RXR Celebrates The Grand Opening Of Maven At 2413 Third Avenue In Mott Haven, The Bronx

 

RXR has announced the grand opening of Maven at 2413 Third Avenue in Mott Haven, The Bronx. The 27-story tower, designed by CetraRuddy Architecture, is the firm’s first tower in The Bronx and comprises 200 rental units, amenities, and ground-floor retail space.

The 145,643-square-foot development includes 60 rent-stabilized units for middle-income households, 81 on-site enclosed parking spaces with electric vehicle charging stations, and 721 square feet of retail space intended for local business leasing. Maven is located near major transit links including the Third Avenue Bridge and the 4, 5, and 6 subway lines.

Maven’s amenities include a fitness center, outdoor lounge areas, coworking space, a game room, and a roof terrace. The units, with floor plans ranging from 502 to 1,272 square feet, are outfitted with modern appliances and fixtures. Art is placed throughout the development, including an extensive installation in the lobby.

Living Room of a unit at Maven, courtesy of RXR

“As the South Bronx continues to develop in exciting fashion, it’s crucial to see increased direct and private investment in affordable housing to support vibrant neighborhoods like Mott Haven and address New York City’s housing crisis,” said Ritchie Torres, U.S. Representative for New York’s 15th congressional district.

Attorney General James Highlights Deep Racial Gaps in Homeownership Across New York

 

AG Report Finds New Yorkers of Color Are Far Less Likely to Own a Home, More Likely to Be Denied Mortgages, and Face Higher Borrowing Costs

Disparities Cost Black and Latino Borrowers More Than $200 Million over the Course of Their Mortgages

New York Attorney General Letitia James released a new report today detailing deep racial disparities in homeownership and access to home financing across the state. Among the report’s top findings is a stark racial gap in homeownership rates in every region in New York, with white households owning their homes at nearly double the rate of households of color. These disparities are a significant contributor to the racial wealth gap and result in higher housing costs for homebuyers of color, making it harder for communities of color to build lasting financial security and overcome decades of systemic discrimination in the housing market. The report also offers policy proposals to help close the homeownership gap. 

“Owning a home is an essential part of achieving the American dream and building wealth to pass on to future generations,” said Attorney General James. “Unfortunately, unequal access to affordable credit is still pervasive across our state, reinforcing the legacy of segregation, leading to a disparity in homeownership, and fueling the racial wealth gap. This report makes it clear that our state must do more to provide better resources for homebuyers and strengthen housing laws to help empower more New Yorkers. My office remains committed to fighting housing discrimination in all forms, and I look forward to working with my partners in government to address this problem.”

The Office of the Attorney General's (OAG) report found that homeownership in New York is concentrated in white households and neighborhoods. This trend of lower homeownership rates for people of color is present throughout the state. The report noted that the city of Albany, the state’s capital, has the second-largest gap between white and Black homeownership of any city nationwide, second only to Minneapolis. Across New York, white households are 25 percent more likely than Asian households to own their home and more than twice as likely as Black or Latino households to own their home.

The report shows white households in New York are more than 
twice as likely as Black or Latino households to own their home

The report also reveals the significant barriers that borrowers of color face when attempting to purchase a home. Not only are Black and Latino New Yorkers disproportionately underrepresented among mortgage applicants, all applicants of color are denied mortgages at higher rates than white applicants, regardless of credit score, income, size of the loan, and other factors. Even among borrowers with the highest credit scores, non-white mortgage applicants are denied a mortgage at nearly double the rate of white applicants.

Across every credit score range, mortgage applicants 
of color are denied at higher rates than white applicants

In addition, OAG’s report revealed that non-white prospective homebuyers face higher costs than their white counterparts. They are more likely to be charged higher interest rates for their loans, more likely to use costlier Federal Housing Administration loans, and less likely to be approved to refinance their loans to a lower rate. These added burdens total over $200 million more in interest and other costs over the course of Black and Latino borrowers’ loans.

The report identifies a number of state-level policy solutions that could help close the racial homeownership gap, including:

• Subsidizing down payments and interest rates for first-generation home buyers — who are disproportionately people of color — to make it easier for families who have never bought a home to get credit.
• Increasing state funding to nonprofit financial institutions that can better support communities of color underserved by traditional financial institutions.
• Passing the New York Public Banking Act to create a regulatory framework for cities, towns, and regions to establish public banks. These institutions would help expand access to affordable financial services in underserved communities.
• Increasing resources for government agencies' fair lending investigations and strengthening New York’s Human Rights Law to expressly prohibit lending practices that have a disparate impact on communities of color.
• Exploring options for state-provided banking services at places like libraries and post offices to help reduce the population of New Yorkers who lack adequate access to traditional banking services.

The OAG’s report was prepared by Jasmine McAllister, Gautam Sisodia, and Blake Rubey of OAG’s Research and Analytics Department, Megan Thorsfeldt and Jonathan Werberg formerly of the Research and Analytics Department, Mark Ladov of the Consumer Frauds Bureau, and Lindsay McKenzie and Joel Marrero of the Civil Rights Bureau. The Consumer Frauds Bureau is a part of the Division for Economic Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Chris D’Angelo. The Civil Rights Bureau is a part of the Division for Social Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Meghan Faux. Both the Division for Economic Justice and the Division for Social Justice are overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.

Following Surge in Hate and Bias Crimes, Governor Hochul Deploys All Available State Resources to Protect New Yorkers in At-Risk Communities and on College Campuses

$50 Million in Grants Available for Local Law Enforcement Agencies to Prevent and Solve Hate Crimes and Other Crimes

$25 Million Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes Grants Offer Security for Houses of Worship, Community Centers and Other At-Risk Sites

Governor Taps Judge Jonathan Lippman to Launch Comprehensive Review of Antisemitism and Antidiscrimination Policies on CUNY Campuses

New York State Police Will Expand Social Media Analysis Unit to Monitor Threats on Schools and College Campuses

New York State Division of Human Rights Will Convene Community Circles to Bring New Yorkers Together

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a series of actions to deploy all available resources to keep New Yorkers safe following a surge in hate and bias incidents in the weeks following the October 7 Hamas terror attacks. In an address to New Yorkers, Governor Hochul highlighted $50 million available for local law enforcement agencies to prevent and solve hate crimes and other crimes, $25 million in security funding for at-risk community groups and cultural centers, an expansion of the New York State Police’s social media analysis unit, and a new initiative from the Division of Human Rights. Governor Hochul also announced that Judge Jonathan Lippman, the widely respected former Chief Judge of New York and Chief Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals, will conduct an independent third-party review of the City University of New York’s policies and procedures related to antisemitism and discrimination.

“My top priority is to protect the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers,” Governor Hochul said. “Let me be clear: we cannot allow hate and intimidation to become normalized. As Governor, I reaffirm that there is zero tolerance in New York for antisemitism, Islamophobia, or hate of any kind, and it’s critical we deploy every possible state resource to keep New Yorkers safe.”

$50 Million for Law Enforcement Agencies Across the State

New York State is making $50 million available in law enforcement technology and equipment to modernize their operations and more effectively solve and prevent crimes, including hate crimes. DCJS is administering the funding and the deadline for submissions is noon on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. DCJS issued the request for applications after obtaining feedback from police departments and sheriffs’ offices last fall about the type of technology and equipment they need. Agencies can seek funding for a variety of equipment and technology, including but not limited to license plate readers, mobile and fixed surveillance cameras, computer-aided dispatch systems, software, unmanned aerial vehicles, gunshot detection devices, and smart equipment for patrol vehicles and police officers.

$25 Million for Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes Grants

Governor Hochul announced an additional $25 million for the Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes (SCAHC) grants are available. Given ongoing hate and extremism at home and abord, the Governor also directed DCJS to develop new innovations and strategies to incorporate within the SCAHC program in the future – such as increases to the maximum award amount, a streamlined, rolling application process, and evaluations of the deployed protective equipment and technology. These potential changes will help respond to the current needs and challenges faced by organizations that are at-risk of hate crimes.

In July, the Governor announced the most recent SCAHC funding awards to 497 organizations statewide for 1,081 projects totaling $51,680,910, with $8,899,091 going toward 187 cybersecurity projects. Administered by DCJS, the SCAHC program provides funding to strengthen security measures and prevent hate crimes against nonprofit community and civic centers, cultural museums, day care centers, and other nonprofit organizations that may be vulnerable because of their ideology, beliefs, or mission. This funding can be used to support exterior or interior security improvements, including but not limited to lighting, locks, alarms, panic buttons, fencing, barriers, access controls, shatter-resistant glass and blast-resistant film, public address systems, and for the first time, measures to strengthen cybersecurity. Funds can also cover costs associated with security training.

Third-Party Review of CUNY Policies and Procedures Related to Antisemitism and Discrimination

The review of CUNY policies and procedures, which Governor Hochul has asked Judge Jonathan Lippman to conduct, will include recommended actions for the CUNY Board of Trustees to bolster its antidiscrimination polices and help protect Jewish students and faculty. Judge Lippman, of Counsel in the New York office of Latham & Watkins, will be supported by his firm in the review. The review is expected to include interviews, research, and other consultations and to cover the following topics:

• Campus environment, including an assessment of attitudes and perspectives of antisemitism on various CUNY campuses.
• Current University policies, procedures, and systems of investigating antisemitism complaints.
• Consistency of treatment by the University in handling of antisemitism complaints and all other types of discrimination.
• Appropriate balance of free speech rights with protection of students’ right to receive education free of antisemitic threats, intimidation, or discrimination.

A report of Judge Lippman’s findings is expected in the Spring.

Judge Jonathan Lippman said, “As a Judge and lawyer, my focus has always been first and foremost on fairness and equal justice. That same sense of fairness, and freedom from intimidation, for Jewish students and all others in CUNY’s academic community, will be at the center of my review. Antisemitism and discrimination in all its forms are unacceptable and I am honored that the Governor has asked me to carry out this important task.”

Expand Social Media Analysis to Identify Threats and Criminal Activity

The New York State Police use publicly available social media activity and posts to assist in identifying credible criminal activity happening in the state. But the pool of information is so large and rapidly changing that the State Police’s current efforts only scratch the surface of what is possible to detect and interdict. Governor Hochul announced an addition $700,000 enhancing the Social Media Analysis Unit at the NYSIC by staffing a team of analysts to perform daily analysis of publicly available social media activity — particularly that which pertains to school violence threats, gang activity, and illegal firearms — to tie information back to existing criminal investigations, initiate new investigations, and communicate information on threats to appropriate field personnel.

Community Circles

In response to recent events in the Middle East, The Division of Human Rights (DHR) Hate and Bias Prevention Unit will be offering community circles to discuss how community members have been affected by these events and to help each other as we struggle to cope and heal. These Circles will be in-person and will be community specific, to allow for a safe space for all.

This announcement builds on Governor Hochul’s efforts to increase safety protocols against hate and bias crimes in the wake of Hamas’ attack on Israel. Last week, Governor Hochul announced the launch of a new hotline and online form for New Yorkers to be able to quickly report hate and bias incidents. Immediately following the Hamas terror attacks, Governor Hochul fully activated the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Office of Counterterrorism, expanded State Police monitoring of social media, and directed MTA and Port Authority leaders to patrol high-risk transit hubs. In July, Governor Hochul announced more than $51 million in grant funding to improve safety and security of organizations at risk of hate crimes.

Permits Filed For 3418 Third Avenue In Morrisania, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a seven-story mixed-use building at 3418 Third Avenue in Morrisania, The Bronx. Located between East 166th Street and East 167th Street, the lot is near the Simpson Street subway station, serviced by the 2 and 5 trains. Franc Gjini of 2625 Grand Avenue Corp. is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 67-foot-tall development will yield 34,831 square feet, with 31,995 square feet designated for residential space and 2,836 square feet for community facility space. The building will have 54 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 592 square feet. The masonry-based structure will also have a cellar and a 33-foot-long rear yard.

Fred Geremia Architects & Planners is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits will likely not be needed as the lot is vacant. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

Early Voting Check-Ins - General Election 2023

 

October 28, 2023 - Day 1

 

• New York - 3,138
• Bronx - 1,061
• Brooklyn - 2,284
• Queens - 2,487
• Staten Island - 535

 

Total Number of Early Voting Check-Ins 9,505

*Unofficial as of Close of Polls

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October 29, 2023 - Day 2

 

• New York - 4,851
• Bronx - 1,653
• Brooklyn - 4,008
• Queens - 4,215
• Staten Island - 973

 

Total Number of Early Voting Check-Ins 15,700

*As of Close of Polls – Unofficial and Cumulative

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October 30, 2023 - Day 3

 

• New York - 7,071
• Bronx - 2,441
• Brooklyn - 5,671
• Queens - 6,038
• Staten Island - 1,416

 

Total Number of Early Voting Check-Ins 22,637

*As of Close of Polls – Unofficial and Cumulative

Statements from Speaker Adrienne Adams, Land Use Chair Rafael Salamanca, Zoning and Franchises Chair Kevin Riley, Economic Development Chair Amanda Farias, and Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez on Start of the Public Review Process for the City of Yes for Economic Opportunity

 

On Monday, October 30, the Department of City Planning kicked off the public review process for Mayor Adams’ City of Yes for Economic Opportunity citywide text amendment. In response, Speaker Adams, Land Use Committee Chair Rafael Salamanca, Zoning and Franchises Subcommittee Chair Kevin Riley, and Economic Development Committee Chair Amanda Farias released the following joint statement:

“Expanding access to equitable economic opportunities is critical to our communities being healthy and safe, and will facilitate the city’s long-term recovery and success. As the formal public review process for the City of Yes for Economic Opportunity zoning proposal begins, it is important for New Yorkers to engage in this important process. The Council has outlined important steps our city can take to cultivate a renewed industrial sector that provides good-paying jobs and prepares our city for a clean energy future. It is encouraging that the initial proposal includes some zoning changes that are consistent with the goal of supporting industrial businesses and manufacturing. The Council will continue to work with all stakeholders to advance necessary zoning and economic development policies that help achieve our shared goal of strengthening the industrial sector’s role in supporting our city and its economy.”

Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez, who helps lead the M-Zone Coalition comprised of elected officials, advocates, and community leaders advancing the city’s industrial sector, also released the following statement:

“As the City looks toward economic opportunity and sustainable growth, it is imperative that we use this moment to protect our manufacturing districts, which have been ignored for decades, but play an integral role as an economic engine of New York City,” said Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez. “From trash and supply chain management, to large employers and small entrepreneurs – the manufacturing districts have been threatened for decades by the encroachment of commercial and residential uses. I am honored by the Speaker’s support in driving forward the legacy of industrial revitalization with purpose and passion.”

Governor Hochul Announces All $192 Million in First-Year Opioid Settlement Funds Allocated to Serve New Yorkers Struggling With Addiction or Available Through State Agencies

 

Funding Being Awarded and Distributed Through New York State’s Opioid Settlement Fund to Support Wide Range of Addiction Services Across NYS

Part Of Governor’s Ongoing Mission to Treat Addiction and Support Full Continuum of Services, and Fix State's Continuum of Mental Health Care

New York is a National Leader in the Amount of Opioid Settlement Funds Made Available and the Transparency of Disbursement Process

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York has made available all the funding provided in the first year of the opioid settlement agreements. This funding, approximately $192.8 million, is supporting a variety of prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery initiatives to help New Yorkers impacted by the opioid and overdose crisis.

“New York is not only leading the way in the efforts to hold opioid manufacturers and distributors accountable, we are taking swift action to put settlement dollars to work to reverse the harm they have caused,” Governor Hochul said. “These efforts are making a difference in communities across the state, and we are continuing to work to deliver further support and assistance so that all New Yorkers can access the services they need through a series of initiatives to address all types of behavioral health needs.”

New York State is receiving more than $2 billion through various settlement agreements with opioid manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies that were secured by Attorney General Letitia James. A portion of the funding from these settlements will go directly to municipalities, with the remainder deposited into a dedicated fund to support prevention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery efforts to address the ongoing opioid epidemic.

More than $192 million was deposited into the settlement fund account for the first fiscal year, and is being made available and awarded in accordance with the priorities of the New York State Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board as presented in the November 2022 report to the Governor and Legislature. This report detailed the expansion of harm reduction services and treatment as the Board’s top priorities.

The funding made available includes support for the following initiatives:

• Regional abatements for local governments. This funding is available to be spent by municipalities once they submit spending plans to OASAS.
• A scholarship program to support more than 300 individuals looking to enter or advance in the addiction services workforce.
• Transitional Safety Units, which provide funding for providers operating supportive housing programs.
• Funding for Recovery Centers to support their work in reaching individuals in recovery with non-clinical support and recovery information.
• The establishment of Comprehensive Integrated Outpatient Treatment Programs. These programs are a new initiative designed to address the need for integrated treatment, providing medication for addiction treatment (MAT) and other comprehensive health services in one location.
• Low-threshold buprenorphine services designed to facilitate same day access to MAT and addiction care management.
• Prevention coalitions and prevention programming and education targeted towards youth.
• The “Connections to Care” initiative to help underserved and high-need individuals access the full continuum of addiction care.
• Support for a transportation program providing access to destinations supporting individualized recovery efforts and goals.
• Funding to support outreach and engagement efforts that connect high-need individuals to harm reduction and treatment services.
• Services specifically for people who use drugs in priority populations, including to support evidence-based harm reduction strategies and to increase access to low-threshold medical services.
• Expansion of services offered within the State’s Syringe Service Programs / Drug User Health Hubs and funding for harm reduction supplies through the State’s Syringe Exchange Programs.

Additional information about these and other initiatives, and the status of settlement fund spending is available on the Opioid Settlement Fund Tracker on the OASAS website.

Preliminary data show more than 6,300 overdose deaths in New York State in 2022, with opioids involved in more than three-quarters of those deaths. In addition to the initiatives funding through the Opioid Settlement Fund, New York State continues to work to expand and enhance services through a series of other efforts to address this trend. These include the development of mobile medication units (MMUs) throughout New York State, which provide prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery services, as well as connections to other addiction and primary healthcare services. This initiative is designed to help bring services to underserved areas and reach people who may face issues accessing treatment, by bringing services directly to them.

The State has taken significant steps to expand access to naloxone, including distribution by the Department of Health of more than 360,000 naloxone kits last year. To enhance access even further, OASAS recently launched a new ordering system for individuals and organizations to obtain naloxone, as well as fentanyl and xylazine test strips. Since launching, more than 70,000 naloxone kits have been ordered, along with more than two million fentanyl test strips and 1.4 million xylazine test strips. This new ordering system is part of the ongoing “Harm Reduction Delivered” campaign which also aims to educate New Yorkers about the services available across the state, and how to find help. The agency is also working to address stigma against those with addiction, and addiction treatment in general, through additional public awareness campaigns.

Governor Hochul’s multi-year $1 Billion Mental Health Care Plan recognizes the links between opioid use disorder and other forms of addiction, chronic homelessness, and severe mental health challenges. The plan includes increasing operational capacity for inpatient psychiatric treatment, creating 3,500 units of housing to serve New Yorkers with mental illness, increasing insurance coverage for mental health services and substance use disorder treatment, dramatically expanding outpatient services, and creating systemic accountability for hospital admissions and discharges to better address the needs of individuals suffering with chronic mental illness.

This plan includes the expansion of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) system, from 13 to 39 throughout the state. These are 24-hour centers that provide comprehensive services for those requiring behavioral health support, including for mental health and addiction, across behavioral, physical health, and social service systems. CCBHCs serve children, adolescents, adults, and older adults experiencing mental health disorders, substance use disorders, or both, including individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Services are provided regardless of ability to pay, or county or city location of residence.

New York State has instituted an aggressive, multi-pronged approach to addressing the overdose epidemic, and created a nation-leading continuum of addiction care with full prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction services. The state has worked to expand access to traditional services, including crisis services, inpatient, outpatient, and residential treatment programs, as well as medication to treat addiction, and mobile treatment and transportation services.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369).

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, residential, or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website.

New York State Comptroller DiNapoli Statement on Tentative Agreements to End UAW Strike

 

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli issued the following statement regarding the tentative labor agreements between the UAW and the big three automakers.

“With the announcement of a tentative agreement at General Motors, the end of an historic strike by the United Auto Workers will come to a close. My congratulations to the United Auto Workers and Ford, General Motors and Stellantis for coming to terms that will secure the futures of autoworkers and set the stage for growth, innovation and prosperity at the three companies. I had the opportunity to walk the picket line with members of UAW Local 3039 in Tappan, N.Y.  to learn about the issues facing them and the auto industry, and I wrote to the companies expressing my concerns over the economic and market impacts of the strike. As trustee of New York State Pension Fund, I am thankful that the equitable agreement everyone wanted has been reached. It will not only benefit auto companies and workers, but our state and nation as a whole.”