Opposition to garage led to reduction in public parking spaces. On April 23, 2007, the City Council voted to approve the special permit application of developers Continental Equities and Brack Capital for a 190- space public parking garage to be located within the 200-unit, as-of-right luxury condominium project currently under construction at 555 West 59th Street between Amsterdam and West End Avenues.

The original proposal called for the entire garage to be public parking. It would use 47 double-car stackers, have ten reservoir spaces and be accessible from curb cuts on West 60th Street. When the project reached the Planning Commission, the developers responded to opposition from Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and Community Board 7 by offering to reserve 80 spaces for use by the project’s residents. During the land use review process, Community Board 7 asked that 152 spaces be set aside for residents, leaving only 38 public parking spaces; Stringer asked for at least 80 accessory spaces. In its final approval of the permit, the Commission incorporated the developers’ offer into the final conditions, making a minimum of 80 spaces accessory to the building’s residents.

City Council initially voted to review the application, but, after Council Member Gale Brewer withdrew her opposition, the full Council approved the permit without modification or additional restrictions on the number of public parking spaces.

ULURP Process:
Lead Agency: CPC,Neg.Dec.
Comm.Bd.: MN 7,Den’d, 14-0-1
Boro. Pres.: App’d
CPC: App’d, 11-0-2

Council: 555 West 59th Street Parking Garage (April 23, 2007); CPC: 555 West 59th Street Parking Garage (C 060381 ZSM) (March 28, 2007). CITYADMIN