Commissioner Vicki Been on the de Blasio Administration’s Comprehensive Plan for Affordable Housing

At the CityLaw Breakfast on November 13, 2015 Commissioner Vicki Been outlined the de Blasio Administration’s recent actions and efforts to advance a coherent and far reaching housing policy for New York City, one that provides more affordable housing for low-income and working-class New Yorkers, strengthens neighborhoods, and at the same time protects those residents who are already benefiting from and have a continued need for affordable housing.


Department of City Planning Permanently Moves Central Office and Manhattan Borough Office

All land use applications and general inquires will be handled at new address; the City Planning Commission, however, will continue holding public meetings at 22 Reade Street. As of November 23, 2015, the Department of City Planning is no longer conducting its operations at 22 Reade Street in the Civic Center neighborhood of Manhattan.


City Planning Approves Parking Garage in West Chelsea

The automated garage will offer thirty-nine spaces within a mixed-use facility.  On October 21, 2015 the City Planning Commission approved a special permit for WC 28 Realty, LLC to construct an automated parking facility at 530 West 28th Street in the West Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan.  A public hearing was held on the application on September 22, 2015.  (See previous CityLand coverage here.)


City Planning Renews Senior Center Lease

Long-term lease renewal coupled with study for improvements.  On May 6, 2015 the City Planning Commission approved Amico Senior Center’s lease renewal for twenty years.  The center is located at 5901 13th Avenue in Borough Park, Brooklyn.  Amico has continuously operated as a senior center at that location since 1973.


City Planning Approves Conversion of Historic District Building

Permit would allow vacant commercial building to convert into a single-family residence.  On May 6, 2015 the City Planning Commission approved a special permit for Tower Management Holdings LLC to convert a vacant commercial building at 20-22 East 71st Street in the Upper East Side Historic District of Manhattan into a single-family residence.  The building was constructed as a single-family five-story townhouse in 1923, but was used as commercial offices from 1986 until 2007.  The … <Read More>


City Planning Approves One Vanderbilt Project With Modifications

The application seeks to rezone five blocks along Vanderbilt Avenue to permit construction of a new commercial tower.  On March 30, 2015 the City Planning Commission approved SL Green’s proposal to build One Vanderbilt, a 1,450-foot commercial tower, and establish the five-block Vanderbilt Corridor.  The building will be located on the block adjacent to Grand Central Terminal, bounded by East 42nd Street to the south, East 43rd Street to the north, Madison Avenue to … <Read More>