The New York City Board of Standards & Appeals held a hearing this afternoon on an application for a zoning variance to permit residential use at 100 Varick Street, which is in a manufacturing district.
100 Varick Street LLC, of which Charles Friedman is a principal, wants to demolish an existing three-story, 19th Century commercial building on the site, which is between Watts and Broome Streets in SoHo, and erect a 10-story residential apartment building.
Fredrick A. Becker, the zoning lawyer representing the developer, told the board that the proposed building is across the street from buildings taller than 10 stories and would therefore not be altering the project's context.
The project would contain 79 apartments and commercial space on the first floor. An earlier plan called for 27 apartments.
It has been designed by Michael Even of the EM Design Group, who told CityRealty.Com that the apartments will be rental units, adding, however, "that may change."
The board will continue the hearing June 20 as Mr. Becker told the board that the developer is negotiating the purchase of an easement that may affect the project and that its bulk might be lowered.
The American Red Cross leased space for a downtown headquarters after September 11, 2001 in a low-rise building on the site for five years but negotiated a termination after two years due to the "awkward layout" of the space.
The zoning and land-use committee of Community Board 2 held a hearing on the proposal recently and had no problem with the zoning change but expressed concerns about the height of the building.
David B. Reck, chairman of the zoning committee of Community Board 2, submitted to the board today its resolution last November that maintained that "the proposed residential occupancy is very appropriate for the site," adding that "the sub-standard size of the lot creates difficulties in developing the site," and "the additional costs of building next to the subway are significant for a project of this size." The board's resolution recommended approval of the project if it is built to a F.A.R. (floor-to-area ratio) of 8.
100 Varick Street LLC, of which Charles Friedman is a principal, wants to demolish an existing three-story, 19th Century commercial building on the site, which is between Watts and Broome Streets in SoHo, and erect a 10-story residential apartment building.
Fredrick A. Becker, the zoning lawyer representing the developer, told the board that the proposed building is across the street from buildings taller than 10 stories and would therefore not be altering the project's context.
The project would contain 79 apartments and commercial space on the first floor. An earlier plan called for 27 apartments.
It has been designed by Michael Even of the EM Design Group, who told CityRealty.Com that the apartments will be rental units, adding, however, "that may change."
The board will continue the hearing June 20 as Mr. Becker told the board that the developer is negotiating the purchase of an easement that may affect the project and that its bulk might be lowered.
The American Red Cross leased space for a downtown headquarters after September 11, 2001 in a low-rise building on the site for five years but negotiated a termination after two years due to the "awkward layout" of the space.
The zoning and land-use committee of Community Board 2 held a hearing on the proposal recently and had no problem with the zoning change but expressed concerns about the height of the building.
David B. Reck, chairman of the zoning committee of Community Board 2, submitted to the board today its resolution last November that maintained that "the proposed residential occupancy is very appropriate for the site," adding that "the sub-standard size of the lot creates difficulties in developing the site," and "the additional costs of building next to the subway are significant for a project of this size." The board's resolution recommended approval of the project if it is built to a F.A.R. (floor-to-area ratio) of 8.
Architecture Critic
Carter Horsley
Since 1997, Carter B. Horsley has been the editorial director of CityRealty. He began his journalistic career at The New York Times in 1961 where he spent 26 years as a reporter specializing in real estate & architectural news. In 1987, he became the architecture critic and real estate editor of The New York Post.
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