Opposition included FDNY, S.I. Boro. Pres., Council member and Community Board. On August 14, 2007, BSA granted a special permit to Gregory Montalbano, allowing proconstruction to move forward for a two-story, 5,565-square-foot orthopedics doctors’ office at 82 Lamberts Lane in Staten Island. The site’s residential zoning limited medical offices to 1,500 sq.ft. absent BSA approval. The two-story facility would employ eight people and operate on weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Montalbano would demolish … <Read More>
Search Results for: Staten Island
HDC’s Simeon Bankoff Talks About Life on the Preservation Front Lines
The temperature was in the 90s the day Simeon Bankoff met with City- Land. Mr. Bankoff, Executive Director of the Historic Districts Council, a prominent city preservationist organization founded in 1971 as part of the Municipal Art Society, and operating independently since 1986, had just returned from a demonstration on the steps of City Hall. While most would have wilted, the charming and voluble Mr. Bankoff animatedly discoursed for over an hour on the Historic … <Read More>
Designation of individual sites opposed by owners
Day of hearings on Staten Island properties proved controversial. On April 10, 2007, Landmarks held hearings on the possible designations of eight properties on Staten Island. While some property owners were positive about possible designation, others adamantly opposed. Owners feared that designation would mean reduced property values and restrictive government control of the use and possible modification of their homes.
Among the properties was 5466 Arthur Kill Road in Tottenville, built for an oysterman in … <Read More>
Hearings held on nine Robert Moses projects
Depression-era pools and play centers considered for individual designation. In the 1930s, under the guidance of Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia and Parks Commissioner Robert Moses, the City built dozens of parks and swimming pools using federal Works Progress Administration funds. In the summer of 1936 alone, the City opened eleven large pool-oriented play centers.
On January 31, 2007, Landmarks heard public testimony on the proposed designation of nine of these WPA play centers, including the Bronx … <Read More>
Landmarked SI village hall destroyed through neglect
Landmark status of SI lot officially revoked. On December 21, 2006, Landmarks rescinded the designation of the now vacant lot at 66 Lafayette Avenue in New Brighton, Staten Island, where the New Brighton Village Hall once stood, and after years of neglect, faced demolition.
Landmarks Chair Robert Tierney commenced the hearing with a brief recital of the hall’s history. Landmarks designated the 1871- built hall in 1965. After several failed incarnations, including a doctor’s office, … <Read More>
City’s condemnation of SI park to proceed
Three brothers owning land in Staten Island challenged use of ULURP to exempt City from condemnation procedures. In 2002, the Planning Commission approved an application by the Department of Parks and Recreation to add 14.5 acres to the Skyline Playground, a neighborhood park in Staten Island. Six of the 14.5 acres belonged to the Putter brothers, who planned to develop the site and had a pending application with City Planning for 50 affordable townhouses.… <Read More>