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Land Use, Housing & Zoning
N 050117 ZRM, The General Motors Building, 767 Fifth Avenue, a request for Zoning Text Amendment to the Midtown District Plan Maps that would eliminate the street wall requirements for the eastern blockfront of Fifth Avenue, between ...
N 050117 ZRM, The General Motors Building, 767 Fifth Avenue, a request for Zoning Text Amendment to the Midtown District Plan Maps that would eliminate the street wall requirements for the eastern blockfront of Fifth Avenue, between East 58th and 59th Streets.
WHEREAS, New York City Block 1294, Lot 1 ("Subject Premises") occupies the full block bounded by Fifth Avenue, East 59th Street, Madison Avenue and East 58th Street; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant, Fifth Avenue 58/59 Acquisition Co. LLC seeks a zoning text amendment to eliminate the street wall and retail continuity requirements for the Fifth Avenue frontage of the Subject Premises imposed by the Special Midtown District and the Fifth Avenue Subdistrict; and
WHEREAS, The Fifth Avenue plaza is proposed to be completely redesigned with improved accessibility from Fifth Avenue, East 58th Street and East 59th Street and enhanced amenities including fixed seating, movable tables and chairs, reflecting pools, new landscaping and lighting will be added to the plaza; and
WHEREAS, A 405 square foot glass entry pavilion located approximately 25 feet east of the Fifth Avenue street line near the center of the Fifth Avenue plaza is proposed to provide access, light and air and a visual presence for the below grade retail space; and
WHEREAS, The street wall regulations of the Special District and the Subdistrict require that the street wall of any building within the Subdistrict with frontage on Fifth Avenue must be located within 10 feet of the street line and extend without setback from the Fifth Avenue street line for at least 90 percent of the entire length of the front lot line for a minimum height of 85 feet and a maximum height of 125 feet; and
WHEREAS, An elimination of the retail continuity and street wall requirements of the Special District and the Subdistrict is necessary in order to achieve the appropriate relationship between the glass entry pavilion and the renovated Fifth Avenue plaza; and
WHEREAS, Implied evidence of the special character of the block exists since 1973 and no properties other than the existing General Motors building are affected by the proposed zoning text change; and
WHEREAS, The applicant has solicited Community Board Five's Land Use and Zoning feedback throughout the process of improving the Subject Premises and the applicant received approval of a Chairperson's Certification for construction on the Madison Avenue portion of the Subject Premises; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That Manhattan Community Board Five recommends approval of the proposed zoning text change in application number N 050117 ZRM.
The above resolution passed with a vote of 22 in favor, 0 opposed 2 abstention, 1 present not entitled to vote.