The New York Department of City Planning is considering changes to a formula used to model the shadows cast by potential developments as part of its Midtown East rezoning plan.
"The rezoning plan the city is seeking for Midtown East could eventually make streets in the district 10% darker," reports Daniel Geiger.
According to Geiger, planners in New York know that highly specific piece of information because of "an obscure formula known as the Waldram diagram, which is used by developers to calculate how much daylight a new building will block out…" The newsworthiness of the Waldram findings for Midtown East rezoning is compounded by the revelation that the Waldram formula is being "relaxed as part of the rezoning, allowing for taller and bulkier spires in the neighborhood."
"To encourage development, the Midtown East rezoning plan will allow towers to be built that are more than 40% bigger than the existing buildings in the district and also keep more of their bulk as they rise, in turn eclipsing more of the sky," explains Geiger. "Relaxing the Waldram formula is a key part of the plan, but has received little attention."
FULL STORY: A plan to rezone could make parts of Midtown East 10% darker
Rezoning Begins in Earnest in Manhattan's East Midtown
The aspiration for a forthcoming Uniform Land Use Review Procedure for East Midtown Manhattan is nothing short of returning the neighborhood to central business district status.
Controversy Follows Proposed Midtown East Plan
A very public spat over proposed Midtown East plan took place in the pages of Crain's this week.
Op-Ed Supports Staten Island Rezoning for its Green Benefits
A rezoning proposal for Staten Island in New York City gets support from a local resident with deep involvement in the community.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.
The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.
DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.
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.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)