On May 21, Manhattan Community Board 7 held a Housing & Land Use Committee meeting. (LINK)
Department of City Planning Executive Director Edith Hsu Chen first addressed the board for a discussion, explaining her department’s vision for a text amendment for this “uniquely large” lot, referring to the ABC Campus between West 66th and West 67th Street, Columbus Avenue to Central Park West. (LINK)
She addressed the joint LANDMARK WEST-CB7 application for a Zoning Text Amendment (which is still available, live, and awaiting action HERE) that would bring the aforementioned properties into the Lincoln Square Special District.
She went on to explain how City Planning’s Zoning Text Amendment would be similar to the LW!-CB7 plan:
- They WOULD also include the site in the Lincoln Square Special District (same as LW!-CB7 proposal)
- They WOULD NOT include a 30% lot coverage above 85’ (different from LW!-CB7 proposal; since our application, this was eliminated via City of Yes)
- They WOULD encourage more housing (same as LW!-CB7 proposal; although the LW!-CB7 plan outlines 1400 units vs. the 500 proposed, and 1400 > 500)
- They WOULD maintain bulk packing regulation which would require a minimum of 60% of the bulk to be provided under a height of 150’ (same as LW!-CB7 proposal)
- They WOULD require street walls (same as LW!-CB7 proposal)
- They WOULD NOT do an up-zoning, but maintain the C4-7 zoning (same as LW!-CB7 proposal)
If so much is similar, it begs the question of why City Planning won’t certify the plan and work out their City of Yes conflicts, especially when this has the support of the Congressman Jerry Nadler, State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, State Assembly Members Tony Simone and Linda B. Rosenthal, Borough President Mark Levine and Council Member Gale Brewer.