Category: On The Board

In a recent decision, a New York City co-op was ordered to pay $165,000 to a shareholder over the board’s refusal to allow her to keep her ‘emotional support parrots’ - a judgment the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York …

The presence of commercial space in a shared interest building can be a blessing for the community - and it can also be a burden. It can bring in much needed additional income to help defray the cost of running the building - but at the sam…

According to recent reports, the board of the Galleria — a luxury condo on East 57th Street - is suing noted illusionist David Copperfield for over $2.5 million to repair damage to a unit he owns in the building. Copperfield purchased…

Enacted in March of 2021, New York’s Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act (MRTA), contemplated allowing home cultivation of cannabis as part of its purview. However, the practice was not to take effect until 18 months after the first recreat…

Benjamin Franklin famously said, “Nothing in this world is certain except death and taxes.” In the world of co-ops and condos, this truth is amplified. Along with the obvious impact on the deceased’s family and associates, the passing can a…

After the devastating gas explosion in Harlem in 2014 that leveled a building, leaving eight people dead, and a second explosion in the East Village in 2015 that killed two and injured twenty, New York City passed Local Law 157. While LL 15…

At the heart of volunteerism is the notion of doing something for the common good. For many, choosing to live in a co-op or condo community is also choosing to volunteer for board service, helping to guide and govern the community they call…

As evidenced by the recent - and likely ongoing - flap over congestion pricing, car usage, ownership, and the financial implications of both are major issues for New Yorkers. Owning a car in the city is an undertaking in itself, and for mos…

Way back in 1966, New York State established the Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) as part of its efforts to provide affordable housing to residents of the state. The program has been very successful, providing over 100,000 aff…

Your common areas - including the lobby, hallways, mail room, and other shared spaces - are the first impression visitors and residents alike get upon entering the property. If those areas are shabby, poorly maintained, or just plain dated,…