Extell accuses City Club of reneging on settlement over UWS tower

The nonprofit sued the developer in April, claiming the project was in violation of zoning laws

50 West 66th Street and Extell Development CEO Gary Barnett (Credit: Binyan Studios via Curbed NY)
50 West 66th Street and Extell Development CEO Gary Barnett (Credit: Binyan Studios via Curbed NY)

The City Club of New York is continuing its battle against Extell Development’s latest tower, despite a settlement, the developer claims in a new lawsuit.

The community group — which almost killed Barry Diller’s Pier 55 project — had agreed to drop its case over 50 West 66th Street for a $300,000 settlement, the Commercial Observer reported, citing court documents. The suit argues that Extell had reached an oral agreement with City Club that only needed to be signed, but the City Club then said they were only close to an agreement and continued its fight against the Upper West Side development.

The City Club sued Extell in April, claiming that its project planned was in violation of New York’s zoning laws. The New York City Board of Standards and Appeals ruled against the club in September but did open a review of the project’s use of mechanical floor spaces that could delay the project.

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A spokeswoman for Gary Barnett’s Extell told CO that City Club “should not be permitted to cause additional litigation costs and drag out its meritless challenge to this project.”

But John Low-Beer, the attorney for City Club, described Extell’s lawsuit to CO as “totally baseless.”

“We didn’t have an agreement, and the board decided not to settle,” he said. “There were discussions, but they were never concluded.” [CO— Eddie Small