A grim outlook for economic recovery in NYC: "It will take at least five years to recover from the real contagion horror that has afflicted the city starting exactly 12 months ago this month. That, at least, is the opinion of Ronnie Lowenstein, director of New York City's Independent Budget Office. 'A decade of employment growth was wiped out in two months last year,' she said. 'It will take a long time to get back.'" (Crain's)
Amazon is quickly and quietly taking over NYC: "Amazon has spent the pandemic embarking on a warehouse shopping spree in New York, significantly expanding its footprint in the biggest and most lucrative market in the country. It has snatched up at least nine new warehouses in the city, including a 1 million-plus square foot behemoth rising in Queens that will be its largest in New York, and today has at least 12 warehouses in the five boroughs. And it has added to its roster more than two dozen warehouses in suburbs surrounding the city." (New York Times)
A sleeping pod and 29 other roommates in Brooklyn Heights for *just* $600: "Turns out that even in the turbulent COVID economy, Stanford grads have their startup ideas ready to go. [...] Their big idea is to rent and convert single-family brownstones into homes for up to 30 residents. Each room would be fitted with one to four two-person “pods”—that’s two to eight people per room, depending on square footage. Rent would be between $400 and $600 per person a month, plus utilities. The brownstones would become, for lack of a better term, upscale flophouses, or maybe permanent-residency youth hostels." (Curbed)
City construction projects will resume: "New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday morning that he was restarting construction work on $17 billion worth of public projects that have been on hold during the pandemic, including affordable housing, streetscape improvements, schools, parks and sewer upgrades." (Commercial Observer)
The Brooklyn neighborhoods donating big bucks to city elections (MAP): "We found that two zip codes encompassing wealthy Brooklyn neighborhoods like Brooklyn Heights and Park Slope accounted for the largest share of contributions so far." (Bklynr)
Red Hook's 'Model Block' faces pushback: "A 15-story mixed-use development slated to bring 210 apartments to Red Hook is facing blowback from area Council Member Carlos Menchaca and local residents, who accused the builders of bypassing public scrutiny by applying for an obscure city zoning variance to push through the contentious project." (Brownstoner)
More (than one) safe cycling routes across Central Park could be in the works: "Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver told activists this week that he and his agency 'absolutely agree' that there need to be more safe routes for cyclists through Central Park—which only has one bike-only path between the East and West sides of Manhattan."
The NYC Parks Department will undertake a park renaming project in an effort to celebrate Black trailblazers: "New Yorkers are invited to submit recommendations for Black leaders with a cultural relevance or meaningful connection to their neighborhoods." (CBS New York)
200 Amsterdam spared the wrecking ball: "A New York State appeals court ruled in favor of the developers of 200 Amsterdam, the 51-story tower on W. 69th Street that a judge had previously said abused zoning laws and might have to remove up to 20 floors. The ruling secures 200 Amsterdam’s position as the tallest building on the Upper West Side." (Westside Rag)
MoMA offers a wobbly response to those calling for the removal Philip Johnson's name from its spaces: "The Museum of Modern Art has yet to take fully-realized steps to strip the name of the late architect and institutional figurehead Philip Johnson from all titles and public spaces at the museum at the demand of seven artists, architects, and designers—all featured in the Reconstructions: Architecture and Blackness in America exhibition—due to Johnson’s troubling (yet often skimmed-over) history of racist and anti-Semitic activities." (Architect's Newspaper)
