The City Planning Commission at the borough-based jails public hearing on July 10, 2019. Image Credit: CPC

City reduced projected number of beds to 4,600 but did not amend application at time of hearing. On July 10, 2019, the City Planning Commission held a public hearing for the City’s application for four borough-based jails as a part of the City’s plan to shut down Rikers Island. The application proposes four new jails at 124-125 White Street in Manhattan, 745 East 141^st Street in the Bronx, 126-02 82^nd Avenue in Queens, and at 275 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. The new jails will allow the City to shut down operations on Rikers Island and work toward the City’s goal of reducing the City’s jail population. For CityLand’s prior coverage of the proposed project, click here.

Image Credit: NYC Parks Department.

The Playground received $2.9 million in improvements. On July 17, 2019, NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver joined City Council Member Brad Lander and local community members to officially reopen Ennis Playground in Brooklyn. The project was funded by a $1.85 million allocation from Council Member Lander, $650,000 from Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams and $484,000 from Mayor Bill de Blasio. With nearly $3 million in upgrades, the new and improved Ennis Playground now features basketball courts, spray showers, new playground equipment, and a multi-purpose synthetic turf field which can accommodate free play, toss sports, picnics and more.

Image Credit: Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.’s Office.

Since 2017, Borough President Diaz has allocated over $16 million to renovate the ‘Bronx Riviera.’ On July 17, 2019, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. announced that his office has allocated an additional $6,107,400 toward the restoration of the historic Orchard Beach Pavilion and South Yard in the Pelham neighborhood of the Bronx.

Nagle WashRite LLC, located at 228 Nagle Avenue, Manhattan. Image Credit: Google Maps.

New York City residents subjected to City nuisance laws alleged that the City violated their constitutional rights. The City of New York, in separate proceedings, charged Sung Cho, David Diaz, and Jameelah El-Shabazz with violating the City’s nuisance abatement law. Under the nuisance abatement law, the City has the authority to shut a business or vacate a residence for up to one year on proof that offenses such as drug or stolen property crimes have occurred on the premises. The City relied on this nuisance law when it charged Sung Cho with the sale of stolen electronics at Sung Cho’s laundromat, Nagle WashRite LLC, located at 228 Nagle Avenue in Manhattan. In a separate case, the NYPD had arrested and subsequently sought to evict David Diaz and his family members after cocaine was found being sold from his apartment. The City also relied on the nuisance abatement law as it sought to evict El-Shabazz and her son following an arrest for drug possession.

Rendering of the Peninsula. Image Credit: WXY Architecture + Urban Design and Body Lawson Associates/HPD.

Phase One of the development will yield 183 units of deeply affordable housing ranging from studios to three-bedrooms. On July 16, 2019, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD),the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and private developers announced plans to construct the first phase of the Peninsula, a 100 percent affordable mixed-use development in the Hunts Point neighborhood of the Bronx. The project will be constructed on the site of the former Spofford Juvenile Detention Center.

Ross Sandler, Center for New York City Law Director

For 80 years Yellow Cabs have been uniquely successful in New York City, that is until Uber, Lyft and the other app-based networks undermined the industry. This is a huge loss. A street-hail cab system that offers prompt transportation in safe, inspected, insured cabs with a meter and fixed fee is a huge public service. This is especially true in the dense business districts and transportation terminals like the airports. App-based services have no advantage at these locations.