New survey highlights NYC’s rental housing crisis, showing few affordable apartments available

Photo by Dimitry Anikin on Unsplash

May 18, 2022

New survey highlights NYC’s rental housing crisis, showing few affordable apartments available

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The city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) released a report this week revealing the first findings from the 2021 New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey (NYCHVS). The report illuminates a trove of information on the city's housing realities since the pandemic began. The survey shows that the city’s overall median household income would have to double in order to cover the median asking rent of $2,750/month. It also reveals an extreme shortage of vacant units among the city's low-cost housing: The vacancy rate for homes listed below $1,500/month was less than 1 percent,  the lowest in 30 years. And New York City saw a substantial net loss of low-cost units–and a net increase of higher-cost units–since 1991.
More on the state of NYC's rental housing, this way
Architect Bjarke Ingels buys Brooklyn Heights penthouse for $2.16M

Streetview of 111 Hicks Street; © Google 2022

May 18, 2022

Architect Bjarke Ingels buys Brooklyn Heights penthouse for $2.16M

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One of the world's most famous architects has closed on a Brooklyn penthouse he's eyed for years. Denmark-born architect Bjarke Ingels has purchased a penthouse in the St. George Tower in Brooklyn Heights for $2,163,525, as reported by the New York Post and confirmed by property records. The apartment, located on the 29th and 30th floors at 111 Hicks Street, has been on the market since 2010 when it was listed for $2,490,000.
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NYC to celebrate Biggie Smalls’ 50th birthday with Empire State Building tribute, special MetroCards

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

May 18, 2022

NYC to celebrate Biggie Smalls’ 50th birthday with Empire State Building tribute, special MetroCards

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One of hip-hop's most influential artists will be paid tribute by his hometown this weekend. On May 21, the Empire State Building will turn its lighting to red and white, with a crown spinning atop its mast, in honor of the late rapper Notorious B.I.G., who would have turned 50 on Saturday. In Brooklyn, videos of Biggie Smalls, born Christopher Wallace, will be shown at the Barclays Center entrance and special MetroCards featuring the icon will be sold at three nearby subway stations, Variety reports.
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10 places with ties to New York City’s maritime history
May 18, 2022

10 places with ties to New York City’s maritime history

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Next week is Fleet Week, and soon New York will be awash in sailors. If you're moved by all the festivities and want to get in on the maritime merriment, there are sites exploring New York's links to the sea throughout all five boroughs. From barges to schooners to yachts to dry docks, here are 10 sites where you can celebrate New York's seafaring spirit.
Check them all out
New public art exhibit in Brooklyn Bridge Park explores ‘hybrid identities’ created by diaspora

Kiyan Williams, “Ruins of Empire,” 2022. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Nicholas Knight, Courtesy of Public Art Fund, NY Kiyan Williams, “Ruins of Empire” was commissioned by Public Art Fund and presented as part of Black Atlantic at Brooklyn Bridge Park, New York City, May 17–November 27, 2022

May 17, 2022

New public art exhibit in Brooklyn Bridge Park explores ‘hybrid identities’ created by diaspora

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Spread across three piers at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Black Atlantic is a new outdoor art exhibition inspired by the diaspora across the Atlantic Ocean and which proposes "an open, multifaceted, and heterogeneous idea" of Black identity in the United States today. Co-curated by artist Hugh Hayden and Public Art Fund Adjunct Curator Daniel S. Palmer, Black Atlantic features work from Hayden, and artists Leilah Babirye, Dozie Kanu, Tau Lewis, and Kiyan Williams. The exhibition is on view through November 27.
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Nick Cave’s vibrant ‘Soundsuits’ subway station mosaics capture the energy of Times Square

All photos courtesy of MTA/Trent Reeves, unless otherwise noted

May 17, 2022

Nick Cave’s vibrant ‘Soundsuits’ subway station mosaics capture the energy of Times Square

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Two new mosaics by the artist Nick Cave were unveiled in Times Square on Monday, completing a permanent artwork and marking the largest mosaic project in New York City's subway system. Commissioned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's public art program, the artwork, titled "Each One, Every One, Equal All," features Cave's wearable sculpture works "Soundsuits" translated into 4,600 square feet of colorful mosaic. The new artwork is part of a larger revamp of the 42nd Street station, including a new entrance and upgraded mezzanine level.
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NYC recommends masks indoors again as ‘high’ alert level is reached

Image courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

May 17, 2022

NYC recommends masks indoors again as ‘high’ alert level is reached

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New York City on Tuesday officially hit a "high" Covid-19 alert level, meaning there's increased community spread of the virus and significant pressure on the health care system. The new risk level comes a day after city Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan issued an advisory recommending all New Yorkers wear masks in indoor public settings and that those at risk of severe illness avoid crowds. In response to rising cases, the city said it will distribute an additional 16.5 million at-home tests and one million high-quality masks to public schools, community organizations, cultural institutions, libraries, and houses of worship. Although hitting the "high" alert level comes with the recommendation of a mask mandate, the city is not requiring face coverings yet.
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For $6M, this classic Central Park South co-op has park views, possibilities, and space to spare

All photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

May 17, 2022

For $6M, this classic Central Park South co-op has park views, possibilities, and space to spare

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On the 12th floor of the iconic copper-topped Hampshire House co-op at 150 Central Park South, this 2,640-square-foot residence has a parkside seat and the views to match. Asking $5,995,000, the three-bedroom (or two bedrooms and a dreamy den) classic seven is a combination of two units for an unusually spacious layout, rooms to spare, and an alternate floor plan in case you need ideas on what to do with all of them. Pre-war bones, a private south-facing balcony, and warm-toned herringbone floors tie it all together.
More park views and big, sunlit rooms, this way
The Loisaida Festival returns to the Lower East Side after two-year Covid hiatus

All images courtesy of Loisaida Inc.

May 16, 2022

The Loisaida Festival returns to the Lower East Side after two-year Covid hiatus

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After two years of virtual celebrations, the annual parade honoring the Lower East Side's Puerto Rican and Caribbean community will take place in person. Hosted by the Loisaida Center in partnership with the Acacia Network, the Loisaida Festival is returning for its 35th year this Memorial Day Weekend. The event will kick off on Sunday, May 29 at 11:30 a.m. with a parade showcasing organizations, community figures, artists, and performers before moving north up to the main stage on 12th Street. The festival will be held from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Avenue C between 5th and 12th Streets.
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7 things to make your bedroom more sustainable

Photo courtesy of Thuma

May 16, 2022

7 things to make your bedroom more sustainable

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If you’re outfitting a new bedroom or looking to upgrade your current set-up to something better for the environment, that’s also built to last, we’ve found the best products and companies for a sustainable–and chic–bedroom. Of course, when it comes to furniture, the most eco-friendly choice is to thrift or look for gently used pieces, rather than buying something brand-new. Check out Facebook Marketplace, a local antique shop, or even Craigslist for some great finds. And for everything else, including a stylish robe and comfortable bedding, these companies are committed to helping you do a little better for the planet while you catch some Zs.
Full list ahead
AMNH’s revamped Northwest Coast Hall features exhibits curated by Indigenous communities

All images © D. Finnin/AMNH

May 16, 2022

AMNH’s revamped Northwest Coast Hall features exhibits curated by Indigenous communities

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Five years and a $19 million renovation later, the American Museum of Natural History's oldest gallery reopened to the public last week. Developed alongside curators from Native Nations of the Northwest Coast, the new 10,200 square-foot Northwest Coast Hall showcases the history of the Pacific Northwest with a focus on the "scholarship and material culture of the Northwest Coast communities," according to a press release. The gallery contains more than 1,000 artifacts including a 63-foot-long canoe, the largest Pacific Northwest dugout canoe existing today, and a diverse collection of art, from monumental carvings up to 17 feet tall to contemporary works of art from Native artists.
Details here
Award-winning design is crowned by a perfect penthouse in this $13.8M Upper West Side home

Photo credit: Tim Waltman for Pamela D’Arc / Compass

May 16, 2022

Award-winning design is crowned by a perfect penthouse in this $13.8M Upper West Side home

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This 6,300-square foot Upper West Side townhouse at 347 West 84th Street has enough going for it given its size, 2,000 square feet of outdoor space, and prime Manhattan location off Riverside Park. A pristine and beautifully-designed renovation by O’Neill Rose Architects has transformed this four-story house, asking $13,750,000, into a home worthy of design awards and inclusion in publications like Architect Magazine and Dezeen. To maximize natural light, two curved skylights were added, and glass panels replaced the home's rear wall. On the top floor, a glass-walled atelier provides a sun-filled indoor and outdoor oasis.
Tour four floors of livable luxury
East Village speakeasy PDT opens pop-up on 86th floor of the Empire State Building

Photo courtesy of the Empire State Building

May 13, 2022

East Village speakeasy PDT opens pop-up on 86th floor of the Empire State Building

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One of New York City's favorite speakeasies has opened at one of the world's most famous buildings. PDT (Please Don't Tell)--the cocktail bar hidden behind a phone booth in the East Village hot dog joint Crif Dogs--is operating a pop-up on the 86th-floor of the Empire State Building this month. In addition to enjoying sweeping city views and stellar signature drinks, guests can chow down on hot dogs from Crif Dogs.
Get the details
Tribeca Film Festival announces free outdoor screenings in NYC

Image courtesy of Natalie Aders

May 13, 2022

Tribeca Film Festival announces free outdoor screenings in NYC

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The Tribeca Film Festival this week announced its line-up of free outdoor screenings for the 2022 season. Taking place at the newly opened rooftop park Pier 57 and Brookfield Place from June 8 to June 19, programming features films across a wide variety of genres and themes, highlighting movies connected to Juneteenth, LGBTQ+, Latinx communities, the environment, music, and includes family-friendly films for audiences of all ages.
Details this way
Several blocks of Rockaway Beach will be closed this summer due to construction

Photo by Malaya Sadler on Unsplash 

May 13, 2022

Several blocks of Rockaway Beach will be closed this summer due to construction

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With just two weeks until the unofficial start of summer, the city announced it would close several blocks of Rockaway Beach. NYC Parks on Thursday said six blocks will be temporarily closed with no sand, swim, or recreation access from May through September as part of an ongoing resiliency project to protect the coast from severe storms.
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From original details to new renovation, this $4.1M Clinton Hill home checks all the brownstone boxes

Photo credit: Eitan Gamliely for Sotheby’s International Realty

May 13, 2022

From original details to new renovation, this $4.1M Clinton Hill home checks all the brownstone boxes

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For anyone coveting Brooklyn brownstone living, this four-story townhouse at 107 Greene Avenue would certainly fit the description. The 3,360 square-foot home, asking $4,100,000, has retained its historic details as a backdrop for modern living. With four bedrooms and an enviable backyard, the legal two-family dwelling is currently configured as a single-family home, so there's potential for adding a second apartment for income or guests.
Take the tour
Concrete floors and metal cladding make this $1.5M New Jersey home a modernist lover’s dream

Photos by Wiebke Martens unless otherwise noted

May 12, 2022

Concrete floors and metal cladding make this $1.5M New Jersey home a modernist lover’s dream

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For lovers of the sharp, streamlined design and open floorplans of modern architecture, this newly listed New Jersey home may be a perfect fit. Located just minutes from Princeton University, the property at 4580 Province Line Road consists of a 2,400-square-foot contemporary-style house, clad in metal and anchored by a central courtyard. Asking $1,499,000, the flexible two-bedroom home was designed by the New York City-based architects at Leven Betts.
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51 middle-income rentals available in East Harlem, from $2,200/month

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

May 12, 2022

51 middle-income rentals available in East Harlem, from $2,200/month

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Applications are currently being accepted for 51 middle-income units at a new residential development in Upper Manhattan. Located at 1998 Second Avenue in East Harlem, the 12-story building gives residents access to a host of amenities and the Upper East Side's wide variety of restaurants and stores. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income-- or between $75,429 annually for a single person and $215,150 for a family of seven--are eligible to apply for the apartments, which range from $2,200/month studios to $3,750/month three bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
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NYC announces first-ever parade celebrating Asian American heritage

Image courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

May 12, 2022

NYC announces first-ever parade celebrating Asian American heritage

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The city's first-ever parade celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander New Yorkers will take place this weekend, Mayor Eric Adams announced Wednesday. On Sunday, May 15, the AAPI Cultural and Heritage Parade will start in Midtown at 6th Avenue and West 44th Street and head north to West 55th Street. New York City's newest parade comes during AAPI Heritage Month and as the city continues to experience a spike in hate crimes targeting Asian Americans.
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The El Dorado apartment of renowned art collector and ‘Beastie mom’ Hester Diamond asks $19.5M

Photo credit: Rise Media

May 12, 2022

The El Dorado apartment of renowned art collector and ‘Beastie mom’ Hester Diamond asks $19.5M

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An apartment in the El Dorado at 300 Central Park West is an enviable enough thing on its own, even without the added cachet of belonging to the estate of Hester and Harold Diamond, owners of one of the world's finest art collections and parents of Mike Diamond of Beastie Boys fame, whose childhood home this was, Picassos and all. Ms. Diamond, who passed away in 2020 at 91, was an art dealer and collector whose collection of Old Masters and Modernist art, according to the New York Times, included Picasso, Mondrian, Rothko, and many more. Asking $19,500,000, the duplex co-op in one of New York City's most venerable buildings is museum-sized at 6,300 square feet with 800 square feet of terrace space and peerless park and skyline views.
View more of this amazing El Dorado residence
How mixed-use development Manhattan West is creating a sustainable food system

Photo of Manhattan West © Jakob Dahlin

May 11, 2022

How mixed-use development Manhattan West is creating a sustainable food system

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A mixed-use development in Midtown this month announced a new initiative that aims to create a campus-wide sustainable food system. Manhattan West will become the first-ever "Rethink Certified Campus," requiring every food establishment at the development to donate their excess food and prepare free meals for New York City families facing food insecurities, developer Brookfield Properties and nonprofit Rethink Food announced. Funded with a $250,000 donation by Brookfield, the project is expected to collect five tons of excess food and provide 50,000 meals to families in need.
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The 92nd Street Y rebrands as 92NY and kicks off $200M redevelopment

All renderings courtesy of Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners LLP

May 11, 2022

The 92nd Street Y rebrands as 92NY and kicks off $200M redevelopment

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A New York institution is getting a makeover---and a new name. The 92nd Street Y announced on Tuesday it has rebranded to 92nd Street Y, New York (with a nickname of 92NY), as part of a post-pandemic transformation that also involves a major revamp and new online programs. This month, a $200 million redevelopment of the organization's Upper East Side home at 1395 Lexington Avenue led by Beyer Blinder Belle will begin, starting with a renovation of its public performance space, a new dance center, and improvements to the gym.
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Talea Beer Co. opens outdoor pop-up brewery next to Grand Central

All images courtesy of Talea Beer Co.

May 11, 2022

Talea Beer Co. opens outdoor pop-up brewery next to Grand Central

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New York City's first and only female-owned and operated production brewery has opened a pop-up outside of Grand Central Terminal. Located at the corner of Vanderbilt Avenue and 45th Street, Talea Beer Co.'s pop-up brewery is open daily from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and offers five different beers on tap, as well as canned beers and draft pours to go. Open through September, the brewery also offers cocktails and wine for non-beer drinkers.
Details here
This $3.4M Lefferts Manor townhouse offers a designer’s renovation and a garden apartment

Photo courtesy of The Corcoran Group

May 11, 2022

This $3.4M Lefferts Manor townhouse offers a designer’s renovation and a garden apartment

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Located within the Lefferts Manor Historic District in Brooklyn's Prospect-Lefferts Gardens neighborhood, 67 Midwood Street is a well-preserved 1910 Romanesque Revival home that comes with plenty of options. Asking $3,399,000, this six-bedroom residence just a block from Prospect Park has retained architectural details like arched windows with leaded glass transoms. An interior designer thoroughly renovated the historic townhouse; in addition to looking good, the home offers a garden-level one-bedroom apartment with a basement playroom for extra income or expanded living quarters.
Take the townhouse tour
A new Caribbean market and food hall will celebrate its grand opening in Flatbush this weekend

Photos courtesy of BRP Companies

May 10, 2022

A new Caribbean market and food hall will celebrate its grand opening in Flatbush this weekend

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A beloved Caribbean market in Brooklyn is hosting a grand opening event this weekend, celebrating the return to its original home. The Flatbush Central Caribbean Marketplace, formerly known as Flatbush Caton Market, will host a weekend-long party with shopping, live music, food tastings, dance performances, panel discussions, art classes, and more, starting on Friday, May 13 through Saturday, May 14. The marketplace sits on the ground floor of Caton Flats, a new 14-story mixed-use development on 800 Flatbush Avenue that replaced the former market.
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NYC subway ridership hits highest level since start of Covid

Photo by Jenna Day on Unsplash

May 10, 2022

NYC subway ridership hits highest level since start of Covid

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Ridership on the New York City subway reached a new pandemic-era milestone last week, the Metropolitan Transporation Authority announced. On Thursday, 3,497,122 riders swiped into the system, surpassing the last record set during the pandemic in December 2021. While the new record is a positive sign for the city's recovery, Thursday's ridership is still well below the 2019 weekday average of 5.5 million straphangers.
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THE 6SQFT SHOP

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The inside of this $3.6M Park Slope duplex condo is as stunning as its historic facade

Photo credit: Hayley Ellen Day with DDreps

May 10, 2022

The inside of this $3.6M Park Slope duplex condo is as stunning as its historic facade

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Asking $3,600,000, this unique duplex condominium at 606a Third Street steps from Prospect Park's grand entrance comprises the top unit in a two-unit Park Slope townhouse. But it's not just any Park Slope townhouse: This unusual home has an Arts-and-Crafts style facade that stands out among the neighborhood's brick and brownstone. The home's interiors have been designed to architectural perfection with enchanting use of colors, materials, and space, thoughtfully curated by the owner, photographer Leslie Simitch. Original details have been preserved and bespoke additions have enhanced the home's historic bones. The two-story home feels like an entire house (for far less than the cost of an actual Park Slope townhouse) with three fireplaces, three bedrooms, and three outdoor spaces.
Get a closer look
NYCxDESIGN 2022: What to see and do at New York City’s biggest celebration of design

Photo: ©Jenna Bascom Photography

May 9, 2022

NYCxDESIGN 2022: What to see and do at New York City’s biggest celebration of design

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Taking place in one of the world's most innovative design capitals, New York City's largest design festival will be celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. NYCxDESIGN: The Festival is a showcase of the newest and most creative offerings in furniture, lighting, textiles, and accessories–many of which you'll be seeing for the next several years in magazines, blogs, and showrooms–with festival attendees from points far and near converging on the city’s five boroughs from May 10–20. Design theory, urbanism, and big-picture issues like the environment and inequality inform brainy panel discussions and workshops. And if modern objects are your thing, you'll be in design heaven with popular programs like Apartment Therapy's Small / Cool providing a serious opportunity to get ideas for your own urban living space. Read on for a handful of highlights.
NYC X Design Festival 2022 highlights, this way
NYC’s first-ever Japan Parade takes place this weekend

Image courtesy of Geoff Livingston on Flickr

May 9, 2022

NYC’s first-ever Japan Parade takes place this weekend

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New York City is hosting a parade dedicated to Japanese people and their culture for the first time ever this weekend. On Saturday, May 14, the Japan Parade kicks off at Central Park and West 81st Street and moves south towards 68th Street. The parade will showcase a variety of Japanese performing arts and Japanese organizations, like Anime NYC, the International Karate Organization Kyokushin, and the Japanese Folk Dance of NY, according to Thrillist.
Get the details
Alexander Skarsgård lists his top-floor East Village co-op for $2.6M

All photos courtesy of Yale Wagner

May 9, 2022

Alexander Skarsgård lists his top-floor East Village co-op for $2.6M

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Actor Alexander Skarsgård has just listed his top-floor townhouse co-op at 119 East 10th Street for $2,599,000, roughly $300,000 more than he paid in 2017 for the East Village apartment, which once belonged to actress Parker Posey (Chloe Sevigny also lived in the same building before heading to Brooklyn in 2013). The Emmy-nominated star of “Big Little Lies” and “True Blood" oversaw a thorough renovation of the loft-like one-bedroom home, giving its pre-war details and wood-beamed ceilings a careful upgrade, a renovated kitchen, and more (h/t Architectural Digest).
Tour the new, improved version of this top floor co-op, this way
$500M One Times Square revamp includes outdoor viewing deck, museum, and even more ads

All renderings courtesy of Jamestown

May 6, 2022

$500M One Times Square revamp includes outdoor viewing deck, museum, and even more ads

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One of the most valuable advertising locations in the world will cash in on its prime location even further. One Times Square, home of the New Year's Eve ball drop, will undergo a $500 million redevelopment to become a new visitor center with a viewing deck, museum, and 12 floors of interactive "branded" experiences, developer Jamestown announced on Friday. While the 26-story building, located at 42nd Street and 7th Avenue, has been vacant for years, its exterior is covered in giant billboards. As part of the half-a-billion-dollar project, advertisers will be able to reach more consumers through immersive "digital, virtual, and augmented reality integrations" inside One Times Square.
Details here
Rent Guidelines Board set to approve biggest rent hike for NYC’s stabilized apartments in a decade

Photo by Emiliano Bar on Unsplash 

May 6, 2022

Rent Guidelines Board set to approve biggest rent hike for NYC’s stabilized apartments in a decade

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Millions of New Yorkers could soon be hit with the biggest rent hike in a decade. In a preliminary 5-4 vote on Thursday, the city's Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) voted to increase rents on stabilized apartments between 2 and 4 percent for one-year leases and between 4 and 6 percent for two-year leases. If approved, the rent hikes would be the largest since 2013 when there was a 4 percent increase for one-year leases and a 7.75 percent increase for two-year leases. A final decision by the board is expected in June.
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Arts-and-Crafts style and Mid-Century Modern meet seamlessly in this unusual $9M Park Slope home

Photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group

May 6, 2022

Arts-and-Crafts style and Mid-Century Modern meet seamlessly in this unusual $9M Park Slope home

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Amid the grand Victorian brownstones and elegant front gardens leading up to Prospect Park, the 1909 brick facade of this unique townhouse at 612 Third Street fits right in. But there's much more to this $8,995,000 Park Slope townhouse. Its rear facade and interior architecture reflect an authentic Mid-Century Modern design history from a later era, with both aesthetics mixing beautifully throughout the 4,000-square-foot home. With decks, terraces, and patio spaces offering the promise of outdoor living, the five-story residence is a wonder from all angles and in all seasons, from its finished basement playroom to a glass-wrapped fifth-floor penthouse study.
See more of this unusual modern-historic townhouse
Lottery opens for 80 units at Morris Adjmi’s new Clinton Hill tower, from $1,320/month

Renderings courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

May 5, 2022

Lottery opens for 80 units at Morris Adjmi’s new Clinton Hill tower, from $1,320/month

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A 29-story mixed-use tower in Brooklyn designed by Morris Adjmi Architects is now accepting applications for 80 affordable apartments. Located on the corner of Atlantic and Clinton Avenues in Clinton Hill, 539 Vanderbilt Avenue (also known as 550 Clinton Avenue), contains 284 total apartments and 60,000 square feet of commercial space. New Yorkers earning 70, 80, and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, priced from $1,320/month studios to $3,897/month three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
Historic Palace Theatre finishes 30-foot lift above Times Square

Images courtesy of TSX Broadway

May 5, 2022

Historic Palace Theatre finishes 30-foot lift above Times Square

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The redevelopment of a historic Times Square theater hit a major milestone this week. L&L Holding Company on Wednesday announced the 30-foot lift of the Palace Theatre is completed after seven weeks. The project is part of TSX Broadway, a 46-story $2.5 billion mixed-use development set to open next year with a performance venue, 660-key hotel, retail, and a restored theater on the third floor. Using techniques that defied traditional engineering, the theater's lifting unlocks 100,000 square feet of retail and entertainment space.
Details here
$12M Flatiron penthouse has two levels of outstanding year-round outdoor space

Photos provided by Sotheby’s International Realty

May 5, 2022

$12M Flatiron penthouse has two levels of outstanding year-round outdoor space

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This luxury penthouse in the Flatiron District takes urban outdoor living to new heights. The three-bedroom duplex at 21 West 20th Street boasts nearly 1,000 square feet of private outdoor space that stretches across two levels and includes a six-person hot tub, built-in kitchen, outdoor shower, and unobstructed city views. Thanks to heated floors, heat lamps, and a gas fireplace, the space can be enjoyed year-round. The penthouse is now asking $11,995,000.
Take the tour
Blue lamp posts in Battery Park City illustrate height of potential flooding from next severe storm

Photos courtesy of the Battery Park City Authority

May 5, 2022

Blue lamp posts in Battery Park City illustrate height of potential flooding from next severe storm

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A new project along Battery Park City's waterfront illustrates the alarming implications of climate change and the urgent need to protect the city's coastlines. The Battery Park City Authority (BCPA) painted 11 light poles situated along the length of the esplanade to indicate the levels water could rise to during a storm surge in a future severe weather event. The blue paint on the poles ranges in height from 18 to 23.5 feet above sea level, and informative banners have been installed to keep visitors educated and engaged.
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All the free outdoor concerts happening in NYC this summer

Photo of Bryant Park’s Picnic Performances by Ryan Muir

May 4, 2022

All the free outdoor concerts happening in NYC this summer

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New York City once again will be full of exciting opportunities to see live music for free. From old standbys like SummerStage in Central Park and BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! fest in Prospect Park to the newly announced Summer for the City festival at Lincoln Center, music lovers can enjoy a wide variety of performances spanning all genres, in all five boroughs, all for free.
See the list
From NYC’s first gated community to Woody Guthrie: A history of Sea Gate

Photo via Flickr cc 

May 4, 2022

From NYC’s first gated community to Woody Guthrie: A history of Sea Gate

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What do Woody Guthrie, Isaac Bashevis Singer, and Frank Schubert (the nation’s last civilian lighthouse keeper) have in common? They all lived in Sea Gate, a private community at the westernmost tip of Coney Island. Sea Gate began as a 19th-century playground for the rich, turned into a hotbed of Yiddish literature and Socialist labor activism in the 1930s, and sported at least one commune in the early ‘70s. Today, Sea Gate is home to about 8,000 residents who enjoy private beaches and expansive views of the Verrazano Bridge. If you want to “get in the Gate,” as the locals say, but aren’t ready to relocate west of the Wonder Wheel, you can snag a summer membership at the Brooklyn Beach Club, where even non-residents can while away the hours under a cabana. Or, you can read on for the history of a Coney Island beach town you’ve probably never visited.
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Jay Manuel’s former Chelsea loft is back on the market for $3.25M

Photo credit: Eytan Stern Webber and Spotless Agency

May 4, 2022

Jay Manuel’s former Chelsea loft is back on the market for $3.25M

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The two-bedroom loft condo formerly owned by "America's Next Top Model" creative director Jay Manuel has just resurfaced on the market for $3,250,000. The Canadian TV presenter and author, who was also a host of "Canada's Next Top Model," bought the 2,269-square-foot home in the Chelsea Mercantile at 252 Seventh Avenue with his partner, Alton Johnson, in 2000; the couple sold the condo in 2011.
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Cabana-style ‘mini lawns’ return to scenic Pier 17 rooftop, along with new dining options

Photo courtesy of Howard Hughes Corp and Keeyahtay Lewis

May 3, 2022

Cabana-style ‘mini lawns’ return to scenic Pier 17 rooftop, along with new dining options

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A popular outdoor dining spot born as a result of social distancing measures is returning to New York City for a third summer. The Greens on The Rooftop at Pier 17  officially opened this month with three unique social spaces for visitors to enjoy. Located in the South Street Seaport, the rooftop venue now boasts a three-in-one concept with "The Lawns," "The Restaurant," and "The Patrón Patio."
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NYC gives billionaire Bill Ackman green light to build rooftop penthouse on Central Park West

All renderings designed by Foster+ Partners, courtesy of the Landmarks Preservation Commission

May 3, 2022

NYC gives billionaire Bill Ackman green light to build rooftop penthouse on Central Park West

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Billionaire Bill Ackman is getting his Central Park-facing rooftop glass penthouse designed by Norman Foster after all. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday approved plans from the hedge fund founder to build a glass penthouse addition on top of a 100-year-old Upper West Side co-op building where he owns an apartment. First presented last November as a two-level glass box on the roof of 6-16 West 77th Street, the approved proposal includes a scaled-down design and more muted materials.
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City nixes plan for second Chinatown homeless shelter amid community opposition

Streetview of the planned shelter site at 47 Madison Street © 2021 Google

May 3, 2022

City nixes plan for second Chinatown homeless shelter amid community opposition

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In the second such move in less than a week, New York City has canceled plans for one of a handful of new homeless shelters in Chinatown, the New York Times reports. The planned "safe haven" shelter was to be located in the former Best Western Hotel at the corner of Grand Street and Bowery. The move follows months of vocal opposition to three planned shelters by community members who cite an increase in crimes targeting Asians and a similar announcement last Friday regarding the rollback of plans for a shelter nearby at 47 Madison Street.  
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For $6M, this Greenwich Village classic six combines pre-war charm with condo convenience

All photos courtesy of Fox Residential

May 3, 2022

For $6M, this Greenwich Village classic six combines pre-war charm with condo convenience

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This three-bedroom pre-war condominium at 59 West 12th Street in Greenwich Village starts with the cachet of being in a sought-after building known as The Governor, built by celebrated 20th-century developers Bing and Bing and designed by noted architect Emery Roth. Asking $5,990,000, this renovated residence has quietly elegant architectural details, gracious proportions, thoughtfully-designed updates–and enough closets to suit a diva with red carpet ambitions and a lifetime of Met Gala costumes.
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NYC’s Covid alert level moves to ‘medium’ risk

Photo by Billie Grace Ward on Flickr

May 3, 2022

NYC’s Covid alert level moves to ‘medium’ risk

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New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan on Monday announced the rate of new Covid-19 cases had reached 200 per 100,000 people, moving the city to a medium-risk alert level. The number of new cases recorded daily citywide on a seven-day average jumped from around 600 in March to 2,600 by the end of April, according to the health department. Officials say the latest surge in Covid cases stems from the Omicron subvariant, BA.2.
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Plan to convert vacant hotels into affordable housing backed by Mayor Adams

Photo by Dimitry Anikin on Unsplash

May 2, 2022

Plan to convert vacant hotels into affordable housing backed by Mayor Adams

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Mayor Eric Adams on Sunday called on Albany to pass legislation that makes it easier for New York City to convert vacant and underused hotels into affordable housing. Introduced earlier this year by Assembly Member Steven Cymbrowitz and State Sen. Brian Kavanagh, the bill creates an exemption to zoning rules that require developers to undergo the city's lengthy land use review process or complete major renovations for hotels to become permanent housing. While the idea of converting hotels into housing has been floated by lawmakers for years without getting off the ground, the city's growing housing and homelessness crises have renewed a push from officials.
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This $13M slender UES townhouse has been occupied by the same family since 1907

Photo credit: David DuPuy for Sotheby’s International Realty

May 2, 2022

This $13M slender UES townhouse has been occupied by the same family since 1907

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The five-story Italianate brownstone at 38 East 70th Street may only be 16 feet wide, but what it lacks in width, it makes up for with over 5,000 square feet of preserved original details and modern updates. Asking $13,000,000, the circa-1884 home, designed by architect Charles Graham, currently offers six bedrooms and an original formal layout of rooms for sitting, dining, and display. Just two blocks from Central Park within the Upper East Side Historic District, the home has been occupied by the same family since 1907.
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NYC lawmakers call for mandatory citywide compost program at residential buildings

Photo courtesy of the Department of Sanitation

April 29, 2022

NYC lawmakers call for mandatory citywide compost program at residential buildings

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A bill introduced in the New York City Council on Thursday calls for the creation of a mandatory citywide composting program at residential buildings. Under the legislation, sponsored by Council Member Shahana Hanif, New Yorkers would be required to separate organic waste from other waste for curbside collection. Pickup of organic waste from residential buildings would begin by the middle of 2023.
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Elegance and space to spare define this $4.35M condo in the iconic Parc Vendome

Photo credit: Coldwell Banker Warburg

April 29, 2022

Elegance and space to spare define this $4.35M condo in the iconic Parc Vendome

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Situated on the 18th floor of the iconic Parc Vendome at 340 West 57th Street, this three-bedroom residence has been featured in Architectural Digest, and we can see why. Asking $4,350,000, the 2,600-square-foot Manhattan apartment has understated pre-war details, graciously proportioned rooms, and closets galore. Owned for 25 years by philanthropist, educator, and humanitarian Vartan Gregorian, the home's layout puts everything right where you'd want it, with space to spare.
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