Brick Underground

Renovation By Emily Myers  | If you have an eligible smart thermostat, Con Edison offers an $85 rebate for enrolling in its smart thermostat program. iStock Summer heatwaves don't just drive up temperatures—they can send your apartment’s electricity bills soaring.

Transitions By Kelly Kreth  | Living near the ocean (which is coincidently the name of their daughter) is something Jodie didn’t expect to happen but she’s happy it worked out. Jodie, Gregg, and their young daughter lived in an amenity-laden building in tony Dumbo. When their rent increased by $1,000 per month, they decided to look elsewhere to save money.

Troubleshooting The most critical strategy for a summer move is timing. Beat the peak heat by starting your move-out at the earliest possible hour. iStock "Summer in the City" might be a catchy song, but if you are moving in New York City during the warmest months, the heat can add extra discomfort and risks.

Co-ops By Jennifer White Karp  | This was the sixth, straight quarter to see a year-over-year increase in Manhattan’s median sales price for co-ops and condos, according to Jonathan Miller of Miller Samuel. iStock Luxury and new development listings in Manhattan continued to fall in the second quarter, which helped drive the median sales price for condos and co-ops to a new record high.

Skip to main content Live iStock Hiring a mover seems simple at first glance. You call them up or fill out a form on their website, they give you a quote, and then you schedule the move. But how can you be confident that the price on your screen is what ends up on the bill on moving day? Matt Ockers, Senior Moving Consultant at FlatRate Moving, has seen every version of this play out.

Behind the facade By Tom Miller  | A renovation created an American-style basement, which differs from an English-style basement in its lack of a stoop. Have you ever passed by an interesting residential building in New York City and wanted to know more about its history? In this series, Brick Underground teams up with Tom Miller, creator of Daytonian in Manhattan, a blog about Manhattan buildings and other historic architecture.

The Search Computers are better than humans at spotting subtle tells in falsified documents according to a founder of a digital tenant screening platform. iStock As artificial intelligence becomes more powerful, some New York landlords are using AI tools to automate their review of rental applications.

Rent By Jennifer White Karp  | Tenant leaders from New York State Tenant Bloc, CAAAV Voice, CASA, and Met Council on Housing organized a rally outside El Museo del Barrio ahead of tonight’s vote. Alexandra Chan for Tenant Bloc In a vote of 7-1, the Rent Guidelines Board tonight approved rent freezes for both one- and two-year leases—the first time a zero percent rent increase has been implemented for two-year leases.

Improve By Emily Myers  | Although the new target was paired with a higher reduction target—60 percent instead of 40 percent—it has been met with disappointment by environmental groups. iStock Recent changes to the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) are expected to slow the timeline for New York State’s transition to a cleaner electric grid.

Behind the facade By Tom Miller  | The basement and parlor levels were clad in chunky, undressed brownstone blocks, typical of the Romanesque Revival style. The Renaissance influence can be seen it the sumptuous fruit-and-flower carvings in the lintel. Have you ever passed by an interesting residential building in New York City and wanted to know more about its history?