Ross Moskowitz Talks About His Career and Current Land Use Issues

Ross Moskowitz’s legal career, focused on land use and real estate development, has provided him with the chance to work on both sides of the public/private partnerships used to promote the City’s economic development. This experience has served him well in leading the Real Estate Group at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP.

When asked how he became interested in land use and development, Moskowitz explained that after graduating from New York Law School he … <Read More>


Engineer overturns ban

Engineer filed falsified documents for two addresses. The Department of Buildings filed charges against engineer Leon St. Clair Nation after discovering that he submitted a false application to alter the second floor of a building that did not have a second floor, and that he also submitted plans with altered photographs for two separate properties. Buildings specifically charged St. Clair with violating the City rules by knowingly or negligently submitting false or misleading documents to … <Read More>


Union Square challenge to restaurant dismissed

Union Square Park renovation plan. Image:Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates

Challenge to Union Square Park renovation dismissed. Image:Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates.

Local group opposed Parks’ plan to relocate restaurant. Parks’ renovation of Union Square Park included a redesigned playground, a new comfort station, and a restored historic pavilion at the northern end of the park. The project also included moving a private seasonal restaurant, located south of the pavilion, into the pavilion. The Union Square Community … <Read More>


Brooklyn prison expansion halted by judge

Brooklyn House of Detention. Photo:Natalie Amar.

Court compelled an EIS and other public participation measures related to Brooklyn House of Detention. In 2003, the City closed the Brooklyn House of Detention, located at 275 Atlantic Avenue across from the Criminal Court. At the time, Correction reasoned that the costs of caring for each inmate at the Brooklyn facility were too high because of the facility’s small capacity. Since then, the City kept no inmates there … <Read More>


Buildings wins order to remove sign

ALJ declined to alter agreement that prevented Buildings from enforcing certain Zoning Resolution provisions relating to advertising signs. Buildings inspectors observed an advertising sign exceeding 200 sq.ft. on a building’s facade at 67 Greenwich Street in lower Manhattan. The building’s C5-5 zoning prohibited advertising signs and restricted non-illuminated signs to 200 sq.ft. Buildings charged the facade occupant OTR Media Group Inc. and building owner Syms Corp. with violating the Zoning Resolution and the construction code, … <Read More>


Washington Square plan gains commission approval

Parks presented revised design that included additional seating alcoves. On April 16, 2009, Landmarks voted to approve modifications to the master plan for Washington Square Park’s renovation. The modifications include the construction of a performance stage and the alteration and retention of seating alcoves. At a March 17th hearing, residents, as well as Council Member Alan Gerson, urged Landmarks to deny the proposal, stating that the stage was too small and the alcoves were too … <Read More>