Results tagged “approval”

The slightly less epic version of what was once dubbed the MoMA Monster, now standing at just 1,050 feet, was approved by the City Council today in a 44-3 vote. Curbed reports that "this was the last hurdle in the public land-use approval process made necessary by Tower Verre's desired zoning variances and air-rights deals." Last we checked there was word that developer Hines and architect Jean Nouvel may just leave that lot empty for a while so the NIMBYs can savor their precious view.

Today the City Planning Commission approved a controversial plan to turn the Kingsbridge Armory, a massive red-brick castle in the Bronx, into a mall that will include a large department store, shops and a movie theater. Outspoken opponents of the $310 million project include Bronx borough president Rubén Díaz Jr., who insists the developer should not get the green light unless future mall employees are guaranteed a living wage: "These jobs are not going to allow Bronx families to get themselves out of poverty." It's now up to the City Council to vote on the project.

Despite protest from Coney Island residents who say they need more affordable housing, the City Planning Commission voted 12-0 today to approve a controversial rezoning plan for the area. The proposal would rezone Coney Island to encourage the development of towers up to 27 stories tall, expand retail spaces, add 4,500 new housing units (800 of which would be affordable units), and create a new 27-acre indoor-outdoor amusement and entertainment district.

A proposal to increase a Greenpoint waterfront building from 30 stories to 40 stories was approved by Community Board 1 last night. Curbed is a little stunned, noting that "the vote was practically unanimous" and "that no one from the community showed up to object." The developer argued for the extra 10 stories because the lot (which he paid $84 million for) has limitations, due to a sewage line; the city's upzoning law had previously only increased the maximum height to 30 stories. Though there are more approvals needed, Curbed just adds, "the real issue is who is going to finance a 620-unit rental building in this part of Greenpoint right now."

After a long, bitter public battle, St. Vincent's hospital has won permission from the Landmarks Preservation Commission to raze the distinctive O’Toole Building in the West Village and build a 299-foot-tall medical tower. The hospital applied for, and was granted, a “hardship-status” exemption, which allows nonprofit landlords to demolish landmark buildings if they can prove that the building is preventing them from carrying out their charitable mission. Community groups, preservationists and local celebrities like Susan Sarandon have opposed the scope of the project, which also calls for a 235-foot-tall luxury condominium (in partnership with the Rudin Management Company). In a statement, hospital officials said they can now take "another step forward to building a 21st century, technologically advanced hospital for Manhattan’s West Side and Downtown."

Though most of the neighborhood around the Gowanus Canal has not yet been rezoned for residential construction, one development company has just won approval for a big condo project with buildings up to 12 stories high and a public park along the canal. Blogger Pardon Me For Asking sat through a "long and drawn out" Landmark/Land Use committee meeting last night (so we didn't have to). She calls the near-unanimous vote "a sad outcome for the community":

Let me just say that no amount of testimony from concerned residents at last month's meeting, no concerns about pathogens in the waters of the canal, nor warnings that the land is in a flood zone were able to sway a majority of our board members from voting yes for Toll's spot rezoning.

The NY Post reports on the Landmarks Preservation Commission pushing for the approval of over 1,000 historic designations while Bloomberg is still in office. "The number of proposed designations includes a planned new historic district in Prospect Heights with 860 of the buildings," and there are also buildings and homes in Chelsea, Ridgewood and Bed-Stuy (Alice and Agate Courts) seeking a longer lease on life. Bloomberg has 18 months left, but to put the 1K number in perspective -- last year only 369 buildings were approved (however, during Giuliani's reign only around 200 a year were approved). Curbed wonders "which neighborhoods or buildings don't make the cut before the clock runs out."

Word has come in via The NY Times that the Knitting Factory will officially make the move to Brooklyn...and Boise? Jared Hoffman, who took over the good ship Knit five years ago, announced that both the Idaho and a new Spokane, WA venue have already hung up signs -- something that Brooklyn may see soon as well, as the venue has just received the borough's approval. The Times reports they "won community board approval to begin moving into 361 Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the former site of the Luna Lounge." The space will give them a smaller New York presence, moving their multi-level, multi-room venue that's been housed on Leonard Street for 14 years, into one room with a smaller capacity (around 300). Look for a grand opening between 4 and 9 months from now, and don't expect to see the same look as Luna Lounge, as they'll be doing some renovations.

After reviewing a new design that one commissioner promised would “rival the Tate,” the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved revised plans for a massive residential and retail development at the disused Domino Sugar Refinery in Williamsburg. One bit of good news is that the iconic Domino sign, which had been missing from previous designs, is now preserved. Brownstoner was liveblogging the hearing and reports that LPC chairman Robert Tierney called it a "brilliant adaptive plan." Groundbreaking is expected to occur in the fall of 2009. See more approved renderings here, none of which beat the gingerbread designs.

Actor, director, producer, critically reviled restaurateur, and hotelier Robert De Niro made a cameo appearance before the Landmarks Preservation Commission yesterday to defend the penthouse built atop his new Greenwich Hotel in Tribeca.

Restaurateur David Bouley has emerged victorious (for now) after what he described as a “witch hunt” by some Tribeca Community Board members trying to stymie his liquor license application for Brush Stroke, a planned three floor Japanese restaurant on West Broadway. The dissenting board members have fiercely opposed what would be the fourth Bouley establishment on their turf because limos double-park out front and sometimes his restaurant waste leaves stains on the sidewalk.

Last night the committee that represents Tribeca for Community Board 1 voted against recommending full board approval for a liquor license for Brushstrokes, David Bouley’s planned Japanese restaurant and cooking school, which would be his fourth eatery in the neighborhood. In withholding approval for the license, the committee cited prior health code violations, a carbon monoxide leak, the glut of limos crowding the street outside his restaurants, and controversy surrounding Bouley’s attempt to claim $2.2 million for lost business income after 9/11 despite winning a $5.8 million contract with the Red Cross to feed Ground Zero recovery workers.