Dept. of Finance Announces Notice of Property Value Sessions for Each Borough

February 7, 2023

The first session is tonight in Brooklyn, with additional sessions to follow. On February 3, 2023, the NYC Department of Finance announced a citywide series of Notice of Property Value (NOPV) information sessions. Property owners received a Notice of Property Value from Finance in January. The Notice of Property Value provides information about market and assessed value and other relevant information so that owners can review the information ahead of the finalization of the assessment … <Read More>

City Council Approves Reform Temple of Forest Hills Rezoning

February 6, 2023

On February 2, 2023, the City Council voted to approve a rezoning that would enable the redevelopment of the Reform Temple of Forest Hills to a ten-story mixed-use building that includes a new temple and residential space. The Reform Temple of Forest Hills is currently located at 71-11 112th Street in Forest Hills, Queens.

City Planning Commission Discusses Zoning for Carbon Neutrality Amendment Ahead of Public Review Process

February 1, 2023

Commissioners raised early questions about implementation and funding issues. On January 30, 2023, the City Planning Commission held a review session and overview discussion for the proposed Zoning for Carbon Neutrality amendment, one of the three City of Yes amendments proposed by Mayor Eric Adams last year. The Zoning for Carbon Neutrality amendment aims to reduce or eliminate unnecessary restrictions within the zoning text that inhibit a developer or building owner from using sustainable technology … <Read More>

Toppling Christopher Columbus; Public Statues and Monuments

January 4, 2023

Christopher Columbus is in trouble. Political pressure to remove Columbus monuments most recently dates from 1992 during the preparations for the 500^th anniversary of Columbus’s first voyage. The movement to remove the monuments accelerated in the summer of 2020 following the murder of George Floyd.

$20k fine for crane wind violation

December 29, 2022

Crane engineer failed to follow procedure for securing cranes during high winds. Matheau Chaudanson was a supervising engineer at a construction site located at 608 West 40^th Street, Manhattan. One of Chaudanson’s responsibilities was to monitor wind speeds and direct the out-of-service configuration of crawler cranes in order to ensure safety. Chaudanson, in anticipation of wind speeds of 60 miles per hour, participated in a meeting to discuss crawler crane configurations on February 25, … <Read More>

Loft status denied for non-resident

December 28, 2022

Loft occupant moved out prior to applying for protected status. Frank Hughes was a resident at 401 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, a commercial building with several residential units. In 2012, Hughes and other residents of the building applied to the New York City Loft Board for Loft Law occupant protection status, which referred the applications for an OATH hearing. The 401 Wythe Avenue residents sought Loft Law status because lofts in split commercial/residential buildings … <Read More>