Council modifies zoning of MTA’s Western Rail Yard

Proposed development of the MTA’s Western Rail Yard site, including eight mixed-use towers, as envisioned by the Related Companies. Image: Courtesy of Related Companies.

The Council’s Land Use Committee approved the proposal after the developer agreed to provide permanently affordable on-site housing. On December 14, 2009, the City Council’s Land Use Committee modified and approved Goldman Sachs and Related Companies’ proposal to develop the Western Rail Yard site on the far west side of Midtown, … <Read More>

Wilhelm Ronda on the Bronx Borough President’s Office

Wilhelm Ronda applies a “small-town” approach to his duties as the Director of Planning for Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Whether it’s identifying parcels of land for new schools, or taking steps to protect the architectural integrity of a neighborhood building, Ronda understands that these issues can profoundly affect the borough’s residents. For this reason, Ronda encourages his staff to treat each issue with the same “tender love and care” that a small town’s … <Read More>

Extension to Greenwich Village HD Proposed

The “South Village” extension would bring roughly 235 buildings under Landmarks jurisdiction. On October 27, 2009, Landmarks heard testimony on the proposed designation of the Greenwich Village Historic District Extension II. The proposal, referred to as the South Village Historic District by some, includes 235 buildings and consists of two sections contiguous to the Greenwich Village Historic District.

The extension’s larger section encompasses eleven blocks generally bounded by West 4th Street to the north, West … <Read More>

Twelve rowhouses near Prospect Park designated

 

Ocean on the Park Historic District comprising twelve buildings on Ocean Avenue in Flatbush, Brooklyn. Photo: LPC.

The owner of one of the buildings included in new historic district opposed designation. Landmarks voted to designate twelve 1910 rowhouses at 189 to 211 Ocean Avenue in Brooklyn as the Ocean on the Park Historic District. In 1909, developer Charles G. Reynolds hired Axel S. Hedman to build a row of homes along Ocean Avenue bordering … <Read More>

SoHo-Cast Iron District Extension Heard

Proposed extension includes two subsections consisting of 135 properties. Landmarks heard extensive testimony on a proposal to extend the SoHo- Cast Iron Historic District to include 135 properties in two subsections bordering the east and west sides of the existing district. The western subsection includes buildings on West Broadway’s western side between Houston and Grand Streets. The eastern subsection is larger and includes portions of Crosby, Lafayette, and Centre Streets between Houston and Canal Streets.… <Read More>

S. Jarmulowsky Bank Building Designated

Lower East Side building exemplifies the City’s early skyscraper architecture. On October 13, 2009, Landmarks designated the S. Jarmulowsky Bank building at 54 Canal Street as an individual City landmark. Completed in 1912, the neo- Renaissance style bank was built for Sender Jarmulowsky, a Russian immigrant who rose to prominence and wealth as a banker on the Lower East Side. In addition to providing banking services to the Lower East Side’s immigrant community, Jarmulowsky … <Read More>