Council Member Brad Lander
The shortage of affordable housing is felt in every corner of our City. Reasonably priced options are elusive– jeopardizing many residents’ personal security and eradicating diversity from our communities. Our rapidly growing population of elderly New Yorkers is especially vulnerable; seniors face unique challenges at a time when stability is paramount. (more…)
Buildings only caught architect’s FAR miscalculation after six-story facility was completed. On May 9, 2012, the City Planning Commission held a public hearing on the Silvercrest Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation’s special permit request to legalize a six-story, 66,000 sq.ft. senior housing facility built next door to its existing five-story, 130,000 sq.ft. nursing home in Briarwood, Queens. In an effort to expand its campus, Silvercrest built a new six-story, 81-bed senior housing facility at 86-19 144th Street. After completion, however, the Department of Buildings determined that Silvercrest had miscalculated the maximum floor area ratio (FAR) permitted under the R4-1 zoning district’s regulations. Community facilities within R4-1 districts are typically restricted to a FAR of 2.0. However, nursing homes and senior housing facilities within R4-1 districts are limited to a combined FAR of 0.75. As a result of Silvercrest’s error, the nursing home and senior housing facility had a combined FAR of 1.1.
Development will contain 38 units of senior housing, office space, and 54 tenant parking spaces. The Department of Citywide Administrative Services obtained approval to dispose of a 47,108 sq.ft. site located at 240-02 North Conduit Avenue, currently providing 40 parking spaces for Rosedale LIRR commuters, to the New York City Economic Development Corporation for a new mixed-use development. EDC will transfer the site to Stone Ridge Homes, Inc., which will develop a three-story, 16,402 sq.ft. office building and a two-story, 38-unit senior housing home. DCAS stated that the lost LIRR parking spaces could be accommodated on an adjacent City parking lot, which is temporarily in use as a staging area for the Rosedale Station improvements.
At the November 30, 2004 City Council Subcommittee hearing, Council Member James Sanders Jr. stated that his concern over the senior housing facility’s proximity to JFK airport had been addressed by the developer’s commitment to soundproof the housing units and, consequently, he dropped his opposition. The full Council approved on December 7, 2004. (more…)
Rendering of 1810 Randall Avenue. Image Credit: CPC.
The new building will enable the church to provide more services to the local community. On June 8, 2022, the City Planning Commission held a public hearing for an application for a mixed use residential and community facility building at 1810 Randall Avenue in the Soundview section of the Bronx. The building, Casa de la Fe, will also hold a church. The applicants are the church, the Second Pentecostal Church of God La Hermosa, and Vertical Community Development Group LLC. The proposed zoning site consists of three tax lots on the northern portion of the block with Randall Avenue to the north, Beach Avenue to the west, Taylor Avenue to the east, and the southern border 100 feet into the block. The proposed zoning site consists of unused one-story commercial buildings, the existing church, and a parking lot. (more…)
Image Credit: NYC HPD
Supportive services onsite will receive funding from the New York State Office of Mental Health. On May 21, 2019, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Governor Andrew Cuomo and other City and State officials announced the opening of Tres Puentes Senior Apartments at 285 East 138th Street and 2550 3rd Avenue in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx. (more…)
