Seward Park Overview

Presentation to Manhattan Community Board 3

Land Use, Zoning, Public and
Private Housing Committee
March 8, 2010
Agenda
ƒ Site Overview

ƒ Review of Committee Meetings to Date

ƒ Program Development – Next Phase

ƒ Review of Development Process

ƒ Questions and Answers

NEW YORK CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Site Map
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NEW YORK CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Site Overview – Jurisdiction

NEW YORK CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Committee Accomplishments to Date

ƒ Spring 2009 Guiding Principles (Adopted by CB)

ƒ July 2009 Size and scope
ƒ September 2009 City process
ƒ December 2009 Urban design, open space
ƒ January 2010 Parking and retail
ƒ February 2010 Cultural/community space

NEW YORK CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Committee Discussions to Date
ƒ Size and Scope
ƒ Include as many sites as possible
ƒ Support for mixed-used development with significant residential and
retail components
ƒ Sites do not need to be developed by single developer
ƒ Potential to consider rezoning/more bulk depending on potential
benefits/costs

ƒ Urban Design and Open Space

ƒ Maintain street walls; no “towers in the park”
ƒ Incorporate open space into the plan; amount depends on tradeoffs
ƒ Incorporate green building practices, depending on cost
implications
ƒ Need for further assistance in conceptualizing the urban design
parameters

NEW YORK CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Committee Discussions to Date
ƒ Parking
ƒ Include parking to replace surface lot spaces
ƒ Parking on the site should not be subsidized in exchange for other
subsidized uses
ƒ Truck parking on surface lots should not be prioritized over other
development opportunities

ƒ Retail
ƒ Support for significant retail space as part of program
ƒ Interest in variety of retail types and sizes that serve community
needs and provide opportunity for local entrepreneurs

ƒ Cultural/community space
ƒ Need for more clear understanding of the tradeoffs
ƒ Concern that new uses may compete with surrounding cultural uses
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NEW YORK CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Moving forward
ƒ Maintain momentum
ƒ Reach consensus on
development program
ƒ Engage in concentrated
effort within definitive
timeframe
ƒ Begin facilitated
process

NEW YORK CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Overarching Project Goals
ƒ Mixed-use
development
ƒ Financially feasible
program

NEW YORK CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Development Program Components
ƒ Amount and affordability
of housing
ƒ Scope of retail
ƒ Type & amount of open
space
ƒ Amount of community
facility space
ƒ Cultural/entertainment
uses
ƒ Amount of parking
ƒ Urban design
ƒ Other uses
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NEW YORK CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Proposed Next Steps
ƒ Recommended
facilitator/planner:
John Shapiro
ƒ Begin 4 month
intensive process
ƒ Facilitator stakeholder
interviews
ƒ Focused Committee
work sessions
ƒ Public meeting(s)

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NEW YORK CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Review of City Development Process
ƒ Determine Development Program
ƒ Complete CEQR/Environmental Impact Statement
ƒ Take proposed program through ULURP
ƒ Issue RFP(s)

Final ULURP Issue

CEQR/EIS
Program Approvals RFP(s)

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Thank You!

Questions and Answers

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NEW YORK CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION