By Bruno Caligara Following a series of deadly gas explosions, New York City passed Local Law 157 of 2016 (LL 157/2016), which requires the installation of natural gas detectors in residences. The DOB published a rule implementing LL 157/2016 earlier this year, which requires landlords to install the detectors by May… View more
By Andrew Pisani New York City requires periodic inspection of all retaining walls at least ten feet high that front a public right-of-way. Property owners must hire a New York State-licensed professional designated as a Qualified Retaining Wall Inspector (QRWI) to inspect these structures at least once every five years and… View more
By Brian Earley More than four years after the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered New York City, commercial real estate vacancy rates remain high. The continuing tension between companies and employees over return-to-office mandates is one contributing factor. Also, tenants are favoring new, upscale properties over older buildings. Consequently, more building owners, property… View more
By David Temidara When the prestigious Brearley School built a new facility one block away from the primary campus on 610 East 83rd Street, the institution engaged Metropolis Group to help manage the complex construction process. Metropolis team members worked with architects, engineers, and owners’ representatives to secure the construction permits,… View more
By Jaime Pabon In keeping with the city’s ongoing public safety efforts, Local Law 126 of 2021 requires building owners to have an observation of public-facing parapets performed annually, beginning in 2024. The Rules of the City of New York (RCNY) define a parapet as “the part of any wall entirely… View more
By Jaime Pabon Effective June 6, 2024, New York City amended the Zoning Resolution (ZR) to update Use Group categories and numbering. The revisions support economic growth and resiliency by providing businesses with additional zoning flexibility to locate and expand. New Zoning Resolution (ZR) Use Groups Previously, the ZR organized and… View more
By Jaime Pabon In the latest move to protect public safety, the New York City Building Code definition of a “major building” will change from “an existing or proposed building 10 or more stories or 125 feet or more in height” to “an existing or proposed building 7 or more stories… View more
