Second Circuit Upholds Ruling that Loft Tenants Have Property Rights in Bankruptcy Proceedings

Loft Law prevents using bankruptcy as a tool to circumvent housing law. In 2002, Bridge Associates of Soho, Inc. (“Bridge Associates”) acquired 99 Vandam Street in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan. 99 Vandam is a seven-story residential loft building that has been governed by Article 7-C of the New York Multiple Dwelling Law (“Loft Law”) since approximately 1991. Loft Law governs the conversion of manufacturing and commercial use buildings to residential use buildings. The law … <Read More>


BSA Grants Variance for Transfer of Development Rights to Facilitate Merging of Property

The transferring property was granted a variance 35 years ago, but the value of the development rights has since sky-rocketed. On March 8, 2016, the Board of Standards and Appeals unanimously voted to grant Charlton Cooperative Corporation’s request for a variance to transfer unused development rights from the applicant’s property, located at 112 Charlton Street, to an adjacent property, located at 108 Charlton Street, in Manhattan’s Special Hudson Square District. Because the site … <Read More>


Council Votes to Create Supportive Housing Tenants’ Bill of Rights, Reporting Requirements

The bill of rights provides tenants with necessary rights and information to help them maintain their housing. On December 9, 2021, the City Council voted to approve two bills related to supportive housing. Supportive housing is a form of affordable housing with on-site social and supportive services targeted primarily at formerly homeless households. The bills, both sponsored by Council Member Stephen Levin, create a supportive housing tenants’ bill of rights and require the Department of <Read More>


Housing Rights Civic Tech Competition Winners Announced

NYC[x] Co-Labs challenge hopes to address housing rights of NYC’s most vulnerable communities. On November 12, 2020, the New York Mayor’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer, the New York City Economic Development Corporation, the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the NYC Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, and the communities of Inwood and Washington Heights announced the winners and the honorable mentions for the NYC[x] Co-Labs Housing Rights Challenge. This challenge invited innovative … <Read More>


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.


DCA Ruled Wrong on Posting Tenants’ Rights Sign

The Department of Consumer affairs charged a real estate broker with failing to post a sign alerting tenants of their rights. Arash Real Estate & Management Co is a residential and real estate broker located in Queens. In January 2013 the Department of Consumer Affairs charged Arash with violating the City Administrative Code by failing to post signs advising tenants of their rights to one free tenant screening report annually from each consumer reporting … <Read More>