City Planning Director Carl Weisbrod, Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen and HPD Commissioner Vicki Been testify about Mandatory Inclusionary Housing during a hearing on Tuesday.

City Council Demands Lower Income Apartments, Union Labor for Mandatory Inclusionary Housing

7:30 am on February 10, 2016 By Rebecca Baird-Remba

The City Council held its first day of hearings Tuesday on mandatory inclusionary housing, a major citywide policy that will mandate affordable units in all new developments planned on rezoned land. Several council members grilled Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen, HPD Commissioner Vicki Been, and City Planning Director Carl Weisbrod on the program, railing about the lack of low-income units and union labor and demanding better protections against tenant harassment and displacement.

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Rendering showing the HFZ Capital's Moshe Safdie-designed mixed-use tower with the Empire State Building behind it. (Rendering presented in October)

HFZ’s 64-Story Moshe Safdie Tower Hinges On Restoration Of Gilsey House

7:00 am on February 10, 2016 By Evan Bindelglass

Back in October, the Landmarks Preservation Commission heard a proposal that would remake a good chunk of West 29th Street between Broadway and Fifth Avenue. It would include restoring two landmarks and construction of a 64-story mixed-use tower. The hearing in October was paused because of the late hour and lack of quorum, and when it resumed on Tuesday, it became clear that one aspect of it was the big stumbling block.

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1766-1768 Second Avenue

First Look At 11- And Six-Story Affordable Residential Project At 1766-1768 Second Avenue, Upper East Side

6:30 am on February 10, 2016 By Reid Wilson

In December of 2014, YIMBY reported on applications for an 11-story residential building at 1766 Second Avenue and a six-story one at 1768 Second Avenue, in the Yorkville section of the Upper East Side, on the corner of East 92nd Street. Now, Curbed NY has on-site renderings of the project, which has received the go-ahead by the Department of Buildings. The latest filings call for 30,127 and 14,104 square-foot buildings, respectively, with a combined total of 25 residential units, all of which would rent at below-market rates. Units will average 1,348 square feet apiece and will come in two- and three-bedroom layouts. There will also be a total of 3,676 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Extell Development is developing and Curtis + Ginsberg Architects is the architect of record. Two five-story tenement buildings were demolished in December and completion is expected in mid 2017.

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260 West 153rd Street

Seven-Story, 50-Unit Mixed-Use Building Wraps Up Construction At 260 West 153rd Street, Harlem

6:00 am on February 10, 2016 By Reid Wilson

In Early 2015, YIMBY revealed renderings of L+M Development Partners’ planned seven-story, 50-unit mixed-use building at 260 West 153rd Street, in Harlem. Since then the project has wrapped up construction, according to DNAinfo. The 75,484 square-foot structure is completely clad in brick façade and its windows have been installed. There will be 14,331 square feet of community facility space on the ground and second floors, which will be occupied by a day care and offices for a local community organization. The apartments above will all rent at below market-rates. Thirty-four of them – studios, one-, and two-bedrooms – are already listed on the affordable housing lottery. Curtis + Ginsberg Architects is behind the design and occupancy is expected within the coming months.

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766 Westchester Avenue

Two-Story, 57,450 Square-Foot Charter School Being Built At 766 Westchester Avenue, Woodstock

4:00 pm on February 9, 2016 By Reid Wilson

Mastermind Ltd. is currently developing a two-story, 57,450 square-foot commercial building at 766 Westchester Avenue, in the South Bronx neighborhood of Woodstock. According to Crain’s, the South Bronx Early College Academy Charter School reached a deal with the developer to lease the entire building, which amounts to 38,000 square feet of leasable space. The new location will allow to the school to accommodate 300-plus students enrolled in the sixth to eighth grades. The building should cost about $14 million and is expected to be completed in 2017. David Danois’ architecture firm is the architect of record.

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