After years of squabbling, the City Council yesterday gave the green light to a $4 billion project that will create six new residential towers and an office tower on the site of the old Con Ed power plant overlooking the East River.
The council, after winning numerous concessions to reduce the original proposed density of the project and the towers' height, unanimously approved the needed zoning changes for the 9.8 acres of land just south of the United Nations.
"The plan creates five acres of new public open space, a new public school, affordable housing with incentives to create moderate and middle income units, and ground-level retail to establish what we know will be a vibrant, mixed-use community," said Council Speaker Christine Quinn.
Developer Sheldon Solow purchased the site from Con Edison six years ago and spent more than $100 million to demolish the power plant and clear the property.
But his proposal to build towers that would have risen far higher than the United Nations building drew howls from neighbors and lawmakers, including City Councilman Dan Garodnick, who led talks with the developer.
Under the compromise, the tallest proposed tower will rise 595 feet, 90 feet higher than the United Nations. The towers will house about 3,000 apartments and 1.06 million square feet of commercial space, as well as 69,000 square feet of retail.
Stop talking about it and start digging the holes in the ground.
ReplyDeleteKeep the work going.
Work Safe.