City to Create Senior Housing and Community Space Despite Strong Opposition

Senior affordable housing proposal would build over existing community park and green space. On Friday December 8, 2017, the New York City Housing and Preservation Department announced development plans that will create 121 affordable senior apartments and a community designed public open space in the Nolita neighborhood of Manhattan. Haven Green, an affordable new senior housing development will be affordable to seniors earning between $20,040 and $40,080 and include housing for formerly homeless seniors.… <Read More>


A Better Path for East Midtown

Early in January 2017 the City of New York began the official public approval process for a proposal to rezone East Midtown Manhattan. The proposal was based in part on a report by the East Midtown Steering Committee co-chaired by the Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and the District 4 Council Member Daniel Garodnick.

The new 2017 proposal is the third proposal for rezoning East Midtown. In 2013 the Bloomberg Administration proposed to rezone East … <Read More>


Stuccoing of 19th-Century Governors Island Red-Brick Ordnance Storehouse Approved

In addition to re-facing to prevent further damage to the porous, water-damaged brick, work will aid expansion of tenant artists’ colony. On May 9, 2017, the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved an application by the Trust for Governors Island to reclad an 1870s building constructed as an ordnance storehouse in stucco, with other alterations. The 300-foot-long two-and-a-half story building is part of the Governors Island Historic District. The red brick Romanesque Revival storehouse served as … <Read More>


BSA Grants Variance for Transfer of Development Rights to Facilitate a New Charlton Street Development

The transferring property was granted a variance 15 years ago, but the development of the adjacent property had not been under the applicant’s control. On December 6, 2016, the Board of Standards and Appeals unanimously voted to grant 104 Charlton Street Condominium’s request to transfer unused development rights from the applicant’s property, located at 104 Charlton Street, to an adjacent property located at 108 Charlton Street in Manhattan’s Special Hudson Square District. Because the site … <Read More>


Schneiderman Announces Indictment of NYC Landlord in $5 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme

A New York City landlord was indicted for mortgage fraud scheme in Lower Manhattan, stemming from tenant harassment investigation. On April 6, 2017, New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced the indictment of Dean Galasso, a New York City landlord. Galasso was indicted on six felony charges in relation to an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain a multi-million-dollar mortgage to finance the acquisition of a rental building. Galasso faces one count of Grand … <Read More>


Subcommittee Delays Action on Three Landmark Designations

Six designations sent to full Council where they were ratified; three items held over for further deliberation. On February 27, 2017, City Council’s Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Siting, and Maritime Uses heard testimony and voted on the items designated at the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s last meeting devoted to the backlog initiative. The designated properties were introduced to the Subcommittee by Landmarks’ Lisa Kersavage and Lauren George. The Subcommittee approved designations for six of the … <Read More>