A City Council committee provided a key approval for legislation to restrict the development of self-storage facilities in industrial business zones Thursday, despite biting criticism of the bill by one of its members.
The measure, which is likely to be approved by the full council Dec. 19, would require a special permit to build self-storage projects in most of the 21 IBZs, which account for around half of the city's manufacturing space. Obtaining this permission would require going through a nearly yearlong public review process that culminates in a council vote.
The new requirement would not apply in two zones in the Bronx and another pair in Staten Island, along with part of a zone in Jamaica, Queens. But self-storage companies would still need to set aside space for industrial square-footage in any project they build, according to the bill. Existing facilities would be grandfathered. (In the IBZs that opted out, self-storage facilities up to 50,000 square feet will be allowed as-of-right. Only buildings above that size will be required to set aside 25% of the space for industrial use.)
The council and Mayor Bill de Blasio have long wanted to restrict the proliferation of certain uses—such as hotels, offices or strip clubs—in areas that are supposed to be home to manufacturing and industrial jobs. Nonindustrial uses, the argument goes, can pay more for rent or land and thus tend to squeeze out manufacturing companies that provide higher-paying jobs.
12 comments:
Why does NYC need these industrial zones? That sector is on long term decline, and not a competitive use of the real estate since it needs a lot of space.
I hate these storage buildings. How much storage do people need? They are an eyesore and take-up all this land. They are popping up all over.
I agree anonymous about the industrial zones. Also, they spill into residential areas with employees parking, people hanging out, garbage. The Steinway/Ditmars zone is dump. There is not street cleaning on the back streets and people dump their garbage all over there.
Can someone give a succinct argument about why these are a problem?
I thought the same, Ron S. Considering the amount of new apartment construction going on, they're needed.
Watch the monthly rates for these units now rise at a quicker rate than currently because of this.
If you cannot keep your belongs in your apartment, even a small NYC apartment, YOU HAVE TOO MUCH SHIT. I mean if it is needed to be put in storage, IT IS NOT NEEDED. Then people will complain they cannot afford their rent or buy food.
No reason for the proliferation of these facilities. Ever wonder what is REALLY in some of these places. I mean this is NYC, the most corrupt, crooked, do whatever you want city in the USA. AND where do you see many of these places, why no other than the DIRTY SE QUEENS.
Things like firearms, drugs, etc. Nobody monitors what's in these places....Who
is to know. And you are right. Many are in some of the shittiest neighborhoods in NYC. Why???!
I've seen some homeless folks put together money to rent these for their belongings they can't carry while living on the streets. Uh.....bedbug city!
Self-storage is the equivalent of a nail salon - a mere place-holder until something more profitable turns up. As far as IBZs - the point about spill-over to residential is well taken. Here in Staten Island our IBZ is on the North Shore waterfront - so preserving waterfront-based uses is appropriate, but not crap business (I mean that literally!) There are homes directly across the street.
Some folks live in those storage units
Here in Staten Island our IBZ is on the North Shore waterfront - so preserving waterfront-based uses is appropriate, but not crap business (I mean that literally!) There are homes directly across the street.
Please explain how self-storage negatively impacts your qualify of life if you live across the street over the dozens of other business types that could occupy that space with infinitely more noise and pollution.
In general, we can't operate under the conspiracy theory that every sector that is doing well is somehow on the take. The default assumption should be that if they're cropping up, people are demanding their services. If not, the claimant needs to prove otherwise.
> Many are in some of the shittiest neighborhoods in NYC. Why???!
Because that's where land is cheapest, duh.
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