A contractor doing excavation work in the Fox Hill I condominium complex ruptured a Central Hudson natural gas line, causing the residents to be evacuated by first responders on Tuesday just after noon. The City of Poughkeepsie police and fire departments responded to the emergency to assist in evacuating the residents while waiting for Central […]
Queens Neighborhood Attempts to Shut Down Forest Hills Concert Series Read More: Lawsuit Update Regarding Popular New York Concert Venue (NY)
A legal battle surrounding open-air concerts held at the Queens-based Forest Hills Stadium seem to stem from the local community’s homeowner’s association. According to several news outlets, as well as billboard, a 2023 lawsuit filed by the Forest Hills Gardens Corporation (FHGC) against the stadium’s ownership, The West Side Tennis Club, sought to ‘shut down […]
Court Deals Blow to Community Associations’ Attempt to Block Corporate Transparency Act
In a recent case, the Community Associations Institute (CAI) and several community associations sought a preliminary injunction against the enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). The CAI argued that requiring their members to disclose “beneficial owners” to the Treasury Department was unlawful, violated the Administrative Procedure Act, exceeded Congress’s authority, and violated the First […]
Judge Dismisses Five of Seven Claims Against Forest Hills Stadium in 2023 Homeowners Association Suit (NY)
On Oct. 21, Justice Joseph J. Esposito dismissed five of seven causes that the Forest Hills Gardens Corporation (FHGC) alleged in a 2023 lawsuit filed against the The West Side Tennis Club, which owns the stadium, in New York Supreme Court – Queens County. The lawsuit seeks to shut down the summer concert program at […]
NEW AUDIT: NYC Comptroller Lander Finds DOF Improperly Granted $6.5+ Million in Co-op/Condo Tax Abatements Since 2019 (NY)
In a new audit, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander found that the Department of Finance (DOF) improperly granted Co-op/Condo Tax Abatements to 720 units between Fiscal Years (FY) 2019–2024, costing the City at least $6,465,892 in lost tax revenue. Read the article…………………………….
Residents upset over alleged plans to exterminate geese at Fishkill condo complex (NY)
Residents at a condo complex in Fishkill say they are upset about apparent plans by their board to remove and kill about two dozen geese. The group alleges that board members who oversee the Park Condominiums complex on Loudon Drive consider them a nuisance around their pond and are seeking a U.S. Fish and Wildlife […]
1 Million Properties in Tristate Area Face High Risk of Flooding (NY)
With horrific scenes of Hurricane Helene-induced flooding in the Southeast still dominating the news cycle, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York has released a harrowing statistic: nearly 1 million houses and multifamily buildings in the tristate New York, New Jersey and Connecticut area — one in 10 properties — are at high risk of […]
Hard Market Causing Delays in Co-op and Condo Insurance Renewals (NY)
There’s a huge question on the minds of co-op and condo boards and their property managers these days: Why are our insurance proposals and renewal information being delayed, sometimes until the day of expiration? Read the article…………………………….
What’s happening with the Newport condos on Irondequoit Bay? (NY)
A row of partially finished condos have been sitting empty on Irondequoit Bay for years. What will happen with these condos? The project, which sits on the former site of the historic Newport House directly on the water, has been on pause and many have noticed. In the 1800s, the Newport House was the first […]
Insurers Seek $1M From Dealership Over Auto Fire (NY)
Insurers representing a homeowners association and two residents have filed a lawsuit in New York federal court, demanding that Honda and a local dealership cover over $1 million in damages resulting from a 2021 vehicle fire. The insurers, Country Mutual Insurance Co. and two Allstate units, allege that American Honda Motor Co. Inc. and Middletown […]
Galleria Condo Board Sues Magician David Copperfield for $2.5 Million (NY)
Disputes between co-op and condo boards and their buildings’ residents can be civil. They can be toxic. And sometimes, as the current dispute at the Galleria luxury condo attests, they can go all the way to thermonuclear. Read the article…………………………….
Rutherford Co-op to Pay $165,000 for Violating Fair Housing Act (NY)
How much are a couple of parrots worth? If they’re support animals for a person with a disability, as the shocked residents of the Rutherford co-op near Gramercy Park just learned, they’re worth $165,000 in damages plus $585,000 for the shares of the disabled person’s apartment. Read the article…………………………….
City Pushes Back Against Bid to Water Down Fines for Local Law 97 (NY)
Terrified by the potential costs of complying with Local Law 97, which requires owners to reduce their buildings’ carbon emissions or face stiff fines, co-op and condo boards in the outer boroughs aired their fears to elected officials. They got a warm reception from City Councilmember Linda Lee (D-Queens). Read the article…………………………….
Resort developers pitch sharing use and costs of condo complex’s sewage treatment plant (NY)
Homeowners in the Willow Ponds condo complex on Sound Avenue are considering allowing the prospective developer of a resort hotel on adjacent Soundfront property to hook up to their sewage treatment plant in exchange for a cash payment and shared costs going forward. Read the article…………………………….
Magician David Copperfield sued by NYC condo board for trashing, neglecting $7M Manhattan penthouse
Famed magician David Copperfield is a negligent neighbor who left his ritzy Midtown penthouse in shambles — and the mess is so ridiculously bad that it threatens the building’s structural integrity, his condo board claims in a new $2.5 million lawsuit. Read the article…………………………….
Planning board: We don’t enforce homeowners’ bylaws (NY)
The Town of Highland Planning Board said it will not enforce regulations on behalf of homeowners associations. During a July 24 public hearing on a short-term rental in the Pyne Ayre subdivision, residents said the proposed rental did not comply with the bylaws of their homeowners association (HOA). Read the article…………………………….
Bronx Co-op Board Accused of Mismanagement by Shareholders (NY)
A epic battle between shareholders and their co-op board is unfolding in the Bronx, and it holds lessons for every resident of every co-op in the city. On one side is a group of disgruntled shareholders at the 273-unit Park Reservoir co-op, a Mitchell-Lama that’s managed by Amalgamated Housing, the nation’s oldest and largest limited-equity […]
O&R Utilities program energizes hundreds of EV chargers at condo complex (NY)
Through Orange and Rockland Utilities (O&R) PowerReady incentive program, the Harbors at Haverstraw condo complex has energized hundreds of Level 2 electric vehicle chargers across a dozen buildings in Rockland County. The $2 million project, done in partnership with INF Associates, is the largest EV charging project in O&R’s service territory. Read the article…………………………….
Mamaroneck condo owners sue to stop rental surcharge (NY)
Owners of several apartments in the Continental View Condominium in Mamaroneck have sued the condo board for imposing a $1,800 annual fee on owners who rent their apartments. Eleven owners of eight apartments accused the board of exceeding its authority by enacting a new house rule without obtaining approval by two-thirds of the owners, in […]
DOB Offering Free, No-Violation Building Inspections for Co-ops and Condos (NY)
Time is running out. Co-op and condo boards have until July 31 to sign up for the Department of Buildings’ (DOB) free, no-violation building inspections. This citywide initiative allows co-op and condo boards, homeowners, landlords and small business owners to call 311 to schedule a free, no-penalty visual inspection of various areas of their properties, […]
Brooklyn condo residents win lawsuit, set to convert building to co-op (NY)
They thought they were buying apartments in a 25-unit condo in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. But the developer lacked permits to erect the building, never transferred deeds to the owners, and failed to make $5 million in mortgage payments. When the lender, Maxim Credit Group, started foreclosure proceedings on the property, the residents faced the prospect […]
Support Grows for Bill to Cut Carbon-Emission Fines for Co-Ops, Condos (NY)
At last, some good news for middle-class co-ops and condos struggling to comply with Local Law 97. A bill to soften the climate law’s sting has gained the support of 25 members of the New York City Council — just one vote shy of the majority that would push the bill through to passage. Read […]
Five-story Condo catches fire on Cliffside Drive in South Bristol (NY)
Cheshire Volunteer Fire Department and Bristol Fire Department responded to a structure fire as a condo caught fire in South Bristol Wednesday morning. According to firefighters around 4:53 a.m. Ontario County 911 received a call reporting a condo fire on Cliffside Drive, and upon arrival found heavy smoke emitting from the fourth floor of the […]
A Mega-Lawsuit, a Rush of Listings and Price Cuts Galore: What’s Going on at 432 Park? (NY)
When 432 Park Avenue launched sales to much fanfare in 2013, the condominium was hailed as one of Manhattan’s most prestigious addresses. The sleek, roughly 1,400-foot-high tower on Billionaires’ Row was briefly the tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere. With a private dining terrace, Michelin star chef and luxurious spa, it drew celebrity residents […]
Lake George Association again challenges proposal by Lake George Park Commission to use herbicide to control invasive aquatic plan (NYMN)
Plans by the Lake George Park Commission to use an herbicide to control an invasive aquatic plant are once again being contested by local advocates. The Lake George Association is leading efforts to stop the LGPC from using chemical ProcellaCOR in two proposed experimental treatments in the lake. Read the article…………………………….
City Council Tightens Parking Garage Inspections with Trio of New Bills (NY)
One good turn deserves another. After tightening parking garage inspection rules in the wake of last year’s deadly collapse of a garage in Downtown Manhattan, the New York City Council has passed three bills that further tighten the screws on garage owners, including co-op and condo boards. Read the article…………………………….
Southampton man convicted of fraud, money laundering (NY)
Officials said that Slothower devised a scheme to misappropriate more than $1 million from clients and prospects. While operating Battery Private, Slothower solicited business from a couple from California whose money he had managed at another financial services firm where he was previously employed. Slothower promised the victims he could beat any rate of return […]
New York City’s Hidden Water Tax May Cause 8% Increase in Bills
New Yorkers love to complain about taxes, including but not limited to property taxes, sales taxes and income taxes. Now all city residents — whether they live in co-ops or condos, rental buildings or single-family homes — may soon have a new tax to complain about: a hidden tax on water and sewer service that […]
‘We want the ticks gone’: Organizers calling for action against state parks “no mow” policy (NY)
The West River Homeowners Association called for action against the New York State Parks “no mow” policy to prevent ticks from latching onto children and dogs along the West River Greenway Trail. Chris Russell, a member of the organization, wants the grass along the trail in Grand Island to be completely cut down. Read the […]
Wantagh-Seaford Homeowners Association meeting addresses community issues (NY)
Community members packed the Wantagh American Legion hall for the meeting, which was hosted by the Wantagh-Seaford Homeowners Association to address those concerns and to discuss the Neighborhood Watch program. Read the article…………………………….
What you can expect to pay for NYC condo or co-op insurance
New York City has never been particularly cheap, and annual insurance costs make living in the city even more expensive for condo and co-op owners. Condo and co-op insurance—which protects your individual apartment—normally runs several hundred dollars a year. But premiums have gotten more expensive since 2020 thanks to inflation, higher construction costs, and a […]
LIC Condo Board Settles Wage Dispute with Service Workers (NY)
There’s no such thing as a free lunch — or a free tax break. The popular 421-a tax abatement, for instance, comes with the requirement that a building receiving the tax relief must pay its non-union employees prevailing wages, which are pegged to the wages and benefits enjoyed by members of Local 32BJ of the […]
In a luxe N.Y. condo, residents battle over dumping the Trump name
A referendum underway inside one New York condominium building has led to bitter divisions between once-friendly neighbors, who have handed out dueling information and lobbed accusations of wrongdoing back and forth as votes are tallied. Read the article…………………………….
Fire in Chester condo complex destroys several units (NY)
A fire in Chester Tuesday destroyed several units inside a condominium complex. Chester Fire Department Chief Thomas Marchiano says the flames broke out in the afternoon at the Whispering Hills condominium complex inside a garage and spread to the apartments above. Read the article…………………………….
Queens Condo Mgmt Must Pay $119K For Workers Stiffed Out Of Benefits (NY)
Managers of a swanky Queens condo building stiffed workers out of benefits they were entitled to receive under the terms of a lucrative tax break, said city Comptroller Brad Lander. Choice NY Property Management must pay $119,000 to its workers at The Jackson, a condominium in Long Island City, according to a wage theft settlement […]
Somers community says HOA refuses to fix massive sinkhole (NY)
“Ten years ago, we saw a sinkhole was developing so we notified the homeowners association. They told me there’s no imminent danger here, and I said ‘Well, let your grandchildren come play back here,”‘ he says. He says he’s reached out to the homeowners association about 30 times over the years about this. Read the […]
Complaints mount against developer Sathuan Sa. Why East Greenwich halted work on new condos (NY)
An embattled Rhode Island developer, who has been sanctioned multiple times by the Rhode Island contractors’ registration board, had construction of his 38-unit condominium development in East Greenwich halted after the town’s building official said he had “grave concerns” about the work being done there. Read the article…………………………….
Brooklyn Tower Is in Trouble (NY)
Stern’s supertall at 9 Dekalb, with its strikingly dark neo-Gothic façade, is now the most recognizable feature in the Brooklyn skyline — and perhaps its most divisive. But people in the real-estate industry have always talked about it for a different reason, with some speculating it was doomed from the start Read the article…………………………….
Security firm paying $230K to settle wage-theft case at Chelsea condo (NY)
New York Attorney General Letitia James and city Comptroller Brad Lander on Monday announced a nearly $230,000 settlement with the managers of a Manhattan condo building and a private security firm for underpaying its workers. A joint city and state investigation found that Allied Universal Security Services had for years been underpaying its security guards […]
Somers community says HOA refuses to fix massive sinkhole (NY)
A community in Somers says their homeowner’s association won’t fix a massive sinkhole, despite many calls about it. “Ten years ago, we saw a sinkhole was developing so we notified the homeowners association. They told me there’s no imminent danger here, and I said ‘Well, let your grandchildren come play back here,”‘ he says. […]
Fire tears through roof of condo building in Beacon; no injuries reported (NY)
A fire ravaged through a condo building in Dutchess County Tuesday leaving several families without a home. Cellphone video provided to News 12 shows flames spreading over the roof in the Colonial Springs Complex on Colonial Road in Beacon. Read the article…………………………….
Gas Leak Forces Evacuation At Carmel Condo Complex (NY)
Several residents and firefighters were evaluated by first responders following a gas leak at a Hudson Valley condominium complex that forced an evacuation. Read the article…………………………….
Fire tears through roof of condo building in Beacon; no injuries reported (NY)
A fire ravaged through a condo building in Dutchess County Tuesday leaving several families without a home. Several neighboring fire departments responded to the blaze, including from the City of Newburgh across the Hudson River. It took them more than an hour to put the fire out. Read the article…………………………….
NYC pols urge Albany to OK tax break for ‘green’ mandate that could cost co-op, condo owners $20K
New York City Council members feeling the heat from thousands of angry co-op and condo owners are urging state pols to OK tax breaks over a new “green” mandate that could cost more than $20,000 per unit. The City Council had actually approved the mandate, the Climate Mobilization Emissions Law, in 2019 requiring residential buildings […]
Condo owners at 443 Greenwich have been suing developer for years (NY)
Bloomberg had the story this week, and I have since traced it through court records: Since 2021, the “board of managers” (is that what folks call a condo board?) of 443 Greenwich, aka the celebrity dorm between Desbrosses and Vestry, has been in court with its sponsor owners and architect over a laundry list of […]
Property owners group sues City of Newburgh (NY)
Hudson Valley Property Owners Association, Inc. Tuesday filed suit in Supreme Court in Orange County against the City of Newburgh and New York State Division of Housing & Community Renewal, challenging the legality of Newburgh’s imposition of rent control through the adoption of the Emergency Tenant Protection Act of 1974 (ETPA). Read the article…………………………….
Lawsuit Based on Racketeering Act Seeks Ouster of Fifth Avenue Co-op Board (NY)
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act was designed to help prosecutors go after mobsters. Recently it was used to bring charges against former president Donald Trump and his allies for their efforts to reverse the 2020 election results in Georgia. Now it’ss the basis for a lawsuit in a tony co-op on Manhattan’s […]
In New York, the Trump Brand Is Costing Some Condo Owners (NY)
When Donald J. Trump became president, condominiums in buildings emblazoned with his name began selling for less, according to an analysis. In the world of real estate, Donald J. Trump’s name has long been synonymous with luxury. Read the article…………………………….
Mayor Adams eyes NYC property tax breaks as co-ops, condos face crunch from ‘green’ mandate
Mayor Eric Adams said he’d consider property tax breaks for middle-class co-op and condo owners who have to pay for pricey building upgrades when a new “green” mandate icks in. Hizzoner said he was open to tax abatements as anxious residents brace for the costs of Local Law 97, which covers 800,000 co-op and condo […]
The big bad board: How do we replace our entire condo board? (NY)
Q: I live in a New York City condo building where over 50 percent of the unit owners have met and decided it is necessary to replace the entire board without consideration of their particular running terms. We know there is a process that needs to be followed. How do we go about replacing the […]