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>


Tenant Harassment Bills Package to be Considered by Committee

City Council Committee to hear testimony on a package of bills intended to strengthen protections for tenants subject to harassment by landlords. Since the mid-2000s and largely due to the housing bubble, predatory equity has become a metastasis on the New York City housing market. The expulsion of both rent stabilized and market-rate tenants is accomplished through means both legal, by abusing technical loopholes in State law, and illegal, by dangerous living conditions and intimidation.


Owner Fined $1200 for SRO Use

Owner leased space to non-profit providing services under contract with the State Department of Mental Health. The current certificate of occupancy for a three story building located at 101-36 104th St., Queens, provided for three residential units, one per floor. The owner of the building leased the third floor to Promoting Specialized Care and Health, a non-profit. The non-profit, under contract with the New York State Department of Mental Health, provides assistance to individuals with … <Read More>


Tenant Waived Right to File Challenge Against Loft Board

Loft tenant filed a petition to annul a New York City Loft Board’s amended final determination that the fourth floor consisted of two separate and distinct apartment units, claiming he was the occupant of the entire floor. SMC Associates, the owner of a loft at 329 Greenwich Street, filed plans to legalize two units on the fourth floor of the building. Longtime tenant Stephen Grant challenged the legalization plan, claiming that the space on the … <Read More>


Landmark Owner Sues Architect Over Renovation

Architect failed to submit plans to Commission for renovation of landmarked building; owner had to remove alterations. In 2008, Lorraine and Edward Gerrity, the owners of a landmarked building located at 143 Bergen St. in Brooklyn, contracted with architects Herbert Ruderman and George Restivo to renovate their home. The architects submitted plans to Buildings and to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, which approved the alteration to the landmarked building. The Gerritys then made changes in … <Read More>


CRES Event: Breakfast Forum on the Future of Retail Real Estate

Breakfast Forum on
The Future of Retail Real Estate

featuring

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Andrea Drasites, Managing Director, Real Estate Group, Blackstone
Hope Knight, President and CEO, Greater Jamaica Development Corporation
Susan Kurland, Executive Vice President and Co-Head, Global Retail Services, Savills Studley
Peter Schwartz ’84, General Counsel, U.S., Westfield Corporation

MODERATOR
Gerald Korngold, Professor of Law and Director, Center for Real Estate Studies, New York Law School

***

WHEN
Tuesday, April 25, … <Read More>