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Crystal Hawkins Syska Named 2021 HGAR President; Joe Rand Wins Realtor of the Year Award at 104th Annual Meeting

October 27, 2020

WHITE 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…

HGAR-BMNAR Merger Event, Castle Hill YMC, Sept. 30, 2020

October 26, 2020

Eliezer “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…

Howard Hughes Corp. Proposes $1.4 Billion Mixed-Use Project at South Street Seaport

October 26, 2020

NEW 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…

Westchester County Executive Says State of County is ‘Fierce’

October 23, 2020

WHITE 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…

County Offers Program to Help Launch Home-Based Businesses or Non-Profits

October 20, 2020

WHITE 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…

GATEWAY PERSPECTIVES: Don’t Let Our Guard Down

October 20, 2020

Back 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…

Westchester County Proposed 2021 Capital Budget Calls for $20 Million for Affordable Housing Projects

October 20, 2020

WHITE 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…

DiNapoli: MTA Faces Worst Financial Crisis in its History

October 14, 2020

ALBANY—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…

Target Signs 130,000 SF Lease at Cross County in Yonkers

October 13, 2020

YONKERS—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…

Broker Says New York City Has ‘Grit and Will Come Back

October 13, 2020

WHITE 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…

HG Realtor Foundation Volunteers Provide Landscaping And Outdoor Painting at Green Chimneys in Brewster

October 9, 2020

BREWSTER—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…

Report: Pandemic Hit to Sales Tax Revenue Threatening Fiscal Health of Local Governments

October 7, 2020

ALBANY—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…

Governor Imposes New Restrictions on COVID Hot Zones In Rockland, Orange Counties, Brooklyn and Upstate

October 7, 2020

ALBANY—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…

Westchester IDA Grants Preliminary Approvals For Renovations of Affordable Housing Projects

October 6, 2020

WHITE 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…

Breaking News: HGAR’s Dorothy Botsoe Named NYSAR Realtor of the Year

October 5, 2020

ALBANY—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…

MacQuesten Cuts Ribbon on $95M Affordable Housing Project

September 30, 2020

MOUNT VERNON—Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul joined MacQuesten Development LLC Founder and CEO Rella Fogliano and other city, county and state leaders at a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of “22 South West” on Tuesday, Sept. 29th. The $95-million mixed-use/mixed income project features 4,200 square feet of street level retail/office space along with 189…

Houlihan Lawrence Announces New Executive Leadership Team

September 30, 2020

RYE BROOK — Houlihan Lawrence, formally announced on Sept. 30 that its current president, Liz Nunan, has also assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of the 1,300-agent firm. The residential brokerage firm has also welcomed John Canniffe, who recently served as the head of the Residential Listing Service at REBNY, as Chief Operating Officer.…

Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors Officially Concludes Merger Deal with Bronx-Manhattan North Assoc. of Realtors

September 30, 2020

NEW YORK—At a press conference staged outside the Castle Hill YMCA today, officials with the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors and the Bronx-Manhattan North Association of Realtors celebrated the official merger of the two organizations. Eliezer Rodriguez, CEO of the former BMNAR, officiated the festivities that included speeches by a host of Bronx dignitaries, HGAR…

Rand Realty Forms Partnership with Howard Hanna Realty

September 30, 2020

NANUET—One of the largest residential brokerage firms in the Hudson Valley region has formed a new partnership with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services that significantly expands Howard Hanna Real Estate’s presence in Downstate New York State. The deal was announced today by Marsha Rand, founder and President of Rand Realty, and Helen Hanna Casey, CEO…

State Comptroller Puts Westchester County on Fiscal ‘Significant Stress’ List

September 28, 2020

ALBANY—New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli released his fiscal stress list for 2019 and unfortunately, the Hudson Valley was well represented. On the State Comptroller’s “Significant (Fiscal) Stress” list in the New York metro area were Westchester County, Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County, Suffolk County and Long Beach in Nassau County. Other locations on the…