Map depicting the three project site locations. Image Credit: CPC/HPD

The three sites will have amenities for residents and are transit accessible. On September 4, 2019, the City Council Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Siting and Maritime Uses held a public hearing on an application to develop affordable housing on three City-owned properties located in Brownsville, Brooklyn.  The properties are located at 47 New Lots Avenue, 609-615 Osborn Street, and 120-122 Liberty Avenue. The three properties are small, underutilized sites and are currently vacant. The application proposed the development of two residential buildings and one mixed-use building, which would bring approximately 41 affordable housing units to the Brownsville neighborhood.

NYS Attorney General Letitia James & former NYC Public Advocate. Image Credit: Center for CityLaw.

The Public Advocate identified and ranked the City’s 100 worst landlords based on public data compiled by various City agencies. Public Advocate Letitia James annually published “The 100 Worst Landlords in New York City,” or the “Watchlist.” James identified and ranked landlords based primarily on the total number of open violations each landlord received from the Department of Buildings and Housing Preservation and Development.
Kamran Hakim, owner of two residential buildings in Manhattan, appeared on the Watchlist for 2015 and 2016. Hakim challenged James’ action, asserting that she abused her powers as Public Advocate and harmed the landlords.

Tribeca Historic District signs like this one won’t be extended to neighboring blocks. Image Credit: Center for CityLaw.

Tribeca Trust sought to extend the Tribeca Historic District. In 2016, the Tribeca Trust filed a Request for Evaluation with the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission which proposed that the Commission extend the borders of three historic districts in the Tribeca neighborhood.
The Commission denied Tribeca Trust’s Request and refused to advance the Request. The Commission reasoned that much of the area did not merit designation and there was already a preexisting high level of landmark protection in Tribeca.

Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot with Dean Anthony W. Crowell and Professor Ross Sandler. Image Credit: CityLaw

On Thursday, September 5, 2019, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot spoke at the 162nd CityLaw Breakfast at New York Law School. Dr. Barbot was introduced by Professor Ross Sandler, Director of the Center for New York City Law, with remarks by Dean Anthony W. Crowell. Dr. Barbot spoke on “Measles: NYC Policy and Thoughts on Anti-Vaccine Movement.”

Protestors opposed to the borough-based jails project attended the special hearing. Image Credit: City Planning Commission

Borough based jail proposal moves to City Council. On September 3, 2019, the City Planning Commission approved the Department of Corrections, the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services’ application for a special permit to create a borough-based jail system with modifications. The application passed by a 9-3 vote with Commissioners Alfred C. Cerullo III, Orlando Marin and Raj Ramphershad voting against the proposal.

Rendering of Bronx Point. Image Credit: City Planning Commission

Bronx Point could spark development in the South Bronx. On August 14, 2019, the City Planning Commission unanimously approved an Urban Development Action Area Project (“UDAAP”) application in the South Bronx. The project, more commonly referred to as “Bronx Point” was brought by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (“HPD”) to designate the property located north of East 150^th Street, south of Mill Pond Park, west of Exterior Street/Major Deegan Expressway and east of the Harlem River as an UDAAP. UDAAP designations provide tax exemptions for the rehabilitation or new construction of housing, on former city owned land, if City Council determines the area to be in need of an urban renewal.