Extell Development Company's proposed 3.1 million-square-foot Riverside Center mixed-use project on the Upper West Side received unanimous thumbs up from two City Council committees yesterday, signaling it will be approved by the full Council later this month, according to an article by Theresa Agovino at crains.com.
"Affirmation from the Committee on Land Use and the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises came after the developer agreed to build a bigger school than originally offered, as well as at least 220 units of affordable housing on the eight-acre parcel, which spans from West 59th Street to West 61st Street, between West End Avenue and the West Side Highway," the article said.
"We are happy with the deal," said City Councilwoman Gale Brewer, who represents the neighborhood, adding "We always want more, but Extell negotiated in good faith," the article said.
The project includes 2,500 apartments in five high-rise towers, retail space and a school.
"Extell," the article continued, "had pledged to build a 75,000-square-foot school but the community wanted to double the size of the facility. Now, Extell has promised to build a 100,000-square-foot school, Ms. Brewer said. The councilwoman had also wanted Extell to pledge 20% to 30% of the units on site as affordable housing. Under the deal, the developer will build 500 units of affordable housing, or 20% of the total, but only 9% of them will definitely be on site, she said."
"Affirmation from the Committee on Land Use and the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises came after the developer agreed to build a bigger school than originally offered, as well as at least 220 units of affordable housing on the eight-acre parcel, which spans from West 59th Street to West 61st Street, between West End Avenue and the West Side Highway," the article said.
"We are happy with the deal," said City Councilwoman Gale Brewer, who represents the neighborhood, adding "We always want more, but Extell negotiated in good faith," the article said.
The project includes 2,500 apartments in five high-rise towers, retail space and a school.
"Extell," the article continued, "had pledged to build a 75,000-square-foot school but the community wanted to double the size of the facility. Now, Extell has promised to build a 100,000-square-foot school, Ms. Brewer said. The councilwoman had also wanted Extell to pledge 20% to 30% of the units on site as affordable housing. Under the deal, the developer will build 500 units of affordable housing, or 20% of the total, but only 9% of them will definitely be on site, she said."
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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