NYC Planning Commission Pushing For More High Rises; Increase Density in Transit Rich Neighborhoods

The Real Estate Board of New York hosted their annual event honoring commercial property management achievements and pros. One of the speakers at the event was Marisa Lago who is the City Planning Commission. In her speech, she addressed what is ahead for the City with respect to housing and what the Commission has been prioritizing.

According to Lago, New York is has a population of 8.5 million people and 4.5 million jobs. She indicated that between 2010 and 2017, NYC added 600,000 jobs. With this boom in employment there are challenges that the Commission would like to address.

Her biggest concern is to build more affordable housing. In particular they are prioritizing "as of right" developments. As of right developments are ones that comply with all applicable zoning codes. They do not require special public hearings, permits, variances or discretionary action by the City Planning Commission or Board of Standards and Appeals. Lago stated
“Since 2010 over 80% of new housing in the city has been built as-of-right. Without this development about 300,000 New Yorkers, an entire city of Pittsburgh, wouldn’t have the homes that they live in today.”

The second priority would be to increase residential density in transit-rich neighborhoods. Lago states that the Commission has been encouraging mixed-used neighborhoods in a focused way for the past two decades.

According to Globest, Lago pointed out in 2017, only 18 buildings 40 stories or higher were constructed. They accounted for only 1% of new residential buildings completed. But they accounted for 22% of new housing units. Creating more high rises would certainly bring more affordable housing in transit rich areas.

Blue Harbour Property Management is a full service NYC property management company servicing the boroughs of Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and the Bronx.  Whether it be a 1 bedroom condo or multi-family building we are able to assist our clients maximize their investments.

NYC Mayor Sets Money Aside in Preliminary Budget For Program to Legalizing Basements in Brooklyn

According to the city's 88.7 billion dollar budget, Mayor de Blasio has set aside 5.7 million dollars for a program to legalize basements in East New York.  The pilot program will be set up in East New York, Brooklyn and is part of the Mayor's plan of adding an additional 5,000 affordable housing units in the city which is a major goal of Mayor de Blasio.  The project will turn basement apartments in East New York into legal and habitable units and is part of a larger investment of 12.5 million dollars over a 3 year period.

City Councilman Rafael Espinal was a proponent of the East New York Neighborhood Plan whose goal is to "promote affordable housing preservation and development, encourage economic development, create pedestrian-friendly streets, and invest in community resources to support the long-term growth and sustainability of East New York, Cypress Hills and Ocean Hill" according to the city's website.  A spokesman for Mr. Espinal has indicated that the process of legalization would include include ensuring the presence of a window, proper fire safety requirements and other security provisions.  The City will also  loan money to cover retrofitting costs and for tenant relocations for the period of when the repairs need to be performed.  City agencies will also guide homeowners through the process and the converted units will be regulated by HPD.

Mr. Espinal stated “For too long tenants and homeowners were being put at risk of eviction and major fines, while the city was missing out on an opportunity to maintain thousands of affordable units.  I am excited for what the pilot program will yield for our immediate community, but I am also eager to see how this will reshape New York if the pilot is successful and goes to scale across the five boroughs.”

Blue Harbour Property Management is a full service NYC property management company servicing the boroughs of Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and the Bronx.  Whether it be a 1 bedroom condo or multi-family building we are able to assist our clients maximize their investments.

http://www.blueharbourpropertymanagement.com/nyc-mayor-sets-money-aside-preliminary-budget-program-legalizing-basements-brooklyn/

City Council Passes Bill Providing Legal Representation to Tenants Facing Eviction

On July 20th, the New York City Council passed a bill that would require all tenants facing eviction to have legal representation.  The bill requires that the Civil Justice coordinator implement the bill within five years.  Low-income individuals with eviction cases in housing court would have full legal representation while all other tenants not qualified would receive brief legal assistance.  Low-income individuals are New Yorkers with incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty line – or $49,200 annually for a family of four.

The program is expected to help more than 400,000 New Yorkers each year, according to a report by commissioned by the New York City Bar Association.  According to the City's Indpendent Budget Office the full cost of implementing the Right to Counsel is estimated to be $155 million.  The City believes it will save $320 million.  The savings would come from the reduction of costs associated with housing evicted individuals and preserving regulated apartments lost to evictions

Intro 214-B was sponsored by Council Members Mark Levine and Vanessa Gibson.  Mr. Levine stated “Too many of the most vulnerable New Yorkers face eviction simply because they don’t have the means to hire an attorney. Today, the passage of this bill marks the beginning of a new era for tenants in New York City. New Yorkers have a right to affordable housing and to a fair justice system. No longer will low-income tenants have to fend for themselves in Housing Court. This new law is an historic step forward in the fight against unlawful evictions. I am honored to stand alongside my colleagues as New York becomes the first city in the country to guarantee legal representation for low-income tenants in Housing Court, and I look forward to working with elected officials across the country to draft similar legislation.”  The City Council states that as of 2013 landlords were represented 99% of the time in court while tenants were represented only 1%.  By 2015 tenant representation was up to 20% according to Mr. Levine while having legal representation reduces the chances of eviction by 77%.

 Co-sponsor of the bill Vanessa Gibson stated “This is a monumental day for tenants and a historic day for the City of New York. After four years of advocating, rallying, and marching, we can finally celebrate the passage of ground breaking legislation that will curb the homelessness epidemic and end the cycle of eviction plaguing New York City. With a right to counsel in place, tenants facing eviction will finally be on an even playing field with the landlords taking them to court. I am proud to have spent four years fighting for this critically important legislation and am so thankful to the many elected officials, advocates, tenant leaders, clergy leaders, and civil legal service providers who joined Council Member Mark Levine and me in bringing equity and justice to our housing court system.”

Blue Harbour Property Management is a full service NYC property management company servicing the boroughs of Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and the Bronx.  Whether it be a 1 bedroom condo or multi-family building we are able to assist our clients maximize their investments.

http://www.blueharbourpropertymanagement.com/city-council-passes-bill-providing-legal-representation-tenants-facing-eviction/