Page 18 - CooperatorNews March 2022

Write to
CooperatorNews
and we’ll publish your ques-
tion, along with a response from
one of our attorney advisors.
Questions may be edited for
taste, length and clarity. Send
your questions to:
darcey@cooperatornews.com.
Q&A
18 COOPERATORNEWS —
MARCH 2022
COOPERATORNEWS.COM
ATTORNEYS
Abrams Garfi nkel Margolis Bergson, LLP
1430 Broadway, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10018
212-201-1170 • www.agmblaw.com
Barry G. Margolis, Esq. • Robert J. Bergson, Esq.
Himmelfarb & Sher, LLP • (914) 682-0040
Cooperative and Condominium Law—Real Estate Closings
One North Broadway, Suite 800, White Plains, NY 10601
Contact: Ronald A. Sher, Esq. • Norman D. Himmelfarb, Esq.
Law@himmelfarb-sher.com • Direct Dial: 914-461-0220
ACCOUNTANTS
ARCHITECTS
SERVICE DIRECTORY

Over 30 years of coop & condo experience

Hands on Personal Attention Timely Service

Contact: Gary Adler, CPA Sarah Haar CPA


www.bassandlemer.com
516-485-9600
adler@basslemer.com
Contact: Lauren Ziemba, CPA Sarah Haar, CPA
lziemba@basslemer.com
n
n
FSI
ARCHITECTURE
Restoration
Preservation
Investigation
Interior Design
307 7th Ave, #1001
New York, NY 10001
FSI.NYC
212.645.3775
110 E. 42nd Street, 17th Floor
New York, New York 10017
Robert J. Braverman, Scott S. Greenspun
(212) 682- 2900
www.braverlaw.net
rbraverman@braverlaw.net
sgreenspun@braverlaw.net
Braverman Greenspun, P.C.
ATTORNEYS
Abrams Garfi nkel Margolis Bergson, LLP
1430 Broadway, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10018
212-201-1170 • www.agmblaw.com
Barry G. Margolis, Esq. • Robert J. Bergson, Esq.
Him
Coo
One
Conta
Law@
Belkin Burden Wenig & Goldman, LLP
Specializing in all aspects of Cooperative and Condominium
Law including Landlord/tenant proceedings.
Copy of Monthly Newsletter available upon request.
(212) 867-4466 contact: Aaron Shmulewitz/Daniel Altman
ashmulewitz@bbwg.com/daltman@bbwg.com
www.bbwg.com
w
462
•
• Lan
Real
• Zon
Rig
Contact:
Three
48
New Y
A full service real estate law firm serving
the cooperative and condominium community
Eric M. Goidel, Esq.
egoidel@borahgoldstein.com
(212)431-1300, Ext.438
Manhattan: 377 Broadway l New York, NY 10036│(212) 431-1300
Queens: 108-18 Queens Blvd│Forest Hills, NY 11375│(718) 263-6611
www.borahgoldstein.com
ARCHITECTS
architecture
interior design
engineering
project management
forensic investigations
307 7th Avenue, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10001
Tel. 212.645.3775 Fax. 212.645.4099
Form Space Image ARCHITECTURE PC
Contact: Gary Adler, CPA Sarah Haar CPA


516-485-9600
adler@basslemer.com
Re
Pro
2
J
H
Ans
C
R
Te
Please submit Pulse items to
Darcey Gerstein at
darcey@cooperator.com
18 THE COOPERATOR —
JUNE 2020
New York Residents Notice Mail Delays
During Pandemic
While “Neither snow nor rain nor
heat nor gloom of night stays these cou-
riers from the swift completion of their
appointed rounds,” as the United States
Postal Service’s motto goes, CBSNewYork
reports that the organization has experi-
enced delays in service as a result of the
COVID-19 pandemic—and New Yorkers
are noticing.
CBSNewYork reports that according
to some Bronx residents, they haven’t re-
ceived their mail—including packages,
bills, and medications—in almost a week.
Maryann Monte, a retiree who lives in an
apartment building in Kingsbridge, indi-
cated that she received an email from her
building stating that their local post of-
fi ce has been “inactive, apparently due to
numerous employees’ COVID-19 related
exposure and/or diagnosis.”
At one Riverdale co-op, says CBS,
rumors have been circulating that coro-
navirus has ripped through the local
post offi ce, resulting in noticeable mail
delays. Co-op resident Kevin Ploth tells
CBS, “I’ve noticed, along with some of my
neighbors—we have a mailman who we
know by name, and the last we saw of him
was Th ursday of last week.”
When CBSNewYork reached out to
USPS regarding the delays, a spokesper-
son’s response was, in part, “[W]e con-
tinue fl exing our available resources to
match the workload created by the im-
pacts of the ongoing coronavirus pan-
demic.” In other words, completion of ap-
pointed rounds will not be “stayed” by the
pandemic—yet—but it may be less “swift ”
than the delivery times to which we’ve be-
come accustomed in the 21st century.
CBSNewYork notes that while the
Centers for Disease Control and Preven-
tion (CDC) and the World Health Orga-
nization (WHO) say there’s no evidence
of the virus spreading through contact
with mail or packages, at least one study
has shown that coronavirus can remain
on surfaces such as cardboard for up to 24
hours. Th erefore, it is recommended that
any packages be left outside the home for
at least that time period, and to clean any
surfaces with which the package comes
in contact. And—of course—wash your
hands aft er handling any mail or packag-
es, or anything else received from outside
of your home.
n
Disclaimer: Th e answers provided in this Q&A
column are of a general nature and cannot
substitute for professional advice regarding your
specifi c circumstances. Always seek the advice of
competent legal counsel or other qualifi ed profes-
sionals with any questions you may have regard-
ing technical or legal issues.
isting building’s previously constructed
chimney. Th ereaft er, the new (or altered)
building’s owner must also provide for the
‘maintenance, repair, and/or replacement’
of the extended portion of the pre-existing
building’s chimney.
“Th e applicable statute also requires the
new (or altered) building’s owner who is
building above the pre-existing chimney
to notify the pre-existing building’s owner
and obtain their consent prior to extend-
ing the pre-existing building’s chimney.
Th erefore, at the time such consent was
requested, it would have been prudent
for the parties to enter into an agreement
covering their rights and obligations with
respect to the extended portion of the
chimney. Absent such an agreement, this
appears to be an alteration of an existing
condition and not a ‘maintenance, repair,
and/or replacement’ covered by the stat-
ute.
“As a result, if your building entered
into an agreement with your neighboring
building’s owner as a condition to grant-
ing your consent to the chimney extension
work, you should check the agreement
to see if it addresses or discusses ‘altera-
tions.’ If an agreement exists, it is possible
that there may be language in place which
requires your neighbor to cover the costs
of alterations (in addition to its ‘mainte-
nance, repair, and/or replacement’ obliga-
tions). If no agreement or language exists,
the neighboring owner will probably not
be responsible for the new chimney lining
unless it was in need of replacement due
to age or deterioration or a newly enacted
law requiring gas or dual fuel.”
n
Q&A
continued from page 17
TRANSACTIONS
A-List Slugger A-Rod Swings Approval
from Beresford Board
The
New York Post
reports that famed spections and maintenance, probably isn’t
former New York Yankee and business-
man Alex Rodriguez bought a Central ing owners and boards obligated to com-
Park West co-op for $9.9 million—but ply with NYC Department of Buildings
not without some pushback from the (DOB) regulations requiring a facade in-
building’s board.
As the
Post
tells it, the posh, palatial, years, her new book will save countless
Emery Roth-designed Beresford is known hours of frustration.
to shun celebrity shareholders, especially
those of A-Rod’s “reputation.” But, after after her personal experience as a New
initially being denied, claims the outlet, York City condominium board president,
Rodriguez was able to persuade the board helping her building comply with the
in his favor. Whether that persuasion in-
cluded “begging” or a “tantrum” is up for (FISP)—formerly known as Local Law
debate, claims the outlet.
For the record, Ron Berkowitz, Ro-
driguez’s rep, claims the board interview
process went “seamlessly,” according to knew little about the FISP regulations
the
Post.
Surprising for someone of his notori-
ety—as well as his previous experience project. There was no comprehensive
with paparazzi snapping his photo while guide for building owners,” Drey said.
using the restroom in his former pent-
house shared with ex-partner Jennifer ning and participating in our building’s
Lopez—the three-bedroom, five-and-a-
half-bathroom unit that Rodriguez was so knowledge with others.”
determined to purchase is on the second
floor, with direct views of Central Park building’s facade history, potential fines
from the living room, study, and primary for noncompliance, how to select an in-
bedroom. But, apparently, A-Rod thought spector, as well as pre-hire interview
the 3,600-square-foot corner unit’s reno-
vations were a … um… home run.
Joe Tsai Raises Stake in 220 Central
Park South
The $190 million sale of a penthouse project are also discussed, as well as typi-
at 220 Central Park South made headlines cal repairs, so owners and boards can be
in January after it was revealed that its bil-
lionaire seller, hedge fund founder Daniel maintenance and safety concerns.
Och, paid $95 million for the property in
2019—and so nearly doubled his money in New York spend millions every year
with the recent sale. More recently,
6sqf
t on FISP compliance, and she hopes this
reported that the buyer is Blue Pool Capi-
tal, the firm that manages portions of Ali-
baba co-founders Joe Tsai and Jack Ma’s of the process what I know now,” she says,
vast fortunes.
Tsai was also the mystery purchaser of time and resources.”
two units in the same Robert A.M. Stern-
designed building last summer—one on
the 60th floor and one on the 61st. He
spent a total of $157.5 million on the pair, azon and wherever books are sold.
which at the time was the second biggest
sale ever recorded in New York City. Tsai’s
most recent purchase now claims the title
for the second priciest sale in the city,
with the number-one spot still Ken Grif-
fin’s $238 million penthouse purchase in
2019, also the most expensive home ever
sold in the United States.
With his latest investment, Tsai now
owns $345 million worth of real estate at
220 Central Park South.
OTHER HAPPENINGS
New Book Makes NYC Facade
Regulations Clear
Author Diane Drey knows that
A Step
by Step Guide to Navigating the Facade
Inspection Safety Program: New York Edi-
tion
, her newest work about facade in-
going to be a blockbuster—but for build-
spection and report to be filed every five
Drey recognized the need for the work
NYC Façade Inspection Safety Program
11. Her book maps out the road ahead for
others in the same position.
“Like many other board members, we
when we started, or about the multiple
steps necessary to oversee a successful
“So, after a two-year experience plan-
project, I wanted to share my newfound
The book explains how to research a
questions for architects/engineers, con-
tractors, and construction attorneys, and
strategies for dealing with residents and
neighbors who can derail a project. Op-
tions for raising funds to complete the
proactive when it comes to addressing
Drey knows it’s a niche, but owners
how-to guide will ensure that money is
spent correctly. “If I only knew at the start
“our building would have saved a lot of
A Step by Step Guide to Navigating the
Facade Inspection Safety Program: New York
Edition,
by Diane Drey, is available on Am-
n
PULSE
continued from page 6
Please submit Pulse items to
Darcey Gerstein at
darcey@cooperatornews.com