The city’s Department of Buildings issued a stop work order at DDG Partners’ Upper East Side condominium development site following criticism from a City Council member that the developer violated the spirit of the area’s zoning regulations.
In a letter, DOB expressed its intention to revoke its previous approval of a change to zoning rules that created a new four-foot-wide tax lot at the property. The existence of the lot meant DDG’s tower wasn’t technically abutting the street, which spared the developer from a series of extra requirements.
DDG will have to resubmit plans for the project to DOB, the New York Times reported.
“Developers regularly submit creative plans to maximize the square footage” they’re allowed to build, commissioner Rick Chandler said in a statement, explaining why his department audits previously-approved plans.
DDG bought the site, at 180 East 88th Street, back in 2013 for around $70 million. The company’s condo offering plan for the property – which called for a 32-story, 48-unit tower with a planned sellout of $308 million – was approved in December 2014.
DDG in total has contributed nearly $20,000 to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s campaign and to a political advocacy firm, the Campaign for One New York, that advocated for the mayor’s policies. [NYT] – Ariel Stulberg