The New York Observer
Amtrak's New Outdated Trains
Why is Amtrak spending $500 million on new locomotives for the Northeast Corridor that are "fat, expensive and slow"? Americans have the the Federal Railroad Administration's "globally-unique crash safety standards" to thank.
PATH to Ruin: New York Builds the World's Costliest Train Station
Stephen Jacob Smith examines how high emotions, grand designs, poor negotiating, and "extreme politicization" drove the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to build the world's most expensive train station in Lower Manhattan.
How New York's Hasidim Solved the City's Affordable Housing Problem
The certainly won't win any design awards, but new multi-family residential buildings erected by Hasidic developers in Brooklyn show that it's possible to build spacious and cheap housing in New York for families small and large.
Big Winner of Tiny Apartment Competition Unveiled
Today, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the winner of a competition to build a micro-apartment pilot project in Manhattan. Consisting of 55 micro-units measuring between 250 and 375 square feet, the project will utilize modular construction.
'Temporary' NYC Plazas Are Here to Stay
For those that've wondered about the fate of New York's "occasionally controversial" Plaza Program projects after the administration that's championed them leaves office: Have no fear, says Janette Sadik-Khan, "This is set in stone."
NYC Facilitates Walking with New Wayfinding Maps
One out of ten New Yorkers gets lost every week, according to the city's Department of Transportation, and this does not include out-of-towners. In March, the city will begin installing 150 wayfinding signs to help pedestrians navigate their way.
'Most Unusual Apartment Building' in NYC Gets Penultimate Approval
The BIG news out of New York City last week was the City Planning Commission's approval of Durst/Fetner's pyramid shaped apartment building slated for the west side of Manhattan, reports Matt Chaban.
NYC Rezoning Threatens Historic Buildings
New York's Municipal Arts Society has released a list of 17 historic buildings it believes are threatened by the Bloomberg administration's plans to re-zone a significant portion of the area surrounding Grand Central Terminal.
World's Tallest "Lego" Tower to Rise in Brooklyn
An agreement between Forest City Ratner and NYC's labor unions has cleared the way for the construction of Atlantic Yards's next phase. The 32-story prefabricated apartment building will be the tallest of its kind in the world, reports Matt Chaban.
A High Line for the Upper East Side?
Matt Chaban reports on the making of “the Upper East Side’s very own High Line." Current proposals seek not only to "re-pedestrianize" Park Avenue, but also to restore some of its turn of the century glory.
The Secret Plans for Containing New York's Next Housing Emergency
Hurricane Sandy exposed the need for New York City to be able to house large numbers of residents following natural disasters. Matt Chaban examines the Bloomberg administration's "secret" plan to build modular apartments out of shipping containers.
Can Designs Match Bold Ambitions for NYC's Tech Island?
The release of the sketchy first plans by designers SOM, Morphosis, and James Corner Field Operations for Cornell's new tech campus on New York's Roosevelt Island kick off the project's public review process.
Starchitect Bait and Switch Has New Yorkers Concerned
As the Upper West Side's massive Riverside Center development moves forward with a new designer, will controls negotiated during the approvals process be enough to preserve the vision of architect Christian de Portzamparc?
Bloomberg to High Line Critics: Drop Dead
As the third and final phase of the immensely popular High Line breaks ground in New York, Mayor Bloomberg responds to recent criticism about the gentrifying effect of the park, reports Matt Chaban.
Setback for BIG's Angular NYC Premier
Citing a lack of affordable housing, a Manhattan Community Board has sent architecture's hot young firm, Denmark-base Bjarke Ingels Group (aka BIG), back to the drawing board to amend the design for their premier New York project.
Irreplaceable but Riddled with Problems, Can NYC's Public Housing be Saved?
Matt Chaban profiles John Rhea, NYC Housing Authority Chairman, and his efforts to improve the city's last bastion of affordable apartments.
Plans to Supersize Midtown Manhattan Unveiled
Turning its attention from trimming waistlines to expanding skylines, Matt Chaban delivers the details on the Bloomberg administration's proposed upzoning for the east side of Midtown Manhattan.
The New York Apartment Gets Even Smaller
Have you ever thought those teensy 400 square foot NYC apartments were just too darn big? If so, you and Mayor Bloomberg have something in common, as yesterday the city launched an initiative to develop a new model of tiny, but affordable, housing.
A Coming-Out Party for New York's Secret Passageway
The "secret boulevard," running between 6th and 7th Avenues in Manhattan through atrias, arcades, and public plazas from 51st Street to 57th Street, is getting attention and an upgrade from the Department of Transportation, reports Matt Chaban.
The Kimmelmania Backlash
Matt Chaban explores the divided opinions on the work of the fairly new architecture critic for The New York Times, Michael Kimmelman, who some complain isn't writing enough about Architecture.
Pagination
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