East Midtown Rezoning Enters Public Review, New Details of Plan Emerge
(DNAINFO) Noah Horowitz | January 3, 2017 — The proposed Greater East Midtown Rezoning plan entered its public review process Tuesday.
The city’s proposed east Midtown rezoning plan entered the months-long public review process on Tuesday, as new details emerged about key portions of the project, including the planned public-transit improvement projects that will be built into the plan.
The new draft of the proposed Greater East Midtown Rezoning, released on Dec. 30, includes specifics about pre-approved transit projects that will be part of the new zoning amendment, along with details about how the transfer of air rights from landmark sites will contribute to public improvements.
►See Also: Here’s What You Need to Know About the Greater East Midtown Rezoning
“This rezoning will not only facilitate development of the type of quality office towers that will attract a range of employers to East Midtown,” said City Planning Commissioner Carl Weisbrod in a statement. “It also will produce 21st century transit and pedestrian upgrades — specified in the zoning text as a prerequisite to development — to ensure that the district can accommodate all who work, stay and pass through it in an enjoyable and livable environment.“
Developers looking to build in the rezoned area of Midtown will be able to contribute to station improvements at transit hubs in the neighborhood, with some projects pre-approved by the Department of City Planning and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority including improved disability access at Bryant Park and a new station entrance at the 59th Street station, according to a document outlining the plan.