Major Developments
The City Planning Commission approved a high-profile proposal to rezone Soho and Noho to allow for more residential and ground-floor retail. The proposal covers 56 blocks in the neighborhoods, largely zoned for manufacturing use.Hotel developers in New York City may soon face a large obstacle to getting their projects approved. The City Planning Commission approved a zoning text amendment to require special permits for all new hotel construction, sending the proposal on to the City Council.
Radson Development’s plans up for City Council review call for a 794,000 square-foot, mixed-use building at 495 Eleventh Avenue consisting of two connected towers: a 55-story south tower with 683 hotel units and a 56-story north tower with 358 residential units.
Vornado Realty Trust plans to construct a 27-story, luxury rental apartment building atop the Rego Center shopping mall at 61-19 Junction Boulevard that would have 573 residential units with 61,000 square feet of commercial space. There would be 824,000-square-feet.
Silverstein Properties filed plans for a 13-story building at 44-01 Northern Boulevard in Astoria. The 428,000-square-foot building would feature 354 residential units and about 15,000 square feet of commercial space.
BEB Capital wants to build a 17-story building with 425 residential units at 1065 Atlantic Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant. The 509,000-square-foot building would also feature about 52,000 square feet of commercial space and 8,000 square feet of community facility.
Madison Realty is looking at developing a three-building, 700-unit complex in Staten Island near the intersection of Hamilton Avenue and Stuyvesant Place. The tallest building would stand 16 stories tall.
Hotel Association sues the City over severance pay mandate. The legislation requires hotels that either closed or laid off 75% of their staff during the pandemic to provide $500 per week in severance pay to service employees for up to 30 weeks. Hotels can exempt themselves from the mandate by recalling at least 25% of employees by Oct. 11 and reopening by Nov. 1.
The City Council approved extensive changes to the building code, which include allowing the special timber on projects up to 85 feet tall, or six to seven stories. While some buildings in the city have already used the material.
The Delta variant continues to stall recovery in the hospitality sector, such as hotels, restaurants and bars.
Gov. Kathy Hochul released $125 million in rent relief funds for property owners whose tenants either refused to apply for ERAP or vacated the apartment with outstanding arrears. The money will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis, with priority given to owners of small-to-medium-sized properties, those with 20 or fewer units.
Grubb Properties is making a $152 million bet on affordable housing in New York and has nine months to dig foundations and qualify for 35 years and tens of millions of dollars in tax breaks.
Two Bridges Associates plans to build a 73-story residential complex at 261 South Street, Manhattan. The proposed complex consists of two towers, connected at the base by a 14,500-square-foot community facility. It will contain 1,313 units.
JEMB Realty is planning a 13-story mixed-use building at 11 Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn. The proposed 396,000-square-foot development will feature 375 residential units, along with about 4,200 square feet of community space and about 4,400 square feet of commercial space.
Lonicera Partners plans to build a 34-story mixed-use building at 15 Hanover Place, in Downtown Brooklyn. The proposed 300,000-square-foot building would boast 314 residential units, along with 12,000 square feet of commercial space.
BEB Capital, filed plans to construct a 14-story mixed-use building at 737 Fourth Avenue in Sunset Park Brooklyn. The proposed 188,000-square-foot building, a collaboration with Totem, would consist of 185 residential units, along with 5,400 square feet of commercial space and 750 square feet of community space.
Prosper Property Group filed plans to build a seven-story mixed-use building at 85-03 68th Road, Queens. The proposed 150,000-square-foot building would feature 133 residential units along with 650-square-foot of commercial space.
Karten Organization filed plans to build a nine-story mixed-use building at 586 Gerard Avenue, Bronx. The proposed 147,000-square-foot building would feature 197 residential units, along with about 4,600 square feet of commercial space.
Stagg Group filed plans to construct a five-story, 92-unit apartment building at 4180 Carpenter Avenue, Bronx.
Aurora Capital Associates filed plans to develop an 11-story building on a lot just off West Street at 134 Jane Street, Manhattan. The 101,000-square-foot building will feature 15 residential units.
Pilot Real Estate Group wants to construct an eight-story mixed-used building on a lot at the corner of Union and Bond Streets in Gowanus. The proposed 81,000-square-foot building at 450 Union Street, Brooklyn will feature 24 residential units and 25,500 square feet of commercial space.
The DOE Fund plans to build a six-story community facility and residential building on a lot at the corner of Spofford Avenue and Cassanova Street in Hunts Point,1220 Spofford Avenue, Bronx. The proposed 63,400-square-foot building would feature 96 residential units and about 30,000 square feet of community space.
A judge served a legal defeat to a coalition opposing a proposed tower for the South Street Seaport Historic District, 250 Water Street.
The City Council’s land use committee approved a proposal to rezone half a block of near-waterfront land in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The developers plan a nine-story, mixed-use commercial building totaling 101,000 square feet, including 70,000 square feet of offices, a 22,000-square-foot community medical facility and 9,000 square feet of ground-level retail at 307 Kent Avenue.
