Proposal would increase fines for illegal conversions of residences into hotels. On December 3, 2007, the City Council’s Committee on Housing and Buildings held a public hearing on a proposal to increase fines on building owners who illegally convert residential units, especially rent-regulated ones, into hotel units.

Council Member Gail Brewer sponsored the proposal as a way to eliminate these illegal conversions, which she feels drain the limited housing supply, place additional pressure on the tight rental market, and deny permanent tenants the quiet enjoyment of their homes.

The proposal specifically prohibits the conversion of dwelling units classified as J-2 or J-3, which are intended for month-to-month or longer stays, to hotel units intended for day-to-day or week-to-week stays. Owners who illegally convert such dwelling units would be subject to the following fine schedule per unit: between $1,000 and $5,000 for a first-time offense, $2,500 and $5,000 for a second offense committed within an eighteen-month period, and $10,000 and $20,000 for a third or subsequent offense committed within an 18-month period. (more…)

BIDs receive over $3.1 million increase in annual spending. On November 28, 2007, the City Council passed a local law to increase the annual budget for 10 business improvement districts and one special assessment district. The increases will require property owners within these districts to pay more into their BID or SAD.

The Times Square Alliance received the largest increase at $768,000, bringing its annual budget to $10.4 million. Outside of Manhattan, the largest increase went to the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership, located in the Fort Greene/Clinton Hill section of Brooklyn, which received a $100,000 increase, raising its annual budget to $350,000. (more…)

Concerns over eminent domain dominate hearing. On November 29, 2007, the City Council’s committees on Land Use and Economic Development held their second oversight hearing on New York City Economic Development Corporation’s proposal to redevelop 61 acres of Willets Point in Queens. The site, located directly east of Shea Stadium, largely consists of a range of auto-related, light industrial and manufacturing private businesses. EDC seeks to acquire the entire area and create an urban renewal plan for a new 8.9 million-square-foot mixed-use development. 4 CityLand 87 (July 15, 2007).

At the hearing, EDC President Robert Lieber testified that EDC is working with Willets Point businesses on a relocation plan by which the businesses would move to private property or City-owned or controlled property. Lieber also stated that some businesses have already agreed to relocate so long as EDC purchases similar industrial property on their behalf. Moreover, to address potential job losses, Lieber announced that EDC would work with LaGuardia Community College and run a workforce assistance program. (more…)

Plan for seven buildings includes Boricua College campus, 679 residential units and over 36,000 sq.ft. of retail. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development proposed to amend the Melrose Commons Urban Renewal Area Plan in the Bronx to facilitate a large, seven building, mixed-use, residential and commercial complex called Boricua Village to be constructed on a 4.2-acre lot in the northeast corner of Melrose Commons.

HPD’s plan called for 18 changes to the existing Melrose Commons Urban Renewal Plan, which the City adopted in 1994 to encourage development in a 34- block area of the Bronx, roughly stretching from East 163rd Street to East 156th Street between St. Ann’s and Third Avenues to Melrose and Courtlandt Avenues. The amendments included changes in land use designations and the elimination of height limits, lot coverage requirements, street wall coverage provisions, and curb cut restrictions. HPD’s proposal also called for the rezoning of the entire 4.2-acre site to R8 with a C2-4 overlay to allow a higher residential floor area, and the disposition of 42 City-owned lots. (more…)

Council member for the district supported projects. On May 30, 2007, the City Council approved two housing projects proposed for Harlem by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development despite residents’ criticisms over the affordable housing components.

HPD submitted a proposal by BRP Development for a 38-unit condominium project called The Savannah to be built at 2110 Frederick Douglass Boulevard. The nine-story mixed-use building would also include 5,273 sq.ft. of commercial space and 815 sq.ft. of community space. BRP proposed to reserve eight of the 38 residential units for persons with incomes at or below 80 percent of the area median income.

The second project, proposed for 21 West 128th Street, would contain 26 rental units in a six-story building to be developed by the Phipps Houses Group. The affordable housing plan called for eight units to be targeted to formerly homeless families and reserved for persons earning 30 percent of the median income. Phipps would also reserve the remaining 18 units for persons earning under 60 percent of the median income. (more…)