Councilmember Brad Lander

Stalled Development in the 39th Council District

We need to make these sites into assets for the community. Many of these developments are causing real hazards for their neighbors, with fences falling down on sidewalks, loose construction debris that can become deadly in high winds, and unsecured sites that are dangerous for children and an invitation to squatting.

Help the effort to convert local blight to community benefit by providing feedback and tracking the progress of each site. Click on the sites in the map below to leave a comment and update us on the conditions. If you call 311 about an issue, please leave a complaint number in the comment.

Visit our Stalled Development blog to

Read Our Three-Point Plan to Turn Blight into Benefit

Sites By Neighborhood

Map Legend

Stalled site

Existing building conversions with stop work orders and/or significant violations

Demo/Vacant development site

Vacant buildings in derelict condition

Our Plan to Turn Blight Into Benefit

Councilmember Lander is working to develop legislation and policy initiatives that would keep these sites safe, address the hazards and nuisances to neighbors, and put them on a path to productive uses that are a benefit to community residents. Lander is calling for a three-point plan to:

Impose a surcharge on vacant properties (including stalled development sites) that have a severe blighting effect on their surroundings;
Strengthen the city’s ability to compel property owners to perform emergency repairs, complete them when the property owner is unable to, and to convert the cost of repairs into liens that are more easily foreclosable;
Discourage speculation on troubled apartment buildings by changing state law to limit foreclosure auctions of multiple dwellings to responsible, credible bidders.

Don't See a Site Here?

If a stalled site in the 39th Council District is not on the map, please contact Councilmember Brad Lander's office at:
lander [at] council [dot] nyc [dot] gov

If you would like to contribute information about a site outside of the council district, please visit the WNYC crowdsourcing map.

About This Data

The original survey was conducted by volunteers and found 39 sites that filed for construction or demolition permits and then halted work for a significant period of time. Dozens of district residents contributed tips about buildings and Department of Buildings records from 311 complaints to create this exhaustive list. Data for the map was compiled and this site was created through the generous volunteer work of Rick Luftglass Nov 2009-Jan 2010.