Demolition of Hudson St. building faces opposition

Residents oppose demolition of this building at 501 Hudson Street. Photo: Kristin Daggan.

Area residents oppose size and design of Morris Adjmi-designed mixed-use building. On July 15, 2008, Landmarks heard testimony on a proposal to demolish a two-story structure and build a six-story plus penthouse at 501 Hudson Street at the corner of Christopher Street in the Greenwich Village Historic District. Attorney Valerie Campbell of Kramer Levin, representing the owners, Hudson Equities Ltd., explained that … <Read More>

Proposed historic district would be Brooklyn’s largest

Prospect Heights Proposed Rezoning.

Neighborhood adjacent to Atlantic Yards characterized by 19th Century rowhouses. On July 15, 2008, Landmarks moved to calendar 21 blocks in Prospect Heights, the first step in designating a new historic district. With 870 buildings, the proposed district would be Brooklyn’s largest. Bordering Forest City Ratner’s Atlantic Yards development, as well as Prospect Park, the area is characterized by residential 19th Century rowhouses, predominantly in Neo- Grec, Italianate, Second Empire, and … <Read More>

Rezoned owner allowed to complete construction

DOB stop-work order of no consequence in vested rights analysis. On April 25, 2007, the Department of Buildings issued a permit to the owner of 1447 Rosedale Avenue to construct a three-story, two-family home. Two weeks later the City Council approved a rezoning in Park Stratton which changed the zoning on the owner’s lot from R6 to R5, thereby rendering the proposed project out-of-compliance with maximum permitted floor area, parking, lot coverage, residential density, and … <Read More>

Variance granted for 11-story mixed-use building

Increased costs justified variance for mid-block site along Broadway. B & E 813 Broadway LLC applied to BSA for a variance to construct an 11- story mixed-use building on Broadway between East 11th and East 12th Streets. The 5,069-square-foot development site consists of two merged lots containing smaller two- and four-story buildings which the developer would demolish to make way for the new 129-foot tall building. The proposed development would exceed floor area, height, setback … <Read More>

New plan for East Harlem remains controversial

Six-acre site in East Harlem proposed for development. Image courtesy of the New York City Economic Development Corp.

Community and Stringer criticize EDC for initiating land use process before selecting developer. On July 23, 2008, the City Planning Commission heard testimony on a plan to redevelop a six-acre site in East Harlem roughly bounded by East 125th and East 127th Streets between Second and Third Avenues. The plan before the Commission resulted from a controversial … <Read More>

Commission OKs 63-story Lexington Ave. tower

Lord Norman Foster-designed 63-story tower at 610 Lexington would use air rights from Seagram Plaza. Image: Foster + Partners.

Transfer of air rights from landmarked Seagram Building facilitates construction. On July 2, 2008, the City Planning Commission approved the special permit and zoning text amendment proposed by developer Aby Rosen, allowing his 63-story project at 610 Lexington to proceed to City Council for a vote. The proposed mixed-use building on the southwest corner of … <Read More>