Administrative Law Commons^™

Converting Buildings Is Hard: Why Seattle’S Municipal Government Should Streamline Commercial-To-Residential Conversions, Tyler M. King

Seattle University Law Review

The conversion of commercial buildings into housing is a promising solution to the growing housing crisis in many urban areas. However, despite its potential benefits, the process of repurposing commercial spaces is often stymied by complex zoning codes, high conversion costs, and bureaucratic hurdles. This Article argues that the local and state governments in Seattle should adopt more streamlined policies and offer greater incentives to developers to facilitate these conversions. By reforming zoning regulations and providing targeted financial support, municipalities can reduce the barriers to conversion and unlock the potential of underutilized commercial properties. This article examines the legal and …

The Public Square In A Private-Property Obsessed Country: What New York City’S Pops Regulations Get Right And Why Other Cities Should (Mostly) Copy Them, Carson Mcgregor

Seattle University Law Review

When New York City (NYC) was first becoming the metropolitan monolith it is today, it had a problem: the city streets were chock full of skyscrapers, and sunlight, air, and usable open space were at a premium. In response, the City promulgated its first Privately Owned Public Spaces (POPS) regulations, which allowed developers to build skyward in exchange for providing public space on the street level. Unfortunately, in July of 2023, the New York Times (NYT) discovered that New Yorkers received only a fraction of what they were promised. Building owners received billions of dollars’ worth of added floor space, …

Environmental Justice In Little Village: A Case For Reforming Chicago’S Zoning Law, Charles Isaacs

Northwestern Journal of Law & Social Policy

Chicago’s Little Village community bears the heavy burden of environmental injustice and racism. The residents are mostly immigrants and people of color who live with low levels of income, limited access to healthcare, and disproportionate levels of dangerous air pollution. Before its retirement, Little Village’s Crawford coal-burning power plant was the lead source of air pollution, contributing to 41 deaths, 550 emergency room visits, and 2,800 asthma attacks per year. After the plant’s retirement, community members wanted a say on the future use of the lot, only to be closed out when a corporation, Hilco Redevelopment Partners, bought the lot …

Agenda: Water, Oil And Gas: Nuts And Bolts Of Oil And Gas Leases, Surface Use Agreements, And Water Rights For Non-Oil And Gas Attorneys, University Of Colorado Boulder. Getches-Wilkinson Center For Natural Resources, Energy, And The Environment, Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute (Denver, Colo.), Colorado Bar Association. Natural Resources & Energy Section

Water, Oil and Gas: Nuts and Bolts of Oil and Gas Leases, Surface Use Agreements, and Water Rights for Non-Oil and Gas Attorneys (September 26)

This third program in the Water, Oil, and Gas 101 series was designed to provide those who don’t practice in the area with essential information regarding leases, surface use agreements, siting considerations for oil and gas facilities, the resolution of disputes before the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC), the ins and outs of nontributary and produced nontributary ground water, and water rights as an asset.

Program topics include:

• Oil and Gas Leases
• Surface Use Agreements (SUAs)
• Government’s Role in Authorizing Locations for Oil and Gas Development
• Technical Aspects of Nontributary and Produced Nontributary Ground Water
• Produced Nontributary Ground …

Cityland – Vol. 10, No. 7, Center For New York City Law

CityLand - 2013

This issue of CityLand highlights key land use and preservation developments in New York City as of August 2013. The City Planning Commission held hearings on Phase 1 of the Willets Point redevelopment and the adAPT NYC micro-unit pilot program. The Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the Holland Plaza Building and considered several controversial proposals, including a seven-story building in Greenwich Village and a two-story addition to the Evelyn on the Upper West Side. A new residential building at 74 Grand Street incorporating a salvaged cast-iron façade was approved. The Steinway & Sons reception room was considered for interior landmark designation. …

Cityland – Vol. 10, No. 6, Center For New York City Law

CityLand - 2013

This issue of CityLand covers significant land use and preservation developments in New York City as of July 2013. The City Council approved the BAM South mixed-use cultural and residential tower in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, with increased affordable housing and cultural space commitments. The Council also passed the “Brunch Bill,” allowing sidewalk cafes to open earlier on Sundays. The Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the Forest Park Carousel, the Beaumont Apartments in Harlem, the Church of St. Paul the Apostle, the Marine Midland Bank, and the Seward Park Library. Hearings were held for the South Village Historic District and the former …

Cityland – Vol. 10, No. 5, Center For New York City Law

CityLand - 2013

This issue of CityLand covers major land use and preservation developments in New York City as of June 2013. The City Council reviewed legislation to streamline sidewalk café licensing and expand operating hours, sparking debate over community board review timelines. The Landmarks Preservation Commission approved a revised six-story residential building at 42 Crosby Street and authorized emergency facade demolition at 321–323 Canal Street due to structural instability. Tammany Hall at 100 East 17th Street entered the landmarking process, and the Marine Midland Bank building at 140 Broadway received strong support for designation. A guest commentary from Time’s Up highlighted the …

Cityland – Vol. 10, No. 4, Center For New York City Law

CityLand - 2013

This issue of CityLand highlights key land use and preservation developments in New York City as of May 2013. The City Planning Commission began review of adAPT NYC, the City’s first micro-unit housing development, featuring 55 compact apartments and shared amenities. The Landmarks Preservation Commission held a hearing on the designation of the Seward Park branch of the New York Public Library, a 1909 Carnegie-funded building. A new sustainable office and retail development near the Puck Building in SoHo was approved, praised for its green design and contextual sensitivity. The Bedford-Stuyvesant/Expanded Stuyvesant Heights Historic District was designated, concluding a 20-year …

Cityland – Vol. 10, No. 3, Center For New York City Law

CityLand - 2013

This issue of CityLand highlights major land use and preservation developments in New York City as of April 2013. The City Council approved Trinity Church’s Special Hudson Square District rezoning with modifications to encourage affordable housing and open space, including landmarking efforts for the South Village. The Landmarks Preservation Commission approved a revised nine-story building at 325 West Broadway and rejected a proposed building adjacent to the Merchant’s House Museum due to design and preservation concerns. Alloy Development’s townhouse project at 55 Pearl Street in DUMBO received approval after design refinements. A new building at 74 Grand Street will incorporate …

Cityland – Vol. 10, No. 2, Center For New York City Law

CityLand - 2013

This issue of CityLand covers key land use and preservation developments in New York City as of March 2013. Highlights include City Council Speaker Christine Quinn’s State of the City Address, which focused on affordable housing and middle-class support. The Council held hearings on the Special Hudson Square District rezoning, with concerns raised about open space and landmarking the adjacent South Village. The Council also approved the rezoning of the Maple Lanes Bowling Alley site in Brooklyn for a 112-unit residential development and a synagogue. The City Planning Commission approved the Hudson Square rezoning with modifications, including height adjustments and …

Chasing The Atticus Code - Preserving Adjudication Integrity In Local Administrative Hearings , Michael N. Widener

Journal of the National Association of Administrative Law Judiciary

In the United States administrative law realm, there purportedly exist more than 19 thousand municipal governments, 16 thousand town or township governments; three thousand county governments, 13 thousand school districts and 35 thousand special district governments. This essay argues that these local adjudicative loci largely neglect the ethical guidance or direction of lawyers serving in government-official capacities without holding elected nor judicial positions. I dub these decision-makers “Atticus.” Citizens support the notion of external codes of professional responsibility for such persons not necessarily because they believe that “lawyering rules” are well constructed or property enforced, but because they doubt lawyers …

Cityland – Vol. 10, No. 1, Center For New York City Law

CityLand - 2013

This issue of CityLand highlights major land use and preservation developments in New York City as of February 2013. It opens with a retrospective of the top ten stories of 2012, including NYU’s campus expansion, the landmarking of Brinckerhoff Cemetery, and the Chelsea Market expansion. The City Council approved the East Village/Lower East Side Historic District, while the City Planning Commission celebrated its 75th anniversary and advanced the Durst West 57th Street development. A proposed rezoning in Flushing faced opposition from Community Board 7. Landmark Preservation Commission approved the renovation of the Rainbow Room and denied legalization of unauthorized alterations …

Cityland – Vol. 9, No. 10, Center For New York City Law

CityLand - 2012

This issue of CityLand explores legal, planning, and preservation developments in New York City as of December 2012. It features a student article on the legal distinctions between accessory and advertising signs, and the regulatory frameworks governing signage in residential, commercial, and manufacturing districts. The City Council rejected the sale of 22 Reade Street to preserve its potential use for an African Burial Ground Museum, while approving the sale of 49–51 Chambers Street. The Brinckerhoff Cemetery in Queens was designated a landmark despite opposition from the property owner. The Council also approved reduced parking requirements for Downtown Brooklyn to encourage …

Cityland – Vol. 9, No. 9, Center For New York City Law

CityLand - 2012

This issue of CityLand covers significant land use, zoning, and preservation developments in New York City as of November 2012. Key highlights include the City Council’s approval of Jamestown Properties’ modified Chelsea Market expansion plan, which includes contributions to affordable housing and the High Line. The Seward Park Mixed-Use Development Project was approved with increased housing units and space for a public school. The West Harlem rezoning plan was modified to address community concerns, including preservation of affordable housing. The Board of Standards & Appeals approved rooftop additions to East Village tenements despite opposition. Landmark Preservation Commission approved revised plans …

Cityland – Vol. 9, No. 8, Center For New York City Law

CityLand - 2012

This issue of CityLand covers major land use and preservation developments in New York City as of October 2012. The City Council approved rezoning proposals for mixed-use and residential developments in South Williamsburg and Bedford-Stuyvesant North, and considered a 90-block rezoning in West Harlem. Landmarks approved a revised plan to restore Harlem’s Corn Exchange Building and held a public hearing on the Rainbow Room’s interior landmark designation. A multi-rowhouse restoration and construction plan in Cobble Hill was reviewed, and a nine-story development adjacent to the Merchant’s House Museum raised concerns about structural impacts. A proposed rooftop addition in SoHo was …

Cityland – Vol. 9, No. 7, Center For New York City Law

CityLand - 2012

This issue of CityLand covers key land use and preservation developments in New York City as of September 2012. The City Council denied a sidewalk café permit for Buschenschank restaurant in Carroll Gardens due to inaccurate plans and noise complaints. The City Planning Commission certified Trinity Church’s proposal to create the Special Hudson Square District, and approved the Seward Park Mixed-Use Development Project and NYCHA’s Soundview affordable housing plan. BSA approved a rooftop addition to a townhouse on West 78th Street. Landmarks designated the Brinckerhoff Cemetery in Queens and calendared the Rainbow Room for interior landmark status. A new building …

Cityland – Vol. 9, No. 6, Center For New York City Law

CityLand - 2012

This issue of CityLand covers major land use and preservation developments in New York City as of August 2012. The City Council approved a further-reduced version of NYU’s Core Expansion Plan, including height reductions and community space commitments. The City Planning Commission held a hearing on Jamestown Properties’ Chelsea Market expansion, which faced opposition over its impact on the High Line and lack of affordable housing. A rezoning in South Williamsburg was approved to facilitate a two-building residential project with affordable units. The Board of Standards & Appeals adopted revised rules to streamline application procedures and approved a special permit …

Cityland – Vol. 9, No. 5, Center For New York City Law

CityLand - 2012

This issue of CityLand covers major land use and preservation developments in New York City as of July 2012. The City Council approved a zoning text amendment to limit the size of banks and storefronts in the Upper West Side’s commercial corridors. The City Planning Commission modified and approved NYU’s Core Expansion Plan, reducing building heights, eliminating a proposed hotel, and requiring oversight of open space. Landmarks held a hearing on the proposed East Village/Lower East Side Historic District, receiving mixed testimony. A heavily altered Federal-era rowhouse at 177 West Broadway was decalendared. Landmarks approved reconstruction of a deteriorated Fort …

Cityland – Vol. 9, No. 4, Center For New York City Law

CityLand - 2012

This issue of CityLand covers significant land use and preservation developments in New York City as of June 2012. The City Council approved the Mill Basin rezoning and land disposition plan, facilitating Kristal Auto Mall’s relocation and Toys ‘R’ Us site improvements. Taconic Investment Partners received approval to revive a seven-story residential project in Tribeca. The City Planning Commission approved a large contextual rezoning for Woodhaven and Richmond Hill, and certified major rezonings for Bedford-Stuyvesant North and West Harlem. A special permit was considered for a nine-story building at 83 Walker Street in Tribeca. The Commission also reviewed a retroactive …

Cityland – Vol. 9, No. 3, Center For New York City Law

CityLand - 2012

This issue of CityLand covers major land use and preservation developments in New York City as of May 2012. The City Council approved Rudin Management’s redevelopment of the former St. Vincent’s Hospital campus in Greenwich Village, including preservation of the Reiss Pavilion and creation of an AIDS memorial park. The City Planning Commission certified Jewish Home Lifecare’s proposal for a new nursing home on West 97th Street, despite community concerns about land scarcity. Landmarks resolved a long-standing conflict over an illegal addition on West 68th Street and approved revised additions to two buildings on Lispenard Street in Tribeca. The Park …

Cityland – Vol. 9, No. 2, Center For New York City Law

CityLand - 2012

This issue of CityLand covers key land use and zoning developments in New York City as of March 15, 2012. The City Council approved the creation of the Westchester Square BID in the Bronx after resolving procedural notice issues. The City Planning Commission held a hearing on the “Zone Green” zoning text amendment to promote energy-efficient retrofits and green building design. A residential development was authorized in a manufacturing district in Ridgewood, Queens. BSA approved reduced parking requirements for a medical facility in Brooklyn despite community opposition. Landmark approvals included the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s plaza renovation and the restoration …

Cityland – Vol. 9, No. 1, Center For New York City Law

CityLand - 2012

This issue of CityLand covers significant land use and zoning developments in New York City as of February 15, 2012. The City Council approved the designation of the Borough Hall Skyscraper Historic District in Downtown Brooklyn, despite opposition from property owners concerned about economic impacts. The Westchester Square BID re-entered its objection period due to notice delivery issues, and six BIDs across the city received budget increases. The City Planning Commission approved Rudin Management’s redevelopment plan for the former St. Vincent’s Hospital site and certified NYU’s long-term campus expansion proposal in Greenwich Village. A public alternative fueling station was approved …

Cityland – Vol. 8, No. 11, Center For New York City Law

CityLand - 2011

This issue of CityLand covers key land use and policy developments in New York City as of December 2011. The City Council debated an amended version of the Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act, narrowing its scope and duration. The Council approved the creation of the Special 4th Avenue Enhanced Commercial District in Brooklyn and the Admirals Row Plaza project at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, which includes retail, manufacturing, and historic preservation components. New local laws were enacted to formalize public consultation and reporting requirements for Department of Transportation street projects. The City Planning Commission approved the Borough Hall Skyscraper …

Cityland – Vol. 8, No. 10, Center For New York City Law

CityLand - 2011

This issue of CityLand covers significant land use and zoning developments in New York City as of November 15, 2011. The City Council approved street-grade changes in Coney Island to improve flood resilience and pedestrian access, and reviewed the creation of the Westchester Square Business Improvement District in the Bronx. The City Planning Commission approved the Admirals Row Plaza project at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, which includes a supermarket and industrial space, and granted a special permit for a private K–12 school in West Chelsea. A new Special 4th Avenue Enhanced Commercial District was established in Park Slope to promote …

Cityland – Vol. 8, No. 9, Center For New York City Law

CityLand - 2011

This issue of CityLand highlights significant land use and zoning developments in New York City as of October 15, 2011. The City Council approved Signature Urban Properties’ ten-building, 1,300-unit mixed-use development in Crotona Park East, Bronx, and a 181-block contextual rezoning in Williamsbridge and Baychester. The Council rejected the landmark designation of the Hardenbrook-Somarindyck House at 135 Bowery, citing economic development concerns. The Gravesend Bay shopping center proposal was approved, featuring a BJ’s Wholesale Club and waterfront esplanade. The Council also established the Chinatown BID after extensive public debate and created the new M1-6D zoning district to support mixed-use development …

Cityland – Vol. 8, No. 8, Center For New York City Law

CityLand - 2011

This issue of CityLand highlights key land use and zoning developments in New York City as of September 15, 2011. The City Council approved Ocean Dreams, a 415-unit mixed-use development along Coney Island’s boardwalk, and a two-building project in Harlem that includes 100 affordable apartments. The City Planning Commission reviewed a contextual rezoning for 181 blocks in the Williamsbridge and Baychester neighborhoods of the Bronx. The Department of City Planning launched ZoLa, a new online mapping tool for zoning and land use information. The Board of Standards & Appeals granted variances for projects in the Lower East Side and Van …

Cityland – Vol. 8, No. 7, Center For New York City Law

CityLand - 2011

This issue of CityLand covers major land use and zoning developments in New York City as of August 15, 2011. The City Council approved a reduction in parking requirements for the Gotham Center project in Long Island City and modified a rezoning proposal in Williamsburg to allow Teddy’s Bar and Grill to reestablish its sidewalk café. A commercial overlay was approved in Whitestone to facilitate a TD Bank branch, despite community concerns. The City Planning Commission reviewed proposals for a contextual rezoning in Boerum Hill, a large-scale retail development in Gravesend Bay, and a mixed-use project in Harlem. The Board …

Cityland – Vol. 8, No. 6, Center For New York City Law

CityLand - 2011

This issue of CityLand covers significant land use and development activity in New York City as of July 15, 2011. The City Council approved a modified 130-block rezoning in Sunnyside and Woodside, Queens, reducing building height limits along Queens Boulevard. A controversial rezoning in Whitestone was approved to allow expansion of the White House restaurant, while a rezoning for a mixed-use project in Flushing was also approved. A proposed rezoning in Cambria Heights was withdrawn following community opposition. The City Planning Commission certified the Admirals Row Plaza redevelopment in the Brooklyn Navy Yard and authorized Phase 1 of Freshkills Park’s …

Cityland – Vol. 8, No. 5, Center For New York City Law

CityLand - 2011

This issue of CityLand covers major land use and policy developments in New York City as of June 15, 2011. The City Council considered the Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act, which would mandate living wages for employees of businesses receiving City subsidies. The Council also approved the West Clinton rezoning, enabling residential development and applying the Inclusionary Housing Program. The proposed Chinatown BID advanced, despite concerns over its assessment formula. A zoning text amendment was introduced to regulate sidewalk cafes in Harlem’s Special 125th Street District. The Council proposed fee increases for DOB and BSA applications. The City Planning …

Cityland – Vol. 8, No. 4, Center For New York City Law

CityLand - 2011

This issue of CityLand covers significant land use and zoning developments in New York City as of May 15, 2011. The City Council approved Harlem River Point, a mixed-income housing project in East Harlem, and advanced a large contextual rezoning for South Jamaica, Queens. The Council held its first oversight hearing on the City Charter’s “fair share” rules, examining the equitable distribution of municipal facilities. Separate rezonings were approved for Carroll Street in Brooklyn to support residential development. The Atlantic Avenue BID proposal moved forward, while a zoning text amendment was adopted to allow public and café seating in arcades …