A private developer sought to rezone four city blocks of Tribeca. Truffles, LLC applied for a zoning map amendment to rezone four waterfront blocks along the western edge of Manhattan’s North Tribeca neighborhood to enable construction of a 260,000-square-foot residential development at 88 Laight Street. Truffles also applied for a text amendment to increase the maximum streetwall and building height restrictions, and a special permit to replace an existing 43-space parking lot with a 180- space underground garage.

The area, bounded by Washington Street to the east, West Street to the west, Watts Street to the north, and Hubert Street to the south, is characterized by a mix of commercial, residential, automotive, and industrial uses. The two northern blocks comprise mainly low-rise and underdeveloped properties such as surface parking lots, automotive repair shops, warehouses, loft residences, and a restaurant, while the two southern blocks – both located within the Tribeca North Historic District – include 9- and 10-story residential buildings and an 11-story office building. (more…)

2M-square-foot complex with apartments, office, commercial and production studio space sent to Council. Silvercup Studios, through Terra Cotta LLC, obtained Planning Commission approval for several rezoning and special permit applications to enable the development of Silvercup West, a 2.07-millionsquare- foot complex that would occupy six acres along the East River waterfront in Hunter’s Point, Queens. The site, bordered by Vernon Boulevard, the East River and 43rd Avenue, lies partially under the Queensboro Bridge and contains a temporary generating facility run by the New York Power Authority, which would end operations if the project obtains approval.

Silvercup Studios is the largest full-service film and television production facility in the northeastern United States. It currently operates locations in Hunter’s Point and Blissville, Queens and its expansion into Silvercup West would be its third Queens location.

The complex would consist of one large base building that would separate into four towers: a film and television production studio tower would rise to 133 feet in height; two residential towers would reach heights of 589 and 506 feet; and an office tower would have a maximum height of 526 feet. In total, the complex would include over 270,000 sq.ft. of film and television production studios, 589,590 sq.ft. of office space, 1,000 residential units, 106,014 sq.ft. of community facility space, restaurants, bars, and a 1,400-space parking garage for complex tenants. Additionally, the project includes 55,000 sq.ft. of public open space, including a walkway along the East River. (more…)

BSA rejects owner’s argument that case can be based on erroneously certified permit. Trevor Fray applied to BSA to continue construction of a three-family, four-story building at 84-24 168th Place in Briarwood, Queens after the City Council down-zoned Fray’s lot to a zoning that restricted development to oneand two-family detached housing. Fray argued that he had a common law right to continue development of the entire building based on foundation and demolition permits issued before the rezoning and a new building permit that his architect, Figueroa Architects, approved by self-certification 15 days after the rezoning.

Buildings later revoked the new building permit and investigated Fray’s foundation permit, finding it to be erroneously self-certified since it missed several requirements, like a sewer connection approval, a boring test report and a zoning plan showing it complied with the district’s zoning. After Fray and Figueroa failed to respond to Buildings’ concerns about the foundation permit, Buildings revoked it. (more…)

Lower Manhattan to get 630- seat primary/intermediate school. The City Council unanimously approved the New York School Construction Authority’s proposal for a new 100,000-square-foot primary/ intermediate school to be located within Forest City Ratner’s proposed residential development on a site at Beekman, Gold, Spruce and Nassau Streets in lower Manhattan. Currently, the 44,532- square-foot site contains a privately- owned surface parking lot, which Forest City will replace with its 75-story condominium and rental apartment building.

The City will hold a condominium interest in the first five floors of Forest City Ratner’s building, which will accommodate a 630-seat school for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade students in Community School District No. 2. The proposed design will meet all of the Department of Education’s standard requirements, including an interior gym and full-size cafeteria. (more…)

Planning Department proposed application of inclusionary housing text to Queens neighborhoods. On May 24, 2006, the Planning Commission unanimously approved a rezoning impacting 134 blocks of the Maspeth and Woodside neighborhoods. The rezoned area is comprised mostly of one- and two-family homes as well as a few walk-up and elevator apartment buildings, and includes higher density development along Queens Boulevard. A steady increase in out-of-scale residential development triggered the City’s action.

Density would be decreased along primarily residential blocks and increased along portions of Queens Boulevard. On 63 blocks, the rezoning would limit development to one- or two-family homes with 24-35 foot height limits (R4-1, R4B). The plan would downzone other areas to permit mid-sized residential development, such as three-story row houses and small apartment houses (R5, R5B, R6). (more…)