Rendering of Queens Far Rockaway Branch Public Library by Snøhetta. Image credit: NYC EDC

The City Planning Commission approved the 22-block development plan for the Far Rockaway neighborhood in Queens. On July 10, 2017, the City Planning Commission approved an application by the New York City Economic Development Corporation for the Downtown Far Rockaway Development Plan. The Development Plan includes the designation of the Downtown Far Rockaway Urban Renewal Area, the disposition of city-owned property, and zoning text and map amendments. The community planning process was led by Council Member Donovan Richards. Currently, $110 million of public investments are transforming Downtown Far Rockaway with streetscape reconstruction, sewer upgrades, park improvements, storefront improvement, and library upgrades.

Image credit: LPC

Commissioners allowed demolition to proceed, but mandated that any material that can be retained or salvaged must be preserved. On July 12, 2017, Landmarks decided on application filed by the owners of the Beth Hamerdash Hagodol Synagogue, an individual City landmark, at 60 Norfolk Street on the Lower East Side.  The building was severely damaged by a fire in May of 2017, believed to have been set by a teenage arsonist who gained access to the building. The building’s roof collapsed in the fire, the interior was gutted, and that which was left standing sustained severe structural damage. The Synagogue sought a certificate of appropriateness to clear away rubble and take down the portions in danger of imminent collapse, then to remove what material remained, as those fragments would retain no architectural significance or integrity.

Ebenezer Plaza, designed by Perkins Eastman Architects

The City Planning Commission approved the construction of “Ebenezer Plaza” which will contain two new mixed-use buildings with 531 affordable dwelling units, commercial space and a new house of worship for the Church of God of East Flatbush. On July 12, 2017, the City Planning Commission issued a favorable report on a joint application from Brownsville Linden Plaza LLC. The application requested four zoning map amendments and a zoning text amendment to designate the project as a Mandatory Inclusionary Housing area. The map amendments will upzone two blocks in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn. The project area is bounded by Mother Gaston Boulevard to the west, Powell Street to the east, New Lots Avenue to the north, and Hegeman Avenue to the south.

Image credit: Office of the Mayor

At the close of fiscal year 2017, the Mayor’s Administration is ahead of schedule in achieving its goal to build 200,000 affordable homes in 10 years. On July 13, 2017, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced an update on the progress that has been made to achieve the goals set forth in his Housing New York plan, which seeks to build 200,000 affordable homes in 10 years. According to the announcement, the City secured 24,293 affordable homes in fiscal year 2017—the highest production of affordable homes within one year since 1989. In total, 77,651 affordable homes have been financed to date under the Housing New York plan. Included in this total are 4,014 new apartments created to house the poorest New Yorkers, who earn less than $24,000 annually.  Further, the City is in the process of creating 4,627 affordable senior housing units for low-income seniors.

Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, speaks at the 118th CityLaw Breakfast. Image credit: CityLand

On Friday, January 23, 2015, the Center for New York City Law at New York Law School hosted a City Law Breakfast featuring Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, as the guest speaker.  The special sponsors for this CityLaw Breakfast were Guidepost Solutions, LLC and Kostelanetz & Fink LLP.

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CityLand tracks these applications through the review process to a final decision. The majority of these decisions are available on the Center for New York City Law’s CityAdmin database (found at www.CityAdmin.org).

To view the New Filings and Decisions chart for June 2017, click here.