Virginia K. Smith

Posts by Virginia K. Smith:

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It's time we talked about that insane apartment in 'Master of None'
By Virginia K. Smith
November 19, 2015 - 14:59 PM
Aziz Ansari's new Netflix series, Master of None, has rightly been getting a good amount of hype for showcasing a ton of the city's best bars and restaurants. (Our personal "to-eat" list nearly doubled on the day we spent watching every episode back-to-back.) But what about the enormous apartment that his character Dev—an irregularly employed commercial actor—lives in, complete with impeccable decorations like an Eames chair? How did that happen?
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How to apply for Brownsville rentals as cheap as $690/month
By Virginia K. Smith
November 19, 2015 - 13:59 PM
Applications opened yesterday for rentals in a massive new affordable housing development in Brownsville, per NYC Housing Connect, with a total of 71 apartments available, and prices as low as $690/month.
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De Blasio's affordable housing plans, NYC's abandoned subway stops, and more
By Virginia K. Smith
November 19, 2015 - 10:59 AM

So, will de Blasio's affordable housing plan really make things cheaper for New Yorkers? (Daily Intel)

Take a photo tour of the city's coolest abandoned subway stations (Thrillist)

Easy DIYs to spruce up your kitchen (Buzzfeed)

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How one block tells the story of Brooklyn's mind-boggling transformation
By Virginia K. Smith
November 18, 2015 - 12:59 PM

If you had to pick one neighborhood to represent Brooklyn's staggering change over the past decade, you'd do well to opt for Bedford-Stuyvesant, with its spike in home prices as speculators searching for the next Park Slope were drawn in by peaceful, tree-lined streets and a preponderance of brownstones. But what about zooming in even closer, to the changes in just one block?

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A map of 2020 NYC, bad news for rent controlled tenants, and more
By Virginia K. Smith
November 18, 2015 - 10:59 AM

Get a sneak peek of NYC's future skyline with this interactive map (Curbed NY)

Rent controlled tenants are facing a seven percent rent hike (DNAinfo)

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Decoding "key money," an old school NYC real estate gambit
By Virginia K. Smith
November 18, 2015 - 09:59 AM
No matter how much money you earn, the idea of having to pay a 12 to 15 percent broker's fee to rent an apartment in NYC these days will likely make you balk. But ask an old-school New Yorker about rental hassles they faced in their day, and you'll likely hear the term "key money" come up. And no, it doesn't mean the cost of getting an extra set of keys made.
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