125th Street rezoning moves forward

Angry local opposition jeered and escorted out by security. After a public review that included over 170 meetings with local residents, the Planning Commission voted to approve the Department of City Planning’s proposal to rezone the 125th Street corridor, which includes 124th and 126th Street.

Once a prestigious epicenter of African American culture, the 125th Street corridor has suffered from a lack of public and private investment since the 1960s. In recent years, however, renewed … <Read More>


BSA hears appeal on Trump SoHo project

Community group’s appeal seeks to halt construction of the 42story condo-hotel. On February 27, 2008, BSA heard testimony regarding the Department of Buildings’ approval for the Trump SoHo condominium hotel under construction at 246 Spring Street. The SoHo Alliance Community Group appealed, arguing that the condominium hotel contravenes the manufacturing zoning district’s prohibition against residential development.

Buildings approved the plans for the Trump Soho on September 28, 2007 with the condition that the developers file … <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>


Trinity Real Estate’s Carl Weisbrod Reflects on Revitalizing Urban Areas

Carl Weisbrod’s office at One Hudson Square is emblematic of the changes Trinity Real Estate is bringing to Hudson Square—a neighborhood on the west side of Manhattan nestled between SoHo, Tribeca, and the West Village. A modern office space with advanced technological amenities, the building was actually designed in 1930 to accommodate printing companies. Much like the building, Mr. Weisbrod, as President of Trinity Real Estate—the real estate development arm of Trinity Church, one of … <Read More>


Rezoning approved for Dyker Heights and Ft.Hamilton

Community’s concerns over out-of-character development spurred down-zoning. Dyker Heights/Ft. Hamilton Rezoning: Proposed Zoning & Locator Map of Rezoning Area used with permission of the New York City Department of City Planning. All rights reserved.

Residents sought to end the replacement of single-family homes with large out-of-character apartment buildings. On July 25, 2007, the City Council unanimously approved the rezoning of 159 blocks of the Dyker Heights and Fort Hamilton neighborhoods of Brooklyn. Located at the … <Read More>


BSA denies challenge to NYU East Village dorm

City’s zoning laws do not restrict transfers of air rights from federally-owned sites. On June 12, 2007, BSA denied a challenge by several East Village residents to the 26-story New York University dormitory currently under construction on East 12th Street in Manhattan. The residents, who objected to the 26-story height as out-of-character with surrounding walk-ups, first sought an injunction to halt construction while they filed an appeal with BSA, which a court denied in 2006. … <Read More>