Rendering of proposed buildings at 204 Avenue A (left) and 535 East 12th Street (right) in East Village, Manhattan. Image Credit: CPC.

Approval of the proposed project will provide housing to families that have been displaced for over ten years. On December 5, 2018, the City Planning Commission heard an application that would allow for the demolition of existing buildings on two City-owned lots and development of ten co-operative units at 204 Avenue A and eleven one-bedroom rental units at 535 East 12^th Street in Manhattan. The lots are located on the same block in the East Village, bounded by Avenue A, East 12^th Street, East 13^th Street, and Avenue B. To facilitate the proposed development, the applicant team requested approval for the disposition of the City-owned lots and designation and approval of the lots as an Urban Development Action Area Project.  The application was brought by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, along with the selected developer for the project, Juan Barahona of SMJ Development.

Council Members Jimmy Van Bramer (left), Jumaane D. Williams (center) and Brad Lander (right). Image credit: City Council of New York, Office of Council Member Jumanee Williams.

Following the announcement of New York City’s selection for Amazon HQ2, council members move forward with legislation to bring transparency to business deals. On November 30, 2018, Council Members Jumaane D. Williams, Brad Lander, and Jimmy Van Bramer announced their plan to introduce legislation aimed at preventing City officials from signing non-disclosure agreements, or NDAs, with corporations doing business with the City. The legislation is a response to deals similar to the Amazon HQ2 where Amazon required an NDA from Governor Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio to keep the bid for New York City to house Amazon’s second headquarters quiet. Mayor de Blasio and Governor Cuomo announced on November 13, 2018 that Amazon had selected Long Island City, Queens for one of its two new corporate headquarters. The Council Members will co-sponsor and introduce the bill as expeditiously as possible.

Dean Anthony W. Crowell and Professor Ross Sandler, Director

cordially invite you to the 158th CityLaw Breakfast.

Presenting

Hon. Jonathan Lippman

Former Chief Judge, New York Court of Appeals

Speaking on

“The Closing of Rikers Island as a Catalyst for Criminal Justice Reform in New York”

Date

Friday, January 18, 2019

U.S. Rep Shirley Chisholm. Image credit: Thomas J. O’Halloran, U.S. News & World Reports. Light restoration by Adam Cuerden

Nominations sought to honor a woman committed to social reform and justice. On November 30, 2018, First Lady Chirlane McCray, Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen, and the Department of Cultural Affairs announced the selection of U.S. Rep. Shirley Chisholm, the first black Congresswoman and the first woman to seek the Democratic presidential nomination, for a City-funded monument at the Parkside entrance to Prospect Park. Rep. Chisholm’s monument will be the first monument under the She Built NYC initiative is which seeks to commission public monuments honoring the New York City women who changed history.

Rendering of the proposed development at 656 East 176th Street. Image Credit: NYC CPC

The building will have 24 apartments for formerly homeless individuals and families. On December 5, 2018, the City Planning Commission held a public hearing for an application for the construction of an eleven-story, low residential building, at 656 East 176^th Street in the Bronx. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and Proxy Estate, Inc. brought the application, requesting a zoning change and disposition of city-owned property to facilitate the project. The proposed project site is currently being used for parking lots.

Rendering of reconstructed and restored building at 59 Greenwich Avenue in Greenwich Village, Manhattan. Image Credit: CPC.

The applicant needs special permit to modify zoning requirements. On December 5, 2018, the City Planning Commission held a public hearing on an application for a special permit to modify the use and building envelope requirements for a four-story building located at 59 Greenwich Avenue in the Greenwich Village Historic District in Manhattan. If granted, the special permit will allow the applicant to repair and reconstruct the existing building and use the first two floors as a combined hair products retailer and hair salon. The applicant is Los Angeles hair stylist, Chaz Dean, who was represented at City Planning by project executive Tim Campbell and attorney Judith M. Gallent of Bryan Cave.