2023 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. 1. 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: (i) the determination of interim multiple  dwelling  status  and
  other  issues  of coverage pursuant to this article; (ii) the resolution
  of  all  hardship  appeals  brought  under  this  article;   (iii)   the
  determination  of any claim for rent adjustment under this article by an
  owner or tenant; (iv) 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 (v) determination of controversies arising  over  the  fair
  market  value  of  a  residential tenant's fixtures or reasonable moving
  expenses.
2. 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 twenty-five thousand dollars which may be  recovered
  by   the  municipality  by  a  proceeding  in  any  court  of  competent
  jurisdiction. The corporation counsel may bring  and  maintain  a  civil
  proceeding in the name of the city in the supreme court of the county in
  which the building, erection or place is located to enjoin violations of
  this  article. 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 twenty-five thousand 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.
3.  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.