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Realtors Press Lawmakers on Co-Op Transparency, Eviction Moratorium, Good Cause Eviction Proposals

April 27, 2021

ALBANY—Hundreds of Realtors from across the state, including approximately 100 Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors members, met virtually with state lawmakers earlier today to discuss key issues facing the real estate industry and consumers. After NYSAR cancelled last year’s Lobby Day program due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program was held virtually via Zoom. NYSAR’s…

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Presents New Plan to Build $480 Million Project in Greenburgh

April 22, 2021

WHITE PLAINS—Representatives of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. made a presentation to the Westchester County Industrial Development Agency this morning on an amended expansion plan for property in the Town of Greenburgh that will involve a total of nearly a half billion dollars of investment. Janet Giris, a partner with the law firm DelBello, Donnellan & Weingarten,…

First Quarter Home Sales in HGAR Region Set New Records

April 14, 2021

WHITE PLAINS—The first quarter of 2021 was “one for the books” for the suburban New York City residential market. In the era of COVID-19, residential sales in the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors’ market area plummeted early on and slowly increased as restrictions were lifted. In the first quarter of 2021, sales skyrocketed to new…

Five Questions With White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach

April 14, 2021

A little more than a year ago, White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach presided over a city that was enjoying a renaissance of new development projects in its Downtown District that promised to reshape the city’s skyline and economy for years to come. Fast forward to April 2021 and while the COVID-19 pandemic still infects and…

Developers Have Some Big Plans for the Hudson Valley’s Small Cities

April 14, 2021

The cities of Peekskill in Westchester County and Newburgh in Orange County may be smaller than other major cities in the Hudson Valley, but both have some big development plans in the works. Peekskill, which has seen major changes over the past 10 years, is gearing up to add five new affordable and market rate…

The Demise of Nuclear Power in Our Region

April 13, 2021

At the end of April, the Hudson Valley will bid farewell to an entity both loved and loathed in our region for almost 60 years—the Indian Point nuclear power plant in the Village of Buchanan in northern Westchester County. After providing power to the lower Hudson Valley since 1962, the third and final reactor—Indian Point…

State Supreme Court Judge Strikes Down NYC Broker Fee Ban

April 11, 2021

ALBANY—New York State Supreme Court Judge Susan Kushner issued a ruling that is being viewed as a major victory for the real estate industry, terming Department of State guidance that banned New York State apartment tenants from paying broker fees “an error of law.” The ruling, first reported by The Real Deal, was handed down…

UPDATE: Orange County IDA Board Terminates Managing Director, CEO Resigns

March 31, 2021

NEW WINDSOR—At a special meeting of the newly constituted Board of Directors of the Orange County Industrial Development Agency on Tuesday, March 30, the IDA Board voted to terminate the contracts of the managing director of the IDA and its Accelerator programs. On April 5, the chief executive officer of the IDA submitted her resignation. The…

New York Lawmakers Push for SALT Cap Repeal

March 26, 2021

WHITE PLAINS—New York federal representatives and Westchester County Executive George Latimer staged a press conference on March 25th at the home of a White Plains resident to push for the repeal of the controversial SALT (State and Local Tax) deduction cap. U.S. Rep. Mondaire Jones (NY-17), U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (NY-03), U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman…

Co-Op Reform Bill Requiring Reason for Rejection Introduced in the Westchester County Legislature

March 24, 2021

WHITE PLAINS—A bill that would amend existing county law relating to the sale of cooperative housing to now require cooperative boards of directors to disclose the reason for denial of a prospective purchaser was officially introduced for consideration by the Westchester County Board of Legislators on Monday, March 22. The pending bill, which now goes…

Five Questions With NAR President Charlie Oppler

March 17, 2021

Charlie Oppler took over as president of the National Association of Realtors at a pivotal time for the national organization and for the nation’s real estate industry as well. With the advent of COVID vaccines and mass distribution now underway, the 1.4 million NAR members and the nation are beginning to adjust to what will…

SPOTLIGHT ON: Jeanne Shields

March 8, 2021

A Give-Back Journey At this point in her life, Jeanne Shields is taking a little breather from her many, many philanthropic activities, including serving as a Trustee and fundraising volunteer for the Hudson Gateway Realtor Foundation. The Associate Broker with Howard Hanna | Rand Realty’s Nyack office has a very good reason for her much-needed…

Orange County Legislature Replaces Entire IDA Board Over Transparency Complaints

March 5, 2021

GOSHEN—The Orange County Legislature, frustrated over attempts to secure financial documents from the Orange County Industrial Development Agency, voted to remove the entire seven-member IDA Board of Directors on Thursday evening after a two-hour-long executive session. Orange County legislators cited what they termed had been the lack of transparency by the Orange County Industrial Development…

Regional Alliance Formed to Push Lawmakers For Full Casino License for Empire City Casino

March 5, 2021

YONKERS—A group led by business and labor organizations in Westchester and the Bronx have formed an alliance called “A Sure Bet for New York’s Future” in support of a full gaming license and access to mobile sports betting for Empire City Casino in Yonkers by MGM Resorts. A full-scale casino license, complete with retail and…

Plan to Redevelop Former Good Counsel Property Secures Key Approval from White Plains Council

March 2, 2021

WHITE PLAINS—A mixed-use project that has been on the drawing boards for more than five years, secured a key approval yesterday from the White Plains Common Council that could put final approvals finally within reach for the property owner. The White Plains Common Council unanimously voted on Monday evening to accept the environmental findings, zoning…

New York State to Deploy Undercover Testers to Look for Housing Discriminatory Practices in Westchester, NYC

February 26, 2021

ALBANY—New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Feb. 25 that the state will launch a program to deploy undercover fair housing testers in New York City, Long Island, Westchester County and the Central New York and Western New York regions to possibly uncover housing discrimination practices by sellers, brokers and landlords. The state is currently…

Westchester County IDA Approves New Local Hire Labor Policy

February 25, 2021

WHITE PLAINS—The Westchester County Industrial Development Agency’s Board of Directors earlier today (Feb. 25) unanimously approved a new local hire labor policy that will require incentivized project developers hire 85% of its construction workers from the local area; require its workers complete OSHA safety training; subcontractors be enrolled in a pre-apprenticeship program and that all…

Achieving Success by Embracing the ‘Team’ Spirit

February 24, 2021

Patricia Dantzic admits she was a bit apprehensive about re-entering the workforce with a new career in real estate. After enjoying a successful profession in corporate communications in the music industry, she switched gears, earned her license and began working at a local agency. Soon afterward, she was approached by a team member from Berkshire…

Genting Proposes Video Gaming Machine Facility At Vacant Bon Ton Dept. Store at Newburgh Mall

February 23, 2021

NEWBURGH—Representatives of Genting Americas, the parent company of Resorts World Catskills casino in Monticello, officially presented plans to the Newburgh Town Board on Feb. 22 to locate a Video Gaming Machine facility at the Newburgh Mall here. The $32-million “Resorts World Hudson Valley” project would convert 90,000-square-foot of space, including the now vacant Bon Ton…

NAR Study: Black Home Buyers More Than Twice as Likely to be Rejected for Mortgage Loans than White Home Buyers

February 19, 2021

WASHINGTON—Minority homeownership continues to stubbornly lag behind the national rate, with Black Americans facing some of the toughest hurdles to achieving this essential part of the American Dream, according to a report released recently by the National Association of Realtors. The homeownership rate for Black Americans—42%—is nearly 30% less than the rate for white Americans…