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Author Topic: Can we make Jackson Heights more attractive, classy and Trendy?  (Read 36447 times)

Offline NYC Native

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Re: Can we make Jackson Heights more attractive, classy and Trendy?
« Reply #45 on: January 17, 2013, 11:15:41 PM »
@ Jeffsayyes - I actually have to agree with everything you wrote...Good analogy! :o
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Offline The Heights

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Re: Can we make Jackson Heights more attractive, classy and Trendy?
« Reply #46 on: January 18, 2013, 10:30:22 PM »
Recently, I came across a websites called www.airbnb.com for those who don't know it worth looking into. It allows homeowners to hosts guests from out of town for reasonable daily rates of their plates. So, I decided to browse and see what was available in Jackson Heights? the results looked outstanding to foreigners and a couple of places were good but this particular one stood out: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/495249 (listing # 6)

Any thoughts?
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Offline dssjh

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Re: Can we make Jackson Heights more attractive, classy and Trendy?
« Reply #47 on: January 18, 2013, 11:34:01 PM »
my first thought is that virtually no co-op board in existence would allow this -- since it's a de facto illegal short term sublet.

condo owners may have more leeway, but i can't speak to that.
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Offline Jack Feldstein

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Re: Can we make Jackson Heights more attractive, classy and Trendy?
« Reply #48 on: January 19, 2013, 08:23:13 PM »
Thanks for the airbnb information. This room looks excellent.  I will recommend it to visitors.
Obviously, it's in a house...not a co-op or a condo.  Thus the host doesn't have co-op board concerns.
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Offline Mary Poppins

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Re: Can we make Jackson Heights more attractive, classy and Trendy?
« Reply #49 on: January 19, 2013, 08:44:26 PM »
Regardless of co-op rules if the legal resident of the home is not home during the stay, it is illegal and you run the risk of NYC authorities cracking down on you. So it doesn't matter co-op/condo/private house.

The last thing NYC wants is for landlords of residential homes to skirt rental laws and get in under the radar on our hotel industry.

Hotels/Hostals/B&Bs exist for a reason, so do residential homes.  Its a huge risk to confuse the two. 
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Offline ShinjukuBaby

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Re: Can we make Jackson Heights more attractive, classy and Trendy?
« Reply #50 on: January 19, 2013, 09:25:08 PM »
As has been pointed out on this thread and in others, the commercial rents in Jackson Heights, particularly on 37th Ave, are way too high.  This may be the single biggest factor preventing small, locally owned businesses from starting up. 

The real estate is privately owned and the owners have the right to charge (or try to charge) whatever the market will bear.  Having said that, there has to be some creative solutions we could explore as a community to work with landlords to encourage a better mix of retail on 37th.

I don't pretend to have the answers, but I wish there were a way to start that dialogue.  Who can provide leadership?  Council Member Dromm? 

I love that we have this forum on the web to discuss it, but how can we get the ball rolling in the "real world"?
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Offline Colombia

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Re: Can we make Jackson Heights more attractive, classy and Trendy?
« Reply #51 on: January 20, 2013, 10:09:46 AM »
Quote from: Jack Feldstein on January 19, 2013, 08:23:13 PM
Thanks for the airbnb information. This room looks excellent.  I will recommend it to visitors.
Obviously, it's in a house...not a co-op or a condo.  Thus the host doesn't have co-op board concerns.

Great review, beautiful place and its a private house. Thanks guys
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Offline taggie

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Re: Can we make Jackson Heights more attractive, classy and Trendy?
« Reply #52 on: January 20, 2013, 11:11:40 AM »
 I think that renting in your own home/apt should be allowed as long as someone responsible is there. In Ireland, for example
many women run a small business renting rooms in their homes, B&B style, and it's government supervised. They are clean
and affordable and have to pass a government inspection that might be yearly with advice on costs and upgrades.
  It's a great way to travel and feel like you are seeing some measure of authenticity in the place. This Jackson Heights rental
looks great to me and far better than some new but sterile hotel in LIC for visiting NYC.
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Offline theplanesland

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Re: Can we make Jackson Heights more attractive, classy and Trendy?
« Reply #53 on: January 20, 2013, 08:47:57 PM »
This airbnb thing is a topic I know a lot about. Trust me. I know a LOT about it. From every angle.

The current "illegal hotels" law here in NY State prohibits all rentals less than 30 days, where the primary resident is not present at the time, in Class A Multiple Dwellings (any building with THREE OR MORE residential units.) Also, every co-op board in the neighborhood prohibits sublets of less than 30 days (and usually, less than one year.)

So airbnb is legal in Jackson Heights IF:
      * The primary resident is present and is renting out a 'spare room.' This falls under AirBNB's "hosted" section and is allowed under the NYS "boarder" law. Whether co-op boards can prohibit boarders is up to the individual building, but it must be included in the terms of the proprietary lease.
       OR
       * The building being rented out is a one or two-family home and thus does not fall under Class A mult dwellings.

That said, AirBNB is in an ongoing war with the city over the illegal rentals law and is currently showing up to 3,200 illegal NYC rentals, according to Skift.

http://skift.com/2013/01/07/airbnbs-growing-pains-mirrored-in-new-york-city-where-half-its-listings-are-illegal-rentals/

http://skift.com/2013/01/11/airbnb-responds-to-illegal-rentals-story-first-of-all-its-not-illegal-everywhere/
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Offline Shelby2

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Re: Can we make Jackson Heights more attractive, classy and Trendy?
« Reply #54 on: January 20, 2013, 09:05:18 PM »
Quote from: theplanesland on January 20, 2013, 08:47:57 PM
This airbnb thing is a topic I know a lot about. Trust me. I know a LOT about it. From every angle.

The current "illegal hotels" law here in NY State prohibits all rentals less than 30 days, where the primary resident is not present at the time, in Class A Multiple Dwellings (any building with THREE OR MORE residential units.) Also, every co-op board in the neighborhood prohibits sublets of less than 30 days (and usually, less than one year.)

So airbnb is legal in Jackson Heights IF:
      * The primary resident is present and is renting out a 'spare room.' This falls under AirBNB's "hosted" section and is allowed under the NYS "boarder" law. Whether co-op boards can prohibit boarders is up to the individual building, but it must be included in the terms of the proprietary lease.
       OR
       * The building being rented out is a one or two-family home and thus does not fall under Class A mult dwellings.

That said, AirBNB is in an ongoing war with the city over the illegal rentals law and is currently showing up to 3,200 illegal NYC rentals, according to Skift.

http://skift.com/2013/01/07/airbnbs-growing-pains-mirrored-in-new-york-city-where-half-its-listings-are-illegal-rentals/

http://skift.com/2013/01/11/airbnb-responds-to-illegal-rentals-story-first-of-all-its-not-illegal-everywhere/

I find this confusing.  It sounds like you are saying that renting out an entire one-family home is legal on Airbnb:
Quote
So airbnb is legal in Jackson Heights IF:...
       * The building being rented out is a one or two-family home and thus does not fall under Class A mult dwellings.

but the first article you linked says:

The simplicity of this is easy to see using Airbnb’s search tool. Searching for a two-night rental over the weekend of January 18 in New York City you get a total of 6,176 options if you don’t specify room type, price, or any other options. If you click “Entire home/apt” there are 3,200 results, all of which are illegal under New York law.[/i
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Offline theplanesland

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Re: Can we make Jackson Heights more attractive, classy and Trendy?
« Reply #55 on: January 20, 2013, 09:19:48 PM »
I discussed that with the Skift guy. It should read "almost all." The number of one and two family homes being rented out on AirBNB is tiny. Not zero, but tiny compared to the thousands of illegal apartments. As far as I've read the law, a building has to be a multiple dwelling for the law to apply here.
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Offline Shelby2

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Re: Can we make Jackson Heights more attractive, classy and Trendy?
« Reply #56 on: January 20, 2013, 10:17:08 PM »
Quote from: theplanesland on January 20, 2013, 09:19:48 PM
I discussed that with the Skift guy. It should read "almost all." The number of one and two family homes being rented out on AirBNB is tiny. Not zero, but tiny compared to the thousands of illegal apartments. As far as I've read the law, a building has to be a multiple dwelling for the law to apply here.

Thanks for the explanation. 
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Offline Shelby2

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Re: Can we make Jackson Heights more attractive, classy and Trendy?
« Reply #57 on: January 20, 2013, 10:23:09 PM »
The NY Times says: And that law says you cannot rent out single-family homes or apartments, or rooms in them, for less than 30 days unless you are living in the home at the same time.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/01/your-money/a-warning-for-airbnb-hosts-who-may-be-breaking-the-law.html?pagewanted=all
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Offline The Heights

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Re: Can we make Jackson Heights more attractive, classy and Trendy?
« Reply #58 on: January 20, 2013, 11:26:59 PM »
Quote from: ShinjukuBaby on January 19, 2013, 09:25:08 PM
As has been pointed out on this thread and in others, the commercial rents in Jackson Heights, particularly on 37th Ave, are way too high.  This may be the single biggest factor preventing small, locally owned businesses from starting up. 

The real estate is privately owned and the owners have the right to charge (or try to charge) whatever the market will bear.  Having said that, there has to be some creative solutions we could explore as a community to work with landlords to encourage a better mix of retail on 37th.

I don't pretend to have the answers, but I wish there were a way to start that dialogue.  Who can provide leadership?  Council Member Dromm? 

I love that we have this forum on the web to discuss it, but how can we get the ball rolling in the "real world"?

Great point and I wish I knew how to start...I wish we could make 74 street train station pretty, bright and clean.
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Offline dssjh

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Re: Can we make Jackson Heights more attractive, classy and Trendy?
« Reply #59 on: January 20, 2013, 11:32:43 PM »
hmm.. it's actually one of the more light-filled, bright stations i've seen, other than the totally outdoor ones. pretty? no, it's not. but it's a darn sight better than most, in my opinion, and the retail is a nice touch, even if the places aren't all ones i would patronize.

what suggestions would you make as far as improving the brightness/look, just out of curiosity?
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