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February 3, 2015

Could New York City’s Requirement to Build Affordable Housing Effect a Taking?

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has pledged to create or preserve 200,000 affordable units of housing in the next decade.  Among the several proposals being considered, one idea is to amend or remove a controversial real estate tax abatement available under section 421-a of the Rent Act of 2011.  The abatement gives developers a property tax break, in decreasing amounts, over a 25 year period.  The statutory authority for abatement expires this Spring.  In certain neighborhoods in the City, developers must set aside a percentage of units which… read more

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Posted in Economy, Eminent Domain, New York, Published Articles, Real Estate, tax abatement, Zoning
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December 29, 2014

Goldstein, Rikon, Rikon & Houghton, P.C. Recognized as a “Legal Leader”

Goldstein, Rikon, Rikon & Houghton, P.C. was recently recognized as a one of “New York Area’s Top Rated Lawyers of 2014” by Legal Leaders magazine. The list can be seen in New York magazine, the Legal Leaders magazine, and the Wall Street Journal. The write up reads as follows: Since 1923, the law firm of Goldstein, Rikon, Rikon & Houghton has been at the forefront of protecting property owners’ constitutional rights, as the only law firm in New York State concentrating exclusively in the area of eminent domain and condemnation… read more

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Posted in Published Articles, Recent cases, Speaking Appearances
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December 9, 2014

Michael Rikon to Present on Cross Examination at ALI CLE Conference in San Francisco

Michael Rikon will be presenting on the “Cross Examining Appraisers: Taking Apart the Key Witness” at this year’s ALI CLE Eminent Domain and Land Value Litigation Conference. The Conference will be held at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco from February 5-7, 2015. Registration is now open by clicking here. What follows below is an advance look at Mr. Rikon’s comments and article he will share at the conference. His presentation will cover such topics as USPAP standards, prior appraisals, impeachment of the expert, and examining the appraiser’s sources. We hope… read more

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Posted in Appraisers, Continuing Legal Education, Litigation, Published Articles, Speaking Appearances
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October 28, 2014

Michael Rikon Publishes NYLJ Article on Public Trust Doctrine and NYC Parklands

Mr. Rikon’s most recent NYLJ, available by clicking here, discusses the public trust doctrine and recent New York cases involving challenges to public parklands. As Mr. Rikon writes, the parks are protected by the public trust doctrine, which was adopted by the States from well-established English Law. The landmark case was Illinois Central Railroad v. Illinois, 146 US 387 (1892). In that case, the Illinois legislature had granted most of the Chicago harbor to the railroad. The Supreme Court held that the State held title to the land underneath the… read more

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Posted in New York, parklands, Published Articles, Recent cases
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July 23, 2014

Third Department Gets The Project Influence Rule Right

The Third Department got it right in Matter of State of New York v KKS Properties, LLC, __ AD3d __, (July 3, 2014). The lower court’s decision in KKS Properties, LLC is one of those decisions that makes you cringe. An award on an appropriation claim in the Court of Claims which is lower than the advance payment resulting in a judgment in favor of the State is an outrageous outcome for a compulsory taking of one’s property. We have often advocated that there must be a minimum of “just compensation.”… read more

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Posted in Eminent Domain, Project Influence Rule, Published Articles, Recent cases
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