Webber Packing House. Image Credit: LPC.

Potential individual landmarks added to the Commission’s calendar include two schools and a former meat packing plant. On November 14, 2017, Landmarks voted to add three items in East Harlem to its calendar for consideration as individual City landmarks. The three buildings are: The Richard Webber Harlem Parking House, at 207 East 109th Street; the former Public School 109, at 215 East 99th Street;  and the former Benjamin Franklin High School, at 260 Pleasant Avenue. The identification of the properties were done through a survey undertaken as part of a comprehensive plan to bring affordable housing and other public benefits to East Harlem. (more…)

Harlem African Burial Ground Memorial Rendering. Image Credit: Harlem African Burial Ground Task Force Pitch Book.

The Harlem African Burial Ground, affordable housing, and commercial space will replace the 126th Street Bus Depot. On September 27, 2017, City Council approved the 126th Street Bus Depot redevelopment by a vote of 42-0. The land use application, by NYC Economic Development Corporation, includes a zoning map amendment, zoning text amendment, city map change, and future disposition of city-owned property. This action will facilitate the development of affordable housing, commercial space, and the Harlem African Burial Ground Memorial. For CityLand’s coverage on the prior stages of the project’s ULURP process, click here. (more…)

Rendering of proposed development in East Harlem, Manhattan. Image Credit: Perkins Eastman Architects

City Council approved with modifications a redevelopment plan that will bring 3 high school facilities, 315 affordable housing units, a new park and playground, retail space, and job opportunities to East Harlem. On August 24, 2017, the City Council voted 41-0 to approve a modified land use application for the redevelopment of a full city block in East Harlem. The application for redevelopment from the New York City Education Construction Fund and AvalonBay Communities was approved by the City Planning Commission on June 21, 2017. The entire redevelopment requires a zoning map change (LU 0700-2017), a zoning text change (LU 0701-2017), and 2 special permits (LU 0702-2017 and LU 0703-2017). (more…)

Rendering of proposed development in East Harlem, Manhattan. Image Credit: Perkins Eastman Architects

UPDATE: On June 21, 2017, the City Planning Commission the application from the New York City Education Construction Fund and AvalonBay Communities to redevelop a city block in East Harlem to be appropriate. The proposed development would shift the Marx Brothers Playground to the center of the block and facilitate the construction of two buildings at either end. The eastern building would rise eight stories and contain two public high school relocated from other sites. The western building would rise 63 stories and contain over one million square-feet of residential floor area and the Co-op Tech vocational school.

In its report, the Planning Commission noted the need for new public schools citywide and acknowledged that finding adequate sites and securing funding are major obstacles to addressing that need. The Commission stated that the new high schools would “increase the capacity of the existing overcrowded and outdated schools, allowing more students access to their programs.”

The Commission acknowledged public concern over height and uses of the proposed development. The applicant responded to these concerns by lower the proposed height of the skyscraper from 68 stories to 63 stories. The report noted that the School Construction Fund preferred buildings for new schools be five stories tall, and that the height of the tower would allow the eastern building to be at a height in line with that preference. The Commission also wrote that “there is ample light and air around the block . . . providing the site and neighboring properties with unobstructed light and air from the east.” (more…)

Geographical boundaries of the the East Harlem Initiative. Image Credit: DCP

The proposal would create new affordable housing, strengthen the neighborhood as a major transit hub and job center, and preserve neighborhood character in existing mid-scale residential areas. On April 24, 2017, the Department of City Planning began the public review process for its proposal to rezone Manhattan’s East Harlem neighborhood. The East Harlem Initiative would invest in the improvement of the neighborhood by adding new affordable housing, creating opportunities for economic development, planning for infrastructure needs, preserving neighborhood character, and establishing urban design controls. The rezoning proposal is one component of a larger neighborhood study as a part of the Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Housing New York. City Planning expects the rezoning efforts to create 122,000 square feet of stores and restaurants, and 275,000 square feet of office and industrial space over the next 10 years. (more…)