Ridgewood South Historic District approved

New district in southern Queens provided high-quality housing to largely immigrant community in the early 20th century. On October 26, 2010, Landmarks approved the creation of the Ridgewood South Historic District in Ridgewood, Queens. The district comprises more than 200 buildings, and is generally bounded by Woodward Avenue, a line midway between Onderdonk and Seneca Avenues, and Catalpa Avenue and Woodbine Street near Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighborhood. The action follows the designation of the Ridgewood North … <Read More>


Council modifies Special Forest Hills District

Special Forest Hills District, Proposed Zoning used with permission of the New York City Department of City Planning. All rights reserved.

Maximum height limit reduced from 150 to 120 ft. in portions of proposed C4-5X district. On March 24, 2009, the City Council approved, with one modification, the Department of City Planning’s proposal to rezone and create the Special Forest Hills District within a 10-block area in Forest Hills, Queens. The rezoning area, roughly bounded … <Read More>


Modified version of EDC’s plan moves to Council

Commission finds affordability issue outside its scope of review, modifies other aspects of plan. On September 24, 2008, the City Planning Commission approved a modified version of EDC’s Hunter’s Point South Redevelopment Plan. EDC’s plan seeks to create an affordable, middle-income community along the waterfront in Long Island City. The plan calls for 5,000 new residential units, 60 percent of which would be affordable to middle-income families of four making $55,000-$158,000. 5 CityLand 125 (Sept. … <Read More>


EDC plan elicits debate over affordable housing

Proposed Hunter’s Point South development. Image: FXFOWLE Architects, LLP, Tom Schaller.

Opponents claim Hunter’s Point South will not adequately address lack of affordable housing in Queens. On August 13, 2008, the City Planning Commission heard testimony on the Hunter’s Point South Redevelopment Plan. The plan aims to create an affordable, middle-income community and waterfront park on 30 acres of Long Island City waterfront.

Originally owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, … <Read More>


Landmarks devotes meeting to potential designations

Landmarks provides forum for accord and controversy during numerous hearings. On June 24, 2008, Landmarks heard testimony on eight potential City landmarks, as well as one historic district extension. According to spokesperson Lisi de Bourbon, Landmarks grouped the designation hearings on one day to demonstrate certain themes and priorities like post-war architecture, public libraries, and the Commission’s recent review of architecture in the West Village.

The proposed extension of Queens’ Douglaston Historic to encompass 22 … <Read More>


Christopher Albanese on Building Green in the Big Apple

Christopher V. Albanese is Executive Vice President of the Albanese Organization, a nearly 60-year-old real estate development and management firm founded by his father and uncle, now known for its innovative environment-friendly developments.

Albanese grew up in Queens and attended Cornell University where he majored in Economics. Following a stint at Coldwell Banker after college, he joined the family business in 1987. After three years, he left to pursue his law degree at St. John’s … <Read More>