New York RealEstateRama

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) remind building owners of free federal grants available to correct health hazards in buildings constructed before 1960. The Primary Prevention Program offers grants averaging $10,000 per apartment to support lead paint hazard repair work. Peeling lead paint is the most common cause of lead poisoning in young children.

The New York Power Authority announced today that the opportunity for school districts in New York State to “go solar” will be expedited with the selection of two additional solar power vendors. Schools can reduce their energy costs by participating in Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s K-Solar initiative, a first-of-its kind program launched in January 2014, to combat climate change by promoting renewable energy use.

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer and New York City Housing Development Corporation President Eric Enderlin announced the opening of the Housing Connect lottery for 120 affordable apartments at Compass Residences 2A, located at 1524 Boone Avenue in the Crotona Park East neighborhood of the Bronx.

RoAnn M. Destito, New York State Office of General Services Commissioner today announced that new construction bids have been awarded in the below counties. The awards are described in the listing below. The contracts are expected to be awarded to the apparent low bidders following review and approval by the State Comptroller's Office

RoAnn M. Destito, New York State Office of General Services Commissioner today announced bidding for four construction contracts listed below by county.

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York today issued its Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit, which reported that total household debt increased substantially by $226 billion (a 1.8% increase) to $12.58 trillion during the fourth quarter of 2016. This marked the largest quarterly increase in total household debt since the fourth quarter of 2013, and debt today is now just 0.8% below its peak of $12.68 trillion reached in the third quarter of 2008. Every type of debt increased since the previous quarter, with a 1.6% increase in mortgage debt, 1.9% increase in auto loan balances, a 4.3% increase in credit card balances, and a 2.4% percent increase in student loan balances.

Senators Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester), Tony Avella (D-Queens), Jesse Hamilton (D-Brooklyn), Marisol Alcantara (D-Manhattan), Diane Savino (D-SI/Brooklyn), and Assembly Members Helene Weinstein (D-Brooklyn), Kenneth Zebrowski (D-New City), Steven Cymbrowitz (D-Brooklyn), Ellen Jaffee (D-Suffern), David Buchwald (D-Mount Kisco) and Jo Anne Simon (D-Brooklyn) joined Foreclosure Prevention Network organizations to release a report detailing the lingering issue of foreclosures in New York State as they called for a critically needed $30 million for foreclosure prevention legal services

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced today the convictions of Alexander March on two indictments for his role in a residential mortgage fraud scheme and a conspiracy to tamper with witnesses who had testified against him. Today, in Onondaga County Court, before the Honorable Thomas J. Miller, Alexander March pleaded guilty to 16 felonies and 17 misdemeanors to satisfy both indictments and was ordered to pay $127,123.49 in restitution.

New York State Homes and Community Renewal joined Selfhelp Community Services, Broadway Mosholu LLC, Enterprise Community Partners, local leaders and project partners to celebrate the ribbon-cutting of the $26.4 million Van Cortlandt Green, an affordable housing development for low and middle-income seniors in the Riverdale community of the Bronx.

New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Vicki Been announces the start of the 2017 New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey (HVS). The survey is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau at the request of the City of New York about every three years. The survey is required by State and City rent-regulation laws to determine New York City’s overall vacancy rate for rental housing.

The New York Power Authority’s Board of Trustees and the Canal Corporation’s Board of Directors will hold a joint meeting, via video conference, on Tuesday, January 31, at NYPA’s White Plains administrative office building,123 Main Street, in the 16th floor board room. The meeting will start at approximately 10 a.m., immediately following NYPA’s Board of Trustees and NYS Canal Corporation Board of Directors’ joint meeting at approximately 8:45 a.m.

Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney announced that the Trump Administration plans to include Phases 2 and 3 of the Second Avenue Subway in its list of infrastructure building priorities. An unconfirmed leaked copy of the list estimates that $14.2 billion could be allocated for the project. Maloney spoke directly with the Trump team earlier this week, and was repeatedly assured by individuals who worked on creating the list that Phase 2 and Phase 3 are part of the plan. When completed, Phase 2 will run from 96th Street and 2nd Avenue up to 125th Street, and Phase 3 will go from 62nd Street down to Houston Street. Congresswoman Maloney, a long time champion of the Second Avenue Subway, has been pressing Congress and the Trump Administration to include the next phases of the Second Avenue Subway in any infrastructure priority lists being developed

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley (D-NY) released the following statement today after President Trump signed a new executive order. “It’s unconscionable that President Trump would close the door to the desperate children, families, and elderly who have been forced to flee their homes and countries because of unspeakable acts of violence and war.

“We, as a city, are defined by how we treat our kids. We aren’t living in a fair city when my kids come home to a safe household every night while thousands of others, in the greatest city on the planet, are living in some of the most deplorable, dangerous conditions imaginable.

The Northern New York Power Proceeds Allocation Board met for the first time today as it seeks to boost the St. Lawrence County economy by providing funding to businesses and other enterprises using money from New York Power Authority electricity sales

Despite his self-professed expertise on the topic and grandiose pronouncements as the homelessness crisis in New York reached record levels, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has racked up a series of staggering homeless policy failures in recent years

Senators Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester), Diane Savino (D-SI/Brooklyn), Avella (D-Queens), Alcantara (D-Manhattan), Hamilton (D-Brooklyn) and Jose Peralta (D-Queens), joined by advocates, released an investigative report detailing deplorable conditions at New York City hotels and cluster sites used for the homeless and called for a five-point legislative solution to the homelessness crisis.

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced a lawsuit against STAR Exemption Advisor, YCA Corp. and its business owner Arie Gal, for allegedly scamming thousands of new homeowners out of at least $1.5 million by charging them excessive fees to enroll them in the Basic STAR Exemption Program, which is otherwise free.  The lawsuit, filed in Nassau County Supreme Court, seeks to provide full restitution to all those affected, and a complete accounting to identify all consumers who are entitled to such refunds. The lawsuit also seeks additional costs, damages, and to permanently enjoin the respondents from marketing any Basic Star rebate or property tax reduction services within the State of New York

“The uncertainty surrounding future policy decisions by the Trump administration and the Republican Congress presents real risks to our City budget. My office conducted an analysis outlining potential Federal cuts—and I’m concerned many critical areas could be affected. From affordable housing to programs that support at-risk children, our social safety net could be fundamentally changed by backwards policies from Washington. We believe that whatever the White House and the Republican Congress do, our City must protect its most vulnerable residents.

32BJ announced today that its members have endorsed State Senator Bill Perkins in the special election for City Council District 9 based on his record of fighting for good jobs, affordable housing and immigrant rights

Tom Reed continues his efforts to support local infrastructure with the announcement of two major grants for water infrastructure systems in Chautauqua County. “We care about helping our local communities improve their water systems because it bolsters the regional economy, lightens the burden for local taxpayers and protects our environment,” said Reed. “These grants will have a major positive impact in not only the communities, but the entire Great Lakes watershed. It’s only right that we remain committed to these types of critical investments going forward.”

The New York Power Authority today announced it will help municipalities secure state-funded rebates to install charging stations in an effort to support Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s push to expand the use of electric vehicles.

Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced Maria Torres-Springer will serve as the next Commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development when its current commissioner, Vicki Been, returns to teaching at New York University. The mayor is also appointing James Patchett as President and CEO of the New York City Economic Development Corporation.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Vicki Been, Housing Development Corporation (HDC) President Eric Enderlin, and New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) Commissioner Jamie Ruben join WHEDco, and BFC Partners to announce the start of construction on Bronx Commons – a 426,000 square foot, mixed-used development in the Melrose section of the Bronx that will include 305 affordable apartments, retail space, and the Bronx Music Hall, a new 14,000 square foot, 300-seat music venue and arts-centered community hub focused on the deeply-rooted history of cutting edge Bronx music.

Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that his Administration financed more affordable housing in 2016 than in any time in the past 25 years. Three years in, his team has extended affordability for decades to come at 41,600 homes and spurred construction of 20,800 new affordable apartments