December 28, 2022

6SQFT’S TOP STORIES OF 2022!

This year, 6sqft readers learned about the latest developments and infrastructure projects, discovered exciting public art exhibits, enjoyed new rooftop bars and restaurants, toured cool apartments, stayed up-to-date on real estate news, and uncovered something unique about New York City. Ahead, see a list of our most-read stories of 2022, from a proposed rail line between Brooklyn and Queens to a history of NYC water towers.
See our most read stories of 2022
December 28, 2022

NYC subway surpasses 1 billion riders for the first time since 2019

Ridership on the New York City subway hit 1 billion this year for the first time since the pandemic. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced the subway carried more than a billion passengers in 2022, up from 760 million riders in 2021 and 640 million in 2020. While it's a significant milestone for the system as it recovers from Covid, ridership remains at roughly 60 percent of pre-pandemic levels.
More here
December 27, 2022

NYC lost over 100,000 rent-stabilized units since 2019, according to report

Despite a 2019 state law that largely prohibits landlords from deregulating rent-regulated apartments, the number of rent-stabilized units in New York City has dropped significantly, as first reported by The City. These findings indicate that there are potentially thousands of tenants who are currently paying rent that is more than the previously regulated amounts. These tenants also lack the rights given to New Yorkers living in rent-regulated units, like guaranteed lease renewals and restricted rent hikes.
See more here
December 27, 2022

Waitlist opens for affordable rentals at copper-clad dancing towers in Murray Hill, from $832/month

A waitlist has opened to fill affordable apartments available now and for future vacancies at an architectural standout in Murray Hill. The Copper, originally known as the American Copper Buildings, is a pair of luxury rental towers at 626 First Avenue with a three-story sky bridge connecting the two buildings. New Yorkers earning 60 percent of the area median income can apply for a spot on the wait list for the apartments, which are priced between $832/month to $1,311/month on NYC Housing Connect.
Do you qualify?
December 23, 2022

$7.4M Upper East Side duplex has direct Central Park views and dramatic rear conservatory

Inside a quintessential Fifth Avenue co-op building, a remarkably renovated residence is for sale. Asking $7,400,000, this maisonette duplex at 953 Fifth Avenue has direct views of Central Park in the front and a unique climate-controlled conservatory and private terrace at the rear. The home takes up the first two floors of the building, which was built in the Neo-Renaissance style in 1926 and contains just seven exclusive residences.
See inside
December 23, 2022

Lottery opens for 45 mixed-income rentals a block from Green-Wood Cemetery, from $1,473/month

A housing lottery opened this week for 45 mixed-income units at a new residential development in Brooklyn. Located at 875 4th Avenue in Greenwood, the luxury rental rises eight stories and has 150 apartments. New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income, or between $53,863 for a single person and $187,330 for a household of five people, can apply for the apartments, priced from $1,473/month studios to $2,975/month two bedrooms.
See more here
December 22, 2022

20 ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2022 in NYC

For New Yorkers who want to avoid Times Square during the New Year's Eve ball drop, there are still plenty of other options to celebrate the New Year. Ahead, find a few ways to say goodbye to 2022 and hello to 2023 in New York City, from feasting on Singaporean cuisine at the new food hall Urban Hawker and gazing up at the glowing sky during a firework display at Prospect Park to dance parties and champagne toasts at festive venues across the city.
Our NYE in NYC picks here
December 22, 2022

New York’s first legal weed dispensary will open near Astor Place

New York's first legal recreational cannabis dispensary is opening in Manhattan next week. Housing Works, a local nonprofit founded in 1990 to address the HIV/AIDS and homelessness crises, will launch sales at 1 Astor Place on December 29, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday. The dispensary is the first to open of the 36 licenses approved so far by the New York State Cannabis Control Board.
Get the details
December 22, 2022

This $10.7M brick townhouse reflects the history and luxury of the surrounding West Village neighborhood

Built in 1846, this move-in ready Greek Revival townhouse at 53 Jane Street, asking $10,725,000, is one among many graceful, classic brick homes on a pretty West Village street. Behind the original brick facade and stone stoop with cast iron railings, the home's interiors are a contemporary showcase of newly-installed luxury, from the fully-appointed chef's kitchen to the glazed rear wall overlooking the back patio. A one-bedroom garden-level apartment can be integrated into the triplex above, or used as a separate unit for income, guest quarters, or a home office.
Take the townhouse tour
December 21, 2022

On this day in 1912, the nation’s first public Christmas tree went up in Madison Square Park

On December 21, 1912, a 60-foot-tall tree arrived by horse-drawn truck from the Adirondacks to provide Manhattan's Madison Square Park with the glow of 2,300 colored electric bulbs. The twinklers were donated by the Edison Company, and the tree was the first of its kind: Having a Christmas tree in one's living room was a familiar custom, but a tree outside in a public park was something new.
Get the whole history right this way
December 21, 2022

Iconic yellow ‘Domino Sugar’ sign returns to Brooklyn

An iconic sign that was part of the Brooklyn skyline for nearly a century has returned to its rightful place. A replica of the 40-foot Domino Sugar sign was installed and fully illuminated this week atop Williamsburg's Domino Sugar Refinery building, which was part of a massive sugar factory that operated from the 1880s to the early 2000s. Located at the 11-acre Domino Sugar redevelopment, the landmarked 19th-century building is currently being transformed into a modern commercial building.
Learn more
December 21, 2022

‘2023’ numerals arrive in Times Square

It's almost the New Year in New York. The signature seven-foot-tall shining numerals that sit underneath the New Year's Eve crystal ball arrived in Times Square this week. The numbers are available for viewing at Times Square Plaza between 46th and 47th Street until noon on December 23 when they take their place on top of One Times Square.
Find out more
December 21, 2022

Will New York City see a White Christmas this year?

New Yorkers who fantasize about opening their blinds on Christmas morning to a sprawling landscape of snow will likely be disappointed this year. According to the "White Christmas Calculator," a tool created by the Omni Calculator Project that gives the likelihood of snowfall in major cities, the probability that New York City sees at least one inch of snow on December 25 is approximately 13.2 percent. However, there are a few other cities located nearby with a near or over 50 percent chance of seeing flurries.
Dreaming of a White Christmas?
December 21, 2022

The best gifts for friends and family who work from home

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 27.8 million people are primarily working from home, representing 17.9% of the workforce. Working from home can be convenient, but many people are still figuring out the WFH environment, and probably don’t have – or may not have even considered – what could make this arrangement more comfortable or productive. However, we scouted some of the best WFH gift ideas for your favorite person working from home, either entirely or part-time.
See our picks
December 20, 2022

West Village co-op has a shared landscaped courtyard and roof deck for $2.75M

In the heart of the West Village, tucked away from the street as part of the Hudson Mews cooperative, a two-bedroom home is now available. Located at 256 West 10th Street, the rarely-available apartment comes with perks unique to urban living: a common landscaped courtyard and a lovely planted roof deck. The pre-war co-op is currently on the market for $2,750,000.
Take the tour
December 20, 2022

Central Park’s first named gate since 1862 honors the exonerated ‘Central Park Five’

A new gate in Central Park will permanently honor the "Central Park Five," the five Black and Latino teens who in 1989 were convicted of a crime they didn't commit. "The Gate of the Exonerated" commemorates the exoneration of all five men, each of whom unjustly served between six and 12 years in prison before being cleared in 2002. Located on 110th Street between Malcolm X Boulevard and Fifth Avenue, the new entrance was unveiled on Monday, exactly 20 years after their convictions were overturned, marking the first named gate in Central Park since 1862.
See more here
December 20, 2022

How to decorate your small NYC apartment for the holidays

Decorating your home is one of the joys of the holidays. But in New York City, most people don’t have room for a 10-foot Christmas tree or an elaborate display of lights. But that shouldn’t stop even studio dwellers from getting into the spirit! We spoke to interior designers to get some expert tips on how to decorate small spaces for the holidays.
Tips this way
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December 19, 2022

Here are the library books New Yorkers borrowed the most in 2022

New York City's three public library systems released their annual lists for their most checked-out titles of 2022. At the New York Public Library, the most borrowed book of the year was Matt Haig's The Midnight Library: A Novel. In Brooklyn, the top checkout was Laura Dave's The Last Thing He Told Me: A Novel, and in Queens, The Paris Apartment: A Novel by Lucy Foley.
See the list
December 19, 2022

Designer gift guide: 11 NYC creatives share what they’re giving (and what they want) this holiday

6sqft has once again asked a handful of New York City designers, architects, and artists to share a few things they plan on gifting–or, perhaps, hope to receive–this season. Read on for dozens of unique and unexpected items curated by some of the city’s most talented creatives. We promise a bounty of ideas and inspiration to choose from if you happen to find yourself scrambling for a gift.
This year's coolest gifts, this way
December 19, 2022

NYC proposes pedestrian-friendly path on Fifth Avenue from Bryant Park to Central Park

Mayor Eric Adams on Sunday released a plan that reimagines a stretch of Fifth Avenue from Bryant Park at 42nd Street to Central Park at 59th Street as a pedestrian-focused space that prioritizes safety, mass transit, and the public realm. This new vision of one of the world's most iconic tourist destinations and commercial districts is part of a broader plan to make the area more appealing to new residents and workers and builds upon the recent closure of Fifth Avenue this month for the holidays.
See the plan
December 16, 2022

The top health and wellness gift ideas for everyone on your list

Health and wellness gifts can help your family members and friends to monitor their health, improve workouts, relax more, sleep better, and eat more nutritiously. These gifts also help them to improve their air quality and create an environment that’s conducive to well-being. The health and wellness category is broad and includes a variety of items. However, we did the legwork to find the best gifts for even the pickiest people.
See our guide
December 16, 2022

Casino mogul Steve Wynn lists Central Park South penthouse for $90M

Casino mogul and billionaire Steve Wynn is selling his Central Park South penthouse for $90,000,000. The home is located on the 30th and 31st floors of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel at 50 Central Park South. The sprawling duplex, which Wynn picked up for $70,000,000 in 2012, measures 11,000 square feet and features unparalleled views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline. If the residence fetches the asking price, it would be the most expensive sale in the building's history.
See more here
December 16, 2022

This $2.5M Park Avenue classic six is a book lover’s dream

It's rare to find a classic deco-era co-op that has been beautifully renovated, yet retains every bit of its pre-war charm and grace. This three-bedroom home at the Emery Roth-designed 480 Park Avenue is just such a find. Asking $2,495,000, this six-room residence boasts a 28-foot living room, a formal dining area, oversized proportions, high ceilings, and hardwood floors. Beyond the elegant features and architectural details, built-in bookshelves that line several of the rooms make this a perfect home for your treasured book collection.
Read on
December 15, 2022

Tony Awards will be held at historic United Palace theater in Washington Heights

Next year's Tony Awards will be held outside of Manhattan's theater district for the first time in 75 years. The presenters of the Tony Awards on Tuesday announced that this year's ceremony will move uptown to Washington Heights. The event will be hosted at the historic United Palace theater on Sunday, June 11, 2023.
Details here
December 15, 2022

Vote for 6sqft’s 2022 Building of the Year!

Following a year of records, rebounds, and recovery, the real estate industry in New York City went for a roller coaster ride in 2022. And while the luxury market is always shifting, it's never boring. This year, we saw the resumption of projects brought to a stop by the pandemic, sales finally launching at the skyline's newest darlings, and some of the city's most creative architecture in years taking shape. 6sqft's picks are down to 14 of the most notable residential projects this year. Which do you think deserves the 2022 Building of the Year title? Polls for our eighth annual competition will remain open through 12 p.m. on Wednesday, December 28. A winner will be announced on Thursday, December 29. Happy voting!
Vote here
December 15, 2022

Proposal calls for transforming NYC’s commercial districts into 24/7 destinations

Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday announced a new plan to improve New York City as a place to live and work and help prepare it for a post-pandemic world. An essential part of the plan involves the reimagination of the city's central business districts, Midtown and Lower Manhattan, by transforming them into dynamic, mixed-use neighborhoods that will draw more residents, businesses, and tourists. The plan also includes proposals to transform public space by expanding preexisting pedestrian spaces and envisioning new projects for the public realm.
See more here
December 14, 2022

$87M restoration of historic Orchard Beach Pavilion kicks off in the Bronx

Construction kicked off this week on a project to reconstruct the historic bathhouse and pavilion at Orchard Beach in the Bronx. The city's Parks Department and the Economic Development Corporation on Tuesday broke ground on the $87 million reconstruction of the 140,000 square-foot landmarked pavilion, which includes a major renovation of its historic architecture, new amenities for the community, and increased accessibility.
See more here
December 14, 2022

NYC designates Flatbush block with distinctive ‘Kinko houses’ as historic district

Brooklyn gained another historic district this week. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to designate the Melrose Parkside Historic District, which includes a collection of 38 intact single and two-family homes built by two renowned Brooklyn architects, Benjamin Driesler and Axel S. Hedman. Located on Parkside Avenue between Flatbush and Bedford Avenue in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, the row of homes has a "distinctive appearance and sense of place," deriving from the two architects' use of "then popular Neoclassical vocabulary in their designs to harmonize three different types of residences," according to the commission.
Find out more
December 14, 2022

10 made-in-NYC gifts that support local businesses

Give your loved one a little piece of NYC this holiday season. Yes, the Big Apple is a shopping mecca with big, luxury brands boasting beautiful flagship stores, but the local creators are with whom you’ll find more meaningful gifts. "The small businesses and local artists are the backbone of community and culture in any given city," Flannery Cronin, founder of Friend Of All, a Brooklyn-based shop selling handmade lamps, told 6sqft. "They are creating beautiful treasures that are made to last, and likely paying a living wage to those involved with its creation. If you choose to shop small this holiday season you will be doing your part to support your neighbors." Plus, there’s usually a great story behind local brands and creators that make the product all the more interesting. From accessories to food and drink, here are 10 made-in-NYC gifts to add to your shopping list.
Shop local, this way
December 13, 2022

The Mermaid Inn opens expansive new location in Times Square

The Mermaid Oyster Bar, a new outpost of the beloved Manhattan seafood restaurant family The Mermaid Inn, opened in Times Square on Tuesday. Located at 127 West 43rd Street, the restaurant is the Mermaid's largest location yet, three times larger than any of its other Manhattan branches. Owners Danny Abrams and Cindy Smiths have opened the new location alongside restaurateur Jeffrey Bank, CEO of Alicart Restaurant Group.
Details here
December 13, 2022

Vogue editor Hamish Bowles lists his treasure-filled pre-war Village duplex for $2.9M

Vogue editor-at-large Hamish Bowles has long been celebrated for his distinctive and eclectic taste. The design editor purchased this pre-war Greenwich Village duplex for $1.5 million in a 2008 estate sale and proceeded to infuse every corner of it with lush textiles and colors, antique furnishings, vintage books, and couture menswear. The longtime Vogue fixture relocated back to his native London when he took a job as editor-in-chief of The World of Interiors magazine in 2021. Now, his charming two-bedroom co-op at 45 East 9th Street is for sale, asking $2,900,000. Bowles tells the New York Times, "During the pandemic it became a salvation–and a marvelous place for me to call home."
A stylish eyeful, this way
December 12, 2022

Interact with nearly 1M NYC trees through a new digital map

New Yorkers will now be able to interact with nearly one million of New York City's trees through a new first-of-its-kind digital map. The NYC Parks Department last week released the NYC Tree Map, an interactive map that allows New Yorkers to see the unique IDs, species information, and maintenance status of more than 800,000 of the city's street and park trees.
See more here
December 12, 2022

This $5M Sagaponack home is a showcase of modern design

Built as part of a small collection of modern Hamptons homes developed by Harry "Coco" Brown and architect Richard Meier, the house at 20 Forest Crossing was designed by Smith-Miller and Hawkinson Architects. This Sagaponack home, asking $4,995,000, is a 4,000-square-foot retreat on 1.3 acres. Among its most notable features is a glass-walled interior built around a courtyard with a pool.
Take the tour
December 9, 2022

Adams unveils plan to create 500K new homes by 2032

New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday unveiled a new, three-part strategy to tackle the city's affordable housing crisis. Dubbed "Get Stuff Built," the plan aims to address the housing crisis by accelerating the creation of new housing, setting a "moonshot" goal of creating 500,000 new homes over the next decade.
See more here
December 9, 2022

Museum of Jewish Heritage to host its first-ever New York Jewish Book Festival

The Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust is hosting its first-ever New York Jewish Book Festival this weekend. Kicking off on Sunday, December 11 at 10 a.m., the full-day event will feature talks, panels, author signings, and other programs that explore themes of Jewish heritage, culture, history, and more. The festival is free to attend and will be held at the museum's location at 36 Battery Place in Battery Park City.
See more here
December 8, 2022

How to avoid NYC SantaCon 2022

Manhattan residents may be pleasantly surprised or significantly perturbed when a horde of red-and-white-clad SantaCon 2022 participants flood the streets of Midtown, Murray Hill, and the East Village this Saturday. The annual cosplay event draws thousands of festively-dressed participants into the borough for a day of drunken shenanigans all in the name of charity. The pub crawl is a blast for all of those involved, and not so fun for residents of the neighborhoods and people who need to travel through these areas. Ahead are a few suggestions for those looking to avoid the action during this year's SantaCon.
See more here
December 8, 2022

South Jersey mega-mansion comes unfinished with a record-breaking asking price of $25M

A 40,000-square-foot mega-mansion in the New Jersey town of Cinnaminson hit the market last month for a whopping $24,950,000, a record-setting asking price for the area. Located at 2801 Riverton Road, about 30 minutes from Philadelphia, the home has been under construction for the last five years and is nearly complete. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the property belongs to the former husband-and-wife leaders of Tabula Rasa HealthCare, whose board ousted the couple from the company earlier this year.
Get a look inside
December 8, 2022

City Council approves Boerum Hill rezoning that will create 450 affordable housing units

The New York City Council on Wednesday voted to approve the rezoning of nearly an entire block in Boerum Hill that will make way for 450 new housing units, roughly 50 percent of which will be fully affordable. The rezoning includes a stretch of Nevins Street to Bond Street between Wyckoff Street and Bergen Street, the last manufacturing block in Boerum Hill.
Find out more
December 8, 2022

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church finally reopens at the World Trade Center

The only house of worship that was totally destroyed during the September 11 attacks finally reopened to the public this week. Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the new St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine, now located at 130 Liberty Street, resumed regular parish life with a prayer service on Monday. Inspired by Byzantine architecture, Calatrava designed a facade that appears to glow from within; the church will be illuminated every night as a beacon of hope at the site.
More here
December 7, 2022

16 Hanukkah celebrations and ceremonies taking place in NYC this year

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, begins at sunset on Sunday, December 18, and lasts until sunset on Monday, December 26. There are a variety of events across New York City that celebrate the eight-night holiday, including menorah lighting ceremonies, arts festivals, live music, and much more. Ahead, find a way to celebrate the holiday, from the famous menorah lighting in Central Park and Prospect Park to arts and crafts at the Jewish Museum.
See the list
December 7, 2022

MTA unveils stunning mosaics by Yayoi Kusama and Kiki Smith inside the new Grand Central Madison

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority last week unveiled new permanent floor-to-ceiling mosaics at the soon-to-open Grand Central Madison terminal, adding to the impressive and expansive public art portfolio found across New York City's transit system. The glass mosaics designed by renowned contemporary artists Yayoi Kusama and Kiki Smith animate the new terminal, which when it opens later this month, will bring Long Island Rail Road service to Grand Central Terminal.
Get the details
December 7, 2022

New sculpture of Biggie Smalls unveiled at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge in Dumbo

A new sculpture of the "King of New York" now greets visitors entering Brooklyn. The Dumbo Improvement District and the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership on Tuesday unveiled a 9-foot-tall bronze structure depicting hip-hop legend Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G." Wallace at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge in Dumbo. Created by artist Sherwin Banfield, the structure, titled "Sky's the Limit in the County of Kings," is dedicated to the "art, life, and legacy" of Wallace, who died 25 years ago.
See more here
December 7, 2022

For $1M, this tidy West Village railroad pad is cute as pie and has a private back patio

This clean, bright, and utterly charming prewar one-bedroom home is located in the landmarked 1893 Amos Street Condominium at 225 West 10th Street in the heart of Greenwich Village. Located at the back of the building's main floor, above street level, the apartment, asking $1,085,000, features high ceilings, crown moldings, and hardwood floors throughout–and a lovely private patio garden, perfect for informal gatherings any day of the week.
Get a closer look
December 6, 2022

NYC nixes $157M ‘Internet Master Plan’ for universal public broadband access

Nearly three years ago, Bill de Blasio's administration announced the Internet Master Plan, which would build municipal broadband infrastructure in poor neighborhoods. Under the plan, a collection of internet service providers would make use of the city's own infrastructure–rooftops and utility poles, for example–to offer fiber optic networks to underserved zones. NYCHA buildings would also get wired under the plan, guaranteeing residents of the city's public housing developments affordable high-speed internet access. The city was prepared to spend $157 million on the plan. Now, after being put on hold when Mayor Eric Adams took office, the city’s Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) has confirmed that the plan is officially off the table, Gothamist reports.
Find out more
December 6, 2022

Inside the NYBG’s Holiday Train Show, a whimsical tribute to NYC

Since 1992, the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx has held its Holiday Train Show. The magical exhibit recreates 190 of New York City’s landmark buildings in miniature using plant materials like bark, leaves, and seeds. Twenty-five model trains zoom in and out of the cityscape over bridges and under tunnels, just like in the real-life city. The pieces of art are created by the team from Applied Imagination, which was founded by Paul Busse in 1991. The following year, he brought his creations to the NYBG. To learn more about this iconic holiday event, we spoke to Joanna Groarke, vice president for exhibitions and programming at NYBG.
Everything you need to know
December 6, 2022

Jay-Z joins effort to open a casino in Times Square

A bid to open a casino in Times Square just gained some star power. Rapper and entertainment mogul Jay-Z and his agency Roc Nation will join SL Green and Caesars Entertainment in their efforts to open a casino at 1515 Broadway, the team announced on Monday. The full-service talent agency, which represents major clients across music, entertainment, and sports, will partner with neighborhood organizations to "reimagine programming" in Times Square.
Find out more
December 6, 2022

New York City’s oldest gay bar is officially a city landmark

New York City's oldest gay bar is the city's newest landmark. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted unanimously to designate Julius' Bar as an individual landmark, citing the significant role the historic Greenwich Village establishment played in advancing rights for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers. The bar was the site of the 1966 "Sip-In," a protest by members of the Mattachine Society against a New York state law that prohibited bars from serving "suspected gay men or lesbians."
Details here

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