First Admitted: 1999, New York

Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):

GRA V, LLC v. Board of Standards and Appeals, et al. - Decided by the Court of Appeals on June 2, 2009, this matter allowed a developer to proceed with a vested rights case, which would allow him to build a 7-story, 63-unit apartment building after a downzoning which disallowed such buildings. The case had initially been denied by the zoning board, and a subsequent Article 78 action was denied by the lower court and Appellate Division before a favorable determination was obtained in the Court of Appeals., 2009
161 East 94th Street, Manhattan - After being denied the opportunity to proceed on an application for a curb cut for a private garage in a residential townhouse, Mr. Lobel brought an Article 78 action against the City for the right to proceed with the application. After a victory in the lower court and a failed appeal by the City, the curb cut application was granted by the City Planning Commission in February 2010. The case was discussed in an article on the front page of the Sunday New York Times Real Estate section (August 1, 2010)., 2010

Videos:

After receiving a grant of a zoning variance, Mr. Lobel represented a non-profit developer in a lawsuit brought by an opposition group. The referenced NY1 video discusses the developer's plans to move forward after the opposition group's petition was denied in the lower court., Judge Paves Way For Residential Conversion on UWS, 2009

Honors/Awards:

Mr. Lobel was awarded NYSA's Distinguished Service Award "in recognition of the significant contribution made to the architectural profession through his achievements in matters of zoning at the Board of Standards & Appeals and the City Planning Commission." , Distinguished Service Award, New York Society of Architects, 2011

Educational Background:

B.A. in International Relations, with Departmental Honors, Stanford University, 1992
J.D., New York University, 1998

Richard Lobel