Robert B. Tierney comes from a background of law and government rather than architecture, but his experience and training serve him well in his current position as Chair of the Landmarks Preservation Commission. His love for learning about the City’s fascinating history and built environment, which he describes as a hobby and passion pursued for over 40 years, has allowed him to approach designation from a well-versed position, while his expertise in navigating through City … <Read More>
Search Results for: Agency Rule
Site qualifies as brownfield
DEC acted outside its authority by creating “but-for” test to deny eligibility. East River Realty Company LLC owned several contaminated properties in the Murray Hill neighborhood of Manhattan and in 2001 entered them into the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation’s Voluntary Cleanup Program. The sites are former Con Edison sites, and are among the largest and most valuable development sites in the City.
Following the enactment of the State’s Brownfield Cleanup Program in 2003, East … <Read More>
St.George rezoning approved by Council
- Special St. George District and Subdistricts. Special St.George District and Subdistricts used with permission of the New York City Department of City Planning. All rights reserved.
Council okays creation of Special St. George District to revitalize waterfront neighborhood. On October 23, 2008, the City Council approved the Department of City Planning’s rezoning proposal for St. George, a densely populated neighborhood located at the northern tip of Staten Island. The proposal builds upon interim rules, … <Read More>
Proposed Hudson Yards changes arouse opposition
Stringer, the community board, and Council Members Katz and Avella voice strong opposition;vote planned for August. The Department of City Planning initiated a proposal for twelve text changes to sections of the Hudson Yards zoning text which the Council passed in 2005 and impacts West Midtown below 42nd Street. The proposed changes encompass design points, such as applying sidewalk widening rules along Eighth Avenue and waiving window glazing for projects along a portion of Hudson … <Read More>
BSA allows Buildings to revise permit
Buildings mistakenly issued a certificate allowing conversion of SROs. The owner of a four-story building located at 614 West 138th Street sought to convert single room occupancy units to Class A apartments, which requires a Certificate of No Harassment from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development before Department of Buildings approval.
When the owner applied to HPD for a certificate, HPD denied the request because it found reasonable cause to suspect … <Read More>
John Belle and Richard Southwick on 40 Years of Practicing Before Landmarks
Fresh from a business trip in Europe, John Belle, founding partner of Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners LLP, and Richard Southwick, partner and director of the firm’s preservation department, recently sat down for an afternoon with CityLand. Joined by Olivia, Belle’s mild-mannered golden retriever, the two architects discussed the City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission and the impact of preservation on land use.
Self-described as “one of those immigrants,” Belle was born in Cardiff, Wales, … <Read More>