On Friday, February 14, 2020, Legal Aid Society CEO, Janet Sabel, spoke at the 166th CityLaw Breakfast at New York Law School. Ms. Sabel was introduced by New York Law School Professor Alvin Bragg. Professor Ross Sandler, Director of the Center for New York City Law and Dean Anthony W. Crowell gave opening remarks. This Breakfast was sponsored by ConEdison, GreenbergTraurig, and Verizon. The Impact Center for Public Interest Law also co-sponsored the event. Attorney-in-chief … <Read More>
REBNY Challenges Department of State’s Memo Prohibiting Broker’s Fees
Real estate community in state of confusion over 2019 Rent laws. On February 10, 2020, the Real Estate Board of New York Inc. (“REBNY’”), the New York State Associations of Realtors (“NYSAR”) and a host of residential real estate brokerages were granted a temporary restraining order, blocking the New York State Department of State’s guidance on broker commissions. The TRO comes in conjunction with their Article 78 filing seeking to invalidate the memorandum’s entire section … <Read More>
Community Wants More Zoning Protections in Union Square South SD Expansion
Hotel special permitting fails to address other types of development in the Union Square South area. On January 22, 2020, the City Planning Commission held a public hearing on an application by the Department of City Planning for an expansion of the Special Union Square District, and the establishment of a special permit requirement for new hotel development in the expansion area.
DDC Annouces Request for Qualifications for Borough-Based Jail Construction
Contracting for the construction of the Borough-Based Jails under way. On February 4, 2020, the Department of Design and Construction announced the issuance of four Request for Qualifications for the Design-Build teams that might construct the new borough based jails. The four jails will be located at 24-125 White Street in Manhattan, 745 East 141st Street in the Bronx, 126-02 82nd Avenue in Queens and at 275 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn.
City Planning Approves Application for New Eight-Story Mixed Use Building in Sunnyside, Queens
The proposed development would bring 60 residential units to Sunnyside, Queens. On On February 19, 2020, the City Planning Commission approved an application to rezone a block in Sunnyside, Queens from a low density residential zoning district that allows three-story buildings to a medium density residential zoning district that allows eight-story buildings. The rezoning would affect all the addresses on the east side of 52nd Street and 52-06, 52-08, and 52-10 Roosevelt Avenue bounded by … <Read More>
Flower Shop Fined for Obstruction
A flower shop in the Flower District obstructed a sidewalk with its plants. Holiday Flower & Plant shop, located on 118 West 28th Street, Manhattan, placed some of its plants outside the storefront with the intent of moving the plants inside after the store closed. The plants obstructed more than eight feet of sidewalk and reached the curb. An NYPD officer issued a summon to the flower shop for violating § 19-136 of the … <Read More>