Commission debates legalization of illegal addition

Architect testified that Buildings’ database failed to indicate that West 68th Street property was located within landmarked district. At its April 14th public hearing, Landmarks considered the legalization of a one-story, fifth-floor addition to a residential building at 12-14 West 68th Street in the Upper West Side/Central Park West Historic District. The 506 square-foot addition was built onto a 1925 studio building, itself built as an addition at the rear of the main 1895 Queen … <Read More>


Bronx’s Little Italy BID approved

New district to include over 352 businesses. On May 21, 2008, the City Planning Commission approved an application by the New York City Department of Small Business Services to create the Belmont Business Improvement District, located in the Bronx in the neighborhood generally known as Little Italy. The Belmont BID would be bounded by East Fordham Road to the north, Lorillard Place to the west, East 183rd Street to the south, and Southern Boulevard to … <Read More>


Proposal for Trader Joe’s on Atlantic Ave. approved

South Brooklyn Savings Bank building at 130 Court St. Photo: Sam Porter.

Opponents challenged 60-foot height. On September 17, 2007, the Planning Commission approved the special permit application of Two Trees Management Co. LLC, facilitating its controversial plan to build a six-story, 60-foot tall building adjacent to the South Brooklyn Savings Bank, a 1922 building located at Atlantic Avenue and Court Street within the Cobble Hill Historic District. Overall, the development would include 31,512 sq.ft. … <Read More>


BID for Sunnyside,Queens approved

Plan encompasses 290 businesses in Sunnyside. On February 7, 2007, the Planning Commission approved an application by the Department of Small Business Services to create the Sunnyside Business Improvement District to cover 92 tax lots and 290 businesses primarily along Queens Boulevard, and Roosevelt and Greenpoint Avenues. The proposed BID will focus on sidewalk and gutter cleaning, graffiti removal and snow removal for bus shelters.

The $300,000 first-year budget will come from assessments on commercial … <Read More>


Village BID expanded

BID expansion will double number of properties receiving sanitation and security assistance. The Planning Commission unanimously approved an application by the Village Alliance Business Improvement District Management Association and the Department of Small Business Services for expansion of the Village Alliance BID, originally established in 1993.

The existing BID, which comprises 129 predominantly mixed-use properties, is currently bounded by Sixth and Second Avenues to the west and east, West 4th Street to the south, and … <Read More>


New Willis Ave. bridge over Harlem River approved

Bridge spanning Harlem River to be built adjacent to outdated bridge. DOT sought a City Map amendment to delineate a new bridge easement and bridge corridor facilitating construction of the Willis Avenue Bridge replacement, connecting First Avenue and East 125th Street in Manhattan with Willis Avenue and East 132nd Street in the Bronx. The replacement bridge will be located directly adjacent to and south of the existing bridge and will also require landfill removal along … <Read More>