After consistent objections from community board and former City Council Speaker, developer drops controversial FAR request and is approved. William Gottlieb Real Estate can now move forward with development of Studio Gang Architects’ “Solar Carve” Tower, a ten-story structure that will occupy 40-56 Tenth Avenue, the full block between West 13th and 14th streets in Manhattan. William Gottlieb originally sought additional floor area to offset prohibitive construction costs resulting from poor subsurface conditions … <Read More>
Allow Young People to Serve on Community Boards
Last week, the City Council passed a resolution in support of allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to serve on their local community boards. The resolution throws City support behind Albany legislation that would amend the City Charter and Public Officers Law to let the teens become full voting members of their boards.
New Filings and Decisions Charts for May 2014 Available
CityLand tracks these applications through the review process to a final decision. The majority of these decisions are available on the Center for New York City Law’s CityAdmin database (found at www.CityAdmin.org).
To view the New Filings and Decisions chart for May 2014, click here.
Gym Approved for West 67th Street Building
BSA granted a two-year special permit to allow CrossFit NYC to operate in the cellar level of an existing 31-story mixed residential and commercial building. The building, located on the corner of Columbus Avenue and West 67th Street, Manhattan, is partially within a C4-7 zoning district and partially within an R8 zoning district. Neither zoning districts permit the use of physical culture establishments. The building owner and CrossFit NYC, the lessee, appealed … <Read More>
Richard Ravitch: “So Much to Do” (Public Affairs 2014)
Richard Ravitch in his book So Much to Do states two “stubborn facts” about public transportation: public transit costs more than what private markets can provide, and “public” in public transit means politics. Ravitch ‘s readable book tells how for 50 years he has successfully helped political leaders bridge these stubborn facts of public promises and public revenues.
New Affordable Housing for Artists Open for Application
Former public school has been transformed into affordable housing complex for artists. Artspace P.S. 109 is a 90-unit affordable housing complex that formerly served as an underutilized school building located in 215 East 99th Street in East Harlem, Manhattan. P.S 109 is an 1898 Gothic Revival-style structure that is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.