It is common in New York City for neighborhood associations, individuals, and ad-hoc groups to oppose construction projects of all sizes, both public and private. Stu Klein, Chris Slowik, and their colleagues have excelled at bringing every possible tool to bear in situations where residents fear that unchecked development or noxious uses will destroy their quality of life and the character of their neighborhoods. The range of potential avenues of attack is limited only by the imagination. Throughout our practice, we have been able to:
- find violations of building or zoning codes, even in approved plans
- attack the funding for a publicly-supported project, as improperly allocated
- prove that the land has restrictive covenants in its deed that preclude a certain use
- find that city, state, or federal laws either require or prohibit certain uses
- challenge applications for zoning variances and the like
- uncover evidence of fraud or other wrongdoing by the project sponsors
- show that the project would have a negative environmental impact, or that the historical, cultural, or archeological importance of the land is incompatible with the proposed development
At Chris’ job interview with Stu in 2005, Stu explained how he once stopped a waterfront project in its tracks by proving that Revolution-era shipwrecks, and the remains of dozens of sailors, lay directly below the construction site. Not every project can be stopped, but it’s often possible to extract concessions to minimize the impact. We know this work as well as any law firm in the City.
