The Board recognized the applicant’s right to complete construction had vested under the previous zoning scheme. On March 31, 2015 the Board of Standards and Appeals voted to reinstate a construction permit for the applicant, 1016 East 13th Realty, LLC, to construct a five-story mixed commercial and residential building in Midwood, Brooklyn. The building site is located at 1016 East 13th Street, and will feature eight dwelling units plus 2,178 square feet of community … <Read More>
BSA Approves Variance for New Residential Apartment Building in Brooklyn
The Board found the subject site, polluted by past automotive use, carried unique hardship. On March 31, 2015 the Board of Standards and Appeals voted to grant Moshe Packman a variance to facilitate construction of a four-story residential building in Marine Park, Brooklyn. The proposed building is located at 2881 Nostrand Avenue and will contain nineteen dwelling units covering 21,827 square feet.
Council Subcommittee Hears Testimony on One Vanderbilt
Representatives of the project and the Department of City Planning spoke during a four-hour hearing. On April 13, 2015 the City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises held a public hearing on One Vanderbilt, a proposed 1,450-foot commercial tower in East Midtown, as well as an accompanying proposal to rezone five blocks of Vanderbilt Avenue to create the Vanderbilt Corridor. The building will be located adjacent to Grand Central Terminal, bounded by East 42nd Street … <Read More>
Extension to 1971 Historic District Enters Designation Process
Landmarks vowed to continue engagement with the community and property owners in advance of hearing on extension of the Mount Morris Park Historic District. On April 14, 2015, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to add the Mount Morris Park Historic District Extension, to its calendar, the first step in the formal designation process. The district lies between 118th and 123rd Streets, bounded by Lenox Avenue and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard.
My Rules for Thee, But Not for Me: The City Destroys a City-Owned Landmark
The Castle on the Concourse is doomed. Had any other owner of a designated landmark abandoned his property to the elements like this, the Landmarks Preservation Commission would have sued him for “demolition by neglect.” But here the commission is helpless. The owner is the City of New York, and while the city fully expects owners of designated properties – private homeowners, businesses, landlords, or institutions – to adhere to standards set by the LPC, … <Read More>
Victor Gotbaum: The Majesty of Fighting for the Underdog
Much has been said about Victor Gotbaum’s many contributions to our country, and to our city in particular. His place among the legends of organized labor is secure; his position as a master negotiator while helping save NYC from bankruptcy has been acknowledged; and his fierce defense of the working class and those trying join it has been well-documented.
I will not revisit his many accomplishments here – others have already done that and thankfully … <Read More>