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.
A year-end message from the Executive Director of FRIENDS
From the New York City Council to the U.S. Supreme Court — it's been a year of stunning successes for FRIENDS!
Help FRIENDS Fight Against Upper East Side Mega-Towers
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? That's what I said when I saw this image showing the impact of two massive residential towers looming over a block of historic, elegant, five-story row houses like Behemoth Bookends.
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.
Mechanical Voids Zoning Text Amendment Summary and Impact
On Wednesday, May 29th, the New York City Council voted to amend the Zoning Resolution to cap exempt mechanical void space within new buildings in residential neighborhoods.
New York Times Covers FRIENDS’ Challenge of 1059 Third Avenue
As reported in April 2019, FRIENDS of the Upper East Side Historic Districts filed a zoning challenge against 1059 Third Avenue, at the corner of East 63rd Street.
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.
Decision Regarding Marx Brothers Playground Issued
FRIENDS is grateful for the support of the community who supported this fight, and who continue to believe in the importance of protecting our neighborhood’s public open space.
FRIENDS Files DOB Challenge Against New Tower at 1059 Third Avenue
Designed by Manuel Glas Architects, 1059 Third Avenue first received its zoning approval from DOB in 2015.
FRIENDS Weighs in on City and State Proposals to Close Zoning Loopholes
The public discussion around the urgent need to close zoning loopholes that are contributing to overdevelopment continues to play out in the press, most recently in a Letter to the Editor that appeared today in Crain’s New York Business by FRIENDS’ Executive Director Rachel Levy.