Amendment streamlines process for reconstruction, elevation of homes. On July 23, 2015 the City Council approved an amendment to the zoning text relating to homes in areas impacted by Hurricane Sandy. The amendment is designed to remove complications faced by 2,000 owners of one- and two-family homes in Staten Island, Southern Queens, and Southern Brooklyn who have been working to rebuild and elevate their homes in the event of another flood, while lowering the cost … <Read More>
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Council Approves Hospital for Special Surgery Expansion
Expansion is designed to increase Hospital’s operating-room capacity. On July 23, 2015 the City Council approved a special permit for expansion of the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The expansion will increase HSS’ lot coverage by 2,820 square feet. The permit was unanimously approved by the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises on July 20 and by the Committee on Land Use on July 21.
Council Member Donovan Richards Takes Over as Zoning Subcommittee Chair
The Council member previously chaired the Committee on Environmental Protection. On July 20, 2015 the City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises was held for the first time with new committee chair Council member Donovan Richards. Council member Richards was elected to the Council in 2013 from the 31st Council District, representing southeast Queens and the Rockaways. He was voted in as chair on June 26 to replace Council member Mark Weprin after Weprin … <Read More>
CityLaw Profile – COIB General Counsel Wayne Hawley on Ethical City Government
Wayne Hawley has served with the Conflicts of Interest Board since 1999. Born in California, Hawley grew up in a military family and moved frequently, completing high school in Virginia before returning to California as an undergrad at Claremont McKenna College. He relocated to the East Coast again for Yale Law School, then in his words, “followed the bouncing ball” back to Los Angeles for two years of private practice. Hawley crossed the country again … <Read More>
CityLaw: Three Policy Questions for Nonprofit Property Tax Exemptions
A long-standing feature of American tax policy is the exemption granted to nonprofit organizations, the largest of which is the exemption from local property taxes. The exemption, with origins back to the 18th century, is widespread. Among the 50 states, 17 state constitutions mandate property tax exemptions for charitable organizations, 25 authorize the legislature to give exemptions, and eight do not address the issue. New York State establishes two classes of exemptions for nonprofits: … <Read More>
Council Subcommittee Hears Testimony on One Vanderbilt
Representatives of the project and the Department of City Planning spoke during a four-hour hearing. On April 13, 2015 the City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises held a public hearing on One Vanderbilt, a proposed 1,450-foot commercial tower in East Midtown, as well as an accompanying proposal to rezone five blocks of Vanderbilt Avenue to create the Vanderbilt Corridor. The building will be located adjacent to Grand Central Terminal, bounded by East 42nd Street … <Read More>