Q&A
Examination of building height concerns at 1601 Bronxdale site
1:07:58
·
3 min
Council Member Salamanca raises concerns about proposed building heights at the 1601 Bronxdale location, particularly in relation to existing buildings in the area. City Planning provides a detailed explanation of the site's characteristics and development strategy.
- Proposed buildings at 1601 Bronxdale may reach up to 25 stories, compared to nearby 18-19 story buildings
- City Planning explains the site's irregular shape and its proximity to a Con Ed facility and rail line
- The development plan includes publicly accessible open spaces and a bonus mechanism for additional density
- City Planning suggests the possibility of lower heights towards Bronxdale Avenue, with height increasing towards the back of the site
Rafael Salamanca
1:07:58
I'm particularly concerned with the Broxdale location.
1:08:01
You know, I met with the developer this week, you know, and there there's certain buildings are proposing 25 stories.
1:08:08
But yet, right across your street, the Parkchester buildings, I I think they go up to 18, 19 stories.
1:08:14
How how how does city planning allow allowing, you know, in terms of kinda killing the character of the neighbor?
Michael Kavalar
1:08:25
Sure.
1:08:25
I'm I'm happy to take this 1, council member.
1:08:28
So the 1601 bronchitis site, I'll just I know you're aware, just for everyone's benefit, this is a very large and irregular site.
1:08:37
You know, it has a frontage on Bronxdale Ave there, but the remaining sides of the site are flanked either by the Con Ed facility, the rather large Con Ed facility there.
1:08:47
Or the rail line there as well.
1:08:49
So I just wanna note that, you know, that site is doing a number of things that I I think are just worth discussing because it gets to some of the concerns.
1:08:59
And I know I know there's a strong feeling about the need for city owned open spaces versus privately owned open spaces, but there's a plus city of city owned land in the area.
1:09:09
And so as a sort of 1 of the many strategies in addition to our work with our capital agency partners at Parks and others, And I'll just note also the the proposed Plaza at Morse Park, which would be open space as well there.
1:09:23
At 61 Bronxdale, we have a site that has the potential to add 2 publicly accessible open spaces to the, you know, there would be obviously restriction that would require that to be publicly accessible.
1:09:38
It's laid out within the special district texts there.
1:09:40
And there are a number of requirements that would need to be met to ensure that those spaces are not only legally, publicly accessible, but they appear as public spaces.
1:09:49
And so I just want to note that in terms of the strategy there, our article was to provide the opportunity for a development team to provide those open spaces.
1:10:02
And so there's a bonus mechanism, and that bonus mechanism is what creates some additional potential density on that site, although I'll just note this is all obviously hypothetical until anything were to happen.
1:10:16
And we've talked with the development teams over the years.
1:10:20
We've certainly heard the concerns about height.
1:10:22
We think there's an opportunity for lower heights.
1:10:25
Towards the Bronxdale Avenue Edge and for height to step up as it moves towards the back of the site and would be near to the Con Ed facility, which is rather large and create something of a buffer there.
1:10:37
I think for specific questions about the potential future design of that site, obviously, that would require conversation with the the development team there who I think may actually be here today, and they would be able to respond better to some of those questions.
Rafael Salamanca
1:10:55
No.
1:10:56
I will I'll I'll I'll I'll let the counselor from my mom and I will continue with those conversations, but I just wanna make it put on record that I can
David Karnovsky
1:11:03
sir,
Rafael Salamanca
1:11:04
with the height of some of the buildings that are being composed of 1601, Bronxdale.