City Council Members Torres and Levine Introduce Bill to Create Affordable Housing Watchlist and Online Map

The watchlist and online map would keep track of affordable housing rental units at-risk of becoming unaffordable, as defined by specified criteria. On April 7, 2016, New York City Council Members Ritchie Torres and Mark Levine introduced a bill to implement the creation of a watchlist for affordable residential rental units Citywide that are at risk of losing their affordable-housing status.  The bill provides the requisite criteria to be met by a residential rental unit … <Read More>


Appellate Court Reinstates Action Over Mitchell-Lama Apartment

The court found issues of fact and reversed previous summary judgment for the tenant.  In 2000, John G. and Yunia C. Rwambuya permanently vacated their apartment at 10 Waterside Plaza in the Kips Bay area of Manhattan.  The apartment complex was regulated under the Mitchell-Lama program and later converted to market-rate housing.  A settlement agreement signed by the Rwambuyas granted them a limited right to transfer their apartment to their son, Joseph Rwambuya as a … <Read More>


HPD Adopts Amendments to Mitchell-Lama Rules

New rules address transferability of applications, preferences for veterans, and more.  On November 25, 2014 the Department of Housing Preservation and Development formally adopted amendments to the rules governing city-aided limited-profit housing companies, commonly referred to as the Mitchell-Lama program.  A public hearing on the proposed changes was held on November 6, 2013 and public comments were received by HPD through November 30, 2013.


Speaker Quinn Addresses Affordable Housing in State of the City Address

Presumptive mayoral candidate focuses on solutions to the “middle class squeeze” in speech. On February 11, 2013, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn gave her final State of the City Address. Speaker Quinn, who is term limited at the end of this year, is expected to announce her candidacy for mayor in September’s Democratic primary.

Quinn’s speech focused primarily on helping the middle class. The Speaker highlighted The Middle Class Squeeze, a report … <Read More>


Local Law to preserve housing preempted

Affordable housing programs controlled by federal and state law. After multiple hearings on the declining number of affordable housing units, the City Council passed Local Law 79 of 2005 over a mayoral veto. The law gave tenants the right of first refusal to purchase their buildings when the owners sought to remove the properties from certain assisted rental housing programs. The law also allowed tenants who did not purchase their building to stay in their … <Read More>