In an exciting development, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has introduced new rules that expand the permitted uses of drones for various services, including building inspections and infrastructure assessments. These changes represent a significant step forward in enhancing building…
As of January 1, 2022, potential homebuyers may be finding it tougher to finance the purchase of units in cooperatives and condominiums. In response to last June’s tragic Surfside, Florida condo collapse, mortgage giant Fannie Mae, a government-sponsored enterprise (GSE),…
As part of NYC’s Greener, Greater Building Plan, Local Law 87/09 requires owners to have an energy audit conducted on their base-building systems; undertake energy-efficient maintenance practices as part of retro-commissioning; and file an Energy Efficiency Report (EER) with the…
After last week’s record-breaking rainfall caused flooding, power outages and widespread damage to buildings and infrastructure, the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) released a set of precautions building owners and property managers should carefully follow when surveying storm…
Being proactive pays off when it comes to your building. RAND President Stephen Varone, AIA, discusses what you need to know to stay up-to-date with your building's systems to save you money and time in this month's issue of Habitat Magazine.
Leaks, drafty windows, cracked balconies, loose floorboards, and mold are not things you would expect to see in a newly constructed or newly converted building. Unfortunately, they’re not uncommon in the wake of the country’s building boom over the last…
The terrorist blast that rocked Chelsea on Saturday night and set New Yorkers’ nerves on edge was especially frightening to the residents and workers on West 23rd Street, where the explosion blew out windows and caused other damage to buildings.…
A moldy basement, leaking roofs, and oatmeal-like mortar are scary things no one should ever encounter in a newly renovated building. Unfortunately for one cooperative in Harlem, a less than stellar gut renovation, which included a new roof, windows, and joist…