Q Is a co-op in New York City compelled to have a live-in superintendent? If so, can he be fired if it is proven that his legal residence is in another state? Our super is never around and when he is in the area he is usually at another…
Tag: Consumer cooperative
2010 June
Legislative Update 2010
As the legislature in Albany and the New York City Council are in full swing, legislation of every type is being proposed, debated, and considered. As one might expect, the budget is front and center in these recessionary times, but ho…
2010 April
The (Really) Big Apple
If you lived in New York in the summer of 2003, chances are you know exactly what you were doing on Thursday, August 14th, at 4:15 in the afternoon. That’s when the ripple effects of the failure of an Ohio power plant caused most of the…
2010 Jan
To Be Managed - or Self-Managed?
While the majority of co-op and condo communities in New York hire professional management firms to handle their day-to-day operations, many others choose to go the self-managed route, which can include hiring on-site staff or having r…
2009 Oct
Use vs. Abuse—and How to Tell the Difference
Everybody sometimes disagrees with the decisions of their co-op or condo board. Maybe the choice to rearrange the garbage receptacles out front seems ridiculous, or the ongoing clattering of machinery on the roof is driving the top-flo…
2009 June
What's On Deck in Albany and City Hall
As the legislative session in Albany winds down for the year and the New York City Council continues to address legislation, as always, there are several measures in play with serious implications for the condo and co-op community. …
2008 Sept
Barking Up the Wrong Tree
The City Council is at it again with another attempt to create havoc for our co-ops. Intro 13, sponsored by Councilman Tony Avella is artfully crafted to conceal its true objective: Prohibit the right of co-ops and condos to control pet…
2008 June
Good Records Vital Regardless of Building Size
On March 31st, 2008, the Supreme Court of New York County rendered a decision illustrating the importance for cooperatives and condominiums of documenting board and owner action properly. As cooperatives and condominiums age, the proper …
2008 June
Q&A: Public Financing for Wheelchair Ramps
Q I am on the board of a cooperative that is over forty-years-old. We wish to replace steps in the lobby with ramps to accommodate wheelchairs. We want to know if we can receive any public financing since we are helping the disabled. …
2008 April
Where Can Boards Turn?
Most board members are volunteers—some may have experience with certain aspects of running a building, but most come to the job relatively green, armed only with a sense of responsibility and a desire to serve their building community. S…