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When a licensed cannabis dispensary tried to set up shop inside a primarily residential Manhattan condominium, the board found itself in an uncomfortable position: their bylaws, drafted decades earlier, simply hadn't anticipated this moment. The commercial unit owner had rights. The tenant had a potential license. And the board had far less leverage than they expected.

In this episode, Jennifer Miller, managing partner at J. Miller Law, talks about how this dispute unfolded and what it exposed about the way mixed-use buildings are governed. The case raises questions that apply well beyond cannabis — about what happens when the document running your building was written in a completely different era, and what realistic options boards actually have when they want to push back. The answer involves more creativity, negotiation, and luck than most people would expect. Habitat's Carol Ott conducts the interview.

The business of running a building is demanding work that requires making endless decisions — some that can quickly lead your board into a quagmire of legal difficulties. Legal Talk interviews New York's leading co-op/condo attorneys to find solutions, and get some guidance, on these challenges. For more co-op and condo insights, sign up to receive Habitat's free newsletters or become a Habitat subscriber today!

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When co-op and condo boards refuse to hold annual elections, shareholders aren't as powerless as they might think. Tom Smith, partner at Smith Buss & Jacobs, walks through the legal and political strategies that organized residents use to force boards out of power, from Sunday night meetings in laundry rooms to a little-known provision in the Business Corporation Law that doesn't even require a quorum. You'll discover why lawyers require shareholders to put money on the table before taking their case, when courts will intervene immediately, and how one year-long grassroots campaign in the Bronx ultimately exposed fraud and overthrew an entrenched sponsor. Whether you're watching your own building's dynamics or just fascinated by co-op politics, this episode illuminates how power shifts when residents finally organize. Habitat's Carol Ott conducts the interview.

The business of running a building is demanding work that requires making endless decisions — some that can quickly lead your board into a quagmire of legal difficulties. Legal Talk interviews New York's leading co-op/condo attorneys to find solutions, and get some guidance, on these challenges. For more co-op and condo insights, sign up to receive Habitat's free newsletters or become a Habitat subscriber today!

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Most co-op and condo boards are operating with bylaws that haven't been touched since the Nixon administration. Dean Roberts, senior partner at Norris McLaughlin, reveals how outdated bylaws create real legal vulnerabilities for boards, from impossible quorum requirements that can lead to an entire board being ousted, to missing provisions for dealing with disruptive directors. In this episode, Roberts explains why many buildings are particularly vulnerable right now, what warning signs boards miss, and the specific provisions that could prevent disaster. The takeaway? Small preventive steps today can save buildings from dramatic upheaval tomorrow. Habitat’s Emily Myers conducts the interview.

The business of running a building is demanding work that requires making endless decisions — some that can quickly lead your board into a quagmire of legal difficulties. Legal Talk interviews New York's leading co-op/condo attorneys to find solutions, and get some guidance, on these challenges. For more co-op and condo insights, sign up to receive Habitat's free newsletters or become a Habitat subscriber today!