Housing Federation turns 50.

The Federation of New York Housing Cooperatives and Condominiums (Federation), a membership organization of co-op and condo buildings, board members, professionals and service contractors, celebrated its 50" anniversary serving the cooperative and condominium community at Terrace on the Park, Flushing Meadows, Queens, on April 10, announces Gregory J. Carlson, the Federation's executive director.

More than 250 members, friends, political allies and industry media attended the party honoring the oldest membership organization of its type in the city of New York. This year's award recipients were an eclectic group of civil servants, real estate professionals and private citizens.

All three politicos receiving awards were on hand to personally accept them and offer their best wishes and congratulations to the Federation. New York City Council Speaker Gifford Miller was named Legislator of the Year, New York State Assemblyman Ivan C. Lafayette took home the Friend of Co-ops and Condos prize and New York State Senator Frank Padavan was this year's Lifetime Achievement honoree.

David Kuperberg accepted the Management Company of the Year award for Cooper Square Realty. Pamela DeLorme and Evelyn Kaplan of Delkap Management and Gary Ziprin of Midboro Management received Management Company Honorable Mention kudos. Jay Fingerman, AKAM Associates, Glen Kotowski, Charles H. Greenthal & Co and David Lipson, Century Operating Corp., were each named Manager of the Year.

The prestigious Charles Rappaport Director of the Year prize was given to Jordi Reyes-Montblanc, president of the HDFC Council, who turned a low income building in Harlem into a thriving cooperative community. Andrea Hirshman, board president of 30 Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn, wrestled control from the sponsor and brought her building to fiscal stability to earn her the Eva Rappaport Distinguished Service tribute.

Both awards were named after the deceased husband and wife team of Charles and Eva Rappaport, long-term president and executive director of the Federation and champions of cooperative living.

"Tonight we celebrate our past, honor our present and toast our future," stated Albert F. Pennisi, president of the Federation.

"We are proud of our many achievements and look forward to continuing our tradition of bringing information to our members and fighting for the rights of our constituents."

A particularly frustrating issue the Federation has been involved in for years is the struggle to have cooperatives and condominiums recognized as Class I properties for configuration of real estate taxes. Miller promised to work with the Federation and the City Council to see that this inequity is finally favorably resolved.