On the same day that it voted in favor of the Finger Building, the board also showed its developer-friendly leanings in the case of 163 Washington Avenue. As you may recall, GLC, the developer, has been appealing to the board to let it proceed with construction under the old zoning rules that would have allowed for a 17-story building on the site. At the first BSA hearing in October, the developer tried to refute the DOB’s analysis that the foundation was only 40% complete at the time the zoning changed, far short of what’s required to vest. By the time the second meeting had rolled around yesterday, the BSA had apparently made up its mind at a preview the day before to green-light the project despite GLC’s failure to make a convincing case about the foundation. It was only when the neighborhood opponents presented so much embarrassing evidence about inconsistencies in the developer’s story and timeline that the BSA had to push the decision back to a third hearing, presumably in January.
A Day at the BSA: GLC vs. Building Too Tall [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark DOB
Day of Reckoning for 163 Washington Avenue? [Brownstoner]
CB2 Votes on Two BSA Recs [Brownstoner]
CB2: Thumbs Down on Washington, Thumbs Up on Grand [Brownstoner]
Clinton Hill Rezoning Rejects Pitch BSA Bail-Out To CB2 [Brownstoner]
Race Against Clock at 163 Washington [Brownstoner]