NYCHA, City, and Federal Government Will Come Together To Fix Public Housing

Consent decree seeks to create a common game plan to funding to ameliorate problems at  the New York City Housing Authority. Public housing has been under the public eye in the last few years due to allegations of mismanagement from its leadership. On June 11, 2018, Mayor Bill de Blasio held a press conference on the future of public housing in New York City. The Mayor announced that the City agreed to a settlement, memorialized … <Read More>


City Planning Approves National Black Theater Building in East Harlem

The National Black Theater is developing new performance space, retail space, and 240 residential units, including 72 affordable units, in East Harlem. On October 18, 2017, the City Planning Commission issued a favorable report on an application by NBT Victory Development LLC. The application for a zoning map amendment, a zoning text amendment, and a special permit to waive required parking will facilitate the development of a 20-story mixed-used building including housing, retail space, and … <Read More>


5Pointz: The Anti-Rebellion Message of the Graffiti Dispute

Graffiti has become much more than spray-painted tags and quickly disappearing pieces on train cars and underpasses. In some quarters it is now high art. Highly prized are works by Shepard Fairey, the artist behind the “Hope” poster Fairey made for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, Jean-Michel Basquiat, who began as a graffiti artist and whose works today command huge prices, and Banksy, whose street works are carefully preserved.  These dramatic changes in the nature and … <Read More>


135-Foot-Tall Building Proposed for Corner of Broadway and Canal

Application would see demolition of 3 structures, construction of new 8-story development, and restoration of an 1823 Italianate building. On October 24, 2017, the Landmarks Preservation Commission considered an application concerning three properties at the corner of Canal Street and Broadway in SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District. The applicant proposed to demolish existing buildings, at 419421 Broadway and 301 Canal Street, and develop a new 135-foot-tall commercial structure. The new building … <Read More>


LPC Approves Favorable Report for Century Association Building

In exchange for bulk waivers for 16th Street development Tishman Realty will restore and maintain the Century Association Building. At its meeting on September 12, 2017, the Landmarks Preservation Commission revisited an application by Tishman Realty to create a restoration and maintenance plan for the individually landmarked Century Association Building as part of a 74-711 special permit application to City Planning. The City Planning application entails the redevelopment of an adjoining lot at 110 … <Read More>


Commissioners Stymied by Century Association Special Permit

A City Planning application, which required report from Landmarks, would see the restoration and maintenance of the Century Association Building in exchange for special permits to develop 21-story tower. On July 18, 2017, the Landmarks Preservation Commission considered an application from Tishman Realty for a restoration and maintenance plan for the Century Association Building, an individual City landmark, as part of a 74-711 special permit application to City Planning. In a 74-11 application, … <Read More>