After determining that a $66-million-dollar chateau was illegally constructed, a French court ordered the owner to tear it down. The owner had apparently failed to obtain the required planning permissions before constructing the 32,000 square foot palace. Accordingly, the Court ordered the owner to take down the chateau and restore…
A timely opinion article published by The Hill on June 10, 2020 reminds us of the ways that environmental justice issues are intertwined with the institutionalized disadvantages of certain groups, typically along racial and socioeconomic lines. These inequalities are not just economic, nor are they limited to issues involving our…
The Green Innovation Grant Program (GIGP) program, which is administered by the Environmental Facilities Corporation, provides grants on a competitive basis to projects that improve water quality and implement green infrastructure in New York State. In 2019, $15 million of grant funding was available for eligible projects through this program.…
What is the Empire State Development Grant?
In 2019, $150 million of capital grant funding was made available to Empire State Development (ESD) from the Regional Council Capital Fund. This grant provides funds annually for regional and local economic development across New York State.
ESD grant funding is available for…
What is the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI)?
The Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) was launched in the Spring of 2016. Every year, following a comprehensive application and review process, each of New York State’s ten Regional Economic Development Councils select one community in their area to receive a $10 million award…
Earlier this year, an individual and two businesses (“Plaintiffs”) brought suit to challenge the Town of Canandaigua’s local sign ordinance. The complaint, which was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York on June 28, claims that the Town’s local sign law violates Plaintiffs’…
Greene County’s plan to construct a new jail in Coxsackie, New York raises questions about how the proposed project will impact the environment and nearby residents. The project has made news recently as politicians and the public debate the size and cost of the proposed facility.1 According to recent reporting,…