Building Congress Event
Construction Industry Breakfast Forum
Daniel R. Garodnick and Carl Weisbrod Discuss New York City's Greater East Midtown Proposal at Building Congress Forum
New York City Council Member Daniel R. Garodnick and Director of the New York City Department of City Planning and Chairman of the New York City Planning Commission Carl Weisbrod were the featured speakers on September 30 at a New York Building Congress Construction Industry Breakfast Forum.
The Forum also featured greetings from Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, who discussed the East Midtown steering committee that she formed and chairs with Council Member Garodnick. She provided an overview of the intricate process, explaining that the committee met 18 times to learn the issues, hear from stakeholders and subject matter experts, consider alternative proposals, and finally arrive at recommendations. On the new proposal, she said, “From rebuilding out-of-date commercial structures, transit improvements, new FAR bonus rules, and new NYC landmarks – all these pieces must work together with streets, sidewalks, and open spaces in order for us to maintain East Midtown’s vibrancy and commercial diversity.”
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Addressing the room with over 300 professionals from the design, construction, and real estate industry, Mr. Weisbrod spoke about the importance of East Midtown. “It’s not just a key economic engine of the City, it is probably the key economic engine of the City.” He recounted Mayor de Blasio telling him that the rezoning should be a high priority when he was asked to Chair the City Planning Commission.
Mr. Weisbrod went on to call East Midtown the major transportation hub of New York City and described how it will become even more accessible once the East Side Access project is completed. As for the building stock in East Midtown, he noted that the average office property is 70 years-old and in need of modernization, explaining that the current zoning is impeding the renovation of these properties. He also discussed the opportunity to preserve certain buildings as landmarks, saying, “We have a need and opportunity, and in fact a responsibility, to maintain and enhance the iconic nature of the building environment in East Midtown and make this a world-class center that’s going to attract people from all over the world.”
He informed the attendees that he anticipates having an approved East Midtown rezoning plan by the middle of 2017.
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Council Member Garodnick began his remarks by recognizing East Midtown as a premier office district, but pointed out how the current zoning resolution has cramped its ability to grow. “East Midtown needs a jolt, and through this process, we will be able to give it what it needs.” He detailed how the proposed plan strikes the proper balance between the real estate community and the public while also taking into account needed improvements to the area. The Council Member said certain bonuses would be tied to those improvements, adding that the conditions to deliver the bonuses would be made clear to both the public and real estate community. He cited One Vanderbilt as an example of a development that delivered $220 million in improvements to the public.
During the question-and-answer session, Council Member Garodnick and Mr. Weisbroad covered various topics, including dealings with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, funding, FAR, pedestrian demand, and the competition East Midtown faces from other office districts, including Hudson Yards.
Mr. Weisbrod explained that to stay competitive, as the nature of office work is evolving, East Midtown needs to have the ability to produce more front-office space for world-class companies. “Our economy is growing in a different way, and we see more information technology companies; we see more creative companies. That’s where a lot of the job growth is. A lot of those companies are moving and want to be in a different kind of office space. As those companies mature, what kind of modern and technologically advanced office space will they want to be in? I think we are going to see that evolve over time and that’s a planning challenge that we need to monitor for the next decade or more.”Join NYBC
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