June 2008 Vol. 28 No. 6
The June 2008 issue of The Cooperator newspaper focuses on Law & Legislation.
In this issue, you can read about pet rules & restrictions, condos adopting co-op rules, abuse of power, complying with safety regulations and annual legislative updates.
Visit our archives to see other articles that were published in 2008.
News Briefs
- 7.14.08 Because of the vagaries of federal banking regulations, states have somewhat limited ability to respond to the mortgage foreclosure crisis, but this has not stopped Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo of New York from acting aggressively in recent months. [NY Times]
- 7.14.08 Almost overnight, investment bankers and others on Wall Street have gone from being Manhattan's most aggressive apartment buyers to real estate pariahs. [NY Times]
- 7.08.08 Apartment dwellers in New York City have long endured the trauma of jackhammers, Manolo Blahniks, recycling trucks, sirens, canines and air-conditioning systems. [NY Times]
- 7.08.08 As the economy goes down and crime goes up, more gated communities are bypassing clickers for stickers. [Palm Beach Post]
- 7.08.08 It is Saturday evening, the second day of summer, and the air around Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem is filled with the scent of blossoming linden trees and the sound of West African drums. [Narmer's Page]
- 7.3.08 Despite slowing sales and continuing economic worries, market studies released yesterday showed that the Manhattan co-op and condominium market remained strong in the peak spring selling season, with prices up 25 percent or more compared with a year ago, and overall prices roughly flat or just below record levels. [NY Times]
- 6.18.2008 Having turned their new units into high-priced rentals, they have found a surprising number of eager takers. [NY Times]
- 6.12.08 In real estate lingo, there is a delicately worded phrase used by brokers to describe a renovation tailored too closely to its owner’s taste: The place is too, ahem, specific. [NY Times]
Featured Articles
From Albany to City Hall
The current sessions in both Albany and in the New York City Council are now well under way, and housing-related bills are very much a part of the mix. Some of the bills have been around for years in one form or another, but that doesn’t mean they’re any less relevant—or less controversial. Read More
Complying for Safety
In addition to their boards and managing agents, co-op and condo communities depend on the many workers who take care of building maintenance and residents’ needs. Building staff, maintenance workers, the super, and other employees are all essential to maintaining a well-run building. At the same time, these workers have the right to do their jobs in a safe environment, in a building that abides by local, state and federal laws. With that in mind, boards and managing agents must stay abreast of all relevant rules and regulations to ensure a safe working environment for their staff members. Read More
What Happens When a Board Goes to Far?
Co-op and condo owners often complain that their board doesn’t do enough, or that the board members aren’t involved as much as they would like in the administration and maintenance of their building. While a disinterested or apathetic board is certainly a problem, going to the other extreme can be just as bad…or maybe even worse. Read More
Compairing Apples to Oranges?
Co-op apartment buildings were originally formed in New York City to allow building residents to buy into and have a say in how their building was administered, as well as who their neighbors were, and what those neighbors were allowed to do within the building. This is in contrast to condos, which are real property. As such, their owners are typically not subject to the intense scrutiny and regulation co-op shareholders can be. Read More
It's a Dog's Life
Daisy Okas works for the American Kennel Club and obviously loves dogs, so when she was looking for an apartment for herself and Olive, her six-year-old beagle, there was no negotiation—she had to live in a pet-friendly building. Read More
