New York RealEstateRama

Two projects in New York State were among six that have been awarded a total of $5 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to improve efficiency in operations of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced that he had reached settlement agreements with a disbarred attorney, an attorney, and a mortgage broker, who along with others allegedly operated a mortgage foreclosure rescue scam on Long Island that robbed 14 Long Island homeowners out of their homes’ deeds and equity. The mortgage foreclosure rescue scam involved multiple alleged partners: Empire Property Solutions and its principals, John Rutigliano and Kenneth Kiefer, located in Medford and Bethpage

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced today that, after his push, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will waive its policy mandating a “duplication of benefits” assessment for Superstorm Sandy victims who receive $20,000 or less from FEMA. For the minority of cases that remain, HUD will look at each on a case-by-case basis and determine if there is a potential duplication of benefits

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced today the second round of support for Solarize campaigns is now open. Under Andrew M. Cuomo’s NY-Sun Community Solar NY program, Solarize campaigns make solar easier and more affordable through community-driven initiatives and are an essential component of Reforming the Energy Vision (REV).

On Wednesday, September 16, owners of small- to mid-sized multifamily buildings will have an opportunity to speak individually with city representatives and their partner nonprofits and community development financial institutions to learn how to make their properties more energy and water efficient, reduce maintenance costs, and sustain affordable housing at the Isabella Geriatric Center, 515 Audubon Avenue, in Inwood from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) will continue a long tradition in promoting conservation awareness when it hosts its 30th Wildlife Festival Sept. 26-27, at its Niagara Power Vista visitor center in Lewiston

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC), and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), joined the NHP Foundation and partners to celebrate the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Plaza Borinquen. Built in 1974, the project is a scattered site development that includes nine buildings located along East 137th, East 138th, and East 139th Streets between Brook and Willis Avenues in the Mott Haven section of The Bronx.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced the appointment of Donovan Gordon as Director of Renewable Thermal, where he will lead efforts to develop markets that support clean, high-efficiency, renewable thermal systems, including solar cooling, heating and hot water; air and ground source heat pumps, and wood-fired heating systems.

“This summer a record number of bicyclists, runners, families and visitors flocked to the Outer Harbor to bike and walk the trails, visit the parks, take in the lighthouse, ride the ferry, and be close to the water. Last summer the public sent a clear message that their vision for the future of the Outer Harbor includes more access that brings people to the water’s edge, improves public space, and adds amenities and places to enjoy the natural beauty of Buffalo’s front yard.

The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) Board of Directors met today and voted to accept Explore & More’s exciting revised plan for a children’s museum at Canalside. Following the public meeting Explore & More Children’s Museum and ECHDC announced the plans to build a stand-alone building on a new parcel along the canal towpath in the South Aud Block.

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand and U.S. Congressman Lee Zeldin today announced $2,486,087 in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding for Francis S. Gabreski Airport. The grant is being provided to Suffolk County for the rehabilitation of runway 15/33 at Gabreski Airport.

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand and U.S. Congressman Lee Zeldin today announced $2,486,087 in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding for Francis S. Gabreski Airport. The grant is being provided to Suffolk County for the rehabilitation of runway 15/33 at Gabreski Airport. ‎The airport is home to the 106th Rescue Wing of the Air National Guard and supports over 60,000 aircraft operations a year.

Tom Reed announced renewed funding for local non-profit programs which prevent homelessness among veterans and their families. “Our veterans and their families have sacrificed so much for us and our nation, the least we can do is make sure they aren’t living on the streets,” said Reed.

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand and U.S. Congressman Lee Zeldin today announced $2,486,087 in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding for Francis S. Gabreski Airport. The grant is being provided to Suffolk County for the rehabilitation of runway 15/33 at Gabreski Airport. ‎The airport is home to the 106th Rescue Wing of the Air National Guard and supports over 60,000 aircraft operations a year.

Mayor Bill de Blasio today joined the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, development partners, federal, state and local elected officials to mark the commencement of passenger service on the number 7 Subway extension and the opening of a new station at 34th Street and 11th Avenue to link New Yorkers, workers and visitors to Manhattan’s Far West Side. The extension of the 7 Subway line west from Times Square was funded by a $2.4 billion investment by the City of New York

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced, following his push, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has approved a $150,000 grant for the home of famed landscape artist and founder of the Hudson River School, Thomas Cole. Schumer’s announcement comes after he secured $460,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to uncover recently discovered decorative friezes, which are believed to have been painted by Cole in 1836.

The New York State Department of Financial Services has directed New York banks to comply with New York's abandoned property law -- a statute that helps ensure consumers and businesses receive old, unclaimed account funds. NYDFS has identified several recent public notices issued by banks regarding unclaimed account funds that are confusing or non-compliant with the law -- such as newspaper notices of unclaimed accounts that are organized alphabetically by first, rather than last name

Combining the cumulative expertise they have garnered through decades in the residential and commercial real estate industries, respectively, real estate powerhouses Esther Muller and Faith Hope Consolo have formed a strategic alliance to help business newcomers and seasoned veterans take their success to the next level. Together, Muller and Consolo are booking information-packed business-building sessions through the Academy for Coaching and Training (ACT), including speaking engagements, as well as individual mentoring sessions, tailored to the needs of attendees.

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced a settlement that requires Evans Bank, N.A. and Evans Bancorp, Inc. (together, “Evans”) to end unlawful discriminatory mortgage practices, known as “redlining.” The practices denied access to mortgage loans to borrowers in predominantly African-American neighborhoods in the city of Buffalo because of the racial composition of those communities.

Tenants at 90 Elizabeth Street today filed a lawsuit in Manhattan Housing Court against their landlord, James Fong, who has taken actions that have made their lives intolerable in an effort to force them to surrender their tenancy rights. (Above, Legal Services NYC Manhattan program client Betty Eng shows off a pipe that was ripped from her bathroom by building workers.)

landmarks legislation NEW YORK – Yesterday, Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer offered testimony (PDF) at a hearing of the New York City Council Land Use Committee, raising her deep concerns about the current version of Int. 775. In its current form, the legislation sets up hard deadlines for the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s consideration of items on its calendar, and would ban any and all items not designated within the set time frame from reconsideration for at least five years, regardless of whether a decision was made on the item’s merits. Borough President Brewer issued the following statement after the hearing: “As I testified yesterday, I think Land Use Chairman Greenfield, Landmarks Chairman Koo, and I share a common goal – property owners, residents, and preservationists alike all deserve a more transparent and predictable landmarking process, with real timelines. That said, the current draft of this bill does more harm than good. “I’m encouraged that Chairmen Greenfield and Koo indicated their willingness today to listen and consider changes to the bill. I think we can accomplish our common goal of a better landmarking process without undermining the work of the Landmarks Preservation Commission or dramatically weakening the Landmarks Law. With the input and help of all stakeholders, including real estate, community boards, and our city’s passionate and sophisticated preservation advocates, I think we can come up with effective reforms that make sense. “I offer my thanks and congratulations to the many preservation groups who mobilized to raise concerns about this legislation and made their presence felt at yesterday's hearing, including the New York Landmarks Conservancy, the Historic Districts Council, Landmarks West!, the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, and Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts. In addition, I thank my fellow elected colleagues who submitted testimony, including Assemblymembers Richard Gottfried, Deborah Glick, and Jo Anne Simon.” Brewer identified three key problems in Int. 775 that a good compromise would need to address. These are: • Five-year ban on reconsideration of items. The current draft of Int. 775 would tie the agency’s hands in an unprecedented manner by banning for five years the reconsideration of any individual landmarking item that does not receive a landmark designation within the timeline set by the bill (up to a year for individual landmarks and up to two years for proposed historic districts). • Inflexible, impractically short timelines. The 1- and 2-year time frames are too short to allow for the additional research and negotiation that often are part of finalizing more complex items. Under the framework in the current version of Int. 775, more than a quarter of the city’s historic districts would not have been created, including Mott Haven in the Bronx, Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, Hamilton Heights and Mount Morris Park in Manhattan, and Jackson Heights in Queens. • Forcing LPC to clear its entire existing calendar within 18 months. This provision of the bill includes no requirements for public hearings or any public process, and it too applies a five-year ban on reconsideration for any item that is not designated within the time limit. This would interfere with the execution of LPC’s already-announced plan for clearing its backlog, and it virtually guarantees a large number of calendared items would not be considered in a public or transparent manner.

New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer wrote an op-ed published today in the New York Daily Newson steps the City can take to help alleviate the homeless crisis in our City. Some of the main points from the op-ed are highlighted below

Standing on Post Avenue in Rochester, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today launched his push to fight steep funding cuts that have been proposed in the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill that would negatively impact Rochester and Finger Lakes Region communities. Schumer explained that this cut would effectively decimate critical funding that Rochester relies on for home rehabilitation and ownership programs, neighborhood revitalization efforts and more. Schumer explained that the FY 2016 THUD bill, which was passed out of the Appropriations Committee

LSNYC is gratified that the New York City Council and Mayor de Blasio have given New York City tenants new protections against aggressive "buy-out" practices used to force tenants out of their homes

Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) today filed a lawsuit against the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) on behalf of two tenants who speak little to no English, and for whom NYCHA refused to provide interpretation and translation services as required under federal and city law, as well as under NYCHA’s own policies.