Council Member Ben Kallos at the press conference on renovation and upgrade to the Isaacs Center. Image credit: Council Member Ben Kallos.

Senior center and youth center in NYCHA housing will have kitchen and bathrooms upgraded. On June 8, 2018, City Council Member Ben Kallos, together with the New York City Housing Authority, announced the start of renovations and upgrades for the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center. The Isaacs Center is located in Holmes Towers at 415 East 93^rd Street. Construction is expected to be completed by February 2019 and full completion and use of the facility scheduled to be available by July 31, 2019.

Additions schematic. Image credit: LPC.

After 2014 plan was withdrawn in face of public outcry, museum presented Selldorf-designed proposal to create more space for exhibitions, conservators, and educational programs. On May 29, 2018, the Landmarks Preservation Commission considered a proposal for the construction of rear and roof additions, as well as additional work, to the Frick Collection, an individual City landmark. The Frick was built as a mansion for industrialist Henry Clay Frick by the firm of Carrere and Hastings, and was converted to a museum displaying his art collection after his death. The building and its grounds stand at 895 Fifth Avenue on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

Image credit: HPD.

Modernization of apartment complex includes extension of affordability for the next 40 years. On June 5, 2018, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development announced completion of modernization work at the Fox Hill Apartments. The New York State Homes and Community Renewal, Rockabill Consulting-Development, Park Management, and development partners joined HPD in a ribbon cutting ceremony in front of the complex, at 320 Vanderbilt Avenue in Staten Island.

Apartments in New York City. Image credit: Esteban Chiner.

Can New Yorkers rent their homes during the summer while they are away? Homeowners and tenants rent their homes while they are away this summer, but the question is: Is this Legal?

AC unit in NYC Apartment. Image credit: Traci Lawson on flickr.com.

Failure to install or dispose of an air conditioning unit correctly can lead to fines ranging from as little as $100 to $1000. It could be hard to survive the summer heat in New York without an air conditioning unit. There are a few tips New Yorkers should recognize about the installation and disposal of air conditioning units. The Department of Buildings has also provided a set of guidelines on their website for the installation of air conditioning units that could be accessed here.

Fire Hydrant. Image credit: D. Rosenbach at en.wikipedia

Opening a hydrant without a permit is a violation that is punishable by a fine up to $1,000 or 30 days in jail. City fire hydrants may be opened by authorized employees of the Department of Environmental Protection and the Fire Department at any time. However, the DEP and FDNY have procedures and guidelines for how residential New Yorkers and commercial businesses can gain access to fire hydrant use for recreational and non-recreational purposes. Almost every single block in New York City has at least one fire hydrant. Most people assume that they are there for exclusive use by the FDNY in case of a fire, however, you too can use a fire hydrant if you follow the necessary steps.