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Westchester Advanced Manufacturing Firm Expands Operations with New Lease Deal

January 13, 2021

ELMSFORD—Robert Martin Company announced recently that PTI, a leader in advanced manufacturing technologies, has signed a lease for 13,650 square feet of expansion space at 8 Skyline Drive at the Mid-Westchester Executive Park in Hawthorne. PTI, which manufactures non-destructive package inspection technologies for the pharmaceutical, medical device and food industries, previously signed a lease for…

Demolition Begins on Yonkers Public Housing Project

January 13, 2021

YONKERS—City of Yonkers officials and executives from the Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers and The Community Builders gathered on Jan. 11 for the demolition of a 1940’s era public housing apartment building that is being replaced with 178 Warburton at The Ridgeway, a new $56-million mixed-income residential complex of 81 apartment homes.…

Gov. Cuomo Calls for Extension of Commercial Tenant Eviction Moratorium; Proposes Banning Late Fees, Penalties on Residential Leases

January 9, 2021

On Jan. 8, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he would be proposing an extension of the commercial tenant eviction moratorium and measures geared to strengthening protections for rental apartment tenants during the coronavirus pandemic. The proposals, part of the governor’s upcoming State of the State address, will advance legislation to codify an existing Executive Order to…

NYC Firm Pays Nearly $93M for Northern New Jersey Multifamily Property Portfolios

January 8, 2021

SADDLE BROOK, NJ—New York City-based Spaxel LLC, a multifamily developer and operator, has acquired two multifamily portfolios totaling 24 properties in Northern New Jersey for $92.5 million. The deal totaling 702 units, announced by brokerage firm Marcus & Millichap, was one of the largest 2020 multifamily sales transactions in 2020. Spaxel has a significant portfolio of…

U.S. Department of Labor Issues Final Rule To Clarify Independent Contractor Status

January 7, 2021

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced on Jan. 6 a final rule clarifying the standard for employee versus independent contractor status under the Fair Labor Standards Act. “This rule brings long-needed clarity for American workers and employers,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia. “Sharpening the test to determine who is…

Gov. Cuomo to Propose Legalization of Sports Betting, Recreational Marijuana to Help Offset Billions in Lost Revenue Due to COVID-19

January 6, 2021

In a briefing with reporters earlier today (Jan. 6), Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced he will propose legislation to authorize mobile sports wagering as part of his 2021 State of the State message. He will also once again advocate for the legalization of recreational marijuana in New York State as part of his State of…

Commercial Brokers Optimistic About Markets, Opportunities in 2021

January 6, 2021

WHITE PLAINS—A panel consisting of brokers and affiliated professionals in the commercial real estate market were optimistic that the industry in Westchester and surrounding markets will rebound once the coronavirus pandemic has run its course. The panelists agreed that the multifamily housing sector will continue to be strong in Westchester once vaccines have been administered…

Fourth Quarter Sales Surge Bolsters NY Suburban Real Estate Home Sales Market Despite Pandemic

January 5, 2021

WHITE PLAINS—The see-saw year, aka 2020, ended on an astonishingly high note for real estate practitioners in the Lower Hudson Valley, according to the 2020 Fourth Quarter Residential Real Estate Sales Report for Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Orange, Sullivan, and Bronx counties released on Jan. 5 by OneKey MLS. After experiencing strong first quarter sales, agents…

HGAR's New Bronx Office Plays Santa On Christmas Day for Local Families

January 4, 2021

NEW YORK—HGAR's new Bronx office, headed by Eliezer Rodriguez, along with volunteers from the Castle Hill YMCA, distributed toys to more than 500 children on Christmas morning. Some Bronx children who received toys from "Operation Realtors’ Kids." HGAR's Bronx office becomes Santa's Workshop. This is the ninth year for "Operation Realtors' Kids" that brings…

Yonkers IDA Provided Incentives for $210M in New Projects in 2020 Despite Pandemic

January 4, 2021

YONKERS—Building on the momentum of a very active 2019, the Yonkers Industrial Development Agency reported on Jan.4 it had provided financial incentives in 2020 to residential and commercial projects representing a total private investment of approximately $210 million. The developments are projected to create 450 new residential units, 129,000 square feet of commercial and industrial…

Governor Signs Three Indian Point-Related Bills into Law

January 4, 2021

ALBANY—New York State Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblywoman Sandy Galef announced on Jan. 1 that three bills the two legislators sponsored relating to ensuring workforce protections and financial assistance to local municipalities and taxpayers while the Indian Point Energy Center undergoes its decommissioning process, had been signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo. The new…

BRI Names First Female President in 75-Year History

December 29, 2020

ARMONK—The Building & Realty Institute announced recently it has named the first female President in the institute’s 75-year history—Lisa DeRosa, president of DeRosa Builders, Inc. of White Plains. DeRosa has been active in the BRI for years. DeRosa served as a vice chair of the BRI’s Apartment Owners Advisory Council from 2016 to 2020 and…

Gov. Cuomo Signs Bill Extending Eviction Ban Until May 1

December 29, 2020

ALBANY—After the State Legislature met in special session on Monday, Dec. 28 and the Assembly and Senate approved the bill, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed the COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020 later that day. The bill (S.9114/A.11181) prevents residential evictions, foreclosure proceedings until May 1, 2021 and also prohibits credit discrimination…

Nuvance Health Systems to Shift 500 NY Jobs to Connecticut

December 29, 2020

DANBURY, CT—In the largest office lease deal in Connecticut this year, Nuvance Health Systems has signed a 220,000-square-foot lease at the former 1.2-million-square-foot Union Carbide property in Danbury. The 12-year lease deal at “The Summit at Danbury” will reportedly bring 500 jobs from New York State across the border to Connecticut. In an announcement by…

NYS Legislature Expected to Pass COVID-19 Eviction and Foreclosure Protection Act; Extends Tenant Eviction Ban Until May 1

December 28, 2020

ALBANY—The New York State Legislature is meeting today in special session to vote on and approve the COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act, which it describes as the strongest bill of its kind in the nation. The legislation will extend an eviction moratorium on residential tenants until May 1. The State Assembly and Senate…

US Existing-Home Sales Fell 2.5% in November

December 22, 2020

WASHINGTON—Existing-home sales fell in November, snapping a five-month streak of month-over-month gains, according to a report released on Dec. 22 by the National Association of Realtors. All major regions either took a step back or held steady in terms of their respective month-over-month status, but each of the four areas experienced significant year-over-year growth. Total…

Sen. Schumer Says New York State to Get More Than $54 Billion from COVID Stimulus

December 22, 2020

WASHINGTON—With a bipartisan spending and COVID relief deal now passed by Congress, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer detailed its pending impact on Upstate New York as more than $54 billion. The deal includes direct stimulus checks, extending enhanced unemployment insurance, and secures another round of forgivable PPP for small businesses, restaurants and nonprofits across the state.…

NY County Executives Slam New COVID Stimulus For No Funding for State, Local Governments

December 17, 2020

ALBANY—Chief officials of the New York State Association of Counties and the New York State County Executives Association were highly critical of the failure of Congress in federal stimulus negotiations to include state and local government aid in the estimated $900-million package. NYSAC President Jack Marren and NYSCEA President Marcus Molinaro released a biting statement…

MTA Adopts 2021 Budget that Assumes Billion in Federal COVID Aid

December 17, 2020

NEW YORK—As Congress continues the debate on the next COVID relief package in Washington, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board on Wednesday adopted a 2021 budget and 2021-2024 financial plan that assumes Congress will eventually approve the needed $4.5 billion in COVID relief funding in 2021. The MTA noted that without the billions of dollars in…

Bronx Registered $4 Billion in Total Development in 2019

December 16, 2020

While the Bronx, and the rest of New York City has been battered by the coronavirus this year, the Bronx, prior to the pandemic, was very popular with investors, registering a very impressive $4 billion in total development in 2019. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. recently released the “Bronx Annual Development Report” for 2019.…