No Notice Required for Pothole Injury

Police officers were injured when their car struck a pothole that had been repaired by the City. On September 7, 2011, at about 12:40 a.m., while on patrol, two New York City police officers sustained personal injuries when their vehicle’s tire fell into a roadway hole located in the northbound lane of Saint Nicholas Avenue between 124th Street and 125th Street. 


City Council Denies Proposed Development Next to Merchant House Museum

Supporters of preserving the Merchant House Museum rejoice in victory, but the battle may not be over as future demolition and construction is possible. On September 26, 2018, the City Council voted to disapprove the application for a rezoning at 27 East 4th Street in Manhattan. The Application would have allowed for an 8-story, 28-room hotel or office building with a restaurant and lobby below the second floor, with approximately 17,141 square feet of … <Read More>


Needed: Large Venues for Large Protest/Rallies in New York City

Peaceful protests, protected by the First Amendment, are fundamental to our constitutional system and to democracy. Peaceful protest marches and rallies have been instrumental in bringing about significant change in racial, gender, LGBTQ and economic equality; reproductive rights; climate policy; capital punishment; housing; criminal justice, and voting rights. Yet in recent years appropriate venues have been unavailable for large peaceful protests, raising the question of whether City practices inappropriately limit the exercise of First Amendment … <Read More>


Homeowner’s Cash Award Remanded

Homeowner claimed home improvement contractor did incompetent work. Favors and Company Inc., a home improvement contractor, and Edmina Lee, a homeowner, entered into a series of home improvement contracts to make repairs for her two properties located at 112-28 199th Street and at 186-21 Hilburn Avenue, Queens. Work related to the 199th Street property occurred between April 28, 2014 and May 23, 2014. Work related to the Hilburn Avenue property occurred between May 15, … <Read More>


Challenge to Denial of Hardship Application Fails on Appeal

Developer claimed that Commissioners irrationally and prejudicially analyzed hardship application, and that designation amounted to an unconstitutional taking. In 1990, Landmarks designated the City and Suburban Homes Company, First Avenue Estate an individual City landmark. The block-sized development is bounded East 64th and 65th Streets and York and First Avenues. Built between 1819 and 1915, it was constructed to provide high-quality housing to low-income New Yorkers in an alternative to crowded, poorly ventilated tenement buildings. … <Read More>


Crane Operator Involved in 2016 TriBeCa Collapse Has License Permanently Revoked

After judge finds operator at fault of fatal collapse, agency revokes license. On May 2, 2018, the Department of Buildings announced it permanently revoked the Hoist machine Operator license of crane operator Kevin J. Reilly. Reilly was involved in the fatal crane collapse in February 2016 on Worth Street in TriBeCa adjacent to New York Law School. Reilly’s license was suspended in December 2016 and DOB filed an action to permanent revocation. CityLand previously covered <Read More>