This Week in Rent: Free Internet, E-Scooters, and Record-High Home Sales
Riverside Church Plans To Expand in 2022
The 90-year-old Riverside Church is broadening its footprint in Morningside Heights and Harlem.
After purchasing the landmarked McGiffert Hall from Columbia’s Union Theological Seminary in June 2020, Riverside now owns two blocks of property spanning from 120th Street and Riverside Drive to 122nd Street and Claremont Avenue.
“We need to be prayerfully seeking out what God would have us do and be in the next 90 years so that we can continue a vibrant community that is serving not only Harlem, but our world,” said Charles King, co-chair of the Riverside Development Committee (RDC) and CEO of Housing Works, a nonprofit fighting AIDS and homelessness in New York City, during the first public meeting after the purchase, in July 2020.
Today, the RDC, an initiative created by the Church in 2019, is holding monthly meetings to discuss development options as it prepares to present a plan for the newly acquired property to the Church Council and congregation, which signs off on the decision, by late spring or early summer 2022.
The Church hopes to grow its ministry and increase its revenue, all while expanding existing social services. This includes its Barber Training Program and homeless shelter, as well new enterprises, like a bargain grocery store and affordable housing units.
“It is increasing focus and intention on the wealth disparities among us,” said RDC member and Riverside Interim Senior Minister Rev. Michael Livingston at the July meeting, referring to what he sees as the present-day illustration of being a loving neighbor. “I see no reason why Riverside can’t play a significant role in addressing those kinds of issues.”
The committee is slated to hold public meetings and ‘Ask RDC’ sessions until the plan’s completion.
— Richa Karmarkar
Free Internet For New Yorkers? A New Bill Wants To Do Just That
Considering how much of the world has shifted online, not having internet access can be a significant barrier in daily life. But pending legislation could soon bridge that gap.
Councilmember Ben Kallos, who represents the 5th district of New York City, introduced a new bill on October 7 that would require owners of buildings with 10 or more units to provide tenants with free internet no later than January 1, 2026.
According to the bill, owners would bear the cost of providing “broadband internet service or its functional equivalent" and would be required to "install Ethernet ports and wiring to facilitate internet access."
The city would be able to provide financial assistance, such as grants, loans, tax abatements, or other incentives to help cover the owners’ costs of installation.
Who's Affected:
Residents of low-income neighborhoods, who often lack internet access, according to a 2018 report by the New York City Mayor’s Office.
Students and workers who relied on public internet access before pandemic lockdowns stripped them of it.
Landlords who cannot afford to provide free internet. But under the proposed bill, such owners can apply for financial aid. Kallos also told Architectural Digest that the city is looking at an option that would allow landlords to buy internet in bulk for as low as $14.95 a month.
Why it Matters:
According to an April 2020 report by the Citizens' Committee for Children of New York, a non-profit organization, more than 500,000 households in New York City lacked internet access. More than one million New Yorkers – or 13.8 percent of households in the state – don't have access or subscriptions to home broadband services, according to a September report from New York's State Comptroller.
For many, applying for food benefits, government assistance and even vaccine appointments without internet access is a challenge.
The pandemic forced schools and workplaces to move entirely online, presenting hurdles for those without Wi-Fi access. Many of those changes have become permanent, as schools and companies embrace hybrid learning or remote work.
An analysis of a New York State Education Department survey of school districts in 2020 by the New York Civil Liberties Union, a non-profit organization, found that of the 2.6 million students surveyed, more than 165,000 "lacked sufficient internet access."
Barriers:
Kallos told Patch that only the Federal Communications Commission can make internet access a housing utility, but he can make it a requirement “just like heat, electricity, hot water and phone service.”
Jay Martin, the executive director of the Community Housing Improvement Program, an association of owners who oversee rent-stabilized rentals, adamantly opposes the bill. “Every mandate, every regulation, every ‘free’ requirement pushes the cost to operate [buildings] higher,” Martin tweeted.
— Mariana Castro and Isabella Stoller
Move Over CitiBike, E-Scooter Rentals Have Arrived
Getting around in the East Bronx can be a challenge with lacking public transportation options. To tackle this issue, the city has introduced several ride-sharing options, including bikes, and more recently, scooters.
On Aug. 19, the Department of Transportation implemented an e-scooter share program in the East Bronx, New York City’s first program of its kind, according to the New York Times. The program, which is run by three rental apps — Bird, Lime, and Veo — each put 1,000 e-scooters into the Northeast Bronx, where the first phase of the program takes place.
“This part of the Bronx is a transit desert,” Russell Murphy, the senior director for corporate communications at Lime, told Bloomberg. “There’s no east-west subway. It’s not like other parts of the city, where you’re well-connected. Here, it is harder to live without a car.”
If it goes as planned? According to a Bicycle Lane Network Expansion presentation to Bronx Community Boards 11 and 12, the DOT plans to put 6,000 e-scooters into the Bronx between 2021-22. If the first phase goes well, another 3,000 e-scooters will be put into the Southeast Bronx in Phase 2.
How much is it? The scooters are unlocked for $1 through the apps for each respective company, with both Veo and Bird costing 39 cents per minute, and Lime trailing for only 30 cents. To offset costs, there are discounts offered to students, essential workers, and low-income residents, according to ABC7.
Safety? To maintain safety, each renter must take safety training, pass a quiz on the app, and, according to the Gothamist, ride in “beginner mode” for their first three rides, limiting their speed to 10 mph. Once the first three rides are completed, the speed limit increases to 15 mph.
— Susanna Granieri
“Undesign the Redline” Takes Residence at Barnard College
A new interactive exhibit on the pervasive history of redlining in Morningside Heights and Harlem has arrived in the lobby of Barnard College’s Milstein Center for Teaching and Learning. Redlining refers to a series of racist housing and lending practices embedded in federal lending programs in the 1930s.
The exhibit aims to bring together historical research and personal stories to trace the history of redlining in the neighborhoods surrounding Columbia University and Barnard.
The original concept for the exhibit was created in 2015 by April De Simone, co-founder of Designing the We, a for-benefit local design studio.
“The exhibit curates a past to present journey of our most pressing and interconnected social challenges, while provoking thought, questions, and dialogue around the policies, practices, and investments that not only accentuate systemic disparities and inequalities, but impede the full potential of democracy” said De Simone.
De Simone collaborated with project lead Miriam Neptune, Director of Teaching Learning, and Digital Scholarship at the Barnard Library, to bring the exhibit to Barnard’s campus this fall. They are among the dozens of students, faculty, staff, and community members who have collaborated on the exhibit. Though the physical exhibit officially opened on September 30th, collaborators have met on campus since June 2021 for monthly reading groups, faculty seminars, student projects, and syllabus design sessions.
“We don't hide from the fact that Columbia has a long and ongoing role in the displacement of neighbors in Harlem,” said Vanessa Thill, the Milstein Center Exhibits Coordinator. “Knowing how history informs the current politics of real estate is practical information for navigating the built environment, and will hopefully add to students' understanding of how to move through those spaces and be good neighbors.”
Tours of the exhibit will be open to the public every Friday through May, 2022.
— Shannon Geary
Manhattan Home Sales Hit 30-Year High
Manhattan’s real estate market has reached its highest sales rate in years. Real estate company Douglas Elliman’s Q3 2021 Elliman Report shows that more than 4,500 co-op and condo sales were completed — more than three times the sales during the same period in 2020.
The report points to low mortgage rates as a reason behind this surge, and to a rise in vaccinations that have drawn people to the city.
A similar report released by real estate company Corcoran showed that sales in Manhattan topped $9.5 billion in the third quarter, calling it “the best third quarter for closings since 2007.” Elliman calls it the highest in 32 years. But what do these numbers mean to someone looking to buy in Manhattan right now?
“While no one can predict what the future holds, the Manhattan sales market still has room to grow,” said Danny Moyal, a real estate salesperson working with Corcoran. “While there have been market downturns in the past, if you look long term, Manhattan real estate has proved to be a very wise investment.”
The Corcoran report also lists the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, and Downtown as particularly hot neighborhoods over the past 12 months. Still, Moyal suggests that prospective buyers have their options open.
“I’d also advise keeping an open mind when it comes to areas and property types,” he said. “There are a lot of great neighborhoods in New York, some of which you may have yet to explore.”
— Mariana Labbate
Is the Fight for Sunlight Really Over for the Brooklyn Botanic Garden?
It seemed to be a final nail in the coffin for the years-long battle between the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Continuum Company. But the unanimous decision on Sept. 22 by the City Planning Commission to reject a building development that threatened to blanket the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s greenhouses in shadow remains in question.
Days before the decision, the Continuum Company sued the City of New York and the City Planning Commission.
While the lawsuit at first appeared to be an attempt to halt the vote against the development, it is now the first step in the next stage of the fight. In a letter to garden supporters sent the day after the Commission’s decision, Adrian Benepe, the president of the Garden, anticipated that the developer may file future lawsuits.
“It’s not completely over yet,” Benepe wrote.
The Continuum Company has positioned its plan as a way to bring more affordable housing to the community. But opponents are concerned the plan would take away several hours of much-needed sunlight for the Garden’s greenhouses.
The next court date for the Continuum lawsuit is Oct. 26.
— Willa Rowe
NYC's Open Restaurants Program: By the Numbers
A survey done by the New York City Hospitality Alliance found that 80 percent of restaurants in the city could not afford rent in June 2020. That same month, in an effort to support the industry during the pandemic, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office lifted restrictions on zoning regulations to introduce more outdoor dining opportunities.
The Department of Transportation has been in charge of regulating and inspecting establishments’ sidewalk and street structures. They have developed guidelines and have compiled a database of on-site inspections. Here are some key findings:
As of writing, the department has issued 3,657 cease and desist orders and 777 suspensions since July of last year.
Manhattan stands out with the most cease and desist orders (1,631) and suspensions (308).
This month alone, there have been 68 cease and desists and 131 suspensions in the entire city.
Restaurants and bars can face disciplinary actions for a number of reasons, including unpermitted tree removal, noise ordinances, the blocking of fire hydrants, and more.
While loosened restrictions on restaurant zonings are currently temporary, they are in the process of becoming permanent with a text amendment that entered public review in June. The regulations and guidelines on outdoor dining are subject to change through that text amendment, which is slated to be finalized and implemented in 2023.
— Michael Hoffman
Hey New Yorkers, Is Noise Bothering You?
Noise by the Numbers:
New Yorkers filed hundreds of thousands of noise complaints in 2020. The boroughs that receive the most noise complaints are Manhattan and Brooklyn, and the neighborhoods that receive the highest number of noise complaints per household are Crotona Park, Mount Hope, and Marble Hill-Inwood, according to a 2021 analysis of NYC Open Data by the apartment rental site Renthop.
The Noise Code:
The New York City Noise Code is a local law that is intended to promote peace and quiet for the city’s inhabitants. It provides rules that govern common sources of noise. If you’re thinking about filing a complaint, here are some useful things to know:
Construction Noise: Construction is allowed between 7 am and 6 pm on weekdays. There are some after hours and weekend exemptions, including repairs to existing houses and emergency work for public safety. All construction sites are required to have a noise mitigation plan, which an inspector will check is being followed if a noise complaint is received.
Animal Noises: Pet owners are held accountable for unreasonable noises made by their animals. During daytime hours, 7 am to 10 pm, animals aren’t allowed to make continuous noises for 10 minutes. During nighttime hours, 10 pm to 7 am, the period is reduced to 5 minutes. If a complaint is received, pet owners may be sent educational material or subject to a noise inspection.
Music From Bars and Restaurants: The volume of music played by commercial establishments is governed by decibel level. The volume can’t exceed 42 decibels when measured from inside a nearby residence or 7 decibels over the ambient noise when measured on a street that is at least 15 feet from the source, between 10 pm to 7 am.
The noise code is enforced by the Department of Environmental Protection and the New York City Police Department, and violations can result in penalties. If you have a noise complaint it can be filed here.
Hear from New Yorkers:
— John Gallen and Eliot Schiaparelli
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