tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3817989965192224736.post4919464214430138206..comments2023-05-17T05:47:15.415-04:00Comments on LoHo10002: Zoning For Dummies I - So You Want to Understand Contextual Zoningתיקון ישראלhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07888217252983243525noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3817989965192224736.post-41045513325190040682006-11-12T20:46:00.000-05:002006-11-12T20:46:00.000-05:00Two buildings on my block (11th between B&C), full...Two buildings on my block (11th between B&C), full of wonderful long-term neighbors and friends, were unceremoniously emptied for the construction of luxury housing. The landlord purposefully damaged the structures and then had the city declare them structurally unsound. Residents were all evicted from their homes overnight and the buildings demolished, even though the residents had a pending court case to defend their homes from this developer's plans. <br /><br />The answer to your question, Yori, is: under the proposed new zoning, on Houston, Delancey, Christie and Avenue D developers will be allowed to build 12 stories "as of right" -- without consulting the community board or the city, without having to buy air rights or include a community facility. Take a look at the new Avalon building on Houston at Bowery. That's the future for Houston, Christie and Delancey. In the rest of the LES, 80 feet would be the height cap. Since about 45% of buildings in the LES are only 5 stories, about 25% only 4 stories and about 25% 6 stories (virtually nothing here rises above 6 stories), the 80 foot height cap, while better than no height cap, is unjustifiably high. The DCP in its prelimanry studies has used a mid-rise category of 4-7 stories that doesn't distinguish 5-story neighborhoods from 7-story neighborhoods. We're hoping that as they study the LES more carefully using more accurate measures, DCP will discover what's actually here and not here. <br /><br />Currently, south of Houston in the Orchard Street area, developers can build commercial structures like hotels (including so-called hotels that are really residences) up to the sky if they can bring enough lots together. So the 80-foot height cap will help preserve the character of the historic Lower East Side south of Houston. I'd like to see a 60-foot height cap throughout the district, including Houston, Delancey, Christie and D.robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10114555618686460805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3817989965192224736.post-26461017601958029632006-10-28T15:05:00.000-04:002006-10-28T15:05:00.000-04:00No, as I stated in my post, contextual zoning will...No, as I stated in my post, contextual zoning will not permit tall skinny buildings. On the other hand, if someone wants to build blue glass "oddity" they can as long as it is no more than 80 feet tall.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3817989965192224736.post-5670091199926621182006-10-27T15:56:00.000-04:002006-10-27T15:56:00.000-04:00My question is: Will oddities like Blue and Riving...My question is: Will oddities like Blue and Rivington Hotel be possible under the new zoning regs?תיקון ישראלhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07888217252983243525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3817989965192224736.post-74354511120470769122006-10-27T13:39:00.000-04:002006-10-27T13:39:00.000-04:00Your explanation of zoning may be accurate but you...Your explanation of zoning may be accurate but your explanation of how this will impact our neighborhood is just wrong. Not one residential tenant was moved in order to build any of the towers going up or recently constructed. They were all built on empty lots or lots previously occupied by commercial buildings. Neither the current zoning nor the proposed rezoning allows landlords to displace anyone. Rezoning is really a question of aestetics. Some people like tall skinny buildings other would rather developers build low squat buildings. It seems that the Department of City Planning and the Community Board are in the low squat building camp. Either way, whatever new construction occurs will most likely house luxury apartments occupied by people with lots of money. The new zoning will actually increase FAR for most properties allowing developers to build more expensive apartments not fewer. Therefore more rich people in the neighborhood so actually contextual zoning will probably accellerate gentrification albeit only slightly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com