Homeowners claimed house was wrongly described in Historic District report. In December 2004, the Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the Douglaston Hill Historic District in Queens. The Mosleys, who had purchased a home in the District in October 2004, sued Landmarks, seeking to do away with the Historic District altogether or alternatively, remove their home from the District. The Mosleys claimed that the designation of the District was arbitrary and capricious because the Commission had denied … <Read More>
Church wins right to review use in industrial zone
Church converted warehouse within industrial area and held services. In 2002, Abundant Life Alliance Church of New York bought a condo warehouse unit located within the College Point II Urban Renewal Area in Queens to operate a church. At the time of purchase Abundant knew there were restrictions on the warehouse’s use: the urban renewal plan did not list churches as a permitted use, the deed contained a restrictive covenant that required Abundant to comply … <Read More>
Court remands decision on homeless housing to BSA
Provider of transitional housing appealed denial of variance. Homes for the Homeless, Inc. operated the Saratoga, a transitional housing facility for the homeless on Rockaway Boulevard in Queens. After receiving a request for proposals for added units, Homes applied to BSA for two variances: to legalize the use of its homeless facility, which was located in an M-1 district zoned for light manufacturing, and to expand its homeless units by constructing a new building.
BSA … <Read More>
Appellate court affirms sale of Two Columbus Circle
Preservation group opposes conversion and remodeling of Columbus Circle modernist building. The First Department has affirmed the lower court’s decisions on Landmark West’s challenge to EDC’s sale of Two Columbus Circle to the Museum of Arts and Design. 2 CityLand 141 (Oct. 15, 2005). The appellate court ruled that the group’s challenges to the legality of the Landmark Preservation Commission’s procedures were improperly raised for the first time on appeal. The court also rejected the … <Read More>
Court overturns BSA’s denial
Court allowed a relaxed standard of review for area variances. George Pantelidis, owner of a five-story townhouse at 116 East 73rd Street in Manhattan, after receiving a permit from Buildings, began construction of a glass-enclosed staircase that connected the second and third floor of the townhouse through the rear yard. From the start of construction, the next door neighbor vigorously opposed the glass enclosure. At Buildings, the neighbor’s objections were addressed by the Borough Commissioner … <Read More>
Seaman Cottage designated a landmark
- Seaman Cottage in Staten Island moved to Historic Richmond. Photo: LPC.
Staten Island house moved to Historic Richmond Village prior to being designated. Seaman Cottage, a two-story Greek Revival Style house constructed in 1836, which had been relocated and re-calendared by Landmarks, was designated an individual landmark on December 13, 2005. While many similar wood-framed clapboard houses were built in Staten Island during the 1830s, few well-preserved examples remain today. Slated to be destroyed, … <Read More>