The Urban Homesteading Assistance Board recently completed the rehabilitation of an East Village apartment building into a low-income cooperative featuring 19 units. The building, located at 209 East 7th Street, is sponsored by UHAB with financing from the National Cooperative Bank and the New York State Weatherization Assistance Program.

The impending demolition of the Soho Sanitation Garage, located on Spring Street, raised concerns from Manhattan Community Board 2's environmental committee -- particularly about the treatment of the old facility and the effect on residents and neighboring buildings. The old garage will be torn down and replaced with 360,000 square foot Department of Sanitation three- district garage.

Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn) has introduced a bill to "create a subsidiary corporation for the purpose of the further planning, design, and oversight of the Atlantic Yards land use improvement and civic project." The bill has garnered support from local community groups who are concerned the project construction is going unchecked.

The final steps in the transfer of Governors Island from the state to the city will be completed this week when the Empire State Development Corporation votes to approve a plan already agreed upon by Mayor Bloomberg and the state. Mayor Bloomberg's plan for Governors Island includes expanding park land and possibly adding an NYU satellite campus.

On Thursday, the New York State Court of Appeals ruled that Columbia University could use eminent domain to expand into West Harlem. The decision overturned a lower court ruling that found the University could not seize 17 acres without consent. The expansion plans include science, business, and arts buildings.