New Hotel, Partially within Historic District, Approved after Revisions

Six-story-plus-penthouse hotel approved after applicants changed the brick used in the cladding, and added masonry to large window openings. On September 8, 2015, the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved a proposal demolishing an existing building at 456 Greenwich Street in Manhattan, and constructing a new hotel, with ground-floor retail uses. The lot to be developed lies partially within the Tribeca North Historic District, with the western portion of the site lying outside of the landmarked … <Read More>


Council Approves Hospital for Special Surgery Expansion

Expansion is designed to increase Hospital’s operating-room capacity.  On July 23, 2015 the City Council approved a special permit for expansion of the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan’s Upper East Side.  The expansion will increase HSS’ lot coverage by 2,820 square feet.  The permit was unanimously approved by the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises on July 20 and by the Committee on Land Use on July 21.


Garodnick Addresses Phase Two of East Midtown Rezoning

The Councilmember spoke to early details of what’s next after the Vanderbilt Corridor.  On July 16, 2015 City Councilmember Daniel Garodnick delivered the keynote address at the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce’s panel discussion on the East Midtown Rezoning.  (See CityLand’s complete video of the event here.)


Legislation Introduced on Sidewalk Accessibility

Bill would increase penalties on property owners for failing to maintain pedestrian curb ramps.  On June 26, 2015, New York City Councilmember Ben Kallos introduced a bill that would increase responsibility on the property owner for maintaining pedestrian curb ramps connecting City sidewalks to crosswalks.  A study by the Center for the Independence of the Disabled New York found that out of 1,000 curbs located in lower Manhattan, 75 percent were hazardous for disabled residents.


BSA Approves Variance for New Brooklyn Hotel

Board granted the variance over community opposition.  On May 19, 2015 the Board of Standards and Appeals granted a variance to Bond Street Owner LLC for constructing a new thirteen-story hotel at 51-63 Bond Street in Downtown Brooklyn.  The development site is partially within a C6-1 zoning district and partially within an R6B district.  The Department of Buildings originally denied the permit on August 7, 2014 because the proposed hotel exceeded the maximum floor … <Read More>


Zoning Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Ladies’ Mile Residential Tower [UPDATE: Subcommittee Modifies, Approves Tower]

The proposed building would be located in a commercial district on a present-day parking lot.  On April 23, 2015 the City Council Subcommitee on Zoning and Franchises held a public hearing on 39 West 23rd Street, LLC’s proposal for a residential tower at 39-41 West 23rd Street in the Ladies’ Mile Historic District of Manhattan.  The proposal would build the tower, made of two building segments reaching a maximum height of 278 feet, on a … <Read More>