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    City Planning Hears Plans for New Building on Astoria Boulevard

    Zoning Map and Text Amendment  •  Astoria, Queens

    35-10 Astoria MIH Program Area. Image Credit: CPC

    On January 3rd, 2018, City Planning held a public hearing for the zoning map and zoning text amendment at 35-10 Astoria Boulevard in Queens. The proposed rezoning would facilitate a new seven-story mixed-use building. The ground floor will be used for commercial purposes and other floors will contain 35 dwelling units with 11 of the units as permanently affordable. (read more…)

    Tags : affordable housing, Astoria, Comissioner Michelle De La Uz, Council Member Costa Constantinides, Queens, Queens Community Board 1, zoning text amendment
    Date:01/30/2018
    Category : City Planning Commission
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    Mayor Urges Emissions Reductions for Existing Buildings

    Environmental Protection  •  Citywide

    Chart of City Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Image Source: One City, Built to Last, Technical Working Group Report

    Mayor Bill de Blasio calls for emissions reductions by mandating improvements to existing buildings. On June 2, 2017, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed Executive Order No. 26, Climate Action Executive Order, to commit New York City to the principles and goals of the Paris Agreement. On September 14, 2017, the Office of the Mayor announced new mandates on building upgrades to implement the executive order. According to the Mayor’s press release, these mandates will be enacted by legislation sponsored by Council Member Costa Constantinides, chair of the Council’s Environmental Protection Committee.

    Buildings, specifically fossil fuels used for heat and hot water, are the City’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. The Mayor’s press release included statistics of buildings emissions ranging from 42% to 80% of total emissions in New York. The current mandates will facilitate energy improvements to existing buildings by 2030. These mandates are the “most dramatic reductions into the coming decade,” and this is the “most ambitious program of its kind in the nation.” (read more…)

    Tags : Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Council Member Costa Constantinides, Department of Citywide Administrative Services, Department of Environmental Protection, Environmental Protection Agency, greenhouse gas emissions, Mayor Bill de Blasio, Office of the Mayor
    Date:09/27/2017
    Category : Office of the Mayor
    (1) Comment

    City Council Committee Searches for Green Roof Standards and Impetus

    Green Roofs  •  Citywide
    green roof

    Image Credit: Inhabitat.com

    City Council’s good faith attempt to provide standards for green roofs falls short. On October 28, 2016, the City Council’s Committee on Environmental Protection held a hearing regarding Introduction 0835-2015, which would amend the building code to establish standards for the selection, installation and maintenance of plants for green roof systems. The proposed legislation would incorporate into the building code a manual by the American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM E 2400, which offers fluid guidelines and non-distinct recommendations on green roof planting and maintenance.

    New York City is a prime example of the urban heat island effect which is defined as a metropolitan area that is significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas due to human activities. The primary cause of this effect is the accumulation of infrastructure. Dark surfaces, like asphalt, absorb significantly more solar radiation, and concrete and other building materials used in the construction of buildings and roofs commonly have significantly higher thermal bulk capacity. The heat effect is only secondarily a result from heat generation by a City’s inhabitants. (read more…)

    Tags : Committee on Environmental Protection, Council Member Costa Constantinides, green roofs, Mayor's Office
    Date:11/03/2016
    Category : City Council
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    Land Use Committee Approves Astoria Cove Project [Updated]

    Zoning Text Amendment  •  Astoria, Queens
    Architect rendering of the proposed Astoria Cove development project.  Image Credit:  Studio V

    Architect rendering of the proposed Astoria Cove development project. Image Credit: Studio V

    Approval came after negotiations increased the percentage of affordable housing.  On November 12, 2014 the City Council Land Use Committee voted 18-0 to approve the Astoria Cove development project, with modifications.  The vote was delayed several hours as negotiations between lead developer Alma Realty and Council Member Costa Constantinides continued into Wednesday afternoon over Astoria Cove’s housing affordability and other issues discussed in the initial hearing.

    (read more…)

    Tags : Alma Realty, Astoria Cove, City Council's Land Use Committee, Council Member Costa Constantinides, Council Member Jumaane D. Williams, Council Member Mark Weprin, Howard Weiss, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz
    Date:11/17/2014
    Category : City Council
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    Astoria Cove Developers Testify Before City Council

    Zoning Text Amendment  •  Astoria, Queens
    Architect rendering of the proposed Astoria Cove development project.  Image Credit:  Studio V

    Architect rendering of the proposed Astoria Cove development project. Image Credit: Studio V

    Council Members questioned the developers on the project’s affordability and use of union labor. On October 20, 2014 the City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises held a public hearing on the proposed Astoria Cove development project. The project, which would create a new mixed-use development of 1,700 apartments, commercial space, a school, a supermarket, and parks, was approved by the City Planning Commission over opposition by both Queens Community Board 1 and Queens Borough President Melinda Katz.

    (read more…)

    Tags : Alma Realty, Astoria Cove, City Comptroller Scott Stringer, Council Member Antonio Reynoso, Council Member Costa Constantinides, Council Member Elizabeth Crowley, Council Member Jumaane D. Williams, Council Member Laurie Cumbo, NYC Public Advocate Letitia James, Studio V, Zoning & Franchises Subcommittee
    Date:10/23/2014
    Category : City Council
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    City Council to Hold Hearings on Controversial Astoria Cove Proposal

    Zoning Text Amendment  •  Astoria, Queens
    The City Council will hold hearings on the controversial proposed Astoria Cove development project. Image Credit: Studio V

    Architect rendering of the proposed Astoria Cove development project. Image Credit: Studio V

    The project was approved by City Planning despite opposition from the Community Board, Borough President, and the local Council Member. On October 20, 2014 the City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises will hold hearings on the proposed Astoria Cove mixed-use development project. The project, designed by Alma Realty, is the first project subject to Mayor de Blasio’s mandatory inclusionary zoning housing requirement. Despite the requirement, the project has faced opposition from community groups and elected leaders arguing the designated affordable units are too expensive for current Astoria residents.

    (read more…)

    Tags : Alma Realty, Astoria Cove, City Council, City Planning Commission, Council Member Costa Constantinides, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, Queens Community Board 1, Zoning & Franchises Subcommittee
    Date:10/17/2014
    Category : City Council
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