Council Land Use Committee Approves New Building for Shelter and Supportive Housing in East Midtown

The new building will replace the existing shelter. On April 4, 2022, the City Council Committee on Land Use voted to approve the New Providence Redevelopment Project at 225 East 45th Street in East Midtown. The project consists of a new 21-story building and an emergency shelter that will replace the existing women’s shelter, which is currently retrofitted into two buildings. The proposed building can be constructed as-of-right, but still requires public review as … <Read More>


CPC Hears Application for Ten-Story Mixed Use Building in Greenpoint

The building will feature retail, commercial and residential uses to replace a manufacturing warehouse. On March 16, 2022, the City Planning Commission held a public hearing for an application that would facilitate the construction of a ten-story mixed use residential and commercial building at 840 Lorimer Street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The requested rezoning site is the six southernmost lots on the block with Nassau Avenue to the north, Manhattan Avenue to the east, Driggs Avenue <Read More>


CPC Holds Public Hearing for Mixed Use Building with Light Manufacturing Uses in Astoria

The building will offer permanent affordable housing and light manufacturing space for creatives in areas like photography and woodworking. On March 16, 2022, the City Planning Commission held a public hearing for a rezoning application that would facilitate the construction of a nine-story mixed use building at 35-01 Vernon Boulevard in Astoria, Queens. The requested rezoning area consists of the northern portion of the block with 35th Avenue to the north, Vernon Boulevard to the <Read More>


City Council Approves Zoning Text Amendment for Permanent Open Restaurants Program

City Council still needs to pass legislation establishing the program. On February 24, 2022, the City Council voted to approve the zoning text amendment that will remove geographical restrictions where sidewalk cafes can operate across the city. This vote completes the first step in the creation of a permanent open restaurant program. 


City Council Holds First Hearing on Permanent Open Restaurants Plan

Many elected officials raised concerns about DOT’s ability to handle the scale and capacity of a citywide permanent open restaurants program. On February 8, 2022, the City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises held a joint hearing with the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection on the proposed permanent open restaurant program. The proposed permanent open restaurant program will replace the temporary program and establish a new streamlined program for the creation, management and enforcement <Read More>


City Releases Permanent Open Restaurants Program Public Survey and Public Engagement Schedule

The public engagement process will continue into the new year. On November 18, 2021, the de Blasio administration announced the schedule for the Permanent Open Restaurant Program public engagement process. The proposed permanent open restaurant program will establish a new streamlined program for the creation, management and enforcement of sidewalk and roadway cafes operated by the Department of Transportation.