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 »
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.
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
Paying for transit
The governor is getting behind tax increment financing for transit. Note today’s article, an important reference article for our February 8 infrastructure meeting.
Presentation to the Urban Design Committee
George Janes met with the City Club Urban Design Committee this morning to discuss the reasons for the proliferation of super tall buildings and what might help to control them. Slides of his presentation are attached (6.9 MB pdf), and we welcome further comments.
SUBWAY EXPANSION—ARE NEW YORK’S COSTS EXCESSIVE?
My City Club colleague John West distributed this, December 14, New York Times article on Friday. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/14/nyregion/mta-funding-real-estate-value-capture.html It argues that the city’s construction of new mass transit lines, with public funds or debt, is a subsidy to property owners, who should instead be contributing. For the first time,… Read more »
The Comptroller Audits NYC’s POPS
CityLand has published an article on the recent follow-up audit of POPS by Scott Stringer’s office. Read it here… It seems that the Department of Buildings remains reluctant to inspect POPS and enforce compliance. Any suggestions as to how best to use the Comptroller’s audits to recover and improve… Read more »
News on the Elimination of the Arcade at Fulton Street
The Architect’s Newspaper has continued its excellent coverage of the public realm along Water Street in Lower Manhattan and the application to City Planning to eliminate the arcade at the Fulton Street end of 200 Water Street (formerly 127 John Street). https://archpaper.com/2017/10/200-water-street-public-space-rockrose/ John: Thank you… Read more »
DE BLASIO’S HUGE MIDTOWN GIVEAWAY
Daily News: Opinion, by Jeffrey Kroessler and John West, July 24, 2017 A century ago, New York City enacted the first zoning resolution to control the size and density of development. Today, the de Blasio administration is poised to toss aside our zoning rules to foster construction of massive new… Read more »
ZONING FOR SALE: MIDTOWN EAST PLAN IS RECIPE FOR TROUBLE
The city would open a can of worms by allowing developers pay to build bigger—which is illegal anyway By Michael Gruen and Alexander Garvin CRAINS, JULY 18, 2017 Read more…
My Rules for Thee, But Not for Me: The City Destroys a City-Owned Landmark
By Jeffrey A. Kroessler 04/16/2015 Read Commentary in CityLand