From the NY Times:RESIDENTS of East 94th Street, between Lexington and Third Avenues, never expected to see a private driveway among the row of tidy brownstones on the north side of their block. But earlier this year, they discovered that the owners of No. 161, Andreas Gruson and Maria Negrete-Gruson, had built a nine-foot-wide driveway leading to their new one-car garage.
What would be commonplace almost anywhere else set off shock waves in Manhattan.
The Grusons' driveway was legal — they had sued the city for the right to build it, and won. But the decision in their case could have led to copycat driveways throughout Manhattan, if other homeowners got wind of the legal window opened by the judge's ruling. As a result, said Richard S. Lobel, the Grusons' lawyer, "the city acted so quickly, it was blinding."
In April, the City Council passed regulations meant to tighten restrictions on curb cuts. Meanwhile, the Planning Department has undertaken a revision of the city's zoning resolution to solve interpretation problems — possibly thousands of them — created by the Gruson case. It hopes to present the revision for public review this fall.
That so much havoc was caused by one driveway should not be surprising in a city where, according to Donald Albrecht, a curator of "Cars, Culture and the City," an exhibition this summer at the Museum of the City of New York, more than 1.5 million cars compete for scarce street parking and a tiny number of private garages.
12 comments:
Oh but curb cuts and paving over green spaces in front yards to provide parking illegally is OK in Queens! What double standards there are vis a vis Manhattan and every where else.
You self-satisfied prigs in landmarked districts had better watch what happens in the out-bs and work with groups to stop it instead of stealing all the funding for your little programs.
What happens in Queens today will be in your backyard tomorrow.
Read 'Masque of the Red Death' by Poe.
They have allowed the rest of the city to be destriyed. Now the chickens are coming home to roost in these little protected Manhattan havens. F' em.
Let's hope the new restrictions will be enforced in Queens as well.
Anon #4. I hope the restrictions are enforced in Queens too. However unless the city does a "census" to find all the curb cuts as they are right now so they have something to compare it to in DOB, then I don't see this as being enforceable. People can always claim it was that way when i purchased the house years ago. Of course the city could buy the data from google, but i doubt they will.
LSLIJSMWT)
(laughing so loud, I just shit my whitey tighties)!
WELCOME TO QUEENS WORLD YOU SPOILED WEALTHY EAST SIDE BRATS!
What happens in Queens doesn't stay in Queens.
Today us....tomorrow you!
However unless the city does a "census" to find all the curb cuts as they are right now so they have something to compare it to in DOB, then I don't see this as being enforceable.
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If they are willing to spend the money. Baloney Maloney is spending plenty for the east side access (that doesnt benefit people in her district) and Queens Plaza (ditto) so how about some chump change to get that done.
In Astoria, one neighbor with an illegal curb cut had a car towed from her "driveway." Unfortunately, the victim screamed and arrogant SOB was forced to restore the sidewalk.
Concrete Brain Barbara Corcoran must have told them to do this...
Punch this into google street view:
68-26 65th Street, Glendale
A former 2 story house turned into a 3 floor apartment (with a lovely apartment right at grade level!). Notice the lack of front lawn. It is used as a parking spot for numerous vehicles, including a contractors van. Disgusting, and 3 blocks away from the 104th! yet the do nothing.
Its good that This driveway is absolute legal. I assume that House price is also increase due to this wonder paving. So It is good to purchase a house in manhattan.
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