New Cooper Union Development Proposal

COOPER UNION APPLICATION TO BUILD 280-FOOT TALL RESIDENTIAL TOWER ON ASTOR PLACE PARKING LOT TO COME BEFORE COMMUNITY BOARD #2 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 6:45 PM

An application has been filed to the Board of Standards and Appeals for a special permit to alter the zoning of 26 Astor Place-- the parking lot site next to the Carl Fisher Building -- to allow construction of a larger and taller residential building on the site. The site abuts the Noho Historic District, and faces the landmarked Cooper Union Foundation Building. The proposed building, which would utilize a "plaza bonus" (allowing a larger, taller building in exchange for creation of a public plaza), would be a narrow, 23-story, 280-foot tall residential tower on a 2-story base covering a portion of the site. If granted, the special permit would change the zoning for a portion of the site from manufacturing to commercial, and would be developed by Related Properties.

Several concerns have been raised about the plan, including the following:

• * Cooper Union did not include the parking lot in its recently approved large scale development plan, stating that no final development plans existed for the site and any future development would not require zoning changes
• * The building will be the tallest in the area, surpassing even the Wanamaker Building
• *Is the design of the building (a two-story base with a tall slender tower) aesthetically and contextually appropriate for the site?
• * The plan includes a plaza bonus, which increases the allowable bulk and height in exchange for a public plaza of questionable benefit
• * The building would abut the NoHo Historic District, and is directly across the street from the historic Foundation Building, but no specifics have been offered yet about the details of the design and how it would relate to its historic surroundings

The Related Companies and Gwathmey Siegal & Associates (the chosen architects) will be making a formal presentation to the CB 2 Zoning Committee on Thursday, February 13th at 6:45 PM at NYU's Silver Building (24 Waverly Place, Room 701). We encourage anyone concerned with this development to attend the hearing and comment on the plan and its potential effects on the neighborhood. Please remember to bring ID.