NEW YORK | 247 Cherry Street | 1,013 FT | 77 FLOORS

[Crawford]

And there are additional sites in planning south of the Manhattan Bridge. This will be epic.

[chris08876]

Via NY ZAP search (screenshot)

[NYguy]

Of course, I would still expect more meaningless lawsuits to come from that group.

[NYguy]

As I figured...


http://www.thelodownny.com/leslog/20...dges-area.html

Lawsuits Likely After City Planning Commission Approves Mega-Towers in Two Bridges Area

Ignoring pleas from the Lower East Side community and elected officials, the City Planning Commission approved three mega-projects in the Two Bridges area earlier today. Community groups are now threatening a lawsuit.

"In a city at peak population and bursting at the seams, adding significant amounts of new housing in Lower Manhattan is a truly rare opportunity,” said City Planning Chair Marisa Lago. Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and City Council member Margaret Chin wanted a full land use review (ULURP). The City Planning Commission rejected the request, calling the proposals “minor modifications” of the Two Bridges Large-Scale Residential Plan. “For a straightforward legal matter matter,” Lago asserted today, “the commission can’t require a ULURP unless authorized to do so by the City Charter and zoning resolution.”

Ten commissioners voted in favor, while three others voted no. As AM New York noted, Commissioner Allen Cappelli had misgivings about the projects but said he thinks the commission’s, “hands are tied legally.” Commissioner Michelle de la Uz voted against the mega-towers, saying, “I do not believe the actions the commission is being asked to take today with the LSRD are appropriate nor are they conforming to the original CPC resolution from 1972.” Another commissioner, Anna Levin, said, “I don’t believe the legal situation is as straightforward as our Chair would have it be.”

In a statement earlier today, City Council Speaker Corey Johnson said:

Today’s decision to permit the construction of close to 3,000 units of housing – as many housing units as are being produced by neighborhood re-zonings – even though there are significant environmental impacts to schools, open space, transportation and on and on without City Council review undermines the very basic notions of public process laid out in the City Charter and has no precedent. We are deeply disappointed with the Commission’s vote to circumvent ULURP and are exploring legal avenues to correct this mistake.

Paula Segal, an attorney for the Community Development Project, spoke on behalf of local residents, who have vowed to sue the city if the towers were approved. “(The Planning Commission) acknowledged the community’s needs and the project’s injustices, but they approved it anyway,” said Segal. “Today’s vote on the megatowers is not a proper approval under the zoning resolution and controlling law. No development can be done based on this vote alone. We are evaluating options for making sure that the property owners follow the law.”

I'm already sick of that Corey Johnson. That City Council wants its POWER, and it wants it now! Bring on those lawsuits already.

[NYguy]

Yes, nothing else at all going on in the entire city for the Council to be concerned with. ULURP is their bread and butter, and how DARE anyone usurp that authority.


https://www.nydailynews.com/news/pol...outputType=amp

NYC Council Speaker Johnson threatens lawsuit over commission approval of Lower East Side mega-tower project-

By JILLIAN JORGENSEN
DEC 06, 2018

City Council Speaker Corey Johnson said he’d file a lawsuit to try to stop the development of three residential towers near the Brooklyn Bridge after the City Planning Commission approved the project Wednesday.

In many large scale developments, the local council person would get a final say through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, which requires a council vote. But City Planning determined the as-of-right project is a “minor modification” because it complied with zoning in the area, meaning it won’t trigger ULURP despite its massive size.

“We look forward to seeing the Department of City Planning in court. Our suit will be filed this week,” Johnson said on Twitter. “DCP has made an embarrassment of this process. We aren’t taking it laying down.”

“The CPC’s vote today reflects this Administration's complete dismissal of the community’s concerns and, frankly, the law as written,” Chin said. “The approval of these massive new developments will fundamentally change the nature of the Two Bridges neighborhood.”

Borough President Gale Brewer said the neighborhood deserves the same oversight process other parts of the city get when there’s a major development proposed.

“The fix is in, and Mayor de Blasio’s administration has shown they will do whatever it takes – including ignoring the law – to give these developers what they want and approve these three enormous, illegal developments in Two Bridges without a full review or a real negotiation,” she said.

The commission, which was appointed by the mayor, argues the approvals were legal and that the development will bring benefits to the neighborhood.

"The actions we’ve taken related to this development are on firm legal ground, and subjecting it to ULURP would have gone beyond DCP’s statutory authority. These projects will provide this important Manhattan community with 700 new affordable homes, new and improved open spaces, an ADA-accessible subway station and $12.5 million in improvements to NYCHA," Planning Commission spokeswoman Melissa Grace said.

[yankeesfan1000]

If the City Council can sue to block rezoning measures put in place by the City Planning Commission, what is the point of the City Planning Commission?

It sounds like the time to fight this was when the current zoning laws that are in place, were being drafted. City government in this town is just straight broken.

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by yankeesfan1000

If the City Council can sue to block rezoning measures put in place by the City Planning Commission, what is the point of the City Planning Commission?

It sounds like the time to fight this was when the current zoning laws that are in place, were being drafted. City government in this town is just straight broken.

They'll throw out a frivolous lawsuit just like the rest of the idiots. They're only upset about not getting the hold the project ransom, which is what usually goes down in ULURP. But this Johnson has been taking the council down a dangerous path lately.

[NYguy]

https://therealdeal.com/2018/12/07/c...-developments/

City Council wastes no time suing city over Two Bridges developments
Council claims City Planning should have sent proposed towers through full land-use review process

By Rich Bockmann
December 07, 2018

Just two days after city planners green-lighted a quartet of new apartment towers to be developed in the Two Bridges section of Manhattan, the City Council and Borough President Gale Brewer followed through on their pledge to sue in order to stop the projects from going forward.

The Council and Brewer filed their lawsuit in Manhattan state Supreme Court Friday against the Department of City Planning, the City Planning Commission and Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration, claiming city planners usurped the Council’s authority over land-use issues in approving the project.

Land-use attorney Ross Moskowitz of Stroock, Stroock, and Lavan, who is not involved in either the lawsuit or any of the proposed developments, has been watching the developments in Two Bridges closely, and said it’s “unusual for the City Council to sue over a decision by the executive.”

“The basis seems to be the interpretation of what constitutes a minor modification,” he added. “The burden is on the Council to prove that the agency was arbitrary and capricious in their decision-making process.”

[NYguy]

https://therealdeal.com/2018/12/08/c...used-by-court/

City Council’s effort to stall Two Bridges developments refused by court
As part of the Council's "unusual" lawsuit, the plaintiffs applied for a temporary restraining order and it was denied late Friday


By Rich Bockmann and Erin Hudson
December 08, 2018

City Council’s temporary restraining order to stop four developers from starting work on a set of resi towers in Two Bridges was denied Friday.

The order was filed on the same day as a lawsuit by the City Council and Borough President Gale Brewer against the Department of City Planning, the City Planning Commission and Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration, claiming the executive branch’s approval of the three-tower project in Two Bridges usurped the Council’s authority over land-use issues.

The court’s refusal to grant the temporary restraining order allows the developers “to move forward with obtaining the preliminary approvals that are necessary before development of the sites,” according to Nicholas Paolucci, a spokesperson from the New York City Law Department in a statement provided to The Real Deal on Saturday.

The Department of City Planning also issued a statement underlining that the developers promised to deliver a combined 700 units of permanent affordable units along with various transit and public infrastructure improvements: “All of that goes away if the development goes away.”

Paolucci said the parties are expected to be back in court in February.

[NYguy]

Don't worry, more lawsuits for everone...


https://citylimits.org/2018/12/08/la...dges-projects/

Lawsuit Will Race Shovels as Judge Refuses Request to Halt ‘Two Bridges’ Projects

By Sadef Ali Kully

Other battle plans emerge

The elected officials’ suit will not be the only legal dispute to arise in Two Bridges.

Residents and community organizations such as Lower East Side Organized Neighbors (LESON) and Chinatown Working Group, who worry that the dispute over ULURP’s applicability could be resolved but result in the buildings still going up, plan on taking the city to court.

LESON says it is planning to sue over the violation of the zoning text article 7 section 8 on “Special Regulations Applying to Large-Scale Residential Developments” which states its’ regulations allow greater flexibility for development on vacant land; provide incentives while safeguarding the present or future use and development; efficient use of scarce land within the framework of the overall bulk controls; enable open space for active and passive recreation needs of the resident; protect and preserve scenic assets and natural features such as trees, streams and topographic features; fostering to a population of balanced family sizes; to encourage harmonious designs and “thus to promote and protect public health, safety and general welfare.”

Tieu said de Blasio administration has violated those regulations by allowing the Two Bridges development to move forward.

Good Old Lower East Side (GOLES), Tenants United Fighting for Lower East Side (TUFF-LES) and Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence (CAAAV) also plan on suing. The group has not shared specifics of their lawsuit.

In the meantime, TUFF-LES, GOLES and the Manhattan Community Board 3 announced Friday the group has filed initial required documents to begin the process of rezoning with the Department of City Planning in their first step toward creating the Special Lower East Side and Chinatown Waterfront District.

According to GOLES, the special district would protect the Two Bridges neighborhood from unchecked development as “envisioned by over fifty local groups working together over nearly a decade of planning studies.” The rezoning initiative, which stems from the 2008 Chinatown Working Group rezoning plan, is one of several strategies being used in order to fight the CPC’s approval of the Two Bridges projects.

It’s important that those who will be directly impacted by the proposed megatowers have a say about what’s happening in their own neighborhood,” said Paula Z. Segal, Community Development Project attorney for local groups. “The special district will help ensure that the people who live and work in the Two Bridges community have a say in how the neighborhood grows and for whom new housing is developed here.”

The group argues that Two Bridges community, where the three developments have been proposed, is a low-to-middle income community. The special district rezoning proposal would create long-term protections for tenants including limits on banks and drugstores and all new construction would be limited to 350 feet.

[chris08876]

They have nothing better to do than to hinder progress.

Only in America!

[NYguy]

This is what people have to understand:

While affordable housing is a real need, and cities should do whatever they can to make it a reality, it is not a right to be demanded. These developments together are adding about 700 units of what is defined as affordable housing. Some may argue that they are not affordable enough, but if the city were developing 3 large housing projects in the area, they would object to that also. Not everyone will be happy, whatever you do, but they'll get over it.

It’s important that those who will be directly impacted by the proposed megatowers have a say about what’s happening in their own neighborhood,” said Paula Z. Segal, Community Development Project attorney for local groups. “The special district will help ensure that the people who live and work in the Two Bridges community have a say in how the neighborhood grows and for whom new housing is developed here.”

The group argues that Two Bridges community, where the three developments have been proposed, is a low-to-middle income community. The special district rezoning proposal would create long-term protections for tenants including limits on banks and drugstores and all new construction would be limited to 350 feet.

Again, NO. You don't get to argue that because your neighborhood is shitty, you have a right to keep it that way. You don't. These residents trying to restrict who can move into their neighborhood is no different than more affluent neighborhoods trying to keep people out based on race, religion, etc. And also, trying to limit the height is just trying to limit the number of people who will move into the neighborhood. And limits on banks and drugstores? It's New York.

Now, as I've said before, what they should have done is gone to protest the Sutton Place rezoning, which was also a spot rezoning to block towers. They didn't get to block the main tower they were fighting, but the rezoning went in anyway. The NIMBYs there were after the same things, though mostly to protect their views. The city listened to the more affluent crowd. The Lower Eastside NIMBYs should have been at every meeting there to protest the unequal treatment. They had a better argument with that.

[NYguy]

https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/...206-story.html

A towering mistake: The City Council is taking completely legal housing developments to court

By DAILY NEWS EDITORIAL BOARD
DEC 07, 2018

Four very tall towers blueprinted for Manhattan’s Lower East Side riverfront have area residents up in arms, unswayed by promises of new elevators at a stairs-only subway station, more than $12 million to shore up a public housing project and 700 affordable apartments among nearly 2,800 to be built.

City Council Speaker Corey Johnson heard their cries and readies to go miles out of his way — to state Supreme Court — to file a lawsuit declaring the City Planning Commission’s 10-3 approval this week illegal without fuller public review that includes, that’s right, the City Council.

Local Councilwoman Margaret Chin and Borough President Gale Brewer join him in demanding a redo and separately seek to impose their own limits on towers that could top off at 80 stories.

But the mere fact that neighbors and their representatives wish they could will away waterside skyscrapers doesn’t endow them, or a judge, or anyone with the power to intervene. Through underlying zoning that allows buildings of this height, combined with the commission’s new review and vote adjusting past approvals, a trio of developers clearly enough has a license to build.

Johnson pledged upon taking the helm that he’d rein in Council members’ destructive game of blowing up development proposals even as the city experiences desperate need for new housing. The speaker now takes the TNT plunger into his own grasp. Win or lose, he’ll have debris to show for it.

[Zapatan]

God, these people.

I really hope they lose badly, like they deserve.

[chris08876]

^^^^

Its just delays and blowing smoke. All of these LES towers will rise.

[chris08876]

JDS Development’s Supertall 247 Cherry Street Gets Green Light After City Planning Approval On The Lower East Side

Earlier this month, the City Planning Commission approved proposals for four new skyscrapers coming to the Two Bridges section of the Lower East Side. The tallest of the bunch will be 247 Cherry Street, adjacent to the site of Extell’s One Manhattan Square. The upcoming 1,008-foot-tall residential skyscraper will be designed by SHoP Architects and developed by JDS Development, and is the 11th tallest tower underway in the Five Boroughs. This supertall is the only project on YIMBY’s end-of-year list where site work has not yet begun, although with City Planning approval now secured, that is hopefully a matter of imminency.

When complete, 247 Cherry Street will be the tallest building in the neighborhood. The facade is composed of a green-colored exterior, with a grid of glass panels rising from a cantilevered base over an existing low-rise building. The main entrance would be located on the western side of the site, along Cherry Street, through one of the structure’s two supporting legs.

====================
NYY

[giantSwan]

Originally Posted by NYguy

This is what people have to understand:

While affordable housing is a real need, and cities should do whatever they can to make it a reality, it is not a right to be demanded. These developments together are adding about 700 units of what is defined as affordable housing. Some may argue that they are not affordable enough, but if the city were developing 3 large housing projects in the area, they would object to that also. Not everyone will be happy, whatever you do, but they'll get over it.





Again, NO. You don't get to argue that because your neighborhood is shitty, you have a right to keep it that way. You don't. These residents trying to restrict who can move into their neighborhood is no different than more affluent neighborhoods trying to keep people out based on race, religion, etc. And also, trying to limit the height is just trying to limit the number of people who will move into the neighborhood. And limits on banks and drugstores? It's New York.

Now, as I've said before, what they should have done is gone to protest the Sutton Place rezoning, which was also a spot rezoning to block towers. They didn't get to block the main tower they were fighting, but the rezoning went in anyway. The NIMBYs there were after the same things, though mostly to protect their views. The city listened to the more affluent crowd. The Lower Eastside NIMBYs should have been at every meeting there to protest the unequal treatment. They had a better argument with that.

This lawsuit is utterly ridiculous. This group couldn’t be more selfish and short sided. I’m usually somewhat sympathetic to these community groups. But this is just insanity.

[Zapatan]

Originally Posted by giantSwan

This lawsuit is utterly ridiculous. This group couldn’t be more selfish and short sided. I’m usually somewhat sympathetic to these community groups. But this is just insanity.

I agree, what selfish pieces of garbage those people are. I'll be glad when this is rising and they're pissed off.

[chris08876]

Originally Posted by giantSwan

This lawsuit is utterly ridiculous. This group couldn’t be more selfish and short sided. I’m usually somewhat sympathetic to these community groups. But this is just insanity.

There's another court hearing in February 2019. Until that hearing, the development is paused.

[chris08876]

Some reading material:

CB3 Community Presentation / 社区报告 / Presentación a la Comunidad CB3 (Click link)

Some extra material (note pdf's all the way at the bottom): https://courbanize.com/projects/247cherry/information