Image Credit: Office of the Comptroller.

NYCHA residences throughout the five boroughs have serious security lapses from propped open and broken doors. On October 12, 2018, the City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer released the results of an investigative survey on the exterior door security at New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments. Between July and August 2018, auditors visited 299 NYCHA developments and observed the conditions of exterior doors. The auditors observed 4,551 doors in development in the five boroughs.

Map of area around Olmsted-Beil House Park (center, green). Proposed lots to be acquired are in red. Image Credit: NYC CPC/ NYC Parks & Recreation

Proposed historic park expansion will provide space for programming and direct access from Hylan Boulevard. On October 31, 2018, the City Planning Commission held a public hearing for an application on the acquisition of property at 4485 Hylan Boulevard in the Eltingville neighborhood of Staten Island to expand Olmsted-Beil House Park. The Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services jointly filed the application. 

Image credit: NYC Department of Parks & Recreation.

Sidewalk contractor injured City trees during sidewalk reconstruction. A property owner hired Tri-Rail Construction, Inc., to repair the sidewalk adjacent to the owner’s property. During the course of the sidewalk repair work Tri-Rail injured City-owned trees. The City sued Tri-Rail for money damages for the injury to the City trees.

Image from 1912 of 209 Flagg Place in Staten Island. Image Credit: LPC/Ivan Brice Architecture

Commissioners make only minor recommendations for the Stone Court mansion project and plan to conduct a site visit before the next hearing. On October 30, 2018, Landmarks Preservation Commission held a public hearing on an application for a certificate of appropriateness for a proposed restoration of the Ernest Flagg Stone Court mansion located at 209 Flagg Place in Staten Island, and for the construction of 19 one-family homes to the north and west of the mansion on the Ernest Flagg landmarked estate. The Dutch Colonial Revival style mansion was designed by Ernest Flagg and built in 1898. It was altered in 1907 with Palladian-inspired details, and several accessory buildings were constructed at this time. The mansion served as the Flagg country residence for 50 years before it became home to the St. Charles Seminary in 1947, following Flagg’s death.

Department of Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia at the CityLaw Breakfast on October 5, 2018. Image credit: CityLaw.

Sanitation determined polystyrene foam products were unrecyclable. Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia’s decision that expanded polystyrene cannot be recycled has been upheld by the Appellate Division. The decision paves the way for the City to ban the use of expanded polystyrene single service articles.

City-owned land under the approach ramps adjacent to the 26-32 Jackson Avenue development site will become public open space. Image Credit: NYC CPC

A new elementary school and public open space will be created in exchange for approval of the controversial project. On October 31, 2018, the City Council voted to approve multiple applications for two mixed-use towers with 481 new residential units at 26-32 Jackson Avenue and 27-01 Jackson Avenue in the Long Island City neighborhood in Queens. The applications, known locally as the Long Island City Ramps project, previously faced much opposition from the community. For CityLand’s prior coverage of the Long Island City Ramps project, click here.