Areas under study by the Department of City Planning for inclusion into the Special West Chelsea District. “Area A” (at bottom) is currently before the City Planning Commission. Image credit: DCP

CPC certified application to increase the district’s footprint.  On September 2, 2014, the City Planning Commission held a review session on the Department of City Planning’s proposal to expand the Special West Chelsea District.  The proposal would expand the district by one partial block, generally bounded by West 15th Street to the north, West 14th Street to the south, 9th Avenue to the east, and 10th Avenue to the west.  The existing West Chelsea district is generally bounded between West 30th Street to the north, West 15th Street to the south, 11th Avenue to the west, and 9th Avenue to the east.  The district was originally formed with the intent of developing the High Line into a public open space, and the surrounding West Chelsea neighborhood into a mixed-use residential community.  (See previous CityLand coverage here.)

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The first CityLand issue – October 15, 2004

Welcome to CityLand‘s first annual top ten stories of the year! We’ve selected the most popular and interesting stories in NYC land use news from our very first year as an online-only publication. We’ve been reporting on NYC land use for eight years and we’ll continue to provide in-depth coverage of the latest land use projects, cases, and legislation in 2013.  The CityLand staff thanks you for your support and wishes you a happy new year!

1. NYU Campus Expansion Plan Reduced Again – NYU agreed to limit heights of the Zipper Building and Boomerang Buildings, and to provide community center if no public school is built on site.
2. Landmarking of Brinckerhoff Cemetery Proceeds to Council Vote Despite Owner’s Opposition – Owner of the vacant former cemetery site claimed she purchased the lot to build a home for herself, not knowing of the property’s history, and was not competently represented throughout the landmarking process.
3. City Council Rejects Sale of City Property in Hopes for an African Burial Ground Museum – Council Member Charles Barron lead the City Council’s rejection of 22 Reade Street sale in support of the site being used for a pending federally-funded African Burial Ground Museum.
4. Kickstarter Wins Landmarks’ Approval for Brooklyn HQ – Internet fundraising company plans to renovate dilapidated building in Greenpoint.
5. HDC: Proposed Legislation Would Undermine the Landmarks Preservation Commission by Simeon Bankoff.
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On October 25, 2012, the City Council Land Use Committee voted in favor of both the West Harlem rezoning plan and the Chelsea Market expansion plan with modifications. (See CityLand’s past coverage here). The full City Council was originally expected to vote on these plans on October 30, 2012. However, Hurricane Sandy forced this vote to be delayed two full weeks.

Under the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), when City Council review is triggered, the Council has 50 days to act on an application approved by the City Planning Commission. If the Council does not modify the application, or does not disapprove of the application within that time period, the Council is deemed to have approved the decision of the City Planning Commission. On November 13, 2012, the City Council approved both plans with the modifications. Fortunately, this vote was held just before the 50-day review period was set to expire. What would have happened had Hurricane Sandy prevented the Council from modifying these plans? (more…)