Image Credit: NYC DOT.

Many residents and community board members complained of quality of life issues, including noise, trash, cigarette smoke, and loss of parking. On October 6, 2021, the City Planning Commission held a public hearing for the Permanent Open Restaurants program. The Permanent Open Restaurants program will formalize a process for restaurants to operate sidewalk or roadway cafes in a shortened process. The proposed permanent program follows the popularity of the temporary open restaurants program, which was created last year to allow restaurants to conduct outdoor dining in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. (more…)

Image Credit: Office of the Comptroller

Recommendations include increasing affordable housing near subway stations and increasing service on subway routes and high-ridership bus routes. On October 10, 2021, Comptroller Scott Stringer released “Beyond Rush Hour: COVID-19 and the Future of Public Transit,” a new report reviewing changes in public transit ridership due to the pandemic.  (more…)

Image Credit: NYC HPD

The program offers up to a $100,000 forgivable loan to cover down portions of down payments or closing costs. On October 4, 2021, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development announced the first expansion of its “HomeFirst” Down Payment Assistance Program. The “HomeFirst” Program offers financial assistance in the form of a forgivable loan for first-time homebuyers in purchasing a home in New York City by helping cover portions of down payments or closing costs. (more…)

Image Credit: ElectrifyNYC/Mayor’s Office for Climate and Sustainability.

On September 20, 2021, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the launch of ElectrifyNYC, a program that will help New Yorkers install solar panels and air source heat pump technology. The program is designed to help the City advance its goals of reducing carbon emissions creating equitable access to green technologies.  (more…)

90-60 179th Place, one of the four impacted properties, had over 20 lead-based paint violations. Image Credit: Google Maps.

The four impacted buildings have over 200 households. On August 19, 2021, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development announced a settlement agreement with a building owner for the correction of lead-based paint violations across four buildings in the Bronx and Queens. The four buildings are 1585 White Plains Road and 58 East 190th Street in the Bronx, and 90-60 179th Place and 150-02 88th Avenue in Queens. The building owner, Ved Parkash, will be responsible for correcting the violations under an Order to Correct by August 29th and must pay $60,000 in civil penalties for violations under Local Law 1 of 2004.  (more…)