Lynn Kelly

Ever since Lynn Kelly was appointed President of the Coney Island Development Corporation [CIDC] last year, she knew that time was of the essence. Her mission: restore Coney Island to its former prominence, and do it quickly, or lose the opportunity forever.

Kelly, a former Deputy Director of the City’s Art Commission, joined the New York City Economic Development Corporation in 2001. Over the next six years, she managed a portfolio of development projects and land sales of more than $50 million. Appointed President of the CIDC by Mayor Bloomberg in April 2007, Kelly took on the responsibility of saving “the People’s Playground.” (more…)

Development plan said to spur future development in community. On July 23, 2008, the City Council voted to approve the zoning map amendment proposed by developer Ebling Partners LLC for a full block in Mott Haven bounded by East 159th Street, Eagle Avenue, East 156th Street, and St. Ann’s Avenue. The proposal called for the area to be rezoned from M1-1 to R7X with a commercial overlay of C2-3. The rezoning will facilitate the developer’s plan to develop the block, which, in part, formerly housed the Ebling Brewery until its demolition in 1995. The proposed project includes development of 600 dwelling units totaling 638,931 sq.ft., 50,000 sq.ft. of commercial space, and a 450-space underground parking garage.

At the July 21, 2008 hearing before the Council’s Subcommittee on Zoning & Franchises, Council Member Maria del Carmen Arroyo offered her support for the project, which would take place in her district. She stated that both she and the community were “very excited” about the project and praised the developers for paying close attention to the immediate needs of the community. She noted that the block is currently a “horrible site, full of tractor- trailers,” and that its conversion to affordable, quality housing will encourage development in the surrounding area. There were no speakers in opposition. (more…)

At least 30 speakers testified on proposal backed by residents and local elected officials. On June 4, 2008, the City Planning Commission held a public hearing on the Department of City Planning’s proposal to define an area of Brooklyn’s Carroll Gardens as having “narrow streets” under the zoning law. The proposal would result in a lowering of the permitted building heights and densities, making as-of-right development consistent with neighborhood character. Currently zoned R6, with portions covered by a commercial overlay, the area consists mostly of three and four-story brownstones built in the mid-19th century. Two of the affected blocks lie within the Carroll Gardens Historic District.

Carroll Gardens, according to City Planning, has seen rising property values and out-of-context development due to permissive zoning. In response to community concerns, the proposal would apply to First through Fourth Places, between Henry and Smith Streets, as well as Second, Carroll, and President Streets between Smith and Hoyt Streets. (more…)

Opponents raise congestion, asthma levels, and City policy as reasons to reduce parking garage. Despite calls by Hell’s Kitchen residents and Community Board 4 to reduce the requested parking spaces, the Land Use Committee sent the 400-space public parking garage plan of developer Glenwood Management Corp. to the full Council for a vote.

Glenwood applied for a special permit for the garage as part of its construction plan for a mixed-use building with 569 residential units and 10,600 sq.ft. of retail space at 310-328 West 38th Street, a site that currently contains a two-story parking garage and a parking lot with a total of 590 spaces. Of the 400 spaces proposed, the project permitted 232 accessory spaces as-of-right. The project will take advantage of the Hudson Yards Inclusionary Housing bonus, increasing its floor area with an agreement to make 140 units affordable. Glenwood also sought a related text amendment to allow the design to include recessed entries along West 37th and West 38th Streets.

When it approved the special permit in early June, the City Planning Commission required Glenwood to restrict use of the 232 accessory spaces to monthly users. The full City Council then voted to take review of the permit since its review was not automatic under ULURP.

At the June 17th hearing before the Council’s Subcommittee on Zoning & Franchises, opponents requested that the Council limit the number of spaces to the 232 accessory spaces. Community Board 4’s representative explained that it could not support any project that encouraged non-residents to come to the site by car. A resident called it “irrational” to approve parking in an area with one of the highest rates of asthma in the city.

In response, Council Member Helen Sears told opponents that Glenwood’s reduction from the current 590 spaces to the 400 proposed was “quite a compromise.” She added that every neighborhood has people with asthma and that City Planning had done everything it needed to do in relation to the permit approval.

Council Member Eric Gioia asked for a more detailed explanation from the Planning Commission on its rational for approval. Subcommittee Chair Tony Avella laid over the vote to June 25th to allow the Department of City Planning to respond.

On June 25th when the matter returned to the subcommittee, it approved without modification, sending the matter to the Land Use Committee, which also approved.

ULURP Process
Lead Agency: CPC,Neg.Dec.
Comm.Bd.: MN 4,No, 35-1-0
Boro.Pres.: App’d
CPC: App’d, 12-0-0
Land Use Comm.: App’d

Hearing: 310-328 West 38th Street (June 25, 2008) (Gary R. Tarnoff, Kramer Levin, for Glenwood).

Planned parkland shrinks; developers get more opportunities for enclosed amusements. On April 17, 2008, the City revised its comprehensive plan to redevelop a 47-acre area of the Coney Island peninsula, after holding its public scoping meeting two months earlier.

Initiated by the Department of City Planning and the New York City Economic Development Corporation, the plan covers 19 blocks of the neighborhood, stretching from the New York Aquarium to West 24th Street, and from Mermaid Avenue to the boardwalk. The rezoning is designed to transform the iconic beachfront amusement area into an affordable, year-round urban amusement and entertainment destination alongside a concentration of new residential and retail uses. (more…)