Search Results for: School Construction Authority

Illegal Conversion Legislation Considered [UPDATE: City Council Passes Bill]

UPDATE: On May 10, 2017, the City Council voted 49-0 approve the new legislation. The new law, sponsored by Council Members Vincent Gentile and Jumaane Williams, increases the minimum civil penalty for immediate hazardous illegal conversions to $15,000 fine for each dwelling unit beyond the number that are legally authorized. The legislation was proposed after a two-alarm fire in an illegally converted unit in East Flatbush, Brooklyn killed one person, injured five more, and … <Read More>

Planning Commission Approves Sale of 8.5 Acres for New Commercial Commons

Approval will facilitate the construction of an industrial park with a bank, restaurant, and commercial and medical offices. On February 22, 2017, the City Planning Commission approved an application from the Department of Citywide Administrative Services to dispose of city-owned property in the Staten Island Industrial Park. The 8.5-acre lot in question is a largely wooded and undeveloped area. The site does contain two small wetlands totaling 1.5 acres, and is adjacent to the Staten … <Read More>

Civil Rights Laws in New York: Strength in a Time of Change

Following the Presidential election and reports of increased discriminatory harassment, many Americans have expressed concerns that the federal government may weaken its enforcement of civil rights laws. For those of us who live, work or attend school in New York, it is important to know and to enforce the strong civil rights protections that exist under New York City and New York State law.

Both New York State and New York City have enacted Human … <Read More>

New Bill by Council Member Gentile Takes Aim at Illegal Home Conversions

Proposal imposes steep fines on bad actors, and helps Buildings inspectors gain premises access. On June 21, 2016, New York City Council Members Vincent J. Gentile, Jumaane D. Williams, and Barry S. Grodenchik introduced legislation that would impose high penalties on bad actor landlords and equip the Department of Buildings with means to gain entry into suspected illegal conversion sites. This bill was developed with the support of Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, after a … <Read More>

City Developer Denied Tax Abatement

Court found that application was not filed within the statutory time period of one year. On January 27, 2016, the New York State Supreme Court denied a Brooklyn developer’s petition to reverse a Department of Finance decision to not grant a tax abatement. The Developer, 96 Wythe Acquisitions, filed the petition after the Department of Finance denied the application for the tax abatement because it was not filed within the mandatory one-year requirement. 96 Wythe … <Read More>