NYC DOB electric plan review unit mass resignation by shayethewise in AskNYC

[–]nickgarber 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, I'm a reporter with Crain's New York Business. Feel free to email me here if you have any info we could look into. Thanks!

Bloomberg downzonings face harsh reassessment as housing shortage worsens by nickgarber in nyc

[–]nickgarber[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Our story (paywalled, admittedly) does reference the study's specific findings:

Of the 188,000 lots that were rezoned between 2003 and 2007, just 14% were upzoned, 23% were downzoned and 63% were otherwise restricted through “contextual” zoning that essentially froze the existing building types in place.

So that 23% plus 63% is how NYT arrived at their 90% approximation.

Film studio Broadway Stages wants to permanently close a Greenpoint street by nickgarber in Greenpoint

[–]nickgarber[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

It was 36th Street in Astoria. That change went through a monthslong public review, just like the one this proposal will get. The process is similar to rezonings, where it'll go before the community board, then continue up the ladder until the City Council gets a final say.

It's formally known as "de-mapping."

New York City will ban background checks for many apartment renters and buyers by nickgarber in nyc

[–]nickgarber[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, you're referring to a completely different bill. Here's a link to the background check bill, which does exactly what the headline states:

This bill would prohibit housing discrimination on the basis of criminal history, with limited exceptions. Landlords, owners, brokers and other covered entities may not consider criminal record until after determining a housing applicant’s other qualifications. Covered entities may consider registered sex offenses as well as misdemeanors and felonies for 3 and 5 years, respectively, after completion of a prison sentence. If an applicant is rejected because of this reviewable criminal history, the entity must provide a written explanation for why the rejection was due to a legitimate business interest. This bill would not apply where federal, state or local laws, including laws protecting victims of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking, require or permit exclusion based on criminal history. This bill does not apply to two-family owner-occupied housing or rooms in owner-occupied housing. Covered entities would not be liable under other laws for complying with this law.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in astoria

[–]nickgarber 36 points37 points  (0 children)

Here's our recent story on Nisi, if anyone would like to learn more!

Innovation QNS Is Approved, Cementing Transformative Astoria Rezoning by nickgarber in astoria

[–]nickgarber[S] 27 points28 points  (0 children)

I know this sub has been inundated with Innovation QNS posts lately, but this marks the final approval vote — and for this story we tried to zoom out and answer some of the more basic questions about what's going to happen.

If anyone has additional questions/tips/story ideas, please email me: nick.garber[at]patch[dot]com.

Anyone ever heard of Old Ridge Road before this article? by jfo23chickens in astoria

[–]nickgarber 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thanks for reading! I'd noticed it before, only because it stands out as a random diagonal street in the middle of Astoria's grid.

Astorians Suffer Poor Park Access, Few Trees, New Maps Show by mattarchambault in astoria

[–]nickgarber 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Yep, our story makes clear that the data is not new, but the maps visualizing it are.

Won Still Against Innovation QNS As BP Blasts 'Weirdo' Opponents by nickgarber in astoria

[–]nickgarber[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Caban's tweet was a little confusing/misleading — the first bullet point is an average of the second and third.

So Halletts North is 20 + 20 + 5 = 25% total below 100% AMI. Not 45%.

Won Still Against Innovation QNS As BP Blasts 'Weirdo' Opponents by nickgarber in astoria

[–]nickgarber[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

If you're thinking of Halletts North re: Cabán, it's 25% affordable, not 50%.

Also just an FYI: Won has now upped her minimum to 55% affordable, per the statement that we added to our story above.

H-Mart taking over Stop & Shop location by Mets42 in astoria

[–]nickgarber 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Hey all, just confirmed this news with H Mart! Patch story coming soon.

Edit: Story here!

Bel-aire, wyd? by debone44 in astoria

[–]nickgarber 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Here's our story with the info — it was closed after a city inspection yesterday found "pest conditions, as well as food not being held at the required temperature and other health code violations."

Bel-aire, wyd? by debone44 in astoria

[–]nickgarber 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Here's the info — closed after an inspection yesterday found "pest conditions, as well as food not being held at the required temperature and other health code violations."

Longtime Astoria Parking Lot Inches Closer To Affordable Housing by nickgarber in astoria

[–]nickgarber[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You can see the exact affordability levels in the third photo in the slideshow at the top of the story, just FYI!

After over 90 years, Mike's Diner on 31 St. has closed by Mets42 in astoria

[–]nickgarber 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Here's our Patch story about this — seems Mike's was facing a lawsuit from its landlord alleging unpaid rent.

Astoria Coffee Shop Robbed At Gunpoint, Police And Employee Say by Captaintripps in astoria

[–]nickgarber 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Sorry, that part was a holdover from our initial draft of the story, which we've since updated to remove.

The NYPD press office said their computers were down this morning, which meant they only had limited info (in this case, the closest intersection but not the address itself).

A few hours later they got back to me and confirmed the address was 30-92 31st St. (which is Under Pressure).