Proposal praised as valuable for Flushing’s commercial growth. On March 24, 2015 the City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises voted to approve a zoning map amendment facilitation construction of an eleven-story mixed-use building at 137-61 Northern Boulevard in Flushing, Queens. The proposal was recently approved by the City Planning Commission, and would offer commercial retail, residential, hotel, community facility, and parking space.
City Council
City Council, Borough President Push Against Illegal Home Conversions
The new legislation was announced in the wake of fire fatalities. On March 8, 2015 Councilmember Jumaane D. Williams held a press conference to announce new legislation to stop illegal home conversions in New York City. The legislation is co-sponsored by Councilmember Vincent Gentile, who has previously introduced two other bills to halt illegal conversions, and is introduced at the request of Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. An illegal home conversion occurs when … <Read More>
Council Committee Holds Hearing on Rent Stabilization Extension [UPDATE: Legislation Passes Council]
Legislation would extend rent stabilization laws for three years and call on state legislature to strengthen existing laws. On March 2, 2015 the City Council Committee on Housing and Buildings held a public hearing on Intro 685, a proposed law to amend the city’s administrative code and extend New York City’s existing rent stabilization laws. Intro 685 declares the existence of a “housing emergency”, where the city’s vacancy rate drops below 5 percent, and … <Read More>
Zoning Subcommittee Modifies Special Permit for Broome Street Conversion
Permit will allow Use Group 2 residential on the third through sixth floors only. On March 9, 2015 the City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises voted to approve a modified special permit for the conversion of 498 Broome Street in the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District of Manhattan to Use Group 2 residential. The approved permit restricts conversion of the building to Use Group 2 residential for only the third through sixth floors, and leaves … <Read More>
Zoning Subcommittee Approves Partial Rezoning of Fort Hamilton Parkway
Applicant seeks to build a six-story community facility for women’s health. On February 24, 2015 the City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises approved an application by Fort Hamilton, LLC to rezone the north side of Fort Hamilton Parkway between 53rd Street and 55th Street in Borough Park, Brooklyn. The application rezones the area from its current R5 to an R6 district with a C1-3 overlay, and is intended to facilitate construction of a six-story … <Read More>
Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito Pledges NYCHA Capital Assistance in State of the City
The Council Speaker announced $250 million for NYCHA and called on Albany to match the funds. On February 11, 2015 City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito delivered her first State of the City address at the Johnson Community Center in East Harlem. As part of the address’ overall theme to “lift every voice”, the Speaker announced a plan to commit $225 million in capital funding for the New York City Housing Authority to improve conditions in … <Read More>