The Landmarks Preservation Commission further limited development by and around New York University this week by creating the South Greenwich Village Historic District between West 4th Street and Houston Street and the Avenue of the Americas and West Broadway. The action brings the total number of designated historic buildings in Greenwich Village overall up to 2,459.
A State Supreme Court judge severely limited class action suits by tenants related to Hurricane Sandy in Adler v. Ogden Cap Props., LLC, noting that each building presented different fact patterns and that conditions varied even within buildings.
In another case reported this week, a US District Court Judge refused to dismiss a discrimination case against the LeFrak Organization for requiring a prospective tenant to show proof of government subsidy before showing an apartment or accepting an application. The prospect was expecting assistance from the City HIV/AIDS Services Administration, which does not provide written proof of eligibility until a rental application is submitted, creating a Catch 22 situation with LeFrak’s standard policies on proof of income.
The Manhattan District Attorney yesterday announced indictments of 17 people and 15 companies for fraud and bribery in electrical contracting. The principal charges involved alleged kickbacks to Donald Russo and Bar Electrical Consulting for steering purchases by Unity Electric Company.
In the last session of the year, the New York City Council set a July 1, 2015 deadline for recycling food waste from large restaurants, caterers, markets and food preparation facilities. Organic waste will have to be separated and either composted or removed for composting in a sign of requirements that smaller establishments and apartments may eventually face.
In Albany, meanwhile, Governor Cuomo dealt with the final pending legislation of the 2013 legislative session, signing a five year extension of the Green Roof tax credit that expired in March.