Tower includes parking garage and ground-floor retail. 1113 York Avenue Realty Company sought a zoning text amendment and special permit to facilitate construction of a 37-story residential tower with 211 apartments, 2,500 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail and a 195-space parking garage.

The site is located on the eastern portion of the block bounded by First and York Avenues, between East 61st and 60th Streets. It would be connected to an adjacent 41- story residential tower, owned by the same developer, via a one-story covered lobby and passageway.

Currently, the site is under three different zoning districts, one of which does not permit residential development. The developer sought to rezone the site to allow high-density mixed-use development, an inclusionary housing bonus, and greater design flexibility. The developer also requested a special permit to construct a 26,500-square-foot parking garage.

Manhattan Community Board 8 and the Manhattan Borough President both recommended approval. The Borough President, however, recommended that the developer set aside 28 spaces in the parking garage for accessory parking and prioritize at least 156 spaces for monthly parking.

The Commission approved the zoning changes, praising the plan’s simple arrangement with the adjacent tower. The Commission also voted to issue the special permit for the garage, finding that it would not unduly inhibit traffic or pedestrian flow in the area.

ULURP Process
Lead Agency: CPC,Con.Neg.Dec.
Comm.Bd.: MN 8, App’d, 30-1-2
Boro. Pres.: App’d
CPC: App’d, 12-0-0

CPC: 61st Street – York Avenue Rezoning/Garage (C070441ZSM; N070442ZCM; M860117EZMM) (Oct. 3, 2007).\

CITYLANDComment: On October 29, 2007, the City Council voted unanimously to approve the proposal, without modifications.