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Land Use, Housing & Zoning
Application pursuant to Section 37-04(g)(5) of the Zoning Resolution to allow an Open Air café as permitted obstructions within a proposed plaza at 839 Sixth Avenue
WHEREAS, Carlisle 839 LLC is seeking permission to include an open air café as part of an urban plaza that is a portion of a proposed development that will be built at 839 Sixth Avenue, between West 29th and West 30th Streets, pursuant to Section 37-04(g)(5) of the Zoning Resolution to allow an Open Air café as a permitted obstruction within a proposed plaza at the 839 Sixth Avenue, Block 805, Lot 59; and
WHEREAS, The development will be a 46-story, 388,900 square-foot, mixed-use building as permitted in the C6-4X and M1-6 zoning district, that will include a combination of rental residential, hotel, retail and public garage space as well as a through-block 10,819 square-foot urban plaza located west of the building, running between West 29th and West 30th Streets, with access from either end, as well as via the rear of the building; and
WHEREAS, In exchange for the plaza, the applicant will receive a total of 64,864 square feet of bonus floor area, a bonus ratio of 6:1 square feet of plaza; and
WHEREAS, The plaza will consist of a series of seating areas including 51 movable chairs, 27 fixed chairs, 24 benches, 5 fixed benches, tables, a reflecting pool/fountain, a kiosk from which food can be purchased, plantings and other decorative features; and
WHEREAS, The applicant wishes to add mid-plaza an open air café with 16 tables and 32 chairs, a number that is less than that what is allowed under the current rules, adjacent to the section of the building where a restaurant is planned to be built with the restaurant operator, who is yet to be chosen, operating and maintaining this open air café; and
WHEREAS, This neighborhood has already seen large scale residential complexes built further south on Sixth Avenue and this area would benefit from amenities that would bring services, street traffic, and security into the neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, Consideration should be given to the security benefits of installing gates at either end of the urban plaza making it possible to close the plaza during late night hours, although this should be done in a way that doesn't permit access to the plaza via the building by private residents and hotel/restaurant guests and thus excluding only the public; and
WHEREAS, Because of the scope of this planned development, the developer and any ensuing owners of this planned complex would have numerous incentives to maintain, keep secure, and responsibility operate the proposed open air café; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of the application of Carlisle 839 LLC for an open air café to be added to the urban plaza at the proposed development at 839 Sixth Avenue.
The above resolution passed with a vote of 34 in favor, 1 opposed, 1 abstention.