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    Union Square Park, Bergdorf Goodman, IRT Powerhouse Among Items Considered at Third Special Hearing

    Special Designation Hearing  •  Manhattan
    The Interborough Rapid Transit Powerhouse. Image credit: LPC

    The Interborough Rapid Transit Powerhouse. Image credit: LPC

    Wide support voiced for designation of monumental Stanford White-designed powerhouse and iconic Classicist department store, despite owner opposition. On November 5, 2015, Landmarks held the third of four special hearings to address the backlog of items calendared prior to 2010, but never brought to a vote on designation. Previous hearings were held on October 8 and 22, 2015. The November hearing was the first devoted to items in Manhattan.

    (read more…)

    Tags : Assemblymember Deborah Glick, Bergdorf Goodman Building, Council Member Corey Johnson, Council Member Helen Rosenthal, Council Member Margaret Chin, Fried Frank, Historic Districts Council, Interborough Rapid Transit Powerhouse, Landmarks Preservation Commission, Manhattan Community Board 5, Union Square Park
    Date:11/11/2015
    Category : Landmarks Preservation Commission
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    Addition to Tammany Hall Approved after Reduction in Size

    Certificate of Appropriateness  •  Union Square, Manhattan
    A proposed rendering of the renovated Tammany Hall. Image credit: BKSK Architects

    A proposed rendering of the renovated Tammany Hall. Image credit: BKSK Architects

    Contemporary dome would sit atop restored neo-Georgian building facing Union Square. On March 10, 2015, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to approve the construction of an addition, as well as façade renovations, to the former Tammany Hall building at 44 Union Square East, an individual City landmark. Landmark first considered a proposal for the site in November of 2015. (read more…)

    Tags : BKSK Architects, Christopher Moore, Commissioner Michael Devonshire, Landmarks Preservation Commission, Meenakshi Srinivasan, Roberta Washington, Tammany Hall, Union Square Park, Union Square Partnership
    Date:03/26/2015
    Category : Landmarks Preservation Commission
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    Union Square Restaurant Affirmed Unanimously by Court of Appeals

    Department of Parks & Recreation  •  Union Square, Manhattan
    The City was forced to halt construction on the pavilion at Union Square Park in 2008. Photo: Jonathan Reingold.

    The City was forced to halt construction on the pavilion at Union Square Park in 2008. Photo: Jonathan Reingold.

    Court found the agreement was a valid license and did not violate the public trust doctrine; Coalition hopes new Mayor will terminate license.  In March 2012, the City signed a licensing agreement with Chef Driven Market, LLC, (Chef) authorizing Chef to open a 200-seat seasonal restaurant in the Union Square northern pavilion. The Union Square Park Community Coalition filed an article 63 petition seeking a preliminary injunction against the City from enforcing the licensing agreement.  The Coalition won its petition in the lower court, but the Appellate Division ruled in favor of the planned restaurant in June 2013.  On February 20, 2014, the New York State Court of Appeals affirmed the Appellate Division’s decision.

    (read more…)

    Tags : Chef Driven Market, Union Square Community Coalition, Union Square Park
    Date:02/27/2014
    Category : Court Decisions
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    Union Square Restaurant Put on Hold by Judge [Update: Appellate Division Rules in Favor of Planned Restaurant]

    Department of Parks & Recreation  •  Union Square, Manhattan
    The City was forced to halt construction on the pavilion at Union Square Park in 2011. Photo: Jonathan Reingold.

    The City was forced to halt construction on the pavilion at Union Square Park in 2008. Photo: Jonathan Reingold.

    See below for update.

    Neighborhood coalition sued Parks over proposed plan to open restaurant in Union Square. Union Square is comprised of 3.6 acres of dedicated municipal parkland, stretching three blocks in length and one block in width. Union Square Park’s pavilion has hosted a myriad of political events and recreational activities for over a century. In 2004, the City announced its plans to open a restaurant in the pavilion. In April 2008, the Union Square Community Coalition (Coalition) obtained a temporary restraining order proscribing the City from undertaking any construction activity associated with its pavilion proposal. (See CityLand’s past coverage here). In March 2009, the New York Supreme Court dismissed the Coalition’s lawsuit. The pavilion was subsequently renovated and is currently being used by the City’s Department of Parks and Recreation as office and storage space.

    In March 2012, the City signed a licensing agreement with Chef Driven Market, LLC, (Chef) authorizing Chef to open a 200-seat seasonal restaurant in the pavilion. The restaurant would operate from April 15 through October 15 and boast entrée prices topping over $30. The agreement required Chef to pay the City an annual fee of $300,000 for the first year, increasing to the greater of either $457,777 or 10 percent of its annual gross revenues in the 15th year.

    (read more…)

    Tags : BNOdesign, Chef Driven Market, Union Square Community Coalition, Union Square Park
    Date:06/20/2013
    Category : Court Decisions
    (1) Comment

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