Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Lower East Side to be rezoned

Under siege from developers and a land-hungry New York University, the Lower East Side and the East Village is slated for a major overhaul of zoning laws to protect the historic neighborhoods from the rampant spread of high-rise apartment towers and dormitories.

CITY 'LIMITS'

The zoning change, Burden said, is intended "to prevent the out-of-scale dormitories" that have been springing up in the neighborhood, the result of a massive expansion program by NYU, which predicts it will need 6 million square feet of new space.

"This is going to provide predictability and quality of life to a residential area," she said.

The zoning overhaul would stretch from East 13th Street on the north to Grand and Delancey streets to the south, running from Avenue D on the east to Bowery and Third Avenue on the west.

"It will definitely be helpful in terms of NYU's expansion east of Third Avenue," said Andrew Berman, president of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation.

But Berman said the rezoning should have covered a wider area, particularly along the Bowery, which has come under intense development pressure from residential towers and university projects.

"There are few other neighborhoods in New York City whose character is under threat as much at the moment," Berman said.


Hey, Bud, just throw a dart at a map of Queens...

Photo from Wired New York

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

For once I agree with that prissy little "Johnny-one-note" Greenwhich Village promoter Andrew Berman.

The Bowery is getting f----d up at an alarming rate by intrusive out of scale over development!

I just completed a photo safari
(took about 2,000 "snaps")
of some old amazing buildings that won't be there for much longer if the area isn't down zoned.

There are quite a few (circa 1820-30s)federal houses scattered along the Bowery, featuring those classic twin roof dormers.

Look at how long they manage to survive through the years as restaurant supply etc. business
locations.

Treat yourself to a walk from Canal Street up to Astor Place.
It's an architectural treasure trove!

Anonymous said...

What aboout the expanding St. John's University? Why does Burden not care about the Jamaica Estates area?

Anonymous said...

What aboout the expanding St. John's University? Why does Burden not care about the Jamaica Estates area?

------------

Or the garbage that is planned for Hunters Pt or lining Northern Blvd or....

The answer is as easy as 1, 2, 3

1. THE LOCAL MORONS JUST LOVE OVERDEVELOPMENT - just go to Dutch Kills Civic - or read the blogs in LIC.

2. The officials as well as the media outlets in Queens tell the world that THE SUCCESS OF QUEENS DEPENDS ON DEVELOPMENT

3. The inept PRESERVATION COMMUNITY ABETS IT both home grown and in Manhattan.

Anonymous said...

Because a "swell" like Ms. Burden couldn't care less about our "offshore" borough!

If she gets any more face lifts her hair will take flight!

Anonymous said...

"If she gets any more face lifts her hair will take flight!"


Ouch!

Anonymous said...

"3. The inept PRESERVATION COMMUNITY ABETS IT both home grown and in Manhattan."

Could you explain to me exactly WHO is the preservation community in Queens? And how can we get them to do their jobs?

Anonymous said...

We have written and called both Ms. Burden and the Mayor on numerous Occassions and not once have we received so much as a form letter response! Why is no one concerned about the out of scale dormitory being built on the middle of Jamaica Estates across the street from by R1 and R2 houses.Why are the rights of individuals worthless! This administration has been one BIG disappointment!!!!

Anonymous said...

Because they DO NOT care.

Sorry.

Anonymous said...

Well I can identify one, in particular, who is DEFINITELY NOT
a member of the Queens preservation community....DR. Jeffrey Kroessler.

As long as he's cavorting with the upper crust Manhattan clique at HDC
he's content not to make any waves
(lest they dismiss him for being beneath their social class)!

I'm sure that the likes of Frannie Eberhard & Co. secretly look down upon whom they consider to be country bumpkin anyway.