Page 6 - New York Cooperator March 2019

6 THE COOPERATOR
— MARCH 2019
COOPERATOR.COM
Industry Pulse
Insurance
Mackoul Offers NYS-Mandated Sexual
Harassment Training
New York State has enacted several sig-
nificant measures regarding sexual harass-
ment in the workplace. Effective as of
October 2018, all New York State employers
are required to adopt a written sexual harass-
ment prevention policy and institute annual
anti-harassment training for all employees
– or risk costly fines for noncompliance.
Mackoul Risk Solutions, an insurance firm
based in New York and New Jersey, is offer-
ing a low-cost solution to educate co-op and
condo employees on sexual harassment. For
$300 per building per year, the company will
provide training for the employees – as well
as board members who have direct interac-
tion with those employees. Mandated train-
ing can be provided for property manage-
ment firms as well. For more information,
contact Mackoul Risk Solutions, c/o Rebecca
Scandaliato at 516-279-1215, or email rscan-
daliato@mackoul.com.
Property Management
FirstService Residential’s NYC Headquarters
Extends Its Green Electricity Commitment to
2021
Property management firm FirstService
Residential announced in a news statement
that its New York City regional office has
entered into an agreement to purchase 100%
clean energy for its New York City headquar-
ters through 2021. The firm’s initial commit-
ment began in 2016, and with this three-year
extension, FirstService is reaffirming its com-
mitment to the cause of renewable energy.
FirstService
Residential’s
three-floor
office at 622 Third Avenue in Manhattan uses
approximately 700,000 kilowatt hours (kwh)
of energy annually. The clean energy con-
version was accomplished by the purchase
of RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates)
through 3-Degrees Inc. Renewable energy
credits are frequently used as an alternative
green electricity solution for properties that
are unable to install efficient solar or wind
generation systems on site.
This represents the latest in a series of
sustainability initiatives set forth by the com-
pany. Since 2016, the firm’s New York City
region has converted more than 55 percent
of its managed portfolio to 100-percent green
energy—totaling over 125,000,000 kwh of
renewable energy per year.
Law & Legislation
AG Announces Settlements With Two
Co-ops to Return 90 Apartments to Rent
Stabilization Program
On January 23, New York State Attorney
General Letitia James announced settlements
with two former cooperative corporations in
New York City and the return of 90 apart-
ments to the rent-stabilization program.
In a statement, the attorney general’s
office said that Labe Twerski, the president of
the co-ops, violated state law by using them
as rental buildings for decades, and depriving
tenants of protections to which they are enti-
tled under rent stabilization laws. Under the
settlements, all tenants residing in the build-
ings (located at 447-448 Central Park West
on the Upper West Side and 4395 Broadway
in Washington Heights) will be entitled to
rent-stabilized leases at affordable rents.
The settlements re-regulate 31 apartments
under rent stabilization at 447-448 Central
Park West and re-regulate 59 apartments
under rent stabilization at 4395 Broadway.
In the late 1980s, both buildings con-
verted from residential rental buildings to
co-ops. With some exceptions, co-op apart-
ments are generally exempt from rent stabi-
lization under New York law, given that the
purpose of a cooperative is to provide home
ownership opportunities. In fact, the certifi-
cates of incorporation for both corporations
stated that the purpose of each corporation
was to provide homes for shareholders in the
cooperative.
Soon after the conversions however,
Twerski’s companies stopped selling shares
to homebuyers. Instead, according to the AG
office, he reacquired all of the shares that had
been sold and began renting out all of the
apartments at market rate, circumventing
the protections of New York’s rent stabiliza-
tion laws. Operating the buildings exclusively
as for-profit rental buildings thus exceeded
the authority conferred upon the co-op cor-
porations in their certificates of incorpora-
tion, in violation of New York Executive and
Business Corporation Law.
Under the terms of the settlements, the
owner of the buildings has agreed to abandon
the offering plans and re-register the apart-
ments in each building with the New York
State Division of Housing and Community
Renewal as subject to rent stabilization.
Report: DUMBO Condo Project Contractors
Sued for Delays and Defective Work
Developers Adam America and Slate
Property Group filed a lawsuit on January
30 against a team of contractors over work
performed at a condo development at 51 Jay
Street in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn.
The Real Deal
reported that the developers
blamed project delays and defective work on
the part of DCHM, which consists of Danya
Cebus Construction and Hudson Meridian
Construction Group; according to the plain-
tiff in the lawsuit: “As the project progressed,
201 Water and DCHM had many disputes
regarding DCHM’s management of the proj-
ect including, without limitation, the result-
ing delays and DCHM’s overcharging of
fees.” The 74-unit 51 Jay Street hit the market
in 2015, and half of the units reportedly sold
in less than five months. Both the plaintiffs,
who are seeking $88 million in damages, and
the defendants offered no comment to
The
Real Deal
about the matter.
Development
Harlem Church-to-Condo Conversion Takes
Shape
Curbed
reported on the new renderings
for an upcoming condo development in
Harlem on a former church site. The build-
ing that once housed the Second Canaan
CAL EN D AR
Mar-Apr
2019
CALENDAR/PULSE
continued on page 26
REGISTRATION IS FREE
BUT THE COST OF NOT GOING
COULD BE HIGH.
THE COOPERATOR
EXPO
2019
WHERE BUILDINGS MEET SERVICES
NEW YORK HILTON MIDTOWN — THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 9–4:30
FREE REGISTRATION: COOPEXPO.COM
Thurs., April 11, 2019
The Cooperator Expo New York
New York Hilton Midtown, 53rd Street and
Avenue of the Americas
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Learn about the latest building services from
more than 300 exhibitors. Attend educa-
tional seminars, get free advice from industry
experts, and network with your peers at this
leading real estate trade show in New York. For
more information and to register, visit www.
coopexpo.com.
Wed., March 20, 2019
CAI Webinar: Thriving in Place: Aging
Residents in Community Associations
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
As their populations age, successful homeown-
ers associations and condominiums must adapt
to aging residents’ needs. Learn how managers
and association leaders can work together to
create a plan for community residents who are
aging in place. Discover solutions and ideas to
implement in building programs, get educated
on exactly what it means to age in place, and
gain insights on how to anticipate the needs
and concerns of aging residents. For informa-
tion, visit www.caionline.org.
Wed., March 20, 2019
CNYC: Workshop for Building Treasurers
Location TBA
7:00 p.m.
Treasurers are responsible for all aspects of
the financial health of their cooperatives and
condominiums—all are potential discussion
topics at the Treasurers’ Workshop. This is not
a ‘how-to’ presentation, but rather an oppor-
tunity for treasurers to ‘talk shop’ with one
another and to seek guidance from accountant
Rick Montanye. Issues raised by participants
set the agenda. Treasurers (and other board
members) of CNYC member cooperatives and
condominiums attend at no cost, as can trea-
surers from FNYHC, CCC, ARC and UHAB,
but advanced registration is required. Non-
members are very welcome at a fee of $50, pay-
able in advance. Reserve your place by calling
CNYC at (212) 496- 7400 or register by e-mail
to workshops@CNYC.coop. To pay at the door,
pre-register and add $15.