Richard Bearak on the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office

Richard Bearak, Director of Land Use for Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, had originally intended to be an architect. But as an undergrad at the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT), Bearak unexpectedly developed an interest in city planning. After receiving a degree in Architectural Technology, Bearak was admitted to Hunter College’s urban planning graduate program in 1981.

Upon finishing school, Bearak worked in the private sector designing subdivisions and clustered developments in southwestern Connecticut. … <Read More>


HPD’s Cornerstone Housing Program audited

Comptroller found that HPD was successful in ensuring that the primary housing goals of the Cornerstone Program were met. In 2000, HPD established the Cornerstone Program, a new construction initiative designed to expand private housing and increase the City’s affordable unit housing stock. The primary goals of the Cornerstone Program are two-fold: sell City-owned land, usually for a small fee, to encourage private residential development, and create affordable rental and homeownership units in specific neighborhoods. … <Read More>


Council modifies street trees and yards specs.

Council Members Tony Avella and Melinda Katz secure exemption for certain one- and two-family homes from new street tree requirements. On April 30, 2008, the City Council modified the Department of City Planning’s proposals to amend the zoning requirements for street trees and yards. The proposals are designed to create green streetscapes, increase open space, and ameliorate storm water runoff problems.

Under the old zoning, property owners were required to plant street trees in a … <Read More>


EDC seeks developers for former Navy Homeport

Sites include residential developments, farmers’ market, sports complex and hotel. The New York City Economic Development Corporation issued three requests for proposals seeking developers for projects on Staten Island’s northeastern shore.

The sites are located along Front Street in Homeport, the former U.S. Navy facility in the Stapleton section of Staten Island.

The three new RFPs are part of the first phase of development under the New Stapleton Waterfront Development Plan. 3 CityLand 149 (Nov. … <Read More>


Commission hears Columbia’s and CB 9’s plans

Columbia University proposes northward expansion; CB 9 seeks industrial jobs and affordable housing. On October 3, 2007, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on Columbia University’s and Manhattan Community Board 9’s competing plans for the future of West Harlem.

Under Columbia’s plan, the City would rezone 35 acres of Manhattanville, a section of West Harlem currently zoned primarily for manufacturing, and create a Special Manhattanville Mixed-Use District stretching from West 125th to West 135th … <Read More>


Landmarked TWA terminal restoration project proposed

Port Authority seeks proposals for restoration of former TWA terminal at JFK airport. Designed by architect Eero Saarinen, the building was TWA’s terminal from 1962 until 2001. The main building consists of four reinforced-concrete vaults separated by narrow skylights, and is flanked by two wing-shaped, single-story extensions. Two elevated oval tubes made of steel framing with a stucco finish connect the main structure to the flight wings.

In 1994, Landmarks designated the interior and … <Read More>