City Planning Hears Permit Request for Redesigned Ladies’ Mile Residential Tower

Through-lot building is opposed by Manhattan Borough President and Community Board 5. On February 4, 2015 the City Planning Commission held a public hearing on a proposed residential tower at 39-41 West 23rd Street in the Ladies’ Mile Historic District. The site is zoned M1-6 and is surrounded by commercial use buildings, but has been the subject of residential development attempts since 2006. (See previous CityLand coverage here and here.)


Ten-year permit for health and beauty spa granted

Spa allowed in cellar of building in Little Korea. BSA approved a special permit for a spa to be located in the cellar of an existing 12- story building on the north side of West 37th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues in Manhattan. The building, located in an M1-6 District, currently contains a restaurant, retail store, office space and manufacturing uses. Prior to seeking the special permit from BSA, the Department of Buildings granted … <Read More>


Increased Contributions to the Theater Subdistrict Fund Considered [UPDATE: CPC Approves Measure]

Contributions from transfers of development rights by theaters in the district would be increased four fold—from $17.60 per square foot to 20 percent of the sales price. On September 7, 2016, the City Planning Commission held a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the City’s Zoning Resolution that would solidify the contribution rate to the Theater Subdistrict Fund related to the transfer of development rights from 46 listed theaters in Manhattan’s Theater Subdistrict. Currently, … <Read More>


City Council Subcommittee Hears Testimony on Adorama Site [UPDATE: Subcommittee Approves Adorama Application]

The proposal would allow for a two-wing through block building with two floors of retail in the Ladies Mile Historic District. On September 7, 2016, the City Council’s Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises heard testimony on an application for a special permit to facilitate the development in Chelsea neighborhood. The developer would restore and maintain two landmark buildings on site—one of which contains the Adorama camera store. The remainder of the lot—currently a parking lot … <Read More>


City Planning Approves New Through-Block Building, Without Affordable Housing

City Planning Commission declined to apply Mandatory Inclusionary Housing to proposed West Side development, despite strong support from community. On August 15, 2016, the City Planning Commission approved a special permit to construct a new mixed-use development located at 38–42 West 18th Street in Midtown Manhattan on the West Side. This proposal is the third development project approved by the City for the site. The first approval was in 2001 and the second in 2008; … <Read More>


City Planning Approves One Vanderbilt Project With Modifications

The application seeks to rezone five blocks along Vanderbilt Avenue to permit construction of a new commercial tower.  On March 30, 2015 the City Planning Commission approved SL Green’s proposal to build One Vanderbilt, a 1,450-foot commercial tower, and establish the five-block Vanderbilt Corridor.  The building will be located on the block adjacent to Grand Central Terminal, bounded by East 42nd Street to the south, East 43rd Street to the north, Madison Avenue to … <Read More>