277-13-BZ APPLICANT – Schoeman Updike Kaufman Gerber LLP, for SoBro Development Corporation, owner. SUBJECT – Application June 18, 2018 – Amendment of a previously approved Variance (§72-21) to permit proposed development of a 12-story, 125-unit residential building with two floors of community facility/church space, contrary to floor area (§23-145), lot coverage (§23-145), and base and building height (§23-633). The Amendment seeks an additional twenty (20) affordable dwelling units and an additional partial floor for tenant storage: Extension of Time to Complete Construction which expires on August 19, 2018. R7-2 zoning district. PREMISES AFFECTED – 1769 Fort George Hill, Block 2170, Lot(s) 180, 190, Borough of Manhattan. COMMUNITY BOARD #12M Application granted ACTION OF THE BOARD – condition. THE VOTE TO GRANT – Affirmative: Chair Perlmutter, Vice-Chair Chanda, Commissioner Ottley-Brown, and Commissioner Scibetta…………………………………………………4 Negative:…………………………………………..…..0 Absent: Commissioner Sheta …………..……………1 THE RESOLUTION – WHEREAS, the decision of the Department Buildings (“DOB”), dated June 14, 2018, acting New Building Application No. 121204222, reads pertinent part: “ZR 23-24 Proposed Building exceeds permitted number of dwelling units” “ZR 23-633d Proposed Building base height does not comply with required minimum and maximums” “ZR 23-633d Proposed Building Height does not comply with required maximums”; and WHEREAS, this is an application for an extension of time to complete construction and an amendment variance, previously granted by the Board, to allow additional dwelling units in the subject affordable- housing development; and WHEREAS, a public hearing was held on application on April 9, 2019, after due notice publication in The City Record, with continued hearings on Jun 4, 2019, and then to decision on the same date; and WHEREAS, Commissioner Ottley-Brown performed an inspection of the site and surrounding neighborhood; and WHEREAS, Community Board 12, Manhattan, recommends disapproval of this application, citing concerns with the population that would live in affordable-housing development, the elimination parking pursuant to recent zoning amendments, the of the daycare facility, accessibility for people disabilities and the reduction in the number of three- bedroom and four-bedroom apartments; and 277-13-BZ WHEREAS, the applicant accordingly proposes 20 additional dwelling units, for a total of 133 dwelling units; and WHEREAS, the applicant also notes that proposed development, as amended, would stay within the bulk envelope of the approved variance and would, in fact, decrease the building footprint approximately 17’-0” by increasing the side yard to the north from 0” to 25’-7” and decrease the building height from 146’-1” to 143’-0” while increasing the number floors from 12 to 13 in order to provide storage units for residents; and WHEREAS, the applicant submitted evidence the proposed building continues to reflect the minimum variance necessary to afford relief because development costs have increased substantially since 2014 (including steel reinforcement, concrete and labor) while affordable-housing program has changed to provide deeper affordability levels in such a way that original unit count would not be viable; and WHEREAS, in response to community concerns, the applicant provided an operational plan for proposed daycare facility, indicating that the proposed daycare facility would be operated by the house worship in the subject building but would also available to residents of the proposed development area residents, depending on availability, and applicant notes that the removal of parking as a result recent zoning amendments allows for a redesign of lobby and enlargement of the proposed house worship along with the inclusion of the proposed daycare facility on the second floor; and WHEREAS, the applicant further represents the proposed development will comply with applicable accessibility regulatio
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