City forces eight landlords to fix building code violations in twelve buildings by threatening to stop paying rent for tenants on public assistance. On May 26, 2016, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Public Advocate Letitia James announced the use of the 1962 New York State Spiegel Law as a tool to compel landlords to fix violations for tenants receiving public assistance. Landlords who do not complete repairs quickly will lose out on rent payments.
Search Results for: Housing Justice
Court Rejects Developer’s Attempt to Appeal Denial of Hardship Application
Stahl York Avenue Company is unable to demolish and redevelop two Lenox Hill apartment buildings due to Landmark designation. On January 8, 2016, New York County Supreme Court Justice Michael D. Stallman denied an article 78 petition filed by Stahl York Avenue to allow redevelopment a portion of the site known as the City and Suburban Homes Company, First Avenue Estate. The Landmarks Preservation Commission designated this location in 1990 and amended the … <Read More>
Appellate Court Reinstates Action Over Mitchell-Lama Apartment
The court found issues of fact and reversed previous summary judgment for the tenant. In 2000, John G. and Yunia C. Rwambuya permanently vacated their apartment at 10 Waterside Plaza in the Kips Bay area of Manhattan. The apartment complex was regulated under the Mitchell-Lama program and later converted to market-rate housing. A settlement agreement signed by the Rwambuyas granted them a limited right to transfer their apartment to their son, Joseph Rwambuya as a … <Read More>
Appellate Division Upholds Homeless Shelter Siting
Court agreed DHS met their burden under the Fair Share Criteria. In 2012 the Department of Homeless Services opened Freedom House, a 200-family homeless shelter at 316-330 West 95th Street in Manhattan’s Upper West Side on an emergency contract. When the emergency contract expired, then-Comptroller John C. Liu declined to register the permanent contract. A community group, Neighborhood In The Nineties, filed an Article 78 petition to enjoin the Comptroller from registering the … <Read More>
History in the Making: The New York City Landmarks Law at 50
Speakers spoke of the different priorities of City government and other stakeholders, examined preservation strategies of municipalities nationwide, and considered changes in the legal landscape that could affect landmarking. On October 26, 2015, , Meenakshi Srinivasan, Chair of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, and Jerold Kayden, Professor at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, co-hosted an event titled “History in the Making: The New York City Landmarks Law at 50.” The event held at … <Read More>
Intro 214 “Right to Counsel” Bill Garners Citywide Support
If enacted into law, Intro 214 would make New York City the first municipality in the nation to provide free legal representation to low-income tenants in Housing Court. On March 26, 2014, the “Right to Counsel” bill was introduced in the New York City Council by co-sponsors Council members Mark Levine and Vanessa Gibson. The proposed law would provide free legal representation to low-income City tenants and homeowners earning income that is not in … <Read More>