Domino Sugar project wins final approval

The City Council approved developer’s modified proposal for 2,200-unit mixed-use project. On July 29, 2010, the City Council approved CPC Resources Inc.’s modified proposal to build a 2,200-unit mixed-use project on Williamsburg’s Domino Sugar plant site. The 11.2-acre site includes the Domino Sugar parcel located along the East River waterfront between Grand and South 5th Streets and a smaller upland parcel across the street between South 3rd and 4th Streets.

CPC Resources will redevelop the … <Read More>

Variance of four-story residential building

Owner claimed that narrow lot could not accommodate a financially feasible manufacturing use. The owner of 133 Taaffe Place in Brooklyn applied to BSA for a use variance to construct a four-story, three-unit residential building on a vacant lot zoned for light manufacturing. The lot had once been occupied by a residential building that was demolished in 1994 due to fire damage. The owner’s initial proposal called for a 6,073 sq.ft. building with a fifteen- … <Read More>

Permit invalidated; builder misrepresented project

Owner misrepresented extent of construction in order to avoid City Planning Commission review of plans. In November 2002, the owner of 366 Nugent Street in Staten Island received a pre-consideration letter from Borough Commissioner Jorge Canepa to enlarge an existing twostory home and replace and relocate existing square footage. The owner informed the borough commissioner that it sought the letter in order to avoid filing for a new building permit, which according to the underlying … <Read More>

Two Federal-style homes on the Bowery considered

One building owner intended to demolish house in order to build seven-story office. On July 13, 2010, Landmarks heard testimony on the possible designation of two separately owned Federal-style rowhouses located at 135 and 206 Bowery in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. When the houses were built in the early 1800s, the Bowery was considered a fashionable upper-class residential and commercial district. While both buildings have undergone extensive alterations, they retain their essential forms and characteristics. … <Read More>

Midtown Modernist office tower designated

The Look building at 488 Madison Avenue. Image: LPC.

Mid-20th century Look Building’s design was influenced by European Modernism. On July 27, 2010, Landmarks designated the Look Building at 488 Madison Avenue in Midtown, Manhattan as an individual City landmark. The 23-story, asymmetrical building was one of the City’s first office towers to reflect the influence of European Modernism.

Emery Roth & Sons designed the Look Building and the Uris Brothers developers completed the structure … <Read More>

City moves closer to controlling all of the High Line

City can now negotiate to acquire northern section of High Line in order to complete 1.45-mile elevated park. On July 29, 2010, the City Council approved a proposal by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services and the Department of Parks and Recreation to acquire the remaining portion of the High Line elevated rail line and associated easements. This section, currently owned by CSX Corporation, begins at West 30th Street between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues and … <Read More>