Community group’s appeal seeks to halt construction of the 42story condo-hotel. On February 27, 2008, BSA heard testimony regarding the Department of Buildings’ approval for the Trump SoHo condominium hotel under construction at 246 Spring Street. The SoHo Alliance Community Group appealed, arguing that the condominium hotel contravenes the manufacturing zoning district’s prohibition against residential development.

Buildings approved the plans for the Trump Soho on September 28, 2007 with the condition that the developers file a restriction against the property that prohibits owners of any one of the condominium hotel’s 413 residential units from living there for more than 29 consecutive days in any 36-day period, or a total of about 120 days per calendar year. The rest of the time, owners would put their Trump SoHo units on the market for transient use on a daily or weekly basis. The restriction, according to Buildings, puts the Trump SoHo under the transient hotel exception to the general prohibition against residential developments in the area. Under the restriction, Buildings would conduct audits and/or issue financial penalties to enforce the transient use requirements. (more…)

Court declares art organization, not building owner, owns artwork on exterior wall of SoHo historic district building. In September 2004, Judge Deborah A. Batts allowed the Board of Managers of Soho International Arts Condominium to proceed with its Fifth Amendment takings claim against the City, pending an inquiry as to who owned the well-known minimalist sculpture by artist Forrest Myers that had been attached to 599 Broadway since 1973. (See CityLand’s past coverage here.)

The City argued that 599 Broadway was the current owner of the artwork because City Walls, Inc., a non-profit organization that played a significant role in financing and installing the three-dimensional structure, had abandoned the artwork when it ceased to function as a corporation. In the alternative, the City argued that 599 Broadway had obtained title through adverse possession. (more…)

Vanderbilt Mausoleum & Cemetery in New Dorp, Staten Island. Image Credit: LPC.

Landmarks voted to de-calendar St. Augustine’s Church and Rectory after designating an extension the Park Slope Historic District, in which the church is located. On April 12, 2016, the Landmarks Preservation Commission cast dispositive votes on ten items for designation, nine of which were included in the commission’s backlog initiative. Eight individual landmarks were designated, as well as one historic district. Commissioners voted to remove one item, St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church and Rectory, from its calendar. (more…)

Subcellar, cellar, and first floor of 11-story hotel may be used for hotel and retail uses. On January 28, 2009, the City Council approved Crosby Street Hotel LLC’s special permit application requesting an additional 19,116sq.ft. for hotel and retail uses within an 11-story hotel at 79 Crosby Street in SoHo, Manhattan. The surrounding neighborhood is mostly three- to seven-story buildings and loft buildings with ground floor retail.

Normally prohibited below the floor level of the second story in M1-5B districts, hotel and retail uses may be allowed in such areas through a special permit from the City Planning Commission. In order for the Commission to grant the special permit, it must find that the owner of the space, or a predecessor in title, has made a good faith effort to rent the space to a permitted use at fair market value. In cases where the building occupies less than 3,600sq.ft. of lot area, the Commission must also find that the good faith marketing effort was actively pursued for at least six months prior to the date of the special permit application. (more…)

Controversial proposal would consolidate three Community District sanitation garages and add salt shed tower. On August 27, 2008, the City Planning Commission heard testimony on the Department of Sanitation’s plan to build a 118-ft. tall service and maintenance garage and 30- 75-ft. tall salt shed in SoHo, Manhattan, just east of the Holland Tunnel. Sanitation’s proposal is a response to the Hudson River Park Act of 1998, which requires Sanitation to vacate Gansevoort peninsula, the current location of a salt pile and sanitation garage that serves Community Districts 2, 4, and 5. The proposed 190- 200 ft. wide, 413 ft. long garage would be located at 500 Washington Street, south of St. John’s Center. The garage would provide support services for Sanitation’s operations in Districts 1, 2, and 5, including a 34,000 gallon refueling station. The salt shed would replace Sanitation’s District 1 garage located at 553 Canal Street. The shed would cover the entire 14,575 sq.ft. lot area.

At the hearing, Sanitation representatives testified that consolidating the three District garages at Washington Street would provide efficient dispersal of sanitation vehicles and allow the City to convert the Gansevoort peninsula garage site into green space. (more…)