Loft-Livers Catch a Break in Albany
Residents of an estimated 300 illegal loft buildings around the city must be rejoicing today: The State legislature passed a bill on Wednesday that would require landlords to bring illegally-converted loft buildings up to code within the next 12 months. It also makes permanent the original “Loft Law” that was put in place back in…
Residents of an estimated 300 illegal loft buildings around the city must be rejoicing today: The State legislature passed a bill on Wednesday that would require landlords to bring illegally-converted loft buildings up to code within the next 12 months. It also makes permanent the original “Loft Law” that was put in place back in 1982. Many of the buildings affected by the bill, which still awaits Governor Paterson’s signature, are in Greenpoint, Bushwick and Williamsburg. I’m hoping that this puts an end to it, and with any future conversions people follow the proper procedure, said the bill’s sponsor, State Sen. Malvane Dilan. But in this case, it was necessary because people were already living there. We needed a way to make the landlords bring these buildings up to code.
State Legislature Clears Bill to Sanction Illegal Loft Apartments [WSJ]
Photo by l_c_m_tt_
What a shame that Mayor Bloomberg has been successfully lobbied to come out against the law. The reasons cited in his letter to the governor convey a certain ignorance of the bill.
Contrary to the propaganda the law would retain jobs and create stability.
Why he did not voice his concerns before the bills passed is another question.
That is bad government style to say the least.
One can only hope that Governor Paterson respects the will of the people, even if Bloomberg could not care less.
so what happens to cheap rents after the LL spends a few mil in sprinklers and other good stuff?
another nail in the coffin of old New York.
‘have zero sympathy for the renters too though – when you can’t get residential cable – then, check your building! you know what you’re doing is breaking the law. it’s commercial!”
Your shiny new Williamsburg condo wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for illegal loft dwellers in the past.
about time. ridiculous that people violate the laws, put others in harms way including, tossing them out in the cold in the middle of winter or burning down the joint because of your illegal matzoh factory exploded, etc…
have zero sympathy for the renters too though – when you can’t get residential cable – then, check your building! you know what you’re doing is breaking the law. it’s commercial!
meanwhile, will they be able to make these upgrades?? DOUBTFUL!
too much $$ and probably would need to vacate these places to do the work.
not gonna happen.
“I’m hoping that this puts an end to it, and with any future conversions people follow the proper procedure,†said the bill’s sponsor, State Sen. Malvane Dilan.
Haven’t we been here before. When I moved to Williamsburg in the 80s, I didn’t move to a loft because the Department of City Planning had said, ‘after SoHo we’re not going to do anymore post hoc legalizations.’
that’s the famous bedbug building in that picture right?
*rob*