New five-story building in Brooklyn Heights approved

30 Henry Street. Image courtesy of BKSK Architects.

Proposal to replace low-rise building on Henry Street criticized by neighbors who wanted bolder, contemporary design. On January 17, 2012, Landmarks approved Fortis Property Group LLC’s revised proposal to replace a low-rise industrial building with a five-story apartment building at 30 Henry Street at the edge of the Brooklyn Heights Historic District. Until recently, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper occupied the 1963 brick building at the southwest … <Read More>

Park Slope addition approved after revisions

Plan reduced after commissioners and neighbors aggressively opposed proposed rooftop addition. On December 20, 2011, Landmarks approved Thomas Dolby and Andrew Frist’s proposal to build a one-story penthouse on top of a three-story limestone-clad townhouse at 627 3rd Street in Brooklyn’s Park Slope Historic District.

The project’s architect, Eric Rowland, presented the initial design at a hearing in November 2011. Dolby and Frist’s proposal included a 600 sq.ft. limestone-clad rooftop addition and modifications to the … <Read More>

Rush to designate E. 10th St. failed to stop roof addition

315 East 10th Street. Image: Mary Gillen.

Building owner in district obtained permit to build rooftop addition prior to Landmarks approval. On January 17, 2012, Landmarks held a public hearing on, and later designated, the East 10th Street Historic District in Manhattan’s East Village. The district encompasses a row of 26 buildings from 293 to 345 East 10th Street between Avenues A and B.

Many of the buildings were built speculatively to attract wealthy residents … <Read More>

Two Queens projects get go ahead despite rezoning

Developers had begun but not completed foundations when the Council approved rezoning proposal. On June 24, 2011, the owner of a corner lot at 64-01 Woodside Avenue in Woodside, Queens obtained a foundation permit to begin construction on a proposed seven-story, 24,022 sq.ft. building with 27 apartments. On July 26, 2011, the owner of two lots at 69- 17 and 69-19 38th Avenue in Woodside obtained building permits to build two four-story buildings with a … <Read More>

Restaurant wins right to non-conforming use

Buildings had determined that legal non-conforming commercial use was discontinued for one condo despite presence of two other nonconforming businesses in building. The owner of a vacant commercial unit in the ground floor of a residential condominium at 25 Central Park West in Manhattan sought to occupy the space with an eating and drinking establishment. The building includes two other ground floor commercial condos. The vacant condo faces West 62nd Street and was occupied by … <Read More>

Alternative fueling station for Hunts Point approved

Proposed alternative fueling station in Hunts Point. Image: Courtesy of Atlantis Management Group WXY Architecture.

Public facility within Hunts Point Food Distribution Center would provide alternative fuel pumps and maintenance bays to retrofit and convert conventional fuel engines. On November 30, 2011, the City Planning Commission approved the Department of Citywide Administrative Services and the Department of Small Business Services’ proposal to allow the Atlantis Management Group to redevelop a City-owned lot within the Hunts … <Read More>