Council expected to pass Solow’s big East River project

Developer Sheldon Solow has spent more than seven years and over $100 million demolishing and cleaning up the old Con-Ed site on the East River, which he bought for $630 million. Now his $4 billion plan to build seven towers is finally expected to be approved by the City Council after its Land Use Committee unanimously approved it yesterday. Solow made several concessions to placate Councilman Daniel Garodnick and other elected officials, including State Senator Liz Krueger and the Manhattan borough president, Scott Stringer. Solow reduced the height of the proposed residential tower on the west side of First Avenue, between 39th and 40th Streets, from 69 stories to 44, and trimmed three other towers. He pledged $10 million for a public pedestrian bridge over the Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive, which would connect the property to a proposed waterfront park. A controversial office tower, however, is still planned.