Williamsburg Mixed-Use Project Withstands Legal Challenge

City approved developer’s request to rezone 15 tax lots to facilitate the development of two, six-story buildings near site of Domino Sugar project. Bruce Terzano (through JBJ, LLC) sought City approval to build a two-building mixed-use project at the corner of Wythe Avenue and South 3rd Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. To facilitate his proposal, Terzano asked the City to expand a nearby MX-8 special mixed-use district to include 15 tax lots on the eastern … <Read More>


BSA grants Red Hook developer time extension for warehouse conversion

BSA, which had granted variance to developer in 2003, grants time extension due to five-year court battle. In 2003, the Board of Standards & Appeals granted a use variance to 160 Imlay Street Real Estate LLC to allow for the residential conversion of a six-story warehouse at 160 Imlay Street in Red Hook, Brooklyn. 160 Imlay Street LLC had claimed that it could not earn a reasonable rate of return with a complying use … <Read More>


Rudin’s St. Vincent’s project completes public review

After City Council modifications, Rudin returned to Landmarks for approval to enlarge and reuse Reiss Pavilion. On March 28, 2012, the City Council modified the Rudin Management Company’s plan to redevelop the former St. Vincent’s Hospital Complex on Seventh Avenue in the Greenwich Village Historic District. The modified mixed-use residential project includes a new residential tower along Seventh Avenue, five townhouses along West 11th Street, and the preservation of the Reiss Pavilion on … <Read More>


Short time deadline for service sinks BSA petition

Residents missed deadline to serve BSA after filing petition challenging decision to grant developer time extension to complete hotel. Dutch Kills Partners obtained a permit from Buildings to develop a nine-story hotel at 39-35 27th Street in Long Island City, Queens. With 24 percent of the project’s foundation poured, the City approved the Dutch Kills Rezoning, which rendered the hotel project out-of-compliance with the maximum permitted floor area. 5 CityLand 149 (Nov. 15, 2008).  


Court rejects challenge to Chelsea homeless shelter

Group claimed shelter was not an as-of-right use and exceeded maximum number of beds. In 2010, the Bowery Residents’ Committee obtained a permit from Buildings to convert a twelve-story building at 127 West 25th Street into a private not-for-profit homeless shelter, drug treatment center, and offices. BRC planned to provide a 200-bed homeless shelter, a 96-bed reception center for the homeless, a 32-bed chemical dependency crisis center, and outpatient counseling services for up to 100 … <Read More>


$40,000 fine for illegal sign reversed by lower court

The Department of Buildings failed to appeal both relevant ALJ decisions. In 2006, the owner of 882 Sixth Avenue entered into a licensing agreement with Troystar Inc., a registered outdoor advertising company. The agreement allowed Troystar to install a sign on the facade of the owner’s building. Two years later, the Department of Buildings issued the owner eight NOVs, one for failing to register as an “outdoor advertising company” and seven for failing to … <Read More>