Search Results for: CityLand Top Ten

Council signs off on Karl Fischer-designed condos

City Council approved Martin Wydra’s condominium development, designed by architect Karl Fischer. Image: Karl Fischer Architecture PLLC.

City Council approved rezoning despite Council Member Tony Avella’s objection. On February 27, 2008, the City Council approved developer Martin Wydra’s rezoning and special permit proposal to build an eight-story mixed-use building and a 259space parking garage at 886 Dahill Road in the Borough Park section of Brooklyn. Currently, one- and two-story vacant industrial buildings occupy the 66,000-square-foot … <Read More>

EDC President Seth Pinsky Discusses Mayor Bloomberg’s Economic Agenda

When Robert C. Lieber left the New York City Economic Development Corporation to replace Deputy Mayor Daniel L. Doctoroff, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg appointed Seth Pinsky to lead EDC through the end of the administration. As EDC President, Pinsky must now shepherd through such legacy projects as World Trade Center, Hudson Yards, Yankee Stadium, and Willets Point. Less than a month after his promotion, and with less than 700 days remaining in the Bloomberg Administration, … <Read More>

Third time the charm for Jamaica Savings Bank

Jamaica Savings Bank. Photo: LPC.

Landmarks cites newly found political support behind the designation of 110-year-old Beaux Arts-style building. On February 12, 2008, Landmarks voted to designate the former Jamaica Savings Bank, located on Jamaica Avenue in Queens. This is the third time Landmarks had voted to designate the building. In 1975 the Board of Estimate rejected Landmarks’ designation, and in 1990 the City Council did the same. In both instances, the failure to designate … <Read More>

Basketball City to build six courts on part of Pier 36

City to lease portion of East River pier that had housed an OEM facility. The Department of Small Business Services proposed to lease to Basketball City, LLC a 64,000- square-foot portion of the one-story shed building located on Pier 36 along the East River, at the base of Montgomery and South Streets. In 2006, plans for the Hudson River Park forced Basketball City to vacate its former location on Pier 63 along the Hudson River … <Read More>

MAS’s Kent Barwick Reflects on Promoting a More Livable City

Kent Barwick has a stickball bat hiding in the corner of his office. He swears he does not use it, and who can argue with him? His office is in the Villard Houses in Midtown, and its courtyard is too small for a game. But physical boundaries aside, he would never have the time to show off his skills. Mr. Barwick, a graduate of Syracuse University and a Harvard University Loeb Fellow, is the current … <Read More>

BSA overturned on Queens vested rights case

Buildings made initial error in not issuing building permit. In 2003, Hamida Realty sought plan approval from the Department of Buildings for two, three-family homes on two adjacent lots that would share a foundation and a common wall. Buildings approved the plans, but Hamida waited over a year to apply for permits. When it applied, Buildings granted the permit for one building, but held the second permit, erroneously requiring Hamida to submit a site safety … <Read More>