City nixes massive project in East Harlem
The city announced last month it would not move forward with the Uptown New York project in East Harlem, the New York Daily News reported. Set to rise on mostly city-owned land running from 125th to 127th streets and Second and Third avenues, the project would have included a 700,000-square-foot commercial development, 1,500 housing units, 1,000 parking spaces, and an expansion of a MTA bus storage facility. Uptown New York faced strong opposition from residents and local leaders.
World Trade Center memorial to undergo redesign
The design for the World Trade Center memorial went back to the drawing board as costs for it soared toward $1 billion. Officials from the city, New York state and New Jersey announced last month a capping of the cost of the memorial and memorial museum at $500 million, the Daily News reported.
NASCAR gets thumbs-down from Council members
In a potentially major setback for the proposed NASCAR stadium on Staten Island, all three City Council members representing the borough announced last month their opposition to the stadium, the Daily News reported. The stadium will need Council approval, and the entire Council usually defers to the delegation from an affected borough when it comes to major development.
Commission OKs West Village landmark status
The Landmarks Preservation Commission last month approved landmark status for parts of the far West Village, which should prevent demolition of historic buildings in the area and comes on the heels of a rezoning in the area last year. The landmark status applies to blocks of the West Village bounded by Greenwich Street to the east, Perry Street to the north, Washington Street to the west and Christopher Street to the south. Also designated by the commission for landmark status was a part of Weehawken Street between West 10th Street and Christopher along the Hudson River waterfront.
Commission approves Staten Island waterfront project
The city Planning Commission last month approved a $66 million proposal to transform a stretch of the Stapleton waterfront into an upscale residential neighborhood with public spaces. The proposal calls for 350 housing units as well as 12 acres of public space and commercial development, the Staten Island Advance reported.
Gowanus could be replaced with tunnel
The Department of Transportation has agreed on a subterranean route along the waterfront for Brooklyn’s crumbling Gowanus Expressway after reviewing proposals over the past five years. Funding and other considerations will determine whether the below-grade highway ever gets built. The 3.5-mile, seven-lane tunnel would cost $12.8 billion, the New York Post reported.
City considering rezoning part of Queens
A rezoning of another large swath of Queens is under consideration, according to the Daily News. A public hearing was held last month on rezoning a 21-block area of south Middle Village just north of Metropolitan Avenue between 69th Street and the area south of Metropolitan and north of Cooper Avenue between St. John’s Cemetery and Lutheran Cemetery. The changes would make zoning in the area more restrictive.
Spitzer charges eight with mortgage fraud
State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer last month charged eight people with a mortgage fraud scheme involving properties in Queens, Brooklyn and Suffolk County, the New York Sun reported. Spitzer said the scheme defrauded banks of millions of dollars.
City seeks proposals for Sheepshead Bay lot
To keep up with Sheepshead Bay’s population growth, the city’s Parks Department plans to seek proposals from developers interested in a long-vacant, department-owned lot on Emmons Avenue between Knapp and Brigham streets. The city wants to bring new green space, an eatery and parking for about 100 vehicles to the lot, according to the Post.