Planning Commission upheld on finding of commercial non-viability. Broadway Houston Mack Development LLC proposed a seven-story development at at the corner of 610 Broadway East Houston, replacing an existing car-wash, 150-space parking garage, and a gas station. Mack would also dismantle a grandfathered 2,800 sq.ft. free-standing billboard and replace it with three smaller billboards that individually and collectively would conform in size and location with the current signage law.

The seven-story development was permitted as-of-right; the proposal of ground floor and cellar retail space, however, required a special permit from City Planning. In 2002, Mack applied for the special permit and provided documentation to Planning of its attempts in 2001 and 2002 to lease the space for uses permitted in 610 Broadway’s manufacturing zoning. Mack supplied copies of ads in the The New York Times and The Village Voice, as well as listings with brokers and the City’s Economic Development Corporation. (more…)