2182-2186 Broadway

There have been a stretch of stores closing on the block of Broadway between 77th and 78th St. including Ruby Foo’s, the Manhattan Diner, Cosi, a Tae Kwon Do Center, Curl Up & Dye hai salon, the World of Nuts & Ice Cream.  The land is all owned by Friedland Properties, and it has been verified that they intend to build a 20-story residential building with commercial storefronts on the ground level. This building is being built “as of right”, which means that it accords with all zoning laws and therefore is not subject to discretionary action by the City Planning Commission. To find out more about “as-of-right” building, see the NYC Zoning Glossary – http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/zone/glossary.shtml. The application to the DOB was filed in February and initially rejected; however, this is a common step in the process, and the as-of-right status means that the application is likely to be accepted.

Block: 1169
Landmark Status: None

Developers: Friedland Properties
Telephone: 212- 744-3300
Website: http://friedlandproperties.com/about.cfm

Important Information

• New York Magazine has an article about the block, arguing that it would be a tragedy to allow this block of low buildings and accessible stores to be replaced by taller, impersonal buildings. They claim it would ruin the feel of that block and indeed endanger the existence of blocks like it. The whole article is here: http://nymag.com/arts/architecture/reviews/uws-davidson-review-2011-8/
• Several restaurants including Cosi, S. J. Kim’s Tae Kwon Do school, and Ruby Foo are already closed or are slated to close. Susie’s Nail Salon, Laile Rowe and Manhattan Diner will be closing, some because Friedland Properties informed them they would be demolished.
• The co-owner of Manhattan Diner gave an interview (an article about it can be found here http://www.dnainfo.com/20110215/upper-west-side/upper-west-side-diner-forced-close-after-11-years) about being forced to close.
• Friedland Properties has been accused of refusing to negotiate rents.
• There will be 172,473 square feet of residential space and 18,689 square feet of commercial space.
• When development begins, it is possible that there will be some inconvenience and construction on the entire block.
• The building has received 14 complaints, mostly about after hours work and working without a permit. This has resulted in 13 accused violations and 5 found violations.
• The property has 1 open DOB and 2 open ECB “Work Without A Permit” Violations.

Find out more from DNAinfo and the NYC DOB.

The Apthorp at 390 West End Avenue

The Apthorp at 390 West End Avenue is being developed.

Block: 1170
Landmark Status: Yes

Architect: Clinton & Russell (original); BP Architects (current)
Developer: Apthorp Associates LLC
Manager: Broadwall Management of Apthorp LLC
Sales and marketing: Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group
Sales office tel: 212.799.2211
Sales start: Fall 2008
Website: http://www.theapthorp.com/

Important information:

• There have been 77 complaints about this property, most involving illegal construction, plumbing or other work, which have resulted in 35 accused violations, 22 of which have been found to be actual violations.
• There should be no interference with driving or walking in the nearby area.

Find out more at http://streeteasy.com/nyc/building/the-apthorp

230 and 232-234 West 78 Street

Address: 230, 232-234 West 78 Street
Block: 1169
Lot: 45
Landmark Status: No

Contact:

David Middleton, RA
Handel Architects
150 Varick Street
New York, NY 10013
(212) 595-4112

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Summary of site plans and status

UPDATE: 3/31/08
The Department of Buildings sent a response to Council Member Brewer’s letter regarding after hours and weekend work, informing the Council Member that a Hold has been put on the issuance of After Hours Variances for the Linden78.
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UPDATE:3/3/08
Council Member Gale A. Brewer wrote a letter to the Department of Buildings regarding her strong opposition to after hours and weekend work at the Linden78 construction site.
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UPDATE: 12/7/07
Council Member Gale A. Brewer wrote a letter to City Planning Commission Chair Amanda Burden to bring attention to this type of developments that are out of scale and character to New York City neighborhoods. The following is quoted from the body of the letter sent to Chairwoman Burden:

I write to bring your attention to a new development planned for 230 West 78 Street (block 1169, lot 44), also known as the Linden78. The development falls within R10A equivalent zoning, restricting its maximum height to 210 feet. According to the self-certified New York City Department of Buildings application, the building has been designed to be 240 feet. Unless the development is building affordable housing and is subject to inclusionary zoning regulations, it appears that this building may be over the allowable height restrictions by 30 feet.

What is most troubling, however, is this development’s exploitation of current zoning regulations, specifically Section 12-10. Section 12-10, the “Lot, corner” definition, allows developers to erect towering, avenue height buildings (in this case, Broadway), virtually mid-block. In the case of 230 West 78 Street, the developer purchased its neighbor’s air rights to facilitate full “Lot, corner” development. The result of this purchase will be a 21-story building, with a significant portion cantilevering its neighbor. I write to you in full knowledge that the developer has in fact followed current building codes and zoning regulations, and by doing so was able to produce a building that towers over neighboring low-rise brownstones. My point is simple: zoning regulation Section 12-10 “Lot, corner” must be amended to prevent this type of situation from occurring again. My office opposes this type of development that is completely out of character, and more importantly, out of scale to the surrounding neighborhood.

The owner of 236 West 78 Street sold in 2007 their air rights to the above property. With these new air rights, the owner of 230 and 232-234 West 78 Street is now planning on building a 22-story building on this property. Through a zoning abnormality the developers are claiming this to be an “as of right” project, or one that does not require going through ULURP.