Google map view of St. Mary's Hospital
Opponent’s attempt to stop construction declared moot. St. Mary’s Hospital for Children operates a 97-bed children’s hospital on an eight-acre campus at 29-01 216th Street in Bayside, Queens. The hospital building was built in the 1950s. In 2006, St. Mary’s sought to add a five-story, 90,000 sq.ft. addition to the eastern side of the hospital. In October 2008, St. Mary’s sought a determination from the Department of Buildings confirming that the site was permitted a maximum floor area ratio (FAR) of 1.0. Buildings denied the request, stating that the proposed addition needed to comply with a 1973 amendment to the zoning resolution restricting community facilities like St. Mary’s to a maximum FAR of 0.5. The amendment included an exception clause indicating that the amendment “shall not apply to buildings for which plans were filed with the Department of Buildings prior to November 15, 1972 including any subsequent amendments thereof.” On October 20, 2010, Buildings reconsidered, approving the request and allowing an FAR of 1.0 because the hospital was built prior to November 15, 1972.
