New Meals on Wheels Facility Sent Back for Rethinking of Exterior Design

Commissioners found design choices made new facility in Seaview Hospital complex look like a suburban office park. On June 7, 2015, the Landmarks Preservation Commission considered a proposal for a new Meals on Wheels facility in a vacant site at 460 Brielle Avenue in the Seaview Hospital section of the New York City Farm Colony-Seaview Hospital Historic District. The proposed new two-story building would be used as a Meals on Wheels facility serving the … <Read More>


Environmental Control Board Finds Post Office Subject to City Jurisdiction

ECB found federal Postal Service not exempted from Noise Code on grounds of preemption.  On April 4, 2014 the Department of Environmental Protection issued a notice of violation against the Staten Island Main Post Office for operating an air conditioning unit in excess of the allowable decibel limit under the City Noise Code.  The Post Office contested the notice with the Environmental Control Board, arguing the United States Postal Service was “an independent establishment … <Read More>


CityLaw: Three Policy Questions for Nonprofit Property Tax Exemptions

A long-standing feature of American tax policy is the exemption granted to nonprofit organizations, the largest of which is the exemption from local property taxes. The exemption, with origins back to the 18th century, is widespread. Among the 50 states, 17 state constitutions mandate property tax exemptions for charitable organizations, 25 authorize the legislature to give exemptions, and eight do not address the issue. New York State establishes two classes of exemptions for nonprofits:  … <Read More>


CityLaw Profile – NYCHA General Counsel David Farber on Meeting NYCHA’s Challenges

David Farber was appointed New York City Housing Authority Executive Vice-President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel in August 2014.  When speaking with David, his clear love for New York City is readily apparent and supplemented by a driving desire to leave the city better than he found it.  Turning 50 this year, David has spent the majority of his professional career in service to his city with great satisfaction.

Born in Manhattan and raised … <Read More>


CityLaw: Racial Disparity Persists in NYC’s Examination High Schools

(Editor’s Note:  The Department of Education recently released statistics on the first round of 2015 admissions for New York City’s examination high schools.  According to their report, offers to join the 2015-2016 incoming class at Stuyvesant High School counts just ten African-American and twenty Latino students.  The following by Professor Aaron Saiger of Fordham University’s School of Law was published in the January/February issue of CityLaw.)

New York City is experiencing one of its … <Read More>


BSA Permits New Commercial Building on Unmapped Street

Board approved construction after assurances from FDNY.  On January 13, 2015 the Board of Standards and Appeals approved a special permit for Carlo Saccheri to construct a two-story commercial building at 44 Marjorie Street in Charleston, Staten Island.  The building will be used for the receiving and storage of plumbing supplies, as well as associated office space and commercial truck parking.