Architect rendering of the proposed building at 505 West 43rd Street. Image credit: ODA

The fifteen-story building would be built over an open rail cut in the Special Clinton District.  On March 24, 2015, the City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises heard a proposal by 1818 Nadlan LLC to construct a new fifteen-story residential building at 505 West 43rd Street in the Special Clinton District of Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan.  The proposed building would consist of two segments, one fronting on West 43rd Street and the other fronting on West 44th Street, containing a total of 105 condominium units.  Eight of the units are designated affordable, and a twenty-three space accessory parking garage is also available.  The proposal requests a special permit to construct over a rail line and waivers of the height, setback, rear yard obstruction, and street line planter requirements.

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Diagram of rezoning area in the Special Clinton District in Manhattan. Image credit: CPC.

Council-approved developments in Special Clinton District will achieve 39 percent affordability across a range of Area Median Incomes. On June 26, 2014, the City Council unanimously voted 48-0 to approve applications which would facilitate the development of two new mixed-use buildings, the rehabilitation of another building, and creation of three new community gardens in the Special Clinton District in Manhattan. The joint applications were proposed by the Clinton Housing Development Company, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Taconic Investment Partners and Ritterman Capital. The project area is generally bounded by West 51st Street and West 53rd Street between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues.

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Amendments to Special Clinton District refine theater bonus zoning text. In 2005, the City Council approved several applications submitted by the Department of City Planning intended to revitalize the Far West Side of Manhattan. Among the approved actions was the establishment of the Special Hudson Yards District and the creation of a floor area bonus for theater use applicable to “Theater Row” in the Special Clinton District. 2 CityLand 4 (Feb. 15, 2005). In November 2007, City Planning submitted an application containing text changes to the Special Hudson Yards District that also included modifications to the theater bonus in the Special Clinton District. In response to concerns raised during the public review process, the proposed theater bonus amendments were separated from the application and were set aside for further review. In October 2008, City Planning filed a new application that included the previously proposed theater bonus amendments as well as several new amendments also relating to the theater bonus.

The theater bonus applies to a one and a half block area bounded by West 42nd Street, West 41st Street, Dyer Avenue, and Eleventh Avenue. The original theater bonus text explained that residential developments that included floor area for “legitimate” theater space could utilize the theater bonus to add 3.0 FAR to the maximum base 10.0 FAR found in the C6-4 district. City Planning’s amendments clarify that for every three square feet of theater bonus floor area, one square foot of such area must be used for new performance space. The amendments also expand the types of theater (non-profit performing arts) and uses (rehearsal space) that may generate the bonus. (read more…)