The state of food trucks: Why owners are fed up with outdated regulations

Photo via Wikimedia

May 9, 2018

The state of food trucks: Why owners are fed up with outdated regulations

By
According to a recent report by Food Truck Nation, New York City takes 9th out of the top places to run a food truck. The report ranks three categories: ease of obtaining permits and licenses, complying with restrictions and operating a food truck. And with a composite score of nine, NYC is falling behind other cities, specifically Portland, Denver and Orlando which take the top three spots, respectively. Based on the data, obtaining permits and licenses is what drags the city's scores down, falling to spot 26. Some cities have many fewer barriers to entry. For example, Denver requires ten different procedures to obtain a license, whereas Boston has a whopping 32. Unsurprising, Denver has 594 food trucks in operation. But Adam Sobel, the owner of Cinnamon Snail, the vegan food truck which is ranked as the top food truck in the New York City by The Daily Meal, has stopped running its food truck business on the streets of New York. Sobel only uses his food trucks for special events a few days a week, like farmers markets, because he says that every food truck on the streets of New York is basically illegal.
Learn more
Three gorgeous Osborne co-ops of the late Hollywood personality Robert Osborne hit the market
May 9, 2018

Three gorgeous Osborne co-ops of the late Hollywood personality Robert Osborne hit the market

By
The building name might be coincidental, but it's certainly no fluke that the late Robert Osborne's historic apartments at the Osborne co-op are perfectly preserved and decorated impeccably. Best known for his 20+ year run as the host of Turner Classic Movies and as the author of the official history of the Academy Awards, Robert moved into the Midtown West building in 1988 after Carol Burnett mentioned a friend was selling a residence there. He told the Times in 2006, "I was interested that there was a building called the Osborne spelled the same way I spell my name," and so he toured that unit with Bette Davis. This became the first of three homes he'd purchase in the co-op, and as of today, all three of these are on the market--a one-bedroom unit on the third-floor asking $1.25 million, a second-floor one-bedroom asking $725,000, and a much smaller one-bedroom on the first floor asking $575,000.
See both units
New York Wheel has four months to find funding to restart work
May 9, 2018

New York Wheel has four months to find funding to restart work

By
"[We are] committed to the completion of the project, which is the centerpiece of a Staten Island redevelopment project. This settlement will allow New York Wheel the opportunity to finalize its financing arrangements and re-commence the construction and completion of the Wheel," the New York Wheel said in a statement responding to a bankruptcy court stipulation that gives the project 120 days to find the required funds and hire a new contractor (h/t SI Advance). This comes after the project's design team walked off the job last June amidst a "bitter pay dispute" with the developer. The 630-foot Ferris wheel has been plagued by cost overruns and delays from the beginning, so if they're not able to get things back on track by September 5th, it could mean the end of what was planned to be a major revenue generator and attraction for Staten Island.
The whole saga
Trump could get over $30M from sale of a Brooklyn affordable housing complex he partially owns
May 9, 2018

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

By
Starrett City photo via Matt Green on Flickr, President Trump photo via Wikimedia As he proposes funding cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development's subsidized housing programs, President Donald Trump is set to gain millions of dollars from the sale of an affordable housing complex in East New York, best known as Starrett City. Investors, including Trump who owns a 4 percent stake in the development, sold the 46-building complex to two real estate firms for $906 million, ABC News reported Tuesday. Trump is set to profit about $36 million from the sale (an amount which could drop after mortgage costs and transfer taxes). Home to roughly 15,000 residents across 145 acres, Starrett City is the largest federally subsidized housing project in the country.
Find out more
Antonio Banderas lists sultry Central Park West Prasada pad for $8M

Image of Antonio Banderas: Wikimedia Commons

May 9, 2018

Antonio Banderas lists sultry Central Park West Prasada pad for $8M

By
Antonio Banderas has just listed his park-front co-op in the Prasada at 50 Central Park West for $7.95 million. The actor purchased the nine-room co-op for $3.995 million in 2005, with his wife, Melanie Griffith, according to the Wall Street Journal. The couple divorced in 2016 and Banderas, who is starring in the upcoming “Life Itself” with Olivia Wilde and Oscar Isaac, kept the stylish Upper West Side home.
More sexy apartment pics, this way
Kanye West is starting an architecture firm; where to celebrate the Royal Wedding in NYC

Kanye West via NRK P3/Flickr (L); Windsor Castle via Wiki Commons (R)

May 8, 2018

Kanye West is starting an architecture firm; where to celebrate the Royal Wedding in NYC

By

Unsurprisingly announced via a tweet, Kanye West is launching his own architecture firm called “Yeezy home.” [Curbed] The Brooklyn and Queens Borough Presidents want the MTA to make the subway stations that will absorb displaced L train riders wheelchair-accessible. [amNY] On May 19th, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will tie the knot in Windsor Castle. Here are […]

Historic Greenpoint bank building lists for $6.5M with lots of options
May 8, 2018

Historic Greenpoint bank building lists for $6.5M with lots of options

By
The former Greenpoint Mechanics and Traders Bank, built in 1895, is now on the market for $6.5 million along with the many opportunities this unusual building presents. Designed in the Renaissance Revival style composed of large red brownstones, red brick and ornate terra cotta detailed accents with massive arched windows on the third floor, 144 Franklin Street is a 5,760-square-foot landmarked three-story mixed-use building with a full height basement. The property is zoned for up to six office spaces on the ground floor and regular basement use, with residential use on second and third floors.
Find out more about this unusual opportunity
Six chances to snag an East Williamsburg one-bedroom for $1,150/month

Photo via David Berkowitz/Flickr

May 8, 2018

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

By
Photo via David Berkowitz/Flickr A housing lottery launched this week for six affordable units in the East Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn. The newly constructed development at 251 Devoe Street contains seven units, all of them spacious with open layouts. While some of the units in the building include balconies, all have central air and modern appliances. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 60 percent of the area median income can apply for the $1,150/month one-bedrooms. The rental building sits closest to the L and G trains, as well as a dog park and plenty of happening bars and restaurants.
Find out if you qualify
Lottery for 218 affordable units opens in new Bronx building with yoga pavilion and rooftop farm

Rendering courtesy of Dattner Architects

May 8, 2018

Lottery for 218 affordable units opens in new Bronx building with yoga pavilion and rooftop farm

By
Nearly a year ago, L+M Development Partners and Hornig Capital Partners broke ground on a $156 million, mixed-use development on the St. Barnabas Hospital campus in the Belmont section of the Bronx, adjacent to Little Italy's Arthur Avenue and just a short walk to the Bronx Zoo. A pair of all-affordable housing projects--an 11-story, 181-unit building at 4511 Third Avenue and a 12-story, 133-unit building down the street at 4439 Third Avenue--the Dattner Architects-designed complex aims to combine health care services, affordable housing, job creation, outdoor fitness areas, and healthy food options to low-income residents of the community. And these residents earning 60 percent of the area median income can now apply for 218 apartments, ranging from $865/month studios to $1,289/month three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Distinctive Homes

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

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

May 8, 2018

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

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

Photo of WeWork CEO Adam Neumann and Bjarke Ingels, by Alexei Hay for WeWork

May 8, 2018

WeWork hires Bjarke Ingels as Chief Architect

By
WeWork, the $20 billion provider of co-working and temporary office spaces, just announced that rockstarchitect Bjarke Ingels will be their Chief Architect, a role in which he'll advise the company on all their projects, as well as offer his insights and ideas. With Bjarke at the helm, WeWork hopes to impact buildings, neighborhoods, and even broader, the cities in which they're located by working with city planners and politicians to change the future for the better. In a press release written by CEO and co-founder Adam Neumann, WeWork boasts Bjarke’s creativity and practicality: “Bjarke caught my attention because he’s changing the way we think about architecture. His designs inspire as much as they surprise."
READ MORE
DonateNYC helps achieve zero waste dorm move-out

Image courtesy of nyc.gov/zerowaste

May 8, 2018

DonateNYC helps achieve zero waste dorm move-out

By
When spring arrives at New York City's 140 colleges and universities, departing students generate literally tons of waste each year on their way out of dorms and off-campus housing. Students leave behind unwanted items that can be reused or recycled. That's when the city's DonateNYC program steps in, offering resources and guidelines for a zero waste dorm move-out
Find out more
NYC’s Zombie Houses: Why more homes are vacant and abandoned

Photo via Felix Castor/Flickr

May 8, 2018

NYC’s Zombie Houses: Why more homes are vacant and abandoned

By
As recently reported on 6sqft, the number of vacant homes in New York City continues to rise. The Census Bureau’s Housing and Vacancy Survey found that the number of unoccupied apartments citywide has grown 35 percent since 2014. While a majority of the city’s 247,977 empty units are empty for a legitimate reason—for example, they are currently awaiting the arrival of a new occupant, being renovated, or are seasonally occupied—among the city’s currently vacant homes are a small percentage of homes known as “zombie homes.” Usually vacant and deteriorating, in some cases, these homes have been abandoned by owners who are behind on their mortgage payments and in other cases, the homes have already been taken over by a lender. The issue has become so problematic that last April, the city —prompted by the passing of the New York State Zombie Property and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2016, or “Zombie Law”—decided it was time to tackle the zombie home problem head-on.
What's going on?
TV news anchor Dan Abrams lists 1830s West Village townhouse triplex for $8.8M
May 8, 2018

TV news anchor Dan Abrams lists 1830s West Village townhouse triplex for $8.8M

By
ABC news anchor and media entrepreneur Dan Abrams is selling his 3,300-square-foot home in the Village. The three-story property at 150 Waverly Place is part of a seven-unit condo made up of two neighboring 1830s-era Greek Revival townhouses. According to the Wall Street Journal, Abrams, who is chief legal analyst for ABC News, host of A&E’s “Live PD” and the publisher of Mediaite and its sibling sites, first lived in the building in 2004 as a renter, then bought a three-bedroom duplex for $2.175 million. He purchased the adjacent duplex–which included a private garden—in 2009 for $1.645 million.
Imagine the possibilities
Wall Street’s historic Trinity Church will partially close during a two-year, $99M renovation

Rendering of the canopy at the graveyard via Trinity Wall Street

May 7, 2018

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

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

A 1939 photo of an atom-smasher (cyclotron) at Columbia University. Via Wiki Commons.

May 7, 2018

Going nuclear: The Manhattan Project in Manhattan

By
Most people assume that “The Manhattan Project” is a clever codename, a misnomer for the famous test sites in New Mexico. But, with over 1,200 tons on uranium stashed on Staten Island, and a nuclear reactor whizzing away at Columbia University, the top-secret wartime program began in Manhattan, and fanned out across the island, from its southern tip to its northern reaches, from its dimmest docks to its brightest towers. Ultimately 5,000 people poured into New York to work on the project, so duck, cover and get ready for an atomic tale of scientists, soldiers, and spies.
Learn all about the Manhattan Project in Manhattan
Williamsburg’s first ground-up commercial space in over 40 years tops out
May 7, 2018

Williamsburg’s first ground-up commercial space in over 40 years tops out

By
Rendering via Steelblue/Gensler Silicon Valley will soon land in Williamsburg, according to the masterminds behind 25 Kent, an office building designed with the tech community in mind. The eight-story building at 25 Kent Avenue, the first ground-up commercial office development in the area in over four decades, has officially topped out. The building offers 500,000 square feet of office space along the Williamsburg waterfront, retail at ground level and underground parking, according to CityRealty. Designed by Gensler with concept designs by Hollwich Kushner (HWKN), 25 Kent will surely attract young professionals, with its millennial-friendly rooftops, terraces and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Details here
The Urban Lens: Richard Koek creates a ‘visual hymn’ of NYC with his candid photos
May 7, 2018

The Urban Lens: Richard Koek creates a ‘visual hymn’ of NYC with his candid photos

By
6sqft’s series The Urban Lens invites photographers to share work exploring a theme or a place within New York City. Are you a photographer who’d like to see your work featured on The Urban Lens? Get in touch with us at [email protected]. Dutch-Argentinean photographer Richard Koek gave up his profession as a tax lawyer to pursue his passion for photography in New York City. He now splits his time between NYC and Amsterdam, and Lannoo Publishers just released a beautiful photographic tour of the city in his book, "New York New York: A Visual Hymn." Koek loves to walk and believes it is the only way to truly get to know a city. And flipping through the pages of his book truly feels like you're walking alongside Koek (so much so that your feet may get sore by the end!). As photographer Alice Rose George says in the preface, "New York can be frightening just by its size and number of people, or it can be exhilarating for the same reasons... You can see bits and pieces from inside a taxi or the swollen streets as you enter a theater or restaurant, everything at a distance. Or you can dive into its complexity." 6sqft got Koek to sit down and stop walking for a brief moment to talk about this complexity, his process, and his inspirations for the book.
Hear from Koek and see a selection of his beautiful photos
Pitch a story icon Know of something cool happening in New York? Let us know:
‘Sex’-y NYC cupcake shop Magnolia Bakery to open 200 franchise locations across the U.S.

Image: Shiny Things via Flickr

May 7, 2018

‘Sex’-y NYC cupcake shop Magnolia Bakery to open 200 franchise locations across the U.S.

By
We know “Sex and the City” did wonders for pink martinis, Manolos and Cynthia Nixon’s political career. And we’re pretty sure the cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery have the NYC-centric series to thank for its ability to expand worldwide. The popular pastries are, we're told, gobbling up the market in Dubai, Kuwait, Tokyo, Mexico City and Seoul, and closer to home in (besides New York City) Los Angeles, Chicago and now Boston. But like Ms. Nixon, the company isn't content to rest on its laurels. The Wall Street Journal reports that the Bleecker Street original will be plying its sweet treats in as many as 200 new franchises in the U.S. in the next five years
How many cupcakes is too many?
You can own an affordable co-op in the South Bronx for just $92K

Photo via Dan DeLuca’s Flickr

May 7, 2018

You can own an affordable co-op in the South Bronx for just $92K

By
Applications are now being accepted for three newly renovated co-ops in the Longwood neighborhood of the South Bronx, part of the city's initiative to make affordable homeownership more accessible for first-time buyers. Located at 847 Fox Street, the three-bedroom units are move-in ready, with renovated kitchen and bathrooms, new electrical and heating systems and energy efficient appliances. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 120 percent of the area median income can apply for the three units, listed for a subsidized price of roughly $91,483.
Find out if you qualify
FREE RENT: This week’s roundup of NYC rental news

Images (L to R): EVGB, ELLIPSE, THE ALEXANDER and SALTMEADOW

May 5, 2018

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

By

Save Thousands in Rent with these Incredible Deals in Manhattan, Brooklyn & Queens [link] EVGB Perks You’ll Love: 2 Months Free Rent, Integrated Alexa + More [link] Ellipse, Record-Setting Jersey City Rental Tower is Now 100% Leased [link] The Alexander, Rego Park’s 27-Story Rental Tower, Offers 1 Month Free [link] Beachfront Living at Saltmeadow, No […]

NYC renters paid an additional $616M thanks to Airbnb; Frieze art fair’s ‘temporary town’ on Randall’s Island

Tenements via Pixabay (L); Frieze Art Fair 2018; photograph by Raimund Koch

May 4, 2018

NYC renters paid an additional $616M thanks to Airbnb; Frieze art fair’s ‘temporary town’ on Randall’s Island

By

A new report found that Airbnb caused NYC rents to rise 21.6 percent between 2009 and 2016; this cost renters an additional $616 million in 2016 alone. [NYT] Frieze art fair is taking over Randall’s Island this weekend. Check out the “temporary town” of white tents designed to host the event. [Dezeen] Don’t miss GVSHP’s spring […]

May 4, 2018

Two buildings near Crotona Park in the South Bronx launch lotteries, from $897/month

By
Sixteen moderate-income apartments are up for grabs in two buildings located in the Claremont and Morrisania neighborhoods of the South Bronx. The buildings, located at 625 Jefferson Place and 3531 Third Avenue, sit near Crotona Park, a nearly 128 acre public park with a lake, 20 tennis courts a massive swimming pool and 28 species of trees. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 80 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments ranging from $897/month studios to a $1,764/month four-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
A Saudi prince and NYC real estate company will buy iconic Plaza Hotel for $600M

Photo via Creative Commons

May 4, 2018

A Saudi prince and NYC real estate company will buy iconic Plaza Hotel for $600M

By
Update 5/8/18: Saudi Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal and Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp. will buy the Plaza Hotel for $600 million, besting a previous offer made less than a week ago, according to the New York Post. While it was reported White City Ventures and the Kamran Organization were in contract to buy the iconic building, the prince and Ashkenazy, as the minority owner, had the option to acquire the hotel if they matched the $600 million offer. The deal is expected to close this summer. A deal to sell the historic, 111-year-old Plaza Hotel has finally been reached, after the New York City landmark sat on and off the market for years and changed hands numerous times. As the Real Deal reported, a group of investors including Shahal Kahan of White City Ventures and Kamran Hakim of the Hakim Organization, are in contract to buy a majority share of the hotel for $600 million. While reports in March said the group was considering paying for part of the purchase with cryptocurrency, the deal instead is being made up of equity from investors and a $415 million loan from a pair of British billionaires, David and Simon Reuben.
More details here
Quaint Tudor house in the Upper West Side’s ‘hidden’ Pomander Walk asks $2.5M
May 4, 2018

Quaint Tudor house in the Upper West Side’s ‘hidden’ Pomander Walk asks $2.5M

By
As one of New York City's many hidden-in-plain-sight secret addresses, Pomander Walk is a gated 1920s community of Tudor-style mini-homes resembling an English village nestled right in the middle of Manhattan's Upper West Side. The brightly-painted home at 265 West 94th Street, asking $2.5 million, is a rarely-available opportunity to live in this unique village-in-the-city community.
Get a closer look
Live in a one bedroom near the Brooklyn Children’s Museum in Crown Heights for $2,253/month
May 4, 2018

Live in a one bedroom near the Brooklyn Children’s Museum in Crown Heights for $2,253/month

By
Photo by Julienne Schaer for NYC&Company A housing lottery launched Friday for just three one-bedroom apartments in the northern section of Crown Heights. Located at 730 Prospect Place, the building rises five stories and contains eight units. It sits between the colorful, Rafael Viñoly-designed Brooklyn Children's Museum and Brower Park and the myriad of food and drink options of Franklin and Washington Avenues. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the three $2,253/month one-bedroom units.
Find out if you qualify

THE 6SQFT SHOP

The best websites for buying and selling used furniture in NYC The best websites for buying and selling used furniture in NYC
The 6 best furniture rental companies in NYC The 6 best furniture rental companies in NYC
8 best places in NYC to thrift for home goods 8 best places in NYC to thrift for home goods
Everything you need to know about using a guarantor in NYC Everything you need to know about using a guarantor in NYC
15 quintessential NYC gifts for the New Yorker in your life 15 quintessential NYC gifts for the New Yorker in your life
New York City's best holiday markets of 2023 New York City's best holiday markets of 2023
Everything you need to know about affordable housing: applying, getting in, and staying put Everything you need to know about affordable housing: applying, getting in, and staying put
Raising chickens in NYC: Laws, tips, and everything else you need to know Raising chickens in NYC: Laws, tips, and everything else you need to know
10 Ways to Decorate an Exposed Brick Wall Without Drilling 10 Ways to Decorate an Exposed Brick Wall Without Drilling
Snag the Greenest Seat in Town: Gufram's 1972 Pratone Chair is Shaped Like a Patch of Grass Snag the Greenest Seat in Town: Gufram's 1972 Pratone Chair is Shaped Like a Patch of Grass
VIEW ALL
Jane Jacobs’ NYC: The sites that inspired her work and preservation legacy

Washington Square Park via Wiki Commons; Jane Jacobs via Wiki Commons

May 4, 2018

Jane Jacobs’ NYC: The sites that inspired her work and preservation legacy

By
Jane Jacobs’ birthday on May 4 is marked throughout the world as an occasion to celebrate one’s own city -- its history, diversity, and continued vitality. “Jane’s Walks” are conducted across the country to encourage average citizens to appreciate and engage the complex and dazzling ecosystems which make up our cityscapes (Here in NYC, MAS is hosting 200+ free walks throughout the city from today through Sunday). But there’s no place better to appreciate all things Jane Jacobs than Greenwich Village, the neighborhood in which she lived and which so informed and inspired her writings and activism, in turn helping to save it from destruction.
Tour Jane Jacobs' NYC
Cynthia Nixon’s Rent Justice for All platform would extend rent stabilization and boost tenant protection

Cynthia Nixon image; image

May 4, 2018

Cynthia Nixon’s Rent Justice for All platform would extend rent stabilization and boost tenant protection

By
Cynthia Nixon, the "Sex and the City" actress-turned-Democratic gubernatorial candidate, has unveiled a Rent Justice for All platform that would bolster protection for tenants statewide. Curbed reports that Nixon, who is running against Governor Andrew Cuomo as a Democratic candidate, announced Rent Justice for All, a series of measures intended to address the growing burden placed on New York's renters, of which there are many: Nixon said in a statement, “Half of our state residents are renters, and under Governor Cuomo, New York’s renters have been left behind.”
Find out more
16 chances to snag an affordable one bedroom in East Williamsburg for $1,080/month

Rendering via Leverich Design Studio

May 4, 2018

16 chances to snag an affordable one bedroom in East Williamsburg for $1,080/month

By
Located in between artist-hipster enclaves of Bushwick and Williamsburg, a newly constructed building at 89 Bartlett Street has launched an affordable housing lottery for 16 affordable one-bedroom units. Qualifying New Yorkers earning between roughly $37,000 and $50,000 annually (or 60 percent of the area median income), can apply for the $1,080/month one-bedroom apartments.
Find out if you qualify
72nd Street B, C station to close through the fall and other weekend service changes

Photo by eric molina/Flickr

May 4, 2018

72nd Street B, C station to close through the fall and other weekend service changes

By
This weekend, the MTA is closing the first of what it specifies are "two non-adjacent subway stations" (a desperate grovel for mercy from public critique, that specification), 72nd Street and 86th Street on the B, C line. The 86th Street station will not close until June 4, and neither station will reopen until late October. Meanwhile, the usual slew of weekend service changes also awaits straphangers. Read on for the details.
A number of stations are, unsurprisingly, closed for repairs
Live in Manhattan West’s massive Eugene rental for just $613 month, lottery opens for 103 units

Renderings via The Eugene

May 3, 2018

Live in Manhattan West’s massive Eugene rental for just $613 month, lottery opens for 103 units

By
Between the adjacent mega-developments Hudson Yards and Manhattan West, the far west side is banking on becoming a city within a city. And if this amenity-rich lifestyle appeals to you, here's a chance to get in on the action for less. Starting tomorrow, the second phase of the affordable housing lottery at Manhattan West's massive rental the Eugene will be open for 103 low- and middle-income apartments, ranging from $613/month studios to $2,519/month two-bedrooms. Designed by Skidmore Owings & Merill (SOM), the 62-story glass tower at 435 West 31st Street offers amenities like a rock climbing wall, "sky lounge," pet spa, and fitness center. These are in addition to Manhattan West's two-acre public park and 240,000 square feet of curated food, retail and other pop-up events
Find out if you qualify
Emily Blunt and John Krasinski’s historic Park Slope townhouse sells for $6.5M
May 3, 2018

Emily Blunt and John Krasinski’s historic Park Slope townhouse sells for $6.5M

By
After eight months on the market, Emily Blunt and John Krasinski's historic Park Slope townhouse has found a buyer, albeit for $1.5 million less than they'd hoped. The couple first listed the seven-bedroom, 20-room home at 586 4th Street in September for $8 million, but the Post saw through city records that it's closed for $6.56 million. The couple previously said they put the home on the market because work kept them away too much and "The house is so special—someone who can spend every night there should have it."
See exactly why it's so special
NYCxDesign 2018: A guide to this month’s best design events

Photo courtesy of Industry City

May 3, 2018

NYCxDesign 2018: A guide to this month’s best design events

By
Photo courtesy of Industry City New Yorkers love good design. They also love good festivals. And who doesn’t love a custom cocktail? Put those three together and you’ve got NYCxDESIGN. With over 400 different exhibitions, installations, trade shows, panels, product launches, open studios, and more, NYCxDESIGN runs from May 11–23 across the city’s five boroughs and is the biggest design event of the year. And to top it off, restaurants throughout the city are designing custom NYCxDESIGN cocktails, the perfect end to a perfect day. To help you navigate the scene, 6sqft has put together a guide to all the events you don't want to miss.
Check it out!
Judge rules Upper West Side condo can remove Trump’s name from its building
May 3, 2018

Judge rules Upper West Side condo can remove Trump’s name from its building

By
Photo via Nick Normal’s Flickr Following year-long resistance from the Trump Organization, a judge ruled on Thursday that an Upper West Side condo could remove the president's name from the exterior of the 46-story building, according to the New York Times. Condo owners at 200 Riverside Boulevard will now be able to vote on whether to keep or remove the bronze letters spelling "TRUMP" on the building, where they have hung for nearly two decades. The ruling comes after board members at Trump Place asked a judge in January to issue a declaratory judgment that the condo has the right to either keep or remove the letters without violating its licensing agreement. On Thursday, Justice Eileen Bransten said removing letters does not violate the agreement.
More details here
De Blasio will spend an additional $300M on NYC Ferry as ridership doubles

Via NYC Ferry

May 3, 2018

De Blasio will spend an additional $300M on NYC Ferry as ridership doubles

By
“We’re gonna need a bigger boat” commented Mayor Bill de Blasio at a press conference in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, this morning touting the surge in popularity of ferries. NYC’s ferry service is expected to carry as many as 9 million passengers by 2023, twice the original projections. And to accommodate this, Mayor de Blasio said he was increasing spending on ferries, including a $300 million investment for three new, larger 350-passenger capacity boats, news docks and piers and an additional port for maintenance.  The current NYC Ferry fleet contains 20 150-passenger capacity vessels.
There's more coming
Master planning for huge Sunnyside Yard project to begin this summer

Photo via NYCEDC

May 3, 2018

Master planning for huge Sunnyside Yard project to begin this summer

By
The master planning process for the Sunnyside Yard project, a mammoth plan to build a new, fully planned neighborhood to Queens, will begin this summer, the city announced Thursday. Along with Amtrak, the city's economic development corporation said it will form a steering committee made up of local leaders and planning experts who will organize meetings and workshops to gain feedback from local residents. The Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU) has officially been tapped to lead the planning process. A 2017 feasibility study found 70 acres of the 180-acre development would be viable for development. According to the city, the project could bring between roughly 11,000 and 15,000 new housing units and 15 to 20 acres of open space, new schools and retail amenities. About 3,300 to 4,500 new permanently affordable units could also be created. As of last year, the plan has an estimated price tag of $10 billion.
Find out more
750 mostly affordable apartments coming to the South Bronx near Yankee Stadium

Photo via Wiki Commons

May 3, 2018

750 mostly affordable apartments coming to the South Bronx near Yankee Stadium

By
The South Bronx's building boom is continuing with the announcement of a pair of developments near Yankee Stadium that will bring 750 mixed-use residential units to the area. As reported by The Real Deal, Maddd Equities is developing two sites across from each other at 1159 and 1184 River Avenue. The former will have 250 affordable and supportive housing units, and the latter will be a set of 17-story buildings with 500 apartments, most of which will be reserved for low-income households.
READ MORE
$4M Flatiron duplex was 19th century starchitect Richard Morris Hunt’s studio
May 3, 2018

$4M Flatiron duplex was 19th century starchitect Richard Morris Hunt’s studio

By
This $3.925 million combined sale in an historic Flatiron building is a unique opportunity for more than one reason. The 1870s Italianate townhouse at 28 East 21st Street, now a co-op, served as the studio of architect Richard Morris Hunt, whose designs include the Met as well as the Biltmore estate, The Breakers and other notable Gilded Age properties. It's also a chance to acquire an 1,850-square-foot duplex with three bedrooms plus a dreamy townhouse backyard complete with flowering dogwood and magnolia trees and a 250-square-foot artists' studio in the heart of the Flatiron district.
Take the tour
How New Yorkers responded to the 1918 Flu Pandemic

A typist wearsing a guaze mask in 1918.Via the National Archives and Records Administration

May 2, 2018

How New Yorkers responded to the 1918 Flu Pandemic

By
May 2018 marks the centennial of one of the world’s greatest health crisis in history—the 1918 flu pandemic. In the end, anywhere from 500,000 to 1 million people worldwide would die as a result of the pandemic. New York was by no means spared. During the flu pandemic, which stretched from late 1918 to early 1920, over 20,000 New Yorkers’ lives were lost. However, in many respects, the crisis also brought into relief what was already working with New York’s health system by 1918. Indeed, compared to many other U.S. cities, including Boston, New York suffered fewer losses and historians suggest that the health department’s quick response is largely to thank for the city’s relatively low number of deaths.
READ MORE
Plan to upgrade signals on 7-line delayed again, more service outages possible

Photo via Tim Adams on Flickr

May 2, 2018

Plan to upgrade signals on 7-line delayed again, more service outages possible

By
Another day, another missed deadline for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The plan to modernize the 7-line's ancient signals has been delayed yet again, according to the Wall Street Journal. The MTA said the new system would be implemented by June 30, but the contractor installing the signals, Thales Transport and Security, told officials they won't be able to finish until November. Andy Byford, the new chief of NYC Transit, said he refuses to accept the rescheduled deadline and has hinted at more outages on the 7, as a way to accelerate installation of the system. "I think customers would prefer to rip the band aid off and get on with it rather than have this slow creeping limp to the finish line," Byford said on Wednesday.
Find out more
How did a flock of Argentinian parrots land in Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery?

Photo via Wiki Commons

May 2, 2018

How did a flock of Argentinian parrots land in Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery?

By
It's usually the tours and events at Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery that get people talking, but the national landmark has its own chatty group that's attracting a lot of attention. The group happens to be a flock of lime green parrots from Argentina, appropriately named “Monk Parrots” since they are hanging out in the cemetery despite Green-Wood's nonsectarian nature. But how did these loud and exotic birds get all the way from South America to Greenwood Heights?
It's not as crazy as you might think
My 480sqft: Real estate publicist Kelly Kreth lives in a red, black, and white wonderland in Yorkville

6sqft’s series “My sqft” checks out the homes of New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to real estate publicist Kelly Kreth’s Yorkville apartment. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch!

May 2, 2018

My 480sqft: Real estate publicist Kelly Kreth lives in a red, black, and white wonderland in Yorkville

By
What's black and white and red all over? Kelly Kreth's Yorkville apartment. The real estate publicist pegs her OCD diagnosis for the strict color palette--"it makes me feel safe," she explains--but also the fact that her love for retro pieces, graphic art, and fashion-forward decor lends itself quite well to this tri-hued approach. We recently spent the afternoon getting to know Kelly and her dachshund puppy Biggie Smalls and learned more about what it's like to live in just three colors, why she chose this Upper East Side 'hood, and where she's been able to find some of her fun and funky finds.
Meet Kelly and tour her home
Vornado likely to keep Bjarke Ingels’ wave-like canopy design for 2 Penn Plaza overhaul

Rendering via BIG

May 2, 2018

Vornado likely to keep Bjarke Ingels’ wave-like canopy design for 2 Penn Plaza overhaul

By
Instead of razing and redeveloping its 2 Penn Plaza office tower, Vornado Realty Trust said on Tuesday it will simply renovate the building. As Commercial Observer reported, the company's CEO, Steven Roth, said earlier plans of demolishing the 31-story tower and grabbing 5 million square feet of development rights from Madison Square Garden to build a bigger tower, would not be feasible. Moving forward with option B, Vornado will likely stick with designs from Bjarke Ingels Group. More than two years ago, BIG revealed renderings that showed a wave-like canopy of glass panels that would envelope 2 Penn Plaza above the retail entrances on the ground floor.
More this way
Historic West Harlem firehouse theater is for sale for $13M as part of development lot

Image via Google Maps.

May 2, 2018

Historic West Harlem firehouse theater is for sale for $13M as part of development lot

By
The Beaux Arts firehouse that has been the home of the Faison Firehouse Theater since 1999 (with a celebrated "official" inaugural opening in 2007 that included a presentation by Maya Angelou) is for sale as part of a development property package, asking $13 million. The building at 6 Hancock Place in West Harlem is being offered with a neighboring vacant lot and a four-story townhouse, which together add up to a total  of 30,000 square feet. The Faison Firehouse Theater was founded by Tony award winning choreographer George Faison and his partner, Tad Schnugg, and has been operated by the American Performing Arts Collaborative (APAC).
Find out more
May 2, 2018

7 chances to live across from Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx, from $1,600/month

By
A newly constructed rental in the Bronx has launched a lottery for seven middle-income apartments, located across from the city's largest public park, Pelham Bay Park. The park measures over three times the size of Central Park and includes two golf courses, miles of hiking trails, many fields and courts and Orchard Beach, a man-made beach designed by Robert Moses. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for three one-bedrooms for $1,600/month and four two-bedrooms for $1,800/month.
Find out if you qualify
Hamptons windmill once rented by Marilyn Monroe is asking $55K for the entire summer

Photo of Marilyn Monroe via Wikimedia

May 1, 2018

Hamptons windmill once rented by Marilyn Monroe is asking $55K for the entire summer

By
Haven't planned a summer vacation yet and have $55,000 floating around? Then consider renting this East Hampton windmill home, a unique abode once leased in 1957 by Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller. The charming two-bedroom, one-bathroom house measures 1,100 square feet across three floors. The windmill home, located in the historic Amagansett neighborhood, is currently only available for the entire summer, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and year-round for $68,000 (h/t Curbed Hamptons).
Take a tour
NYC neighborhoods made for workers: The history of Queens’ Steinway Village and the Bronx Co-ops
May 1, 2018

NYC neighborhoods made for workers: The history of Queens’ Steinway Village and the Bronx Co-ops

By
While immigration, urban planning, and the forces of gentrification are certainly key factors in how NYC's neighborhoods have been shaped, New Yorkers’ patterns of work, their unions, and in some instances, even their employers have also played a role in the development of several of the city’s established neighborhoods. To mark May Day, 6sqft decided to investigate two of the city neighborhoods that were quite literally made for workers—the Van Cortlandt Village area of the Bronx and the Steinway neighborhood in Astoria, Queens.
Learn all about it
See the rooftop sculpture garden that will grow next to Zaha Hadid’s High Line condo

Rendering via Future Green

May 1, 2018

See the rooftop sculpture garden that will grow next to Zaha Hadid’s High Line condo

By
Related Companies announced last year plans to add 15 new gallery spaces around their Zaha Hadid-designed condo at 520 West 28th Street. One of the galleries tapped for the project, the Paul Kasmin Gallery, will serve as the anchor tenant and expand into a 5,000-square-foot space. In addition to boasting 22-foot ceilings and 28 skylights, the single-floor gallery will have a sculpture garden designed by Future Green on its roof. Because it sits alongside the High Line, "the garden serves as a verdant extension to the elevated park and showcases outdoor artworks in a rich seasonal tapestry," according to the landscape architects.
More details here

Our Mission

More than just current events, here you'll learn about the places, people, and ideas that are shaping your city.
Pitch a story icon

Pitch a Story

We love to hear from you!

"*" indicates required fields

Interested in seeing the property in person?

It’s free, with no obligation.

CityRealty Logo

"*" indicates required fields

or Call (212) 755-5544

Interested in seeing the property in person?

It’s free, with no obligation.

CityRealty Logo

Distinctive Post Form

"*" indicates required fields

or Call (212) 755-5544
Contact us image

Get in Touch

We love to hear from you!

"*" indicates required fields

Send us a tip image
Delivering New York stories focused on design, lifestyle & real estate.

Send us a Tip

We love to hear from you!

"*" indicates required fields

Interesting in learning more about purchasing a new home?

Let us know what you are looking for and we’ll help you find the home of your dreams. It’s free, with no obligation.

CityRealty Logo
or Call (212) 755-5544

Thinking about selling your home?

We’ll provide current market comps and connect you with a trusted expert.

CityRealty Logo

Sell a Home (Footer)

"*" indicates required fields

or Call (212) 755-5544

Before You Move On
from this Page.

Subscribe for NYC's Lastest Design, Lifestyle,
and Real Estate Trends!

No Worries. We Don’t Spam.

By providing your email address, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Your Passport to NYC:
Subscribe for Local Insights and Stories!

No Worries. We Don’t Spam.

By providing your email address, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
You can unsubscribe at any time.