Results tagged “residential”

It's been a while since there's been any movement on developer Michael Lappin's plans to turn the decaying old Domino factory in Williamsburg into a 2,200-unit residential and retail complex. Could it be the $1.3 billion project is being scaled back or abandoned, seeing as how the economy went down and hung itself in America's dank basement? The developer insists all systems are go, despite the fact that some of the banks underwriting the project have gone bust, and the real estate market is hobbled. Now some community groups and officials opposed to the plans are calling this an opportunity to reconsider the project, which some say will overwhelm the already stained public transportation system and parking situation. Assemblyman Joe Lentol tells the Observer, "We have now an opportunity to negotiate. They may be able to see the light and redesign the project so that it's more amenable to the community." Lappin says he expects to file the land use application with the city soon, and then the project will undergo the crucial public review phase.

The plan to turn the disused Domino Sugar Refinery site in South Williamsburg into a housing complex with nine residential towers, 2,200 apartments and 30,000 square feet of retail space is moving forward despite the economic downturn, optomistic developer Michael Lappin insists. You'll recall how back in June the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved revised plans for the $1.2 billion development, which promised to preserve the site's iconic sign. Of course, that was before everything went up in flames.

In 2005, the city approved new upzoning laws for the Greenpoint waterfront, allowing up to 30 stories (pictured: the city's rendering of what the waterfront could look like). Now the Brooklyn Paper reports that developer Dean Palin (the man behind this monstrosity) wants to build a 40-story, 422-unit rental tower as part of a 620-unit development at his 155 West Street property. Brownstoner points out that he "paid a whopping $84,750,000 for the site a couple years back and has just recently filed for demolition permits." He'll have to fight to get those extra 10 stories, which he claims to need because "he cannot build within 50 feet of a sewage pipe that runs through the lot, and he cannot touch a 25-foot section of wetlands at the corner of the property." However, Assemblyman Joe Lentol of Williamsburg says the developers knew what they were getting into upon purchasing the property; Lentol strongly opposed 40-story towers at the Domino Sugar development earlier this year.

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.

The number of residential construction permits issued by the Dept. of Buildings in the first quarter of 2008 declined by 46% from the same period in 2007, indicating that the construction boom that has gripped the city over the last several years may be coming to an end. The decline was citywide, with fewer permits issued in all five boroughs, although the sharpest decrease occurred in the Bronx.