Page 6 - New York Cooperator January 2019

6 THE COOPERATOR — JANUARY 2019 COOPERATOR.COM COOPERATOR.COM O ne of the conundrums of co-op and condo life is how to keep members involved and interested in the governance of their building or association. Many residents are delighted to own, but less than excited to participate. That lack of engagement can ultimately cause problems—not just in the form of a limited pool of volunteers for board service, but to the ability of the co-op or condo to conduct everyday business, since most bylaws require a quorum to make important decisions. Those decisions include the election of officers, but are certainly not limited to that. Major project can almost never be undertaken without a community-wide vote, which requires shareholders or owners to attend annual or semi-annual meetings. So how can associations or co-ops coax their membership into more active, consistent participation? The Cooperator spoke to some shareholders to find out. Building Community Dana Greco has lived in co-ops in several neighborhoods in New York City for her en- tire adult life, including SoHo, the Upper West Side, and currently Riverdale in the Bronx. “When I moved into \[my\] building and attended my first meeting, it was packed,” she says. “But that was for the annual election of officers. Last year we had the semi-annual meeting and didn’t get a quorum. That concerned me, so I began a program on my own, hosting a social hour on Friday nights so that people would get to know each other and hopefully become more interested in participating in the governance of the building.” Greco adds that many people come to meetings to gripe about what’s wrong—so if they don’t show up, Cooperator.com From A mid the buzz and controversy surrounding Amazon’s selection of Long Island City as the site for the online retailing giant’s newest headquarters, at least one major group is welcoming the move with open arms. SEIU-32BJ, the labor union headquartered in New York representing more than 30,000 residential building services workers (including doormen and handypersons), endorsed Amazon’s ‘HQ2’ arrival in New York City, Crain’s New York Business reported. It has been claimed that the retail behemoth will bring 25,000 jobs to the Big Apple, with employees making an average annual salary of $150,000. “Amazon is coming to the most progressive, diverse, union-friendly city and state in the country — a fact that should put to sleep the theory that says we need to kill unions and weaken regulations to attract businesses,” Héctor Figueroa, the union’s president, said in a statement: “As New Yorkers we should be proud that HQ2, and the thousands of good union jobs that will build, maintain and secure this complex, are coming to Long Island City because of the talent of our workforce, the vibrancy of our communities and the strength of our public institutions. “There’s still a lot of input that the new development will need from the city and our community,” he continued, “to make sure Amazon serves as a positive force to strengthen our transit system, fund our public schools and help all city residents thrive. But let’s not forget, New Yorkers are the number one reason HQ2 will be built in Queens. Now let’s show Amazon how we do business here. New Yorkers of all walks of life know how to organize in their workplace and on the street to hold corporations and government ac- countable.” Crain’s New York Business said that “Amazon’s plan to build a 4- to 8 million square-foot complex along the Queens waterfront could potentially create up to 3,000 jobs for \[32BJ\] members.” Long Island City has been experiencing growth in the residential real estate market, especially with condos. As CNBC reported, Long Island City has “been deemed one of the hottest spots for young people to live in — and that’s helping to drive up residential prices.” Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio had recently lauded Amazon HQ2’s ar- rival to the Big Apple, with the latter saying at a press conference: “This plan that we all put together, we are convinced is going to benefit everyday New Yorkers in huge numbers – tens of thousands, and it’s going to be something that really transforms people’s lives.” But the decision has generated controversy, most notably about the approximately $3 billion of tax breaks the mega-retailer is expected to receive for doing business in New York—at a time when the city is experiencing an affordable housing shortage and declining infrastructure such as the subways. n David Chiu is an associate editor at The Cooperator. Visit Cooperator.com for related news, articles and videos. SEIU-32BJ Gives Amazon HQ an OK Nation’s Biggest Property Service Workers Union Approve of LIC Location BY DAVID CHIU L ast April, The Cooperator ran a piece about the most expensive home ever sold in New York City: a condo purchased by Dell Computers founder and CEO Michael Dell for $100 million at One57, a Central Park-adjacent skyscraper developed by Extell on what is popularly referred to as “Billionaire’s Row.” But if you google for “Extell” and “most expensive condo” today, this wouldn’t even be the most recent hit. This time, Extell has outdone itself with Central Park Tower, which looks to be the most expensive condominium project in city history at $4 billion —as well as the tallest residential building in the country at over 1,550 feet. “Stratospheric views, exquisite architecture, gracious layouts, and phenomenal service will make Central Park Tower one of the most prestigious addresses on earth,” said Extell on its website about the development, which is expected to be completed in 2020. According to The Real Deal , sales launched for the building’s 179 residences in mid-October, with units ranging in size from 1,435 square feet to 17,500 square feet. The penthouse report- edly costs a staggering $95 million, while 20 other units each demand $60 million. Nordstrom’s flagship Manhattan store will occupy seven stories at the base of Central Park Tower. In addition to the assuredly jaw-dropping views of Central Park, the project promises 50,000 square feet of amenities spread across several floors, including a terrace for social events, indoor and outdoor pools, a gym, a basketball court, a squash court, and a screening room. The pur- pose of a final amenity space slated for the 100th floor is still hush-hush, but, as The Real Deal reported, the project’s offering plan indicates that it may become a grand ballroom. Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture designed the tower, with design firm Rottet Studio handling interiors. n Mike Odenthal is a staff writer at The Cooperator. NYC’s Most Expensive Condo Projected to Sell Out at $4 Billion Sales Underway at Extell’s Central Park Tower BY MIKE ODENTHAL Get on Board! How to Increase Member Participation at Community Meetings BY A J SIDRANSKY continued on page 22