Variance for Red Hook condos sent back to BSA

BSA’s reliance on a single-use feasibility study deemed insufficient. In 2003, BSA granted a variance to 160 Imlay Street Real Estate LLC to convert a vacant, 220,000-square-foot Red Hook industrial building into 150 luxury residential condominiums with ground floor retail. When members of the Red Hook- Gowanus Chamber of Commerce filed an article 78 petition challenging the variance, the City asked the court to dismiss the proceeding since the Chamber failed to add Imlay as … <Read More>


NY Elections, Census and Redistricting Update 09/09/24

By Jeff Wice, Alexis Marking and Jordan Karpoff

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, in violation of the N.Y. Voting Rights Act.


City Celebrates Opening of Far Rockaway Library

On July 30, 2024, Queens Public Library President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott, Representative Gregory W. Meeks, and other critical stakeholders celebrated the grand opening of the new Far Rockaway Library. The new library is located at the intersection of Central and Mott Avenues. This project was designed by architectural firm Snohetta. This project cost $39 million to be designed and constructed.


NY Elections, Census and Redistricting Update 07/29/24

 

 

By Jeff Wice and Alexis Marking

EARLY VOTING

N.Y.S. Court of Appeals to Hear Early Voting Challenge Appeal Tomorrow 

The state’s highest court will hear arguments tomorrow at 11:00 AM in Stefanik v. Hochul,  an appeal challenging the state’s new law permitting voters to mail-in their ballots during the early voting periods. You can watch the oral arguments here: https://www.nycourts.gov/ctapps/live.html

BALLOT PROPOSALS

Equal Rights Amendment Back on New York’s November Ballot

On Tuesday, … <Read More>


NY Elections, Census and Redistricting Update 6/17/24

EVENTS

June 18 Conference- N.Y. Redistricting: What Happened and What’s Next?

New York Law School will host a conference on redistricting from 9:30 to Noon at the school (located at 185 W. Broadway in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood). Panels will focus on the 2014 constitutional amendment, the post-2020 process and what happened, and next steps for a new constitutional amendment before the post-2030 process gets underway. 2022 Court Special Master Jonathan Cervas will keynote the event. … <Read More>


Mayor and DOB Announce Overhaul of Sidewalk Construction Shed Rules

Sidewalk sheds stay up for an average of over 500 days, but some stay up for several years. On July 24, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Buildings Commissioner Jimmy Oddo announced “Get Sheds Down,” an overhaul of the rules relating to sidewalk construction sheds (scaffolding). While the sheds are required for construction, facade inspections, and repairs, existing laws often enable property owners to leave up the construction sheds for a long time, and <Read More>