IN THE NEWS: Developer Zoning Fraud
The issue of zoning fraud, heightened by the Buildings Department’s broken self-certification program, was highlighted today in an opinion piece published today in Gotham Gazette, by Diana Florence, the former head of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Construction Fraud Task Force.
Community Advocacy: Recent Victories and Ongoing Battles
On the heels of of the news regarding 200 Amsterdam, we thought this to be a good time to talk to you about zoning and development.
U.S. Supreme Court Denies Stahl an Appeal AGAIN
FRIENDS is thrilled to share the news that the U.S. Supreme Court has denied Stahl an appeal for the second time.
Breaking! City Council Passes 25-foot Limit to Uncounted Mechanical Void Spaces
FRIENDS is pleased to offer this extremely limited opportunity to venture behind the scenes at Central Park’s center stage: the Delacorte Theater.
A Victory in the Fight Against Zoning Loopholes
The Department of Buildings (DOB) has filed an Intent to Revoke its prior approval for a 39-story, 775 foot tall tower at 50 West 66th Street. Extell, the developer, first filed for a 25-story, 260 foot mixed-use structure back in 2015.
DEVELOPMENT ALERT: First Avenue
As reported in YIMBY, The Real Deal and the Upper East Side Patch, the Developer Extell has just filed demolition permits for an entire block on the east side of First Avenue between East 79th and East 80th Streets in Yorkville.
ADVOCACY UPDATE: Inter-building Void at 62nd Street Periscope Tower Endorsed by DOB
After six months, the Department of Buildings (DOB) has finally responded to FRIENDS’ Zoning Challenge of 249 East 62nd Street filed in November 2017.
Frick Update: New Architect Chosen for Expansion
In June 2014, The Frick Collection announced plans to expand the institution, which included the replacement of the prized Russell Page garden with a new, out-of-scale tower. FRIENDS, among many other groups like Unite to Save the Frick, opposed these inappropriate plans. After much criticism, the Frick withdrew its proposal the following year.
Advocacy Update: Zoning Proposals Voted On to City Council
It has been nearly a year since the first public documents about the Zoning for Quality and Affordability (ZQA) Text Amendment were released, and nearly a year that New Yorkers have expressed serious concerns about the proposal’s negative effects on neighborhoods citywide.
ADVOCACY UPDATE: Another Win for Preservation!
Last November the Landmarks Preservation Commission announced a plan to remove nearly 100 buildings from consideration for designation. When a building passes the Commission’s initial review and is found to meet their basic requirements for designation, it is put on their calendar for a public hearing.