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The majority of the Community Board meeting was spent discussing resolutions drafted by the Land Use Committee for Quadriad Realty Partner’s Tryon Center project. PHOTO: Mike Fitelson
By Marisol Rodríguez
CB12 Land Use Committee announces Resolutions for Quadriad Development
Land Use Committee began the 2011-12 fiscal year on Wed., Sept. 7th with a focused agenda. At the start of the meeting, committee chair Wayne Benjamin reviewed projects submitted to the Manhattan Borough President’s office before the summer that would be assigned to the Community Planning Intern this year. Rezoning and Development gained the most votes from committee members and community residents present.
Other proposed projects included development over the MTA yards north of Sherman Creek, streetscape enhancement for major retail corridors and historic designation and preservation efforts in Washington Heights and Inwood.
But the majority of the meeting was spent on discussing resolutions drafted by the Land Use Committee for Quadriad Realty Partner’s Tryon Center project. The committee presented 11 resolutions, beginning with a reduction of the overall density of the development and of the proposed building heights, with emphasis on contextualizing the building prototype to meet the heights of the surrounding buildings.
As a way to reduce reliance on the density to fund the affordable housing units, the committee proposed that Quadriad look into public sector housing finance programs in order to fund the creation of affordable housing units.
Two of the resolutions addressed the size of the units, requesting more family-size units and “a residential mix in which at least 50% of the units are two-bedroom.” The committee also recommended that Washington Heights and Inwood household income data, versus city-wide household income data, be used “as a basis for determining proposed income tiers of the Projects affordable units.”
Committee member Steve Simon added additional resolutions, including requiring the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement and minimizing proposed renovations of the 191st street A-train station tunnel in order to save city money.
Among concerns brought up by community residents was how the construction of the development would affect the surrounding structures, many of which are on stilts. The committee affirmed the concern, adding that the Department of Buildings is responsible for addressing this issue.
The resolutions will be presented at the CB12 general meeting, and if adopted by the full board, will be passed on to the Department of City Planning and will ultimately need approval from City Council and the Mayor’s Office.
Quadriad Realty President Henry Wollman, who was in attendance, said his company is preparing a response to the resolutions that will be sent out to community stakeholders and also be presented at the CB12 general meeting.
During a phone conversation following the Land Use Committee meeting, Wollman said he does not believe the density of the building is problematic and, in fact, the buildings need to remain at their current heights (ranging from 23-40 stories) in order to protect the 171 affordable housing units of the development, adding that there is no such city or state money, as the committee suggested, available to fund these units.
“There will need to be compromises on both sides to meet the goal of maximizing affordable housing,” Wollman said.
Health and Environment committee supports resolution against Quadriad
The CB12 Health and Environment committee voted on Thurs., Sept. 8th to support a resolution drafted the night before by the Land Use committee during its meeting. The committee, determined to speak against the proposed Quadriad Realty development, which has proposed to erect two to four high rise apartments on Broadway at West190th Street, added suggestions to the resolution which will come before the full board during its monthly meeting. Health and Environment committee chair Steve Simon suggested that the Land Use committee’s resolution, which includes 12 outlined recommendations, be strengthened and also outline defined tiers of affordability for the project’s affordable housing units. The committee also reiterated that the brackets should be determined using Washington Heights and Inwood-specific household income data.
In addition to demanding the use of specific income data, the committee also suggested that up to 50 percent of the total units in the project be made affordable as opposed to the one third initially proposed.
“If this project ever happens, it needs to include a majority of affordable housing; it should be more than 50 percent and not just 30 percent alongside market-rate units,” said Simon.
Addressing the potential effects that so massive a project would have on the area, the committee is also asking that an independent firm is hired to do an all encompassing study of the project’s environmental impact, and its consequences for local school populations, traffic, and public transportation.
“We will be working to strengthen the language of the resolution and get the rest of the board members to support it,” said Simon.
There will be a final vote during the general CB12 meeting on Tues., Sept 27th at 7 pm held at the Vivian and Seymour Milstein Family Heart Center at 173 Fortt Washington Avenue, between West 165th and 168th Streets.
Parks and Cultural Affairs committee
Two capital projects were announced during the monthly CB12 Parks and Cultural Affairs committee meeting held on Tues., Sept. 6th.
Construction is set to begin this month at the Juan Bosch Plaza, a new public community space funded by the New York City Council, located on Amsterdam Avenue north of the Wallenberg Playground on West 190th Street. Jennifer Hoppa, Northern Manhattan Parks Administrator, announced that the space will include new seating and inscriptions from the writings of Juan Bosch, famed Dominican politician, and author.
In addition, Hoppa also announced that the John T. Brush Stairs located in Highbridge Park on Edgecombe Avenue at West 157th Street are undergoing renovation and are close to completion. The staircase was a gift to John T. Brush, the owner of the Giants team back in 1917.
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