Approval included changes in response to Commissioners’ comments. On October 16, 2007, Landmarks voted to issue a certificate of appropriateness to allow construction of a five-story townhouse at 34 East 62nd Street, located between Madison and Park Avenues in the Upper East Side Historic District. The approved building will replace an 1882 townhouse that was destroyed in 2006 by a gas … <Read More>
SoHo Alliance seeks BSA intervention to halt construction. On October 26, 2007, the SoHo Alliance Community Group filed an appeal with BSA in an attempt to thwart construction of the Trump SoHo, a 42-story condominium hotel that would be located at 246 Spring Street, between Varick Street and Sixth Avenue. The appeal comes after the Department of Buildings denied the Alliance’s request to revoke approval for the condominium hotel.
Buildings approved the plans for … <Read More>
Columbia University proposes northward expansion; CB 9 seeks industrial jobs and affordable housing. On October 3, 2007, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on Columbia University’s and Manhattan Community Board 9’s competing plans for the future of West Harlem.
Under Columbia’s plan, the City would rezone 35 acres of Manhattanville, a section of West Harlem currently zoned primarily for manufacturing, and create a Special Manhattanville Mixed-Use District stretching from West 125th to West 135th … <Read More>
Plan will preserve low-density character. On October 29, 2007, the City Council approved, City Planning’s plan to rezone 41 blocks in the southern portion of the Forest Hills neighborhood in Queens.
The plan, drafted in consultation with Queens Community Board 6, the Forest Hills Community and Civic Association, and Council Member Melinda Katz, aims to preserve the low-density character within the triangle-shaped area generally bounded by Union Turnpike, 69th Avenue, and Kessel Street. Although the … <Read More>
Proposed law would prevent owners from undermining designation process. On October 23, 2007, the City Council’s Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Siting & Maritime Uses heard testimony regarding a law that would protect buildings throughout the landmark designation process.
The proposed law, introduced by Council Member Rosie Mendez, would prevent owners from altering or demolishing a potential landmark before it can be officially designated as such by Landmarks. Under the proposed law, Landmarks would inform the … <Read More>
Council Member de Blasio argued for modifications. On October 25, 2007, the City Council modified Two Trees Management Co.’s special permit application to construct a 6-story, 37-unit residential building adjacent to the South Brooklyn Savings Bank in Downtown Brooklyn. The proposal must now go back to the Planning Commission for approval.
Two Trees proposed to construct the building on the bank’s vacant parking lot and an adjacent lot. Located at Atlantic Avenue and Court Street, … <Read More>