Initiatives proposed in the wake of the Rivington House sale would prompt public review process and transparency. On July 19, 2016, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and Council Member Margaret Chin wrote a letter to the City Planning Commission in favor of subjecting any changes made to deed restrictions throughout New York City to the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure. The letter is the latest development in a series of events sparked by the sale … <Read More>
Council Member Ben Kallos
Rent Guidelines Board Freezes One-Year Leases for 2nd-Year in a Row
Board votes for rent freeze despite strong push for a rent rollback by City Council coalition. On June 27, 2016, the New York City Rent Guidelines Board held a final vote to set guidelines for 2016-2017. This vote took place one year after the Rent Guidelines Board made a historic decision to freeze one-year leases instead of raising them.
Council Votes to Alter Landmarks Law by Establishing Timelines for Designation
Peter Koo and David Greenfield-sponsored bill was supported by Real Estate industry and vehemently opposed by preservationists. On June 8, 2016, the full City Council voted to approve a bill amending the City’s Landmark Law following a Land Use Committee meeting on June 7.
The legislation, Introduction 775, mandates that Landmarks vote on an item for designation as an individual, interior, or scenic landmark within one year of holding a public hearing. If … <Read More>
City Council Member Ben Kallos Proposes Bill to Unify the City Government’s Interactive Websites, Including the City’s Affordable Housing Site
If enacted, all governmental online services and portals will be centralized in one manageable location online and on a mobile phone app. On March 9, 2016, City Council Member Ben Kallos issued a press release announcing the proposal of a bill to streamline New York City’s interactive websites to one location. By utilizing Single Sign-on, or SSO, technology, users would be required to remember only one username and password to gain access to their own … <Read More>
Neighborhood Coalition Proposal is Most Comprehensive Zoning Plan Ever Submitted by a Community Group
The proposal would protect neighborhood aesthetics with height caps on new developments and provide additional benefits to affected communities. On January 21, 2016, the Department of City Planning received a zoning proposal from the East River Fifties Alliance, a neighborhood coalition led by City Council members Ben Kallos and Daniel Garodnick, which is the most comprehensive residential re-zoning proposal to ever be submitted by a community group. The proposal seeks to safeguard the Upper East … <Read More>
Legislation Proposed For Online List of All Affordable Apartments
Bill would require all landlords of affordable apartments to publicly list their properties through the portal. At the City Council stated meeting on Monday, December 7, 2015 Council Member Ben Kallos introduced Intro 1015, a proposed law that would require property owners that receive tax credits in exchange for building affordable housing units to publicly list those units in an online portal. The bill is co-sponsored by Council Members Jumaane Williams and Rosie … <Read More>