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New York

City pols really want to slow down controversial Two Bridges towers

Margaret Chin and Manhattan Gale Brewer are behind the effort

From left: Rendering of the Two Bridges developments, Margaret Chin and Gale Brewer
From left: Rendering of the Two Bridges developments, Margaret Chin and Gale Brewer

A pair of local politicians want to slow down three tall and controversial projects planned for the Two Bridges neighborhood.

Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and City Council Member Margaret Chin want to make the city’s land use review process apply to the incoming residential buildings, which would lead to feedback on them from Brewer’s office and the local community board, according to Politico. The process typically leads to developers agreeing to community benefits to help assuage concerns of local residents about their projects.

JDS Development Group is planning a 79-story tower at 247 Cherry Street, and a joint venture between L+M Development Partners and CIM Group are building a pair of 62- and 26-story towers at 260 South Street. Starrett Development is planning a 62-story building at 259 Clinton Street.

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The JDS project will contain 165 rent-regulated apartments out of 660, while 25 percent of apartments will be affordable in the L+M and CIM Group project. In the Starrett project, 191 of 765 apartments will be rent-regulated.

The Department of City Planning had previously deemed that the buildings only constituted a minor change to the Two Bridges neighborhood, but Chin disagrees.

“There was no plan about how to rezone that area or what that area really needs,” she said to Politico. “All of a sudden you have these gigantic towers coming in, blocking light and air, and so many units — thousands of units coming in at the same time.”

Earlier this week, JDS pledged to build flood protections in the neighborhood if its project is approved. [Politico] – Eddie Small

Tags
DevelopmentGale BrewerJDS Development GroupMargaret ChinPoliticsTwo Bridges