January 10, 2023

Civil rights lawyer William Kunstler’s former Village townhouse sells for $6.5M

The Greenwich Village townhouse of late civil rights attorney William Kunstler sold last month for $6,500,000, according to CityRealty. Kunstler, who famously defended the Chicago Seven, Malcolm X, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., and others, and his wife, attorney Margaret Ratner Kunstler, paid $225,000 for the townhouse in 1981, as the Wall Street Journal reported. Located at 13 Gay Street, the four-story brick Greek Revival townhouse was built in 1844 and retains the same 19th-century charm of its neighbors.
Get the details
January 10, 2023

NYC’s plan to convert office space into housing could create 20,000 homes

In December, Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a plan to address the needs of post-pandemic New York by creating mixed-use neighborhoods in central business districts to draw more residents, businesses, and tourists. The plan advocated for the much-discussed idea of converting vacant office buildings into homes, a solution that tackles both the city's housing crisis and lagging retail growth by making zoning laws more flexible. On Monday, Adams announced a list of specific recommendations for converting underused offices into 20,000 homes for 40,000 New Yorkers over the next decade.
Find out more
January 9, 2023

Rooftop bar made of ice opens on the Brooklyn waterfront

New Yorkers will soon be able to relax in an ice lounge with cool views of the Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge. Located atop the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge in Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Polar Lounge at Harriet's Rooftop offers patrons a glacial experience with seating, sculptures, and drinks made from ice. The lounge opens to the public on Thursday, January 12, and will stay open until February 26.
How to book
January 9, 2023

MTA reopens public bathrooms at 9 subway stations

At last, straphangers can experience some relief. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority reopened 18 bathrooms in nine New York City subway stations to the public on Monday. The bathrooms are open at select stations from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, with a one-hour closure from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. for cleaning. The NYC subway system's 133 public restrooms have been closed since March 2020 due to the pandemic.
See more here
January 9, 2023

Restoration of New York City’s Titanic Memorial Lighthouse moves forward

Plans to restore New York City's Titanic Memorial Lighthouse are moving forward. Built in 1913 to honor those who died aboard the Titanic, the 60-foot-tall lighthouse featured a working "time ball" that dropped down the pole each day, along with a green light. After a four-year campaign, a request for proposals has been issued to restore the monument to its original working condition.
Get the details
January 9, 2023

Stuy Town tenants win lawsuit to keep apartments rent stabilized

More than 6,000 apartments at Manhattan's largest apartment complex will remain rent-regulated after a judge last week ruled in favor of Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village tenants. State Supreme Court Justice Robert Reed determined Stuy Town landlord Blackstone Group's attempt to deregulate the apartments was unlawful, becoming the first major tenant-led effort against developers that tested the integrity of the state's 2019 Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act.
Find out more
January 6, 2023

Everyone can have their own room in this charming $2M Brooklyn house with parking and a yard

For just under $2 million–$1,995,000, to be exact–this detached house at 525 East 3rd Street in the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn has plenty of room for family and friends, plus a deck, a front porch and a spacious yard and parking for three cars. The four-bedroom Victorian home is sun-filled and bright, with original details like heart-of-pine floors, stained glass windows, and ceiling medallions and moldings.
Come on in
January 6, 2023

50 items to help keep your New Year’s resolutions

Every year, almost half of the U.S. makes New Year’s resolutions, but most of us don’t follow through. In fact, according to a University of Scranton study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, only 8% of Americans are likely to achieve their New Year’s resolutions. Sometimes, we don’t succeed because we fail to be consistent – and sometimes it’s because we don’t have tools that can help us reach these goals. To that end, we’ve rounded up a list of the best items to help you keep your New Year’s resolutions.
Start your year off right
January 6, 2023

Apply for 15 mixed-income units in Clinton Hill, from $1,036/month

Applications are now being accepted for 15 mixed-income units at a new residential development in Brooklyn. Located at 108 Downing Street in Clinton Hill, the 8-story building offers residents spacious units and a prime location in the heart of Brooklyn. New Yorkers earning 70, 80, and 120 percent of the area median income, or between $38,160 for a single person and $172,920 for a household of five people, can apply for the units, which range from $1,036/month studios to $2,883/month two bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
January 6, 2023

New compost program in Queens collected over 12.7 million pounds of waste in just three months

In just three months, the new Queens compost program collected more than 12.7 million pounds of organic waste, according to data recently released by the city's sanitation department. The program, which launched last October, enrolled every residential building in the borough in a weekly curbside composting collection. According to the department, Queens districts significantly outperformed other communities that also participate in compost collection. The data shows that New Yorkers are eager to dispose of their food and yard waste in a sustainable manner.
Learn more here
January 5, 2023

First Wegmans store in Manhattan will have a seafood restaurant and sushi bar

Manhattan's first-ever Wegmans grocery store is opening this year. Located at Vornado Realty Trust's 770 Broadway in the East Village, the grocery store chain, beloved for its prepared food options and affordable prices, will replace the Kmart on Astor Place, which closed in 2021. In addition to its usual offerings, the store will feature a 94-seat seafood restaurant with an oyster counter and a 10-seat sushi bar, as first reported by Eater New York. The store is expected to open during the second half of 2023.
Details here
January 5, 2023

NYC’s highest ice skating rink to open at Hudson Yards’ observation deck Edge

A sky-high ice skating rink is opening at 30 Hudson Yards this month. Located within the indoor section of the skyscraper's observation deck Edge, "Sky Skate" is a 1,024-square-foot rink made of synthetic ice and surrounded by breathtaking views of the city skyline. At 1,131 feet in the air, the Sky Skate will be the highest ice skating rink in New York City.
Take skating to new heights
January 5, 2023

See the marine science-themed playground coming to Hudson River Park’s Pier 26

Manhattan is getting a new, marine science-inspired play area to teach kids about wildlife. The Hudson River Park Trust last month broke ground on the 4,000-square-foot play area at Pier 26 in Tribeca. Designed by OLIN, the Pier 26 Science Play Area will feature interactive sculptural elements where children can play while learning about marine life and the surrounding Hudson River habitat. The specialized park will also serve as an outdoor programming space for the future Hudson River Estuarium and complements the recently opened ecologically-themed Pier 26. Located at North Moore Street in Hudson River Park, the play area is expected to open to the public this year.
See it here
January 5, 2023

Paris garret and rooftop cabin meet in this unique Nomad penthouse, asking $2.5M

The penthouse at 66 Madison Avenue is one of those unusual apartments that resembles nothing so much as a charming cabin in the sky, surrounded by 700 square feet of outdoor terrace space. This 1,100-square-foot one-bedroom co-op–located in the building's original rooftop machine room–is perched atop a 1918 Beaux Arts building in the popular Nomad neighborhood. 6sqft featured the rooftop aerie when the previous owner, designer and fashion PR exec Leslie Klotz, listed it for $2,450,000 in 2016; it sold for $2,260,000 in early 2017. House Beautiful called the light-filled home, now asking $2,500,000, "a wonderful mashup of Manhattan and Montmartre."
Take a look
January 4, 2023

For $1.9M, this cozy Chelsea prewar co-op is surrounded by beauty

On a tree-lined Chelsea street near the Theological Seminary with its beautiful gardens and historic, neighborhood-defining architecture, this two-bedroom co-op is a lovely refuge on Manhattan's growing west side. Asking $1,895,000, the cozy third-floor walk-up at 463 West 21st Street offers prewar charm, a wood-burning fireplace, high ceilings, and pretty views.
Get a closer look
January 4, 2023

Inside New York City’s first legal pot shop

The first legal cannabis dispensary in the state of New York opened in Manhattan last week. Run by the nonprofit Housing Works, the store, located near Astor Place at 750 Broadway, currently offers products from six New York-based companies, including pre-rolled joints, edibles, vape pens, and flower. When sales officially launched last Thursday, the line to get into the dispensary wrapped around the corner, with eager customers waiting for hours to shop.
See it here
January 4, 2023

7 train will not run between Queens and Manhattan for six weekends

The 7 train will not run between Queens and Manhattan on six weekends starting next month as work begins to make Queensboro Plaza station fully accessible, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced Tuesday. The $74 million project includes the addition of two elevators, an expanded mezzanine, new lighting and boarding areas, and upgrades to the existing street and station stairs to meet current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. To carry out these upgrades, the MTA will be suspending 7-line service between 34th Street-Hudson Yards and Queensboro Plaza on certain weekends in February through April, and suspending the N line in May.
Details here
January 3, 2023

Take the elevator from the pool to the home theater and wine bar in this $17.5M UWS townhouse

Though it comes with its own luxuries, townhouse living often means sacrificing perks like an elevator, pool, and gym. This $17.5 million Central Park West home at 45 West 70th Street has just about everything you could want, all under one gracious, Neo-Romanesque roof. Built in 1891, the house has been thoroughly renovated from stem to stern with every of-the-moment design flourish and 21st-century amenity–including a 33-foot-long, six-foot deep freshwater lap pool/jacuzzi in the cellar.
Take the six-floor townhouse tour
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January 3, 2023

Brooklyn icon Sahadi’s recognized by the state as a historic business

Sahadi's, a New York City staple for more than 120 years, has been added to the state's Historic Business Preservation Registry, as first reported by the Brooklyn Paper. The Middle Eastern grocery store and cafe first opened in Lower Manhattan in 1895 before moving to Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue in 1948 where it has been located ever since. The registry, overseen by the Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation, recognizes businesses that have operated for at least 50 years and have "contributed to their communities' history."
Get the details
January 3, 2023

Mulchfest is back: Here’s how to recycle your Christmas tree in NYC

With the holidays behind us, there's no better way to officially wrap up the season than sustainably disposing of your Christmas tree. The Parks Department's annual Mulchfest started on December 26 and will run through January 8, with 73 drop-off sites across the five boroughs for New Yorkers to bid "fir-well" to the holidays. On January 7 and 8 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., residents can bring their trees to one of the city's 35 chipping sites, watch them be chipped, and take a bag of mulch home.
Find out more
December 30, 2022

6sqft’s 10 most-read ‘cool listings’ of 2022

6sqft published more than 225 stories on "cool listings" this year. We've put together a list of our 10 most-read features on New York City apartments that hit the market this year, including the highest residence in the world (the $250 million penthouse at Central Park Tower), Manhattan's oldest home (the East Village house was built by the Stuyvesant family), a Frank Lloyd Wright gem in the Hudson Valley (for only $1.5 million), a $12 million Park Slope townhouse that once held eight apartments (it underwent a $6 million renovation), and a few celebrity listings (Andy Cohen's West Village home is a must-see).
See the listings
December 29, 2022

City Winery’s Gilded Age-inspired restaurant Cornelius opens in Grand Central

Cornelius, a new high-end restaurant by City Winery, opened in Grand Central Terminal last week. The 75-seat restaurant offers patrons farm-to-table fare inspired by Gilded Age menus and created by Chef Zach Bondy. The restaurant joins two other concepts from City Winery, including a signature experience with tasting bars and City Jams, which has a first-of-its-kind wine-to-go program and an all-day menu. 
Find out more
December 29, 2022

Everything you need to know about the Times Square ball drop this New Year’s Eve

On December 31, tens of thousands of revelers will converge on Times Square to welcome in 2023. Spectators will vie for the best spot to gaze up at the 11,875-pound crystal ball as it makes its way down the pole on One Times Square and rings in the new year at midnight. The annual event is back at full capacity this year after two years of scaled-back celebrations due to the pandemic. Ahead, find everything you need to know about the 2022 Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Drop. (And for those avoiding the Times Square crowds this year, find a list of fun NYE events, dance parties, and champagne toasts happening across the city here.)
Get the details
December 29, 2022

Announcing 6sqft’s 2022 Building of the Year!

The votes have been counted. 6sqft's 2022 Building of the Year is Olympia Dumbo, the new 33-story condo tower on the Brooklyn waterfront. The Hill West Architects-designed project sailed over the competition, receiving 779 votes, or 26.8 percent of the 2,903 total votes cast. Developed by Fortis Property Group, Olympia Dumbo contains 76 residences and offers 38,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenities that put health and wellness at the forefront.
Learn more
December 29, 2022

Snøhetta-designed Bronx library features a green glass facade inspired by trees

World-renowned architecture firm Snøhetta last week unveiled its design for a new library in the Bronx. The 12,000-square-foot Westchester Square Library, which will sit next to the historic Huntington Free Library on Glebe Avenue, will feature a striking green glass facade with abstract views of the neighborhood's trees, a way to pay homage to the Bronx's status as the city's "greenest borough," according to the firm. The library is being developed with the city's Department of Design and Construction and the New York Public Library.
See the design
December 28, 2022

In an Art Deco landmark on the UWS, this $6.5M co-op has a sunken living room and park views

The Majestic, an Art Deco-style apartment building, is one of many impressive towers that dot Central Park West. A three-bedroom apartment on the 11th floor of the two-tower development just hit the market for $6,500,000. The oversized pre-war home has seven rooms, including a sunken living room that offers a throwback entertainment space with amazing views of the park.
See inside
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
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

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