Jerry Goldfeder: Improve Voter Turnout By Modernizing New York’s Election Law

New York State’s voter turnout in the 2012 presidential election was 47th best in the country. It is difficult to discern the cause of low turnout, but there is no question that changes in election procedures could make voting less difficult and encourage turnout.

The manner in which a state conducts and regulates its elections determines whether voting will be easy or hard. Each state determines its election rules, even when electing a President. The … <Read More>


New SoHo Structure Would Retain Cast-Iron Facade of Former Building

Original 19th-century cast-iron facade preserved and stored as part of prior demolition application. On March 19, 2013, the Landmarks Preservation Commission considered an application by SoHo Equities to construct a new building at 74 Grand Street in the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District. The currently vacant lot previously hosted an 1886 neo-Grec store-and-loft building, which was demolished in 2010 because it was structurally unsound. Landmarks granted a certificate of appropriateness for the demolition in 2009 … <Read More>


New Developer’s Changes to 2007 SoHo Project Approved by Landmarks

New project would entail the demolition of two buildings, the restoration of a Wooster Street structure, and the construction of a new nine-story building. On March 12, 2013, the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved a proposal by developer DDG for a new development at 325 West Broadway, at the corner of Wooster Street, in the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District. The application sought to amend a certificate of appropriateness issued in 2007 to a different … <Read More>


Alterations to the Former Gage & Tollner Restaurant Denied Legalization

The interior landmark, which had been converted to a fast-food chain with Landmarks’ oversight, was illegally converted to a retail store. On January 22, 2013, the Landmarks Preservation Commission considered and denied an application for the legalization of work already done to the former Gage & Tollner Restaurant, at 372 Fulton Street in Downtown Brooklyn. The interior landmark occupies the Gage & Tollner building, also an individual City landmark. The interior is significant … <Read More>


Top Ten Stories of 2012

Welcome to CityLand‘s first annual top ten stories of the year! We’ve selected the most popular and interesting stories in NYC land use news from our very first year as an online-only publication. We’ve been reporting on NYC land use for eight years and we’ll continue to provide in-depth coverage of the latest land use projects, cases, and legislation in 2013.  The CityLand staff thanks you for your support and wishes you a happy … <Read More>


Harlem Mixed-Use Project Approved Despite Community Board Disapproval

BSA granted use, area, and parking variances to permit construction of 13-story residential, commercial, and community facility building. Nicholas Parking Corporation and Ladera, LLC, owners of adjacent properties at 223-237 St. Nicholas Avenue, applied for building permits to develop a 169,192-square-foot, mixed-use building on St. Nicholas Avenue between West 121st and West 122nd Streets in Harlem. The project would include a FRESH program food store on the first floor and cellar, a preschool … <Read More>