New York RealEstateRama

New York, NY - July 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert K. Steel, Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Mathew M. Wambua and New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) President Marc Jahr announced todaythe City has reached a major milestone in its affordable housing plan, the New Housing Marketplace Plan.

New York , NY - July 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today appointed Victor A. Gonzalez as the first public housing resident to be named a member of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Board. In April 2011, the City announced it would add a new seat on the Board, creating a new Resident Board Member position. More than 600 residents from all five boroughs applied. Gonzalez’s appointment is effective July 20, 2011, when he will join NYCHA Chairman John B. Rhea, Vice Chair Emily Youssouf and Board Member Margarita López at his first board meeting. NYCHA board members form the Authority’s governing body and are responsible for voting on contracts, resolutions, policies, motions, rules and regulations and administrative matters.

JAMAICA,NY - July 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (NY-6), senior member of the Financial Services Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee, along with community organizations, including Neighborhood Works America, will hold a press conference on Monday, July 18, 11:00 am to urge eligible homeowners to act quickly to apply for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Emergency Homeowners’ Loan Program (EHLP). Congressman Meeks will be joined by Adolfo Carrion, HUD Regional Administrator, Region II. Mr. Carrion is a former Bronx Borough President and director of the White House Office on Urban Policy.

New York, NY - July 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- It may be summer vacation season, but that doesn’t mean you should take a break from your home energy responsibilities. In fact, getting the whole family involved in making better choices regarding energy efficiency is a great way to teach your household how to conserve resources and save money.

NEW YORK, NY - July 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Cushman & Wakefield today announced it has been retained as the exclusive retail leasing agent for “The Corner at Wall Street,” a 178,000-square-foot block of prime retail space located at 23 and 35 Wall Street and 15 Broad Street in downtown Manhattan’s Financial District.

New York, NY - July 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative (CGSGI) announced today the signing of agreements with SENA and CAMACOL Bogotá and Cundinamarca (CAMACOL B&C) that establish the first on-site job training and certification program for construction workers in Colombia. CGSGI will develop a portable, on-site training facility in the Ciudad Verde ("Green City") low-income housing development in Soacha, Cundinamarca, near Bogotá, the capital of Colombia to offer free training and certification for 5,000 construction workers. The on-site training program will utilize courses developed by SENA, the National Learning Service of Colombia, and trainees will be evaluated by CAMACOL B&C, the Colombian Chamber of Construction. Workers will receive certifications from SENA for the competencies in which they have been trained.

Washington, DC - July 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today secured approval from a key U.S. House panel of a $6.38 million increase in funding for two critical federal programs that support the Susquehanna Flood Forecast and Warning System (SFFWS). The funding increase will boost the efforts of the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) National Streamflow Information Program and The Cooperative Water Program. Both programs offer support to the SFFWS network of rain and stream gages by offsetting operation and maintenance costs of the network

NEW YORK, NY - July 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Two justices of the New York State Supreme Court have issued sweeping orders to restrain the activities of alleged “loan modification” scammers, providing major victories for financially vulnerable homeowners. On July 5, 2011, Justice Thomas A. Adams of the Nassau County Supreme Court extended a temporary restraining order that restrains the activities and freezes the assets of a group of companies operating under the names “Express Home Solutions” and “Home Preserve Law Group.” The ruling complements a similar order issued on June 28, 2011 by Justice John M. Galasso, also of the Nassau County Supreme Court, which enjoins a group of individuals operating a separate business under the name “Homesafe America.”

Albany, NY - July 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today traveled to Monroe County to sign New York's first property tax cap.. The tax cap, a hallmark of Governor Cuomo's campaign and a priority of his administration's first year, will finally deliver relief to millions of homeowners and business owners across the state who for too long have been burdened by out-of-control property taxes.

Albany, NY - July 5, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today traveled to Erie County to sign New York's first property tax cap. The tax cap, a hallmark of Governor Cuomo's campaign and a priority of his administration's first year, will finally deliver relief to millions of homeowners and business owners across the state who for too long have been burdened by out-of-control property taxes.

New York, NY - July 1 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Governor signed the law passed by the Senate on June 24, 2011, and sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos. The law caps school and local government taxes to less than two percent or the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is lower. The new law also includes $127 million in mandate relief savings to local governments, in addition to the creation of a Mandate Relief Council to identify and repeal unsound, unduly burdensome laws and regulations

Albany, NY - July 1 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today traveled to Westchester County to sign New York's first property tax cap. The tax cap, a hallmark of Governor Cuomo's campaign and a priority of his administration's first year, will finally deliver relief to millions of homeowners and business owners across the state who for too long have been burdened by out-of-control property taxes

New York, NY - June 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Housing Committee Chair Vito Lopez today announced passage of legislation to extend the rent laws and expand rent protections for tenants for the first time since 1993.

New York, NY - June 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver announced today the passage of the Affordable Housing Act (A.8518) that would provide relief for working families across the state by capping growth in local property tax levies at two percent. The legislation also includes significant mandate relief for local government and school districts.

June 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York State Senate today passed historic property tax relief legislation that enacts a cap on the growth of local property taxes. The bill (S.5856), sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos, will cap school and local government taxes to less than two percent or the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is lower. Mandate relief is also included, with $127 million in savings to local governments, in addition to the creation of a Mandate Relief Council to identify and repeal unsound, unduly burdensome laws and regulations

NEW YORK, NY - June 30, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Reserve Bank of New York today was awarded recognition for best practices in efficient building management by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) at an event in Washington, D.C. The BOMA 360 Performance Building designation recognizes commercial properties that demonstrate best practices in all major areas of building operations and are managed to the highest standards of excellence. The award recognizes the New York Fed’s locations main headquarters in the Financial District and East Rutherford Operations Center (EROC) in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Yonkers, NY - June 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Philip A. Amicone, Chairman of the Yonkers Industrial Development Agency (IDA) joined Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, city and county legislators and Ron Moelis the CEO of L+M Development Partners Inc. (L+M) for the ceremonial opening of 330 Riverdale, a brand new, multifamily housing development in Yonkers.

New York, NY - June 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ALEXANDER KAPLAN, formerly a Brooklyn-based real estate lawyer and the owner of a title insurance company, was sentenced on Friday, June 17, 2011, in Manhattan federal court to 46 months in prison by United States District Judge RICHARD J. HOLWELL for his role in a multimillion dollar mortgage fraud scheme. KAPLAN was convicted, on February 6, 2009, of eighteen counts of mortgage fraud after a two-week jury trial

New York, NY - June 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- In an effort to help revitalize struggling communities throughout the state with high numbers of abandoned properties, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Local Government Committee Chair William Magnarelli, and Assembly Members Sam Hoyt and Donna Lupardo announced today the passage of legislation that would allow municipalities to create land banks.

New York, NY - June 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- "Affordable housing is an all too scarce commodity, especially in New York City and the surrounding areas. Our state's rent protection laws are essential and any long term expiration would create a crisis. Last night the State Senate -- both Democrats and Republicans -- failed to continue the laws beyond their expiration.

Westbury, NY - June 13, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano announced today that a once foreclosed, termite-infested property in Westbury is being completely rehabilitated to become a brand new energy-efficient home. This is a joint effort with Nassau County, Unified New Cassel Community Revitalization & the United Way of Long Island. Rehabilitation of this property is possible due to nearly $400,000 in Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funds obtained by Nassau County from the Federal and State governments. The home will be rehabilitated by certified professionals, working alongside student trainees from the United Way’s YouthBuild initiative.

New York, NY - June 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced an $110,000 U.S. Department of Labor grant for the United Veterans Beacon House based in Bay Shore, Long Island. The center, which provides transitional housing and job training to homeless veterans in Suffolk and Nassau County, will use the money to fund outreach efforts to homeless veterans at other shelters in Long Island, as well as efforts to connect these veterans to potential employers. Schumer said that this grant was essential in order to provide our heroes who have fallen on hard times with the helping hand they need to find jobs and get their lives back on track.

New York, NY - May 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- To make it easier for property owners to assess, fund, implement and measure energy efficiency opportunities that can improve their buildings’ performance and bottom line, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has integrated its portfolio of programs and incentives for multifamily buildings, including condominiums and co-ops

May 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver today unveiled legislation to provide real relief for hard working men and women across New York State by capping local property taxes at two percent while at the same time including important safeguards to ensure communities are able to provide critical services for their citizens. The legislation prohibits local governments and school districts from exceeding the two percent threshold on the total tax levy and requires a 60 percent vote to override the levy. "Our message to property owners who have struggled under the burden of soaring taxes is simple," said Speaker Silver (D-Manhattan).

New York, NY - May 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Flatbush Gardens Tenants Association filed a lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court today against David Bistricer, a principal of Renaissance Equity Holdings LLC, which owns and operates Flatbush Gardens, the sprawling 59-building housing complex in Brooklyn. Renaissance and an affiliated LLC are also named as defendants.

New York, NY - May 23, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu will join New York real estate industry executives and union leaders on Monday to recognize New York City’s first class of green building superintendents to graduate from the 32BJ-Thomas Shortman Green Supers training program. Green Supers is an ambitious labor-management green buildings program, launched just over a year ago with Mayor Bloomberg, to train superintendents and resident managers in the latest state-of-the-art energy efficiency measures.

New York, NY - May 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Brack Capital Real Estate (BCRE), in a joint venture with IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), has completed the acquisition of 180 Orchard Street on the Lower East Side of Manhattan for approximately $46 million in an all-equity transaction. BCRE will own 51 percent of the shares in the joint venture while IHG will own the remaining 49 percent. IHG's investment in the project will be up to $30 million. The team plans to develop a multi-use property to include a 290-room Hotel Indigo with retail component and parking.

Pearl River, NY - May 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- As an increasingly heated debate on property tax relief continues to focus solely on a tax cap, Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee (D-Suffern) today announced she has introduced legislation (A7673) that creates an income-based tax “circuit breaker” as a viable alternative that actually lowers homeowners’ tax bills while protecting quality education.

New York, NY - May 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- GFI Mortgage Bankers, one of the largest independent mortgage banking firms based in New York, announces its selection as the preferred lender for condo buyers of Kirkman Lofts. A former soap factory, Kirkman Lofts is located in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn, NY and is a 45-unit condo building with a mix of one, two, three and four bedroom units. The building maintains the original aesthetic from its former days as a factory keeping the original steel silos for the entrance to each unit as well as the industrial windows and the brick façade.

Albany, NY - May 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced that their legislation to prevent a massive rate hike on New York City energy customers has passed the Legislature unanimously in both houses.