Housing

Board Rejects Tax Break Bid by Controversial Landlord

Six years after construction began, and a few years after work stalled, an upscale Gun Hill Road building appears to be back on track with a controversial landlord now in the driver’s seat. Though the property, 301 E. Gun Hill Rd., is nominally controlled by a limited liability corporation called Gun Hill LLC, landlord Jacob Selechnik — dubbed “Jake the Snake” by tenant organizers for a long history of neglecting violation-plagued buildings — and/or his related business interests are behind a recent push to complete work on the building, which sits at the corner of Perry Avenue.

St. Brendan Boys Fall Just Short of State Hoops Title

With time running out in the first half of the biggest game of his young life, St. Brendan School hoopster Brian Ortiz launched a one-handed desperation shot from the other end of the basketball court. The Hail Mary-type shot, fitting for a boys Catholic league state championship match, was perfectly on target. Just a tad long. It bounced hard off the back rim.

Bronx Pols Push Cuomo On Rent Reform; Jeff Klein’s Name Absent

A number of local elected officials are urging Gov. Andrew Cuomo to renew and strengthen rent regulation laws, in favor of renters, as part of his budget negotiations with the legislature this month. Last week, about 90 lawmakers signed a letter to the governor pressing the issue. Every Bronx state representative put his or her name on the letter with the exception of one: State Sen. Jeff Klein, whose district covers parts of the Bronx.

Bronx Building Workers Reach Deal With Landlords

A union representing apartment building workers across the Bronx reached a contract agreement with their management last week, narrowly averting a strike that would have kept some 3,000 superintendents, janitors, handypersons, porters, firepersons, doormen, elevator operators and garbage handlers in the borough from heading to work.

Webster Ave. Rezone Now in Hands of Council

The rezoning of a long, auto shop-strewn stretch of Webster Avenue between Fordham Road and Gun Hill Road is now moving into its final stage — scrutiny from the City Council, which must sign off on the plan.

Cabrera Introduces Tenants Rights Bill

Bronx Councilman Fernando Cabrera introduced a bill in the City Council last week that aims to protect tenants against landlord abuse by informing them of their rights under the law.

Assembly to Consider Rent Reform Bill

A package of legislation that would strengthen housing laws in favor of tenants was introduced in the State Assembly last week. Though it has the support of several Bronx Assembly members, including Jeff Dinowitz, the bill will likely face an uphill battle in the now Republican-controlled State Senate.

City Launches ‘Proactive’ Housing Initiative

Mayor Michael Bloomberg launched a new housing initiative this month largely inspired by the plight of the Milbank properties — the 10 neglected northwest Bronx apartment buildings that have fallen apart since foreclosure began two years ago.