A closely watched rezoning effort in New York City cleared a key City Council committee last week, while making some concessions from the original vision to get across the finish line.
Kathryn Brenzel reports for TheRealDeal that the New York City Council has reached a compromise to get Envision SoHo/NoHo one critical step closer to full approval, dialing back some of the density in the vision for this relatively wealthy corner of Manhattan.
The version of the plan approved by the City Council's Committee on Land Use last week "reduces the commercial floor-area ratio in most of the rezoning area to 5 from the original proposal, in which FAR was 10 in three areas," reports Brenzel. "In the Bowery corridor in Noho, the commercial FAR is 7 and the residential FAR is 12, as recommended by City Planning."
"Despite the last-minute changes, the plan as a whole will dramatically increase the amount of development allowed in the high-income, relatively low-scale neighborhoods. It is a victory for the administration and advocates for affordable housing, not to mention the real estate industry," writes Brenzel.
Planners in New York City began working on the controversial rezoning plan in 2018, and the narrative about the rezoning process quickly turned to relative wealth of the neighborhoods included in the plan compared to other parts of the city rezoned during the de Blasio administration (advocates are pushing the city to for rezone for more residential density in other affluent parts of the city in the wake of Envision SoHo/NoHo).
More details on the final plan are available in the source article linked below. An earlier article by Brenzel, published two days earlier, detailed the political maneuvers that preceded to the compromise.
FULL STORY: City Council tweaks Soho rezoning, assuring its passage
Too Much Commercial Zoning for Affordable Housing in SoHo's Controversial Rezoning Plan?
Mayor Bill de Blasio is crossing the finish line of his time in office at the same time as one of the most controversial rezoning processes of his administration.
New Supertall Planned for Grand Central Station-Adjacent Property
A new supertall skyscraper will rise at 175 Park Avenue, rising next to famous neighbors on a prime block in Manhattan.
Five More Affluent NYC Neighborhoods to Upzone
In keeping with the goals of the Regional Plan Association's Fourth Regional Plan, New York City must continue its nascent trend of rezoning for more building capacity in affluent neighborhoods.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?
Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire
Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.
LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles
LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.
Paris Voters Approve More Car-Free Streets
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo says the city will develop a plan to close 500 streets to car traffic and add new bike and pedestrian infrastructure after a referendum on the proposal passed with 66 percent of the vote.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service