Public libraries across New York City will soon be closed on Sunday in response to budget cuts announced by Mayor Eric Adams this week. Under the updated fiscal year 2024 budget released Thursday, every city agency will see a 5 percent budget reduction, including the police, sanitation, and education departments, as well as the public library system. New York, Brooklyn, and Queens public libraries said seven-day service will be eliminated, including ending Sunday service at most branches that offer it.

The first version of Adams’ budget for the next fiscal year included cuts to the library system totaling $36.2 million. After several rallies in protest and a campaign that garnered over 120,000 letters to City Hall voicing opposition to the cuts, the library funding was restored in June.

On Thursday, Adams said the cuts were necessary due to the current asylum seeker crisis, which the city has spent $1.45 billion this year and expects to spend nearly $11 billion on this crisis over the next two fiscal years without significant support from the federal government.

“To balance the budget as the law requires, every city agency dug into their own budget to find savings, with minimal disruption to services,” Adams said in a statement. “And while we pulled it off this time, make no mistake: Migrant costs are going up, tax revenue growth is slowing, and COVID stimulus funding is drying up. No city should be left to handle a national humanitarian crisis largely on its own, and without the significant and timely support we need from Washington, D.C., today’s budget will be only the beginning.”

Under the updated budget, the libraries face a $23.6 million cut for FY24, and a $60 million cut in FY25. The libraries plan to reduce spending on materials, programming, and building maintenance and repairs.

“Without sufficient funding, we cannot sustain our current levels of service, and any further cuts to the Libraries’ budgets will, unfortunately, result in deeper service impacts,” reads a statement from the three libraries. “We know how much New Yorkers rely on the vital resources we provide, and we remain committed to meeting their needs as best as we can.”

Service at the following library branches will be affected:

New York Public Library (last day of Sunday service is November 26)

• Bronx Library Center (Bronx)
• Grand Concourse (Bronx)
• Parkchester (Bronx)
• Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (Manhattan)
• SNFL (Manhattan)
• Jefferson Market (Manhattan)
• Washington Heights (Manhattan)
• Todt Hill–Westerleigh (Staten Island)

Brooklyn Public Library (last day of Sunday service is December 17)

• Borough Park
• Brooklyn Heights
• Central
• Greenpoint
• Kings Highway
• Macon
• Midwood
• New Lots

Queens Public Library (last day of Sunday service is November 26)

• Central Library (Jamaica)
• Flushing Library

According to the New York Times, budget cuts will bring the number of NYPD officers to below 30,000 for the first time since the 1980s. The education department’s budget will drop by $1 billion over two years, with universal Pre-K and the Summer Rising program affected. Plus, curbside compost pickup in Staten Island the Bronx will be delayed by seven months, Gothamist reports.

RELATED:

• NYC public libraries say $36.2M budget cut will impact service, free programs

The post NYC public libraries end Sunday service due to budget cuts first appeared on 6sqft.

The design of a new 17-story condominium in the Ladies’ Mile Historic District celebrates the history of the neighborhood and the spirit of innovation in New York City. Designed by DXA Studio, 10 West 17th Street features a facade of ultra-high-performance concrete molded to look like flowing fabric, a nod to the neighborhood’s role in the garment industry and as a major shopping destination during the Gilded Age. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to approve the unique design.

The building will rise on a vacant site that borders Flatiron, Union Square, and Chelsea. Plans from 2014 called for a 16-story building designed by Beyer Blinder Belle, which was approved by LPC in 2016. That building was never constructed and developer Anbau has since acquired the property.

The building, called 10W17, will rise 185 feet and include 23 two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments, including two duplex units. The amenity space will measure 2,000 square feet.

Designated in 1989, the Ladies’ Mile Historic District was the center for commercial retail at the turn of the 20th century, an area where the garment industry converged with department stores. The district was a place to see and be seen among elite New Yorkers, particularly women, who felt safe to go shopping unaccompanied by men for the first time.

During a presentation to the LPC on Tuesday, Jordan Rogove, partner at DXA Studio, explained how the firm was inspired by the cultural and technological shift from Victorian-era fashion to ready-to-wear simplified attire, advocated for by Oscar Wilde and the Aesthetic movement and also seen in architecture of the time.

“This building is a nod to a specific moment in the district’s history when the aesthetic movement occurred,” Rogove and Wayne Norbeck of DXA Studio, said in a statement.

“This centered around the move away from the overly exaggerated dress of the 19th century fashion trends, towards a more functional and form fit style of clothing that focused more on expressing the human body. The building design concept then draws parallels between this and the modern movement of architecture that was occurring also at this time.”

The building envelope of 10W17 pays tribute to the architectural history of Ladies’ Mile under a concrete facade inspired by the “spirit of modernity and origins of the Aesthetic movement.” The street facade features 200 ultra-high-performance concrete panels molded to look like fabric. These will sit on a rain screen paneling system designed to improve thermal performance.

“At the bottom of the building, we thought this was an opportunity to kind of pull back the curtains, to pull back the fabric expression, or cloak, of the building and show some of that underlying foundational building that is in line with the more historic form of the district,” Rogove said.

While the Community Board 5 last month recommended the project be denied for “lacking appropriateness and harmony within the district,” LPC commissioners applauded the interesting design, including the unique swooping element seen at the top of the building, which provides a transition from the two buildings the condo sits between. During Tuesday’s meeting, both the Historic Districts Council and Victorian Society New York voiced support for the project.

The post Ladies’ Mile condo designed by DXA features a draping fabric-like facade first appeared on 6sqft.

The 97th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is ready to kick off the holiday season. Taking place on Thursday, November 23, the parade this year will run an extra 30 minutes (with a start time of 8:30 a.m. instead of 9 a.m.) and include a performance by Cher (who will open for the real star of the show, Santa Claus). This year’s parade features 32 novelty and heritage inflatables, 16 giant character balloons, 26 floats, 12 marching bands, 700 clowns, and eight performance groups, all made by possible thanks to roughly 5,000 volunteers.

“For nearly 100 years, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has been synonymous with the beginning of the holiday season, celebration and togetherness,” Will Coss, executive producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, said.

“Our talented team of Macy’s Studios artisans and production specialists work year-round to deliver the nation’s most beloved holiday event, live on Thanksgiving morning. We are proud to hold this responsibility and look forward to sharing our unbelievable designs, larger-than-life character balloons and first-class entertainment, all sure to create lifelong memories for Parade fans nationwide.”

History of the parade

The very first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was actually a Christmas Parade. Macy’s President Herbert Strauss announced a pre-Christmas celebration to draw customers to the store for holiday shopping. On November 27, 1924, the parade included a “retinue of clowns, freaks, animals and floats,” along with Macy’s employees, professional entertainers, and live animals from Central Park Zoo. The original march stretched six miles long, much longer than today’s route, starting in Harlem at 145th Street and ending in Hearald Square, where Macy’s unveiled its new holiday windows. In 1927, the live animals were replaced with balloons, with Felix the Cat as the first balloon animal featured in the parade. The parade was canceled in 1942, 1943, and 1944 because of the need for rubber and helium during World War I. During the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 parade was downsized and closed to the public. Today, the parade sees roughly 3.5 million in-person spectators and millions more watching from home.

The route

This year, the parade kicks off at 8:30 a.m., 30 minutes earlier than previous years. The route starts at 77th Street and Central Park West, moving down the 2.5-mile route to Columbus Circle, turning onto Central Park South, and then parading down 6th Avenue. Upon hitting 34th Street, the parade makes its final turn onto 7th Avenue and ends in front of Macy’s Herald Square.

Best spots for spectators

Central Park West between West 75th and West 61st Streets and on Sixth Avenue from West 59th to West 39th Streets are open for public parade viewing. Please note you won’t be able to watch the parade at 77th Street, Central Park West between West 59th and 60th Streets, and Columbus Circle, or Herald Square.

How to watch the inflation of giant balloons on Thanksgiving Eve

Watch the parade’s giant character balloons come to life on Thanksgiving Eve. The inflation event takes place on Wednesday, November 22 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Visitors can enter at West 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue and view the balloons up to 81st Street around the Museum of Natural History with a behind-the-scenes look at the floats up through 86th Street.

Balloons

The parade will feature 32 heritage and novelty balloons and 16 signature character balloons, including seven making their debut: “Beagle Scout Snoopy” by Peanuts Worldwide, “Blue Cat & Chugs” by Cool Cats, “Kung Fu Panda’s Po” by Universal Pictures’ Dreamworks Animation, “Leo” by Netflix, “Monkey D. Luffy” by Toei Animation Inc., “Pillsbury Doughboy,” by Pillsbury, and “Uncle Dan” by Illumination.

Returning characters include “Bluey” by BBC Studios, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” by Abrams Books, “DINO and Baby DINO” by HF Sinclair, “Goku” by Toei Animation, “Chase from Paw Patrol” by Spin Master and Nickelodeon, “Pikachu and Eevee” by The Pokémon Company International, “Red Titan from ‘Ryan’s World’ by Sunlight Entertainment and pocket.watch, “Ronald McDonald” by McDonald’s, “SpongeBob SquarePants and Gary” by Nickelodeon, and “Stuart the Minion” by Illumination.

Expect to see “Smokey Bear” by the USDA Forest Service, “A Merry Moment” with candy cane and poinsettia balloons and dancing Christmas Trees from Universal Orlando Resort, and Macy’s own reindeer, “Tiptoe.”

Floats

The 97th parade will include 31 floats, conceived by an amazing team of carpenters, engineers, painters, sculptors, balloon technicians, designers, and metal fabricators. Four new floats will join this year’s lineup: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” “Palace of Sweets by Brach’s,” “Igniting Memories” by Solo Stove, and “The Deliciously Delectable World of Wonka.”

The one and only Santa Claus and his reindeer will be making their famed finale appearance on the parade’s largest float (it’s 60 feet long and 3.5 stories tall).

Entertainment and performers

Big performers to watch during the parade include Cher, who will kick off the season with a new holiday song, Jon Batiste, Bell Biv DeVoe, Brandy, Chicago, En Vogue, David Foster and Katharine McPhee, Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors, Jessie James Decker, Ashley Park, Pentatonix, Paul Russell, Amanda Shaw and Alex Smith, and Manuel Turizo.

Enjoy music from 12 marching bands from around the country and performances from groups like the Big Apple Circus, Cornell Bhangra, Tiptoe’s Winter Guard, the Harlem Globetrotters, Maria Verdeja School of Arts dancers, St. John’s Dance, and the Tap Dancing Christmas Trees. A group of more than 1,200 dancers and performers from Spirit of America Dance and Spirit of America Cheer will also participate. Plus, the Radio City Rockettes will be there, a tradition since 1959.

How to watch at home

The parade will be shown on NBC and Telemundo from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., with streaming available on Peacock. Typically, 50 million people tune in.

RELATED:

• The 97-year history of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
• Festive facts and figures about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

The post 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: What you need to know first appeared on 6sqft.

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen on Tuesday unveiled new details for his plan to build a casino across the street from Citi Field. The billionaire hedge fund manager has teamed up with Hard Rock International on the proposed “Metropolitan Park,” a sports and entertainment development planned for 50 acres of what is currently parking lots next to the Flushing, Queens baseball stadium. The $8 billion proposal includes a Hard Rock-run entertainment complex with a hotel, live music venue, restaurants, and a casino, 20 acres of public space, a Queens-themed food hall, a renovated transit station, and more.

“It’s time the world’s greatest city got the sports and entertainment park it deserves,” Cohen said. “When I bought this team, fans and the community kept saying we needed to do better. Metropolitan Park delivers on the promise of a shared space that people will not only want to come to and enjoy, but can be truly proud of.”

As stated in a press release, Cohen and his team have hosted 15 public workshops, “hundreds” of meetings with local leaders, and held 20,000 “door-to-door” conversations with community members over the last three years.

The project includes two powerhouses for the design of Metropolitan Park: SHoP Architects (Barclays Center, The Brooklyn Tower) and Field Operations (The High Line, South Street Seaport).

The proposal maps out public parks, gardens, and athletic space, a hotel with restaurants, bars, and conference space, a casino and sportsbook (subject to Gaming Commission license, the press release notes), a live music venue, a food hall with local Queens vendors and affordable options, and connections to the waterfront and new bike networks.

“Hard Rock at Metropolitan Park will be rooted in the spirit of music while embracing the unique culture and character of Queens,” Jim Allen, Chairman of Hard Rock International, said.

“Metropolitan Park captures the energy and vision of bringing people together for memorable shared experiences that exemplify the company’s mottos to Love All Serve All, All is One, Save Time to Be Kind and Save the Planet. We’re excited to bring our unique brand of world-class entertainment to Queens.”

In addition to securing one of the three downstate casino licenses to be issued, Cohen also needs to gain state authorization to build on the Citi Field parking lot, which is city-owned and state-regulated. According to The City, the parking lot is technically parkland as part of the 1939 creation of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park and requires the state to “alienate” the site to allow for construction. A bill introduced in the State Assembly would do this, but no legislation has been introduced in the Senate yet.

The proposed Metropolitan Park sits across from the Willets Point development, which will be home to the city’s first professional soccer stadium for the New York City Football Club and has recently entered public review. Notably, The City reports, Cohen has not yet agreed to let NYCFC park at Mets parking lots, attempting to “leverage the land for his casino bid.”

Cohen’s proposal joins a long list of plans released by other developers seeking one of the three casino licenses to be issued in downstate New York. These include the Bjarke Ingels-designed Freedom Plaza near the U.N., “The Avenir” complex across from the Javits Center, atop Saks Fifth Avenue, and a Jay-Z-backed Caesars Palace casino in Times Square, among others.

RELATED:

• Major Willets Point development with NYC’s first pro soccer stadium enters public review
• Midtown East casino proposal adds Bjarke Ingels and 500 affordable apartments
• NYC’s latest casino bid calls for two 46-story skyscrapers across from the Javits Center
• See what a casino atop Saks Fifth Avenue could look like
• Caesars Palace casino proposed for Times Square office tower

The post Mets owner reveals ‘Metropolitan Park’ proposal for $8B casino complex next to Citi Field first appeared on 6sqft.

Visiting Midtown during the holidays will be more festive and less stressful this year. Mayor Eric Adams on Monday announced plans to fully pedestrianize Fifth Avenue from 48th and 59th Streets on three Sundays in December, expanding the open street by three blocks to reach Central Park. Plus, certain streets around Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall will be closed to cars every day throughout the holiday season, reducing crowds and making it safer for the hundreds of thousands of people visiting the iconic Christmas Tree, holiday window displays, and the Rockettes.

Citing the popularity of the pandemic-era Open Streets program, Adams last year announced the city’s “largest-ever holiday season-specific Open Street,” which included closing Fifth Avenue to cars for the first time in 50 years.

This year, the open street will expand to reach Central Park at 59th Street. On December 3, 10, and 17 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Fifth Ave will be pedestrian-only between 48th Street and 59th Street. Like last year, the Sunday open street will feature live performances, public seating, and food and beverage vendors.

On all other days throughout the entire season, there will be moveable barriers on the east and west sides of Fifth Avenue between 48th and 52nd Street that will repurpose a lane of traffic on each side as additional space for pedestrians.

Starting with the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree on November 29, streets surrounding Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall will be partially or fully closed to cars. According to the mayor, West 49th Street and West 50th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues will be fully pedestrianized between 11 a.m. and 12 a.m. daily.

“Walking down Fifth Avenue during the weekend can sometimes feel like navigating an obstacle course,” Council Member Keith Powers said. “Thankfully, as we enter one of the busiest periods of the year, we are once more making Fifth Avenue an Open Street, which will give New Yorkers much-needed room to stroll, shop, and enjoy the timeless holiday displays. Last year’s Open Streets was a huge success and I know this year will be even better.”

While the holiday open streets are great for visitors, the plan also benefits businesses. According to a report released last month, the 2022 holiday-specific open streets led to an additional $3 million in spending at businesses on pedestrianized blocks.

The success of the car-free holiday streets program also laid the groundwork for a permanent redesign of Fifth Avenue from Bryant Park to Central Park. Last month, Adams announced the “Future of Fifth” public-private partnership that will help reimagine the corridor as a pedestrian-centric space. The partnership includes the Fifth Avenue Association, Grand Central Partnership, Bryant Park Corporation, and Central Park Conservancy.

A plan with a conceptual design for the Future of Fifth is expected by the middle of next year, with a final design finished by early 2025.

“Open Streets are good for people and good for business, and we can’t wait to bring back the iconic Fifth Avenue Open Street this holiday season — bigger and better than ever,” Adams said.

“I felt the energy walking down the middle of Fifth Avenue last year — it was electric. And as we get excited for more of the same this December, we’re moving full speed ahead on permanently reimagining Fifth Avenue, so people can have this incredible experience every day of the year.”

RELATED:

• Last year’s holiday open streets in Midtown drove $3M in spending at local businesses
• NYC proposes pedestrian-friendly path on Fifth Avenue from Bryant Park to Central Park
• NYC to close streets around Rockefeller Center to cars during holiday season

The post NYC holiday open streets return to Fifth Avenue and Rockefeller Center first appeared on 6sqft.

The largest marathon in the world returns to New York City this Sunday. On November 5, 50,000 runners will participate in the annual TCS New York City Marathon, a race that travels 26.2 miles and runs through every borough, starting on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and ending in Central Park. Ahead, learn everything you need to know about this year’s event, from the route and start times to the best viewing spots for spectators and scheduled road closures.

Start time

The marathon will kick off on Sunday in different waves, with each group of contestants beginning at different times. The professional wheelchair division sets off at 8 a.m., followed by the handcycle category and select athletes with disabilities at 8:22 a.m. According to New York Road Runners, the average finish time in 2022 was just over four hours and 50 minutes.

8:00 a.m. Professional Wheelchair Division

8:22 a.m. Handcycle Category and Select Athletes with Disabilities

8:40 a.m. Professional Women’s Open Division

9:05 a.m. Professional Men’s Open Division

9:10 a.m. Wave 1

9:45 a.m. Wave 2

10:20 a.m. Wave 3

10:55 a.m. Wave 4

11:30 a.m. Wave 5

The route

A canon blast kicks off the marathon for runners, who begin by crossing the Verrazzano from Staten Island to Brooklyn. The race travels through Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Park Slope, Fort Greene, Bed-Stuy, and Williamsburg before reaching the Pulaski Bridge and into Long Island City, which is halfway into the journey. Runners then cross the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan, marking miles 15-16, moving north up First Avenue where lots of people line both sides of the course to cheer on participants. Over the Willis Avenue Bridge and through the Bronx for mile 20, which is known to have energetic cheerleaders and fun music. Runners return to Manhattan after traveling over the Madison Avenue Bridge before moving south down Fifth Avenue and entering Central Park for the final push and finish line.

Best spots for spectators

Most of the course is open to spectators from mile 3 to mile 26. Some of the most popular spots to cheer on the runners include:

• Mile 3 in Bay Ridge
• Mile 8, along Lafayette Avenue in Fort Greene
• Mile 13, the halfway point, at the Pulaski Bridge
• Miles 16 to 18, the Upper East Side along First Avenue
• Mile 20, The Boogie Down Bronx
• Miles 23 to 24, along Museum Mile
• Finish line! Tickets are available for seats in the grandstands at the finish line but sell out quickly.

How to watch from home

You can also admire the runners from your couch. The race will be broadcast locally on ABC and nationally on ESPN2 and via the ESPN app. A Spanish-language broadcast of the marathon will air live on ESPN3.

Road closures

There will be street closures in every borough for a large chunk of the day on Sunday. Closure of the Verrazzano will begin Saturday night, with the upper level closed in both directions from 11 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday. See the full list of closures here.

Celebrity runners

• Sheinelle Jones – TODAY correspondent
• Nev Schulman – Host of MTV’s Catfish: The TV Show; supporting Achilles International
• Matt James –The Bachelor; supporting ABC Food Tours
• Zac Clark – The Bachelorette; supporting Release Recovery
• Joe Amabile – The Bachelorette; supporting Release Recovery
• Patina Miller – Grammy and Tony Award winning singer and actress; supporting Komera
• Luke MacFarlane – Actor; supporting Beyond Type 1
• Zdeno Chara – NHL legend; supporting Team New Balance
• Steve Mesler – U.S. Olympic bobsled gold medalist; supporting Classroom Champions
• Samantha Judge – Wife of MLB all-star Aaron Judge; supporting Kulture City
• Emily Rizzo – Wife of MLB all-star Anthony Rizzo; supporting Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation
• Amy Robach – Television personality
• T.J. Holmes – Television personality
• Casey Neistat – YouTube star filmmaker; supporting Project Healthy Minds
• Laura Dreyfuss – Actress and singer; supporting Team New Balance
• Harry Hudson – Singer/Songwriter; supporting Team New Balance

RELATED:

• The NYC Marathon: history, greatest moments, and what to expect this year

The post A guide to the 2023 New York City Marathon first appeared on 6sqft.

Here’s an opportunity to own a renovated one-bedroom condo in one of the most attractive buildings in Gramercy. Facing the historic Stuyvesant Square Park, the home takes up three levels (including a bonus attic space) at 305 Second Avenue, a building also known as Rutherford Place. Designed by prolific architect R. H. Robertson, the 10-story building was built as a hospital in 1902 and gifted to the city by J.P. Morgan. Asking $1,545,000, the available residence features 20-foot ceilings, park views, a mullioned glass wall, and 21st-century amenities.

You’re greeted by the home’s uniqueness immediately upon entering, with a foyer that provides a bird’s eye view of the living space and a peek into the glass-walled bedroom.

The loft-like space is drenched in sunlight streaming in through the oversized windows, brightening every inch of the double-height living room. The home overlooks Stuyvesant Square Park, a charming green space originally part of Peter Stuyvesant’s farm.

Opposite the living room is the tucked-away kitchen, which has undergone a designer-approved update. The eat-in kitchen features a large breakfast bar, top-of-the-line appliances, and sleek stone-capped countertops.

The windowed spa-like marble bathroom on this floor is also brand new, with heated floors, dual sinks, and a glass step-in shower.

With the bedroom on a separate floor, the residence feels less like an apartment and more like a house. Adding a distinctive element to the unit is the mullioned glass wall that brings in extra light and a feeling of cohesion withw the lower level. The bedroom has custom built-ins and a decent-sized walk-in closet.

“Perched above it all,” as the listing describes, is a flexible bonus space that adds to the house-in-an-apartment feeling. The unusual room could easily become an office, guest room, storage space, or some combination of everything.

Rutherford Place sits within the enclave of Stuyvesant Square, an area centered around the historic park that is bound roughly by 14th and 18th Streets and First and Third Avenues. As 6sqft previously noted, Stuyvesant Square could be considered part of Gramercy Park or an extension of Stuy Town, but the neighborhood is a “highly desirable enclave in its own right.”

Formerly the New York Lying-In Hospital, the luxury condo conversion features duplexes and triplexes, many with distinct layouts. The building was completed in 1902 and converted to condominiums in 1986 but operated as a rental building until 2006. 

Amenities at the pet-friendly condominium include 24-hour concierge, laundry on every floor, a bike room, on-site valet and housekeeping, a new fitness center, and a planted roof garden with more of those park and skyline views.

[Listing details: 305 Second Avenue, #727 at CityRealty]

[At Compass by Brian K. Lewis]

RELATED:

• Gothic Gramercy Park townhouse of late fashion designer Oleg Cassini asks $13.95M
• MoMA curator lists chic Gramercy pre-war co-op for $1.7M
• For $4M, this Gramercy condo gives you the living space of a duplex with a private backyard

The post Dramatic triplex condo on historic Stuyvesant Square in Gramercy asks $1.5M first appeared on 6sqft.

One of New York City’s most famous office buildings is going residential. Developer Brodsky Organization has bought a stake in the Flatiron Building and plans to work with the current owners to turn the landmark into a luxury condominium, as The Real Deal first reported.

The iconic triangle-shaped building was put up for auction this spring to end a dispute among the previous owners, which included GFP Real Estate, Newmark, Sorgente Group, ABS Real Estate Partners, and Nathan Silverstein. As 6sqft previously reported, in 2021 the four partners sued Silverstein in search of a partition sale, claiming Silverstein made poor business decisions after the building’s only tenant, Macmillan Publishers, moved out in 2019.

In March, the property sold for $190 million to Jacob Garlick of Abraham Trust, who failed to pay the required down payment of $19 million by the deadline. Following a second auction in May, Jeff Gural of GFP Real Estate placed the winning bid of $161 million.

The Brodsky Organization, which manages several rental buildings across New York City, will lead the conversion. Dean Amro, a principal at Brodsky, told the New York Times the project reflected “our confidence in New York coming back even stronger than before.”

Details on the number of residences and the layouts have not been determined yet; the owners told the Times there could be about 40 total apartments with some floors home to multiple units. The ground floor will remain retail space.

The conversion could take three years, according to the developers.

With the shift from full-time office to more remote work following the pandemic, several building owners are working to convert empty offices into apartments, like major projects at One Wall Street and 55 Broad Street in the Financial District.

Mayor Eric Adams is pushing for zoning changes that would allow for quicker office-to-residential conversions. The mayor said these changes would allow office buildings constructed before 1990 to convert to housing; currently, the cut-off is 1961 or 1977, depending on the neighborhood. This could free up 136 million square feet of office space across the city to become apartments.

His office estimates converting underused offices could create 20,000 homes for 40,000 New Yorkers over the next decade.

RELATED:

• Flatiron Building sells for $161M at second auction in two months
• Flatiron Building future uncertain as buyer fails to pay deposit

The post Flatiron Building to become luxury condos first appeared on 6sqft.

A 19th-century wooden house in the West Village that has lived many lives over its nearly 190-year-old history is now on the market. Built in 1834, the property at 392 West Street (also known as 6 Weehawken Street) was originally part of the open-air Greenwich Market and later operated as a tavern, cigar store, pool hall, speakeasy, and two gay bars. The building’s last owner, Jean-Louis Goldwater Bourgeois, made headlines in recent years after claiming he would leave the home to the Lenape people, the original Manhattanites. But when Bourgeois died last year, the house went to his estate and is now on the market for $6,000,000, as Gothamist reported.

The property was built on land that had been part of the colonial Newgate State Prison and later became part of the Greenwich Market (also known as Weehawken Market); it is considered the sole surviving portion of the market house. After 10 years of operation, the market closed and went on to house a saloon, a gambling parlor, an oyster house, bars, and an adult video shop.

Bourgeois, son of famous late sculptor, Louise Bourgeois, bought the building for $2.2 million in 2006. In 2016, Bourgeois announced he would be giving the building, and the land, to its original owners, by transferring the deed to a nonprofit group run by a Lenape tribe.

“Manhattan is a capitalist rock; this is a quiet protest against that,” Bourgeois told the New York Times in a 2017 interview. “I’m giving it back to whom the land was stolen from, and that’s really a joyful event.”

The deal never went through. When Bourgeois died last year, he did not leave the building to anyone (but did leave $50,000 to his house cat, the New York Post reported). And now, as Gothamist spotted, the house is on the market again.

Largely unchanged since the 19th century, the home sits within the Weehawken Street Historic District, designated by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2006. The district includes 14 buildings that represent the development of Greenwich Village along the waterfront, with its history as a “place of dwelling, industry, and commerce, much of it maritime-related,” as the LPC noted in its report.

The two-and-a-half-story shingled home measures roughly 2,400 square feet and is one of the last wood-frame buildings on the Hudson River waterfront. Any future owners would need approval from the LPC before any work can be done on the property.

“With frontage on both West Street and Weehawken, and zoned for commercial as well as residential, this versatile little gem awaits its next incarnation,” the listing from The Corcoran Group reads. “Bring your architect and your imagination.”

[Listing details: 392 West Street by Jessica Buchman and Deborah Kern of The Corcoran Group]

RELATED:

• Three years after promising $5M West Village house to the Lenape, Louise Bourgeois’ son backtracks
• Louise Bourgeois’ son gifts $4M West Village townhouse to Native American tribe

The post 190-year-old West Village wooden house with storied history asks $6M first appeared on 6sqft.

The beautiful yet fleeting season of fall has officially begun in New York City. While a trip to the Catskill or Adirondack mountains makes for a fun weekend, New Yorkers don’t have to travel outside city limits to enjoy the colorful fall foliage. Typically, peak foliage in the city takes place at the end of October through early November and lasts only a few days. Ahead, find some of the best parks and gardens across the five boroughs to take in the beauty of the season.

Brooklyn

Photo by Rhododendrites on Wikimedia

The Green-Wood Cemetery
While the Green-Wood Cemetry is enchanting all year round, the 478-acre historic landmark really shines during the fall. Across its hills, valleys, and glacial ponds, Green-Wood offers a diverse collection of trees and living specimens, including the all-stars of autumn: sugar maple, Japanese maple, oak, and Gingko trees. Plus, the cemetery boasts one of the largest collections of 19th- and 20th-century statuary and mausoleums, making it the perfect place to visit around Halloween.

Photo by King of Hearts on Wikimedia

Brooklyn Botanic Garden
A vibrant array of reds, yellows, and oranges can be seen in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden starting in October through the end of November. Must-sees of the season include the katsura tree near Oak Circle, which is one of the garden’s oldest trees, scarlet oaks along Cherry Esplanade, black tupelos in the Water Garden, and the 100-foot-tall sweet gum tree next to the upper gate. The garden recommends heading to the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden when fall foliage is at its peak to enjoy the lovely views of several different maple species, including Japanese and cut-leaf maples.

Photo credit: NYC Parks

Owl’s Head Park
In Bay Ridge, Owl’s Head Park is known for its sloping hills and New York Habor views. It’s also a great spot to take in the changing colors of fall, with nearly 30 acres and a variety of trees. According to NYC Parks, the most colorful trees to see at the park during the fall include oaks, maples, beeches, and tulip poplars.

Photo © 6sqft

Prospect Park
Seasoned leaf-peepers know Prospect Park is one of the best spots in the city to enjoy the fall foliage as it transforms from a green oasis to an orange and gold one. While all of the park’s 500 acres can be enjoyed in every season, autumn puts on a show at the Peninsula, the Ravine (Brooklyn’s only forest), the Lullwater and its bridge, and Lookout Hill, one of the borough’s highest points that provides sweeping treetop views.

Bronx

Photo by Jessica Sheridan on Flickr

New York Botanical Garden
The Bronx’s New York Botanical Garden always goes all out for fall festivities, offering everything from pumpkin parades and pumpkin carving challenges to spooky after-dark adventures and strolls with skeletons, all with its gorgeous 250 acres as a backdrop. When fall foliage hits its peak in the city, head to NYBG’s 50-acre Thain Family Forest, the biggest uncut expanse of New York’s original wooded landscape. The old-growth forest is home to trees that are largely untouched and pre-date the American Revolution.

Photo credit: NYC Parks

Pelham Bay Park
Taking up more than 2,770 acres in the northeast section of the Bronx, Pelham Bay Park is New York City’s largest park. While there are so many sights to see and places of interest to visit in the park, during the fall, NYC Parks suggests taking a hike along the Kazimiroff Trail, which runs through Hunter Island, a nature sanctuary with “tall oaks, Norway spruces, and white pines.” Pelham Bay Park’s Sensory Garden, which was recently renovated in 2020, features a playground surrounded by foliage and flowers, aimed at engaging all five senses.

Photo by Steven Pisano on Flickr

Van Cortlandt Park
Stretching from the northwest Bronx up to Westchester County, Van Cortlandt Park is the city’s third-largest park and one of its most natural. Across its 1,000-plus acres, the park’s oak, hickory, sugar maple, and sweetgum trees will show off reddish brown and yellow leaves for a short time this fall. The best way to see all of the park’s foliage offerings is by hiking along the John Muir trail, a two-mile trek through the Northeast Forest, the Croton Woods, and the Northwest Forest, as NYC Parks notes. This year, the Urban Park Rangers are offering a “fall foliage hike” to explore and learn about the park’s fall foliage.

Manhattan

Photo: Central Park Conservancy

Central Park
A more obvious choice for this list, but a necessary one, Central Park is a magical place during the fall. The iconic park’s 18,000 trees transform into a mosaic of yellow, orange, and red across its various landscapes. Some spots recommended by the Central Park Conservancy include the North Woods, the Conservatory Garden, The Pool, North Meadow, The Reservoir, The Ramble, The Mall, and The Pond and Hallett Nature Sanctuary. From black cherry and scarlet oak to American elm and hickory, Central Park’s trees are must-sees during peak fall foliage. Check out the conservancy’s complete fall foliage map here.

Photo by Allison Meier on Flickr

Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park
Spend a fall afternoon at Roosevelt Island’s FDR Four Freedoms Park, a four-acre park that honors the four essential freedoms laid out in a 1941 speech by President Roosevelt. Located on the southern tip of Roosevelt Island, the memorial is made of 7,700 tons of granite and has 120 Little Leaf Linden trees, which change from green to a golden-orange color during the fall.

Photo by Shannon McGee on Flickr

Highbridge Park
Named for the city’s oldest standing bridge, Highbridge Park is a 130-acre urban oasis in Washington Heights with both natural and introduced forests, which are home to a variety of trees like northern red oaks, hickory, sweetgum, tulip trees, indigenous black cherry, sassafras and hackberry trees, among others. For the best views of fall foliage, hit the trail that runs above Harlem River Drive and passes by the historic bridge and water tower.

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

Inwood Hill Park
Home to Manhattan’s last remaining natural forest, Inwood Park is a great spot to enjoy the fall scenery. With several steep hills, caves, and rock formations, along with Manhattan’s last natural salt marsh, the park’s prehistoric roots are on full display. During the fall, NYC Parks recommends taking a walk along the park’s blue trail, which brings hikers through the forest full of colorful oak and hickory trees and to the Overlook Meadow, which offers pretty panoramic views of the Hudson River and New Jersey Palisades.

Photo by missvancamp on Flickr

The Met Cloisters
Here’s a unique way to enjoy fall foliage in New York. Found in Washington Heights’ scenic Fort Tryon Park, the Met Cloisters is the only museum in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to the art and architecture of the Middle Ages. The museum is surrounded by gardens, which feature medieval species and plants grown in Romanesque and Gothic cloisters.

Queens

Photo by Dan DeLuca on Flickr

Alley Pond Park
Located east of Flushing and below Little Neck Bay, Alley Pond Park is a huge park with 635 acres of meadows, ponds, forests, and marshes. The Queens park has several hiking trails worth walking for an up-close look at its many pin oaks, white pine, black cherries, American beech, and sweetgum trees. For the most promising leaf-peeping opportunities, head to Oakland Lake, a 15,000-year-old spring-fed glacial kettle pond surrounded by oak trees. And if you take the Tulip Tree Trail, you’ll see the park’s famous Alley Pond Giant, a 133-foot tall tulip tree estimated to be between 350 and 450 years old.

Photo credit: NYC Parks

Forest Park
Located in Central Queens, Forest Park is home to the borough’s largest continuous oak forest, making it a great option for a fall foliage stroll. Notable trees to see during the fall include the Northern red oak, scarlet red oak, tulip poplar, shagbark hickory, white oak, and wild black cherry, according to NYC Parks.

Photo by Terry Ballard on Flickr

Kissena Park
Taking up 235 acres in Flushing, Kissena Park has a historic grove founded in 1839 and boasts over 100 trees from around the world. Found on the northern end of the park near the scenic Kissena Lake, Kissena Grove is a must-visit during the fall, when the leaves of katsura, oak, Japanese maple, weeping beech, willow, and Manchurian linden trees change. During the fall, leaf-peepers will also get to see the bald cypress, an evergreen that changes color during the season, transform from green to fiery orange.

Staten Island

Photo credit: NYC Parks

Clove Lakes Park
This 193-acre park in Staten Island’s West Brighton neighborhood is known for its natural landscape, made up of hills, lakes, ponds, and the borough’s largest living thing: a 300-year-old tulip tree. There is no shortage of paths and trails to take in the vibrancy of fall at Clove Lakes Park, including all three of the park’s lakes. Here you’ll see tulip trees, red oaks, sweetgum trees, and black cherries.

Courtesy of Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden

Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden
Another must-visit on Staten Island during the fall, or any season, is the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, an expansive 83-acre campus home to a public park, botanical gardens, and an arts center.

Editor’s note: The original version of this article was published on October 4, 2022, and has since been updated.

RELATED: 

• The best places in Central Park to see fall foliage
• The 7 best places to see fall foliage outside NYC

The post The best spots to see fall foliage in NYC first appeared on 6sqft.