Property Grunt

Saturday, May 26, 2007

Roll Call: Memorial Day Edition

Greetings folks, I hope you are all enjoying this Memorial Day weekend. Here's the roll call.



What are you prepared to do?

Jonathan Miller shows he is an honest cop when he discusses New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer's New Task Force that is beginning a campaign to investigate douchebaggery in the appraisal industry.

New York State is investigating Manhattan real estate practices, seeking information about whether brokers pressured appraisers to inflate property values as prices doubled in the last five years.

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo issued a subpoena to Manhattan appraiser Mitchell, Maxwell & Jackson Inc., the company said. Manhattan Mortgage Co., a broker, also received a subpoena, Chief Executive Officer Melissa Cohn said.

``It's a rather large, broad, sweeping request for enormous amounts of information on everyone we work with,'' Mitchell, Maxwell & Jackson co-founder Jeffrey Jackson said in an interview today. The appraiser, which evaluated about 20,000 properties last year in the New York region, said it received the subpoena ``about 10 days ago.''

Rising foreclosures throughout the U.S. have spurred state officials to propose consumer protection laws and mortgage refinancing programs to help homeowners. The number of homes entering foreclosure has hit an all-time high and the number of borrowers with poor or limited credit histories who are behind in their payments is the most since 2002, according to the Washington-based Mortgage Bankers Association.


You will all be happy to know that Miller Samuel has not been subpoenaed but Jonathan does present a sobering perspective on the situation.

New York appraisers Miller Samuel Inc. and Vanderbilt Appraisal Co., competitors to Mitchell, Maxwell & Jackson, said they had not received subpoenas.

Appraisers frequently face pressure to revise their findings, said Jonathan Miller, president of Miller Samuel.


What really got Jonathan pissed off was this quote by Jeff Jackson of Mitchell, Maxwell & Jackson (MMJ)

Because we are a large company were not as easily pressured as a small company might be.


Jonathan Miller's response was the following.


This phrasing seems to infer that the smaller an appraisal firm is, the more unethical it has the potential to become. I believe that size is not a proxy for insulation from pressure. Sure, a small firm can be pressured by small clients, whereas a larger firm is less likely to react to that type of pressure. I think that’s what Jeff was referring to and I agree with that example.

However, a large mortgage broker can inflict significant pressure on a large appraisal firm. Get the appraiser addicted to high volume and the potential to be influenced is just as significant. Small and large appraisal firms, like firms in any other industry, are always concerned about covering their overhead.

Every appraisal firm who does mortgage work, no matter what their size, is vulnerable to significant appraisal pressure.

The issue of appraisal pressure is why I got into blogging in the first place and started the appraiser blog Soapbox before I got the idea for Matrix. I can work up a good rant about the appraisal pressure issue with very little effort at a moment’s notice. One of my personal goals in life is to speak about appraisal pressure before Congress to explain what the problem is and how to solve it. Many of these ideas have been fleshed out in both of my blogs already. Of course, at the rate this is going, I may get my chance. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

but I digress…


I have had the pleasure of working with Miller's people in the past and they have proved to be quite knowledgeable, professional and generally quite pleasant. Which I think is a reflection of the firm and the man himself.

At the risk of sounding like an infomercial for Jonahtan Miller, the fact that he is willing to be this honest about his profession shows that is not willing to honey coat the problems of the appraisal industry. In fact he has the gumption to point out what is wrong and what needs to be done to correct it.





Last summer in Queens a hate Crime occured against a group of Asian men which was committed by a group of white men. Gothamist gives the rundown about the crime.

There was a trial and one of the attackers got 3 1/2 years in prison and one guy got probabtion. Below are links that gives the rundown on these crimes.


NO PRISON FOR QUEENS BIAS BEATER


Student Sentenced in Hate-Crime Attack


Lame-ass apology

More media coverage.

I know most of you are thinking why the hell should I care and what does this have to do with real estate?

First of all you shoudl give a damn. Whether a hate crime is committed against an Asian, Jewish, Latino or African American, it should not be tolerated. It is wrong. America is a country where anyone of whatever race, creed or color should be allowed to live in peace.

From a real estate perspective the outcome of the trial could have a potential negative affect on the Queens Real estate market.

Here's how I see it. Queens is a hotbed for Asians, particulalry Flushing. Now there a variety of reasons why certain demographics live in certain areas. A common reason is security. There is a general sense of ease when you are amongst your own.

When that security gets violated, people get scared, when people get scared they get angry, and when people get angry there is a possibility they might do something stupid.

For whatever reasons, the defendants were given sweetheart deals. I am not going to analyze why but I am sure after reading the articles you can come to your own conclusions.

What should have happened is that these two douchebags should have been given the harshest sentences allowed by law. It would serve useful for two reasons.

1. It would act as a deterrent from anyone else thinking of committing a hate crime.

2. It would reassure the community that the legal system also protects them.

The sentences that were handed maybe viewed as a slap on the wrist. For the people who that have the propensity of committing these crimes, they may figure that all they will get is probabtion if they commit a hate crime against an Asian.

And it is possible that some Asians may feel that engage in other acts of self preservation to protect their well being.

Asian people in Queens are a growing demographic in Queens and they bring in a lot of money. If they feel they are a target of violence, those that have the means will simply pick up and leave. The other that do not have those resources will take other measures, legal or otherwise, to protect themselves.

In other words, if a group of bored white kids are crusing down Queens Boulevard and spot an Asian in a car and decide to pull a Vincent Chin, they probably will get a very unplesant lesson on why Asians are so good at math when they are given a personal demonstration of the concept known as 2+1.

All of this results in causing an imbalance in the real estate market. Which is a very bad thing.

I know I will be accused of being an alarmist. But this type of bulls**t that f**k things up pretty badly for the market if they are not taken care of.


Below is the Center for Architecture schedule for the summer.


Center for Architecture

Exhibition and Programs Schedule

Summer 2007



Upcoming Exhibitions:



The Park at the Center of the World: Five Visions for Governors Island

May 31 — August 25, 2007



The exhibition features five landscape architecture and architecture teams selected to present their design visions for the future open spaces on Governors Island, the 172 acre Island off the tip of Manhattan . Governors Island’s open space will include the two mile Great Promenade that provides outstanding views of Lower Manhattan and New York Harbor , a new park, and restoration of the landscape in the Island ’s National Historic District. Showcasing conceptual and illustrative designs by the five teams for the open space of Governors Island , the exhibition provides a platform for public feedback before the jury will take place in late June 2007. A design team will be selected by mid summer.



Exhibition related programming organized by American Institute of Architects Planning & Urban Design Committee, American Society of Landscape Architects New York Chapter, Center for Architecture Foundation and Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation (GIPEC)



Exhibition Designer: Freecell
Exhibition Graphics: WSDIA | WeShouldDoItAll

Sponsored by: Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation (GIPEC)

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Studio@theCenter: Lighting Design

June 7 — August 4, 2007



This exhibition will highlight the work of 12 students from the High School of Art and Design that are taking part in the Studio@theCenter design intensive after school program. Studio@theCenter is designed to give high school students maximum exposure to one area of design through interaction with design professionals who serve as program mentors and instructors. Over the course of eight guided and open studio sessions students will: develop an understanding of the field of lighting design, visit a lighting factory and showroom, visit buildings where lighting plays a significant role in the design and feel of the building, and design and create their own functional lighting prototype.

Organized by: The Center for Architecture Foundation

Sponsored by: IESNY





Building Connections: 10th Annual Exhibition of K-12 Design Work

June 28 — August 11, 2007



The Center for Architecture Foundation's annual exhibit of K-12 explorations into the built environment showcasing models and drawings from Learning By Design: NY, a school based residency program, as well as work from its youth programs at the Center for Architecture.

Organized by: The Center for Architecture Foundation





Upcoming Programs & Events:



AIA New York Chapter 2007 Design Awards Winners Symposium: Interiors

Monday, 05/21/2007, 6:00–8:00pm
2007 Design Awards winners in the Interiors category will present and discuss their winning projects. Moderated by 2007 Design Awards Interiors Juror TBD.
Organized by: AIA NY Design Awards Committee
Location: Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place
Price: free
CES LUs: 1.5
More Info: 212 358 6117

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"Campus - Madrid " with Pablo Campos

Monday, 05/21/2007, 6:00–8:00pm
Professor Pablo Campos Salvo-Sotelo introduces us to "Campus - Madrid " his latest book on the history, urbanism, and architecture of Madrid ’s 15 Universities. From past to present, the lecture will examine the planning of Madrid ’s universities for over 600 years. The focus on Madrid 's urban campuses promises to be particularly interesting to New Yorkers. "Campus - Madrid " identifies the essential questions that must concern every campus planner, urban designer and educator: To what extent does campus design support students’ social experiences and a healthy learning community? How central is student quality of life to the goals espoused by modern institutions of higher learning? How successful, how ‘alive’, are places on campus with respect to social vitality?
Location: Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place (Directions)
Price: free
CES LUs: 1

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Brandism Series: Brand as Sustainability

Wednesday, 05/23/2007, 6:00–8:00pm
SUSTAINABILITY AS BRAND will discuss how state-of-the-art green buildings are transforming New York City ’s live- and work environments.

The series continues:
Wednesday, June 27 - Beyond Cool
Speakers: Michael Buckley, FAIA, Director of Columbia University Program in Real Estate Development; Robert F. Fox Jr. AIA, Partner, Cook + Fox; Kenneth Lewis, Associate Partner, Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill; Michel Mein, Executive Creative Director, The 7th Art; Chris Sharples, Partner, SHoP Architects. This panel will be moderated by Susan Szenasy, Chief Editor of Metropolis Magazine.
Organized by: Anna Klingmann and the AIA New York Chapter
Location: Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place
Member Price: $10
Nonmember Price: $15
CES LUs: 1.5
Contact: info@architecturebrand.com
More Info: 212.683.0023 x121

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Social Housing and the Social Contract

Wednesday, 05/30/2007, 6:00–8:00pm
As units of housing are in essence homes for families, we will take an interior look at how architecture can afford the crucial process of making space for oneself within designed spaces, neighborhoods and housing markets. What does it take for a life to flourish and can a building help or hinder this process? If social housing reflects the social covenant of a society, what is it to which every citizen is entitled? What does social housing in the United States say about our social contract? In conjunction with the "Making Housing Home" exhibition, please join a group of architects, environmental psychologists, policy-makers and architectural historians to discuss these vital questions.
Sponsored by: Center for Human Environments, The Graduate Center, CUNY and in partnership with the AIA New York Housing Committee
Location: Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place

Price: Free

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Bernard Tschumi and his design of the Acropolis Museum

Thursday, 06/07/2007, 6:00–8:00pm
Bernard Tschumi discusses his design of the new Acropolis Museum in Athens
Organized by: AIA NY Cultural Affairs Committee
Location: Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place
Member Price: free
Nonmember Price: $20
CES LUs: 1.5, CES HSW: 1.5

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FamilyDay@theCenter: New York City in 2030

Saturday, 06/09/2007, 12:00–5:00pm
This design charette will examine New York City over the past 150 years and then give you the chance to design for the future. Working together, families and student teams will design future housing, transportation, and parks. Teams will have drawing and model building materials, as well as volunteers to help. At the end, teams will take part in a jury and discussion about their design proposals.
Organized by: Center for Architecture Foundation
Location: Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place
Price: $10 registration per team or family
Telephone: 212-358-6133
More Info: info@cfafoundation.org

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The Park at the Center of the World
Five Visions for Governors Island Panel Discussion

Monday, 06/11/2007, 6:00–8:00pm
The Park at the Center of the World: Five Visions for Governors Island features five landscape architecture and architecture teams selected to present their compelling design visions for the future open spaces on Governors Island, the 172 acre Island off the tip of Manhattan . Governors Island's open space will include the two-mile Great Promenade that provides outstanding views of Lower Manhattan and New York Harbor , a new park, and restoration of the landscape in the Island 's National Historic District.
Speakers: Susannah Drake, ASLA New York Chapter; Robert Hammond, Friends of the High Line; Robert Pirani, Governors Island Alliance; Suzanne Wertz, AIA New York Chapter Planning & Urban Design Committee; Introduction by Leslie Koch, GIPEC
Organized by: American Institute of Architects Planning and Urban Design Committee, American Society of Landscape Architects New York Chapter, Governors Island Alliance and Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation
Location: Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place
Price: Free
CES LUs: 1.5, CES HSW: 1.5
More Info: http://www.govisland.com

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AIA New York Chapter 2007 Design Awards Winners Symposium: Projects

Wednesday, 06/13/2007, 6:00–8:00pm
2007 Design Awards winners in the Projects category will present and discuss their winning submissions. Moderated by 2007 Design Awards Projects Juror TBD.
Organized by: AIA NY Design Awards Committee
Location: Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place
Price: free
CES LUs: 1.5
More Info: 212 358 6117

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Brandism Series: Beyond Cool

Wednesday, 06/27/2007, 6:00–8:00pm
ARCHITECTURE / IDENTITY / COMMUNITY will conclude the series by looking at how brand strategies have affected the public realm, speculating on ways to create a more inclusive city, with economic opportunities for everyone, more affordable housing, and an improved quality of life in revitalized neighborhoods throughout the five boroughs. This event will be combined with a book launch of Anna Klingmann’s book Brandscapes: Architecture in the Experience Economy (MIT Press) describing how architecture can become an effective marketing tool for individual clients, corporations, and for cities in the 21st century.

Speakers: Keller Easterling, Associate Professor of Architecture, Yale University; Richard Gluckman FAIA, Principal, Gluckman Mayner Architects; Mary McLeod, Professor of Architecture, Columbia University; Enrique Norten, Founder, TEN Arquitectos, David Rockwell, Founder and CEO, The Rockwell Group. This panel will be moderated by architect and brand strategist Anna Klingmann.
Organized by: Anna Klingmann and the AIA New York Chapter
Location: Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place
Member Price: $10
Nonmember Price: $15
CES LUs: 1.5
Contact: info@architecturebrand.com
More Info: 212.683.0023 x121

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FamilyDay@theCenter: Feats of Engineering

Saturday, 07/14/2007, 1:00–4:00pm
Bring your building crew and get ready for skyscrapers - the ultimate challenge! Learn about some of the new innovations in tall building construction and then compete with other teams to build the tallest and the strongest skyscraper in timed competitions with limited materials.
Organized by: Center for Architecture Foundation
Location: Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place
Price: $10 suggested donation per family
Telephone: 212-358-6133
More Info: info@cfafoundation.org

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FamilyDay@theCenter: Bleecker Street Walking and Drawing Tour

Saturday, 08/11/2007, 10:00–11:30am
Meet at the Center for Architecture for a walking tour exploring Bleecker Street ’s unique structures including the only Louis Sullivan building and outdoor Picasso sculpture in NYC. There will be time and instruction on sketching and drawing along our route.
Organized by: Center for Architecture Foundation
Location: Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place
Price: $10 suggested donation per family
Telephone: 212-358-6133
More Info: info@cfafoundation.org

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Exhibitions Currently on View:



POWERHOUSE
New Housing New York

March 19 to June 16, 2007



Power House illuminates the people, projects, and public policies that fuel the affordable housing landscape in New York City . As New York City 's first juried design competition for affordable, sustainable housing, the New Housing New York Legacy Project (NHNY) is generating creative, replicable approaches to urban development. The exhibition focuses on the NHNY competition and sets it within the context of the city's efforts to preserve and development sustainable, financially viable residences for low- and middle-income New Yorkers. The show's emphasis is on the future of housing in the city, as represented by the competition winner, Phipps Rose Dattner Grimshaw (Phipps Houses / Jonathan Rose Companies / Dattner Architects / Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners), the four finalists, and the development mechanisms put in place by Mayor Bloomberg's 10-year New Housing Marketplace initiative and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development.

Building on the 2004 New Housing New York Ideas Competition, the 2006 two-stage contest will result in construction of the winning design on a 40,000 square-foot Bronx site, which is valued at $4.3 million and was donated by The City of New York.

Curator: Abby Bussel
Exhibition and Graphic Design: Casey Maher

Organized by: AIA New York Chapter, New Housing New York Steering Committee and the City of New York Department of Housing Preservation and Development with the additional support of the Center for Architecture Foundation and the AIA New York Chapter Housing Committee

Exhibition Underwriter: National Endowment for the Arts





Making Housing Home

Photographs with residents of New York City housing developments

March 22 — June 2, 2007



This photographic exhibition explores how people inhabit housing to create homes in two of New York City 's affordable housing developments, each of which were developed to provide good homes for all. Because units of housing are in essence homes for families, this project takes an interior look at what architecture can allow and support, to afford the crucial process of making space for oneself within designed spaces and housing markets. If social housing reflects the social covenant of our society, what is it to which every citizen is entitled? What does it take for a life to flourish and can a building help or hinder this process? What becomes of designed spaces once they are inhabited?



An Installation by Gabrielle Bendiner-Viani

Exhibition underwriters: Related Apartment Preservation, 42nd Street Development Corporation, Barbara Stanton

Organized with: Center for Human Environments , Housing Environments Research Group, The Graduate Center , CUNY





2007 AIA New York Chapter Design Awards

April 9 — July 7, 2007



A showcase of the 2007 award-winning projects in three categories-Architecture, Interiors, and Projects. Selected from hundreds of international, national and local submissions, these projects spotlight the extraordinary achievements in architectural design excellence happening in New York City and around the world.

Exhibition and Graphic Design: Graham Hanson Design

Organized by: AIA New York Chapter and the AIA New York Chapter Design Awards Committee

Benefactor: DIRTT

Patron: HOK, Microsol Resources, F.J. Sciame Construction

Lead Sponsor: Columbia , Langan, Mancini Duffy, Richter + Ratner, Syska & Hennessy

Sponsors:
Bentley Prince Street
FXFOWLE ARCHITECTS
Gensler
Mechoshade Systems, Inc.
New York University School of Continuing & Professional Services: The Real Estate Institute
Perkins + Will
Swanke Hayden Connell
The Thornton Tomasetti Group





NY 150+: A Timeline
Ideas, Civic Institutions, and Futures

April 9 — June 23, 2007



To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the American Institute of Architects in New York City , the AIA New York Chapter will feature an exhibition charting the transformation of the city and the profession from 1857 through the present and into the future. Genetic lines tracing the founding of the institute will intersect with various democratic and social movements and the architecture of New York 's civic structures.

Curator: Diane Lewis

Organized by: Organized by the AIA New York Chapter and the Center for Architecture Foundation

Exhibition Underwriters: IBEX Construction; NRI; Trespa



The exhibition is supported in part by an Arnold W. Brunner grant from the AIA New York Chapter

Additional support is provided by: Peter Schubert, AIA; FXFOWLE ARCHITECTS





Public Information Exchange Launch



The Public Information Exchange (PIE) is an interactive website designed to create an archive of New York City projects, proposals, programs and exhibitions presented or discussed at the Center for Architecture. It will stimulate and record feedback for architects, planners, public officials, and the general public on projects with city-wide impact. The Center for Architecture’s programs and exhibitions explore a wide range of issues and projects impacting the city’s built environment. The Public Information Exchange captures that wealth of information and makes it navigable and accessible by the general public. PIE is a forum for public discussion, both general and professional that includes continuous commentary from users and participants. PIE can be accessed online at www.PIEaia.org.

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EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: Information included above is subject to change.