August 6th, 2019, the BSA first hearing was standing room only and more than 3 hours long. John Low-Beer presented first with Chuck Weinstock in the house. He gave a lengthy, detailed argument supporting why the DOB should not have issued the permit for 50 W 66th Street. John and… Read more »
Members' Voices
These are the ideas, opinions, and/or proposals written by City Club members. We encourage open, thoughtful and respectful dialogue on this page. Let us know your thoughts on a particular subject.
Why Community Groups Can Never Win Against Developers: The ‘Dreikausen’ Paradox and Other Hurdles, and Suggestions for Change
Making a motion you cannot win is usually sanctionable—but here, it is actually required. By John R. Low-Beer | September 18, 2019 Under current law, even the most meritorious legal challenge to property development faces insurmountable barriers once construction starts, because absent the most egregious wrongdoing, the courts will not order demolition of… Read more »
New York City Should Have a Comprehensive Plan
An opinion about the City Charter and NYC having a well considered comprehensive plan has been published in Gotham Gazette. http://www.gothamgazette.com/opinion/130-opinion/8449-new-york-city-should-have-a-comprehensive-plan
Planning One Great City for All
by Stuart Pertz Should land use planning be more open to the communities that are being planned? Of course. A recent report, Inclusive City, Strategies to achieve more equitable and predictable land use in New York City — http://library.rpa.org/pdf/Inclusive-City-NYC.pdf — thinks so. A few short years ago, when the City Club… Read more »
We support the application of the Frick Collection before the Landmarks Preservation Commission
June 18, 2018 Mr. Fred Bland Interim Chair Landmarks Preservation Commission Mr. Bland: The City Club of New York is pleased to support the application of the Frick Collection before the Landmarks Preservation Commission. We find the proposed design for expansion and new construction to be… Read more »
Regional Rail Trunk Line Follow-up
In the interest of understanding how to better prioritize major public infrastructure and how to pay for it the City Club’s Urban Design Committee’s Infrastructure Working Group has organized a panel to discuss the Regional Rail Trunk Line. It chose the trunk line because additional rail capacity under the Hudson… Read more »
Losing Its Way
The Historic Preservation Committee of The City Club of New York perceives that the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s will to discharge its duties to designate and protect landmarks and historic districts has been declining. So writes Jeffrey Kroessler, the Committee’s Chair. On March 27, the Commission held a hearing, with overflow… Read more »
CityLand: Designation Should Not Mean Demolition
There’s a new post at CityLand regarding the AT&T Building at 550 Madison Avenue and how, to the dismay of the architectural and preservation communities, the Commission has declined to include the lobby in the Landmarks Preservation designation. Here’s a clip: The Commission has offered its reasons for rejecting… Read more »
In addition to transit–storm resiliency
In addition to transit, the other, huge issue, is storm resiliency. Here are a few clips on the efforts. Ideas have been developed, and work is being done. The major impediment? Money https://archpaper.com/2016/12/big-u-lower-manhattan-coastal-resiliency/ https://www.arcadis.com/en/united-states/news/latest-news/press-releases/2017/9/arcadis-to-lead-design-to-strengthen-manhattan-s-coastline/ https://www.amny.com/news/sandy-anniversary-nyc-1.14607163