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Land Use, Housing & Zoning
42 West 18th Street - an application for a renewal of a special permit to facilitate the construction of a mixed-use development on a zoning lot within the Ladie's Mile Historic District.
WHEREAS, The Applicant, 42 West 18th Street Realty Corp., has requested the renewal of a Special Permit pursuant to Section 74-711 of the Zoning Resolution to facilitate the construction of a mixed-used development project on a zoning lot located at 38-42 West 18th Street; and
WHEREAS, This project proposes to integrate three individual tax lots by combining two existing structures with a new 16-story building on West 17th Street and a 13-story building on West 18th Street to be built on what is currently a public parking lot to create one development with 133,603 square feet of interior space with floors 1 through 3 for commercial use, and 90 residential units on floors 4 and above; and
WHEREAS, The two existing buildings currently contain Adorama, a retailer of photographic equipment and supplies, which will maintain a retail presence on the first floor of the new building; and
WHEREAS, The Special Permit allows residential use, height and setback relief, and rear yard modifications, although since the original Special Permit was issued, the zoning for this area has changed from manufacturing to C6-4M in which such residential uses are allowed as-of-right; and
WHEREAS, Mixed-use developments are favorable to creating safe and dynamic neighborhood conditions; and
WHEREAS, As a condition of the Special Permit, a comprehensive restoration and maintenance plan was developed for the building, is described in detail in the Restrictive Declaration, was approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, and would be unaffected by the renewal sought in this application; and
WHEREAS, Construction on this project has not commenced during the past two and a half years due to adverse economic conditions and since the previous renewal expires this year, a further extension of the Special Permit is being requested; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five unanimously approved the previous renewal of this Special Permit by this applicant in 2008 and there have been no significant changes nearby that would affect our previous action; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of the application of 42 West 18th Street Realty for a renewal of a special permit granted pursuant to Zoning Resolution Section 74-711 to facilitate the construction of a mixed-use development at 38-42 West 18th Street.
The above resolution passed by a vote of 35 in favor, 1 opposed, 1 abstaining.