Donald Trump

Manhattan Councilman Mark Levine introduced a resolution on Thursday urging Mayor Bill de Blasio to terminate the Trump Organization's ongoing contracts with the city, the Daily News reports. The president's company has four contracts with the Parks Department to operate the Lasker and Wollman Skating Rinks in Central Park, the Central Park Carousel, and the Trump Golf Links in the Bronx. Levine—who issued similar demands in 2018 and 2015—argued that the contracts violate the Domestic Emoluments Clause of the Constitution and that Trump's association with the venues is causing the city to lose money.
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Policy

Sales still in a slump at post-2016 Trump Tower

Photo by Krystal T via Flickr

November 4, 2019

Sales still in a slump at post-2016 Trump Tower

Living under the shadow of having President Trump as an occasional neighbor–and as a sign on the front of your building–doesn't do much for condo property values in midtown Manhattan, if commercial leasing and residential sales at Trump Tower are any indication. CityRealty reports that vacancies persist in the commercial podium of 721 Fifth Avenue, and residential condo sales in the mixed-use tower have yet to recover from recent stagnation: Almost one half of the units up for sale have cut their initial asking prices, and all but two of the 11 condos whose sales closed this year have sold at an often-considerable–more than 10 percent–discount.
More on the Trump slump

Real Estate Trends

Photo by subherwal on Flickr

October 23, 2019

Trump Organization removes president’s name from Central Park ice rinks

As New York City's many ice skating rinks start to open this month for the season, two Central Park arenas will debut a slightly updated look. The Trump Organization has removed President Donald Trump's name from Wollman Rink and Lasker Rink, marking the first time the business has voluntarily distanced itself from its owner, according to the Washington Post. City officials told the newspaper that the president's company informed them about the plan to remove the signage this past summer but provided no reason behind the change.
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Real Estate Trends

Trump’s childhood home heads back to the auction block after failing to find a $2.9M buyer

Images courtesy of Paramount Realty USA

September 17, 2019

Trump’s childhood home heads back to the auction block after failing to find a $2.9M buyer

President Donald Trump’s boyhood home in Jamacia Estates is headed to auction after spending 19 days on the market last February for $2.9 million, the New York Times reports. The home is no longer owned by Trump or his organization; the current owner bought the property in 2017 for $2.14 million anonymously via Trump Birth House LLC. The unassuming five-bedroom Tudor has since been used as an Airbnb rental, and it was briefly rented by refugees via anti-poverty organization Oxfam to bring attention to the refugee crisis during the 2017 UN General Assembly.
It's not about real estate

Condo board at Trump’s Central Park West building votes to keep president’s name on signage

Photo by Loozrboy on Flickr

September 12, 2019

Condo board at Trump’s Central Park West building votes to keep president’s name on signage

The condo board of the glass tower at One Central Park West on Tuesday voted unanimously to retain the Trump name on the signage at the front of the building, the New York Post reports. However, the word “tower” will be removed from the marquee over the front entrance, to be replaced with the building's address. As 6sqft previously reported, as part of a larger renovation of the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Columbus Circle, the Trump Organization was reconsidering its heavily-branded signage, and some building owners say Trump’s polarizing presidency is depreciating the value of their investments.
A compromise of sorts

Uncategorized

Trump inexplicably offers help with Second Avenue Subway extension, with no plan in place

Photo via jseliger2 on Flickr

August 26, 2019

Trump inexplicably offers help with Second Avenue Subway extension, with no plan in place

President Donald Trump offered to help complete the second phase of the Second Avenue Subway in a tweet on Saturday, surprising New York officials who said no agreement had been reached. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is still seeking federal funding for phase two, which extends the Q line from its terminus at 96th Street north to 125th Street in East Harlem and is estimated to cost $6 billion.
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Transit

Trump Organization considers rebranding the Trump International Hotel and Tower

Image via Flickr

August 26, 2019

Trump Organization considers rebranding the Trump International Hotel and Tower

As part of a larger renovation of the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Columbus Circle, the Trump Organization is expected to reconsider its heavily-branded signage, the New York Times reports. The president's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., has proposed a compromise to appease building owners who say Trump's polarizing presidency is depreciating the value of their investments without losing the Trump branding entirely.
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Uncategorized

Over 275,000 sign petition to rename stretch of Fifth Ave in front of Trump Tower after Obama

Via Flickr

August 15, 2019

Over 275,000 sign petition to rename stretch of Fifth Ave in front of Trump Tower after Obama

An online petition to rename a stretch of Fifth Avenue in front of Trump Tower after former President Barack Obama has taken off in the last week, garnering over 275,000 signatures as of Thursday morning. The appeal, written by Elizabeth Rowin from Los Angeles, asks city officials to change the name of Fifth Avenue between 56th and 57th Avenues to "President Barack H. Obama Avenue."
A new address for Trump Tower?

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Federal government puts Paul Manafort’s Soho loft on the market for $3.6M

29 Howard Street via Google Street View

June 7, 2019

Federal government puts Paul Manafort’s Soho loft on the market for $3.6M

The federal government is selling former Donald Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort's Soho apartment for $3.663 million. As first reported by the New York Post, the loft at 29 Howard Street is one of five properties in New York City seized by the government after Manafort pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges last September. The listing, posted by the United States Marshals, describes the pad as being a "classic full-floor Soho loft" with "remarkable open sky and city views."
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Uncategorized

At Green New Deal rally, De Blasio tells Trump his NYC buildings could face $2M+ in annual fines

During a rally at Trump Tower yesterday, Mayor Bill de Blasio put the Trump Organization on blast as he promoted the city’s Green New Deal. Under the new climate change legislation, which requires large buildings in New York City to dramatically cut their greenhouse gas emissions, eight Trump-owned properties, referred to as "dirty, inefficient buildings," would cause the Organization to owe roughly $2.1 million in fines annually beginning in 2030. The 27,000 metric tons of greenhouse gasses that these buildings pump out each year is equal to 5,800 cars. After being passed by the New York City Council on April 18, the law is slated to go into effect on May 17.
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Trump sells a $2.9M Central Park South condo to an undisclosed buyer

Via Wikimedia

March 20, 2019

Trump sells a $2.9M Central Park South condo to an undisclosed buyer

President Donald Trump this month sold a $2.9 million condo at his Central Park South building to an unknown buyer, Forbes reported Tuesday. According to public documents, the deal between the Trump Organization and an entity called Koctagon LLC occurred on March 8 for an apartment at Trump Parc East, an 79-unit building next to the south end of Central Park. A limited liability company, or LLC, is typically used to protect the identity of the buyer.
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Real Estate Trends

Trump says ‘no deal’ on federal funding for Gateway rail project in 2020 budget

Photo courtesy of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office.

March 12, 2019

Trump says ‘no deal’ on federal funding for Gateway rail project in 2020 budget

Despite a meeting in November to discuss the Gateway project, President Donald Trump has made it clear that the 2020 federal budget doesn't specify an money for the much-needed rail tunnel under the Hudson River. U.S. Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Jeffrey Rosen told reporters Monday that, “Those transit projects are local responsibilities, and elected officials from New York and New Jersey are the ones accountable for them.” Gov. Andrew Cuomo replied in a statement, "These ridiculous claims should not be taken seriously," calling the exclusion of funds for the project "political posturing."
200,000 daily commuters hope somebody figures it out

Transit

Trump’s Soho hotel experiences business boom after rebranding without the president’s name

Image: Trump Soho; Donald Trump via Wikimedia Commons

February 27, 2019

Trump’s Soho hotel experiences business boom after rebranding without the president’s name

After a prolonged economic slump and a not-so-subtle rebranding, Soho’s Dominick Hotel—formerly known as the Trump Soho—has experienced a formidable increase in revenue, as Bloomberg reports. The revenue per available room rose more than 20 percent from last year. The hotel’s average nightly rate increased by $51 (a 20 percent increase compared to just 2 percent among the hotel's competitors) and had 7,000 more bookings in 2018 than in 2017.
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Events & Things To Do

Partial shutdown of Hudson River tunnel would cause NY and NJ home values to drop by $22B, report says

Via Amtrak

February 27, 2019

Partial shutdown of Hudson River tunnel would cause NY and NJ home values to drop by $22B, report says

If the only rail link between New Jersey and Manhattan shuttered, homes in the region would see a drop in home value by $22 billion, according to a report released on Tuesday. An analysis from the Regional Plan Association highlights the economic effects of a partial shutdown of the Hudson River tunnel, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy and carries 200,000 daily passengers via Amtrak and NJ Transit. To make repairs to the 110-year-old tunnels, officials have called for a $13 billion project that would construct a second tunnel to keep service operating while the existing tunnel is restored. But President Donald Trump's administration said it will not support the Gateway tunnel project, making a partial shutdown of the tunnel more likely, according to the RPA (h/t Crain's).
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Another Manhattan condominium building tries to dump Trump name

Photo via Nick Normal’s Flickr

February 22, 2019

Another Manhattan condominium building tries to dump Trump name

The condominium board at 120 Riverside Boulevard announced Thursday that they had voted to remove the "Trump Place" sign from their building's facade, the Washington Post reports. The vote follows a decision last October to remove the Trump Place sign from the nearby condo at 200 Riverside Boulevard. Since Trump was elected president, five New York City buildings have opted to remove the Trump stamp in an expression of displeasure with the former reality show host who got his start here.
Hey, we didn't vote for the guy

Uncategorized

February 5, 2019

Trump’s childhood home in Queens hits market for $2.9M

President Donald Trump's boyhood home in Jamacia Estates is set to hit the market this week for a pricey $2.9 million. The home, which is not owned by Trump or his organization, is decorated somewhat as a shrine to the president, with lots of framed photos of him, a copy of "The Art of the Deal," and a life-size cut out of the Queens native in the living room. The owner, who bought the property in 2017 for $2.14 million under the guise of Trump Birth House LLC, requests offers be submitted via email, along with proof of funds. The home will then be sold through a closed bidding process, as first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
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Distinctive Homes

NYC will lose $500M monthly if government shutdown continues

Via Michael Appleton/ Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

January 18, 2019

NYC will lose $500M monthly if government shutdown continues

If the federal government shutdown continues into March, the city will lose $500 million monthly, Mayor Bill de Blasio warned Thursday. Without funding for federally funded government programs, more than two million New Yorkers could lose access to vital benefits, including food stamps, Section 8 vouchers, and public school lunch. The shutdown, now the longest in history, began last month after Congress failed to reach an appropriations deal and as President Donald Trump refuses to withdraw his request for a $5.6 billion border wall.
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In 2018, NYC drew a record 65 million tourists—and that number will keep rising

Via CC

January 16, 2019

In 2018, NYC drew a record 65 million tourists—and that number will keep rising

NYC & Company, the city's tourism and marketing agency, announced on Wednesday that the number of visitors to the city rose to a record high of 65.2 million in 2018, as the New York Times first reported. This is a notable jump up from 2017's 61.4 million and the ninth straight annual increase. Most visitors still come from within the United States, but the number of tourists from China saw an uptick from 1.04 million in 2017 to 1.1 million. The agency was expecting an overall drop in tourism numbers, and particularly from China, due to President Donald Trump's trade battle with the country and "America First" rhetoric, but the industry continues to thrive in the president's hometown.
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Government shutdown could cost MTA $150M per month in federal funds

Via Flickr

January 7, 2019

Government shutdown could cost MTA $150M per month in federal funds

With each passing month of the partial government shutdown--currently in its third week--the Metropolitan Transportation Authority stands to lose $150 million per month in federal funds, Sen. Chuck Schumer said Sunday. Without funds from Washington, which are allocated for track repair work and construction projects, the MTA may have to cut back service or borrow money, if the shutdown continues. "They can last another four weeks, but after that, [the MTA has] got real trouble," Schumer said during a news conference, as the New York Post reported. "They may have to borrow which would increase their costs. They may have to cut back, which would be a very bad thing."
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Governor Cuomo takes his second tour of the Gateway Tunnel

Via Flickr

December 20, 2018

Governor Cuomo takes his second tour of the Gateway Tunnel

Last night, Governor Cuomo toured the Gateway Tunnel to survey its levels of corrosion and damage beneath the Hudson River. He was joined by the same experts from Cornell University's College of Engineering and Columbia University's Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science who toured the Canarsie Tunnel last week with the Governor. The purpose of the tour was to provide insight into rehabilitating the Canarsie Tunnel ahead of the L train shutdown. However, the tour may definitely have done double duty as a push to the Trump administration, reiterating the importance of this critical project which won’t be able to go forward without federal support.
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Trump ‘receptive’ to Gateway project, but still no funding agreement reached

Via Gov. Cuomo’s office on Flickr

November 29, 2018

Trump ‘receptive’ to Gateway project, but still no funding agreement reached

Gov. Andrew Cuomo called his meeting with President Donald Trump "productive," despite not reaching an agreement about the funding of a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River. The two Queens natives met for lunch at the White House on Wednesday to discuss the Gateway project, a plan to fix an existing train tunnel and build a new one, construct two new bridges, and expand Penn Station, estimated to cost $30 billion. "I think it's fair to say the president was receptive to what we were talking about," Cuomo said. But there is no timeline for the project, as the governor noted. "So we are nowhere right now," Cuomo told reporters. "There is no clock ticking because there is no clock."
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Cuomo to meet with Trump over funding for Gateway Tunnel project

Cuomo touring the tunnel in October; photo via governor’s office on Flickr

November 28, 2018

Cuomo to meet with Trump over funding for Gateway Tunnel project

Gov. Andrew Cuomo will meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday to discuss funding for the Gateway Tunnel Project, a plan which would fix an existing rail tunnel and build a new one under the Hudson River between New Jersey and New York City. In October, Cuomo sent the president a video of the severely damaged, century-old tunnel and called on the Trump administration to fund their share of the project, which is estimated to cost $30 billion. "The Federal Government poses many challenges for the State of New York but one of the top priorities is to replace the Gateway tunnels," Cuomo said in a statement. "These tunnels are Federally owned by the Amtrak Corporation and must be replaced."
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November 8, 2018

Will a Democratic House help green-light the $30B Gateway tunnel project?

As Politico reports, supporters of what many consider the region's most crucial infrastructure project are cautiously optimistic for the project’s future for the first time since President Trump nixed federal funding. The massive project involves fixing the existing tunnel and constructing a new tunnel under the Hudson River.
Are changes afoot?

With sales still sluggish, Trump Tower sees only its second deal of the year

Via Krystal T on Flickr

October 22, 2018

With sales still sluggish, Trump Tower sees only its second deal of the year