Councilmember Introduces Anti-“Poor Door” Legislation

Bill would prohibit restricting affordable unit tenants’ access to residential building amenities.  On March 31, 2015, Councilmember Corey Johnson introduced Intro 731 at the stated meeting of the New York City Council.  The bill would amend the New York City administrative code to prohibit discriminating against “any person or group of persons” in the use of amenities in their building because they occupy an affordable housing unit in the building.  The bill would also extend … <Read More>


New School Hosts Panel Discussion on Historic Preservation and Affordable Housing

Elected officials, affordable housing advocates, and preservationists speak on historic preservation’s impact on New York City’s affordable housing shortage. On September 16, 2014, The Milano School of International Affairs, Management, and Urban Policy at The New School hosted a panel discussion on New York City’s affordable housing shortage and historic preservation. The discussion was co-presented by the Historic Districts Council and the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation. The panel featured Manhattan Borough President <Read More>


No rent benefits for loft renters

Tenants in loft law units sought rent regulation protection based on 2010 amendments. 59 Crosby Street in Manhattan was an interim multiple dwelling covered under the 1982 loft law. This law required an owner to convert an interim multiple dwelling building into legal residential premises and obtain a certificate of occupancy. The owners of 59 Crosby in 1984 purchased the rights and improvements to the fifth-floor interim multiple dwelling unit from the then-current tenant. In … <Read More>


Sunset Park rezoning approved

Community groups expressed concern that 128-block rezoning would displace low-income residents. On September 30, 2009, the City Council approved the Department of City Planning’s proposal to rezone 128 blocks of Brooklyn’s Sunset Park in order to address recent out-of-scale development inconsistent with the area’s predominantly residential character. The plan replaces the neighborhood’s R6 zoning with contextual zoning districts — R4A, R4-1, R6B, R6A, and R7A — that match the area’s context and also establish maximum … <Read More>


Lower East Side rezoning plan fiercely debated

Rezoning of East Village/LES. Proposed Zoning Map used with permission of the New York City Dept. of Planning. All rights reserved.

City Planning’s proposal challenged by issues related to affordable housing and protecting Chinatown. On August 13, 2008, the City Planning Commission heard extensive testimony on a plan to rezone 111 blocks in the East Village and Lower East Side of Manhattan. The Department of City Planning began the public review process for the original … <Read More>