Testimony showed landlord Aimco routinely ignored maintenance requests and issued baseless eviction threats. The NYC Department of Housing Preservation Development charged Aimco with a dozen different forms of harassment against their tenants. Aimco is the owner of the Tempo, a Class A hotel at 238-244 West 73rd Street, with 150 rent-stabilized single-room occupancy (SRO) units and 75 SRO units rented at market-rate. Aimco’s representative, John Bezzant, denied the charges and petitioned for a certificate of … <Read More>
Housing Preservation and Development
City Council Holds Oversight Hearing on 421-a Program
HPD Commissioner Been, others testify on effectiveness of the program. On January 29, 2015 the City Council Committee on Housing and Buildings held an oversight hearing on the 421-a tax benefit program. The program, established in 1971 by the New York State Legislature, was designed to spur residential development of underused land by granting a property tax reduction to developers for a period of ten to twenty-five years, with an objective of increasing affordable housing … <Read More>
Bicycle storage regulations get Council OK
Amendment requires wide range of developments to provide indoor bicycle parking space. On April 22, 2009, the City Council approved the Department of City Planning’s bicycle parking text amendment. The amendment requires developers to include secure indoor bicycle storage space in new buildings, conversions to residential use, and enlargements of 50 percent or more. The new requirements apply to multifamily residential, community facility, and commercial uses, as well as public parking garages. The number of … <Read More>