42 residential units approved after a two-story reduction

Existing wooden-floor building will be demolished. Stressing unique construction costs and structural weaknesses, BSA approved a variance for a new five-story, 42-unit residential building on Union Avenue and Withers Street in a manufacturing zone in Williamsburg. The 15,545 sq.ft. site currently contains a vacant two-story, wooden- floor manufacturing building that will be demolished for the new development. The original application sought approval for a seven-story, 60-unit development with 24 parking spaces, which would have been … <Read More>


Ten-year permit for health and beauty spa granted

Spa allowed in cellar of building in Little Korea. BSA approved a special permit for a spa to be located in the cellar of an existing 12- story building on the north side of West 37th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues in Manhattan. The building, located in an M1-6 District, currently contains a restaurant, retail store, office space and manufacturing uses. Prior to seeking the special permit from BSA, the Department of Buildings granted … <Read More>


Permits extended due to substantial progress on foundations

Work to continue on 19 and 13- story buildings in recently rezoned Bronx neighborhood. On December 7, 2004, BSA granted two permit extensions, allowing work to continue on two new developments that will exceed the height limitations set by the City Council’s September 2004 approved rezoning in the Bronx.

On September 28, 2004, the City Council rezoned a 30-block area of Central Riverdale and Spuyten Duyvil, which restricted new buildings to six or seven-story heights. … <Read More>


Yankee Stadium area gets new BID

BID will address sanitation and security problems and increase marketing for the area’s attractions. The Planning Commission unanimously approved a new BID in the East 161st Street corridor in the Bronx, which will encompass Yankee Stadium, Concourse Village, the Bronx County courthouses, as well as existing one-story fast-food restaurants and street-level retail. The BID is proposed to extend along East 161st Street, from River Avenue on the west to Morris Avenue on the east.

The … <Read More>


40-story Park Ave South residential building approved

Building, designed by Christian de Portzamparc, will include a redesigned subway entry. 400 Park Avenue South, LLC sought a special permit and text amendment to develop a 475-foot, 40-story residential building on the southwest corner of East 28th Street and Park Avenue South. The 417,544 sq.ft. building will have street-level retail space, and include the relocation and redesign of the 28th Street Lexington Avenue subway entrance.

The 19,279 sq.ft. L-shaped site is currently occupied by … <Read More>


Hudson Yards Applications Approved; Sent to Council

New development potential of 26 million sq.ft. of office space and 13.6 million sq.ft. of residential; 24 acres of parks, a subway extension, and a new boulevard approved. On November 22, 2004, the Commission approved the Bloomberg Administration’s major urban planning initiative for Manhattan’s Hudson Yards, the area bounded by West 30th and West 43rd Streets, running from Seventh and Eighth Avenues to Twelfth Avenue.

The ten applications before the Commission would achieve a comprehensive … <Read More>