Edward Lauria testifies before the Board of Standards and Appeals. Image credit: BSA

Board approved a new commercial building on satisfying Fire Department requirements.  On July 14, 2015 the Board of Standards and Appeals voted to grant a permit for the construction of a single-story commercial building at 47 Trioka Way in the Special South Richmond Development District of Staten Island.  The building will be concrete block with metal walls and roof, covering 15,120 square feet of floor area divided evenly among ten storage units and contractor’s establishments.

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Eric Palatnik testifies before the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises on the Sollazzo Plaza rezoning. Image credit: NYC.gov

Approval permits demolition of old farmhouse to make way for a shopping center.  On December 15, 2014 the City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises voted unanimously to approve rezoning for portions of a block to permit the construction of a retail shopping center. The rezoned portion is bounded by Forest Avenue to the north, Monsey Place to the south, Richmond Avenue to the east, and P.S. 22 to the west.

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Labor Day commemorates the history of the labor movement and the social and economic gains of workers in the United States.   New York City has been a location for many significant milestones of labor history.  We here at CityLand document the changes in New York City land use, but we would be remiss to ignore that behind every land use change is the hard labor of American workers, from demolition to construction and all points in between.  These men and women in the labor community have helped shaped New York’s majestic skyline.  In celebration of the holiday, we have created a list of historic places that have a connection to the labor community.  Some of these site have even been designated by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.  From all of us here at the Center for New York City Law, have a happy Labor Day!

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Two sites on Staten Island’s North Shore are currently used as parking lots for ferry terminal and baseball stadium. On August 11, 2011, the City’s Economic Development Corporation issued a request for expressions of interest for the disposition and redevelopment of two waterfront parcels totaling more than fourteen acres near the St. George Ferry Terminals in St. George, Staten Island. A 7.4-acre parcel (the North Site) abuts the Richmond County Bank Ballpark to the north, and a 6.7-acre parcel (the South Site) borders the ballpark to the south. The two parcels are zoned M1-1 and were formerly part of a rail yard. The parcels are used as parking lots for the ferry terminal and ballpark.

St. George is a densely populated neighborhood and serves as Staten Island’s administrative center and transit hub. In 2008, the City approved the creation of the St. George Special District to encourage reinvestment in the area and establish a pedestrian-oriented civic center. 5 CityLand 153 (Nov. 15, 2008). Current and planned investments include the City’s $175 million rehabilitation of the ferry terminal’s ramps, and the MTA’s potential reactivation of the former North Shore rail line right of way.  (more…)

Applicant claimed that a conforming residential development would not yield a reasonable return given the lot’s irregular shape, location, and sloping grade. Joseph Maza applied to BSA for a variance to build a one-story commercial building with 21 accessory parking spaces at 4553 Arthur Kill Road in Charleston, a Staten Island neighborhood located just north of the Outerbridge Crossing. The site was located within the Special South Richmond Development District, a district established in 1975 to guide the development of the southern portion of Staten Island. The proposal required a variance since Maza intended the building to be occupied by retail stores, which are prohibited within the R3-2 residential zoning district.

Maza claimed that the lot’s irregular triangle shape made it difficult to construct a conforming residential development, and that the lot’s 15-ft. upward slope, beginning at its Arthur Kill Road frontage, would increase sewer line installation costs. The proposed commercial development avoided these added costs since an on-site septic system would be utilized, eliminating the need for a new 700-ft. sewer line. Maza also claimed that a nearby 87,000 sq.ft. bus depot would render the site unmarketable for residential use given the depot’s task of servicing several hundred buses daily, seven days a week. The depot, Maza added, would increase traffic around Arthur Kill Road, a 60- ft. wide arterial road that provided access to New Jersey by way of the Outerbridge Crossing. The traffic-choked road, which touched the site, would further lessen the prospect of successfully marketing a conforming residential development. (more…)