What’s happening in NYC this week? Deliveries are disappearing at an alarming rate, for one thing. (Robert Alexander/Getty Images)
Life in this city moves pretty fast! In the words of the immortal Ferris Bueller, if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. To keep you up to speed, we’ve compiled a quick roundup of what One Block Over’s editors have been reading, discussing, and buzzing about this week. Here’s what’s happening in NYC real estate:
NYC’s Disappearing Deliveries
Just in time for the holiday online-shopping season, Winnie Hu and Matthew Haag of the New York Times “delivered” a shocking stat: More than 90,000 packages in the city go missing every day. Wow. New Yorkers are trying to combat Scrooge-like package thieves in creative ways that range from doorbell cameras to Amazon lockers to trusted neighbors who are willing to help out. So keep an eye on your Cyber Monday treasures, and if you are lucky enough to have a doorman who accepts packages for you, please don’t forget to tip.
NYC Rental Apartments With a Doorman Article continues below
Mapping New York
Two very engaging city maps were generating chatter this week. The Times’s Antonio de Luca and Sasha Portis offered a beautifully designed interactive history of the NYC subway map, the modern version of which was sketched by an artist who rode the entire length of every line with his eyes closed to get a feel for the curves of the tunnels.
And over at Gothamist, Christopher Robbins dug up a mind-boggling map of the more than 600 languages spoken all over the five boroughs, put together by the Endangered Language Alliance. Purchase a print to help the ELA celebrate — and preserve — the astonishing linguistic diversity of NYC.
Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2020 Is… Blue?
Pantone announced its much-anticipated 2020 Color of the Year this week and… it’s blue. “Classic Blue,” to be exact. Amusingly, the company’s press info leaves little doubt which side of the red state vs. blue state divide they prefer: “This enduring blue highlights our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era.” OK then! Regardless of your political inclinations, you can use blue to inject new life into your home’s decor — transforming a room with paint is a great place to start.
Manhattan 1BRs Under $1M Article continues below
Energy-Efficient Letter Grades for NYC Buildings
You know the letter grades that city restaurants post in their front windows? Well, starting in the new year, buildings bigger than 25,000 square feet will be required to post a similar letter grade, issued by the EPA, to indicate its energy-efficiency rating. As reported by the New York Times, Curbed, Crain’s New York Business and more, both commercial and residential buildings will have to comply with the new rule as part of the city’s recently passed “Green New Deal” laws. Will living in an apartment tower with a C or D in its window become as taboo as sitting down to eat in a sketchy C-grade restaurant? We’ll soon find out.
StreetEasy: It’s a Great Place to Work!
Finally, if we may pat ourselves on the back for a moment, StreetEasy is proud to have been named to Crain’s New York’s 2019 list of Best Places to Work in New York City. Announced on December 6, the list was compiled based on confidential surveys of more than 20,000 New Yorkers across all five boroughs. This is the fifth year in a row we’ve been honored by Crain’s, and it really is a fantastic place to work: Check out our current job openings if you’d like to join us!
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Inspired to find your next place in New York? Whether you’re looking to rent or to buy, search NYC apartments on StreetEasy.