The New York City Board of Standards & Appeals granted a variance yesterday to permit residential use at 100 Varick Street, which is located in a manufacturing zone.
100 Varick Street LLC, of which Charles Friedman is a principal, wanted to demolish an existing three-story, 19th Century commercial building on the site, which is between Watts and Broome Streets in SoHo, and erect a 10-story residential apartment building.
At a prior hearing, Fredrick A. Becker, the zoning lawyer representing the developer, told the board that the proposed building is across the street from buildings taller than 10 stories and would therefore not be altering the project's context.
An early plan for the project called for 27 apartments, but that number was increased to 79 at the previous hearing at the Board of Standards and Appeals.
The zoning and land-use committee of Community Board 2 held a hearing on the proposal recently and had no problem with the zoning change but expressed concerns about the height of the building.
David B. Reck, chairman of the zoning committee of Community Board 2, submitted to the board's prior hearing on the project its resolution last November that maintained that "the proposed residential occupancy is very appropriate for the site," adding that "the sub-standard size of the lot creates difficulties in developing the site," and "the additional costs of building next to the subway are significant for a project of this size." The board's resolution recommended approval of the project if it is built to a F.A.R. (floor-to-area ratio) of 8.
Mr. Becker told CityRealty.com today that the plan approved by the board yesterday has been revised again and now calls an eight-story building with 61 rental apartments.
Mr. Becker said that no new architectural renderings were available yet but that it will be a glass-clad, 80-foot-high structure. The rendering at the right is of the previously plan for a 10-story building with 79 apartments.
Michael Even of the EM Design Group is the architect for the project.
The American Red Cross leased space for a downtown headquarters after September 11, 2001 in a low-rise building on the site for five years but negotiated a termination after two years due to the "awkward layout" of the space.
100 Varick Street LLC, of which Charles Friedman is a principal, wanted to demolish an existing three-story, 19th Century commercial building on the site, which is between Watts and Broome Streets in SoHo, and erect a 10-story residential apartment building.
At a prior hearing, Fredrick A. Becker, the zoning lawyer representing the developer, told the board that the proposed building is across the street from buildings taller than 10 stories and would therefore not be altering the project's context.
An early plan for the project called for 27 apartments, but that number was increased to 79 at the previous hearing at the Board of Standards and Appeals.
The zoning and land-use committee of Community Board 2 held a hearing on the proposal recently and had no problem with the zoning change but expressed concerns about the height of the building.
David B. Reck, chairman of the zoning committee of Community Board 2, submitted to the board's prior hearing on the project its resolution last November that maintained that "the proposed residential occupancy is very appropriate for the site," adding that "the sub-standard size of the lot creates difficulties in developing the site," and "the additional costs of building next to the subway are significant for a project of this size." The board's resolution recommended approval of the project if it is built to a F.A.R. (floor-to-area ratio) of 8.
Mr. Becker told CityRealty.com today that the plan approved by the board yesterday has been revised again and now calls an eight-story building with 61 rental apartments.
Mr. Becker said that no new architectural renderings were available yet but that it will be a glass-clad, 80-foot-high structure. The rendering at the right is of the previously plan for a 10-story building with 79 apartments.
Michael Even of the EM Design Group is the architect for the project.
The American Red Cross leased space for a downtown headquarters after September 11, 2001 in a low-rise building on the site for five years but negotiated a termination after two years due to the "awkward layout" of the space.
Architecture Critic
Carter Horsley
Since 1997, Carter B. Horsley has been the editorial director of CityRealty. He began his journalistic career at The New York Times in 1961 where he spent 26 years as a reporter specializing in real estate & architectural news. In 1987, he became the architecture critic and real estate editor of The New York Post.
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