Accessibility complaints are one of those slow-moving threats that co-op and condo boards rarely see coming — until they're already in trouble. In this episode, Louis Lipson and Eric Cohen, principals and architects at Ethelind Coblin Architect, walk through a real case that landed a New York City building in the crosshairs of the Department of Justice. What started as a single complaint from a patient visiting a doctor's office turned into a year-long process involving federal regulators, city agencies, attorneys, and some genuinely creative architectural problem-solving. Lipson and Cohen are candid about the constraints, the costs, and the moments where there simply wasn't a perfect answer. If you've ever wondered how buildings navigate the gap between what the law demands and what's physically possible, this might be the answer. Habitat's Carol Ott conducts the interview.

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If your building's energy bills feel like they're running on autopilot, it's time for a wake-up call. John Stevens, founder of Alternative Sustainability, reveals how rooftop exhaust fans could be costing your building up to $70,000 a year. He breaks down how newer fan technology can slash energy use by up to 87%, with a return on investment in as little than 1.6 years. Whether your building has five fans or forty-five, Stevens explains how boards can phase in replacements gradually without blowing the budget. Habitat's Carol Ott conducts the interview.

Thanks for listening. Subscribe to this podcast for more stories on how New York co-ops and condos have solved a myriad of problems. Brought to you by Habitat Magazine, the "bible" that hundreds of board directors turn to every day!

A 1912 building on the Upper East Side failed its gas inspection and faced a terrifying reality: repairs could exceed half a million dollars, with residents losing cooking gas for an indefinite period. Peter Varsalona, principal at RAND Engineering & Architecture, walked the board through a systematic approach that ultimately saved them over $300,000 and minimized apartment disruptions. Varsalona explains exactly how they isolated the problem areas and why his testing strategy worked, but also reveals what happens when it fails spectacularly. He shares the specific changes that protect buildings and discusses why converting to electric might not be the solution everyone thinks it is. If your prewar building uses gas, this episode could save you from an expensive crisis. Habitat's Emily Myers conducts the interview.

Thanks for listening. Subscribe to this podcast for more stories on how New York co-ops and condos have solved a myriad of problems. Brought to you by Habitat Magazine, the "bible" that hundreds of board directors turn to every day!