Play With Giant Light-Up Dominos In The Financial District

A new interactive public art installation in the Financial District is injecting vibrant color and sound into New York City’s dreary winter. Created by Montreal-based design studio Ingrid Ingrid, “Domino Effect” features 120 giant dominos scattered across 12 tables in Fosun Plaza, with each domino giving off a unique sound and color. Presented by the Downtown Alliance in partnership with Quartier des Spectacles International, the installation is on view at Fosun Plaza in front of 28 Liberty Street through March 6.

“Domino Effect will be a bright and playful addition to the neighborhood and will provide some inspiration to spend a little more time outdoors during the long winter season,” Jessica Lappin, president of the Downtown Alliance, said.

Each set of dominos features a different instrument profile, including vocals, percussion, marimba, balafon, or flute, and every individual domino has a distinct sound. The installation provides a fun and engaging way for Lower Manhattan workers, residents, and visitors to create music as a team.

“We’re thrilled to present the dazzling installation ‘Domino Effect’ by Ingrid Ingrid in downtown New York. Until early March, enjoy toppling dominoes in cascades of light and sound with friends and family,” Guillaume Aniorté, executive director of QDSi, said.

“We hope this experience will bring joy and beautiful moments of collaboration to everyone visiting Lower Manhattan in the coming weeks.”

Play with giant light-up dominos in the Financial District

By Aaron Ginsburg

February 1, 2024

All photos courtesy of Jason DeCrow/AP Images for Alliance for Downtown New York

The Monthly Update - February 2024

Riding the Interest Rate Waves...

Manhattan and Brooklyn Market Trends: The current trajectory in market activity continues its upward trend. Buyers are gaining confidence as they anticipate further drops in mortgage rates throughout the year. They are also recognizing that the combination of lower rates and limited inventory will intensify competition, potentially leading to higher prices.

Mortgage Rates: Although rates experienced a slight uptick of approximately 0.25% this month, they remain approximately 2.0% lower than the peak observed in October. Projections indicate a mid-5% rate for 30-year fixed mortgages by the end of the year. Additionally, ARM rates are expected to revert to their historical average, approximately 0.75% lower than 30-year fixed rates, by year-end. This shift is particularly significant for our market and clientele, who show greater receptivity to these products compared to the national average.

Inflation: The Federal Reserve reports a current inflation rate of 3.4%, a decrease from 6.45% at this time last year, with their target set at 2.0%. Some argue that Truflation, considered by many as a more accurate measure, already indicates a rate of 1.87%.

The Fed and the Media: The media often portrays statements from "The Fed" without providing a comprehensive view. It's crucial to remember that the Federal Reserve consists of 12 members, and media outlets may highlight the most sensational quote from one member, often with an opinion differing from the group's average, for the sake of generating clicks.

Lending Landscape: The lending landscape is evolving rapidly with the emergence of niche mortgage products. Some lenders are actively seeking to expand and capture market share, such as in the case of second homes in the Hamptons. Conversely, major banks are scaling back their involvement. It is now more important than ever to collaborate with a lender offering a diverse range of products, rates, and investor connections to address the unique needs of each deal or client.

Local Happenings

Color Factory‘s

“Colors in Bloom”

FEBRUARY 8, 2024

Take a family trip to the all-ages and one of a kind colorful experiences, 'Colors in Bloom', the latest exhibition at SoHo's Color Factory.

Click HERE to learn more!

Lunar New Year Parade

FEBRUARY 25, 2024

Head to Chinatown to celebrate the year of the dragon! In the heart of Chinatown on Bayard Street between Mott and Mulberry, you will find dancing, festival booths, martial art performers, stunning outfits, firecrackers and more! This is an NYC tradition you don't want to miss!

Click HERE to learn more!

Lifestyle Tips and Tricks

Foolproof Paint Colors that will Sell your Home

Selling a home with an electric, lime-green living room is going to be more difficult than you originally anticipated...

Courtesy of HGTV

20 Most Affordable Places to Live in the US

With the cost of living on the rise, many Americans are on the hunt for the cheapest places to live in the U.S. that still offer a high quality of life...

Courtesy of Forbes

Featured Listings

The Hoffman Team has you covered! With trusted colleagues in over 71 markets nationwide and team members on both coasts, we are here to help - no matter where your move takes you.

Below are some listings from our fellow team member Renato Besabe who works in both NYC and Hawaii.

Featured Hawaiian ListingS:

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110 Riverside Drive, Unit 15C

110 Riverside Drive, Unit 15C

UPPER WEST SIDE, MANHATTAN

Asking $2,695,000

3 Bed  |  2 Bath | Co-op

 

Uptown Classic Six grandeur awaits in this stunning three-bedroom, two-bathroom co-op featuring an expansive, flexible layout and chic designer finishes in a historic, full-service Upper West Side building.
A semi-private landing invites you inside this approximately 1,900-square-foot residence, where nearly 9-foot-tall beamed ceilings rise above deep-stained hardwood floors, crisp white art walls, and oversized windows on the northern, southern, and eastern exposures. Two large closets flank the entry, while a wide gallery provides plenty of room for mudroom-style bench seating or a grand foyer table under a classic pendant light. To the left, the sprawling living room stretches nearly 23 feet long, delivering a generous footprint for seating and dining areas. Across the hall, the spacious den is ideal as a separate formal dining room, family room, media lounge or whatever your needs require. Chefs will flock to the windowed kitchen, which features easy access to the service entrance, entry gallery, and den. Snow-white custom cabinetry topped with marble counters surrounds elite appliances, including a showstopping La Cornue range, cabinet-front refrigerator, dishwasher and wine refrigerator.
The home's luxurious accommodations begin with a serene owner's suite featuring a king-size bedroom, a windowed dressing area, and two custom closets. The windowed en suite bathroom is perfectly arranged with a soaking tub, separate shower and console vanity wrapped in marble tile and basketweave floors. An extra-large secondary bedroom boasts two closets of its own and easy access to the home's second full bathroom and linen closet. Off the kitchen, the former maid's room is perfect as a third bedroom or private home office.
110-118 Riverside Drive is an established, well-respected cooperative composed of two handsome brick, terra cotta and cast-stone apartment buildings constructed in 1928 by Gronenberg & Leuchtag. Residents of the pet-friendly enclave enjoy full-time doorman and live-in superintendent service, an elegant stained-glass lobby, a fitness center, a children's playroom, laundry, storage and a bike room. Sorry, no pieds-à-terre permitted. A 2% flip tax is payable by the buyer.
Situated on a gorgeous, tree-lined block within the Riverside West End Historic District, this home offers the perfect combination of residential serenity and city accessibility. Stunning Riverside Park is just inches away, and Central Park is a half-mile east. Amazing gourmet food shops, boutiques, restaurants and nightlife destinations line the nearby streets, and access to transportation is effortless with 1/2/3, B and C trains, excellent bus service and CitiBike stations all within reach.

Central Park Tower Penthouse Finds Buyer at $115 Million!

Only two weeks into 2024 and New York City is already seeing record real estate deals. A 12,557-square-foot penthouse in Central Park Tower at 217 West 57th Street has entered contract, as first reported by the Wall Street Journal. The duplex condo at the Billionaires’ Row tower, considered the tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere, was first listed in March for $175 million and most recently asked $149.5 million, according to CityRealty. The final deal turned out to be closer to $115 million, according to the Journal. The buyer has not been named.

As 6sqft previously reported, the penthouse takes up the 107th and 108th floors and is wrapped on all sides by windows, which offer spectacular views of Central Park, the city, and beyond. The home has seven bedrooms, eight full baths, two half-baths, and a private elevator to move between the two floors.

On the first level, there is a grand salon with a 27-foot double-height ceiling, chevron-patterned hardwood floors, and terrace access, and a kitchen equipped with high-end professional appliances. Other spaces include a family room, a conservatory, a library, an office, a media room with a second terrace, a guest suite, a playroom, and a staff room.

Up a floating spiral staircase to the upper level, there are five bedrooms, including a primary suite that boasts a bedroom, private sitting room, and his-and-hers dressing rooms and bathrooms.

Table: OndelSource: CityRealty Created with Datawrapper

The $100 million-plus deal marks just the sixth nine-figure deal on record, according to CityRealty. Since 2003, there have been a total of 146 apartment sales of over $40 million in Manhattan.

In late 2021, billionaire Daniel Och sold his penthouse at 220 Central Park South for $188 million, double what he paid in 2019. Ken Griffin’s $238 million purchase at 220 Central Park South remains the most expensive apartment sale in the city (and in the country).

Developed by Extell and designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, the 1,550-foot-tall Central Park Tower offers a private amenity club with 50,000 square feet of perks across three floors. The 100th-floor club offers a private restaurant, a ballroom, a wine bar, and a cigar lounge. There’s also an outdoor pool, a sun deck, and cabanas on the terrace, as well as a fitness and wellness center, a squash court, a private movie theater, and a business center.

Photo: Cody Boone for SERHANT.

In September 2022, the building made news again when its top penthouse was listed for $250 million, which would become the most expensive sale in the country if it fetched the asking price. That record is on hold for now as the price dropped to a much more reasonable $195 million last year.

Central Park Tower penthouse last listed for $149.5M finds buyer

By Devin Gannon

January 18, 2024

Cover image courtesy of Extell

210 Central Park South, Unit 10D

210 Central Park South, Unit 10D

CENTRAL PARK SOUTH, MANHATTAN

$13,995/Mo.

2 Bed  |  2.5 Bath | Co-op

Central Park becomes your daily backdrop and personal playground in this breathtaking two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom Central Park South residence beautifully reimagined by Stuart Parr Design.

A gracious entry gallery lined with custom-built Boffi closets invites you into this designer showplace to discover gleaming chevron hardwood floors and ceilings dotted with recessed lighting. Ahead, you'll arrive in the expansive living room where the beauty of Central Park unfolds at your feet. Enjoy a generous footprint for seating areas, or step onto the 26.5-foot-wide terrace for al fresco meals alongside treetop outlooks. Chefs will adore the sleek Boffi kitchen's fleet of Gaggenau appliances, including a cooktop, wall oven, dishwasher, microwave drawer and wine refrigerator. The adjacent dining room welcomes lavish entertaining and intimate dinners with equal ease.

Head to the owner's suite, where every day begins with park vistas and coffee on the terrace. A custom-designed bed and night tables add chic designer style, and four custom Boffi closets attend to wardrobe needs. In the en suite bathroom, you'll find swaths of Italian slab marble, radiant heat floors, a double vanity and gorgeous contemporary fixtures. The south-facing secondary bedroom features excellent closet space and custom built-ins of its own, plus another en suite marble bath. An in-unit washer-dryer and zoned HVAC add comfort and convenience. Enjoy an outstanding media experience with a home theater speaker system in the living room, plus built-in speakers in the living room, dining room, and the primary bed and bath. A Savant smart home system controls lights, shades, air conditioning and A/V equipment from your phone, tablet or remote.

210 Central Park South is an illustrious postwar co-op where residents enjoy 24-hour white glove doorman and elevator service, a live-in superintendent, an on-site attended parking garage and a new rooftop deck with an outdoor kitchen.

From this commanding Central Park South location, you're just inches from 840 acres of iconic outdoor space and Midtown accessibility. Enjoy front-row access to world-class shopping, five-star dining and spectacular Theater District and Lincoln Center entertainment. Transportation is effortless thanks to F, N/Q/R/W, A/C, B/D, 1 and E, excellent bus service and CitiBike stations all nearby.

Lunar New Year 2024: Where To Celebrate the Year of the Dragon in Manhattan

Lunar New Year, the two-week-long festival that ushers in spring and new beginnings, starts on February 10 and runs until February 24. This year marks the Year of the Dragon, which is the fifth animal in the 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiacs and is said to possess the sharpest sense of self among all other zodiac signs. Ahead, find many ways to celebrate the Lunar New Year in New York City, from taking craft lessons from master artisans at the Chinese Institute in America’s family festival to attending Chinatown’s annual parade and firecracker celebration.

Image courtesy of The Shops at Hudson Yards

Lunar New Year at Hudson Yards
The Shops at Hudson Yards, 20 Hudson Yards
January 22 through February 12
Hudson Yards is celebrating the Year of the Dragon with free lion dances and ribbon-twirling performances, traditional decor, and lots of special deals and discounts at its stores and restaurants. Customers who spend $188 or more on one day inside Hudson Yards will receive a complimentary gift. You can get validated by showing your same-day receipts to the concierge desk on level one.

Visitors can catch the lion dances and ribbon-twirling performances, presented by the New York Chinese Cultural Center, every Saturday (1/27, 2/3, and 2/10), at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m.

Image courtesy of Tsingtao

Toast to the Year of the Dragon with Tsingtao
January 30 through February 12
Tsingtao is collaborating with four critically acclaimed Chinese restaurants in NYC to create Tsingtao-infused culinary specials. From January 30 through February 12, sit down for a meal at Hutong, MáLà Project, Milu, and Hunan Slurp and enjoy beer-infused flavors and innovative dishes.

Take a look below at the limited-edition meals:

Hutong:

  • “Xingréng Pijiu” ($20): A creative beer cocktail combining Tsingtao with tomato juice, Maggi seasoning, and a blend of spices, served with a Tajin and ground Sichuan red peppercorn rim, garnished with a red chili pepper and dehydrated yuzu wheel.

  • “Qingfu Pijiu” ($18): A refreshing beer cocktail featuring Tsingtao with passion fruit purée, honey, yuzu, and a hint of Sichuan red peppercorn spice, garnished with a banana leaf and orchid flower.

  • Beef Tenderloin with Leeks ($48): A flavorful dish of pan-seared beef tenderloin and leeks, cooked with Tsingtao, ginger, scallions, and seasoning, finished with potato starch water and sesame oil.

  • Mala Beer Prawns ($42): Shrimp boiled with Tsingtao and tossed with ginger, scallions, peppers, Chinese celery, and Sichuan peppercorns, creating a bold and spicy flavor.

MáLà Project (all four locations):

  • White Jade ($18): A mix of Tsingtao Beer Syrup, white rum, spiced ginger tea, and lemon. 

  • Chino Barrio ($18): A bold concoction of Tsingtao Beer, bourbon, bird-eye chili pepper, grenadine, pineapple, and lime. 

  • Dragon Dance ($18): A celebration in a glass with Tsingtao Beer, rosemary Aperol, grapefruit, and honey. 

Milu:

  • Tsingtao Marinated Chicken ($26): Half chicken marinated in Tsingtao, served with sesame garlic sweet potatoes, and rice. Available for dinner only. 

  • Umeshandy ($8): A refreshing blend of Tsingtao beer with umeshu, sherry, and lime, rimmed with salted Sichuan pepper. Available for dinner only. 

Hunan Slurp:

  • Beer Duck ($33): Duck braised in a rich sauce of chili pepper, ginger, and Tsingtao beer.

Platform by James Beard Foundation

Lunar New Year Dinner & Social
Pier 57, 25 11th Avenue, Chelsea
February 2 at 7 p.m.
On February 2, Zhan Chen, executive chef of Potluck Club, and Helen Nguyen, chef and owner of Saigon Social, are hosting an exclusive dinner at Platform by James Beard Foundation, a state-of-the-art show kitchen in Pier 57. Patrons will enjoy some of the chef’s favorite Lunar New Year meals, including coconut juice-braised pork belly, duck confit rice rolls, and more. You can learn more about the dinner here.

Celebrating the Year of the Dragon at the Met
The Met, 1000 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan
February 3 through January 2025.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is throwing an exciting family-friendly festival to honor the Year of the Dragon. The world-renowned museum is hosting live performances, interactive activities, artist-led workshops, and more. Highlights of the festival include a kick-off celebration by the Wan Chi Ming Hung Gar Institute, a performance by the Sesame Street Muppeteers featuring Alan Muraoka, and a poetry reading by Yu and Me Books. All activities are free with museum admission, and no advanced registration is required. A full schedule of events can be found here.

The festival coincides with the opening of a new exhibition at the museum called “Celebrating the Year of the Dragon,” a curated selection of art that honors the most beloved animal in Chinese culture. The exhibition features a selection of more than 20 works from the museum’s permanent collection that depict the mythical creature in a variety of media, including ceramic, jade, lacquer, metalwork, and textiles.

The featured works illustrate the important role that the dragon has played as a symbol of imperial authority, a force that dispels evil, and a “benevolent deity that brings auspicious rain to all life on earth.” Highlights of the exhibition include a third-century BCE jade pendant of a spirited dragon with a sinuous body, a seventh-century bronze mirror with symbols of the four cardinal directions, and a giant 16th-century blue and white porcelain jar with dragons weaving through clouds and waves.

China Institute in America’s Lunar New Year Family Festival
China Institute in America, 40 Rector Street, Financial District
February 4 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
For their action-packed festival, the China Institute in America is flying out master artists from the Zhejiang province of China to provide an authentic, engaging, cultural experience for visitors.

The celebration will begin with a traditional lion dance, followed by a famous Taishun string puppet performance. Chinese artisans will lead Lunar New Year-themed stations and interactive workshops for participants of all ages, including Taizhou embroidery, rice dough sculpturing, Song-dynasty tea whisking and tasting, Nan-Song dynasty pottery sculpting, 3D sugar painting, New Year woodblock printing, and more.

The themed stations and workshops are available for visitors on a first-come-first-served basis. General admission for adults starts at $15 and can be purchased here.

Lunar New Year Book ‘Tasting’ at the Library
Harry Belafonte Library, 203 West 115th Street, Harlem
February 6 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Come and sample books at the New York Public Library’s Harry Belafonte Branch in Harlem, including cookbooks, history, arts & crafts, fiction, and more, celebrating the Lunar New Year around the world.

Chinese New Year Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Festival
Sara D. Roosevelt Park, Chrystie Street and Forsyth Street, Chinatown
February 10 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The Chinese New Year Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Festival is returning to Chinatown’s Sara D. Roosevelt Park for its 26th year. During the festival, thousands of firecrackers are set ablaze to ward off evil spirits and welcome in the Year of the Dragon. The event will also feature live dance performances, food & drink vendors, giveaways, and more.

Lunar New Year at the Seaport
February 17
South Street Seaport, Manhattan
The Seaport is partnering with the New York Chinese Cultural Center and the South Street Seaport Museum for a day full of fun Lunar New Year festivities. Activities will take place throughout the day and include live lion dance performances, calligraphy, arts & crafts, and more to be announced.

MOCA Family Festival
Museum of Chinese in America, 215 Centre Street, Chinatown
February 17 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The Museum of Chinese in America is hosting an action-packed festival with attractions for the entire family. The festival kicks off with spring festival dances by the famous Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, who will dazzle the crowds with an innovative, hip-hop-infused lion dance, and a plethora of other activities.

Throughout the event, guests can try bite-sized Lunar Year treats, attend a meet & greet with authors Michele Wong McSween and Ms. Pauline, watch live demonstrations of noodle pulling and candy making, create arts & crafts, and more.

Tickets cost $5 and kids under two are free.

Photo courtesy of Explore Chinatown on Wikimedia

Chinese New Year Parade
Chinatown
February 25 at 1 p.m.
Chinatown’s annual Lunar Year Parade is returning to Lower Manhattan on February 25. Hosted by Better Chinatown, 2024’s parade celebrates the Year of the Dragon and features traditional dragon dancing, striking outfits, martial arts performers, food and drink vendors, and much more. The procession kicks off at the corner of Mott and Hester Streets before traveling down to Chatham Square. The parade then sets off across East Broadway and up Forsyth Street before ending at Sara D. Roosevelt Park.

Lunar New Year 2024: How to celebrate the Year of the Dragon in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

January 23, 2024

Cover photo by Dan Nguyen on Flickr

201 East 21st Street, Unit 16J

201 East 21st Street, Unit 16J

GRAMERCY, MANHATTAN

$549,000

1 Bed  |  1 Bath | Co-op

 

Experience exciting Gramercy Park living in this junior one-bedroom, one-bathroom home featuring a quiet high-floor location and spacious layout at The Quaker Ridge — one of Downtown's most sought-after full-service cooperatives.

Inside you'll find new floors, fresh paint and wide windows facing north and east. The oversized alcove studio layout has already been converted for your convenience, with double glass doors opening to an inviting sleeping area. The dining foyer and long living room provide plenty of room for lounging, entertainment and working from home, while two extra-large closets deliver exceptional storage. Put your personal stamp on the bathroom and convenient kitchen layout that can easily be expanded and opened up to add an island. Two HVAC units ensure year-round comfort in both the living area and bedroom.

Fall in love with Quaker Ridge, a revered postwar co-op known for its strong financials and low maintenance. Residents enjoy full-time doorman service, a live-in superintendent, laundry, bike storage and a residents-only parking garage with direct access to the building. Quaker Ridge allows co-purchasing and pets but does not permit guarantors or pieds-à-terre. Please note, there is a monthly energy charge of $88 already included in the maintenance, which adjusts quarterly. There is currently a monthly assessment of $255 through December 2024.

Located just minutes from Union Square, the Flatiron District, and NoMad, this Gramercy Park home is at the epicenter of Manhattan's coveted shopping, dining, nightlife, and outdoor space. Union Square and Madison Square Park put year-round greenmarkets and events just blocks away, and foodies will love the proximity to Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Eataly and numerous Michelin-starred restaurants. Access to transportation is fantastic with 4/5/6, N/Q/R/W, and L trains, excellent bus service, and CitiBikes nearby.

New Colorful Tulle Sculptures Now in Madison Square Park

New vibrant sculptures made of tulle are adding brightness to the city’s bleak winter landscape. On display in Madison Square Park through March, artist Ana María Hernando’s exhibition, titled “To Let the Sky Know/Dejar que el cielo sepa,” includes a series of large-scale atmospheric clouds and one cascading waterfall, all made of flowing, colorful tulle. The exhibition marks the 20th anniversary of the Madison Square Park Conservancy’s public art program.

Ana María Hernando, “A Spring of Wild Kindnesses/Un manantial de bondades agrestes” (2024) in Madison Square Park, for “To Let the Sky Know/Dejar que el cielo sepa.” Photo credit: Hunter Canning.

Hernando’s sculpture series plays off the barren winter cityscape and serves as a metaphor for the shared human experience. Now, with the city streets covered in ice and snow, the artwork offers a glimpse of vibrant color and cheerfulness to guide New Yorkers through these bone-chilling months.

The sculptures are made of tulle, a “sumptuous small-gauge fabric netting” inspired by forms found in nature and transformed through the sewing process into brilliant colors. The material is frequently used in bridal veils, petticoats, and tutus, objects that conceal aspects of women’s bodies. Through her work, Hernando uses tulle to highlight its “feminine connotations” while making it “undeniably visible.”

Like the rest of her work, “To Let the Sky Know/Dejar que el cielo sepa” is inspired by the creations of women from Latin America and the Latin American diaspora. Hernando spent her formative years working in her family’s textile plant in Buenos Aires and sewed alongside other workers, an experience that has continued to inspire her work.

“To Let the Sky Know/Dejar que el cielo sepa” (2024) in Madison Square Park, for “To Let the Sky Know/Dejar que el cielo sepa.” Photo credit: Rashmi Gill.

“I grew up surrounded by textiles, from my grandmothers and mother getting together in the afternoons to sew and crochet, to summers spent as a teenager sewing in the small textile factory my maternal grandparents had begun in the 1920s,” Hernando said. 

“Because of the impact of the women in my family, and the recognition by working at the factory that together we can make something better, I am attracted to and admire the circles of women that have gathered through centuries to collaborate and work together, to accompany each other.”

Hernando continued: “In my work, I look for these collaborations, these moments of togetherness, from cloistered nuns and their families in Buenos Aires – who have embroidered for my pieces – to the dignified women of the Andes – whose wares I have included in installations – to volunteers coming to sew with me to make a mountain of tulle.”

“To Let the Sky Know/Dejar que el cielo sepa” marks the 20th anniversary of Madison Square Park Conservancy’s art program. To celebrate two decades of art in the park, the organization is hosting four artist projects this year, a major publication detailing 50 commissioned exhibitions installed in the park since 2004, a symposium with alumni artists, a short documentary, and more.

On February 5, Hernando and a handful of other artists will talk about the field of textile art and the skills and knowledge that have been passed down through the generations. On February 7, Hernando will host an embroidery workshop, taking inspiration from the sounds of the park.

Colorful tulle sculptures in Madison Square Park brighten the winter cityscape

By Aaron Ginsburg

January 18, 2024

Cover Photo: “To Let the Sky Know/Dejar que el cielo sepa” (2024) in Madison Square Park, for “To Let the Sky Know/Dejar que el cielo sepa.” Photo credit: Rashmi Gill.

New York Has Big Plans For The State’s First Total Solar Eclipse in 99 Years

Poster created through an I LOVE NY partnership with acclaimed artist and professional astronomer Dr. Tyler Nordgren. Courtesy of I LOVE NY

New York is going all out for its first total solar eclipse in 99 years. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday revealed the state’s plans for the April 8 total eclipse, when the moon will pass between the sun and earth, completely blocking the face of the sun and turning day to night for up to four minutes. Five regions in New York will experience the path of totality, including the Adirondacks, Greater Niagra, Chautauqua-Allegheny, Thousand Islands-Seaway, and the Finger Lakes. Other parts of the state outside of the path, like New York City and Long Island, will see a partial eclipse.

For over a year, nearly two dozen state agencies have been working to ensure that the once-in-a-lifetime event is a truly memorable experience by launching a multi-platform campaign that includes a special eclipse website with a guide to a variety of eclipse-related attractions throughout the state, digital displays in high-traffic areas, and more.

“Whether you live in New York or are visiting to witness this generational spectacle, ensuring everyone can take in this year’s eclipse safely is our top priority. I encourage everyone to keep safety in mind so that all can savor this experience and make memories to last a lifetime. Come for the eclipse, but stay for New York and enjoy all our great state has to offer,” Hochul said. 

Image courtesy of NASA/Goddard/Rebecca Roth on Flickr

Image courtesy of I LOVE NY

On the afternoon of April 8, the western and northern parts of New York will experience a total eclipse. The 124-mile path of totality will enter the southwestern part of the state at around 3:15 p.m. and will leave right before 3:30 p.m. The cities and towns located within this path include Jamestown, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Watertown, Old Forge, Lake Placid, and Plattsburgh.

Other areas of the state that lie outside the path will still be able to experience the cosmic event. New York City will see 89 percent coverage, Long Island will see 88 percent coverage, and the Capital Region will have 96 percent coverage. The entire event will last approximately two and a half hours, starting at the time it is first obstructed to the final moments when the moon’s shadow is cast.

The next cross-country solar eclipse in North America won’t happen for another 20 years.

Total Solar Eclipse, July 2, 2019. Image courtesy of NASA/Goddard/Rebecca Roth on Flickr

Launched by the state’s tourism agency, I LOVE NY, the “Come for the Eclipse, Stay for New York” campaign seeks to emphasize New York as the place to be to witness the event. The campaign’s special eclipse website will highlight the best viewing locations throughout the state to view the eclipse in totality, instruct New Yorkers on how to view the event safely, deploy digital displays in high-traffic areas like Manhattan’s Moynihan Train Hall, and more.

The website also includes information and resources for educators, families and kids, as well as photos and answers to frequently asked questions about solar eclipses.

In the fall, Hochul announced the state’s Parks department will collaborate with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on programs and events throughout the city of Niagara Falls.

“We have been planning for this event for several years and in our wildest dreams couldn’t have imagined being able to work with NASA to provide this incredible experience,” Erik Kulleseid, commissioner of New York State Parks, said. “We know that people will be flocking to the city and Park to take part in all of the events leading up to the big moment.”

New York has big plans for the state’s first total solar eclipse in 99 years

By Aaron Ginsburg

January 11, 2024

Cover image courtesy of NASA/Goddard/Rebecca Roth on Flickr

28 West 87th Street, Unit 4A

28 West 87th Street, Unit 4A

UPPER WEST SIDE, MANHATTAN

$545,000

1 Bed  |  1 Bath | Co-op

 

Discover the allure of 28 West 87th Street, Unit 4A, an extraordinary residential haven nestled in the heart of a picturesque tree-lined block. This meticulously designed, fully renovated, and impeccably appointed unit presents a harmonious fusion of contemporary sophistication and inviting comfort. Embrace an urban lifestyle of unparalleled distinction within this remarkable residence.

Step into this exceptional home and be welcomed by an expansive and inviting living area graced with soaring ceilings, inviting an abundance of natural light to illuminate the space. The seamless open floor plan effortlessly connects the living and dining areas, offering an ideal environment for both relaxation and entertainment.

The thoughtfully positioned kitchen boasts top-of-the-line appliances, sleek countertops, and ample cabinetry, complemented by a custom breakfast bar. Whether you're a culinary enthusiast or simply appreciate the art of cooking, this kitchen is certain to ignite your culinary passions.

Indulge in the tranquility of the spacious bedroom, a serene sanctuary bathed in natural light, providing the perfect setting for relaxation and rejuvenation after a bustling day in the city. This unit also features the added convenience of an in-unit washer and dryer, ensuring effortless laundry days.

Situated in a prime location, 28 West 87th Street offers a wealth of nearby amenities and attractions. From the nearby Central Park to the array of dining and shopping options, immerse yourself in the vibrant cultural tapestry that New York City is celebrated for.

Seize the opportunity to claim this exceptional residence as your own. Schedule a viewing today and embrace the epitome of luxury living in the heart of New York City.

Brooklyn Bridge Towers Illuminated With New LED Lights

The Brooklyn Bridge is starting the New Year with a major “glow up.” The city’s Department of Transportation (DOT) unveiled on Thursday a new lighting system on the iconic landmark that includes 56 new energy-efficient LED lights illuminating its famous towers. The new lights are part of a four-year, $300 million restoration project to remove dirt and restore the mortar between every stone on the bridge, returning the towers to their original light gray color.

Photo courtesy of NYC DOT

“Everyone loves a good new year’s ‘glow up,’ and thanks to our new energy-efficient LED lighting system, the iconic Brooklyn Bridge will shine bright for all New Yorkers to enjoy. One of NYC DOT’s most cherished responsibilities is maintaining ‘America’s Eiffel Tower,’ and these new lights will showcase its beauty for decades to come,” DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, said.

The new lighting system and renovation project are part of DOT’s effort to preserve the 140-year-old bridge, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The lights, which are expected to last for 20 years, cost $2.4 million and took DOT five months to install.

The last time the bridge’s towers were illuminated was in 1983 for its centennial celebration.

As part of the renovation project, DOT workers meticulously cleaned every individual stone and brick on the bridge. By scrubbing the limestone, granite, brick, steel, and cement that make up the bridge, damaging grime was removed from the pores of each stone which contributed to corrosion and an overall unaesthetic appearance. The mortar that holds the stones together was replaced with materials sourced from the same quarry as the original mortar.

Now, decades of dirt, grime, and pollution buildup that have given the bridge’s towers an unsightly brown appearance have given way to a pleasant light gray, the tower’s original color.

When it opened to the public in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the world’s longest suspension bridge. Today, it is one of New York City’s most famous landmarks and carries roughly 120,000 vehicles, 30,000 pedestrians, and 4,000 cyclists every day, according to DOT. A two-way protected bike lane opened on the bridge in 2021.

Photo courtesy of NYC DOT

To further improve the Brooklyn Bridge experience, the city has worked to enhance the public areas surrounding the crossing. Last May, Mayor Eric Adams announced the reopening of “The Arches,” a one-acre public space with basketball, pickleball, shuffleboard, and seating under the Manhattan side of the bridge. The open space, which had been closed for more than a decade, is a small section of a larger area that was once known as the “mecca” of skateboarding within the five boroughs.

Earlier this month, NYC Parks released a request for proposals (RFP) seeking contractors to operate a seasonal outdoor activity center for up to six years at the two-lot Anchorage Plaza, located on Old Fulton Street and Washington Street and connected by a ramp known as “Ash Alley” underneath the Brooklyn side of the bridge. According to the RFP, the Parks Department is seeking proposals for “park appropriate” activities like paddle ball, public art or performances, a dog run, and food and drink vendors.

To improve public safety on the bridge, Adams this month banned vending on all 789 of the city’s bridges. Proposed by the mayor in the fall, the ban specifically targets overcrowding on the Brooklyn Bridge, which has seen a surge in both illegal vendors and pedestrians in recent years, creating safety issues on the congested crossing.


Brooklyn Bridge towers illuminated with new LED lights

By Aaron Ginsburg

January 12, 2024

All photos courtesy of NYC DOT

Most Expensive Real Estate Transactions of 2023: Celebrity Edition

It’s only fitting that we once again reflect on the most eye-popping celebrity real estate deals of the year. Though the stars behind the 10 priciest transactions spent less on average than last year’s, the number-one deal is certainly one for the books, clocking in at $27 million more than last year’s biggest power player and breaking a state record in the process. Below, we’ve gathered up the A-listers who made the biggest moves of the year, whether that meant relocating to Miami, making a tidy profit on a quick house flip, or nailing down the perfect newlywed home.

Brad Pitt, $33 Million

An aerial view of Brad Pitt’s former Los Feliz compound. Photo: Anthony Barcel

In March, Brad Pitt sold off the Craftsman-style home in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles that he bought way back in 1994. In the years since, he added nearby properties, building an estate that spans nearly two acres. Oil heiress Aileen Getty paid $33 million for the compound where Pitt and Angelina Jolie raised their six children until their 2016 split. Meanwhile, the Babylon actor swapped with Getty, downsizing to her nearby $5.5 million midcentury-modern dwelling.

Jennifer Lopez, $34 Million

Following their wedding in the summer of 2022, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck began shuffling their real estate portfolios and setting their sights on a shared home. During the process, the Mother star listed the eight-acre property in Bel Air that she bought in 2016. The nine-bedroom French Country–style home and its picturesque plot—which includes a private lake, guest cottages, and an amphitheater—sold for $34 million in October.

Rick Ross, $35 Million

In April, Rick Ross announced that he had acquired a Texas mansion and bought fellow rapper Meek Mill’s Atlanta home for $4.2 million. Once summer hit, however, it became clear that the record exec was just warming up. In August, he finalized the $35 million purchase of a mansion on Miami’s celebrity-favorite Star Island. “It’s so exclusive,” the hip hop bigwig’s realtor, Kimberly Knausz, told AD. “There’s only roughly 30 homes…. [Ross] said it’s like the missing piece to the puzzle of his real estate portfolio. It’s a big accomplishment for him, as someone who grew up in Miami.” To welcome him to the island, Diddy gifted the “Hustlin’” rapper a golf cart.

Tommy Hilfiger, $41 Million

Tommy Hilfiger successfully flipped a Mediterranean-style Palm Beach, Florida, abode in June after buying it less than six months prior. The fashion designer spent $36.85 million on the 1920s structure in January and listed it less than three weeks later, with a $47.95 million asking price. Ultimately, the roughly 7,000-square-foot residence changed hands for just over $41 million.

Tom Ford, $52 Million

An aerial view of the Lasata property Photo: Geir Magnusson

Over the summer, Tom Ford bought a historic East Hampton mansion connected to Jackie Kennedy for $52 million. The 1917 Arts and Crafts–style dwelling is known as Lasata. It spans 8,500 square feet and has 10 bedrooms. Set on a seven-acre plot, the estate was once owned by the former first lady’s grandfather, John Vernou Bouvier Jr., and Kennedy spent many of her childhood summers on the premises. The dwelling was featured in the April 2016 issue of Architectural Digest, when it was under the ownership of fellow fashion designer Reed Krakoff.

Mark Wahlberg, $55 Million

Mark Wahlberg parted ways with this megamansion this year.

Mark Wahlberg initially listed his 6.2-acre Beverly Hills home in April 2022 for $87.5 million, but it wasn’t until February of this year that the French-style château finally sold for a heavily discounted $55 million. Designed by Richard Landry, the 30,500-square-foot mansion has 12 bedrooms and 20 bathrooms. The dwelling shares its plot with a five-hole golf course, a driving range, a sports court, and a skate park. Carl Gambino of Compass was the listing agent.

Jennifer Lopez And Ben Affleck, $61 Million

After almost two years of looking, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck finally found their newlywed nest in June. The pair went in and out of escrow on at least three different homes throughout the process before buying a $60.9 million contemporary Georgian-style house in the Beverly Hills Post Office area. The dwelling boasts amenities that include a sports complex and a 12-car garage.

Jeff Bezos, $68 Million

In August, Jeff Bezos started making moves to return to Miami as his home base. He began with the $68 million purchase of a 2.8-acre waterfront estate in the ultra-exclusive enclave of Indian Creek Island in Biscayne Bay. Known as Billionaire Bunker, the man-made island is accessed from Miami Beach by a guarded bridge and counts Ivanka Trump and Tom Brady among its residents.

Jeff Bezos, $79 Million

Bezo’s second Indian Creek Island purchase of the year. Courtesy of Dina Goldentayer / Become Legendary

A couple of months later, the Amazon founder further expanded his footprint on Indian Creek by snatching up a neighboring property. Bezos paid $79 million for the 19,000-square-foot Mediterranean-style mansion, making him the owner of $147 million worth of property on the secluded island. Dina Goldentayer and Danilo Tavares of Douglas Elliman brokered the transaction.

Beyoncé And Jay-Z, $200 Million

It’s been a record-shattering year for Beyoncé. In February, she broke the record for the most Grammys ever received when she was awarded four of them for her 2022 album Renaissance, making her a 32-time Grammy winner. In May, she and Jay-Z purchased the most expensive home ever sold in the state of California for a whopping $200 million. Located in Malibu, the Tadao Ando–designed concrete structure spans 30,000 square feet.

[Source: AD]

The 10 Most Expensive Celebrity Real Estate Transactions of 2023

The top spot goes to a musical power couple who nabbed the most expensive home ever sold in California this year

By Katie Schultz

December 18, 2023

Second Avenue Subway Going West Into Harlem

The Q train may go even further. During her State of the State address Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul backed a plan to extend the Second Avenue Subway west along 125th Street with three new stops at Lenox Avenue, St. Nicholas Avenue, and Broadway. The announcement comes as construction prepares to kick off on the second phase of the line, bringing the Q line up to 125th Street in East Harlem.

Rendering courtesy of the MTA

Hochul is asking the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to “evaluate, scope, and plan” for the Q train to travel westward along 125th Street. The new line would connect to 7 other lines (the 1,2,3, A, B, C, and D) as well as dozens of bus routes. According to the governor, the extended line could serve 240,000 daily riders. The project’s estimated cost is at $7.6 billion, according to Bloomberg.

The extended line would pass through East Harlem, Central Harlem, and Manhattanville, creating a “true east-west subway connection in Upper Manhattan,” according to the governor.

The MTA will evaluate the feasibility of extending the Q west and performing the initial tunneling work as part of the tunneling work of phase two.

“By continuing the tunnel boring machine’s westward path beyond the Phase Two work, the MTA may be able to incur substantial time and cost savings, estimated at over $400 million, relative to performing that work at a later date,” the governor’s proposal says.

After a century of planning and on-again, off-again construction, the Second Avenue Subway’s first phase opened in 2017, with the Q line extended from 63rd Street with three new stations on the Upper East Side at 72nd, 86th, and 96th Streets. 

The $7.7 billion second phase will extend the Q by 1.8 miles and connect its current endpoint at 96th Street on the Upper East Side to 125th Street in East Harlem, with two new accessible stations at 106th and 116th Streets. In November, the federal government announced a $3.4 billion federal grant for the second phase of the project, which could take seven years to complete.

During her State of the State address, Hochul also announced the MTA will initiate the formal design and engineering of the Interborough Express (IBX), a 14-mile train line connecting Brooklyn and Queens. 

“Every New Yorker deserves a safe, efficient commute – whether you’re a straphanger, a driver or a pedestrian,” Hochul said. “We’re continuing to move full speed ahead on transformative infrastructure projects that will change the way New Yorkers get around. And we’re fighting for safety at the same time, so New Yorkers get home safely no matter how they choose to get around.”

Hochul wants to extend the Second Avenue Subway west into Harlem

By Devin Gannon

January 9, 2024

Header Photo: The 96th Street subway station on Second Avenue Subway when it opened in 2017. Photo by Charley Lhasa on Flickr.

462 West 58th Street, Unit 1E

462 West 58th Street, Unit 1E

MIDTOWN WEST, MANHATTAN

$1,339,999

2 Bed  |  2.5 Bath | 1,943 SqFt | Condo

 

Spacious townhouse-like living awaits in this sprawling one-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom duplex with a massive, flexible rec room level at Hudson Hill, a contemporary full-service condominium in the perfect Midtown West location.

Spanning 1,943-square-foot, this light and bright home is perfect for comfortable daily life, lively entertaining and working from home. Throughout both floors, tall ceilings feature recessed and designer light fixtures over wide, crisp white art walls and gleaming hardwood floors.

The main level delivers a spacious open layout with plenty of room for seating and dining areas alongside a wide window. Chefs will love the open kitchen's modern Poggenpohl cabinetry and upscale stainless steel appliances, including a Viking gas range, Sub-Zero refrigerator, dishwasher and built-in microwave. Enjoy casual meals and conversation at the long bar counter while the wine refrigerator keeps your favorite vintage close at hand. In the king-size bedroom suite, you'll find a walk-in closet and an oversized spa bathroom with a soaking tub, frameless glass shower and a modern floating double vanity, all surrounded by beautiful stone tile. Near the entry, a well-appointed full guest bathroom and a roomy coat closet complete the upper floor.

Head downstairs to discover your loft-like lower level topped by soaring 10-foot ceilings. Featuring a separate entry, a large closet, a row of wardrobes and a powder room, this expansive space is ready to accommodate your every need and want. Create a cozy media/family room space and a state-of-the-art gym. House your ideal home office or content creation studio, or simply enjoy the additional space for guests and entertaining. The only limit is your imagination! An in-unit washer-dryer and central HVAC add convenience and comfort to this delightful Midtown duplex.

Hudson Hill is a contemporary pet-friendly condominium where residents enjoy 24-hour doorman service, a live-in resident manager, a sleek lobby, a bike room and a sunny fitness center that opens to a large furnished terrace.

Located on a tree-lined block where Hell's Kitchen meets Lincoln Square, this home is surrounded by the city's best entertainment at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and the Theater District. Enjoy world-class shopping at The Shops at Columbus Circle and Nordstrom, while Central Park, Hudson River Park and Riverside Park South deliver acres of iconic outdoor space and recreation. Transportation from this central district is effortless, with A/C, B/D, 1 and N/Q/R/W trains, excellent bus service and CitiBikes all nearby.
*taxes reflect primary residence credit

Floating Pool To Be Installed In The East River This Summer

New York City will test the waters of a self-filtering floating pool this summer. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams on Friday committed $16 million to the nonprofit +POOL, which has worked for over a decade to build a swimming pool in the East River. The group plans to launch a pilot pool to demonstrate and test +POOL’s unique filtration system this summer, with the hopes of opening to swimmers in 2025. The news comes as part of a larger proposal from the governor to expand access to swimming across the state.

+POOL Rendering, 2024. Designed by Family New York & Playlab, Inc. Image by proto.

“New York’s waterways are currently out of bounds from those who could benefit from them,” Kara Meyer, managing director at Friends of +POOL, said. “+POOL reclaims New York’s natural resources by opening our waters. It restores the utility of our waterways. It gives everyone the ability to enjoy the water. It enables people to care for and coexist with nature.”

+POOL first proposed the idea in 2010 and has worked with the city’s Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and local stakeholders for 10+ years to develop a plan, analyze the city’s water quality, and find the best spot for the pool.

In May 2021, the group announced it received approval to proceed with the creation of a +POOL on the south side of Pier 35 on the Lower East Side.

The structure is plus-shaped with four pools in one: a kiddie pool, a sports pool, a lap pool, and a lounge pool. The walls filter river water to remove bacteria and contaminants, leaving behind safe swimming water.

This summer, a 2,000-square-foot version of the +POOL structure will be on view to the public. The nonprofit says it will be able to get the final data needed to secure permits and the go-ahead for the pool’s full installation. The pilot will also help assess sites for “the build-out of pools across the state,” according to +POOL.

The NYC pilot floating pool is one part of Hochul’s broader NY SWIMS initiative, part of her 2024 State of the State proposals. Through NY SWIMS, the state will construct public pools in high-need areas, including in urban environments, and invest in the maintenance of parks and pools across NY.

NY SWIMS will deliver $150 million in public funding to build 10 new landmark swimming pools in underserved areas and communities that are most at risk of extreme heat events. The program will also drive the creation of new innovative pool designs and install temporary pop-up pools.

“Access to swimming isn’t just about recreation – it’s about public health and climate resiliency,” Hochul said. “NY SWIMS will be the largest statewide investment in swimming since the New Deal, expanding access for underserved communities and improving safety for kids across New York.”

Proposed Quarry Lake Beach at Sojourner Truth State Park. Rendering courtesy of Gov. Hochul’s office.

The program will also work to develop new ways New Yorkers can engage with natural bodies of water across the state, including rivers and lakes. Proposed sites for swimming enhancements include Quarry Lake Beach at Sojourner Truth State Park in Kingston, Jones Beach, and Lake Sebago Beach in Harriman State Park.

The state will work to create initiatives that instruct New Yorkers on how to swim safely by addressing the statewide lifeguard shortage and increasing swimming instruction and amenities in pools and beaches. According to the CDC, drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages one through four.

Hochul’s announcement builds upon a statewide effort to expand access to swimming pools. In October, city officials broke ground on the $141 million Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center, a new facility coming to East Flatbush featuring an indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, walking track, commercial teaching kitchen, a media lab, and more.

Despite this, some question the Adams administration’s commitment to providing swim instruction and access to pools. The city’s Parks Department received a 12 percent budget cut as part of the “program to eliminate the gap,” or PEG, as well as the delay of the city’s Swim Safety program, according to The City. These cuts come as the city continues to experience a lifeguard shortage, with not enough lifeguards available each summer to open all of the city’s beaches and pools.

In 2023, NYC Parks started its summer season with less than a third of its goal of 1,400 lifeguards, according to the Daily News. The city has tried to address the problem by creating a months-long recruiting program and by raising pay for first- and second-year lifeguards to more than $21 per hour.

To increase the supply of lifeguards, Hochul lowered the minimum age for some lifeguards to 15 and raised wages for lifeguards at state facilities.

Self-filtering floating pool pilot to be installed in NYC this summer

By Aaron Ginsburg

January 5, 2024

Photos courtesy of: +POOL Rendering, 2024. Designed by Family New York & Playlab, Inc. Image by proto & Proposed Quarry Lake Beach at Sojourner Truth State Park. Rendering courtesy of Gov. Hochul’s office.

36 West 15th Street, Unit 4

36 West 15th Street, Unit 4

CHELSEA, MANHATTAN

$2,995,000

2 Bed  |  2 Bath | 2,200 SqFt | Co-op

Enjoy true loft living in the Flatiron District in this stunning two-bedroom, two-bathroom co-op featuring grand proportions, original details and chic contemporary design.


Key-locked elevator entry delivers you directly to the impressive great room of this approximately 2,200 square feet showplace. Soaring ceilings and oversized north windows underscore the rairy ambiance while dark hardwood floors and painted and exposed brick art walls add richness and warmth. Step up to the sleek kitchen where minimalist cabinetry and snow-white stone countertops surround upscale appliances. A smartly designed banquette offers both seating and storage.


Down the hall, you'll find a spacious den, ideal as a family room or media room, brightened by clerestory windows. The adjacent owner's suite features rows of custom closets, open-sky views and a breathtaking modern spa bathroom filled with large-format tile, a soaking tub, shower and floating vanity. The secondary bedroom offers easy access to the well-appointed guest bathroom. Extra closets, a massive storage room and in-unit laundry add effortless ease to this pristine, move-in ready loft residence.


36 West 15th Street is a classic turn-of-the-century store-and-loft building converted to a boutique cooperative featuring video intercom entry. In this fantastic location — at the intersection of Union Square, the Flatiron District, Chelsea and Greenwich Village — you're surrounded by the best of Manhattan living. Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and Union Square's famed year-round greenmarket are all nearby. Enjoy numerous award-winning restaurants, great shopping and outstanding nightlife. Transportation is a breeze with F/M, L, 1/2/3, 4/5/6, N/Q/R/W, L and PATH trains, plus the 14th Street busway a block away.

Queensboro Plaza Station Will Be Closed Every Weekend in January

The Queensboro Plaza subway station will shut down every weekend in January to allow for accessibility upgrades, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced on Thursday. The Long Island City station, home to the 7, N, and W trains, will be closed starting the weekend of January 6 through the weekend of January 27, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Saturdays and ending at 5 a.m. on Mondays.

Commuters should note there will also be no 7 train between Queens and Manhattan on those weekends. The 7 will run between Main Street and 74th Street-Broadway; free shuttle buses will be available.

During the month-long weekend shutdown at Queensboro Plaza, the MTA will install the equipment, cab, and glass for a new elevator running from the mezzanine to the platform, new roofing at the upper platform level around the new elevator, and the steel framing for concrete landings around the new elevator shaft.

Other upgrades include a rehabilitation of all the stairs at the station and the installation of media screens as well as fire alarm, CCTV, and PA systems.

As 6sqft previously reported, the $74 million project at Queensboro Plaza includes the addition of two elevators, an expanded mezzanine, new lighting and boarding areas, and upgrades to the existing street and station stairs to meet current ADA standards. The project is expected to be completed by the middle of next year.

The MTA has said the station’s location above the 11-lane entrance to the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge makes it a complex construction project requiring significant service reductions and changes.

See the service changes scheduled for every weekend in January:

Queens & Manhattan

  • E and R trains will operate every eight minutes instead of every 12 minutes between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.

  • Overnight ​E trains will be rerouted via the R​ from Queens Plaza to 34th Street-Herald Square.

  • ​F trains will be rerouted via the E ​line in both directions between 47th-50th Street-Rockefeller Center and Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue.

  • ​7 trains will operate between Main Street and 74th Street-Broadway every eight minutes during weekend peaks.

  • ​42nd Street shuttle trains will operate all night between Times Square-42nd Street and Grand Central-42nd Street.

  • ​N trains will be rerouted to operate between 96th Street/2nd Avenue and Stillwell Avenue, every 12 minutes during the day.

  • ​N shuttle trains will operate between Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard and 39th Avenue every 12 minutes during the day.

  • ​Q shuttle trains will operate between 96th Street and 34th Street between 3:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. on Sunday while N trains transition back to their normal route.

Brooklyn

  • ​Q trains will operate between Prospect Park and Coney Island/Stillwell Avenue only, due to track replacement north of Prospect Park in Brooklyn.

Free shuttle buses will operate between:

  • 74th Street-Broadway and Queens Plaza

  • Queens Plaza and Vernon Boulevard-Jackson Avenue

  • 39th Avenue (N) and Queens Plaza

  • 34th Street-Hudson Yards and Times Square-42nd Street (overnight)

  • Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center and Prospect Park (replacing the Q)

  • Q94 and Q95 buses operate between Roosevelt Island or 21st Street and Queens Plaza as normal except from January 6 to January 8.

On January 6 through 8:

  • Free shuttle buses will replace F​ shuttle trains between Lexington Avenue /63rd St and 21 Street-Queensbridge, between Roosevelt Island and Queens Plaza, and the Q94 and Q95

Queensboro Plaza station will be closed every weekend in January

By Devin Gannon

December 22, 2023

Photo by Shinya Suzuki on Flickr

The ‘2024’ Numerals Have Arrived in Times Square!

It’s nearly time to kiss 2023 goodbye. The iconic, seven-foot-tall numerals that sit under the New Year’s Eve crystal ball arrived in Times Square on Wednesday after a cross-country trip. The towering digits are on view at Broadway Plaza between 46th and 47th Streets through Friday, December 22 when they are placed atop One Times Square ahead of the ball drop on the 31st.

All images courtesy of the Times Square Alliance

This year’s numerals use a total of 588 efficient LED bulbs, with each number “2” containing 145 bulbs, the number “0” containing 164 bulbs, and the number “4” containing 134 bulbs.

The numbers arrived in Manhattan after a coast-to-coast road trip in a 2024 Kia EV9 that spanned more than 2,800 miles and stopped off in Tucson, Arizona, and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania along the way to spread some New Year’s cheer before 2024.

After snapping their photo with the 2024 numerals, visitors can write their wishes for the new year on pieces of confetti that will be released at midnight on New Year’s Eve. The New Year’s Eve Wishing Wall is open at Broadway Plaza from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. through December 29 but will be closed on Christmas.

For those unable to see the wall in person, you can also submit your New Year’s wishes on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #ConfettiWish.

“The New Year offers individuals the chance to embrace the promise of a fresh start,” Tom Harris, President of the Times Square Alliance, said.

“As revelers and families and friends watching on TV embark on a new year together, the confetti showering Times Square symbolizes the dawn of renewed hope as individuals not only reflect on their past, but also look forward to new achievements in the year ahead.”

The ‘2024’ numerals have arrived in Times Square ahead of New Year’s Eve

By Aaron Ginsburg

December 21, 2023

All images courtesy of the Times Square Alliance

The Monthly Update - January 2024

 Five Critical Factors For a Fantastic 2024 

New York City is the heart and focal point of so many global influences, including real estate, finance, tech, the arts, and so much more. So, what needs to happen for Manhattan’s real estate market to have a rebound year after the lows of 2023? Here’s my view on the key factors that will help the Manhattan market improve next year.

 #1 Interest Rates:

With the Federal Reserve signaling lower rates in 2024, the overall real estate market in New York City has already seen a slight uptick in buyer interest, particularly for newer listings. The higher interest rates of the last year affected the overall market, but they impacted properties listed at $2 million or under most of all. The one element with the most potential to help the Manhattan and Brooklyn real estate markets rebound will be whether the Fed actually lowers the federal funds rate and banks follow suit, passing the savings on to buyers in the form of lower mortgage rates. So far, mortgage rates have dipped to their lowest levels since May purely on the strength of three successive Fed rate hike pauses.

#2 The Strength of The General Economy:

The S&P 500 is often seen as the barometer for the general economy. It also provides insight into the health and direction of the New York City real estate market. Simply put, the S&P is a bellwether for our local real estate market. With the Fed hinting at lower interest rates, Wall Street has had a series of rebounds, making up all that had been lost in 2023 in about 24 hours! If Wall Street is happy, it tends to have a trickle-down effect on the local real estate economy. If Wall Street has a banner year, so will Manhattan’s real estate market. As of this newsletter, it seems the Fed’s moves over the last year have started to rein in inflation while avoiding a recession. Bringing all this together would be a win-win for the Manhattan real estate market in 2024.

#3 The 2024 Presidential Election:

In typical presidential election years, agents try to get most business done in Q1 and Q2 before voting takes place. Not much has changed in that respect this year. However, with all that's happening in this particular election, even Q1 or Q2 could be a crap shoot. This may or may not happen, but it could be possible that when Q3 rolls around, buyers could enter wait-and-see mode, possibly re-emerging in Q4 2024 through Spring 2025. But who knows? This is probably the hot-button issue that is hardest to predict. With two former presidents and known entities running against each other, most people can’t put their finger on how the election is going to affect the real estate market this year.

#4 Geopolitical Unrest/Wars:

Global unrest causes ripples in global economies. One can see the unrest in the Middle East/Israel and Ukraine, and its subsequent economic impact, extending through next year. And you can never know where the next conflict will unfold and how it will affect the global or local economies. It’s something to watch out for, for sure. But it’s not an issue we can necessarily foresee. Unrest can unfold anywhere at any time, especially as the world seems to be moving towards more tribal situations. 

#5 The Ongoing Return-to-the-Office Dynamics:

If you look around the skyline of Manhattan, new office buildings are rising everywhere, including the massive new Chase JP Morgan Bank building on Park Avenue.  According to several sources, many Manhattan workers are back in the office at least part of the time, with return-to-work levels reaching almost 80% of January 2020 levels as of June 2023. If you look around Midtown at lunchtime or after work, it honestly feels more like 110% of pre-pandemic levels. Even more workers are expected to return to the office in 2024, which could substantially impact both the rental and sales markets. So, we're watching this indicator like a hawk. 

Looking Ahead:

Manhattan and the overall New York City real estate market stand at a crossroads. Movement in either direction is contingent on several macro and micro factors, all vying for influence. Interest rates, global economies and localized events all will play their part in how 2024 pans out. Today, the NYC real estate market’s trajectory is being shaped by many elements. While challenges persist, we are watching the resilience and dynamism of a Manhattan real estate market seemingly on the verge of bouncing back.

Local Happenings:

NYC Broadway Week

JANUARY 16 - FEBRUARY 4

It's that time again! Head to the theater district for an extended three weeks of comedy, drama, musicals and more at this year's NYC Broadway Week! Tickets for exclusive select shows are available on sale January 9.

Learn More

Winter Jazzfest

JANUARY 10 - 18

Experience the cool groove of this year's annual Winter Jazzfest! The 20th year of this exciting music marathon comprises of over 600 artists, 150 groups on 20 stages for over 10 nights at NYC's hottest jazz clubs in downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn. For all you music lovers, this is a festival you don't want to miss!

Learn More

Lifestyle Tips and Tricks:

Pantone Color of the Year 2024...

"In seeking a hue that echoes our innate yearning for closeness and connection, we chose a color radiant with warmth and modern elegance. A shade that resonates with compassion, offers a tactile embrace, and effortlessly bridges the youthful with the timeless."

- Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute

Read More

8 Interior Design Trends Going Away in 2024

Are you planning to renovate your home or give it a refresh in 2024? Trends have been interesting for the past few years...

Read More

Listing Spotlight:

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East Midtown Greenway Opens, With Nearly 3 Acres of Public Space

New York City has taken a major step forward in its effort to expand the greenway network. The city’s Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and NYC Parks on Tuesday officially opened the East Midtown Greenway and the second phase of the Andrew Haswell Green Park, delivering nearly three acres of public open space, a new pedestrian walkway, a pedestrian bridge, landscaping, and a separated bike lane stretching from East 53rd Street to East 60th Street along the East River. The $197.6 million investment fills a significant gap in the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway.

Image courtesy of Skanska

“The newly unveiled East Midtown Greenway and second phase of Andrew Haswell Green Park stand as a testament to the power of community and interagency collaboration for urban development,” NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue said.

“From the innovative pedestrian walkway to the revitalized landscaping with an artistic touch at Andrew Haswell Green Park, these transformative projects continue to further the city’s efforts toward completing the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway.”

The greenway features a 20-foot-wide bikeway and a 20-foot-wide pedestrian zone with a walkway, a planting area, a pedestrian bridge on East 54th Street, and a public art installation created by artist Stacy Levy called “Diatom Lace.”

Andrew Haswell Green Park, which represents roughly $42.6 million of the total investment, includes renovations to the East 60th Street ramp, a new lawn, landscaping, lighting, and an amphitheater with seating, according to Patch.

Designed by Stantec and constructed by Skanska in collaboration with the city, the project expands the East River Esplanade by 1.1 miles. The design phase of the project began in 2017, and work broke ground in 2019.

Both projects are the result of extensive community outreach to members of Manhattan Community Boards 6 and 8 as well as local elected officials.

The opening of the East Midtown Greenway builds upon a larger initiative by the Adams administration to expand the city’s greenway network by 40 miles and bring the total length of greenway corridors to 60 miles. The corridor completes a gap in the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, a continuous 32.5-mile loop around the borough that will connect a network of green spaces with more than 1,000 acres when completed.

“In Manhattan, green space is at a premium; if we have to get creative and add to the island to deliver it, that’s what we’ll do,” Deputy Mayor of Operations Meera Joshi said. 

“A crucial component of our broader Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, which piece by piece is delivering a 32.5 mile loop around Manhattan, the Midtown East Greenway and Andrew Haswell Park will welcome more New Yorkers than ever to bike, run and walk with the sun in their faces– and further develop our city’s work-play waterfront.”

In August, Mayor Eric Adams announced that the city had received a $7.25 million federal grant to be put towards the creation of five new greenway corridors in the outer boroughs that will fill in the existing gaps and better serve historically underserved, low-income neighborhoods.

NYC will begin conducting public outreach for its first outer-borough greenway project, the 16-mile Queens Waterfront Greenway, in early 2024. The project will connect Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City to Little Bay Park in College Point.

Other projects include the Harlem River Greenway in the Bronx, a seven-mile continuous walking and biking path that will link Randall’s Island and Van Cortlandt Park. The transformative project aims to reconnect Bronx residents to the Harlem River waterfront, which has been largely inaccessible since the construction of the Major Deegan Expressway in the 1930s. The city has already begun hosting workshops and pop-up engagements for the project.

The Harlem River Greenway will connect to another future project, the South Bronx Greenway, which will span 15 miles from Randall’s Island Park to SUNY Maritime in Fort Schuyler, further expanding Bronxites’ accessibility to waterfront space.

Additional projects include the Historic Brooklyn Greenway, stretching 11 miles from Coney Island to Highland Park, the Staten Island Greenway, spanning 10 miles from the Goethals Bridge to the Verrazzano Bridge, and the Southern Queens Greenway, running seven miles from Spring Creek Park on the Jamaica Bay shoreline to Brookville Park in Springfield Gardens.

Over the next two years, NYC will begin a new implementation plan for each proposed corridor every six months. The city will conduct extensive outreach with local community members where expansions are planned.

East Midtown Greenway opens, with nearly 3 acres of public open space on the waterfront

By Aaron Ginsburg

December 20, 2023

All photos courtesy of Skanska

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