NYC Department of Buildings’ Post

An interesting thing about architectures is they have the values of their creators deeply embedded. In cities like Atlanta, the architecture has been about bringing dollars from outside the city in, often at the cost of the urban core itself. Parking space wastes networkable land. Infrastructural elements like stadiums pull in tens of thousands on game day but lay fallow 200 days of the year. And the car is made king at the expense of human-scale connectivity and even life. Atlanta is in the middle of an exciting reevaluation of all of this, trying to make neighborhoods and streets complete and safe for residents. In my neighborhood of Midtown, roads have been increasingly shared by many kinds of traffic. And the rules are being rewritten to accommodate that safely. This includes banning a very pedestrian- and cyclist-hostile maneuver, the free right on red. https://lnkd.in/eG66YSkU

Could a rebrand of 'Low Traffic Neighbourhoods' to 'Community Streets' help London's residents to support the roll-out of active travel corridors? As many LTNs were quickly rolled out in COVID-times--I believe it's time to consider a change to the phrases we use to describe the active travel and community spaces. As someone who travels actively and via public transport 99% of the time, I'm a big fan of active travel corridors. But I believe labelling these schemes as low-traffic networks stoke drivers' fears of being excluded without framing the benefit of opening these spaces for the benefit of all. I judge that labels like NYC's 'Open Streets' or 'Community Streets', would better focus minds on the benefits realised through via low-traffic schemes. Four years on, I believe it's time for London's council's to consider a rebrand. This thoughtful piece by John Surico in Curbed paints a beautiful picture of a more mature Open Street. Yes, please! #lambethcouncil #ltn #lowtrafficnetworks #streetsforpeople #lambethlivingstreets #londonlivingstreets #londonlife #openstreet #communitystreet

Indiana, take note: Prohibits a landlord from knowingly terminating a tenancy, increasing rent, decreasing services, bringing or threatening to bring a lawsuit against a tenant for possessing or refusing to renew a lease or tenancy because the tenant has in good faith has taken certain actions, including but not limited to (i) complaining of code violations applicable to the premises to the relevant governmental agency responsible for enforcement of a building, housing, health, or similar code; (ii) complaining of a building, housing, health, or similar code violation, or an illegal landlord practice to a community organization or the news media; or (iii) complaining or requesting the landlord to make repairs to the premises as required by a building code, health ordinance, other regulation, or the residential rental agreement. https://lnkd.in/gCKzBdjn

Neil M Strebig with the excellent article on #BellevueMontgomery!! Always grateful for having our project highlighted! Learn more about the project through the article or by following the link to our SmallChange.co platform below! https://lnkd.in/e6vq3zRN *In this test-the-water phase, no money or other consideration is being solicited, and if sent in response will not be accepted. No offer to buy securities can be accepted and no part of the purchase price can be received until the offering statement is filed and then only through Smallchange.co. Any indication of interest involves no obligation or commitment of any kind.

Mayor Eric Adams's proposal, "City of Yes for Economic Opportunity," aims to reinvigorate New York City's economic landscape by updating zoning regulations that have been static for over six decades. The proposal seeks to facilitate business operations by allowing new types of commercial activities in residential areas and mixed-use buildings. This includes permitting bodegas on residential corners and enabling various services like barber shops and pharmacies to operate above ground floor levels in buildings that house apartments. However, this plan has encountered substantial opposition from both left- and right-wing members of the City Council. Critical concerns include potential increases in traffic and disruptions in residential neighborhoods, inadequate enforcement capabilities by the city, and the risk of proliferation of unregulated businesses, including illegal marijuana shops. Council members fear that these changes could degrade the quality of life in quiet, residential areas. Key components of the opposition include worries that the plan does not consider the unique needs of more suburban boroughs like Staten Island. While parts of the proposal have gained traction—such as removing restrictions on live entertainment in small venues and promoting "clean manufacturing"—there is a strong call for major revisions to ensure that the changes are beneficial and appropriate for all communities involved. Despite resistance, there is a tentative consensus that the plan may pass by the end of May if significant modifications are agreed upon. Mayor Adams's initiative is part of a broader "City of Yes" series, which also includes efforts towards carbon neutrality and improving housing opportunities through less restrictive zoning laws. This ongoing debate highlights the tension between fostering economic growth and preserving neighborhood character and quality of life in one of the world's most dynamic urban environments. #CityOfYes #EconomicOpportunity #NYCZoning #UrbanPlanning #CommunityConcerns #MayorAdamsInitiative #NYCBusinessGrowth #ResidentialImpact #CouncilOpposition #ModernizeNYC https://lnkd.in/eu3DcXmj

This past month, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and city leaders unveiled an exciting new initiative for the 2025-2026 winter season: the Plow the Sidewalks Pilot Program. Developed by a dedicated cross-departmental working group, this program aims to ensure that all Chicagoans, especially those with disabilities, senior citizens, and others facing winter mobility challenges, have safe and clear sidewalks. The pilot program represents a bold step forward in enhancing accessibility and mobility throughout the city. By testing and refining sidewalk snow removal strategies, the program will gather valuable data on mobility improvements, operational efficiencies, and resident feedback, guiding the creation of a more inclusive and accessible sidewalk environment for everyone. The report includes 11 comprehensive recommendations addressing the administration, timing, and locations for the pilot, as well as detailed cost considerations. This initiative is vital, as the current system places the burden of sidewalk snow removal on property owners, posing significant challenges for residents with reduced mobility and those navigating sidewalks outside unoccupied or abandoned buildings. Snow-covered sidewalks create safety hazards and deepen existing inequities, making the Plow the Sidewalks Pilot Program a crucial step toward a safer, more equitable Chicago.

The following remarks were delivered to the Battery Park City Authority (Authority) during their meeting on 9/10/2024, by a representative of the Battery Park City Homeowners Coalition. --- My name is John Bandler and I speak on behalf of the Battery Park City Homeowners Coalition and the condominiums we represent. First, a sincere and cordial thank you to the Authority and all those individuals serving it. Government service is important, we appreciate yours. We share a desire for good and fair government. The Authority is an important unit of government. We all want a vibrant neighborhood. Including for families and retirees. Negotiations on ground rent with the Authority have been inconsistent over the past two years. ·      At times the authority engages. ·      At times it states that it will not negotiate with the coalition ·      At times it states that it “can not”. The fact is that the Authority can negotiate, if it wants. It negotiated with the Homeowner’s Coalition in the past in 2011. A deal was reached then. A deal can be reached again. You can negotiate with us, and you should. As a matter of good government and fairness. Another fact is that individual buildings are not in an equal bargaining position with you. A single building has one option. To take whatever offer you make. Because our buildings are not movable. We cannot find a different landlord. So that would not be a fair negotiation process The Authority’s duties go far beyond trying to maximize revenue through ground rents. It is not simply an investor landlord seeking to maximize profits—to maximize revenue through an unfair bargaining process. It has governmental duties to serve, be fair, and steward this neighborhood. We can work together . We can develop a fair process to negotiate fair ground rents. Principles of good government require it. Let’s discuss and negotiate. Thank you for listening and your future engagement. ### Battery Park City Homeowners Coalition Battery Park City Authority

Just finished this book. My favourite insight was the #Valley of #Parking #Mandates i.e. the reason for the 'missing middle' housing. When #propertydevelopers look at the #returnoninvestment for low density #housing (#suburban #sprawl), it's relatively cheap to install parking with a concrete slab and a shed (the garage) which they recoup with the house sale. For #highdensity housing and #highrisebuildings, developers create a lot of parking underneath which costs a lot which they recoup with the high number of apartment sales. For #medium #density housing, it's less financially viable to build housing which mandates parking because car parking infrastructure is too expensive for the financial return on the sale of the properties. Mayor Peter Flannery

Let's be clear, Melrose Ave. hasn't been cool since the TV series started all those decades ago. Rents immediately soared, tourists from far away descended like locusts and the cops, egged on by the locals dying of AIDS, started giving tickets to everyone to line city coffers. Almost overnight, kids couldn't afford it; which is how Fairfax had its short spot in the sun. Now, Cantor's Deli is barely hanging on even though they own their very dilapidated building which would've been condemned years ago if it wasn't so culturally important. Most of the buildings are in such poor condition, they're best suited for demolition and the area is well-suited for high-density low-income residential apartment blocks; something progressives want everywhere they don't live. I haven't specifically sought out the street since the 20th century. Also ignored, is the hard reality that LA has very few native white teenagers anymore, especially anywhere near that street and the locals who control the dirt there have zero interest in creating a zone popular among teenagers of color regardless of their liberal politics. Like many things in LA which were once great, its long entered the history books and will not be returning. No worries, the far western edges of Melrose near the Pacific Design Center are a plutocrats paradise if you're into Stella McCartney and other 5-figure designers per piece. Teenagers will not be allowed in by the very large security men of color carrying firearms stationed at every door. This is what "inclusion" looks like in LA these days. https://lnkd.in/gfc8pqhX

Stop me if you've heard this one. How many lawyers does it take to change a lightbulb? How many Senators does it take to change a lightbulb? How many NBA refs does it take to change a lightbulb? I once sent an email to the Mayor of Vancouver that began: How many of your city planners does it take to change a lightbulb? My favorite line on panels has been that if city engineers and bureaucrats just figured out how to illuminate Gothem City, you wouldn't need Batman. Strategically strung LEDs would have negated the creation of the Dark Knight. Lighting spaces for ambiance and safety has been critical to communities, since the creation of fire, thousands of years before Downtowns were ever imagined. And tonight the South Park Business Improvement District celebrates the culmination of a project that even with its simplicity, took us a full calendar year to deliver - the lighting of 11th Street, Pico Blvd, and Hill Street, with over 10k LED lights. This project will highlight key economic corridors and create a safer pedestrian environment. I'm incredibly proud of our team's work - and the leadership of our Programs and Partnership Manager, Rich Sarian - to deliver this project. And while we'll celebrate tonight with free food, community, and music from the Top Shelf Brass Band, I can't help but still contemplate the reality of the joke. Not how many bureaucrats does it take to change a light bulb, but how long does it take for them to let anyone else do it? Why does critical affordable housing get delayed by a multitude of hang ups in the process? Why do small business owners need to hire expediters to navigate city government? Why does it take a decade to move forward with modernizing and expanding the convention center - the engine we rely on to support restaurants, hotels, our downtown theaters, and local retailers? To continue to win, innovate, and invest at the speed of opportunity, we have to do things faster. Cities can't afford to operate as if they are staging a marathon, while businesses, residents, and those of us that partner with government to improve our communities, are in all out sprints through 110m hurdles. Anyway... check out some of the cool coverage of our project! We're excited about it and want to do more like this, as fast as we can! https://lnkd.in/ghWCcAzg