Plaza near WTC site to be modified for open air café and extra seating. The Millennium Hilton Hotel, located at 55 Church Street between Dey and Fulton Streets in the Special Lower Manhattan District, sought a special permit to modify a previously approved 3,647-squarefoot urban plaza. The original 1980’s approval of the building granted the developers a 51,826-square-foot floor area bonus in exchange for creating the plaza. The modifications, which include new landscaped planters, an open air café and additional seating, are contrary to the urban plaza requirements.

The major part of the plaza would be reduced from 2,552 sq.ft. to 2,047 sq.ft. to allow the café as a permitted obstruction and a portion of the Fulton Street sidewalk would be altered to accommodate additional seating and landscaping. Additionally, because of sub-surface conditions,Millennium sought to plant the required trees at another location in Lower Manhattan. (more…)