Mayor Bill de Blasio Reports Progress of Housing New York Plan

At the close of fiscal year 2017, the Mayor’s Administration is ahead of schedule in achieving its goal to build 200,000 affordable homes in 10 years. On July 13, 2017, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced an update on the progress that has been made to achieve the goals set forth in his Housing New York plan, which seeks to build 200,000 affordable homes in 10 years. According to the announcement, the City secured 24,293 affordable … <Read More>


39-Unit Affordable Development Approved in Harlem Historic District

Seven-story building would have dance studio space at the ground floor. On June 27, 2017, Landmarks considered and approved a proposal for a new development on a vacant lot at 841 St. Nicholas Avenue, at the corner of 152nd Street, in the Hamilton Heights/Sugar Hill Northwest Historic District. The site was acquired by BRP Development Company from the Dance Theater of Harlem in 2016. A deed restriction on the property, limiting its … <Read More>


City Council Hears Testimony on Inclusionary Housing Transparency

City Council Committee heard testimony on legislation to codify reporting requirements for the Department of Housing Preservation and Development regarding inclusionary housing and affordable units. On June 19, 2017, the City Council’s Committee on Housing and Building held a hearing on a package of five bills. Four of the bills concerned the Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s reporting requirements for affordable housing developments. The fifth bill concerned the definition of residency in the City’s … <Read More>


City Planning Approves Two 14-Story Affordable Buildings in the Bronx

The City Planning Commission approved the construction of 474 low-income affordable units in Longwood, Bronx. On June 7, 2017, the City Planning Commission issued a favorable report on an application from Ader Group, LLC, to facilitate the construction of two new 14-story mixed-use buildings at the intersection of Whitlock Avenue and east 165th Street in the Bronx’s Longwood neighborhood. The application requested a zoning map amendment to change the project area from an M1-1 zoning … <Read More>


Subcommittee Considering Entirely Affordable Project in Crown Heights

Zoning Subcommittee heard proposal on new Brooklyn nine-story affordable building. On May 30, 2017, the City Council’s Zoning Subcommittee heard testimony on an application by Bedford Arms, LLC, to develop a nine-story building with 48 income-restricted dwelling units and 46 government assisted units in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood. Stuart Beckerman, of Slater & Beckerman P.C., presented the project to the subcommittee. The applicant sought to up-zone the development site and to designate the site as … <Read More>


Planning Commission Okays 206 New Affordable Units in Unionport

The City Planning Commission approved the construction two new joined buildings to contain 206 affordable units in the Unionport neighborhood of the Bronx. On April 5, 2017, the City Planning Commission issued a favorable report on an application from Westchester Mews LLC. The project would result in a new mixed-use development at 2044 Westchester Avenue and 2035 Newbold Avenue in the Bronx’s Unionport neighborhood. The applicant proposed amending the zoning map and zoning text to … <Read More>