37-story residential tower approved

Tower includes parking garage and ground-floor retail. 1113 York Avenue Realty Company sought a zoning text amendment and special permit to facilitate construction of a 37-story residential tower with 211 apartments, 2,500 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail and a 195-space parking garage.

The site is located on the eastern portion of the block bounded by First and York Avenues, between East 61st and 60th Streets. It would be connected to an adjacent 41- story … <Read More>


ESDC unveils vision for Moynihan Station

ESDC plans to convert the James A. Farley Post Office complex into Moynihan Station West. Photo: Regional Plan Association.

Plan includes multiple development projects. On October 23, 2007, the Empire State Development Corporation released its draft environmental scope document for the Moynihan Station project. The project, first proposed by Senator Patrick Moynihan 15 years ago, would create a new train station within the historic James A. Farley Post Office complex, renovate the current Penn Station, … <Read More>


Council downzones 41 blocks in Forest Hills

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>


Sunnyside Gardens landmarked

The new historic district becomes the largest in Queens. On October 29, 2007, the City Council approved Landmarks’ proposal to designate Sunnyside Gardens, making it the seventh largest historic district in the city.

In June, Landmarks voted to designate Sunnyside Gardens despite it being zoned as a Special Planned Community Preservation District, which requires local homeowners to apply to the Planning Commisssion for a special permit before altering their building or landscaping. 4 CityLand 92 … <Read More>


Council modifies controversial Westside plan

Planning Commission approves modifications. On September 17, 2007, the City Council approved, with modifications, the plan to rezone 51 blocks of the Upper West Side. Two days later, the Planning Commission gave its final approval to the plan, finding no objections to the Council’s modifications.

The plan, the result of a two-year collaborative effort between City Planning, HPD, Landmarks, the Manhattan Borough President and local residents, sought to address concerns over out-of-character construction in the … <Read More>


Landmarks allows 15-story bldg. in Ladies’ Mile historic dist.

Karl Fischer-designed, through-block building similar to proposal previously approved. At its August 7, 2007 hearing, Landmarks voted to grant a permit to 42 West 18th Street Realty Corp. for the construction of a new residential and commercial building on a vacant lot at 38 West 18th Street and rooftop additions to buildings at 40 and 42 West 18th Street within the Ladies’ Mile Historic District. The plan calls for preserving the facades of the two … <Read More>