First Department recognized retroactive validation of a permit. In 2005, the Board of Standards and Appeals denied recognition of GRA V, LLC’s common law vested right to perform work under a Department of Buildings permit on the grounds Buildings deemed the underlying permit invalid. (See CityLand’s extensive previous coverage here.) A common law vested right occurs when a developer performs substantial work in reliance that the underlying permit or zoning is valid. In 2011, … <Read More>
CPC Approves New Through-Block Building in Ladies’ Mile
Permit allows construction of building and an underground parking garage. On February 4, 2015 the City Planning Commission approved a special permit application by 7 West 21 LLC for the construction of an eighteen-story mixed-use building at 7 West 21st Street in the Ladies’ Mile Historic District of Manhattan. The building will feature 300 units of rental housing, 8,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, and a 200-space underground parking garage. The Commission held a … <Read More>
Manhattan Developer Pays $4.7 Million in Tax Evasion Settlement
Attorney General Schneiderman found the developer was operating a building as an illegal hotel while receiving a 421-a property tax exemption. On February 26, 2015 New York State Attorney-General Eric Schneiderman announced reaching a settlement with 47 East 34th Street LP over illegally evading New York property taxes. The LP owns an apartment building at 47 East 34th Street in Manhattan which is exempt from property tax under the 421-a program, however the Attorney General’s … <Read More>
BSA Permits New Commercial Building on Unmapped Street
Board approved construction after assurances from FDNY. On January 13, 2015 the Board of Standards and Appeals approved a special permit for Carlo Saccheri to construct a two-story commercial building at 44 Marjorie Street in Charleston, Staten Island. The building will be used for the receiving and storage of plumbing supplies, as well as associated office space and commercial truck parking.
City Planning Holds Hearing on One Vanderbilt Proposal
Representatives from the project developers, Grand Central Terminal, and private citizens argued the proposal. On February 4, 2015 the City Planning Commission held a public hearing on the proposed One Vanderbilt skyscraper project. The proposed building would be 1,450 feet high and take up a block bounded by Madison Avenue to the west, Vanderbilt Avenue to the east, 42nd Street to the south, and 43rd Street to the north. The project would also include transit … <Read More>
Zoning Subcommittee Approves Partial Rezoning of Fort Hamilton Parkway
Applicant seeks to build a six-story community facility for women’s health. On February 24, 2015 the City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises approved an application by Fort Hamilton, LLC to rezone the north side of Fort Hamilton Parkway between 53rd Street and 55th Street in Borough Park, Brooklyn. The application rezones the area from its current R5 to an R6 district with a C1-3 overlay, and is intended to facilitate construction of a six-story … <Read More>