Four billion dollar project includes over four million sq.ft. of develop-able space. On March 26, 2008, the City Council approved developer Sheldon Solow’s plan to build seven towers on the 9.2-acre, former Con Edison site along the East River, just south of the United Nations, from 35th to 41st Streets. The plan also includes public open space, community facility space, and parking facilities. The Council approved Manhattan Community Board 6’s 197-a plan as well, which covers the Solow site and the surrounding area.

At the Land Use committee’s public hearing, Council Member Daniel Garodnick, who had participated in negotiations involving the proposal and whose district includes the Solow site, announced significant modifications to the project. Solow will reduce the heights of all of the proposed towers on the site’s northern portion. The tallest tower will now be 595 feet, down from the originally proposed 830 feet. Partly to address the community’s concerns over commuter traffic to and from the project’s commercial building, Solow agreed to reduce the number of parking spaces serving the building from 400 to 197, and to deploy an on-site traffic coordinator. (read more…)

Council Member Daniel Garodnick concerned over Solow project’s height and density. On February 25, 2008, two City Council subcommittees held a joint public hearing regarding Solow Properties’ plan to construct a mixed-use development at the former Con Edison site, located along First Avenue between East 38th and 41st Streets. The subcommittees also heard testimony regarding Manhattan Community Board 6’s 197-a plan, which covers the same area.

The Planning Commission significantly modified both plans on January 28, 2008. Solow’s modified plan called for seven towers—six residential towers and one commercial office tower—for a total of 3,760,000 sq.ft. of residential floor area and 1,374,000 sq.ft. of commercial floor area. The residential towers would have heights between 600 and 700 feet and feature ground-floor retail as well as a publicly accessible viewing platform overlooking the waterfront. A public school was also part of the Commission-approved plan. (read more…)

Proposal covers one of the largest development sites in Manhattan. On August 20, 2007, the Planning Commission launched public consideration of the 17 linked applications of developer Solow Properties for sites along Manhattan’s East Side. Solow’s plan will now go to Manhattan Community Board 6 for a public hearing and vote.

Solow proposes to rezone the former Con Edison site, which runs along First Avenue from East 38th to East 41st Streets, to develop six buildings including a 69-story residential tower at 685 First Avenue and three primarily residential buildings of 57 to 66 stories at 700 First Avenue. A 45-story commercial building with 1.3 million sq.ft. of office space would occupy the remainder of the site at 708 First Avenue. Overall, the development would create 3,343 new apartments and 59,140 sq.ft. of retail space. Con Ed will maintain its existing substation on a portion of the site at 685 First Avenue. (read more…)