Rezoning of S.I. commercial corridors approved

Staten Island proposed new zoning. Image: courtesy NYC Department of City Planning.

Plan brings three separate commercial corridors into conformance with zoning regulations. On January 18, 2011, the City Council approved the Department of City Planning’s proposal to apply commercial overlays to three commercial corridors comprising 28 total blocks in Staten Island: Richmond Avenue from Victory Boulevard to Travis Avenue; Hylan Boulevard between Naughton and Seaver Avenues; and Hylan Boulevard between Richmond Avenue and Goodall … <Read More>


Second Circuit affirms Park Avenue church ruling

District court stopped Buildings from revoking church’s catering permit. The Third Church of Christ, Scientist, located at Park Avenue and 63rd Street in Manhattan, had a dwindling congregation, and its 80-yearold building was in need of major repairs. In order to avoid selling the building, Third Church agreed to allow Rose Group Park Avenue LLC to cater private events at the church. In exchange, Rose Group would pay for Third Church’s operating expenses and capital … <Read More>


ECB dismissed charge against architect

Board found that Buildings retroactively applied building code provision after architect allegedly self-certified non-conforming plans. In 2006, architect David Millner submitted to Buildings self-certified alteration plans depicting the replacement of a 69 sq.ft. rear deck and the enlargement of a basement bathroom in a three-story home built in the 1930s at 1-69 Beach 91st Street in Rockaway Beach, Queens. Buildings audited the plans and in February 2010 issued Millner a notice of violation for submitting … <Read More>


Brian Cook Discusses Land Use Under the Manhattan Borough President

Brian Cook, Director of Land Use for Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer, first developed an interest in land use while pursuing a degree in Metropolitan Studies from New York University. Cook stayed on to pursue a master’s degree in Public Policy with the hopes of learning how international governments shape land use policy. During his studies, however, Cook says he was “fascinated” by a course that centered on New York City’s Uniform Land … <Read More>


Car-share parking text amendment modified

Commission determined that clear off-street parking rules for car-share vehicles would help alleviate traffic congestion and increase available spaces. On August 11, 2010, the City Planning Commission modified the Department of City Planning’s proposed zoning text amendment that would establish off-street parking guidelines for car-share vehicles offered by companies such as ZipCar and Connect by Hertz.

The zoning resolution’s offstreet parking regulations address where private vehicles and traditional car rentals are permitted to park, but … <Read More>


Seventeen-story, four-unit sliver tower approved

Buildings denied permit after deciding high-rise building would not comply with State law. In 1999, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development designated a five-story townhouse at 330 West 86th Street as an Urban Development Action Area Project (UDAAP). HPD then sold the property through its Asset Sale Program to the building’s tenants. Two years later, Robert Ricciardelli purchased the property with the intention of demolishing the townhouse and building a high-rise apartment building … <Read More>