Kate Orgera

Permitting rules may become stricter for certain projects in New York City in the near future, due to a proposed air quality reclassification by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. About the Air Quality Standards On March 28, 2022, the EPA…

Back to Articles On June 1, 2022, three citywide zoning amendments were announced that could remove limitations and encourage new building and alteration uses in neighborhoods which previously would have banned them. According to New York City Mayor…

In the interest of stormwater protection, certain construction projects will now have some extra paperwork to do. As of April 12, 2022, PW1 Plan/Work applicants whose work will result in Soil disturbance of 20,000 square feet or more, or In the…

As of September 14, 2021, the NYC Department of Buildings will not require fees for filing and permits for Hurricane Ida-related damage. After the September 1, 2021 storm broke the record for most rainfall in an hour, inundating the sewer system and…

Back to Articles New York City has been called the concrete jungle, but never before has the name been more apt, or more dangerous. In late Summer 2021, New York City experienced record-breaking rainfall not once, but twice within a 10-day span. The…

The DOB recently announced a 5-month pilot program for designers to test new tools for a 100% performance-based approach to the current NYC energy code. As of July 27, 2021, design professionals are open to apply to the Energy Code Performance Pilot…

The New York State government recently announced that it has budgeted funding towards incentives for its Low Carbon Pathways for Multifamily Buildings program. With New York City planning to cap building carbon emissions under the Climate…

As of late May 2021, a new bill introduced in the New York City Council could make a major impact on the city’s building and energy codes. Intro 2317, modeled on similar legislation in Seattle and portions of California, seeks to amend the…

In Spring 2021, several zoning changes to improve transit accessibility and to lower barriers for small and independent health-focused businesses were proposed and put under public review. These potential changes seem to signal a push for growth in…

Apply for altered 2024-2029 greenhouse gas emissions limits on your large building before July 2021. It’s almost energy benchmarking time for New York City buildings. But there’s another emissions-related deadline that some building owners should…

The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated existing trends in remote work, as well as the pivot away from big box and department stores, leaving many buildings and storefronts unused and empty. What can be done with these blank spaces? Quite a lot,…

NYC Climate Code Updates and Energy Benchmark Deadline April is celebrated in many parts of the world as Earth Month, leading up to the annual Earth Day celebration on April 22. As one of the leading cities in sustainable construction, New York City…

New mandates go into effect January 10, 2021 As New York continues in its efforts to go green, one important aspect of environmentally-friendly construction often lost in the frequent discussions about energy conservation is the effect on the…

The new code will go into effect on May 12, 2020. While NYC construction may be currently disrupted, the Department of Buildings is still looking ahead and planning for the city’s future. Buildings are a city’s biggest polluters – according to…

Your waterfront project may need permits from an unlikely source. The New York City waterfront features beautiful walkways, parks, shops and restaurants. Many developers want to take advantage of the scenic views and warm-weather foot traffic that…

What you need to know when Local Laws 92 & 94 go into effect. New York State and the NYC area are said to have some of the most progressive energy standards in the country. The Greatest City in the World has been making strides to be a great leader…

On October 20, 2018, Baltimore held a festival to honor Mr Trash Wheel and Professor Trash Wheel, the googly-eyed water wheels keeping Baltimore’s harbors clean. From T-shirts to tattoos and everything in between, fans of Mr Trash Wheel and Professor…

Who would’ve guessed that a googly-eyed solar- and water-powered water wheel would have its own social media accounts and merchandise? Mr. Trash Wheel has been keeping garbage out of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor since 2014. Part of the Waterfront…