Appellate Division reverses lower court in a three-two opinion. GAC Catering Inc. purchased a one-family home on the corner of Otis Avenue and Hylan Boulevard in Staten Island, across the street from its catering business. GAC demolished the house, and applied to BSA for a variance from residential zoning in order to construct a two-story commercial building to be used as a photography studio in conjunction with GAC’s catering hall. In support of its application, … <Read More>
Architect fined $750
Former DOB plan examiner contacted DOB on behalf of employer about a problem with its e-filing system. John Tsarsis had been employed by the Department of Buildings as a plan examiner for six years. In 2007, Tsarsis worked for a short period with Ismael Leyva Architects, but then began working as a senior projects and code and zoning manager for Milrose Consultants. Less than a year after leaving Buildings, Tsarsis contacted the Department on behalf … <Read More>
EDC Purchases a One-Acre Site in Coney Island
Announcement comes about three months after Thor Equities failed to close on the same parcel. On October 15, 2008, the NYC Economic Development Corporation announced that it entered into a property acquisition agreement with Ward Realty Corp. for the purchase of a one-acre site in the amusement core of Coney Island, Brooklyn. The site, located within the nine-acre area that the City has designated to be parkland, is the current home of the Wonder Wheel … <Read More>
4-story addition approved for Tribeca, design praised
Architect of pre-designation renovations also chosen to design new residential addition. On October 14, 2008, Landmarks voted to approve the construction of a four-story addition with a penthouse to the two-story structure at 172 Duane Street in the Tribeca West Historic District. The site was originally home to an 1872 store-and-loft building, used for a wood importing business.
More recently, in the 1980s, owners of 172 Duane hired architect Vincenzo Polsinelli and undertook extensive renovations, … <Read More>
St.Vincent’s wins hardship battle on O’Toole Building
Landmarks approves demolition of the O’Toole Building in a split decision. On October 28, 2008, Landmarks, by a vote of six to four, approved St. Vincent Catholic Medical Center’s hardship application to demolish the O’Toole Building, making way for a new hospital in Greenwich Village on Seventh Avenue between 12th and 13th Streets.
After Landmarks advised that it would not approve a certificate of appropriateness for the proposal, St. Vincent filed a hardship application, arguing … <Read More>
Proposed Pier 17 development arouses controversy
Developer intends to relocate the Tin Building, site of the former Fulton Fish Market. On October 21, 2008, Landmarks considered a presentation on the redevelopment of Pier 17 in the South Street Seaport Historic District. Developer General Growth Properties, which leases much of the South Street Seaport from the City, intends to demolish the Pier 17 Mall, relocate the 1907 Tin Building to the east end of Pier 17, and construct a new seven-building mixed-use … <Read More>