In an unusual arrangement, the City Council on Thursday voted to let a Long Island City business take advantage of tax breaks that usually go along with the Empire Zone in Jamaica.

The concept of these "regionally significant projects" is a little controversial, since Empire Zones are set up to benefit a particular neighborhood or region.  read more »

• Wal-Mart 'would like to be' in the outer-boroughs.
[Crain's]
• Hamptons rental season strongest since '03?
[NY Sun]
• 'Keen' demand among investors for city rental properties.
[NY Sun]
• Meet the city's new urban-design director.
[NY Sun]
• Large rezoning in Jamaica faces opposition.
[NY Sun]
• Concrete on the rise in New York projects.
[NY Sun]
• City Council members gloat over Wal-Mart concession.
[NY Sun]
• Former Elad CFO blames firing on not being Israeli.
[NY Sun]
• Sander picks former boss to head subways, buses.
[NY Post]
• Sarah Ferguson buying in Cipriani Club Residences.
[NY Post]
• Council OKs tax benefits for Mitchell-Lama projects.
[NY Times]
• Brooklyn, Queens buildings sell for $118 M.
[GlobeSt]

Did we miss any New York City real estate news this morning? Please send along tips and links.

]]> http://www.observer.com/node/35931#comments Real Estate Jamaica New York City The New York Times Company Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Thu, 29 Mar 2007 04:16:50 -0400 Observer Staff 35931 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/node/34161

Nichole Thompson-Adams.
We're puzzling over this Corcoran broker's appearance at the Cherry Lane Theater in a one-woman show called, "Black Girl, You've Been Gentrified!"

An excerpt from the press release (sic's not included, but implied throughout):

Black Girl You've Been Gentrified is a one-woman tour-de-force from Jamaica born-Brooklyn raised singer-writer-actress-real estate broker Nichole Thompson-Adams. Backed by a three-piece band and a therapist's couch, the show follows its heroine through issues of family, race, culture and economics that comprise the Zeitgeist of present-day New York City.

Now, we're not ones to have an uncomplicated view of what gentrification is. But we're guessing that people who work on commissions to get people to pay lots of money to buy property in previously distressed neighborhoods aren't such ones, either.  read more »

The full press release after the jump. ]]> http://www.observer.com/node/34161#comments Real Estate Brooklyn Jamaica New York City Nichole Thompson-Adams Fri, 03 Feb 2006 05:52:33 -0500 Observer Staff 34161 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/node/48445 It's being touted as the missing link in the city's transportation network-the train to the plane, o  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/48445#comments Jamaica Joel Klein John F. Kennedy Manhattan Sun, 07 Dec 2003 19:00:00 -0500 NYO Staff 48445 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/node/44711 Sometime in the 17th century, there developed the notorious "Triangle Trade": rum and shoddy goods f  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/44711#comments Africa Jamaica New England States Stephanie Black Sun, 15 Jul 2001 20:00:00 -0400 Michael M. Thomas 44711 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/node/44112 The morning of Sunday, Feb.  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/44112#comments Frau Poppi Jamaica Joe Thomas St. Moritz Sun, 11 Mar 2001 19:00:00 -0500 Michael M. Thomas 44112 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/node/42311 It's amazing how just four days in Jamaica will refresh the spirit, especially one whose substance h  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/42311#comments Real Estate Jamaica Montego Bay NBC Universal Inc. NYP Holdings Inc. Sun, 05 Dec 1999 19:00:00 -0500 Michael M. Thomas 42311 at http://www.observer.com