New York, NY - July 9, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert K. Steel and Department of Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Mathew M. Wambua today launched the adAPT NYC Competition, a pilot program to develop a new housing model for the City’s growing small-household population. adAPT NYC seeks to create additional choices within New York City’s housing market to accommodate the city’s changing demographics. Currently New York City has 1.8 million one- and two-person households, but only one million studios and one-bedrooms. The design competition involves a Request for Proposals for a rental building composed primarily, or completely, of micro-units – apartments smaller than what is allowed under current regulations. New York City’s housing codes have not kept up with its changing population, and currently do not allow an entire building of micro-units. Under this pilot program, Mayor Bloomberg will waive certain zoning regulations at a City-owned site at 335 East 27th Street in the Kips Bay neighborhood of Manhattan to test the market for this new housing model. The Mayor made the announcement at the American Institute of Architects’ Center for Architecture and also was joined by Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Linda I. Gibbs, City Planning Commissioner Amanda Burden and Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri, whose agencies collaborated with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development on the creation of this design competition.

New York, NY - July 4, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano was joined today by Nassau County Legislator Joe Belesi, North Hempstead Councilman Angelo Ferrara and representatives from the New York Veterans Advocacy Group (NYVAG) to announce that Nassau County has awarded a $1.5 million grant from Federal HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program funds to NYVAG to assist in converting an empty commercial property in Westbury into transitional housing for returning United States military veterans.

NEW YORK, NY - June 26, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jones Lang LaSalle has completed six transactions totaling 17,105 square feet of commercial office space for William Macklowe Co. at 400 Madison Avenue. The firm completed four new, direct deals and two lease extensions at the Class A, 200,000-square-foot commercial office building.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 20, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Paul Tonko announced today that the federal government has awarded a grant of $118,800 to the Albany Housing Coalition through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program. The grant will provide job training for homeless veterans to help them succeed in civilian careers.

New York, NY - June 19, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York State Senate today passed legislation (S6524A), sponsored by Senator Mark Grisanti (R-North Buffalo), that will provide an asbestos removal tax credit to encourage the cleanup of old, unsafe properties, and spur investment throughout the State.

ALBANY, N.Y. - June 19, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Time is running out for interested members of the public to bid on the current round of excess Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) manufactured housing units now up for auction on a U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) website.

New York, NY - June 18, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, Department of Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Mathew M. Wambua, Housing Development Corporation President Marc Jahr, New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner/CEO Darryl C. Towns, were joined by to cut the ribbon to mark the official opening of the Via Verde affordable housing development located at 700 Brook Avenue and East 156th Street in the South Bronx. Via Verde, a largely City-financed project that blends 151 rental units and 71 co-op units with innovative and sustainable green design elements, was the winning proposal to New York City's first juried design competition for affordable and sustainable housing.

NEW YORK, NY - June 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Ariel Property Advisors has sold a Central Harlem retail property leased by Citibank for $3.4 million. Exclusive agents Victor Sozio, Shimon Shkury, and Michael Tortorici handled the sale for a private owner. The property was sold to a private investment group that operates multiple retail locations throughout the country.

NEW YORK, NY - June 14, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- One year after an innovative building retrofit project, the Empire State Building is ahead of plan and has exceeded its year one energy-efficiency guarantee by 5 percent, saving $2.4 million and establishing a commercial real estate model for reducing costs, maximizing return on investment, increasing real estate value, and protecting the environment.

NEW YORK, NY - June 14, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- New York City multifamily transaction volume rose 29 percent in April 2012 compared to April 2011, but year-over-year dollar volume fell by 18 percent, according to Ariel Property Advisors’ Multifamily Month in Review: New York City.

New York, NY - June 8, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- As a strike by doormen and porters at a 130-unit tower in Midtown reaches its one-year anniversary this week, dozens of tenants, elected officials and supporters rallied today to support the workers.

NEW YORK, NY - June 6, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Elaine Diratz, managing director at Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group, announced sales of over $59 million at 515 East 72 in the past 90 days. Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group is the exclusive sales agent for 515 East 72, a luxury condominium building between York Avenue and the East River on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Residences sold in the price range of $633,000 to $4.8 million.

May 30, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- HCR Commissioner Darryl C. Towns delivered welcoming remarks at NYSAFAH's 13th Annual Affordable Housing Conference in New York City on May 17th. The theme of the conference was "We Build New York" and Commissioner/CEO Towns focused his remarks on the successes of the past year, pointing out that under Governor Cuomo's leadership HCR nearly doubled the state investment in affordable housing

NEW YORK, NY - May 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- New York City multifamily sales remained strong in March, maintaining a healthy level of consistency from a very active February, according to Ariel Property Advisors’ Multifamily Month in Review: New York City.

NEW YORK, NY - May 2, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Ariel Property Advisors has announced the closing of three adjoining buildings at 546-52 West 146th Street in West Harlem for $8.9 million.

Torrance, CA - April 26, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- With a “full steam ahead” mantra and no apparent signs of slowing down, Lee & Associates NYC has added yet another powerhouse industry duo to its ever-expanding roster of professionals. Michael Berne and Richard Donohue join the Manhattan office to spearhead its seniors housing and healthcare brokerage in an effort to branch out into new markets for Lee. Although the two industries were once unchartered territories for the firm, Berne and Donohue bring over 60 years of combined specialized experience to expand Lee’s repertoire of specialties and soon launch a dedicated national seniors housing/healthcare services group. Since its inception in November 2011, Lee & Associates NYC has recruited various key new hires like seasoned retail specialists Henry Goldfarb and Stanley Lindenfeld, Dennis Someck and brothers Robe rt and Mitchell Kunikoff. Over this time period, Lee’s New York office has brought on 22 new additions, currently making it a total of 32 brokers altogether.

New York, NY - April 20, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York State Tenants & Neighbors Coalition today joined with elected officials and allied organizations at a rally and press conference in support of critical legislation to protect seniors in rent controlled housing, A1892/S5699 (Rosenthal/Espaillat).

NEW YORK, NY - April 17, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- New York City multifamily transactions jumped 34 percent in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period last year, and were up 11 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2011, according to Ariel Property Advisors’ Multifamily Quarter in Review: New York City

NEW YORK, NY - April 4, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Comptroller John C. Liu today announced a $1.2 million settlement on behalf of workers who were cheated out of wages and benefits for work at City sites. The contractor Mascon Restoration and its principal have also been debarred from bidding on or receiving any public works contracts for five years.

NEW YORK, NY - April 3, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Brown Harris Stevens Development Marketing today announced that they have been selected as the new exclusive sales and marketing agent for The Dillon Townhouses and Condominiums, a premier condominium development located at 425 West 53rd Street in Hell’s Kitchen that is approximately 70% sold.

NEW YORK, NY - April 3, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Halstead Property Development Marketing today announced that over 90% of the units have been sold at The Gateway Tower, a luxury high-rise condominium located on Fredrick Douglass Boulevard’s “Gold Coast” in West Harlem.

NEW YORK, NY - March 27, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Reserve Bank of New York today introduced a new interactive online tool providing mortgage delinquency and foreclosure information for each county in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

New York, NY - March 19, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York City Housing Authority applauds and welcomes City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn’s announcement today that NYCHA will receive $10 million from the City Council to help fund repairs and hire public housing residents to perform those repairs in Fiscal Year 2013. As the largest affordable housing provider in the city, NYCHA housing is a critical resource. Recent years have brought unparalleled fiscal challenges for NYCHA as it strives to maintain and preserve its 178,000 units of affordable housing.

Washington, DC - March 19, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rockland County’s Office of Community Development was awarded a $556,106 Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide assistance to homeless persons, including transitional housing, permanent housing plus supportive services Congressman Eliot Engel announced

NEW YORK, NY - March 12, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Multifamily transactions in New York City increased six percent in January 2012 compared to December 2011, but month-over-month dollar volume fell due to the absence of deals by institutional investors, according to Ariel Property Advisors’ Multifamily Month in Review: New York City.