and retail space at Hudson Yards

Apple is looking to move to a Hudson Yards office tower, the New York Post reported Monday. The company is in advanced talks to secure 60,000 square feet at 55 Hudson Yards, a 51-story building opening soon, as well as possible retail space at the mega-development site. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox and Kevin Roche, the 779-foot-tower features light-filled offices with modest-sized floor plans.
More here

Real Estate Trends

February 5, 2019

City sees an unprecedented 37 percent drop in evictions

The mayor's office announced this week that New York City's residential evictions by marshals had declined by 37 percent since 2013, with approximately 18,000 evictions in 2018 compared to almost 29,000 evictions in 2013. In Manhattan, evictions are down 47 percent since 2013. What that means: Since 2013, more than 100,000 New Yorkers who might otherwise have faced evictions have been able to stay in their homes. And evictions decreased 14 percent in 2018 alone. Maps from the New York City Council show data on where the most evictions happen and allow you to search for a specific address in any borough to find out more.
Universal Access to legal aid, maps and more

February 5, 2019

For $335K, a compact but efficient studio in charming Tudor City

25 Tudor City Place, also known as Tudor Tower, was one of the original buildings built at Tudor City, one of Manhattan's largest residential developments conceived by visionary real estate developer Frederick F. French in 1927 as a “suburb in the city.” The building retains its old-world charm with a well-maintained Gothic lobby and historic details in all 443 units, including beamed ceilings, hardwood floors, and casement windows. Like many of the pint-sized units that Tudor City is well-known for, this one, on the market for $335,000, offers a price tag to match.
Get the tour

Distinctive Homes

Memorial honoring those stricken by illness after 9/11 to open May 30

Rendering by Moso Studio.

February 4, 2019

Memorial honoring those stricken by illness after 9/11 to open May 30

As 6sqft previously reported, after the rescue and recovery effort for the September 11th attacks ended, an estimated 400,000 people were exposed to life-threatening toxins, and since then, nearly 70,000 first responders and more than 14,000 survivors enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Program. Last May, 9/11 Memorial & Museum president Alice Greenwald revealed the official design for Memorial Glade, a monument to all those who have lost their lives or are sick due to these related illnesses. The New York Post now reports that work is underway at Liberty and West streets.
Find out more about Memorial Glade

First housing lottery opens at the Bronx’s $600M affordable redevelopment of the Lambert Houses

It's been over two years since work got underway to demolish 14 building at the Bronx's 1970s-era Lambert Houses and replace them with taller towers that will hold 1,665 affordable apartments. In addition to doubling the site's number of affordable units, the $600 million project will have a public school and three times the amount of retail space. Though the entire overhaul won't be complete for another 11-12 years, applications are now being accepted for the first new residential building (h/t Welcome2TheBronx). The 49 below-market-rate residences are reserved for those earning 60 or 100 percent of the area median income and range from $761/month studios to $1,600/month two-bedrooms.
READ MORE

Affordable Housing

City calls on architects to design innovative affordable housing on super small lots

The city hopes to develop affordable housing on this lot at 829 Freeman Street in the Bronx; via Google Street View

February 4, 2019

City calls on architects to design innovative affordable housing on super small lots

The city is calling on architects to help design innovative affordable housing on irregularly-shaped lots, the New York Times reported Monday. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development will launch a design competition, along with the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, seeking ideas for housing on 23 unusually small or narrow lots across the city. The program, called Big Ideas for Small Lots NYC, was first announced by the city last year and falls under Mayor Bill de Blasio's ambitious Housing New York 2.0 plan.
More details this way

Hope Street, Love Lane, and more: The stories behind NYC’s most optimistic street names

Photo via Flickr cc

February 4, 2019

Hope Street, Love Lane, and more: The stories behind NYC’s most optimistic street names

By Cait Etherington

Short on hope? Wondering where to find love? Craving the promise of Utopia? If you are, you’re likely not alone. What you may not realize is that a few New Yorkers have these things on the street where they live, or at least on the street signs where they live. While most New Yorkers, especially Manhattanites, are relegated to living on numbered streets and avenues, in a few city neighborhoods, streets do have names and just a few of these streets--Hope Street, Love Lane, Futurity Place, and more--are especially uplifting.
Learn the story behind NYC's most optimistic addresses

City Living

February 4, 2019

Trader Joe’s is ending grocery delivery in Manhattan

Grocery mecca Trader Joe's has been posting signs in its Manhattan stores to let shoppers know it will end delivery service as of March 1, the New York Post reports. The quirky discount chain store known for its unique grocery items and clever crowd-control strategies cites escalating service costs as the reason for what a West Side Rag reader called an "unspeakable tragedy." To be fair, the California-based chain is known for encouraging thrifty shoppers to buy in bulk, making the need for schlepping assistance a real concern.
Find out more

City Living

February 4, 2019

One-bedroom Hell’s Kitchen co-op has high style and a low $425K price tag

The listing describes this Hell's Kitchen co-op as "a first time home buyers' dream" and when you consider it's chic, industrial-style interior and low $425,000 price tag, that sounds about right. Not only is it a true one-bedroom, but the apartment at 715 9th Avenue was also recently renovated. Being right on restaurant-lined 9th Avenue might sound like a lot, but you're just one block away from the C and E trains at 50th Street.
See more

Distinctive Homes

February 4, 2019

Amazing photos show COOKFOX’s Domino Sugar tower getting its crystalline facade

The installation of 1 South First's (formerly known as 260 Kent Avenue) innovative exterior is officially underway, its molecular pattern now visible. Designed by COOKFOX Architects, the tower, part of the Domino Sugar project in Williamsburg, will feature concrete window panels made using 3D-printed molds. New photos from the Gate Precast Company reveal the start of the crystalline-inspired facade as the building's construction is more than halfway complete (h/t CityRealty).
See the photos

FREE RENT: This week’s roundup of NYC rental news

Images (L to R): 685 First Avenue, Glassworks Bushwick, One Columbus Place, and 363 Bond Street

February 2, 2019

FREE RENT: This week’s roundup of NYC rental news

By Ondel Hylton

One Columbus Place: Lincoln Square Rental Offers 1 Month Free; Net Prices from $4,194/Month [LINK] Glassworks Bushwick: Get to Know Brooklyn’s New Rental at 336 Himrod Street [LINK] 268 Metropolitan Avenue: New Rentals Launch in the Heart of Trendy Williamsburg [LINK] 685 First Avenue: An Inside Look at the Modern Rental Collection at 685 First […]

Real Estate Trends

February 1, 2019

$2.8M Chelsea co-op has an enchanted two-level garden complete with a fire pit and pergola

This magical Chelsea backyard has us dreaming of warm summer days filled with fire pits, barbecuing, gardening, and kicking back with the sun our faces. But for now, the interior of this duplex at 436 West 23rd Street is plenty spacious and beautiful to keep us safe from the cold. Located within the historic Fitzroy Townhouses, an incredibly intact row of 19th-century Italianate houses, the 1,250-square-foot co-op boasts a double-height living room with 17-foot ceilings, a modern and colorful renovation, and, of course, that incredible two-level garden.
Go inside

Distinctive Homes

Taxis and Ubers in Manhattan will get more expensive as judge gives congestion fees the green light

Image via Flickr

February 1, 2019

Taxis and Ubers in Manhattan will get more expensive as judge gives congestion fees the green light

Snag the Greenest Seat in Town: Gufram's 1972 Pratone Chair is Shaped Like a Patch of Grass

Congestion surcharges on taxis and other for-hire vehicles in Manhattan will begin soon after a judge lifted a temporary restriction of the fees on Thursday, the New York Times reports. The new fees were supposed to start on January 1st but a coalition of taxi drivers filed a last-minute lawsuit against the “suicide surcharge,” fearing that the new policy will drive away customers and deal another significant blow to the ailing industry. The proposed fee of $2.50 for yellow taxis and $2.75 for other for-hire vehicles will bring the minimum taxi fare up to $5.80 while the minimum cost for an Uber, which already has an $8 base fare in Manhattan, will see an increase to $10.75.
Find out more

THE 6SQFT SHOP

The 6 best furniture rental companies in NYC

8 best places in NYC to thrift for home goods

The best websites for buying and selling used furniture in NYC

Everything you need to know about using a guarantor in NYC

15 quintessential NYC gifts for the New Yorker in your life

Raising chickens in NYC: Laws, tips, and everything else you need to know

Everything you need to know about affordable housing: applying, getting in, and staying put

10 best plants for apartment dwellers

New York City's best holiday markets of 2023

VIEW ALL

The 15 best places in NYC to ring in the Lunar New Year

Via Wikimedia

February 1, 2019

The 15 best places in NYC to ring in the Lunar New Year

One of New York City's most spirited events kicks off next Tuesday: the Lunar New Year. With multiple Chinatowns and Asian communities across the five boroughs, there is no shortage of events to celebrate the nearly two-week-long holiday, which is said to have originated more than 4,000 years ago. While the most well-known festivity is the colorful parade in Lower Manhattan's Chinatown, other Lunar New Year events in Flushing, Sunset Park, and Staten Island should not be overlooked. Embrace the Year of the Pig, the 12th zodiac animal said to signal good fortune, with lantern decorating events, dumpling and noodle-making classes, traditional dance and song, and sparkling firecracker ceremonies.
See the full list

Events & Things To Do

Image courtesy of Urban Archive. Photo credits, clockwise from top left: 1, 2, Museum of the City of New York; 3, 4, Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation; 5, Museum of Chinese in America

February 1, 2019

Urban Archive invites New Yorkers to submit photos for their new crowdsourced history project

Technology nonprofit Urban Archive has been creating new connections  between people, places, and historical institutions for several years based on New York City's architecture, culture, and unique stories, and they've just launched a new initiative. My Archive is a citywide project that tells the story of NYC through crowd-sourced histories and photographs–and it's an opportunity for regular New Yorkers to add their own history to the map. Throughout the month of February, you can submit your own photos for a chance to have them added to a collection of personal histories captured on city streets across the five boroughs–and included in the UA app.
Find out how to submit your photos

14 fun and offbeat ways to spend Valentine’s Day 2019 in New York City

Image courtesy of Dumbo.is

February 1, 2019

14 fun and offbeat ways to spend Valentine’s Day 2019 in New York City

Like Mother's Day, there's something to be said for the idea that every day ought to be Valentine’s Day, candy and flowers included. But if February's second week has you scrambling for a worthy celebration, it might be the perfect time to try something a little bit different. Take a look below for some Valentine-focused events–from skating and shopping to science and sewage–and lots of other ways to get heart-shaped this V-Day.
Details, this way

Events & Things To Do

Manhattan will get its first public beach at Hudson River Park

Image by Max Guliani, courtesy of the Hudson River Park Trust

February 1, 2019

Manhattan will get its first public beach at Hudson River Park

The Hudson River Park Trust has unanimously approved a proposal by James Corner Field Operations—the same firm that brought us the High Line and Brooklyn’s Domino Park—to design a 5.5-acre public park on the Gansevoort Peninsula, located at the western end of Little West 12th Street and the only remnant of 13th Avenue. It will be the largest single green space in the four-mile-long Hudson River Park. The design will incorporate recreational areas and provide direct waterfront access for the public with a beachfront on the southern edge that will double as a protective barrier to combat flooding and storm surge. The beach might be best for sunbathers, though, as swimming in Manhattan’s murky west side waters is unlikely to be viable.
Get the details

Architecture And Design

Ideas for redeveloping the Chrysler Building; Why do these Upper West Siders want to save a Starbucks?

Chrysler Building via Pixabay (L); Google Street View of the Starbucks at 76th and Columbus

February 1, 2019

Ideas for redeveloping the Chrysler Building; Why do these Upper West Siders want to save a Starbucks?

By 6sqft

Chrysler Building via Pixabay (L); Google Street View of the Starbucks at 76th and Columbus In East New York, the city is looking for artists to beautify Broadway Junction. [BK Reader] While most neighborhoods are fighting to save their small businesses, a group of Upper West Siders is petitioning against the closure of their Starbucks. […]

Uncategorized

The 7 is back this weekend, but the L train is not

Image via Flickr

February 1, 2019

The 7 is back this weekend, but the L train is not

First, the good news: 7 service has been restored after several weeks, the J and M will be running between Brooklyn and Manhattan (but the J is out of service from Crescent Street to Jamaica Center), and there are no planned disruptions on the 2, 3, 6, and Q lines. The bad news impacts L train riders, who will have to get used to service changes through March. The L won't be running from 8th Avenue in Manhattan to Brooklyn Junction. Read on for more details about the skipped stops and delays that may impact your travel this weekend.
Know before you go

Transit

Federal government increases oversight of NYCHA

Via Wikimedia

January 31, 2019

Federal government increases oversight of NYCHA

President Donald Trump's administration announced on Thursday it will seize some control over the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), calling for an independent federal monitor to oversee the troubled agency. According to the New York Times, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), NYCHA, and the city reached a deal that includes an investment of $2.2 billion over 10 years by the city in NYCHA, but does not place the agency under receivership. The monitor will be responsible for oversight of the agency's 176,000 apartments, part of the largest public housing authority in the country.
Get the details

Rendering of “Lost and Found” via Snark Park

January 31, 2019

Hudson Yards exhibit space Snark Park puts tickets on sale for its first show

When Hudson Yards opens on March 15th, one of the many places New Yorkers will get to check out for the first time will be Snark Park, a permanent exhibition space for immersive installations. The space will reimagine "everyday objects and familiar settings," according to a press release from designers Snarkitecture, "creating unexpected and memorable moments that challenge the mind to reassess visual cues and investigate the commonplace with a fresh curiosity." If this sounds a little out-there to you, tickets to the first exhibit have just gone on sale, along with some more info. The inaugural showcase titled "Lost and Found" will be a modern interpretation of an enchanted forest, providing "audible, visual, and tactile experiences" within a series of "massive, inhabitable cylinders."
All the details

Events & Things To Do

TransitCenter maps out the next 50 subway stations that should be made accessible in NYC

Photo via Flickr cc

January 31, 2019

TransitCenter maps out the next 50 subway stations that should be made accessible in NYC

Photo via Flickr cc Roughly 75 percent of New York City's 472 subway stations are not accessible--a fact that has long plagued disability advocates but has now taken on a more pressing call to action after 22-year-old Malaysia Goodson died after falling down the stairs carrying her baby in a stroller at one of these stations. To visualize this dire need, TransitCenter has put together a map that proposes the next 50 subway stations that should be made accessible under the MTA’s Fast Forward plan. If implemented, their plan would "more than triple the potential station-to-station trips riders who rely on elevators can make using accessible stations."
How did they choose these 50 stations?

Amazon will fight efforts to unionize by NYC workforce

A rendering of One Court Square in LIC, where Amazon will temporarily move this year; via NYCEDC

January 31, 2019

Amazon will fight efforts to unionize by NYC workforce

During a heated City Council hearing on Wednesday, Amazon said it will oppose efforts by its New York City workforce to unionize. Speaker Corey Johnson asked Brian Huseman, the public policy vice president for Amazon, if the company would allow workers to unionize while remaining neutral during the process. Huseman responded, "No, sir," establishing a tense tone for the rest of the hearing, the Daily News reported.
More here

Policy

Rendering: Economic Development Corporation.

January 31, 2019

Downtown Brooklyn’s Willoughby Square Park project is officially dead

It appears that residents at Downtown Brooklyn's new Brooklyn Point development won't be getting their "beautifully landscaped one-acre oasis" after all. Plans to add a new park atop a high-tech parking facility on Willoughby Street across from City Point in Downtown Brooklyn are officially off the table, Brooklyn Paper reports. The plan was set in motion a decade ago under the Bloomberg administration. City officials said Wednesday that a deal with the developer chosen for the job back in 2013 failed to close.
Find out more

Architecture And Design

January 31, 2019

For artists by artists: Inside the landmarked studios of the 144-year-old Art Students League of New York

6sqft’s series “Where I Work” takes us into the studios, offices, and businesses of New Yorkers across the city. In this installment, we’re going inside the landmarked building of the Art Students League of New York in Midtown. Want to see your business featured here? Get in touch! In 1875, a group of young students broke away from the National Academy of Design and founded the Art Students League of New York to pursue a new and more modern method of art education. What started as a small group of rebellious artists in a 20-foot by 30-foot space, turned into an internationally-recognized, landmarked institution, which continues to set the standard for art training today. In its 144th year, the Art Students League’s mission has remained unchanged since its founding: to spread the language of art to anyone interested in learning. The nonprofit has been located in the American Fine Arts Society Building at 215 West 57th Street since 1892. A designated New York City landmark, the French Renaissance-style building was designed by Henry J. Hardenbergh, the architect behind the Plaza Hotel and the Dakota. Ken Park, the director of marketing and communication for the League, recently gave 6sqft a behind-the-scenes tour of the historic building and shared some insight into this storied establishment.
See inside

Apply for 174 mixed-income units in the Parkchester area of the Bronx, from just $462/month

The Parkchester Oval, via Wiki Commons

January 31, 2019

Apply for 174 mixed-income units in the Parkchester area of the Bronx, from just $462/month

Last week, it was announced that the Parkchester section of the Bronx, served only by the 6 train, would be receiving a new Metro-North station, connecting it to Penn Station. And for those New Yorkers who qualify for the city's newest affordable housing lottery--earning 40, 60, or 100 percent of the area median income--there's a chance to get into the neighborhood on the heels of this news. There are 174 mixed-income apartments up for grabs at the new, two-building development Westchester Mews, and they range from $462/month studios to $1,888/month three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

New report says Bushwick tops the list for heat violations

Photo courtesy of Roman Kruglov’s Flickr

January 31, 2019

New report says Bushwick tops the list for heat violations

As frigid temperatures descend on NYC once again, real estate database provider Localize.City has produced a report showing which (non-NYCHA) buildings and neighborhoods have racked up the most heat violations in recent years. Bushwick, Brooklyn tops the list, followed by Van Nest in the Bronx. Read on to find out if your neighborhood–or building–made the list–and find out what you can do if your building has no–or not enough–heat.
Find out more

City Living

January 31, 2019

Creative decor and touches of greenery enliven this $2.1M Downtown Brooklyn penthouse

Located in the award-winning, SOM-designed Toren in Downtown Brooklyn, this duplex penthouse at 150 Myrtle Avenue boasts three exposures and sweeping views of Williamsburg and Manhattan. On the 30th of 37 floors, the corner residence offers three bedrooms and three baths in a dramatic double-height space for the asking price of $2,100,000. And though these glassy, open spaces can often feel void, this one has been warmed up with creative decor and a curated collection of plants.
Get the tour

Distinctive Homes

January 30, 2019

$4M Flatiron penthouse is the perfect mix of old and new with a timeless rooftop paradise

Overlooking the Flatiron district, this penthouse co-op at Folio House is in a historic Beaux-Arts building. And though it has classic loft bones and a Fifth Avenue address, this downtown aerie has an up-to-the minute renovation with no detail spared. And its best feature, a gorgeous landscaped roof garden, is a timeless addition to top-floor city living.
READ MORE

Distinctive Homes

Hudson Yards arts center The Shed announces 121-seat restaurant from Danny Meyer

Photo: Brett Beyer

January 30, 2019

Hudson Yards arts center The Shed announces 121-seat restaurant from Danny Meyer

When Hudson Yards opens on March 15th, New Yorkers will have plenty of big-name bites to nosh on, with 25 restaurant and food concepts from chefs like David Chang, Michael Lomonaco, Thomas Keller, Costas Spiliadis, as well as a massive Spanish food hall from José Andrés. And the latest to join the ranks is Union Square Hospitality Group's Danny Meyer (yes, the guy who brought you Shake Shack). The Wall Street Journal reports that Meyer will operate a 3,000-square-foot, 121-seat all-day cafe called Cedric's on the ground floor of The Shed, Hudson Yards' multi-use art center with a movable shell.
What we know so far

Food & Dining

City releases Gowanus rezoning draft with a focus on waterfront resiliency

Via NYC Planning

January 30, 2019

City releases Gowanus rezoning draft with a focus on waterfront resiliency

The Department of City Planning on Wednesday released a draft of its plan to rezone Gowanus as a way to bring more affordable housing, jobs, and community resources to the Brooklyn neighborhood. In the works for nearly three years, the proposal includes a waterfront access plan that creates public walkways centered around the canal, as well as builds a more resilient shoreline.
See the proposal

Policy

Bergen Brooklyn

323 Bergen Street

Boerum Hill

World-class design rooted in Brooklyn charm

studios starting at $825,000
1 beds starting at $1,200,000
2 beds starting at $1,925,000
3 beds starting at $3,050,000
4 beds starting at $6,000,000

Learn More

Enter to win a pair of tickets to 6sqft & Untapped Cities’ tour of FXCollaborative’s architecture studio

Photo courtesy of FXCollaborative

January 30, 2019

Enter to win a pair of tickets to 6sqft & Untapped Cities’ tour of FXCollaborative’s architecture studio

Join 6sqft and our friends at Untapped Cities for the second installment of our new joint event series where we'll offer behind-the-scenes tours of some of the city’s top architectural and design firms’ studios. This month, we'll be visiting architecture firm FXCollaborative, who will open up their Flatiron office space the evening of Wednesday, February 13th. Guests will be treated to a tour of the creative space and a conversation with Senior Partners Dan Kaplan and Sylvia Smith, along with Partner Nicholas Garrison, Principal Gustavo Rodriguez, and Principal/Design Director of Interiors Angie Lee. Learn about the firm's holistic approach through current projects such as Downtown Brooklyn's 1 Willoughby Square, 77 Greenwich Street, and the new Statue of Liberty Museum. Interested in attending? Enter our raffle for a chance to win a pair of tickets!
Learn how to enter

Events & Things To Do

St. Mark’s Comics to close after 36 years

Google Street View of St. Mark’s Comics

January 30, 2019

St. Mark’s Comics to close after 36 years

After 36 years as a cultural anchor of what was once an alternative lifestyle mecca, St. Mark's Comics will be closing up shop at the end February. As Gothamist reports, the cluttered and beloved icon is among the rear guard of an exodus in recent years–Trash & Vaudeville and Kim's Video have also vacated the neighborhood-defining strip–that basically ends an era on St. Mark's Place.
Read on

City Living

One Times Square owner looking to construct observatory for prime New Year’s Eve views

Via Flickr

January 30, 2019

One Times Square owner looking to construct observatory for prime New Year’s Eve views

The most looked-at building in the world is getting a makeover. According to Crain's, Jamestown will redevelop One Times Square, the 23-story building that garners the attention of millions for its famed ball drop every New Year's Eve. The owner plans on installing 32,00 square feet of new signage, including a 350-foot-tall digital sign. To cash even further on its prime location, Jamestown may construct an observatory for NYE revelers to be at the heart of ball-drop festivities.
Find out more

Real Estate Trends

49-square-foot Upper West Side ‘studio’ might actually be a prison cell for $510/month

Listing photo courtesy of Citi Habitats

January 30, 2019

49-square-foot Upper West Side ‘studio’ might actually be a prison cell for $510/month

For some reason, the Upper West Side is a hotbed for ridiculously small and semi-uninhabitable apartments, but this "studio" at 276 West 71st Street by far takes the cake (h/t Reddit). At first glance, the SRO could easily be mistaken for a prison cell, but in fact, the 49-square-foot (yes, you read that right) apartment is asking $510/month plus a 15 percent broker's fee. Beware of the sticky NYC summers, though; as the listing generously divulges, "No Air conditioners are allowed. You can only use a fan."
READ MORE

Distinctive Homes

Amazon will fund computer science classes at 130 schools throughout NYC

Students learning how to code at Monsignor Scanlan High in the Bronx. Image courtesy of Amazon.

January 30, 2019

Amazon will fund computer science classes at 130 schools throughout NYC