Apple drops plans for Grand Central store, happy 200th birthday to Manhattan’s street grid … and more

1. Apple store not coming to Grand Central after all [NYO]
2. Westchester commercial property owners challenging tax assessments by already cash-strapped municipalities [WSJ]
3. Manhattan’s street grid to celebrate its 200th birthday tomorrow [NYT]
4. Wilpons sue Madoff trustee for making “false allegations” to force a settlement [Post]
5. New apartments for disabled Iraq and Afghanistan vets planned for Raritan, N.J. [NYT]
6. City plans for 9/11 memorial launch this year [Crain’s]
7. Meanwhile, Lower Manhattan retailers rev up to prepare for additional shoppers visiting the memorial [Crain’s]
8. Himmel + Merringoff Properties begins $5M upgrade at recently-acquired 158 West 27th Street [WSJ]
9. Non-profit group targets four Western Queens nabes for tree-planting initiative [Crain’s]

10. On the gentrification of the Bowery [NYT]

11. Victoria’s Secret model sells Chelsea apartment for $1.325M asking price [Curbed]
12. Young singles cluster together near train lines on Long Island [NYT]
13. Union allows construction cost-cutting program to expire ahead of contract negotiations [WSJ]

14. Home design firms look to replace the colonial with contemporary alternatives [NYT]
15. The ugliest Queens homes on the market [Curbed]
16. With remodeling on the rise, insurers warn of potential for large claims from renovation projects [NYT]
17. Queens estate auction draws $3M in winning bids on 19 properties [Malcolm Carter]