The Daily Dirt: Partial eclipse of the state budget

Much like those within the path of totality, we’re in the dark about the state budget.

I hope you enjoyed, as a New York Times push alert put it, the “disquieting darkness” of today’s solar eclipse. To be honest, I was hoping the eclipse would be more disquieting and dark.

The path of totality ran through Syracuse, a few hours outside of Albany — where the state budget was not finalized on Monday. Lawmakers passed another budget extender, which will keep the government running through Thursday.

Despite some reports last week that a housing deal was imminent, and a few PR pitches based on those reports, we still do not have a clear picture of when one will come together, nor what will ultimately be included. 

The Real Estate Board of New York and the Buildings and Construction Trades Council have not yet reached an agreement on what wages should be for construction workers on projects that receive a new version of 421a.

In fact, over the weekend, the carpenters’ union announced it would rally outside the governor’s office in Manhattan. No date was set, which can be read cynically as a sign that the parties are nowhere near a deal, so there’s no rush to have a rally, or as a sign that they are hopeful they won’t need one because a deal is close.

In addition to the wage requirements, big questions remain around what levels of affordability will be required under the program.

On a separate issue, tenant advocacy group Housing Justice for All has railed against proposals to increase the amount landlords can recoup from renovations of rent-stabilized apartments through the state’s Individual Apartment Improvement program. The group has also spoken out against attempts to include “good cause eviction” carve-outs based on location, building type and owner.

What we’re thinking about: Do you think the legislature will pass any of the bills aimed at curbing so-called squatters’ rights? Send a note to kathryn@therealdeal.com.

A thing we’ve learned: The Department of Buildings received 151 reports of building damage across the city after Friday’s earthquake. The agency says it did not find any major damage or collapses, and for the most part, buildings only suffered cracked masonry.

The agency did, however, issue a partial vacate order at a school gymnasium at 370 Fountain Avenue, Brooklyn, after finding cracks inside the building. It also ordered sidewalk sheds at 3534 Bronx Boulevard and 837 Trinity Avenue after discovering cracks in the Bronx buildings’ facades.

The most extensive damage found seems to be at 288 McGuinness Boulevard in Brooklyn. The agency found the building “in a state of disrepair” and ordered the owner to hire a professional engineer and submit a report on its status.

Elsewhere in New York…

— While you were staring at the sun, the Adams administration filed a notice that it is hiring a celebrity lawyer to defend the mayor against sexual assault allegations, Politico New York reports. Alex Spiro of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan is joining as co-counsel to represent Eric Adams in a lawsuit that accuses him of sexually assaulting a fellow transit police officer in 1993. Spiro has represented Elon Musk, Jay-Z and Alec Baldwin.

— An appeals court judge on Monday denied Donald Trump’s request to delay his April 15 trial on charges that he falsified records to hide hush money payments routed through his former fixer Michael Cohen, the Associated Press reports. Trump was seeking an emergency stay as his attorney tried to have the case moved to a different court.

— Thousands of people gathered at Green-Wood Cemetery, the highest point in Brooklyn, to see Monday’s solar eclipse, Gothamist reports. “A graveyard is a great site for any kind of astronomy,” said Peter Lipschutz, an organizer with the Amateur Astronomers Association, noting the lack of noise and unobstructed views. 

Closing Time

Residential: The priciest residential sale on Monday was $13.85 million for a 3,000-square-foot condominium unit at 111 West 56th Street in the Theater District. Maria Mainieri, Nadia Bartolucci and Taylor Middleton of Douglas Elliman had the listing. 

Commercial: The most expensive commercial sale of the day was $52.7 million for a commercial condo unit at the Equitable Life Building at 120 Broadway in Lower Manhattan. The Housing Development Corp.  was the buyer.

New to the Market: The highest price for a residential property hitting the market was $17 million for a 4,700-square-foot penthouse at 286 Spring Street in Hudson Square. Fern and Michael Hamburger of the Corcoran Group have the listing. 

Breaking Ground: The largest new building application was filed for a 285,000-square-foot, mixed-use project with eight stories and 303 units at 33-35 11th Street in Astoria. Gerald Caliendo filed the permits. — Matthew Elo