Policy

On Tuesday the city halted a judge’s order to stop construction–or, rather, deconstruction and demolition–on the 55-story condominium tower at 200 Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan, the Wall Street Journal reports. Last month, 6sqft reported that State Supreme Court Judge W. Franc Perry ordered the city to revoke the building permit for the Upper West Side’s tallest tower north of 61st Street, ruling that developers SJP Properties and Mitsui Fudosan America would have to chop the building's height by as many as 20 stories to conform to zoning limits. This week's ruling means work can continue on construction of the skyscraper despite opposition from activists and critics.
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Policy

How the NYC subway is preparing for coronavirus

Photo by Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit, Flickr cc

March 3, 2020

How the NYC subway is preparing for coronavirus

After issuing their first response last Thursday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) issued an update today on the precautions the agency is taking in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), joining a coordinated effort by New York City and state to remain ahead of an epidemic whose impact could depend on how well communities and authorities respond to it. Now that there's been a confirmed case in Manhattan, as well as one in Westchester, the agency has taken additional measures to inform and protect its employees–and the eight million people who ride its subways, commuter trains and buses daily. The MTA will make sure that none of its trains, cars, or buses go more than 72 hours without undergoing sanitization.
More on how New York City is preparing for coronavirus below

Image by Robert Jones from Pixabay

March 2, 2020

New energy code gets tougher on NYC construction

Beginning in May, construction in NYC is going to have to meet stricter sustainability and energy efficiency standards now that the 2020 NYC Energy Conservation Code passed into law last week. Part of the city's version of the Green New Deal, the new code is just one of several construction regulations that the Department of Buildings is revising, with further updates expected to roll out later in the year.
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Policy

By Friday, NYC will be able to get coronavirus test results in just hours

Image: US Department of Agriculture via Flickr.

March 2, 2020

By Friday, NYC will be able to get coronavirus test results in just hours

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced at a briefing on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in midtown Manhattan that the Wadsworth Center–a research-intensive public health laboratory located inside the State Department of Health–is partnering with hospitals to expand testing capacity to 1,000 tests a day statewide. Upon receipt of lab specimens, the Wadsworth Center can complete testing within three to five hours. The announcement followed Sunday's news that one person's test in New York came back with positive results.
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Billy Idol joins Mayor de Blasio in anti-idling message

Image courtesy of the Office of the Mayor

February 28, 2020

Billy Idol joins Mayor de Blasio in anti-idling message

Motorists are getting a new warning: If you idle on New York City's streets you'll get a fine from the city–and a snarl from rocker Billy Idol. The mayor’s penchant for geeky dad humor and a dose of Gen X nostalgia make the collab a natural, and while it might sound as if it's aimed at slackers in city government, the fresh and direct message is meant for the idling vehicles that befoul the city with noise and pollution.
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Massive Lenox Terrace redevelopment has been rejected by the City Council Zoning Committee

Rendering credit: Davis Brody Bond

February 27, 2020

Massive Lenox Terrace redevelopment has been rejected by the City Council Zoning Committee

The City Council's Zoning Committee voted unanimously to reject a proposed redevelopment of Harlem's Lenox Terrace housing complex on Wednesday. The site's owner, the Olnick Organization, has been seeking approval for a mixed-use development with five 28-story towers to be constructed at the complex. This week's decision is expected to be a sign of what's to come when the project comes to a vote before the full City Council next month. But Olnick has already signaled that they have a scaled-down backup plan for the site that won't require a rezoning.
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Policy

Photo by David Shankbone via Wikimedia Commons

February 26, 2020

Why did the Trump administration abruptly suspend a critical study of NYC storm protections?

Six weeks after President Trump derided a potential NYC sea wall on Twitter, his administration abruptly ended the study that was looking into the idea. Launched in 2017, the NY & NJ Harbor and Tributaries feasibility study was evaluating five measures that could "address severe coastal storm risks" and the sea wall was one of them. On Tuesday, the Army Corps of Engineers announced that the critical study had been shelved due to a lack of funding and a report that was due to come out this summer would be "indefinitely postponed," the New York Times reported. The curious timing relative to Trump's tweet has led many to speculate about the political underpinnings behind the decision. “This is dangerous,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said. “It’s another of Donald Trump’s blatant political hits on New York City.”
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Policy

See the approved plans for Trader Joe’s new Upper East Side store under the Queensboro Bridge

Renderings and photos by Madd Equities LLC, via LPC

February 26, 2020

See the approved plans for Trader Joe’s new Upper East Side store under the Queensboro Bridge

In a public hearing on Tuesday, the Landmarks Preservation Commission reviewed and approved an application to open a Trader Joe’s in the city-owned space underneath the Queensboro Bridge on Manhattan's Upper East Side. The cavernous space, known as Bridgemarket, is regarded for its 5,000-square-foot Guastavino-tiled arcade as well as its unique location. Former tenant Food Emporium moved out in 2015. The bridge and the space beneath it were designated a city landmark in 1974. The LPC applauded the proposal's "sensitive approach" to the space.
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Policy

Judge upholds decision to halt Two Bridges megatowers from rising

Rendering: Handel Architects.

February 26, 2020

Judge upholds decision to halt Two Bridges megatowers from rising

State Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron upheld an August 2019 ruling that four towers planned for the Lower East Side Two Bridges development cannot move forward. The judge’s decision invalidates the City Planning Commission’s 2018 approval of the towers on the grounds that City Council authority regarding the land-use review process was illegally bypassed and that the controversial skyscrapers must go through the city's full application process. The ruling prevents the Department of Buildings from issuing permits until the multi-billion dollar project has the proper approvals. The decision represents a rare victory for those opposed to the skyscrapers, including the City Council and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and several Lower East Side and Chinatown community groups.
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New engineering study reconsiders tearing the BQE down and building a tunnel

The City Council is reconsidering an alternative solution for the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway that would tear down the crumbling highway and replace it with a three-mile-long tunnel, the New York Times reports. The council tapped engineering firm Arup to provide insight on the rehabilitation/replacement project last September and their findings are being released in a new report on Monday. According to the Times, the report says a tunnel option similar to what cities like Boston, San Francisco, and Seattle have done could cost as much as $11 billion.
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February 21, 2020

City’s plan for homeless housing includes 14-building conversion and luxury development vacancies

The city took some strides this week in the search to find shelter for a growing homeless population. First, the de Blasio administration announced it would turn to vacancies in new luxury developments to find homes for potentially hundreds of homeless New Yorkers, as Bloomberg reported. On Thursday, the Neighborhood Restore Housing Development Fund—a nonprofit that partners with the city for affordable housing projects—scooped up 14 buildings in upper Manhattan and the Bronx for $74 million. According to The Real Deal, the purchase will provide immediate housing for 224 homeless households.
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Policy

Judge upholds $6.75M judgement against developer who destroyed 5Pointz graffiti

Photo by Ezmosis on Wikimedia

February 21, 2020

Judge upholds $6.75M judgement against developer who destroyed 5Pointz graffiti

An appeals court on Thursday upheld a $6.75 million judgement against a real estate developer who whitewashed 5Pointz, the former graffiti-covered complex in Long Island City. The 32-page decision confirms the decision made by the Federal District Court in 2018 that said developer Jerry Wolkoff of the Wolkoff Group illegally destroyed the building's colorful murals. In 2014, Wolkoff razed the iconic graffitied warehouse, which had been visible from passing trains since the 90s as a studio and exhibition space for artists. The artists, who unsuccessfully attempted to sue to stop the demolition, filed a second lawsuit in 2015 against Wolkoff, claiming their artwork was of "recognized stature" and protected by the Visual Rights Act.
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Items at this pop-up grocery store in Times Square are made entirely of single-use plastic

Photograph by Maria Baranova-Suzuki courtesy of Times Square Arts.

February 20, 2020

Items at this pop-up grocery store in Times Square are made entirely of single-use plastic

With the new ban on single-use plastic bags hitting New York on March 1, a conversation has been started–and in some cases, continued–about the effects of our consumption on future generations. As important and complex as the topic may be, award-winning Brooklyn-based artist, puppet designer, and director Robin Frohardt has found a way to shine a creative light on consumption, conveniences, and the impact of single-use plastics. Located in Times Square, "The Plastic Bag Store" is an immersive, site-specific public art installation and three-act puppet show, on view from March 18 to April 12 at 20 Times Square.
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Latest court ruling against 200 Amsterdam Avenue could result in the removal of 20 floors

Rendering courtesy of Binyan Studios

February 18, 2020

Latest court ruling against 200 Amsterdam Avenue could result in the removal of 20 floors

The Upper West Side's tallest tower north of 61st Street may soon be getting a major trim, the New York Times reports. In a dramatic ruling last week, State Supreme Court Judge W. Franc Perry ordered the city to revoke 200 Amsterdam Avenue's building permit and decided the developers will have to remove floors from the top of the building to fall in line with zoning limits. It's not yet been decided how many floors will need to be removed from the nearly-complete 52-story tower, but it could be as many as 20. Co-developers SJP Properties and Mitsui Fudosan America are expected to "vigorously" appeal the decision, according to their lawyer.
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Policy

New NYCHA deal will turn 5,900 units to private developers and raise $1.5B for repairs

Via Wikimedia

February 13, 2020

New NYCHA deal will turn 5,900 units to private developers and raise $1.5B for repairs

The New York City Public Housing Authority has inked an agreement that will turn 5,902 units over to private developers and raise over $1.5 billion for much-needed repairs, Crain’s reports. In 2018, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced plans to convert 62,000 apartments by 2028 and has so far converted over 7,000 units. Thursday’s deal represents “the largest single package of conversions yet undertaken by the agency,” according to Crain’s. Included in the deal are five complexes: Linden Houses and Boulevard Houses in East New York, Williamsburg Houses in East Williamsburg and Audubon Houses and Harlem River Houses 1 and 2 in Harlem. The long list of selected developers includes major builders like L+M Development and Hudson Companies and some smaller players.
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Rendering courtesy of the Olnick Organization

February 12, 2020

Alternative plan for Harlem’s massive Lenox Terrace development gets rid of affordable units

Amidst pushback from locals and activists, the Olnick Organization has released a Plan B proposal for its Lenox Terrace expansion, reports the Post. Last week, the City Planning Commission approved an application from the complex's owner to rezone part of the neighborhood and allow five 28-story towers with a mix of market-rate and affordable units to be built at the site. The alternate plan unveiled on Tuesday presents a scaled-down version that wouldn't require a zoning change but also wouldn't include any of the affordable units or public amenities in the original plan.
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Policy

City launches design competition to fix Brooklyn Bridge congestion problem

Image by Ali Vidler from Pixabay

February 11, 2020

City launches design competition to fix Brooklyn Bridge congestion problem

The city is looking for ideas to fix the jam-packed promenade of the Brooklyn Bridge. City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and the Van Alen Institute on Tuesday launched a design competition seeking creative improvements to the 137-year-old structure's narrow walkway, where thousands of pedestrians and cyclists fight for space each day. The overcrowded conditions have made the number of cyclists crossing the bridge drop to about 3,000 daily riders, compared to 3,600 two years prior, the Wall Street Journal reported.
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Billionaires’ Row property taxes would dramatically increase under proposed system overhaul

Image courtesy of Vornado Realty Trust and Robert A.M. Stern Architects

February 11, 2020

Billionaires’ Row property taxes would dramatically increase under proposed system overhaul

Last month, the city's Advisory Commission on Property Tax Reform revealed a report outlining sweeping changes to the property tax code that would essentially raise the same amount of money but substantially redistribute where it comes from. Under the current system, property owners pay taxes based on assessed value rather than market value, so working-class homeowners often pay a higher tax rate than those who can afford the city's multimillion-dollar luxury condos. Mansion Global took a closer look at the numbers and found that property taxes along Billionaires' Row could increase up to five times their current rate under the proposed system.
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Policy

Temporary restraining order rolls back broker fee ban

Photo by Rachel Martin on Unsplash

February 11, 2020

Temporary restraining order rolls back broker fee ban

In an update made last week to the state's recent rent reform laws, the Department of State said real estate brokers hired by landlords could no longer charge tenants a fee. The ruling sparked a widespread backlash from the real estate industry, particularly rental brokers. In response, a group of industry representatives filed an Article 78 petition in Albany, which resulted in a temporary restraining order on Monday, The Real Deal reported. The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) and a number of high-profile brokerages have filed a lawsuit claiming the new guidance was an “unlawful, erroneous, and arbitrary” interpretation of the rent reform law passed in June and wreaked “havoc and confusion” on the industry. The restraining order means agents acting on behalf of landlords can collect a commission from tenants until further notice without fear of discipline by the DOS.
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February 10, 2020

Renters insurance in NYC: Why you should get it right now

Renters insurance is one of those things that you know is a good idea–and like so many New York City renters, you’ve been meaning to do it, but you may not have gotten around to it–until you wish you had. And though we hope we’ll never need it, it's one of the few things in city life that's simple, inexpensive, and worth every penny. Below, we explain why it's an important investment to make, how to navigate the process of getting a quote and getting covered, and which provider might be best for you.
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February 7, 2020

Affordability, climate change take center stage during de Blasio’s ‘State of City’ address

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday laid out his vision to "save" New York City, pledging to focus on affordability, climate change, and protections for small businesses during his last two years in office. "This city and everything it stands for must be saved. And we are the ones who have to save ourselves," the mayor said during his State of the City address. De Blasio's vision involves building on initiatives his administration has put forward during his tenure, including creating more affordable housing, increasing tenant protections, legalizing basement apartments, and launching the second phase of the Green New Deal.
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New York renters no longer have to pay broker fees

Photo by Rachel Martin on Unsplash

February 6, 2020

New York renters no longer have to pay broker fees

Renters in New York will no longer have to pay a broker fee when they lease an apartment, the state ordered Tuesday. In an updated set of guidelines for last year's rent reform laws, the state department said real estate brokers hired by landlords "cannot be compensated by the prospective tenant." While brokers can still charge a fee, landlords are now responsible for paying it, according to the revised rules. However, if a renter hires a broker to find apartments on their behalf, a fee can be collected.
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Lenox Terrace rezoning in Harlem gets green light from City Planning

Photo: Lenox Terrace Aerial; Credit: Davis Brody Bond

February 4, 2020

Lenox Terrace rezoning in Harlem gets green light from City Planning

A plan to bring a mixed-use development with five buildings and 1,600 apartments to Central Harlem got a much-needed approval on Monday. The City Planning Commission voted in favor of an application from the Olnick Organization to rezone part of the neighborhood, clearing the way for five 28-story luxury towers to be constructed at the existing Lenox Terrace complex.
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Policy

Williamsburg park to be renamed after LGBTQ advocate Marsha P. Johnson

Photo of East River State Park by Harold Navarro on Flickr

February 3, 2020

Williamsburg park to be renamed after LGBTQ advocate Marsha P. Johnson