photo courtesy of streetsblog.org

Of course, we all know that the Big Apple is bigger than LA.  We are presently at just about 8.4 million, the highest population ever seen in the City’s history!  We also all know that we are more diverse and more dense than any other place in the nation.  The City’s Planning Department (a.k.a. New York’s Smartest) has a great wealth of population statistics http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/census/popdiv.shtml on the 5 boroughs.

We at ZONE are fascinated by several key facts: (more…)

Picture it: City and State lawmakers racing against the sunsetting of the 421-a law to modify and extend the program.

While it may seem like only yesterday, this scene actually played out three long years ago; and is likely to reenact itself in a few short months.

At the end of 2007, the market was still trending upwards (the fall of Lehman in October 2008 was months away) and the overall tenor of the debate was not if the program’s benefits should be limited, but by how much.  In the end, the program was extended for three years, the exclusion zone was expanded, negotiable certificates were essentially eliminated, and benefits were capped based on assessed value. (more…)

Two quick updates on the City’s two major subway projects – one positive, one less so:

#7 – Tunnel excavation has completed mining!  The extension of the #7 subway line from its current terminus, 42nd Street and 7th Avenue, to its new end point, 34th Street and 11th Avenue, is well on its way thanks to a completed tunnel excavation.

2nd Ave – 2nd Avenue Subway excavation is reported to have technical difficulties that may result in additional delay to the projected 12/2016 completion date for the East 63rd to 96th Street Phase

These two subway projects are expected to significantly alter land use and development in their respective neighborhoods.  We will keep you posted as these projects progress.

image via brownstoner.com

Streetsblog reported last week that the Department of City Planning is re-analyzing its minimum parking requirements in certain neighborhoods with good transit access, such as Downtown Brooklyn, Harlem and western Queens.  Currently, the Zoning Resolution requires that parking be provided for almost all new developments throughout all areas of NYC, with the exception of Manhattan below 110^th Street and in a limited area in Queens. (more…)

photo courtesy of wikipedia

The NSA is often called “No Such Agency” – since its operations are cloaked in secrecy – while the BSA has been called, by the Times, “a (powerful, but) relatively obscure agency”.  See the similarity?

Now, we can’t say that the Nation’s security hangs in the balance at the BSA – but, it does carry out a vital – and often misunderstood – role in City government and zoning law.  It is a powerful and quietly effective and efficient organization.  Like the NSA, it manages to avoid the spotlight, all the while subject to the (exclusive) control of the executive branch.  (NSA’s chief is, of course, appointed by POTUS – code for President of the United States; the BSA is controlled by Hizzoner, the Mayor). (more…)

A Zipcar, soon to be legitimized by the Zoning Resolution. Image via movementbureau.blogs.com

This Wednesday, the NYC Planning Commission held a hearing on the City Planning Department’s proposed car sharing zoning text amendment.  The text amendment would officially recognize and regulate car sharing services such as Zipcar.  Currently, Zipcar and other car sharing services are in somewhat of a gray area when it comes to zoning, in that they are not mentioned in the zoning resolution at all.  The proposed text amendment would allow car sharing vehicles in both accessory and public parking garages throughout the city. (more…)

Westchester County’s desegregation plan is again found inadequate and the court appointed monitor has given the County until August 9th to remedy.  The monitor questioned the County Executive’s “tone” in terms of providing leadership on this issue.  If dissatisfied, the monitor does have the power, under the original HUD consent degree, to revise the County’s plan. (more…)

Last week, the New York City Council’s land use committee unanimously approved CPC Resource’s application for the New Domino development.  As we discussed back in January (when the project was certified), the approval will permit the development of 2,200 units on the Brooklyn waterfront, along with community facility, office and retail space.   The project also includes 660 units of affordable housing, over 4 acres of publicly accessible open space, including a waterfront esplanade and a 1-acre lawn, and the preservation of the landmark Refinery building. (more…)

This week, the New York State Senate and Assembly passed legislation amending the “Loft Law” to apply to several hundred additional buildings.  The bill aims to bring illegally converted residential buildings into compliance with building and fire codes, and would essentially permit the legalization of such buildings without a variance or rezoning.  The bill, which was sponsored by Senator Martin Milave Dilan (D-Bushwick) in the State Senate and Assemblyman Vito Lopez (D-East Williamsburg-Bushwick and the Brooklyn Democratic Leader) in the Assembly, is awaiting signature from the Governor. (more…)

Image Courtesy of Landmark West!

As reported this week in the Wall Street Journal, an Upper West Side townhouse will have to demolish a top-floor addition (see shaded portion in above image) due to a lack of approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC).

In 2005, the owners (at that time) of the townhouse, 12-14 W. 68^th St.,  received a permit from the Department of Buildings (DOB) to construct a 6^th-floor penthouse addition.  15 years earlier, however, the Upper West Side/Central Park West Historic District was created.  The Historic District covers this portion of West 68^th St.  Being in a Historic District, of course, requires approval from the LPC for any alterations to the façade of the building.  No such approval was obtained from the LPC. (more…)