Tenants welcomed the selection of Keith Wright to replace Vito Lopez as chairman of the Assembly Housing Committee yesterday, noting that he is a stabilized tenant.
Governor Cuomo’s Executive Budget Proposal did not offer much new on the housing front. Some homeless housing and Mitchell Lama projects were transferred from other agencies to the Division of Homes and Community Renewal for management and the head count in the Rent Administration department was unchanged at 360.
The State Senate passed a bill extending J51 tax benefits and the co-op and condo tax break, with bipartisan support, but it is not clear if the exact bill will pass in the Assembly. The bill eliminates J51 benefits for improvements to units in buildings with average assessed values over $30,000 unless they receive substantial government assistance; and phases out the co-op and condo tax abatement for investor owned units by 2014.
At City Hall, the Mayor announced that Monadnock Development, Actors Fund Housing Development Corporation, and nARCHITECTS had won the micro-apartment design contest and will build their project on East 27th St. There is also a sample of other designs and a full size 325 square foot mockup on exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York.
Still haven’t reserved your seat for our Awards luncheon, Tuesday, honoring Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri and Developer Toll Brothers? Verizon knocked out our phones again, so email today, or buy a ticket online here.