Curbed, a 14-year-old but recently hobbled digital publication focused on real estate and urban development, will be folded into New York Magazine on May 1.
A spokesperson for Vox Media, the parent company of both publications, confirmed the news, first reported by The Daily Beast’s Max Tani.
The spokesperson said the company expects to “relaunch Curbed as part of New York [Magazine] later this year.”
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A source familiar with the matter said Curbed will continue to have its own domain but will be nested within New York Magazine’s homepage and site navigation, similar to publications such as The Cut or Vulture.
Curbed’s coverage of the real estate industry will not change under its new umbrella, the Vox spokesperson said.
“We believe this sets Curbed — a beloved brand and home to some of the strongest digital journalism on real estate, architecture, design and urbanism being published — on a path that’s editorially ambitious while also more sustainable as a business,” the spokesman said in a statement.
Earlier this month, Vox Media announced its own moves toward sustainability: furloughs for three months effective May 1 and a pay cut for top earners including its chief executives. It cited a decline in advertising revenue from the pandemic.
CNBC reported that about 100 employees were furloughed, and cited sources saying the decision was based on coverage areas that Vox views as diminished by stay-at-home mandates.
Curbed’s city publications in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago and Detroit will stop publishing during the furlough period. Curbed’s publications in New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco will continue with reduced frequency and editorial staff.
Vox Media acquired New York Magazine in September in an all-stock deal. In November Vox announced it would stop Curbed’s publications in Seattle, New Orleans, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.. Vox Media bought Curbed in 2013.
Write to Erin Hudson at ekh@therealdeal.com