NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer. Image credit: Office of the New York City Comptroller

Audit reveals that Department of Buildings did not inspect non-compliant POPS locations. On November 22, 2017, the Office of the City Comptroller Scott Stringer released a report of a follow-up audit to determine whether the Privately Owned Public Spaces (POPS), previously found noncompliant in an April 18, 2017 audit, now provided all required amenities, and what action if any were taken by the Department of Buildings to bring these POPS into compliance. To read CityLand’s previous coverage on the Comptroller’s initial audit, click here. (more…)

NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer. Image credit: Office of the New York City Comptroller

Comptroller’s audit finds that the City has fallen substantially short in its duty of overseeing Privately Owned Public Space agreements, including agreements with Trump Tower, Trump International Hotel, and Trump Plaza. On April 18, 2017, the Office of the City Comptroller Scott Stringer released a report of an audit of how adequately the City oversees Privately Owned Public Space agreements with developers and building owners. Privately Owned Public Space agreements are created by developers in exchange for the City allowing the developer to construct taller and denser buildings than would otherwise be allowed by zoning regulations. The agreements create outdoor or indoor spaces that are required to be open for public use and maintained by the developers and owners of private buildings. Currently there are 333 Privately Owned Public Spaces in New York City, totaling 23 million square feet of additional floor area allowed in exchange for the space. To read a previously published CityLand Commentary on Privately Owned Public Spaces, click here. (more…)

Over half the existing plazas and other public spaces located on private property lack the benches, vegetation, artwork, lighting and other amenities required by the City’s zoning code or promised by the developers in return for permission to build taller and larger buildings, as reported by Comptroller Scott Stringer in an April 18, 2017 audit. Stringer recommended more inspections by the Department of Buildings to bring these privately-owned public spaces (so-called “POPS”) into compliance. But there are two problems with Stringer’s recommendation: Buildings disagreed with the recommendation and does not plan more inspections; and the Department of City Planning, the agency that approves changes in the public spaces, lacks clear standards and takes too long to issue approvals. (more…)