ALBANY—Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as expected, signed into law on June 30th a bill that will provide greater oversight of the troubled East Ramapo School District in Rockland County. The bill was passed by the Assembly and Senate on June 16 and was delivered to the governor on June 28th. Oversight legislation was passed last year…
Read MoreMAHOPAC—Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell says the county needs to expand its commercial base by securing additional sewer capacity, and also must attract and retain Millennials, as well as encourage ongoing initiatives like “Envision Brewster” and the redevelopment of Tilly Foster Farm. Odell was the keynote speaker at the annual breakfast of the Putnam County…
Read MoreOSSINING—A host of state, county and local dignitaries joined veteran residential real estate developer Martin Ginsburg on June 23rd in cutting the ribbon on Harbor Square, a $65-million luxury multifamily waterfront project here. The Harbor Square development site has been the focal point of development for nearly 20 years. In 1998, Westchester developer Louis Cappelli’s…
Read MoreNEW CITY—Rockland County Executive Ed Day announced on June 20th a series of emergency financial measures, including a hiring freeze, that will be put in place to address a potential $4-million budget shortfall caused by the County Legislature's failure to move forward with the sale of the Sain Building here. "We are facing a $4-million…
Read MoreALBANY—The Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors launched significant lobbying efforts recently on the local and state levels to advance legislation aimed at enhancing or protecting consumer rights and preventing passage of anti-consumer bills or proposals that would harm the industry. HGAR Members with Assemblymember Steven Otis On the state level, a total of 45 members…
Read MoreMOUNT VERNON—Mount Vernon’s storied but troubled Memorial Field has been closed for six years. Mayor Richard Thomas has recently floated plans to rebuild and improve the long-shuttered stadium that will involve another bond issue. After voters approved a $108-million bond to improve Mount Vernon schools, Mayor Thomas has endorsed a $20-million plan for Memorial Field,…
Read MoreMAHOPAC—The Putnam County Chambers of Commerce, the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors’ Commercial Investment Division and the New York State Commercial Association of Realtors have scheduled a “Year of Business Development” breakfast on June 23rd at the Putman County Golf Course here. Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell will be the keynote speaker at the event…
Read MoreWithin the past year, urgent care centers seem to be popping up all over the Hudson Valley. According to the Urgent Care Association of America, there are now more than 7,100 urgent care facilities across the nation, including 460 in New York State. Urgent care centers, described as a middle ground between the doctor’s office…
Read MoreWHITE PLAINS—The Westchester County Local Development Corporation approved on May 26th a total of $26 million in incentive financing for the construction and renovation of facilities at the upper campus of the Rippowam Cisqua School in Bedford. The $19-million project will create approximately 150 to 200 construction jobs and retain approximately 195 full-time and part-time…
Read MoreALBANY - The New York State Department of Tax and Finance has published a form for distribution to new homeowners that provides guidance on the new STAR tax credit program, the New York State Association of Realtors reported on June 7. Homeowners who purchased their current home prior to May 1, 2014 and already receive…
Read MoreGOSHEN—The Orange County Legislature voted on June 2 by an overwhelming 19-2 margin to appropriate $1.2 million to the Orange County’s Real Property office to free up the 260-acre Camp LaGuardia property for future development. “I’m pleased that the Legislature voted to take action that will help put Camp LaGuardia back on the tax rolls,”…
Read MoreYONKERS—A more than 30-year effort to develop a parcel of land adjacent to the New York State Thruway has finally come to an end. A deal reached last week between the City of Yonkers, Westchester County, its respective Industrial Development Agencies and the developer will facilitate the construction of a new 175,000-square-foot Target store at…
Read MoreWhen women have the chance to experience Westchester mom and fashion designer Kara Mac’s new business, they often react like kids in a candy store! It’s not surprising, though, because ShoeCandy by Kara Mac may be just as addicting as those colorful jars of jellybeans, lollipops and gumdrops. ShoeCandy is just what it sounds like—“candy”…
Read MoreRYE—There is now a standard to measure how buildings can affect the health of people occupying them. It's called the WELL Building Standard ™. Based on the belief that buildings should be developed with people's health and wellness at the center of design, WELL™ was established by the International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI), a public…
Read MoreGOSHEN—Legoland has confirmed that it intends to submit plans for a major amusement park in the Town of Goshen in Orange County, Real Estate In-Depth has learned exclusively. A spokesperson for Merlin Entertainments plc, the owner and operator of Legoland amusement parks, confirmed what sources have been telling Real Estate In-Depth and other media outlets…
Read MoreALBANY—A total of 45 members of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors traveled to Albany on May 24th by car and bus to present state lawmakers representing HGAR’s four-county area the association’s 2016 legislative priorities. HGAR President Marcene Hedayati, Caro and Legislative Committee Chair John Lease III led the HGAR delegation. Also providing support for the delegation…
Read MoreCHAPPAQUA—Who says there are no significant corporate headquarters lease deals in Westchester County? In late May, two firms signed lease transactions at properties in Chappaqua at the storied former Reader’s Digest headquarters building here as well as at the Exchange in White Plains. Brokerage firm Colliers International Group Inc. reported it arranged a long-term, 15,000-square-foot…
Read MoreNEW YORK—New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced on May 25th a $100-million expansion of efforts to provide no-interest loans to help New York families avoid foreclosure and stay in their homes. The expansion, funded by the Attorney General’s April settlement with Goldman Sachs over the bank’s deceptive practices leading up to the…
Read MoreNEW CITY—Rockland County has embarked on an aggressive campaign to compel slumlords to remedy code violations that have forced tenants to live in dangerous and unsanitary conditions. Under Rockland County Executive Ed Day, the county government has also embarked on an effort to expedite the foreclosure process on non-residential tax delinquent properties. The Rockland Codes…
Read MoreWASHINGTON—A contingent of members and staff of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors traveled to the nation’s capital this week to take part in the National Association of Realtors’ Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo event, which include meetings with members of Congress, federal regulators, as well as industry leaders. One of the highlights of the…
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