An insiders look at all things Downtown and beyond – our neighborhood, our home,
our community.
February 2023
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Possible New Coop Laws
Scout, Archie and I sit on the stoop of our coop all the time. We have always loved coop life, but the way applicants are accepted/rejected may soon change.
Two city politicians are introducing a bill aimed at curtailing discrimination by co-op boards.
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and City Council member Pierina Sanchez will unveil their legislation the past February. It is part of a package of bills aimed at co-ops.
The bill would require co-op boards to provide a written rationale for rejecting an applicant within five days of the decision. Rejections often trigger suspicion of discrimination among non-white applicants but only rarely lawsuits, because boards need not disclose their reasoning.
Under the legislation, co-ops would need to identify each part of an application that they found problematic and affirm those statements under the penalty of perjury. Failure to comply with the timeline could result in fines of $1,000 to $25,000.
“For too long, a complicated, nebulous and opaque co-op process has left open the possibility for discrimination and denial of housing to qualified applicants,” Williams told the publication.
Co-op and condo discrimination is a longstanding problem, as there is little to no transparency in the review process. Various legislative attempts have been made to address the issue, including a bill introduced two years ago in the State Senate requiring co-ops to explain rejections in writing. It never passed, but one in Westchester County did. Opponents of such bills argue that revealing reasons for rejections would put boards at risk of being sued, although no evidence supporting that claim has surfaced.
Separate legislation being introduced Thursday would require co-ops to disclose their finances to prospective buyers after a shareholder has accepted an offer to sell. Disclosures would include cash flow, debt and operating expenses. Another bill would standardize the application process, in an attempt to eliminate fair housing violations. Boards would have 45 days to respond to an application and spell out any conditions for acceptance. Penalties for violations would also range between $1,000 and $25,000. (From The Real Deal)
Do you live in a coop? I would love to hear what you think about these possible new laws.
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With Investors Like Paul Rudd, a New Bagel Baker Takes a Bite of the Village
Like many people stuck at home during the pandemic, Adam Goldberg, who worked at a flood-mitigation systems company in Westport, Connecticut, decided to try his hand at baking. But unlike most amateur bakers, Goldberg turned his pastime into a thriving bagel-delivery service that built a loyal following and drew the attention of celebrity investors like actor Paul Rudd.
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New Beach to Open in Manhattan This Summer
This summer, from the same firm that brought New Yorkers the High Line, a brand new riverside retreat will open on the shores of Manhattan — becoming the borough’s first and only public beach.
Gansevoort Peninsula promises to supply visitors with a salt marsh, a public art installation called “Day’s End,” an athletic field, a launch for kayaks and small boats, a tree-lined promenade, and waterfront access — but no swimming.
The beach is set on a 14,000-square-foot stretch of sand.
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A Studio Fit For Two
When Kristoffer Cusick, an actor, and his husband, Dan Hickle, a marketing executive, bought this prewar studio in the West Village a decade ago, they hadn’t bothered to do much work on it. They weren’t there full time anyway; they had a home in San Francisco where Hickle’s job was based.In 2020, Hickle got a job in New York and “we thought, let’s make this our little dream location.” Soon the pandemic hit, which put their renovation on hold, as well as their move.
The studio is an open plan designed to accommodate cooking, sleeping, and relaxing all within 600 square feet.
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Two of the Biggest Names in NYC Slice Shops Are Opening Downtown Pizzerias
Mama’s Too and L’Industrie are both targeting summer 2023.
It’s always the summer of the slice here in New York City, but in the West Village, it’s looking especially so. Mama’s Too and L’Industrie, two of the biggest names in NYC slice shops, are heading for the West Village this year. Mama’s Too owner Frank Tuttolomondo says his pizzeria will launch at 323-325 Bleecker, near Christopher Street, while L’Industrie’s Massimo Laveglia says he’d prefer to remain tight-lipped about his address, but that its “very, very close” to Mama’s Too West Village.
Tuttolomondo opened Mama’s Too on the Upper West Side in 2017, located near his parents’ spot, Mama’s Pizza, continuing their uptown legacy. “Some pizzerias try to make a better slice. Very few try to make a different slice. Mama’s Too makes a different slice,” New York Times critic Pete Wells wrote in his starred review, heralding it as a slice spot that could go toe-to-toe with any of the new-wave Brooklyn establishments.
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SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker Relocates Flagship Boutique to West Village
Entering its ninth year of business, SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker has opened a new flagship boutique at 385 Bleecker Street, in the same neighborhood as the well-known stoop made famous by Parker in “Sex and the City.”
The nearly 500-square-foot boutique replaces the brand’s previous flagship at 31 West 54th Street, which closed last June after a little over two years in that location, and pop-up shop on West 52nd Street in New York, which has also closed.
The space features a new look for SJP, designed by Parker herself in collaboration with longtime friend and designer Eric Hughes.
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ChickenHawk: The Spiciest, Sweetest and Most Affordable Chicken
A restaurant named after the Looney Tunes character Henery Hawk takes flight with its impeccable taste and prices.When Zeev opened ChickenHawk, the restaurant charged customers a familiar rate — a rate familiar to most New Yorker. “Two students from NYU came in and at the time, the sandwiches were around $14 because we were basically doing whatever everyone else did,” Zeev said.One of the students couldn’t get a sandwich because of its high price, and Zeev knew he had to make a change. By cutting more expensive items from the menu, he made ChickenHawk’s offerings more accessible and appealing. ChickenHawk collaborated with Einat Admony, an Israeli chef who owns Balaboosta in the West Village.
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Just Listed
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Pin-drop Quiet Chelsea 1-Bedroom Loft w/ Home Office
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The VET! Yuck!
There are very few things Archie and I hate more than the vet! I won't even walk on that block here in the Village, but I do know that having our bloodwork done each year is great for our health.
Routine pet blood work can help veterinary professionals diagnose conditions such as parasites, allergies, diabetes, liver disease, kidney failure, pancreatic issues, and more. Catching issues early on can help reverse, cure, or slow down different conditions.
Click here to learn more.
xo - Scout and Archie
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A New York City resident for over 25 years and a West Village homeowner for over 16, I am passionate about this city and am devoted to making each client interaction an exciting and rewarding experience. It is a passion of mine to assist buyers, sellers, renters and investors to help them achieve real estate success. An expert in marketing, communication and negotiation, I skillfully guide clients with extensive market knowledge and my unfailing can-do attitude. A full-service agent, I work closely with top-tier real estate attorneys, mortgage bankers, financial advisors and stagers to facilitate all aspects of of my clients' needs.
For the past 13 years, I have served as a member of my coop board and have a deep knowledge for running a building in NYC. I currently live on Charles Street with my husband, Shuki, and our rescue dogs, Scout and Archie. I am passionate about giving back to our NYC community and continually support and volunteer with many charities and nonprofits include AIDS Walk NY, Cycle for Survival and the Sato Project.
I am here to help in any way I can with your real estate needs. Please reach out - I would love to hear from you and buy you a coffee at Blackstone Roasters. I can also connect you or your friends and family with top-notch real estate professionals all across the country.
Click here to read my Google reviews.
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Have an idea for the next SLICE? Email me here.
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