Requiring a certification of no harassment prior to approval of construction documents or issuance of permits for demolition or renovation of certain buildings.

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring a certification of no harassment prior to approval of construction documents or issuance of permits for demolition or renovation of certain buildings

This bill would create a certificate of no harassment (CONH) pilot program, which would require certain buildings to apply for a CONH before obtaining Department of Buildings (DOB) approval of permits of other construction documents for certain, covered work. Any building in the City where there has been a final determination of harassment by New York state homes and community renewal (HCR) or any court with jurisdiction five years prior to the enactment date will automatically be denied a CONH should they apply for a permit with DOB. Buildings where a full vacate order has been issued and buildings where there has been active participation in the alternative enforcement program (AEP) will be required to apply for the CONH for covered work. In districts that have undergone city-sponsored neighborhood-wide rezonings and community districts that indicate significant distress based on numerous factors, including changes of ownerships, certain buildings that meet a Building Qualification Index (BQI) will also be required to apply for the CONH for covered work. If harassment is found after an investigation by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and community groups, where designated by HPD, the owner must provide for affordable housing. Within such building, at least 25% of the total residential floor area of such building must be affordable, and if it is a new building, then 20% of the total floor area of a new building on the lot containing the building must be affordable. One-third of the affordable housing units will be made available at 40 percent of the area median income (AMI), one-third of such units within such building are available at 50 percent of the AMI and one-third of such units are available at 60 percent of the AMI.This law takes effect 270 days after it becomes law, and sunsets after three years.