Milford Plaza closing for up to 21 months, Betsey Johnson designing an “Eloise” suite at the Plaza … and more

1. Buildings in Queens and Staten Island landmarked today [Curbed]
2. Postcard distributed around Bushwick claims neighborhood different than Murray Hill [Curbed, 2nd item]
3. Residents of Clinton Hill attempt to prevent rezoning of neighborhood for new senior development [Clinton Hill Blog]
4. Taking a look at the remade Concrete Plant Park in the Crotona section of the Bronx [Curbed]
5. Second phase of construction to begin on Washington Square Park soon [Washington Square]
6. The Milford Plaza closing for 18 to 21 months for renovations [Crain’s] and [NYT]
7. Fashion designer Betsey Johnson designing an “Eloise” suite at The Plaza [Hotel Chatter]
8. Detroit newspaper looks at rooftop farm movement in NYC [Detroit News]
9. Video excerpt of architects’ Atlantic Yards arena presentation [Atlantic Yards Report]
10. Richard Gere to close on Water Mill house [Newsday]
11. British artists paint storefronts on the Lower East Side [Animal New York]
12. Construction costs fall in NYC [Crain’s]
13. Continued government stimulus needed for a full housing recovery [CNBC]
14. Homebuyers rush to close on homes as first-time homebuyer tax credit deadline approaches [ABC]
15. Wells Fargo loan modifications performing well in early days [Market Watch]
16. Positive economic data signifies that recession is over [Mast Economy]
17. Philippe Starck’s product design reality show finally airs [MediaBistro]
18. Universal Studios president Ron Meyers remembers architect Charles Gwathmey [Post]
19. Parking spaces are reclaimed as pedestrian rest stops [NBC New York]
20. Relic of 1964 World’s Fair in Queens wins landmark status [NYDN]
21. Victory Memorial Hospital sells building and closes down [Brownstoner]
22. How a co-op board benefited by a tenant’s misfortune [Habitat Mag]
23. City Council will provide money to two BIDs on Fulton Street in Bed-Stuy [Brownstoner]
24. Fed examining mid-sized banks’ losses to commercial real estate [Bloomberg]
25. City to announce that 800 rental units will be built at Stapleton home port [SI Live]
26. Reviewing the past year of Frank Gehry [Metropolis Mag]