City Council Holds Hearing on Open Restaurants Plan

Open Restaurants Plan intended for Phase 2 start. On June 4, 2020, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the Open Restaurants seating program and the Council Committee on Consumer Affairs and Business Licensing held the public hearing on Intro 1957, a bill that would create the temporary outdoor dining space. The bill is sponsored by Council Member Antonio Reynoso and was introduced at the May 28th, 2020 Stated Meeting.


UPDATED: Construction Shutdown: Preserving Land Use Approvals

Governor Andrew Cuomo’s executive orders issued in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency halted non-essential construction throughout the City of New York. Many of the halted construction projects enjoyed land use approvals granted by City agencies, and the Governor’s orders did not toll the expiration dates of these approvals. (Update:) Subsequent to the construction shutdown, Mayor Bill de Blasio on April 29, 2020 issued an emergency executive order tolling the expiration dates … <Read More>


Bridge delay claim denied

Tutor Perini sought §22,941,971.68 for a two-year delay caused by a court injunction. In 2013, Tutor Perini Corporation entered into a $102 million contract with the Department of Transportation to replace the City Island Road bridge that spans Eastchester Bay between the Bronx and City Island. A state court injunction delayed the construction of the bridge for two years and forced the redesigning of the bridge.


NYCHA Earns Over $2.6 Million By Transferring Hobbs Court Development Rights

NYCHA seeks to raise revenue for capital repairs by selling transferrable development rights on NYCHA properties. On March 5, 2020, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) announced the finalization of an agreement to transfer approximately 9,000 square feet of development and parking rights at the Hobbs Court development, located at 315 E 102nd Street in East Harlem, Manhattan.


Joni Kletter Appointed OATH Commissioner and Chief Administrative Law Judge

Kletter currently serves as the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Appointments where she oversees and coordinates candidate recruitment, sourcing, and vetting. On March 13, 2020, Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed Joni Kletter as Commissioner and Chief Administrative Law Judge of the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH).


Landmarks Holds Hearing on Upper West Side Church Adaptation

Upper West Side community weary on rooftop addition and removal of stained glass windows. On March 3, 2020, the Landmarks Preservation Commission heard an application by the Children’s Museum of Manhattan for a Certificate of Appropriateness regarding 361 Central Park West, a Beaux Arts classical style church overlooking Central Park. The building is located on the northwest corner of Central Park West and 96th Street in Manhattan. Approval of the application would permit adaptive … <Read More>