De Blasio and Union Agree on New Work Schedules and Fair Wages for NYCHA Maintenance Workers

The agreement will result in more frequent maintenance services and repairs, benefitting nearly 400,000 NYCHA residents. On April 9, 2019, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Teamsters Local 237 President Greg Floyd announced that the City has reached an agreement for a tentative contract with the union for fair wages and work schedules for maintenance workers. The agreement secures fair wages for approximately 1,000 NYCHA maintenance workers and approximately 350 maintenance workers at various other City … <Read More>


HPD Announces Program To Allocate Funds to Nonprofits for Vacant Property Development

The City estimates the program will assist in the acquisition of approximately 35 vacant sites over the next five years. On March 8, 2019, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development announced a new program to advance the process for affordable housing development by providing loans for upfront costs to nonprofit developers. The New York City Down Payment Assistance Fund (DPAF) seeks to speed up the development process for affordable housing by … <Read More>


NYCHA Begins Lead Paint Testing at Bronx River Houses Development.

The lead paint testing initiative comes from the City’s plans to eliminate childhood lead exposure and improve quality of living in public housing. On March 15, 2019, the New York City Housing Authority announced that it will be accelerating its new lead-based paint testing plan at the Bronx River Houses located in the Soundview section of the Bronx. The Bronx River Houses is one of the first set of developments NYCHA will begin testing in … <Read More>


New Rezoning to Revitalize Portion of Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn

In addition to 114 new residential units, 34 of which will be affordable, the new development will feature two stories of retail space that is responsive to community needs.  On March 13, 2019, the City Planning Commission voted to approve an application for a rezoning in the Flatbush Junction neighborhood of Brooklyn. The application calls for a rezoning of the applicant’s property at 1640 Flatbush Avenue, facing the Triangle Junction shopping mall to the north, … <Read More>


City Planning Approves Modified Rezoning of Summit Street in Brooklyn

The applicant’s proposed rezoning received strong pushback from the community. On January 9, 2019, the City Planning Commission held a public hearing on a proposed rezoning in the Columbia Street Waterfront District in Brooklyn. The applicant, 41 Summit Street LLC, sought a zoning map and a zoning text change to facilitate the development of a seven-story, approximately 10,000 square foot residential building at 41 Summit Street. The application was presented to the City Planning Commission … <Read More>