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>


BSA Grants Variance for Transfer of Development Rights to Facilitate a New Charlton Street Development

The transferring property was granted a variance 15 years ago, but the development of the adjacent property had not been under the applicant’s control. On December 6, 2016, the Board of Standards and Appeals unanimously voted to grant 104 Charlton Street Condominium’s request to transfer unused development rights from the applicant’s property, located at 104 Charlton Street, to an adjacent property located at 108 Charlton Street in Manhattan’s Special Hudson Square District. Because the site … <Read More>


CityLand Recognizes New York City’s Civil Rights History

Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemorates the life of Dr. King and the work of the African-American civil rights movement in the United States.   As one of the oldest cities in America, New York City has been a location for many significant milestones of African-American history, for better and for worse.  In celebration of the holiday, we have created a list of historic places that have a connection to the civil rights community.  Some of … <Read More>


BSA Vested Rights Decision Upheld by First Department

First Department recognized retroactive validation of a permit.  In 2005, the Board of Standards and Appeals denied recognition of GRA V, LLC’s common law vested right to perform work under a Department of Buildings permit on the grounds Buildings deemed the underlying permit invalid.  (See CityLand’s extensive previous coverage here.)  A common law vested right occurs when a developer performs substantial work in reliance that the underlying permit or zoning is valid.  In 2011, … <Read More>


Variances Amended To Permit Transfer of Development Rights

BSA found development value of subject lots could not be previously realized.  On December 16, 2014 the Board of Standards and Appeals voted to grant the applicants, West 29th Street Owner’s Corp. and The Flower House Condominium, an amendment of previously existing variances on two lots.  The amendment is required to merge the lots into one zoning lot and transfer their development rights to an as-of-right hotel in development on an adjacent site.  The subject … <Read More>


Tenant Rights Coalition and Elected Officials Rally for Stronger Rent Laws to Protect Affordable Housing

City Council Speaker calls on Albany for direct City control of rent regulations from Albany. On November 18, 2014, the Alliance for Tenant Power held a rally on the steps of City Hall to urge Albany lawmakers to strengthen the New York State rent laws when they expire in June 2015. The Alliance was joined by over 20 State and local officials.