As follow up to last Wednesday’s Community Board 7 Land Use hearing about a SECOND extension for Congregation Shearith Israel, the WEST SIDE RAG has a run down of what transpired. Properly noting that “few if any of the 70 participants at the packed Community Board 7 Land Use Committee meeting Wednesday evening got what they wanted,” the article cites a long saga which the applicant’s lawyer attempted to gloss over.
Although the proceedings are about a community house, not the individually landmarked sanctuary, landmark issues are at play because not only is the site within the historic district, its a contextually zoned block with R8-B zoning designation. This sets stricter limitations on height and bulk. R8-B for example, has a maximum building height of 75′. The building as proposed reaches over 105′ before the addition of bulkheads for stairs, elevator overruns and mechanical equipment.
LANDMARK WEST! has long been on the case.
You can catch up HERE and read the full West Side Rag article HERE.