Gotham Gazette
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The Topic
Housing refers to all dwellings in NYC - from luxury condos with views of the Park to battered in-rem apartments in the South Bronx - and the laws and policy disputes that they produce.
The Context
The percentage of vacant and available housing stock in NYC has never exceeded 4.01%. This extraordinary housing scarcity makes for the highest rents in the US. Unlike citizens of most big American cities, where slightly over half of units are owner-occupied, more than two-thirds of New Yorkers are renters. And - bucking the national trend again - more than two-thirds of New York apartments are rent-regulated in some way. The housing crunch shows no sign of easing up, as new construction is impeded by the highest building costs in the nation. Of the little new construction that does occur in NYC, the vast majority takes advantage of some government subsidy or exemption. Also to note: the city within a city that is New York's 170,000 units of public housing - by far the largest amount of public housing anywhere in America.

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Troubling Indicators in West Bronx
The West Bronx is home to the highest concentration of affordable housing, but is also bedeviled by a number of troubling statistics, according to this new report by the University Neighborhood Housing Program. There is a "convergence of negative indicators" showing signs of housing, social and economic distress in the area. (July 2, 2009)

A Primer on Rent Regulation
A high portion of rent regulated households still pay a large percentage of their income towards rent, according to this new report by the Citizen's Budget Commission. The report also finds that rent regulation benefits a number of higher-income families and that many low-income households live in unregulated homes. (June 25, 2009)

Impact of Housing Conditions on Asthma
A housing code enforcement system that does not recognize the link between asthma and housing conditions leaves asthmatic New Yorkers stuck in homes where they are unable to breathe, according this new report by Make the Road. (May 22, 2009)

Gentrification Displaces Students
Five high schools closings in East New York, Canarsie and Far Rockaway could be attributed to gentrification, according to a new report from the Institute for Children and Poverty. Titled "Pushed Out: The Hidden Costs of Gentrification: Displacement and Homelessness," the report suggests that students can often be displaced by gentrification. According to the report, about 2,150 students from East New York and 2,400 students from Canarsie will have to find other schools, because the city has phased out "larger, lower-performing high schools." (April 28, 2009)

End of the Residential Building Boom
The plummeting number of building permits issued in the first two months of 2009 signals the end of the residential building boom, according to the New York Building Congress. "At 576 units, the number of permits issued in January and February of 2009 is just 20 percent of the total reached for the same period in 2008," the Congress reports. (April 23, 2009)

BeAnInteriorDesigner.com- Interior Design Information
Site will give you suggested ideas on how to get started in interior designing.
New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development
Straight from the horse's mouth. Info for tenants and landlords, about neighborhood development and tax incentive and abatement programs. Learn how to get on the waiting lists for affordable low- and middle-income housing.
Council of New York Cooperatives & Condominiums
CNYC's site for co-op and condo dwellers provides many services, including comparative survey information to help boards determine if their buildings are operating efficiently, information about insurance discounts and other perks available to co-operators.
Public Housing Spotlight
A project of former and current employees of the Housing Authority, dishes up both proven and rumored dirt on NYCHA. Copies of Spotlight are considered contraband in NYCHA's offices. For the flip side, see the NYCHA site.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Read a national assessment of the housing situation in U.S. cities. Compare and contrast New York City with other major metropolitan areas.
Tenants & Neighbors
Tenants & Neighbors is a 30-year old organization of tenants, tenant associations, and other organizations that fight for tenants' rights and affordable housing for all people. We work in rent controlled, rent stabilized, Mitchell-Lama, federal Section 8, and public housing throughout the state. Our power and effectiveness comes from over 18,000 members.
Mr. Landlord
The Internet Resource for Landlords and Landladies. This comprehensive site offers a wealth of resources and free advice on do-it-yourself rental property management. Visitors can find help with setting up a webpage for their own rental ads or locating sample rent agreement forms. Its services also include a Q&A interactive discussion among fellow landlords; tax, mortgage and rent calculators; and a free weekly e-newsletter on management techniques.
The Cooperator
Free online magazine for co-op and condo dwellers. Articles on current news affecting co-ops and condos, such as utilities deregulation or indictments of corrupt management companies, change monthly. Includes helpful Q&A sections in which tenant questions are answered by lawyers and accountants, and a reference library of detailed advice on topics such as building finance or selling your unit.
City Limits
Investigative reporting about housing and other issues facing New York's low-income communities for 22 years. Archives available to 1996.
The Supers Technical Association of New York
The Supers Technical Association of New York has a plain looking but full web site targeted at building supers in New York City, including job listings, a collection of books of interest to the super, and a glossary of jargon. The site also has weekly featured Web sites and a handyman tip of the week. There's even a section of super jokes (which, you will find, is a misnomer).

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