All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

NYC’s free Shakespeare in the Park program returns this week

The Delacorte Theater. Photo credit: Joseph Moran

June 6, 2023

NYC’s free Shakespeare in the Park program returns this week

By Aaron Ginsburg

Shakespeare in the Park, the Public Theater's beloved free program in Central Park, returns to the Delacorte Theater this week. Directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon, the Public will present one performance of "Hamlet" for an extended nine-week run from Thursday, June 8 until Sunday, August 6. A production of "The Tempest" will be presented from Sunday, August 27 through Sunday, September 3 before the Delacorte Theater closes for renovations.
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50 houses of worship in NYC to house asylum seekers

Photo credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

June 5, 2023

50 houses of worship in NYC to house asylum seekers

By Aaron Ginsburg

Mayor Eric Adams on Monday announced 50 houses of worship and faith-based facilities across the five boroughs will provide shelter to asylum seekers. As part of a two-year partnership between the city and the New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS), the shelter program includes housing about 19 single adult men at each location, with 1,000 men total expected to be housed by August. The city said it will also open five daytime migrant centers to allow the worship spaces to continue normal activities.
Details here

Policy

Sotheby’s buys the Breuer Building from Whitney Museum

Photo by Glenda Altarejos on Wikimedia

June 2, 2023

Sotheby’s buys the Breuer Building from Whitney Museum

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Whitney Museum of Art has sold the Upper East Side's iconic Breuer Building to the auction house Sotheby's. Designed by renowned architect Marcel Breuer in 1966, the five-story building at 945 Madison Avenue is known for its striking Brutalist architecture. While the exact price of the transaction remains unknown, sources close to the deal suggest it was around $100 million, according to the New York Times. Sotheby's will take over the building next September from the Frick Collection, which has operated there temporarily since 2021, and relocate its headquarters from York Avenue to the Breuer in 2025.
Details here

Events & Things To Do

Airbnb sues New York City over rules on short-term rentals

Photo by Emiliano Bar on Unsplash

June 2, 2023

Airbnb sues New York City over rules on short-term rentals

By Aaron Ginsburg

Airbnb sued New York City on Thursday seeking to block new restrictions that limit short-term rentals within the five boroughs. The lawsuits, filed by Airbnb and three local hosts, target a 2021 law designed to prevent illegal short-term rentals by requiring Airbnb hosts to register with the city. The city plans to enforce the new restrictions, which Airbnb has called "extreme and oppressive," in July.
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Policy

Apply for 316 mixed-income apartments within Greenpoint Landing, from $410/month

Rendering courtesy of Handel Architects

June 1, 2023

Apply for 316 mixed-income apartments within Greenpoint Landing, from $410/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A housing lottery opened this week for 316 mixed-income units at a new residential development on Brooklyn's waterfront. Located at 35 Commercial Street, the building is part of the 22-acre Greenpoint Landing development. New Yorkers earning 30, 50, 80, and 110 percent of the area median income, or between $17,006 annually for a single person and $158,510 for a household of five, are eligible to apply for the apartments, which range from $410/month studios to $2,572/month two bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Free photography festival Photoville returns to NYC with 80+ outdoor exhibitions

Photo courtesy of Kisha Bari

June 1, 2023

Free photography festival Photoville returns to NYC with 80+ outdoor exhibitions

By Aaron Ginsburg

Starting this weekend, enjoy more than 80 free photography exhibitions across New York City. Returning for its 12th year, Photoville NYC is a two-week festival with outdoor exhibitions displaying diverse photographic works across the five boroughs, as well as workshops, artist talks, and other events. The festival, which will run from June 3 to June 18, will include its signature Photoville Village in Brooklyn Bridge Park, in addition to open-air installations in other parts of the city.
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Events & Things To Do

See the 17-story mixed-use rental coming to Atlantic Avenue in Bed-Stuy

Rendering courtesy of Douglaston Development

May 31, 2023

See the 17-story mixed-use rental coming to Atlantic Avenue in Bed-Stuy

By Aaron Ginsburg

Another high-rise residential tower is coming to Brooklyn's once-industrial Atlantic Avenue corridor. Douglaston Development on Wednesday announced it secured financing for a 17-story, 474,000-square-foot mixed-use development at 1057 Atlantic Avenue in Bed-Stuy that will include 456 rental apartments and new neighborhood amenities. The tower joins several new and proposed developments on this strip of Atlantic Avenue that will bring hundreds of new homes to the area.
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New mural on 14th Street in Union Square celebrates human connection to nature

All photos courtesy of Jane Kratochvil

May 31, 2023

New mural on 14th Street in Union Square celebrates human connection to nature

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new street mural along the 14th Street Busway in Union Square celebrates the intricate connection between humans and nature. Designed by Brooklyn-based artist Vanesa Álvarez, "Union with the Universe" uses serene designs and shades of color, inviting observers to slow down and take a moment to connect with the world around them. Unveiled on Wednesday, the mural was installed over a period of five days with the help of Street Plans, a Brooklyn-based urban planning and design firm, and other community groups.
See the mural

Events & Things To Do

100+ community gardens in NYC will open to the public this weekend

Image courtesy of Daniel Avila / NYC Parks

May 30, 2023

100+ community gardens in NYC will open to the public this weekend

By Aaron Ginsburg

More than 100 community gardens across New York City are opening their gates to the public this weekend. Hosted by GreenThumb, the largest community garden program in the country, the sixth-annual Open Garden NYC invites New Yorkers to participate in fun, free, and eco-friendly activities, explore lush landscapes, and learn about the local gardens in their own neighborhood. Open Garden NYC will take place rain or shine on Saturday, June 3, and Sunday, June 4.
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Events & Things To Do

‘Cornelia Street’ townhouse once rented by Taylor Swift asks $17.9M

All photos courtesy of Al Siedman/VHT for The Corcoran Group

May 30, 2023

‘Cornelia Street’ townhouse once rented by Taylor Swift asks $17.9M

By Aaron Ginsburg

Taylor Swift's former Greenwich Village home has hit the market for $17,995,000. The pop-star rented the 5,500-square-foot, five-story home at 23 Cornelia Street in 2016. The former carriage house served as an inspiration for her 2019 song "Cornelia Street," which references the home's windows and creaky floors. The four-bedroom, five-bathroom house stands out for its drive-right-in garage, 30-foot indoor pool, rooftop terrace, and prime location in the heart of the Village. The townhouse is also available as a $45,000/month rental.
Any Swifties with $18M?

Popular Articles

125 affordable units available at energy-efficient building in East New York, from $419/month

Rendering by Nightnurse Images, courtesy of Magnusson Architecture and Planning

May 26, 2023

125 affordable units available at energy-efficient building in East New York, from $419/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Applications are now being accepted for 125 affordable units at Linden Terrace, an energy-efficient residential development in East New York. Located at 583 Emerald Street, the 156-unit building represents the third phase of the new affordable development. New Yorkers earning 30, 50, and 70 percent of the area median income, or between $16,938 annually for a single person and $115,850 for a household of seven, are eligible to apply for the units, which range from $419/month studios to $1,963/month three bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

NYC Council passes legislation expanding rental assistance

Image courtesy of Filip Mishevski on Flickr

May 26, 2023

NYC Council passes legislation expanding rental assistance

By Aaron Ginsburg

The New York City Council on Thursday passed a set of bills that will help house more New Yorkers and free up shelter space for asylum seekers. The legislation ends a rule requiring unhoused people spend at least 90 days in shelter before qualifying for a rental assistance voucher, known as CityFHEPS, and expands the number of people eligible for the vouchers. Mayor Eric Adams, who may attempt to veto the bill, said the legislation will cost the city billions over the next five years.
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This exhibit celebrates 100 years of art and pop culture in NYC

Richard Estes. M Train on Route to Manhattan Approaches the Williamsburg Bridge. 1995. Copyright Richard Estes, courtesy Louis K. Meisel Gallery

May 25, 2023

This exhibit celebrates 100 years of art and pop culture in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new exhibition shares more than a century's worth of creativity inspired by New York City. The Museum of the City of New York's "This is New York: 100 Years of the City in Art and Pop Culture" highlights what NYC has meant to generations of artists, musicians, writers, storytellers, and filmmakers who have captured the essence of the five boroughs through their work. The exhibition, which celebrates the museum's centennial is on view at the museum at 1220 Fifth Avenue from Wednesday, May 26 through June 21, 2024.
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Events & Things To Do

Citing influx of migrants, Adams looks to suspend NYC’s right to shelter rule

Image courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

May 25, 2023

Citing influx of migrants, Adams looks to suspend NYC’s right to shelter rule

By Aaron Ginsburg

Citing the arrival of thousands of migrants in the city, Mayor Eric Adams wants to suspend a decades-old rule guaranteeing shelter to anyone. Adams on Tuesday filed an application with a judge asking to alter the city's right to shelter rule, which guarantees any homeless person looking for shelter access to temporary housing. The mayor is looking to rewrite the rule, which has been in place for 40 years, to allow the city to suspend the right for homeless adults when it "lacks the resources and capacity to establish and maintain sufficient shelter sites," according to Gothamist.
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NYC’s first multi-family geothermal project tops out in Coney Island

Images courtesy of LCOR

May 25, 2023

NYC’s first multi-family geothermal project tops out in Coney Island

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's first multi-family geothermal project has topped out in Coney Island. The residential development at 1515 Surf Avenue will include 463 apartments, of which 139 will be designated as affordable. The building's geothermal system will use the Earth to heat and cool the property and power its water systems, eliminating the need for equipment that would run on fossil fuels.
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Green-Wood Cemetery’s $34M welcome center that wraps around historic greenhouse breaks ground

All renderings courtesy of Architecture Research Office (ARO)

May 24, 2023

Green-Wood Cemetery’s $34M welcome center that wraps around historic greenhouse breaks ground

By Aaron Ginsburg

Construction has begun on a new welcome center that will teach visitors about Green-Wood Cemetery's rich history. Located across from the cemetery's main entrance on 25th Street and Fifth Avenue in Brooklyn, the new $34 million Education and Welcome Center will feature two exhibition galleries for Green-Wood's art and archival collections, host educational events and programs, and serve as a hub for scholarly research, staff offices, and meeting and event spaces. The new building, which will be built around the historic Weir Greenhouse, will be completed by June 2025.
Find out more

Architecture And Design

Flatiron Building sells for $161M at second auction in two months

Photo courtesy of d26b73 on Flickr

May 24, 2023

Flatiron Building sells for $161M at second auction in two months

By Aaron Ginsburg

After being put up for auction for the second time since March after the previous buyer failed to make the down payment, the Flatiron Building has sold for $161 million. During the auction hosted on the front steps of a Lower Manhattan courthouse Tuesday, a group led by Jeff Gural of GFP Real Estate, one of the landmarked building's previous owners, placed the winning bid over four other contenders. After winning, Gural said he plans to convert the upper part of the building into residential units, while keeping office space below, according to Crain's New York.
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Real Estate Trends

The 13 best things to do in Coney Island

Photo of the Mermaid Parade by Richie S. on Flickr

May 23, 2023

The 13 best things to do in Coney Island

By Aaron Ginsburg

Nicknamed the People's Playground, Coney Island has been the summer getaway of choice for generations of New Yorkers. Located on the southern shores of Brooklyn, the seaside destination is best known for its world-famous amusement district, which contains iconic attractions like the Brooklyn Cyclone roller coaster, Deno's Wonder Wheel, and the Coney Island Circus Sideshow. The neighborhood offers visitors unforgettable experiences on exhilarating amusement park rides, classic carnival-style treats, and a chance to soak up some sun on the beach. From strolling down the boardwalk and riding the 100-year-old Cyclone to seeing sharks up close at the New York Aquarium, here are some things to do when visiting Coney Island this summer.
Plan your trip

Events & Things To Do

MSG should stay above Penn Station, says Manhattan borough president

Rendering: ASTM North America

May 22, 2023

MSG should stay above Penn Station, says Manhattan borough president

By Aaron Ginsburg

Madison Square Garden should be granted a new operating permit and be allowed to stay put, as long as it gives up some of its space for the expansion of Penn Station, Manhattan Borough Mark Levine said on Monday. As first reported by Crain's New York, Levine's recommendation includes demolishing MSG's theater and replacing it with a new grand entrance facing Eighth Avenue, a new mid-block entrance, and a double-height concourse. To do this, Levine advises giving MSG a new five-year special permit, if the Garden works with the city, state, and railroads to redevelop Penn Station and the surrounding area.
Details here

89 mixed-income units available at 43-story Downtown Brooklyn rental, from $1,407/month

Photo courtesy of Evan Joseph

May 22, 2023

89 mixed-income units available at 43-story Downtown Brooklyn rental, from $1,407/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A housing lottery opened this week for 89 mixed-income units at a new residential development in Brooklyn. Located at 540 Fulton Street, The Paxton offers residents luxury rental units and modern amenities in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn. New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income, or between $50,812 annually for a single person and $215,150 for a household of seven, can apply for the units, priced from $1,407/month studios to $3,600/month three bedrooms.
Find out more

Affordable Housing

NYC sues architecture firm behind new Long Island City library over accessibility issues

© Paul Warchol

May 19, 2023

NYC sues architecture firm behind new Long Island City library over accessibility issues

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City has filed a lawsuit against the architects behind the inaccessible Hunters Point Library in Long Island City, as first reported by Crain's New York. Filed in Manhattan State Supreme Court on Wednesday, the lawsuit claims Steven Holl Architects violated its contract with the city by designing an inaccessible building. The suit says that the architecture firm should be forced to pay $10 million to cover the renovations needed to make the building accessible for people with disabilities.
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In reference to U.S. border wall, new Brooklyn sculpture explores relationship with land

Photo credit: Nicholas Galanin, In every language there is Land / En cada lengua hay una Tierra, 2023 Corten steel. Courtesy of the artist and Peter Blum Gallery. Images by Nicholas Knight, courtesy of the Public Art Fund, NY

May 18, 2023

In reference to U.S. border wall, new Brooklyn sculpture explores relationship with land

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new public art installation in Brooklyn questions how colonization and its impact on migration affect our relationship with land. Created by indigenous Alaskan artist Nicholas Galanin, In every language there is Land / En cada lengua hay una Tierra is a 30-foot-tall steel sculpture made of the same materials as the United States-Mexico border wall that spells out the word "LAND." The sculpture will be on view in Brooklyn Bridge Park on the north side of the Empire Fulton Ferry Lawn through the fall.
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Events & Things To Do

MTA unveils redesign of NYC subway turnstile as fare evasion solution

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

May 18, 2023

MTA unveils redesign of NYC subway turnstile as fare evasion solution

By Aaron Ginsburg

To deter the roughly 400,000 subway riders who don't pay the fare every day, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority plans to redesign the turnstiles for the first time in modern history. The agency on Wednesday unveiled a potential design of a new subway fare gate that includes glass doors that slide open, replacing the rotating turnstiles that have been part of the system since its inception. The new gates would remove the need for emergency exit doors, which the MTA said accounts for more than half of all fare evasion.
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Ralph Lee, famous puppet maker and Village Halloween Parade founder, dies at 87

Photo by Erin Kestenbaum exclusively for 6sqft. See more here.

May 17, 2023

Ralph Lee, famous puppet maker and Village Halloween Parade founder, dies at 87

By Aaron Ginsburg

Ralph Lee, a legendary New York City puppet maker who helped create the Village Halloween Parade, passed away last Friday in his Manhattan home at the age of 87. As reported by the New York Times, Lee's death was confirmed by his wife Casey Compton, who stated that her husband's health had declined over the past several months. While he was also an actor, writer, producer, and director, Lee was best known for his innovative puppet and mask designs, many of which were seen in shows by the Metropolitan Opera, the NYC Opera, and a wide variety of dance troupes and theater productions, including his own Mettawee River Theatre.
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Events & Things To Do

Noho’s Bleecker Street Bar reopens after nearly three years

The original location of the Bleecker Street Bar. Photo by Village Preservation on Flickr

May 17, 2023

Noho’s Bleecker Street Bar reopens after nearly three years

By Aaron Ginsburg

Noho's beloved Bleecker Street Bar reopened its doors on Wednesday after closing two-and-a-half years ago due to the pandemic. The bar, which has served Noho residents for more than 30 years, joined an extensive list of neighborhood bars and restaurants that were forced to close their doors due to the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Bleecker Street Bar's new location is 648 Broadway.
Details here

Food & Dining

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