Government briefs

City Planning proposes Midtown East rezoning

The Department of City Planning last month unveiled a long-awaited plan for a widespread rezoning of Midtown East. The plan — aimed at encouraging modern office development —would allow building owners to build as high as 900 feet in the area immediately surrounding Grand Central Terminal. Outside this core area, towers of 700 feet would be permitted. The plan must be approved by the City Council. “It is critical that East Midtown’s stature as one of the premier business addresses in the world be maintained over time,” said City Planning Commission chairwoman Amanda Burden. “We are therefore pursuing ways to incentivize over the next 20 years the development of a handful of state-of-the-art office buildings.”

Albany to address tax increase

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state lawmakers last month said they plan to prevent a scheduled tax increase for owners of co-ops and condos in New York City, the New York Times reported. Homeowners complained when, in late June, lawmakers adjourned the year’s session without extending the city’s J-51 and tax abatement programs. But Cuomo, the Assembly and the Senate reached an agreement on “landmark” tax relief legislation last month that will be signed into law when legislators return to Albany later this year. Under the terms of the agreement, lawmakers would increase tax breaks for middle-class owners of condos and co-ops, but would phase out the breaks for owners whose apartments are not primary residences.

Hallets Point project could break ground this fall

A rendering of the Hallets Point project

A $1 billion residential and retail project proposed for the Astoria waterfront has cleared its last hurdle and could break ground as early as this fall, the New York Daily News reported. In late June, the state legislature transferred ownership of a seven-acre site along the East River to the New York City Housing Authority, paving the way for the proposed Hallets Point project, which would create about 2,200 units of housing, a supermarket and a park. Developer Lincoln Equities Group wants to build a mix of condos and rentals (including some affordable housing units) in seven residential buildings, as well as a waterfront esplanade and bike paths, and possibly even a water taxi stop, DNAinfo reported. The City Council will have to approve the rezoning before the development can move further.

N.Y.U.’s expansion plan gets final approval

New York University won final approval last month for its massive Greenwich Village expansion plan, the New York Times reported. By a 44-to-1 vote, the City Council approved a series of zoning amendments, permits and map changes that will allow the university to erect four buildings — housing classrooms, dorm rooms and office space — on a 12-block parcel south of Washington Square Park. Work is not slated to begin until 2014, and construction could last 20 years. Some 50 of the plan’s opponents watched the proceedings from a balcony overlooking the Council chamber. When the vote on the expansion neared, several opponents shouted out, “Shame!” After warnings, security cleared the balcony. Council speaker Christine Quinn said while she understood residents’ concerns, “I think this plan appropriately balances the need of an important university to grow and expand — which is good for our city — with the historic neighborhood it’s in.”

Compiled by Russell Steinberg