Renderings for the futuristic Solar Carve at 40-56 Tenth Avenue first surfaced three years ago, long before the city shot down a variance that would’ve allowed the developer to build bigger on a rather challenging site in Meatpacking. William Gottlieb Real Estate finally got approval for the office tower last year, and now they’ve filed new building applications for the tower next to the High Line.
Last Thursday, the Landmarks Preservation Commission held another public hearing in the process of dealing with its 95-item backlog. It was the first to deal with properties in Manhattan. In addition to hearing testimony about the IRT Powerhouse, Bergdorf Goodman’s headquarters, Union Square Park, and others, the commissioners heard about seven theaters on 42nd Street, a five-story building, a former hotel, and an apartment building lobby.
When the city rezoned Astoria five years ago, stretch of 31st Street that runs underneath the elevated N/Q tracks got new zoning that encouraged mixed-use development instead of just residential buildings. Now developers are snapping up small lots beneath the tracks and filing plans for moderately sized apartment buildings, incorporating a mix of residential, commercial and community facilities. Flushing-based builder Wen Ye is planning a seven-story project with retail and a small medical office at 30-63 31st Street, a block south of the 30th Avenue stop.
In February of this year, YIMBY reported on applications for a 15-story, 99-unit mixed-use building at 41-20 27th Street, in Long Island City, but now the developer, Rabsky Group, is planning to build an 18-story, 195-unit residential building, with a small 2,888 square-foot retail component on the ground floor. The Real Deal has renderings of the project, which is being designed by ODA Architecture. The building will measure 140,130 square feet, and its rental units will average 704 square feet apiece. Existing low-slung commercial buildings must first be demolished, and completion is expected in mid 2017.
It’s not every day that you see preservationists speak out against designating a new landmark, but that’s what happened on Thursday as the Landmarks Preservation Commission held a public hearing about designating Union Square Park a city scenic landmark. The LPC is continuing its process of dealing with its backlog of 95 items that have been on the calendar since before 2010. Thursday was the first day to deal with properties in Manhattan.
