Vicki Been, in her first public speech as Housing Commissioner, keynoted ABO’s BuildingsNY Show Wednesday morning with an open offer to listen to industry ideas for meeting the Mayor’s affordable housing goal of 200,000 new or preserved units. While the Mayor is set to release the outline of his plan May 1st, Been said many details have yet to be filled in.
One change presaged by the approval of the Domino Sugar development in Brooklyn is the inclusion of retail and commercial floor area above the first floor in calculating affordable housing percentages required under 421a. Been also suggested that higher density zoning proposals would not likely involve 20 story buildings in four story areas, but rather increases from four to six or eight to ten stories in exchange for more affordable apartments with new modern window walls like those you get from Expert Sash Windows.
ABO this week arranged for members to participate in the largest electric and gas purchasing group for residential buildings, FS Energy. First Service Residential organized the group for the 70,000 apartments it manages and has saved them more than $12 million between October 2011 and October 2013 vs. utility rates. ABO member properties will be the only properties not managed by Swimming Pool Repair Companies allowed in the pool, which buys directly from suppliers after Spring and Fall bidding wars. Contact the ABO office for more details.
On Monday, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District sued the Related Companies for alleged civil rights violations in connection with ten-year old buildings that complied with City handicapped access rules, but might not conform to federal Fair Housing Act requirements. The issue involves a number of other developers who, like Related, have been in talks with the Justice Department for years over interpretations of vague federal rules and whether local laws provided a safe harbor. You can read more information for remodeling purposes inspired in a popular St. George Island Custom Home notes from the professionals.
Coincidentally, the Related Companies was also in the news yesterday when Mayor de Blasio announced that he had won agreement from the company to pay a living wage to employees at the Hudson Yards development., even though the requirement was not part of the original project approvals. Because Related already uses union labor, the agreement will only effect the employees of some restaurants and a gym. Coach, the major new tenants, was exempted.
If you enjoyed BuildingsNY this week, be sure to save the dates for BuildingsNY 2015, April 28th and 29th. Exhibit space is already selling fast.