The cover page of the report jointly issued by Housing Conservation Coordinators Inc. and MFY Legal Services Inc. Image credit: BJH Advisors LLC

The report found that the pervasive use of Airbnb in New York City is likely the indirect causation of incredibly low residential vacancy rates and rising rental rates. In June of 2016, housing advocacy groups Housing Conservation Coordinators and MFY Legal Service jointly issued a study on the impact Airbnb and similar short-term rental-facilitating platforms have on the traditional housing market in New York City. While there are several companies connecting short-term rental apartments with people seeking such accommodations, the biggest player in the market right now is undoubtedly Airbnb.

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Owner of building with a chimney sued the developer of an adjacent, taller building for the expense of bringing the chimney into Code compliance. West Chelsea Building LLC owns a 10-story building, located at 516 West 26^th Street, Manhattan, with a chimney on the roof. Jack Guttman and others own an adjacent building at 543-545 West 25^th Street. Between 2005 and 2007 the Guttman group converted its property into the Arts Tower Condominium and increased its height to 21 floors. The height of the new building exceeded the height of the chimney on West Chelsea’s adjacent building, which rendered the chimney non-compliant with the City Administrative Code §27-859. The Code requires that a chimney be at least as high as the height of adjoining structures. (more…)

City Planning Commissioners preparing to begin the February 3rd meeting. Image credit: CityLand

Despite expressing broad support for proposals, City Planning calls on City Council to make further modifications.  On February 3, 2016, the City Planning Commission voted to approve the Mandatory Inclusionary Housing and Zoning for Quality and Affordability proposals, which are two of the major programs to be implemented under Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Housing New York plan.  This was the first opportunity for City Planning to present its modified versions of the MIH and ZQA proposals since receiving highly critical testimony at its 13 hour hearing held on December 16, 2015.

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Architectural rendering of The Jardim. Image credit: Office of Environmental Remediation/Centaur Properties

The proposed parking facility would create 39 internal parking spaces for 36 residential units.  On September 22, 2015, the City Planning Commission held a public hearing on WC 28 Realty LLC’s application seeking a special permit to build 39 off-street parking spaces attached to its proposed condominium complex for exclusive use by the condominium’s tenants.  The condominium, called the Jardim, is located in the West Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan.  The developers are allowed to build 10 accessory parking spaces as of right and require the special permit to build the additional 29 parking spaces in the proposed automated parking facility.

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339 West 29th Street, Manhattan. Image credit: Picsora

Board was not acting arbitrarily by requiring LPC approval of construction permit for addition to a historic district building.  On February 12, 2013, the Board of Standards and Appeals found they could not reinstate a Department of Buildings construction permit for Petitioner, 339 West 29th Street LLC without prior approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission.  The Board found the permit was revoked in July 2009, and in October 2009 the area containing the work site was designated the Lamartine Historic District.

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