Revised proposal for vacant Tribeca lot approved

Proposed seven-story building at the corner of Franklin and Varick Streets in Manhattan’s Tribeca West Historic District. Image: Courtesy studioMDA.

Developer modified seven-story project’s facade details in response to concerns expressed at prior hearing. On November 16, 2010, Landmarks approved Real Estate Equities Corporation’s revised proposal to construct a seven-story residential building at the corner of Franklin and Varick Streets in the Tribeca West Historic District. At the proposal’s prior hearing the Commissioners asked … <Read More>

Iconic Beekman Place building designated

Paul Rudolph House

Five-story apartment building served as a podium for four-story cantilevered addition designed by owner and architect Paul Rudolph. On November 16, 2010, Landmarks designated as an individual City landmark the Paul Rudolph Penthouse and Apartments at 23 Beekman Place in the Turtle Bay section of Manhattan. The original five-story building was built in 1860, but the property became noteworthy after the Modernist architect Paul Rudolph purchased the building and designed and … <Read More>

Harlem block rezoned

Stringer opposed, arguing that the proposal conflicted with the City’s broader efforts to rezone the West Harlem area. The City Council approved West 129th Street Realty LLC’s plan to rezone one block in West Harlem from R7-2 and M1-1 to R7A. The block is bounded by West 130th and West 129th Streets, and Convent and Amsterdam Avenues. The block’s eastern and western portions along Convent and Amsterdam Avenues are developed with four- and five-story apartment … <Read More>

Kingsbridge Armory rezoning defeated

The Kingsbridge Armory at 29 West Kingsbridge Road in the Bronx. Photo: CityLand.

Members of the City Council’s Bronx delegation, at a public hearing, said they opposed the project because the developer would not agree to a living wage provision for armory workers. On December 14, 2009, the City Council denied Related Companies’ redevelopment plan for the long-vacant Kingsbridge Armory in the northwest Bronx. Under the proposal, Related would have built a four-story structure within … <Read More>

City must pay for paving private property

DOT paved over portion of Staten Island property owner’s land. Foxwood Forest Lenca LLC owned a 15,700 sq.ft. parcel of land abutting Forest Hill Road on Staten Island. The land was undeveloped, and the portion along Forest Hill Road consisted primarily of grass and other vegetation. In 2008, the Department of Transportation entered Foxwood’s property and paved over this grassy area. According to DOT’s borough commissioner, the paving was done to address unsafe roadway conditions … <Read More>

Brian Cook Discusses Land Use Under the Manhattan Borough President

Brian Cook, Director of Land Use for Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer, first developed an interest in land use while pursuing a degree in Metropolitan Studies from New York University. Cook stayed on to pursue a master’s degree in Public Policy with the hopes of learning how international governments shape land use policy. During his studies, however, Cook says he was “fascinated” by a course that centered on New York City’s Uniform Land … <Read More>