2017 New York Laws
MDW - Multiple Dwelling
Article 7-C - Legalization of Interim Multiple Dwellings
282 - Establishment of Special Loft Unit.

  282.  Establishment  of  special  loft  unit.  In  order to resolve
  complaints of owners of interim multiple dwellings  and  of  residential
  occupants  of  such  buildings  qualified  for  the  protection  of this
  article, and to act upon hardship applications  made  pursuant  to  this
  article,  a  special  loft  unit  referred to herein as the "loft board"
  shall be established which shall consist of from four  to  nine  members
  representative of the public, the real estate industry, loft residential
  tenants,  and loft manufacturing interests, and a chairperson, all to be
  appointed by the mayor of the municipality and to serve such terms as he
  may designate. The compensation of the members of the loft  board  shall
  be  fixed  by  the  mayor.  The  members  of the loft board shall not be
  considered  employees  of  the  state  or  the  municipality,  provided,
  however,  that  state or municipal employees or officers may be named to
  the loft board. The mayor shall establish the loft board  within  ninety
  days  of  the  effective date of chapter three hundred forty-nine of the
  laws of nineteen hundred eighty-two. The  loft  board  shall  have  such
  office  and staff as shall be necessary to carry out functions conferred
  upon it and may  request  and  receive  assistance  from  any  state  or
  municipal  agency or department. The loft board shall have the following
  duties: (a) the determination of interim multiple  dwelling  status  and
  other issues of coverage pursuant to this article; (b) the resolution of
  all  hardship  appeals brought under this article; (c) the determination
  of any claim for rent adjustment under  this  article  by  an  owner  or
  tenant; (d) the issuance, after a public hearing, and the enforcement of
  rules and regulations governing minimum housing maintenance standards in
  interim  multiple  dwellings  (subject to the provisions of this chapter
  and any local building code), rent adjustments  prior  to  legalization,
  compliance   with  this  article  and  the  hearing  of  complaints  and
  applications made to it pursuant to this article; and (e)  determination
  of  controversies  arising  over  the fair market value of a residential
  tenant's fixtures or reasonable moving expenses. The  violation  of  any
  rule  or regulation promulgated by the loft board shall be punishable by
  a civil penalty determined by the loft board  not  to  exceed  seventeen
  thousand five hundred dollars which may be recovered by the municipality
  by  a  proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction. The loft board
  may designate provisions of such rules and regulations  for  enforcement
  in   proceedings   before   the  environmental  control  board  of  such
  municipality. Notices of  violation  returnable  to  such  environmental
  control  board may be issued by officers and employees of the department
  of buildings of such municipality and  served  in  the  same  manner  as
  violations  returnable  to  such  board  within the jurisdiction of such
  department. The environmental control board, when acting as the designee
  of the loft board, shall have the power to impose civil  penalties,  not
  to  exceed  seventeen  thousand five hundred dollars for each violation,
  and to issue judgments, which may be docketed and enforced as set  forth
  in section one thousand forty-nine-a of the New York city charter.
The loft board may charge and collect reasonable fees in the execution
  of  its  responsibilities.  The  loft  board  may administer oaths, take
  affidavits, hear testimony, and take  proof  under  oath  at  public  or
  private hearings.