New York RealEstateRama

OSSINING, N.Y. - April 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Claremont Gardens Apartments, a 183-unit rental property in Ossining, has sold in Westchester County’s largest year-to-date multifamily trade, announced commercial real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield, Inc. The firm’s Metropolitan Area Capital Markets Group, based in East Rutherford, N.J., brokered the $14 million transaction, representing the seller, Claremont Gardens Associates, and procuring the undisclosed buyer.

April 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today joined the Long Island Housing Partnership (LIHP) in randomly selecting Nassau County families, who met income eligibility requirements, to buy affordable homes in the Inwood community. The forty-four hopefuls that submitted applications to be considered for the program are placed on the ranked lottery list. The deadline for applying was September 30

NEW YORK, NY - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- With a 30-year track record of success and such current notable sales achievements as The Sheffield and Linden 78 on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, The Marketing Directors, Inc. has been brought on to oversee the marketing, sales and leasing of four new residential buildings throughout New York City.

TOWN OF WALLKILL, N.Y. - April 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Baker Residential will welcome interested homebuyers to Woodside Knolls on Saturday, April 16th to participate in one of the final “Homebuyer Seminars” to be offered at Orange County’s fastest-selling new residential community

Kingston, NY - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today announced Rural Ulster Preservation Company, Inc. (RUPCO) has been awarded a $91,650 grant from NeighborWorks America, a federally funded program aimed at supporting affordable housing and community development initiatives. The funding will be used to support RUPCO's HomeOwnership center, which offers a comprehensive range of services to help families achieve and sustain the American Dream of homeownership.

New York, NY - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fried Frank's renowned real estate practice has been shortlisted for The Chambers USA Awards for Excellence 2011. Chambers USA Awards for Excellence honor law firms and lawyers for their pre-eminence in key practice areas and the caliber of their achievements over the previous 12 months.

NEW YORK, NY - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jones Lang LaSalle announced that average asking rental rates rose slightly throughout much of Manhattan's office market in the first quarter of 2011. While Midtown South recorded a significant drop in vacancy rates in all property classes, the Midtown submarket posted the first increase in Class A vacancy rates in more than a year.

BROOKLYN, NY - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Park Slope’s fast-emerging Fourth Avenue corridor has taken another significant step forward with the grand opening of Arias, a new ultra-chic rental building located in the heart of this vibrant Brooklyn neighborhood.

New York, NY - April 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Housing Committee Chair Vito Lopez today announced agreement on legislation to restore $6 million for the Neighborhood Preservation Program and the Rural Preservation Program. The agreement provides $8.4 million for the Neighborhood Preservation Program and $3.5 million for the Rural Preservation Program. These restorations bring both programs to their 2010-11 funding levels, preserving the vital work that they do in the areas of affordable housing, economic development and community renewal.

March 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development Dennis M. Walcott and New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Chairman John B. Rhea today announced the appointment of Emily Youssouf as Vice Chair of the NYCHA Board. Youssouf, who is currently a Clinical Professor at New York University’s Schack Institute ofNew York, NY - March 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development Dennis M. Walcott and New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Chairman John B. Rhea today announced the appointment of Emily Youssouf as Vice Chair of the NYCHA Board. Youssouf, who is currently a Clinical Professor at New York University’s Schack Institute of Real Estate, will begin her five-year term on NYCHA’s Board on April 18th. She previously served as the President of the New York City Housing Development Corporation from 2003 to 2007. Real Estate, will begin her five-year term on NYCHA’s Board on April 18th. She previously served as the President of the New York City Housing Development Corporation from 2003 to 2007

New York, NY - March 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Ekstein Development announced today that closings and move-ins have begun at +aRt, a new premium condominium development located in the heart of West Chelsea’s art district.

New York, NY - March 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Developers of 88 Morningside, a premier new development located on the corner of Morningside Avenue and West 122nd Street, has partnered with BoConcept, Denmark’s cutting-edge furniture chain, to create a special model with a “media room” -- an extra room in a one-bedroom apartment that some might refer to as a “man cave.”

NEW YORK, NY - March 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Bed Bug Super Dogs, an independent, NESDCA-certified bed bug detection service for the real estate industry, has initiated a “Containment Inspection Program” for New York City residential property owners and managers, who now face increased regulations on the inspection and treatment of bed bugs.

New York, NY - March 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Halstead Property Development Marketing today announced the opening of a new model apartment at Windows on 123, a new residential development in Harlem.

New York, NY - March 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Kent M. Swig, President of Swig Equities, LLC, is pleased to announce that the firm has completed 10 leasing transactions in its FiDi (Financial District) commercial office portfolio thus far in 2011, totaling over 43,000 square feet.

NEW YORK, NY - March 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jones Lang LaSalle is marketing a $30.5 million defaulted loan for sale. The loan, which is collateralized by 4,950-square-foot land development site at 276-280 Third Avenue in the Gramercy Park section of Manhattan, is scheduled to be sold at a foreclosure auction on March 30.

NEW YORK, NY - March 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jones Lang LaSalle announced today that it has hired Wall Street veteran Kellogg Gaines to the firm’s Americas Capital Markets business as part of firm’s overall expansion of its dedicated Real Estate Investment Banking expertise. Gaines joins as a Managing Director in the New York office where he will work with Co-Heads and Executive Managing Directors Tom Fish, Tom Melody and Mike Melody to lead the firm’s debt and equity sourcing and loan origination business in the New York region.

New York, NY - March 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Bronx apartment building workers late Thursday ratified a four-year agreement that provides a 6% wage increase over the life of the contract, fully employer-paid family health care coverage, pensions and protects all other benefits.

NEW YORK, NY - March 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jones Lang LaSalle today announced Eric Herlands, Jason Gold, Joseph Sitt and Stephen Shapiro have joined the firm in the last several months as part of the firm’s New York City Capital Markets business as its investment sales team expands. The foursome is working under the direction of Vice Chairmen Richard Baxter, Jon Caplan, Ron Cohen and Scott Latham. Eric Herlands joins the firm as a Senior Vice President, while Jason Gold, Joseph Sitt and Stephen Shapiro each take on the role of Vice President.

New York, NY - March 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today submitted a revised financial plan for Fiscal Year 2011 that protect homeowners and employers from a 21.5% property tax increase. The plan includes reductions through layoffs, the elimination of vacant positions, furloughs and by freezing wages and longevity pay

HAVERSTRAW, NY - March 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) --– Village, County and State officials joined today with representatives from The Community Preservation Corporation (CPC), the Rockland Housing Action Coalition (RHAC) and invited guests to celebrate the completion of Murphy Manor Apartments, the first quality-built affordable housing for families in Haverstraw.

New York, NY - March 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) issued a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for the purchase or ground lease, and redevelopment of the Corn Exchange Building in East Harlem. The building, located on the northwest corner of the intersection of Park Avenue and East 125th Street, is a city landmark built in 1883. The lot is approximately 4,500 square feet and is zoned for residential and commercial uses.

New York, NY - March 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today named Mathew M. Wambua Commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). Wambua will replace Rafael E. Cestero, who will leave public service at the end of March as previously announced. Wambua will become Commissioner on April 4th. Mayor Bloomberg made the announcement in the Blue Room of City Hall, where he was joined by Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert K. Steel, New York City Housing Development Corporation President Marc Jahr, Cestero and Wambua.

NEW YORK, NY - March 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan, Queens) and Charles Rangel (D-Manhattan & the Bronx); Mike Hickey, Executive Director of the Center for New York City Neighborhoods; Willie Rapfogel, CEO of the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty; Mitchell Kent of the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs; Bisoondaye Maharaj, a struggling Queens homeowner who has benefitted from federal mortgage programs; and housing advocate Seema Agnani, Executive Director of the Chhaya Community Development Corporation, gathered at City Hall to release a report detailing the impact on New York City of Republican efforts to terminate federal foreclosure-avoidance programs. At a time when our economy and real estate market remain fragile, Republicans have offered no alternative plans to stem the foreclosure crisis.

March 23, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and Congressman Maurice Hinchey announced their new efforts to ensure that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) does not force Southern Tier homeowners to spend thousands of dollars on unnecessary flood insurance through flawed and inaccurate maps that fail to reflect communities’ efforts and infrastructure to mitigate potential flooding.