On October 16, 2024, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York Governor Kathy Hochul celebrated the milestone of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) receiving Letters of Intent for approximately 650 buildings through the 421-a extension tax incentive program. The proposed 650 buildings represent roughly 71,000 new homes (including 21,000 affordable units) for New Yorkers. Currently, New Yorkers face a 1.4 percent rental vacancy rate, with half of … <Read More>
Author: vrose
What is the Future of Outdoor Dining in New York City?
By Mark Chiusano
The outdoor dining setup at Artesano on Chambers Street had some of the soaring dignity of its location. Patrons savoring the high-end Peruvian food could look through an arched, see-through roof at the classical limestone exterior of the David N. Dinkins Municipal Building, topped by the towering gilded statue “Civic Fame.”
It did not feel like eating in the street. It was an “extension of our restaurant,” said Roman Cervantes, a … <Read More>
NY Elections, Census and Redistricting Update 10/21/24
By Jeff Wice & Alexis Marking
N.Y. VOTING RIGHTS ACT LITIGATION
Erie County: Young v. Town of Cheektowaga
In March, one-time Town Board candidate Kenneth Young filed a lawsuit against the Town of Cheektowaga, alleging racially polarized voting and violations of the New York Voting Rights Act (NYVRA) in the Cheektowaga Town Board elections. Young claims that minorities cannot elect candidates of their choice under the town’s current at-large voting method and should adopt a … <Read More>
DDC Celebrates Completion of Repairs of Laurelton Library
On October 9, 2024, Queens Public Library President Dennis M. Walcott and NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Thomas Foley celebrated the re-opening of the Laurelton Library. The library was closed to make necessary repairs. This $1.8 million project was completed under the budgeted amount, saving over $160,000. The one-story Laurelton Library is located at 134-26 225th Street and originally opened in 1955.
City Releases Proposed Rules for Two New Tax Incentives Programs: 485-x and 467-m
On October 8, 2024, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) published the proposed rules for the Affordable Neighborhoods for New Yorkers (Real Property Tax Law Section 485-x) and Affordable Housing From Commercial Conversions (Real Property Tax Law Section 467-m) programs.
NY Elections, Census and Redistricting Update 10/16/24
By Jeff Wice with Jordan Karpoff & Alexis Marking.
N.Y. VOTING RIGHTS ACT LITIGATION
Orange County: Clarke et al. v. Town of Newburgh
In January, three Black and three Hispanic residents of Newburgh filed this lawsuit, claiming the town’s at-large election system for Town Board elections has prevented Black and Hispanic residents from electing candidates of their choice, thus violating the N.Y. Voting Rights Act.
On October 10th, the … <Read More>