24-59 32nd Street, Astoria. Image Credit: Google Maps.

Building owner challenged loss of advertising rights. In 1998, Astoria Landing purchased an existing four-story apartment building located in a residential zone at 24-59 32nd Street in Astoria, Queens. The building’s previous owner had obtained a permit to display commercial advertisements and begun to display advertisements in the 1940s. In 1961, the City adopted new zoning rules which banned the display of advertisements in residential areas. In 1981, the Department of Buildings erroneously renewed the previous owner’s permit. After the purchase of the building in 1998, Astoria Landing continued to display commercial advertisements. (more…)

Frank St. Jacques.

While in college at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Frank St. Jacques dreamed that one day he would live in New York City. He did not know then that it would ultimately lead him to becoming a land use attorney at a national law firm, Akerman LLP. (more…)

NYC HPD

The revised Section 421-a offers new opportunities for affordable housing. The 421-a property tax exemption began in 1971 as an incentive for developers to develop badly needed housing in New York City. When the real estate market rebounded in the 80s, the program was amended to condition tax abatements on the construction of affordable housing units. The program expired in June 2016. In its place, the State Legislature passed the “Affordable New York” program in 2017. (more…)