January 24, 2017

MTA board members admit subway service is terrible

On Monday, numbers released by the MTA served to confirm something we've all known for quite some time now: NYC subway service sucks. More than 60,000 delays plagued weekday service in November 2016, an increase of nearly 10,000 delays over the previous November. The less than favorable figures are a major sore spot for the agency, which is hoping to approve a 25 cent fare hike this week that would bring the cost of a single swipe to $3.
more details here
January 24, 2017

Construction update: Google’s Pier 57 expansion gets glassed

Work is moving along at the waterfront development that is rehabilitating and revitalizing Pier 57, Manhattan's new "SuperPier;" newly-installed, canted glass panels can be seen along the pier’s rows of exterior columns, CityRealty reports. The $350 million transformation of the former freight terminal, a joint venture by Young Woo & Associates and RXR will include 250,000 square feet of offices for Google, a 170,000-square-foot food market curated by Anthony Bourdain and provide an elevated two-acre park with a rooftop movie and performance amphitheater. The project's design is being handled by Handel Architects and !Melk Landscape Architecture and Urban Design.
Check out new construction photos
January 24, 2017

Jon Bon Jovi’s former Soho penthouse returns for $38M

A year and a half after Austrian-American businessman and investor Gerhard Andlinger scooped up Jon Bon Jovi's Soho penthouse, he's put it back on the market. The rocker bought the sprawling duplex at 158 Mercer Street in 2007 for $24 million, then listed it in 2013 for $42 million. After several price cuts, and some interest from supermodel Heidi Klum, Andlinger paid $34 million for the home in June 2015, but it looks like he's ready to "Runaway," as LL NYC tells us that it's re-listed for $38 million.
Take a look around
January 24, 2017

Art dealers’ Cobble Hill townhouse has gym, wine cellar, and city views for $6.5M

Two Manhattan gallerists, one six-story Brooklyn townhouse—you'd think it would be a match made in heaven. But the home's current owners—his Madison Avenue gallery specializes in Surrealist and Modern art, her company looks out for new talent and helps clients build contemporary art collections—bought the house in 2015 for $4 million, and they've just listed it for $6.5M. 124 Congress Street is one of nine units that comprise the Morris Adjmi-designed Cobble Hill Townhouses. Completed in 2014, the development features a mix of restored and newly-constructed homes. With four bedrooms, a private garden and a roof terrace with Manhattan views—but no elevator—the home's interiors were clearly designed by a pro, but they're surprisingly low-key given the sellers' contemporary art milieu.
Take the tour. Hope you like stairs
January 23, 2017

Driving Barron Trump to school won’t leave NYC in total traffic chaos

It appears the Secret Service and NYPD are indeed taking measures to minimize the disruption caused by Melania and Barron staying put in NYC. TMZ writes that instead of implementing full street closures any time the young Trump moves to and from school, streets will be blocked off in a rolling pattern to accommodate the boy's armed motorcade.
more on the plan set out here
January 23, 2017

Map: Here’s where you can afford to live in NYC in 2018

For New York home buyers, a lot can change in a year. A neighborhood that was considered affordable can all of a sudden become out of reach, whether it be from new developments like a subway or good old fashioned gentrification. For this reason, Fast Forward Labs created an interactive map that predicts the price of real estate in 2018. As Google Maps Mania explains, "The map allows you to input a housing budget and see how likely it is that you will be able to afford to buy a property in different New York neighborhoods during different future time periods."
More on the map here
January 23, 2017

Get a free Shake Shack burger via their new app

Even when all hope seems lost—there’s nothing like a free cheeseburger to raise morale. Shake Shack is celebrating the launch of their new iOS app by giving complimentary ShackBurgers to first-time downloaders. The offer is valid at all U.S. locations, with the exception of ballparks and airports, now through February 28th. FULL DETAILS AT METRO […]

January 23, 2017

Amtrak tearing down Penn Station departure board; Billy Bush lost $1.4M on his Chelsea house

Penn Station’s archaic-yet-iconic Amtrak departure board is officially coming down today to make way for a series of updated, smaller information screens. [ABC 7] Mapping the top 10 fast food chains around the country. [Story Maps] A year ago, the feds began databasing high-end real estate buyers making all-cash transactions or hiding behind an LLC in […]

January 23, 2017

De Blasio to allocate $300 million and accelerate construction of third NYC water tunnel

Mayor Bill de Blasio will officially announce Tuesday that $300 million will be allocated toward the completion of the city’s third water tunnel (known as Water Tunnel No. 3) which will bring drinking water from upstate to the city’s taps. The mayor’s announcement backs up assurances he made in April that the tunnel will be ready for activation in an emergency by the end of this year, and fully operational by 2025, Politico reports. The allocation, along with an additional $3 million to disinfect the Brooklyn/Queens section of the tunnel, is part of the city's 10-year capital plan and will speed up the timeline for completion of the project.
Find out more
January 23, 2017

Central Park South co-op of the late Doris Roberts lists for $3.3M

Emmy-winning actress and animal-rights activist Doris Roberts (you probably know her best as Marie Barone from "Everybody Loves Raymond") passed away in April at the age of 90, and her estate has now put her classic duplex co-op on the market for $3,295,000 (h/t NY Post). The five-bedroom apartment at 200 Central Park South boasts a marble foyer, two terraces with partial park views, and oversized windows.
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January 23, 2017

The Horse Plague of 1872 brought New York City to a screeching halt

In the fall of 1872, an unfortunate horse plague swept across New York City after making its way through Toronto, New England and Michigan. The New York Times headline from October 25th read, "The Horse Plague, Fifteen thousand horses in the city unfit for use." While the city was no stranger to disease inflicted horses, the magnitude of this particular outbreak was unprecedented.
READ MORE
January 23, 2017

There are more skyscrapers in NYC than in the next 10 cities combined

Given our growing obsession with skyscrapers–and our growing collection of them–we're pleased to find that New York City has more skyscrapers than the next 10 skyscraper-boasting cities–combined. The infographic from highrises.com (h/t TRD) shows that NYC has 6,229 high-rise buildings, while Chicago has just 1,180, and second-most-populous Los Angeles a mere 518.
See how the cities stack up
January 23, 2017

Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh sells stylish Chelsea pad for $4.8M

All the way back in August 2014, 6sqft featured the $5 million listing for this stylish co-op at 147 West 22nd Street in Chelsea, pointing out its trendy features such as a retractable garage-style glass door, massive open living space with wall-to-wall windows, and uber-contemporary kitchen. And as it turns out, the full-floor spread belonged to producer and director Steven Soderbergh, who's best known for his work directing "Erin Brockovich," "Traffic" (for which he won the Oscar), and "Ocean's 11." The Real Deal reports that he's now finally found a buyer for the apartment, selling it for $4.8 million.
Take a look around
January 23, 2017

Socialite Georgette Mosbacher lists luxurious full-floor, Fifth Avenue co-op for $29.5M

This grand Fifth Avenue co-op belongs to the socialite and political fundraiser Georgette Mosbacher, who has hosted everyone from King Juan Carlos I of Spain to Tom Hanks to Presidents George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Donald Trump at her apartment. It occupies the entire fifth floor of 1020 Fifth Avenue, a prestigious limestone cooperative, and it's now asking $29.5 million. Mosbacher, who has lived here since 1992, told the New York Times, "It’s come to a point where I want to make a change in my life, and it won’t happen unless I shake it up." So now the palatial pad could be yours.
Take the grand tour
January 22, 2017

SPACE T2: A 1959 hunting shack transformed into an off-grid studio by Steven Holl

Space T2 is a minimal artist studio located in Rhinebeck, NY. Steven Holl Architects built the off-grid cabin using what remained of a 1959 hunting shack, dressing the exterior in a sleek black wood skin while keeping the interior core a cool and contrasting white. The tiny abode rests on a handful of stilts that have been embedded in the sloping earth below.
Learn more about this former shack
January 21, 2017

Weekly highlights: Top picks from the 6sqft staff

CNN’s Don Lemon sells Harlem condo for small profit 128 tall buildings were constructed in 2016, a world record Tennis great Novak Djokovic buys two units in Renzo Piano’s 565 Broome SoHo Mapping NYC subway stops according to their most popular Instagram hashtags This renovated historic townhouse in Mott Haven is only $800,000 Whole Foods […]

January 20, 2017

Art Nerd New York’s top event picks for the week – 1/19-1/25

In a city where hundreds of interesting happenings occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Ahead Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer shares her top event picks for 6sqft readers! The work of the wonderful Pipillotti Rist has won over New Yorkers at both the New Museum and in Times Square, and now a new event invites guests to hear from the artist herself as she closes out her much-lauded “Pixel Forest.” Also this week, Albertine at the French Embassy invites guests to their beautiful space for a talk between Frédéric Beigbeder and American novelist Jay McInerney on his new book. If you're searching for affordable art, you can grab a work for $120 while also supporting Planned Parenthood and the ACLU at the MF GALLERY in Gowanus. Finally, head to sister galleries Last Rites and Booth Gallery, to discover new photography, and a realist group show, respectively.
More on all the best events this way
January 20, 2017

$12,000/month to rent this triplex townhouse beauty in Boerum Hill

Renters can enjoy Brooklyn townhouse living in all its glory here at 306 State Street, a Boerum Hill property now asking $12,000 a month. The 25-foot landmark home spans three floors and holds five bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms and an upgraded chef's kitchen. Better yet, a dramatic glass extension was added to the back of the home, making for a sunroom you don't see in many historic New York townhouses.
Check it out
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January 20, 2017

Millennial home buyers prefer DIY over going into debt over renovations

Millennial homeowners—yes, they do exist—are a careful lot, according to Better Homes & Gardens’ ninth annual survey of trends in U.S. homeownership. For 85 percent of millennials (ages 22-39), The American Dream still includes home ownership, according to the survey, but they’re not necessarily willing to go into major debt to achieve it. Only half are […]

January 20, 2017

Express N train tunnel will close for a year in Brooklyn; Map shows the CO2 savings of CitiBike

The express N train tunnel between the 36th and 59th street stations in Brooklyn will close for a year for repairs starting next spring. [BK Paper] Brooklyn Brewery scrapped plans to relocate to the Navy Yard and will remain in Williamsburg. [NYT] Mapping the CO2 emissions of CitiBike and how they compare to the equivalent vehicle rides. [Inverse] […]

January 20, 2017

FREE RENT: A roundup of NYC’s latest rental concessions

Midtown Rental Skyscraper ‘Tower 31‘ Offering One Month Free or One Month OP on Select Leases [link] Leasing Launches at 531 Myrtle Avenue; First to Open for New Clinton Hill Rental Duo ‘Myrtle & Steuben’ [link] Month of Free Rent at The Giovanni, 81 Fleet Place in Downtown Brooklyn [link] SLCE-Designed Downtown High Rise, The […]

January 20, 2017

VIDEO: Watch the MTA clean subway tracks with their new Mobile Vacs

This past May the MTA recorded 50,436 subway delays, 697 of which were caused by track fires that could have been ignited by the 40 tons of trash that are removed from the system every day. To curb this ongoing issue, the agency announced in August "Operation Trash Sweep," an initiative that upped the frequency by which the 622 miles of tracks get cleaned. At the time, the MTA said it would also employ individually-operated Mobile Vacs that workers can use to quickly suck up trash. Yesterday, the agency released a video of the Vacs being tested, which not only shows their incredible force, but gives an overview of how the Operation is shaping up.
Watch the full video here
January 20, 2017

The Urban Lens: Inside ‘Little Odessa,’ Brighton Beach’s quaint beachfront Russian community

6sqft’s ongoing series The Urban Lens invites photographers to share work exploring a theme or a place within New York City. In this installment, Chaz Langley explores the people and establishments that breathe life into Brighton Beach. Are you a photographer who’d like to see your work featured on The Urban Lens? Get in touch with us at [email protected]. 6sqft recently featured Chaz Langley's photo series "A Stroll in Chinatown," where he captured the neighborhood's unique cultural establishments and the everyday comings and goings of its residents. He's now taken the same approach with Brighton Beach, Brooklyn's beach-front community that's often referred to as "Little Odessa" for its strong Russian community. Langley, a Nashville native who moved to New York almost a decade ago to pursue a career as a singer/songwriter/actor/model, has taken to sharing his location-specific collections on Instagram, integrating his graphic design background in their presentation. From a fruit stand to boardwalk, his Brighton Beach series certainly paints a picture of the neighborhood.
See all the photos here
January 20, 2017

Whole Foods will open a lower-priced ‘365’ store in Downtown Brooklyn

Downtown Brooklyn is quickly becoming one of NYC's most desirable commercial hubs. On top of hosting a lengthy roster of big name retailers and entertainment centers—which include a new Target, Trader Joe's, Century 21, Apple store, Alamo Drafthouse cinema, and Barclays Center—the neighborhood will also welcome a brand new, lower-priced Whole Foods concept store called "365." According to a press release, the store will open in early 2018 at Two Trees' 300 Ashland Place, and be set up as a no-frills version of the grocery giant.
more details this way
January 20, 2017

MTA backs plan to raise subway and bus fare to $3 come March

At a board meeting over the summer, the MTA began discussions about increasing subway and bus fare to $3 by 2017 "in an effort to raise more than $300 million annually," as 6sqft reported at the time. The Daily News has now learned that the agency will officially recommend the four-percent increase at their board meeting next week. Though they'll be passing on another option that would've kept fares at $2.75, the hike will increase the bonuses that come with re-loading one's MetroCard from 11 to 16 percent, "an extra 96 cents for every $6 purchase."
Find out more
January 20, 2017

‘Desperately Seeking Susan’ screenwriter lists Chelsea townhouse with a private yoga studio for $7.1M

Built in the 1830s when this quiet, tree-lined residential block was home to well-to-do families, the four-story, 3,600 square-foot Greek Revival townhouse at 240 West 21st Street has seen a lot of change through the years. From its beginnings as an impressive residence for a successful engraver (h/t Daytonian), the home has been a boarding house, apartments and, in more recent years, the well-designed and thoroughly updated home of screenwriter/directors Leora Barish and Henry Bean (Barish wrote the screenplay for the cult favorite Madonna film "Desperately Seeking Susan" and the more recent "Basic Instinct 2;" Bean wrote and directed the award-winning film "The Believer"). The Chelsea townhouse, on the market for $7.1 million, is once again a comfortable single-family home boasting several terraces and a big, bright garden-facing yoga studio.
Come on in, there's plenty of room
January 19, 2017

Pop singer Santigold lists her ornate Bed-Stuy brownstone for $1.95 million

Singer and songwriter Santi "Santigold" White—best known for her singles "Creator" and "LES Artistes," and more recently her video "Can't Get Enough of Myself" which featured cameos by Jay Z, Pharrell, Olivia Wilde, amongst other A-listers—has just listed her stunning Bed-Stuy brownstone for $1,950,000. White originally purchased the property back in 2010 for just $775,000, meaning if she can make a sale, she'll walk away with quite a tidy profit. With that said, the home at 786 Putnam Avenue should have no issues drawing in buyers. In addition to offering generous quarters as a "one-of-a-kind 2-family brownstone, currently used as an extra-large one-family residence," plenty of lavish details make this home a standout.
Get a closer look inside here
January 19, 2017

Perfectly preserved Victorian with a dreamy wraparound porch asks $785K in Hyde Park

It's hard not to crush on this Upstate Victorian, perfectly preserved since its construction in 1879 (h/t CIRCA). Located at 21 Curry Lane in New Hyde, both the architecture and location impress: the white house, with its original slate roof and wraparound porch, sits on a hill overlooking the Hudson River. It's a 15- minute drive to the Metro North station in Poughkeepsie for city dwellers, and it's $785,000 price tag is quite impressive.
See the grounds and interior
January 19, 2017

You can now apply for IDNYC online; Bjarke Ingels featured in new Netflix design series

Bjarke Ingels will be featured in Netflix’s new series, “Abstract: The Art of Design” as one of eight design professionals in different fields. [ArchDaily] You can now forego the long lines at enrollment centers and apply for IDNYC online. [Brokelyn] Restaurateur Keith McNally’s historic West Village townhouse has been on and off the market since 2012, but […]

January 19, 2017

LinkNYC reaches milestone 1 million users

New Yorkers looking to stay connected at all times as they traverse the city are relying on its free public Wi-Fi network in droves, LinkNYC announced Wednesday on its one-year anniversary. As of January 4th, more than 1 million people have joined the service since it was installed in January 2016, and roughly 40,000 people […]

January 19, 2017

New renderings and photos show Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 5 uplands are almost complete

You won't need to see more than a few renderings and photos of new park space slated for Brooklyn Bridge Park to feel ready for summertime. First posted by Curbed from the park's landscape architect Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, renderings show the final design for one of the last undeveloped sections of the park between Montague and Joralemon streets. Known as the Pier 5 uplands, the hilly green space will be comprised of a stepped lawn, shaded grove, waterfront seating and new entrance off Joralemon Street. A sound-dampening berm will reduce noise from the nearby roadways. And it's all on track to wrap construction right before summer.
More images and details this way
January 19, 2017

Interview: Greystone Development’s CEO discusses development in emerging neighborhoods around New York City

Jeff Simpson, the CEO of Greystone Development, is due to celebrate his ten year anniversary with the company this February. In his decade with the real estate firm, founded in 1992, he has overseen Greystone’s reemergence into the New York market by tapping into emerging neighborhoods around the city. Before he joined Greystone, Simpson worked with […]

January 19, 2017

Gain free admission to these NYC cultural institutions on Inauguration Day

A couple weeks ago, a long list of artists, including Cindy Sherman and Richard Serra, started a petition calling for cultural institutions to close on Inauguration Day as "an act of noncompliance" against "Trumpism." That list has grown to 740 artists and critics, and many galleries, museums, and academic spaces will shut their doors tomorrow according to the J20 Art Strike. But there's also a long list of museums and cultural institutions across the city that have decided to take an alternate approach and remain open, offering free admission and/or special programming. From a marathon reading of Langston Hughes’s"Let America Be America Again" at the Brooklyn Museum to special gallery tours at the Rubin, these are all the (free!) ways to use the arts as an outlet on Inauguration Day.
See the full list here
January 19, 2017

Amid fears of Russian hackers, expert warns of threat from squirrel cyberattack

As the U.S. goes collectively nuts over the possibility of alleged Russian hacking and its effects on the election, the Washington Post tells of at least one cybersecurity expert devoted to exposing the very real threat of cyberattack by "an insidious bushy-tailed foe." We're reminded that in 1987, a squirrel nibbled Nasdaq’s computer center (literally) into the black for 90 minutes, upending 20 million trades.
More de-tails this way
January 19, 2017

$10.5M Federal-era house in Brooklyn Heights was Truman Capote’s muse

When he penned an essay about his neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights in 1959, it was this wood-frame house at 13 Pineapple Street that inspired Truman Capote. "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," he wrote, referencing the 1830 Federal-era home that was around the corner from his personal house. The Wall Street Journal reports that, for the past 26 years, the residence has been preserved by a couple who were drawn to its grey shingles as a reminder of the old houses in Nantucket they love. But now that their children are grown, they're looking to downsize and have listed the storied property for $10.5 million.
All the history right this way
January 19, 2017

Curl up by the fire in this cozy East Side one-bedroom for only $495K

On the ninth floor of Stewart Hall at 10 Mitchell Place, this sunny one-bedroom co-op definitely says "home" more than "investment property." Maybe it's pre-war details like an original mantlepiece, beamed ceilings and hardwood floors, or maybe it's the wood-burning fireplace, many closets and open sky views, or the almost-secret storybook Manhattan enclave near the East River and elegant Beekman Place. Given the apartment's size, layout and location, the ask is definitely welcoming at $495,000.
Get a closer look
January 18, 2017

Mapping NYC subway stops according to their most popular Instagram hashtags

The Houston Street 1 station is #cronut; the PATH train’s World Trade Center station is #neverforget; and the Cathedral Parkway/110th Street station is #Seinfeld. This is the NYC subway map according to each stop's most popular Instagram hashtag. CityLab first shared the fun visualization, titled #tagsandthecity, and pointed out that, though the map has categories for sightseeing/monuments, shopping, leisure, culture/museums, and hotel/travel, it's the food and drink that really takes the cake. From #redrooster and #robertas to #shakeshack and #halalguys, it seems New Yorkers really like to post some food porn.
See the full map
January 18, 2017

There’s a room for every color of the rainbow in this $5M Upper East Side co-op

In New York City's interior landscape of neutral hues and fifty shades of white, it's rare to see bright colors, especially in a classic pre-war co-op on the Upper East Side. But the current residents of this apartment at 129 East 69th Street, who undertook a two-year renovation, clearly favored the brighter side of the crayon box. The best thing about it is that with eight spacious rooms, colors, patterns and fun decorating ideas never have to clash.
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January 18, 2017

Of NYC’s 150 historic statues, only five are female; inside Carnegie Hall’s secret archives

There are 145 statues around the city honoring historical male figures, but only five for women. The Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony Statue Fund hopes to change this. [Gothamist] The Department of Finance estimates that NYC’s real estate is now worth $1.16 trillion. [TRD] Did you know there are more than 300,000 historical artifacts in […]

January 18, 2017

Tennis great Novak Djokovic buys two units in Renzo Piano’s 565 Broome SoHo

When he's not busy winning titles as the second-best tennis player in the world, Novak Djokovic is apparently quite the architecture aficionado. The Serbian athlete told the Wall Street Journal that he's a big fan of Renzo Piano; earlier this year he bought a unit in Piano's Miami beach project Eighty Seven Park, and he's now gone into contract for two condos in the starchitect's under-construction NYC venture 565 Broome SoHo, where sales launched this past September.
The full scoop
January 18, 2017

POLL: Will construction begin on a new Port Authority bus terminal by 2021?

After stalling repeatedly over design disagreements, budget woes, and funding squabbles, NJ.com reports that The Port Authority said it hopes to have a new midtown Manhattan bus terminal built in New York by 2030, shovels in the ground by 2021 and be "well underway" by 2026. Though some lawmakers expressed doubt about the ambitious schedule, Steven P. Plate, Port Authority chief of major projects, said at a Legislative Oversight Committee joint hearing about the agency's $32 billion revised capital plan, "We will have full environmental approval, permits in place and construction well underway" according to that timeline.
Think it will happen?
January 18, 2017

Construction fatalities increase as safety inspections decrease

Construction deaths have been on the rise ever since the city entered into its current building boom. But a new study from the New York Committee for Occupational Safety & Health titled “Deadly Skyline” shows just how dire the situation has become. Between 2011 and 2015, New York state construction worker fatalities jumped from 33 to 55, and of […]

January 18, 2017

Governors Island to open a month early on May 1st with new oyster garden

A springtime 2017 opening date will extend the park's season from 120 to 146 days, give the public a longer season to enjoy the island's bounty of arts programming and outdoor activities–and give us yet another reason to look forward to spring. Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a news release, “An extra month on Governors Island means more arts, culture and outdoor time for New York families...a May Day opening stands as a symbol of changes as we create a more livable and affordable city.”
More of what's new on Governors Island
January 18, 2017

Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow lists Tribeca condo for $2.9M

In March 2015, Kathryn Bigelow (who in 2010 became the first woman to win the Academy Award for Best Director for her work on "The Hurt Locker" and subsequently gained more acclaim for "Zero Dark Thirty") bought a $3.03 million condo in Tribeca, but she's now decided to part ways with it. The Observer reports that Bigelow just listed the full-floor spread at 449 Washington Street for $2,895,000, meaning she'll likely take a slight loss on the property.
Take a look around
January 18, 2017

Insane roof deck tops this $2.65M Tribeca penthouse

The next buyer of this Tribeca penthouse will not have a hard time impressing anyone with its sprawling private roof deck and three-story interior space. It's located at the condo loft 356 Broadway, a prewar building constructed in 1864 and converted to 18 apartments in 1984. This top-floor residence is the only unit in the building now on the market, asking $2.65 million.
Take a tour
January 17, 2017

Department of Health says it’s okay to eat Gowanus Canal fish in moderation and kayak in the water

The real estate community has been looking closely at Gowanus as of late thanks to rezoning plans that will likely spur high-end development and proposals for a public esplanade. To some, this waterfront vision seems a bit off due to the toxicity of the Canal and its history as a Superfund site, but naysayers may be changing their tune as a new report from the New York State Department of Health tells us that "limited direct contact with the canal's waters, through boating or fishing" doesn't increase the risk of cancer and other diseases, according to Gothamist. It's still not safe to swim in the water, but, believe it or not, men and women of certain ages can even eat some of the Canal's fish.
Find out more
January 17, 2017

Ding uses your smartphone to revolutionize the doorbell

While smart home technology includes everything from turning on the heat to monitoring air quality, the simple job of a doorbell has been oddly overlooked until the arrival of Ding. A collaborative effort between the London-based startup and creative consultancy MAP (an arm of the industrial design studio Barber & Osgerby), the smart doorbell is a three-part system made up of an exterior button, indoor Wifi speaker (cleverly named Chime), and a corresponding iPhone app. When visitors come to the door, Chime functions as a normal doorbell, but the app allows residents to communicate with whomever is at the door remotely.
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January 17, 2017

Tour Trump’s childhood home before it goes to auction tonight; Ambassador Grill interiors landmarked

Seven places to go in NYC to hibernate from Inauguration Day. [Untapped] Donald Trump’s childhood home in Jamaica Estates, Queens is headed to auction tonight, but you can take a virtual tour beforehand. [NYT] A year after Fox and News Corp. ditched their plans to move into 2 World Trade Center, they’ve signed extension and expansion leases at […]

January 17, 2017

UWS one bedroom asking $3,950/month is loaded with prewar charm

In this Upper West Side cooperative at 245 West 74th Street, you can rent an apartment that embodies all that prewar co-op charm. This one bedroom comes with a formal foyer and details like a fireplace, decorative mantle and high-beamed ceilings. A formal living room, dining room and kitchen also make for a classic floorplan that's hard to beat. It's just been listed for rent asking $3,950 a month.
Take a look

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