Landmarks Preservation Commission. Credit: LPC.
Wide support voiced for designation of Coney Island pumping Station; potential extension to Douglaston Historic District and individual designation of Queens Apartment complex and religious structures proved contentious. On October 8, 2015, the Landmarks Preservation Commission held the first of four hearings meant to address the backlog of items on the Commission’s calendar added prior to 2010. Twenty-nine items were considered, in three groupings of multiple items clustered by borough. Each speaker had three minutes to testify for each batch, rather than on individual items. At the meeting, Landmark heard testimony on one batch of items in the Bronx, one in Brooklyn, and one in Queens. (more…)
Councilmembers Jumaane Williams (center) and Ben Kallos (left) at a rally for rent reform. Image credit: William Alatriste/NYC Council
Freeze vote first of its kind in Board history, applies to one-year leases in rent-regulated units. On June 29, 2015 the Rent Guidelines Board voted 7-2 to not increase rents on one-year leases, affecting 1.2 million tenants of New York City’s rent-regulated apartments. The vote marked the first occasion where the Board decided to freeze rents. The Board’s vote also increased rents on two-year leases by 2 percent, a historically-low rate. The new rents will take effect with leases begun or renewed on October 1, 2015 or later.
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Councilmember Corey Johnson at a Stated Meeting of the New York City Council. Image credit: William Alatriste/New York City Council
Bill would prohibit restricting affordable unit tenants’ access to residential building amenities. On March 31, 2015, Councilmember Corey Johnson introduced Intro 731 at the stated meeting of the New York City Council. The bill would amend the New York City administrative code to prohibit discriminating against “any person or group of persons” in the use of amenities in their building because they occupy an affordable housing unit in the building. The bill would also extend the prohibition to grounds of race, creed, color, national origin, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, partnership status, alienage or citizenship status, actual or potential presence of children, or of any lawful source of income.
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Mayor Bill de Blasio proposed a 10-year affordable housing plan that set the tone for land use in 2014. Image credit: NYC.gov
Welcome to CityLand‘s third annual top ten stories of the year! We have selected a range of our most popular and prominent stories, guest commentaries and profiles concerning New York City land use in 2014. Our third year as an online publication was marked by a new Mayor, a new Council, and a massive push to address the City’s housing shortage. We at CityLand are excited to continue providing in-depth coverage of the latest land use projects, cases, and legislation in 2015 and look forward to seeing what the year will bring. Thank you for all of your support and have a happy new year!
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Alliance for Tenant Power campaigns for rent regulation changes in Albany. Image Credit: Alliance for Power.
There are 1.1 million rent regulated apartments in New York City, housing approximately 2.5 million people. Rent regulation is the largest source of affordable housing for low-and moderate- income tenants, and is mostly concentrated in rapidly gentrifying communities with a majority population of people of color. It is a resource that we are rapidly losing to deregulation. (more…)
