Carter's View
"Taller" is an unusual cry to be heard at the City Planning Commission.
It was a cry uttered today at the commission by some residents of a building adjoining a planned new condominium tower at 1123 York Avenue on the southwest corner at 61st Street.
The current design by Shuman Lichtenstein Claman Efron for the Witkoff Group for the site calls for a 26-story, glass-clad tower with 100 apartments.
The plan had been approved by Community Board 8 and the Borough President's Office with the provision that the developer try to resolve some issues with the residents of the neighboring building at 440 East 61st Street.
Howard Zipser, an attorney representing the cooperative shareholders of 440 East 61st Street, told the commission that the developer has been "very helpful and gracious" in discussions with the shareholders, adding that significant progress has been made, referring to recent design charges. He urged, however, continued cooperation especially with regard to the impact the new building will have on the "light and air" of more than a third of 143 apartments in the mid-block, 61st Street building.
Howard Brumer, a director of the co-op building, testified that the co-op building's roofdeck would be turned into a "shade-deck" by the new building and suggested that the new building be made thinner and taller to minimize its "light-and-air impacts."
Steve Alper of The Witkoff Group told the commission that it has not yet designed the layouts of the planned building. The building is seeking a special permit and an "inclusionary" zoning bonus for providing affordable housing at a site on 76th Street between First and York Avenues. The commission closed its public hearing on the Witkoff building without holding a vote.
It was a cry uttered today at the commission by some residents of a building adjoining a planned new condominium tower at 1123 York Avenue on the southwest corner at 61st Street.
The current design by Shuman Lichtenstein Claman Efron for the Witkoff Group for the site calls for a 26-story, glass-clad tower with 100 apartments.
The plan had been approved by Community Board 8 and the Borough President's Office with the provision that the developer try to resolve some issues with the residents of the neighboring building at 440 East 61st Street.
Howard Zipser, an attorney representing the cooperative shareholders of 440 East 61st Street, told the commission that the developer has been "very helpful and gracious" in discussions with the shareholders, adding that significant progress has been made, referring to recent design charges. He urged, however, continued cooperation especially with regard to the impact the new building will have on the "light and air" of more than a third of 143 apartments in the mid-block, 61st Street building.
Howard Brumer, a director of the co-op building, testified that the co-op building's roofdeck would be turned into a "shade-deck" by the new building and suggested that the new building be made thinner and taller to minimize its "light-and-air impacts."
Steve Alper of The Witkoff Group told the commission that it has not yet designed the layouts of the planned building. The building is seeking a special permit and an "inclusionary" zoning bonus for providing affordable housing at a site on 76th Street between First and York Avenues. The commission closed its public hearing on the Witkoff building without holding a vote.
Additional Info About the Building
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.