Speed of Subway Trains Challenged

Subway trains at the Spring Street station twice struck passengers lying on the tracks on separate occasions. How fast should subway trains be moving when they enter a station? The faster the subway trains go, the more people the trains can carry and the quicker people will get to their destinations. Even a slowdown of a few seconds per train can slow the entire system. Speed is so important to the mission of the Transit … <Read More>


Landmarks Launches Digital Archive of Designation Photos

Over 55 years of photos of historic landmarks across New York City are now available on a publicly-accessible digital archive. On August 18, 2022, the Landmarks Preservation Commission announced the launch of its Designation Photo Collection, a searchable digital photo archive of the City’s designated landmarks and historic districts. For the first time, members of the public can search through high-resolution photos of designated buildings and sites throughout the five boroughs. The images, which … <Read More>


COMMENTARY: Could Landmarks Have Saved Dangler House? City Should Conduct Post-Demolition Official Review

On July 21, 2022, the Jacob Dangler House at 441 Willoughby Avenue in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, was demolished less than two weeks after the Landmarks Preservation Commission held a public hearing to consider its designation as an Individual Landmark. Despite the attempt by Landmarks to save the Dangler House by commencing the designation process, the Commission has been criticized for not acting quickly enough. Could Landmarks have actually done more?


Council Passes Utility Advocate Bill

On July 14, 2022, the City Council voted in favor of creating an Office of the Utility Advocate. The new office will receive communications from utility customers, conduct outreach, and represent customer interests at public hearings like utility rate cases. For CityLand‘s prior coverage of this legislation, click here.


Landmarks Holds Public Hearing for Jacob Dangler House

UPDATE: (7/21/22) The developer began demolition on the Dangler House on July 21, 2022. CityLand will continue to follow this story as it develops.

The owner and a potential developer oppose landmarking, but many community members support saving the French Gothic mansion. On July 12, 2022, the Landmarks Preservation Commission held a public hearing for the designation of the Jacob Dangler House as an Individual Landmark. Located at 441 Willoughby Avenue at the intersection of … <Read More>


Zoning for Economic Opportunity Aims to Remove Zoning Obstacles for Certain Types of Businesses

On Wednesday, June 1, Mayor Eric Adams outlined his, City of Yes initiative. This initiative is the next phase of his, Rebuild, Renew, Reinvent,” plan to stimulate recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. “City of Yes,” is built around a series of three as-yet-unwritten zoning text amendments to modernize and simplify zoning resolutions to encourage business growth, stimulate housing creation, and reduce the city’s carbon footprint.