Posted Jan 19, 2012, 9:44 PM
|
 |
New Yorker for life
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Borough of Jersey
Posts: 51,900
|
|
http://www.dnainfo.com/20120119/uppe...ound-hits-snag
Developers' Plan for 35-Story Tower at Ruppert Playground Hits Snag
January 19, 2012
By Amy Zimmer
Quote:
A developer's plan to replace a popular playground with a 35-story residential tower and cancer treatment center has incurred the wrath of Yorkville residents.
Now, the Related Companies' project could face an even bigger hurdle.
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn wrote a letter Wednesday to Community Board 8 calling its plans for Ruppert Playground a "major land use decision" that requires a full public review. "I will strongly oppose any efforts to bypass the ULURP [uniform land use review procedure] process if Related ends up moving forward with its plans," Quinn wrote.
Under the deal Related struck with the city in 1983, the developer was only required to keep the space open to the public for 25 years. After that agreement expired in 2008, the company began gearing up to build. It closed the playground in September 2011.
But advocates from the group Save Ruppert Playground believe they recently uncovered a wrench in Related's plans. They claim that nothing can be developed on the playground without a zoning change.
If the building is considered a "minor modification" to the site, it would simply be handled by the City Planning Commission without public input. But if it's deemed a "major modification," then the City Council must review the project and hear community input. Many elected officials are pressing for the public review.
|
__________________
NEW YORK is Back!
“Office buildings are our factories – whether for tech, creative or traditional industries we must continue to grow our modern factories to create new jobs,” said United States Senator Chuck Schumer.
|