New York State Homes and Community Renewal, New York State Office of Mental Health, and New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development joined Services for the UnderServed (SUS), Bronx Pro Group LLC, and other project partners to celebrate the start of construction on the Morris Avenue Apartments, an 11-story, 94-unit affordable housing development in the University Heights neighborhood of the Bronx. The building will have 31 supportive units for individuals with mental illness reserved for 17 young adults with mental illness aging out of foster care and other institutions and 14 homeless adults with mental illness

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the indictment and arraignment of Yury Baumblit and Rimma Baumblit, “three-quarter house” operators in New York City, and their corporate entities #1 Marketing Service, Inc., R Y B Realty, LLC, Steps to Better Living Inc., and Orbit Management Group Inc., on charges of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, Money Laundering in the Second Degree, and violations of the Social Services Law prohibiting the payment of kickbacks related to the provision of services under the State’s Medicaid program. The Attorney General’s office arrested Yury and Rimma Baumblit on April 13. Both have remained in custody since their arrest

New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), Rochester’s Cornerstone Group, local officials, tenants, and others joined to celebrate the renovation and preservation of the historic Spa Apartments, a State Mitchell-Lama development for seniors in downtown Clifton Springs. Rochester’s Cornerstone Group, Ltd. and Home Leasing, LLC were co-developers in this undertaking

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced that Fortune 500 retailers Best Buy and Nordstrom have agreed to the New York State Common Retirement Fund’s (Fund) request that they increase the use of renewable energy in their operations and supply chain

The new development will be affordable to extremely low- and low-income households with a majority of the apartments serving formerly homeless populations

Problems with the administration of the public housing modernization program run by New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) have led to years-long delays in projects outside New York City, according to an audit released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

Previous NY Green Bank Investments Have Added Solar at 840 Homes and Wind Turbine Construction in Five Counties; Projects Expected to Reduce Carbon Emissions By Nearly Three Million Metric Tons

Borough President Gale A. Brewer announced her office has negotiated a framework for residential development at 4650 Broadway in Inwood, Manhattan's first private application considered under the new Mandatory Inclusionary Housing program. Under the framework deal announced by Brewer, the developer committed to a shorter building with a significant number of apartments that will actually be affordable to Inwood residents.

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $652,000 in federal funding for the Town of Richmond in Ontario County to make new investments in local water infrastructure. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development Water and Waste Disposal Grant Program. Specifically, this funding comes in the form of a loan, which can be paid back over 38 years with low interest

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance today reminded property owners—homeowners and businesses—that now is the time to review their assessments.

The New York Power Authority and the State University of New York at New Paltz announced today they will partner to build a cutting-edge, solar-energy storage system on campus that will offset the school’s reliance on the electric grid.

New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) Commissioner James S. Rubin today announced the start of construction for the Joseph L. Allen Apartments, a new $17.9 million New York State funded 51-unit affordable and supportive housing development in Schenectady’s Hamilton Hill neighborhood. Commissioner Rubin attended a groundbreaking ceremony today along with officials from the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy, developer DePaul Properties, Inc., and other partners.

A new report by the NYU Furman Center explores gentrification within the context of New York City's neighborhoods. Of the city's 55 neighborhoods, the report classifies 15 as "gentrifying" and analyzes how their housing and population have changed over the past two decades.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today it is charging an Oswego, New York, property owner and management company with housing discrimination following allegations that they discriminated against people with disabilities who required the use of assistance animals.

The New York Power Authority and Office of General Services have completed energy efficiency projects at Empire State Plaza and the Harriman State Office Campus that will save $760,000 in annual energy costs and remove more than 5,700 tons of greenhouse gases every year, the equivalent of taking nearly 1,200 cars off the road

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) announced the selection of three development teams to expand affordable housing opportunities at three NYCHA developments: Ingersoll Houses in the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn, Van Dyke Houses in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn, and Mill Brook Houses in the Mott Haven neighborhood in the Bronx. The plan to create 100 percent affordable senior and multifamily housing on available NYCHA property was developed in response to resident and advocate calls for more affordable housing options in their communities

Newburgh Officials Have Found Elevated Levels Of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) – A Synthetic Chemical & Pollutant, Related to PFOA – In Silver Stream and Washington Lake; EPA Has Water Contamination Experts and Significant Experience Dealing With Such Issues Schumer, Gillibrand, Maloney Also Call on EPA to Complete its PFOA Review and Publish the New Standards So Communities Like Newburgh Can Make The Best Decisions To Protect Drinking Water Sources and the Public Health; EPA Promised to Pu

HPD's updated guidelines respond to changing market conditions and encourage the use of emerging best practices in affordable housing construction, such as active design, energy-efficiency and flood resistant construction.

Senators Jeff Klein (D-Bronx Westchester) and Terrence Murphy (R-Westchester/Putnam/Dutchess), with community leaders, unveiled “The Great American Bank Robbery: 40th State Senate District and Putnam & Dutchess Counties,” detailing over $6 million in property value depreciation resulting from poorly maintained bank-owned homes and zombie properties

Ground was broken April 29 for a 51-unit residential building for persons of low and moderate income at 695 Grand Street in the Williamsburg section of North Brooklyn. Local businesses will occupy the ground floor which will serve as an anchor for the community’s growing commercial corridor. Total project cost is about $19.5 million. HCR funding for this project is being provided through the federal Low Income Housing Credit (LIHC) Program which will produce equity of about $11.2 million. That has leveraged funds from New York City Housing Preservation and Development’s capital program, Citi Community Capital, New York State Energy Research and Development Authori

Christopher Community’s Riverview Apartments to Offer 39 Units of Affordable and Supportive Housing. Local Investment Complements “Central NY Rising” – Region’s Successful Upstate Revitalization Initiative Blueprint to Grow the Economy and Create New Opportunities

OurSpace at Recreation Park is revitalizing a four acre parcel of the City of Binghamton’s Recreation Park with a design that is fully adaptive and inviting for all members of our community. OurSpace’s unique design includes a new Adaptive Playground, a Tree Deck, Raised Garden Beds, Game Tables and Natural Play Areas.

The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) failed to keep track of all of its contracts and subcontracts awarded to Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs), undermining citywide efforts to ensure that its spending is done transparently and with accountability, according to a new audit released by New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer.

The New York Power Authority plans to release water through the Long Sault Dam on Friday, April 29, due to high St. Lawrence River flows and planned maintenance at the St. Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt Power Project

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today issued guidance on how to prevent negative encounters with black bears. Nearly all negative bear encounters in New York are the result of hungry bears being attracted to human food sources. The simplest way to avoid a nuisance encounter is to remove potential food sources, which usually results in the bear moving on.