East River Mega-Development on Verge of Approval

Real estate developer Sheldon Solow's plans for a sextet of glass towers along the East River just south of the United Nations complex is rumored to be close to gaining approval of the City Council's Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises and Subcommittee on Land Use. A following vote by the entire Council will dramatically transform the East Side waterfront below the United Nations. Solow plans on building six massive glass towers for both residential and commercial use on the site of the decommissioned ConEd co-generation plant. It has also been suggested the UN could rent space in one of the proposed buildings.

Solow's proposed $4 billion project involves the largest stretch of privately owned land in Manhattan. Approval today hinges on certain modifications to the original plans, although what those changes are have not been made public. Objections have been raised in the past that one of the towers would be strictly commercial. Federal, state, and city officials have also been pressing for waterfront access for construction of an East River public park. Solow would have to grant an easement across his property to make that possible.

According to the Sun, if Solow doesn't gain approval today he'll face a much lengthier approval process that could stretch out for months. More details on the original plans are available here.