City Council Approves SoHo Residential Conversion

The residential conversion project includes the restoration of cast-iron building in SoHo Cast-Iron Historic District. On September 7, 2017, the City Council voted 45-0 to approve an application for a special permit to allow residential and retail uses at 40 Wooster Street in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood. The applicant, 40 Wooster Street Restoration LLC which is a subsidiary of the Northwind Group, sought the special permit to allow for residential and retail uses in what was … <Read More>


Jerome Avenue Neighborhood Plan Enters Public Review Process

The proposal would create new affordable housing, public parks, and other community improvements. On August 21, 2017, the City Planning Commission began the public review process for the Department of City Planning’s proposal to rezone several neighborhoods that flank the elevated train line along Jerome Avenue in the Bronx. The Jerome Avenue Neighborhood Plan seeks to rezone several neighborhoods, including Highbridge, Concourse, Mt. Eden, Mt. Hope, University Heights and Fordham, along an approximately two-mile long … <Read More>


Council Members Raise Concerns of Climate Change and Government Takings at East Shore Rezoning Hearing

The proposed rezoning is intended to address high flood vulnerabilities on the East Shore by limiting future developments to low density buildings.  On September 5, 2017, the City Council’s Subcommittee held a hearing and voted 4-0 to approve the City Planning Department’s application to create a special zoning district on the coastal areas of Staten Island. The zoning map amendment and zoning text amendments would cover portions of the Oakwood Beach, Graham Beach, and Ocean … <Read More>


Nazi Regalia in Condo Lobby to be Investigated by the City’s Human Rights Commission

City will investigate property manager who decorated condo lobby with Nazi and other fascist regalia. On August 29, 2017, the City’s Commission on Human Rights announced that it had launched an investigation into the claims of tenant harassment at 47-55 39th Place in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Queens. The investigation stems from the display of Nazi and Confederate imagery, swastikas and other hate symbols in the lobby. Tenants, condo owners and Majority Leader Jimmy Van … <Read More>


City Planning Approves Bronx River Rezoning for Affordable Housing

The City Planning Commission approved the development of a new 13-story building in Bronx River with 220 affordable housing units and retail space. On August 23, 2017, the New York City Planning Commission issued a favorable report on an application from the 1675 JV Associates, LLC for a zoning map and text amendment. The zoning map amendment will change the current residential district (R6) into a mixed-use district (R8A/C2-4), and the text amendment will establish … <Read More>


Churches to Get Help Building Affordable Housing

Mayor and non-profit community development financial institution announce new program to help religious non-profits build affordable housing. On August 23, 2017, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation NYC, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the Mayor’s Office announced the launch of a new initiative to aid non-profits in the construction of new affordable housing. The initiative, called the New York Land Opportunity Program, is a joint venture with the goal of helping faith-based institutions … <Read More>