WEST NEW YORK, NJ—LIHC Investment Group of Portland, ME and Rockport Mortgage Corporation Gloucester, MA announced today the closing of a $140-million FHA Section 223(f) refinancing loan for Parkview Towers, a 688-unit property located here. The development consists of two 24-story buildings and is owned by LIHC, a real estate investment group committed to the…
Read MoreNEW YORK—New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Oct. 30 the start of construction on 1159 River Ave., a $126-million affordable development that will bring 245 homes to the South Bronx. The 19-story building will offer 148 apartments specifically for individuals and families who have previously been homeless, including those in need of supportive…
Read MoreThe fledgling cannabis industry in New York State may finally have some much-needed direction from New York State. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced today that the New York State Department of Health has filed proposed regulations to regulate cannabinoid hemp products in New York State. In accordance with legislation signed earlier this year by the…
Read MoreNEW YORK—The virtual Global Real Estate Summit 2020 will take place on Thursday, Nov. 5 and Friday, Nov. 6, bringing together real estate’s most influential thought leaders on how to succeed in the global marketplace in a post-pandemic world. The event, now in its 14th year, will focus on “A Global Voyage into Local Business.”…
Read MoreRYE BROOK—It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has been a key factor in why many New York City residents are leaving the city and heading to Westchester County and nearby Fairfield County, CT. Brokerage firm Houlihan Lawrence reports that its data suggests that premise to be true and also indicates where in the region…
Read MoreWHITE PLAINS—The Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors held its two-day virtual Member Appreciation Day and Annual Meeting on Monday and today that was highlighted by the acknowledgement of Realtor Crystal Hawkins Syska of Keller Williams NY Realty of White Plains as the organization’s 2021 President. The event marked the 104th Annual Meeting of the Realtor…
Read MoreEliezer “Eli” Rodriguez, BMNAR’s former CEO, New HGAR Director of Advocacy, Commercial and Legislative Issues for The Bronx and Manhattan. Richard Haggerty, HGAR CEO Maximo Javier. Bronx District Manager for Congressman Adriano Espaillat Councilman Fernando Cabrera – District 14 Gail Fattizzi, HGAR President Crystal Hawkins-Syska, HGAR President Elect NYC Councilman Mark Gjonaj – District 13…
Read MoreNEW YORK—The Howard Hughes Corp. unveiled a comprehensive $1.4-billion proposal on Oct. 22 in the Lower Manhattan's Seaport area, including the transformation of an underutilized full-block surface parking lot along the boundary of the South Street Seaport Historic District into a mixed-income development that would include some of the area's first new affordable housing in…
Read MoreWHITE PLAINS—In his State of the County address last evening, which was delayed due to a County Legislator testing positive for COVID-19, earlier this month, Westchester County Executive George Latimer said that while the pandemic is far from over, he is confident the county will recover from the virus’ ill effects. Noting that the…
Read MoreWHITE PLAINS—After recently launching a business loan program and a housing assistance initiative, the Westchester County Office of Economic Development on Oct. 19 announced a new program for county residents who may want to create home-based income streams, or launch new businesses or nonprofits. The program entitled “Launch 1000” was described as an innovative, fully…
Read MoreBack in the height of the lockdown caused by COVID-19 in April and May of this year, on weekends I would venture out of my apartment in Manhattan to take a walk in Central Park. It was a very scary time, especially in April. The number of COVID-19 cases and deaths were climbing at alarming…
Read MoreWHITE PLAINS—Westchester County Executive George Latimer said that in spite of the COVID pandemic, the county would continue to move forward with key parkway, road, bridge and infrastructure projects in 2021. Westchester County Executive George Latimer announced on Oct. 15 he had sent to the Westchester County Board of Legislators the 2021 Proposed County Capital…
Read MoreALBANY—The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is facing the greatest crisis in its long history, with few viable options without federal funding to avoid cuts in service and staff, additional fare hikes and long-lasting damage that could impair regional transit for decades, according to New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s annual report on the MTA’s finances…
Read MoreYONKERS—In a major retail lease deal in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, discount retailer Target has signed a long-term lease for more than 130,000 square feet to occupy a major portion of the former Sears store at the Cross County center here. In addition, shopping center owner Marx Realty also announced that retailer H&M…
Read MoreWHITE PLAINS—Recognizing the health, social and safety issues facing New York City at the moment that have led to an exodus by some residents to the suburbs, a panel of New York City and Westchester County real estate brokerage executives expressed confidence that the residential sales market in Manhattan will recover sooner rather than later…
Read MoreBREWSTER—Wearing masks and gloves, a small group of Realtors from the Hudson Gateway Realtor Foundation recently volunteered their time to do some landscaping and painting work outside at Green Chimneys in Brewster. Founded in 1947, Green Chimneys is a multi-faceted nonprofit organization that helps young people maximize their full potential by providing residential, educational, clinical…
Read MoreALBANY—Municipalities in New York State collected nearly $17 billion in sales tax revenue in 2019, representing 9.7% of all local government revenue, according to a comprehensive report on local sales tax released on Oct. 6 by New York State Comptroller DiNapoli. Every county and city in the state, along with many towns and villages, depend…
Read MoreALBANY—Gov. Andrew Cuomo in response to significant spikes in new COVID-19 cases in sections of Rockland and Orange counties, Brooklyn, Queens and upstate Broome County, imposed restrictions including school and non-essential business closures, as well as limits on gatherings and dining. The new “Cluster Action Initiative” announced on Oct. 6 classified the Town of Palm…
Read MoreWHITE PLAINS—The Westchester County Industrial Development Agency recently granted preliminary approval of $912,062 in financial incentives for the renovation of two affordable housing developments in Mount Vernon and Tarrytown. The two projects comprise a total of 250 units of affordable housing. The IDA Board gave preliminary approval of $653,672 of financial incentives and $27.5 million…
Read MoreALBANY—The New York State Association of Realtors announced today at its 2020 Virtual Fall Business Meetings that veteran Westchester Realtor Dorothy Botsoe, Broker/Owner of Dorothy Jensen Realty, Inc. of White Plains, has been named NYSAR 2020 Realtor of the Year. Botsoe, who has more than 30 years real estate experience, made history three years ago…
Read More