Council Member Margaret Chin. Image credit: NYCC/William Alatriste

An amendment to expand ground floor retail use received harsh criticism from Council Members, tenants, and the community board. On May 30, 2017, the City Council’s Subcommittee heard testimony on an application to expand the Special Little Italy District to abolish rear yards to expand retail use. The applicant, JBAM TRG Spring LLC, proposed to build a one-story addition to the rear yards of 55-57 Spring Street—eliminating empty ground floor residential units—to create an expanded covered space for retail use. The building owner had agreed to move yard facilities to the roofs of the buildings if the application were approved. (more…)