Page 6 - CooperatorNews NY January 2021

6 COOPERATORNEWS — JANUARY 2021 COOPERATORNEWS.COM CooperatorNews.com From Th e coronavirus crisis has brought about many unwelcome changes to households around the world—but it has also allowed or inspired some to make lifestyle choices that were impractical or otherwise out of reach before. One such choice has been adding a pet —and specifi cally, a dog—to the family. With travel restricted and working and schooling largely happening at home, families across the country have decided that if there was ever a time to get a pup, this is it. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), “Th ere’s no doubt that the public’s desire to support their local shelters by fostering vulner- able animals has been demonstrated through an enormous and unprecedented response. In the fi rst few weeks of stay-at-home orders, the ASPCA saw a nearly 70 percent increase in animals going into foster homes through our New York City and Los Angeles foster programs, compared to the same period in 2019. We also saw nearly 1,600 people com- plete the ASPCA’s online foster application during the fi rst two months of the pandemic, representing an increase of approximately 400 percent (emphasis added) when compared to 2019.” While these statistics specifi cally refer to temporarily fostering shelter animals—not to outright adoption or acquisition of a pet through a breeder or pet store—many articles and news items over the last many months have noted that increased time at home, plus the desire for distraction, companionship, and excuses to get outside, has made pets appealing to many households during COVID, especially those who might have considered adding a four-legged family member before, but couldn’t make it work on account of jobs and other out-of-the-house commitments. And for families that already included furry members prior to COVID, the time with them that staying at home has aff orded has been a silver lining in an otherwise dark and massive cloud. But those who reside in multifamily buildings, or any type of community that does not have its own private, securely fenced outdoor space, have an important question to answer: If I or someone in my household is exposed to COVID, or if one of us tests positive for or You’re Quarantining...But What About Your Dog? Factoring Pets Into Coronavirus Considerations BY DARCEY GERSTEIN Despite ongoing struggles across the NYC condominium and cooperative market as a include outdoor space, ample parking, and layouts that lend themselves to in-home work result of both the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple factors depressing those markets even and exercise. Intelligent design that includes personal services such as laundry in indi- before the pandemic hit, Astoria continues to hold its own. According to Queens-based vidual units is highly desirable as well, limiting the contact residents have with neighbors brokerage Modern Space’s 3rd Quarter Market Report, the number of units on the market in enclosed common areas—both now, and in the event of another public health crisis. in the iconic neighborhood is up 198% and the number of units in contract is up 86% since the 2nd quarter. Surprisingly, contract prices are down only 2% year over year from the 3rd quarter of 2019. When contrasted with the sharp decline in prices elsewhere in New York sought-aft er in light of the COVID pandemic? Th e simple answer is that the neighborhood City—particularly in Manhattan—that’s pretty incredible. What’s Driving the Market? One of the factors driving markets in both directions at the moment is the migration Island or Westchester. of signifi cant numbers of people in the homebuying public to areas where they see them- selves living safely. Urban dwellers all over the country have sought to escape to less-dense Modern Spaces. “Centrally located just minutes from Midtown Manhattan, Astoria off ers suburban or exurban environments. In some cases, those with the means and ability to do residents an established and desirable community feel, which we think will always hold and so have relocated to their second homes in communities such as the Hamptons and the even increase its value in both good and bad times.” Berkshires—some just for the time being, some for good. Of course, not everyone has this ability. Neighborhoods and suburbs close-in to Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn have seen toria is fast becoming an option for many seeking a bit of the suburbs in the city. One ex- an increase in interest as well, and homes for sale have sold quickly above asking price, ample of the neighborhood’s evolution is the Ely. Located at 23-10 30th Avenue, the 14-unit oft en with bidding wars erupting between prospective buyers. Former ‘white elephants’— condominium building houses one-bedroom apartments ranging in price from $576,000 things like in-ground pools, for example—have suddenly become ‘must-have’ amenities for to $744,000, and ranging in size from 529 to 609 square feet. All apartments include private families seeking a home that feels more like a self-contained compound.’ Other factors that have made some units, neighborhoods, and zip codes more desirable The Ely & Astoria What makes Astoria diff erent from other neighborhoods in New York? Why is it more off ers a middle ground for buyers who still want an urban lifestyle and proximity to Man- hattan, but in a less densely developed and populated environment that’s closer than Long “We have always viewed Astoria as underrated,” says Gregory Kyroglou, an agent with Once the provenance of Greek immigrants and ‘dyed-in-the-wool’ New Yorkers, As- balconies for every unit, European infl uenced design with wide plank fl ooring, fl oor-to- COOPERATORNEWS.COM Astoria Condominium Market Continues to Defy Trends Th e Ely Opens in Astoria BY AJ SIDRANSKY continued on page 18 becomes sick with it and has to strictly quarantine, who is going to walk the dog three or more times a day? There’s No App for That Aft er months of lockdown in the spring and a seemingly unending outlook of staying at home as much as possible for the remainder of the pandemic, most households have fi gured out how to meet their basic needs with the online tools available to us. Groceries? Th ey’ll be delivered by 8pm on Tuesday. Entertainment? Netfl ix and Chill it is. Exercise? Th e YouTube queue is full of cardio classes. But walking the dog requires an actual human to physically take the dog to a place outside the home where it can “do its business”—some- thing that modern technology has yet to solve. And in many co-ops, condos, and HOAs, to accomplish this, one must traverse—and touch—areas and surfaces that are common to other residents and the public, thus violating the purpose of quarantining. Even though buildings and communities throughout the country are increasingly pet friendly—owing both to the demonstrated increase in property value associated with such policies, and to case law clarifying housing providers’ responsibilities to make reasonable accommodations for residents who require assistance animals for both physical and emo- tional support under Fair Housing Act (FHA) rules—few have yet considered how they will handle a situation in which a resident with a dog is quarantining for COVID and thus cannot take their dog out for walks. Property managers and board members we contacted for this article indicate that their buildings or communities have not put any policies or recommendations in place for these scenarios. Unfortunately, the likelihood of a multifamily housing resident needing to quarantine is becoming greater as cold weather descends, the holidays approach, and the current surge in coronavirus cases across the nation shows no sign of ebbing. Aside from testing positive or having someone in their household or a close contact test positive or exhibit symptoms, quarantining or self-isolating for at least 14 days could also be mandated by state-depen- dent travel policies or future lockdown orders that continue to change as numbers rise. Given the upward trend in ownership or fostering of pets during this time, the chances are higher that a quarantining resident will have a dog, so it might be time for boards and managers to at least think about the best way to address the issue. ■