Council down-zoned lots with pending development. The Council rezoned 14 blocks of Greenwich Village west of Washington Street, replacing manufacturing and commercial zoning in the area with contextual zoning districts. The proposal came from the Planning Department after Far West Village residents complained of the growing number of large development proposals that followed construction of the Richard Meier-designed, 205-foot luxury residential towers along West Street.

In the proposal, the Planning Department designed contextual commercial zones to allow commercial and residential uses, but limited the size and density of new development to match the neighborhood’s existing character. The rezoning will cluster medium-density residential buildings on portions of West and Washington Streets and greatly restrict the density along the Far West Village’s narrow residential streets like Charles Street. (more…)