With the green movement in full swing across the country, it is not surprising that incorporating energy saving and efficient measures has trickled into condominium development. Today, many buildings in the New York area pride themselv…
We as a culture produce a lot of trash—and not just in the form of reality television shows, late night infomercials, and bad romance novels. Whether it’s the candy wrappers we toss into the trash bins outside on the sidewalk, the newsp…
Concern over health, the environment, and an evolving legal landscape has prompted a number of condo and co-op boards in communities across New York City’s five boroughs to ban cigarette smoking not only in common outdoor areas but in i…
Williamsburg suffers from multiple personality disorder. Just one subway stop away from Manhattan in the Brooklyn neighborhood, you’ll find a large Hasidic Jewish community, a glut of ethnic enclaves, including Polish, Puerto-Rican, Dom…
If you feel safe entering your office or apartment building, see clearly outside your apartment window to gaze at the New York City skyline or receive a package of important papers on time, you have some very special service workers to …
So, did your building comply with the new benchmarking requirements that were a part of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s Greener, Greater Buildings Plan? Local Law 84, new legislation passed in 2009, required all of the city’s private build…
The goal is to be an informed board member. For both new and seasoned board members, however, there are countless challenging topics requiring specific knowledge. With new regulations and legislation on tap, it is imperative that board…
Earlier this year, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg presented his Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Executive Budget and an updated four-year financial plan. The mayor outlined the plan, which costs $64.7 billion and would balance the budget with a clai…
You may live in the most well-run and self-sufficient building in the city, but even in Gotham, no building is an island. Developments from Penn South in Manhattan to Co-op City in the Bronx to the small six-story condo building in the…
New York City’s Department of Buildings wields great influence over how structures in the city are built and maintained, presiding over everything from building inspections to permits, building codes and materials. While that area of go…