Residential development approved for former manufacturing district. On March 10, 2008, the Planning Commission approved Real Estate Industrials’ proposal to build two, seven-story residential buildings and a public parking garage adjacent to an as-of-right residential building and an existing four-story Red Cross headquarters on West 49th Street, between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues. The as-of-right building would have 41 dwelling units, while the two additional buildings would have 124 units total. The developer would demolish four single-story garage buildings and a surface parking lot to facilitate the development.

A portion of the site is currently zoned for manufacturing and does not allow for residential use. Under the proposal, the site would be rezoned from M1-5 to R8 with a C2-5 commercial overlay, allowing residential, commercial and community facility buildings as well as public parking. The site would comply with the Special Clinton District Preservation Area’s 4.2 FAR and 66-foot height maximums. A special permit would facilitate the development of an attended, 88-space public parking garage located in the shared cellar of the residential buildings. 31 of these parking spaces would be accessory spaces for the tenants of the residential buildings. (more…)