Administration for Children’s Services Commissioner David A. Hansell

David A. Hansell, Commissioner for the Administration for Children’s Services spoke at this morning’s 157th CityLaw Breakfast at New York Law School. Commissioner Hansell was introduced by Professor Ross Sandler, Director for the Center for New York City Law, with remarks by New York Law School Dean Anthony W. Crowell. Commissioner Hansell spoke about “Protecting Children, Supporting Families.

From left to right: John Schoettler, Vice President for Global Real Estate at Amazon, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, and Mayor Bill de Blasio at the November 13, 2018 Press Conference. Image Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

The project will bring tens of thousands of new jobs, billions in tax revenue, and investment in infrastructure, City says. On November 13, 2018, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that Amazon has selected Long Island City, Queens for one of its two new corporate headquarters. The City has been steadily increasing investment into Long Island City, with more than $2.4 billion of planned infrastructure investments and a recently announced $180 million investment for new schools, open space, and transportation. Long Island City is located across the East River from Midtown Manhattan and the Upper East Side, at the western tip of Queens.

Rendering of development. Image credit: HPD/Handel Architects LLP.

The mixed-use development will include affordable units, deployable food barriers, and retail frontage. On November 1, 2018, New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) announced that the start of construction of a block-sized development on Surf Avenue in Coney Island that will provide below-market-rate housing, retail, and office space to the community. The mixed-use development is projected to cost $253.9 million and will offer 446 affordable units, ranging from studios to two-bedrooms, to formerly homeless and low-income locals. The complex will have two other structures that will add approximately 500 more units of affordable housing, totaling nearly 1,000 units. The development is being led by HPD along with the Housing Development Corporation, BFC Partners, L+M Development Partners, and Taconic Investment Partners.

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.