Community Board members may vote on large area rezonings

Community Board members sought advice from Conflicts of Interest Board. Nine members of Community Board 7 in Queens sought an opinion from the Conflicts of Interest Board as to whether they could vote on the Planning Department’s 310-block rezoning proposal for Whitestone, Queens in light of their home ownership in the proposed rezoning area.

The Board advised that voting on rezoning proposals would not violate the Charter’s conflicts of interest rules as long as the … <Read More>


Condo dispute goes back to trial court

Developer sought to build controversial waterfront luxury condos in Brooklyn. In 2003, BSA granted 160 Imlay Street LLC a use variance to convert a six-story industrial building in Red Hook, Brooklyn into 150 luxury condominiums. The Red Hook-Gowanus Chamber of Commerce sued within the 30-day statute of limitations, but named as defendants only the City and BSA. With the limitations period passed, the City moved to dismiss the petition, arguing that the Chamber failed to … <Read More>


City to pay $21.5Mto park

City obligated to vacate the Gansevoort sanitation garage by 2012 and Pier 97 by 2008. The Hudson River Park Act, passed by the State Legislature, obligated the City to relocate by the end of 2003 its sanitation operations from Gansevoort Street in the West Village and Pier 97 in Clinton to begin development of park space along the Hudson River. The City continued to occupy both sanitation facilities beyond 2003 and subsequently began construction of … <Read More>


Riverside Park to get pathways

LPC approves pathways in Riverside Park to improve access to Firefighters Memorial. See full coverage, pg.171. Photo Kevin E. Schultz.

Work will make Firefighter Memorial accessible via paved curvilinear pathways. Landmarks issued a binding report approving the design for new pathways at Riverside Park, a scenic landmark built in 1873-1875, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, and located between West 99th Street and West 101st Street in Manhattan.

In the Landmarks application, the Parks Department proposed … <Read More>


Duggin-designed villa to have designation hearing

Landmarks takes first step in designation of former Staten Island home of prominent engraver. On November 15, 2005, Landmarks initiated the designation process for 1 Pendleton Place, an 1860 Stick Style villa built by Charles Duggin for William S. Pendleton. Pendleton was a distinguished American engraver in the 19th Century, and cofounded the first known lithographic shop in Boston. He was prominent in Staten Island civic life, founding at least two churches and serving as … <Read More>


Replacement of 1867 stable proposed

Former stable will remain in Chelsea. Photo: Kevin E. Schultz.

Landmarks appears to disfavor demolition of stable for modern apartment in the Ladies’ Mile Historic District. Anthony Schaeffer, the owner of 16 West 18th Street, applied for a permit to demolish a two-story 1867-built stable on the site in order to construct a modern apartment building in the Ladies’ Mile Historic District.

At the Landmarks hearing, Schaeffer’s architect, Morris Adjmi, testified that the new narrow … <Read More>