Search Results for: brooklyn history

January 5, 2015

New Study Reveals It’s More Important to Have a MetroCard Than a College Degree in NYC

A new study conducted by NYU's Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management shows just how much impact proximity to public transit–in this case to Manhattan–can have on one's earning power. The Rudin Center examined 177 NYC zip codes and found that those living closest to transit have the highest median income and the lowest unemployment rate. “In New York, mass transit is the path to economic mobility, not education,” Mitchell Moss, the center’s director, told the WSJ. “It’s far more important to have a MetroCard than a college degree.”
Find out the startling figures here

Is 125th Street the Next 14th Street? Big-Name Developers Think So.

125th Street via jmd41280 via photopin cc

December 15, 2014

Is 125th Street the Next 14th Street? Big-Name Developers Think So.

By Dana Schulz

14th Street, 23rd Street, 86th Street–there's no question that these east-west thoroughfares are some of the city's most bustling corridors of commercial, cultural, and residential activity. And 125th Street in Harlem could now be joining their ranks, a real estate trend dissected in a WSJ article today. Big-name NYC developers are cashing in on the street's transformation. Greystone & Co. bought a $11.5 million site through a bankruptcy auction earlier this month, where they'll put 75 market-rate and affordable apartments, along with ground-floor retail space. Across the street, Continuum Co. will add 700 residential units and 85,000 square feet of retail. Nearby, Wharton Properties has obtained funding for their 33,000-square-foot retail complex that will be anchored by Whole Foods.
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Real Estate Trends

December 12, 2014

New Yorker Spotlight: Tony Muia Brings Us a Slice of NYC’s Largest Holiday Light Display in Dyker Heights

By Susan Cohen

Each December, New York transforms itself into a metropolitan holiday wonderland. From window displays to the Rockefeller Center tree to the Rockettes, the city is brimming with cheer. But there's one thing missing. Aside from the occasional decorated townhouse, New York lacks the light displays and decked-out front yards that are typically associated with the suburbs. But there is one place where New Yorkers can get their fill of small-town nostalgia, and it's just a quick trip away in Dyker Heights thanks to Tony Muia's bus tour of the "undisputed capital of Christmas pageantry." Inspired by the hospitality he experienced traveling abroad, Tony started giving guided pizza tours of Brooklyn in 2005. He later expanded A Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tours to include neighborhood tours and his famous Christmas Lights & Cannoli Tour, which was featured in a PBS documentary and on TLC. We recently spoke with Tony, the ultimate Brooklynite, about his passion for the borough, A Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tours, and the magic of Dyker Heights.
Read our full interview with Tony

O Christmas Tree: Where to See the Biggest Evergreens Around the City

New York Stock Exchange Christmas tree via Mille Fiori Favoriti

December 9, 2014

O Christmas Tree: Where to See the Biggest Evergreens Around the City

By Dana Schulz

Last week, we took a look back at the history of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree to mark the annual lighting celebration. Though this is probably the most famous Christmas tree in the world, many of us jaded New Yorkers would rather not deal with the crowds and traffic jams that come with visiting Rock Center. So as an equally festive alternative, we've rounded up some of the other huge trees illuminating the city this holiday season.
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Events & Things To Do

December 8, 2014

Park Slope’s Iconic Pavilion Theater May Go Residential

By Ondel Hylton

Images on the website of architecture firm Architecture Outfit reveal that Park Slope's historic Pavilion Theater at 188 Prospect Park South may go residential. The theater is currently owned by a consortium led by Ben Kafash who purchased the theater from Morristown, NJ-based Cinedigm in 2011. One scheme shows a six-story residential building rising behind the theater's sublime Moorish façade and from a neighboring lot just south of the theater. It conceptualizes a mix of apartments along the circle dubbed Bartel-Pritchard Square and contextually scaled townhouses along narrow 14th Street. The second scheme preserves the theater in its entirety and limits new construction to the neighboring lot at 190 Prospect Park West where a nondescript one-story building currently stands.
More information here

New Developments

December 8, 2014

Daily Link Fix: Imagining a Real Steampunk Condo in NYC; Graffiti Is Back on the Rise

By Dana Schulz

You’ve seen the steampunk marketing theme for 15 Renwick, but what if NYC got a real steampunk condo. Here’s how the Victorian building could be brought into the 21st century. [Treehugger] This crystalline 3D map showcases the peaks and valleys of sound waves from famous NYC songs. [The Creators Project] The stories behind five of […]

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December 6, 2014

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff

By Dana Schulz

Hudson Yards Observation Deck Will Offer a Death-Defying Way to Experience City Views Roman and Williams-Designed Brooklyn Brownstone Is an Eclectic Mix of Curiosities ThyssenKrupp’s New Elevator Could Revolutionize Skyscraper Design with Its Horizontal Capabilities Zaha Hadid Wants to Change Billboard Advertising with Her Signature Curves REVEALED: New Renderings for Christian de Portzamparc’s Riverside Center […]

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December 4, 2014

Walk This Way: How Observant Jews Shop for Real Estate with the Torah in Mind

By Lauren Price

Certain neighborhoods are becoming increasingly sought after by observant Jews—but in keeping with what is written in the Torah, apartment hunting can be a formidable undertaking. Observant Jews not only have to deal with New York City’s low vacancy rate but they need to find a home that, most importantly, is within walking distance to shul (synagogue) from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday and some Jewish holidays—owing to the fact that Sabbath obligations, of which there are a lot, do not allow one to drive a car. It goes against what’s written in the Torah to start or extinguish fires during the Sabbath, and, well, cars burn fuel. And by the way, this also means cooking only one, single, solitary item.
Find out more here

November 26, 2014

HS2 Architecture’s Grandiose Upper West Side Townhouse Renovation

By Rebecca Paul

We're back again with another "well worth the wait" renovation story; this chapter takes us to an Upper West Side townhouse that was recently revamped by HS2 Architecture. The facade of this five-floor home is magnificent on its own, boasting ornate concrete detailing, elaborate windows and a grand front doorway. The overall approach to this renovation was to create more free-flowing spaces that reflect the more contemporary lifestyle of the family.
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The Verrazano Bridge Opened 50 Years Ago, but There’s Still a Myth About Its Toll

Verrazano Bridge via Sue L C via photopin cc

November 21, 2014

The Verrazano Bridge Opened 50 Years Ago, but There’s Still a Myth About Its Toll

By Dana Schulz

Bridges and tolls are on everyone's mind these days, thanks to the MTA's latest proposed fare hikes. If approved, this would raise the toll of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to $16. And today, on the 50th anniversary of the bridge's opening, most Staten Islanders still think that driving across the bridge was supposed to become free once it was paid off. No one's really certain where this myth came from, but those who believe it are quite passionate about the subject.
More on the urban myth here

<b>Forest Hills Gardens: A Hidden NYC Haven of Historic Modernity</b>

Forest Hills Gardens via Joe Shlabotnik via photopin cc

November 20, 2014

Forest Hills Gardens: A Hidden NYC Haven of Historic Modernity

By Michelle Cohen

This unique sheltered enclave might be the perfect spot for residents who can handle the rules; just don't call it FoHiGa. Occupying a 175-acre wedge just south of the Forest Hills LIRR station and within the greater Queens neighborhood of Forest Hills, Forest Hills Gardens is one of America’s oldest planned communities. Modeled after England’s “garden cities,” originally intended to create an ideal environment that incorporated shared green space with urban convenience for the working classes, the Gardens (as it's known) is home to about 4,500 residents. The private community is managed by the Forest Hills Gardens Corporation, an organization made up of property owners. This unique community consisting of over 800 free-standing and attached houses and 11 apartment buildings as well as churches, parks and storefronts, dates from 1909, when architect Grosvenor Atterbury and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr.–-son of Frederick Law Olmsted, landscape architect who helped design Central Park–-were commissioned to plan a new town. Though the community lies within the boundaries of one of the world’s most modern and populous cities, it has retained much of its co-operative, idyllic nature.
Find out more about this unique community

November 17, 2014

VIDEO: Architect Robert A.M. Stern Talks 15 Central Park West and How It’s a “Background Building”

By Diane Pham

15 Central Park West is frequently in the news—whether it's because a new celeb has moved in, or that it's recorded yet another blockbuster sale. But standing far from the limelight is the building's architect, Robert A.M. Stern, who, like his buildings, opts for the stately, subdued and classic over the winding and twisting standalones of his contemporaries. "We have a lot of silly buildings being built, in my opinion. The buildings should not look like Lady Gaga,” the architect says. In the latest installment of the Louisiana Channel Stern discusses what might be his most famous project, 15 CPW, and why he strives for buildings that complement, not dominate.
Watch the interview here

Architecture And Design

November 13, 2014

Daily Link Fix: The Best Improvements to Increase a Home’s Value; NYC Getting Its First Cat Cafe

By Dana Schulz

Kayu Connection asks 45 experts to weigh in on the best home improvements to increase the value of one’s home. Feline enthusiasts, get your cat leashes out. Meow Parlour, NYC’s first permanent cat café, is opening next month on the Lower East Side. Eater has all you need to know. The Bronx Brewery is finally making […]

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<b>Peter Stuyvesant’s NYC: From the Bouwerie Farm to That Famous Pear Tree</b>

Monument to Peter Stuyvesant in Stuyvesant Square via edenpictures via photopin

November 5, 2014

Peter Stuyvesant’s NYC: From the Bouwerie Farm to That Famous Pear Tree

By Dana Schulz

A few quick facts from New York City history 101: The island of Manhattan was originally settled by the Dutch, and therefore officially named New Amsterdam in 1625. It was part of the larger settlement of New Netherland. Pieter, or Petrus, Stuyvesant (we know him today as Peter) was the last Dutch Director-General of the colony of New Netherland from 1647 until it was ceded to the English in 1664. His work greatly influenced the city's expansion northward from the southern tip, and he was responsible for many major historic events, such as the erection of a protective wall on what is today Wall Street and the creation of a canal on today's Broad Street and Broadway. Now that it's November–the month when the city celebrates its Dutch heritage through 5 Dutch Days–we decided to take a look at the old stomping ground of General Stuyvesant, as well as his lasting legacy in the city today.
Read about Peter Stuyvesant's NYC

History

November 2, 2014

And About That Grecian Temple on the Henry Hudson Parkway…

By Stephanie Hoina

New York City is filled with an abundance of structural treasures that are hard to miss. From the Brooklyn Bridge to the Chrysler Building to the soon-to-be-opened Freedom Tower, there is no shortage of architectural eye candy vying for your attention. Which means some pretty spectacular little gems get lost in the shuffle. Like the curious white, Doric-columned structure located off the Henry Hudson Parkway near West 190th Street. Part of Fort Washington Park, this scenic overlook perched over 100 feet above the Henry Hudson River is known as Inspiration Point – a perfect moniker given its breathtaking vistas of the river, George Washington Bridge, and the majestic Palisades in neighboring New Jersey.
Learn more here

New Yorker Spotlight: Behind the Scenes and Screams with Clinton Hill’s Halloween Queen, Janna Kennedy Hyten

Photo by Chris Franko

October 31, 2014

New Yorker Spotlight: Behind the Scenes and Screams with Clinton Hill’s Halloween Queen, Janna Kennedy Hyten

By Susan Cohen

When Janna Kennedy Hyten was growing up in rural Florida, she probably never envisioned the crowds that would one day gather outside her Brooklyn home for Halloween 313. At the time, Janna's physical world was small, but her imagination was large and primed to create the wonder, joy, and gore necessary to captivate thousands of children each Halloween. Halloween 313 began 20 years ago when Janna opened her home at 313 Clinton Avenue to Clinton Hill's children. Over the last two decades, what began as elaborate Halloween decorations on the home's exterior, developed into an annual, full-fledged, front yard production with fun names and storylines like "Grimm Scary Tale," "Pirates of the Scarebbean, The Curse of the White Pearl," and "20,000 Screams Under the Sea." We recently spoke with Janna to find out more about the woman and home behind Halloween 313.
Read the interview here

Grave Concerns: Do Cemeteries Affect Real Estate Prices in New York?

Photo via Plowboylifestyle/CC

October 31, 2014

Grave Concerns: Do Cemeteries Affect Real Estate Prices in New York?

By Lauren Price

Not so surprisingly, Manhattan has a slew of cemeteries, graveyards and built-over potter’s fields (for unclaimed bodies). Madison Square Park was originally used as a potter’s field, as was Bryant Park. And though these swaths of land served many purposes over the years, it took an eternity before they were lovely public parks. From the late 1600s, burial grounds were generally confined to what would now be just south of City Hall, but more began popping up further uptown during the 1800s as the city’s population grew in leaps and bounds. With Halloween upon us, tis’ the season for checking out if living near one might give a buyer a bit of a ghostly scare or whether it takes an eternity to sell when the living room window overlooks tombstones marking coffins buried six feet under. Hear what experts say, and then learn about the city's most notable graveyards.
Do homes near cemeteries sell at a discount in NYC?

<b>6 of New York’s Spookiest, Scariest and Downright Strangest Homes</b>

You can live here!

October 30, 2014

6 of New York’s Spookiest, Scariest and Downright Strangest Homes

By Diane Pham

Every day at 6sqft we pretty much find ourselves in awe saying "We can't believe people live like this!" But every so often we come across a home that has us muttering "People live like this??" In celebration of All Hallow's Eve, we've rounded up six spooky and scary Manhattan and Brooklyn residences. One is filled to the brim with dead animals, another hides a secret underground portal, and another harbors an incredible tale of murder and deceit. Jump ahead to see all six them all—and if you'd ever dare live in one of these petrifying pads, you're in luck because several of these homes are for sale. Lucky you?
For these homes, it's Halloween year-round

New Yorker Spotlight: Scott Liroff Sheds Light on His Century-Old Family-Run Business, City Knickerbocker

Scott with his father

October 24, 2014

New Yorker Spotlight: Scott Liroff Sheds Light on His Century-Old Family-Run Business, City Knickerbocker

By Susan Cohen

Tucked away on the second floor of a building on 11th Avenue and 48th street is City Knickerbocker, Inc., a small lighting business with a long history. Founded in 1906 founded by Adolph Liroff, a Russian immigrant whose trade was converting gasoliers and sconces to electric lamps, this business has lasted for four generations. Today, Scott Liroff, Adolph's great-grandson, proudly carries on the family tradition serving as City Knickerbocker's Vice President. To appreciate Scott's role in both his family and the business, one needs to go back over one hundred years to Brooklyn in the early 20th century. When Adolph's Brooklyn-based business took off, he headed to the city and rented a space on 42nd Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. After the Metropolitan Opera rented his light fixtures, Broadway started calling to rent lights too. As early as 1912-1913 City Knickerbocker's primary source of business was rentals. When Adolph's son, Seymour, took over the business in the 1950s, the store provided lighting for shows including The Ed Sullivan Show and The Milton Berle Show. 6sqft recently spoke with Scott to learn about City Knickerbocker and what it means to carry on a legacy in New York.
Read the en-light-ening interview here

October 20, 2014

Extraordinary Dwellings: These Amazing Homes Are Hidden in Plain Sight

By Michelle Cohen

It isn’t unusual to see old warehouses, churches and banks converted into luxury multi-unit condos and apartments. But far more rare, and often shrouded in myth and mystery, are one-of-a-kind buildings that had former lives as banks, schools, a synagogue, a public bath house, a Con Ed substation, even a public restroom and a hillside cave–and have more recently served as home and workspace for a lucky handful of bohemian dreamers (and hard-working homeowners).
Find out who lives behind the gates of those those cavernous, mysterious buildings

Architecture And Design

October 18, 2014

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff

By Dana Schulz

We take a look at the fast-changing Brooklyn neighborhood Bed-Stuy–From Harlem and hip-hop to hipsters, Hassids and high rents. Clive Wilkinson’s 4,400-square-foot “superdesk” winds it way through the Chelsea offices of the Barbarian Group, taking the idea of a collaborative and open work environment to a whole new level. A History of New York in 101 […]

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October 17, 2014

Peeking into the East Village’s Marble Cemeteries

By Dana Schulz

Today we think of cemeteries as spooky, haunted places that we avoid, or as sad, depressing spots reserved for funerals. But they were once quite the opposite--in fact, they were the earliest incarnations of public parks. In New York City, burials took place on private or church property up until the mid-1800's when commercial cemeteries began popping up. And in the East Village there are two such early burial grounds hidden among the townhouses and tenements--the New York Marble Cemetery (on the west side of Second Avenue just above Second Street) and the New York City Marble Cemetery (on the north side of Second Street between First and Second Avenues). Though their titles are extremely similar and they're located less than a block apart, the two cemeteries are operated separately and have their own unique history. And during openhousenewyork weekend, we were lucky enough to take a peek beyond the cast iron gates and into these important pieces of the East Village's past.
Explore the Marble Cemeteries

History

Photo by brandon king cc

October 15, 2014

Bed-Stuy: From Harlem and Hip-Hop to Hipsters, Hassids and High Rents

By Annie Doge

Brooklyn is changing fast and at the forefront of this is Bedford-Stuyvesant—or as it's more commonly known, Bed-Stuy. Like most New York neighborhoods, Bed-Stuy has had its ups and downs, its most notable down being the 80s and 90s when crime and drugs were at a record high. But as hard as the times may have gotten, the neighborhood has maintained itself as one of the city's most culturally significant. Bed-Stuy has long been home to one of the largest concentrations of African-Americans in New York, it boasts beautiful well-preserved architecture spanning countless styles and centuries, and of course, there is the neighborhood's central role in the hip-hop movement.
More on the history and future of Bed-Stuy

Photo courtesy of Beyer Blinder Belle

October 11, 2014

An Architect’s Gift from the Jet Age: The TWA Flight Center at JFK International Airport

By Michelle Cohen

The TWA Flight Center at what is today John F. Kennedy International airport represents both the ephemeral and the ageless; our vulnerability at the end of the "American century" and the enduring beauty of inspired modern design. The work of mid-20th century Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen, the historic terminal is among the city’s most beloved architectural treasures. It first opened in 1962, a year after the architect’s death, and Saarinen posthumously received the AIA Gold Medal award for the design in 1962. Despite its storied past and widespread reverence, since the demise of TWA and its subsequent purchase by American Airlines in 2001, the terminal’s iconic “head house” has remained eerily vacant, and its future continues to be a point of contention.
More on the terminal's past and uncertain future

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