The Promise of an Urban Solution to the Global Challenge

In 2008, with more than half of the world population found in cities, the earth becomes officially urban. With this change, we recognize intensified levels of environmental urgency coupled with a demand for new technologies to drive business and housing development forward in an improved way. A missing element appears to be a debate on how to create a mass transportation foundation for these improvments. Transit systems support high-density urban development; they contribute to the elimination of social and spatial disadvantages, and serve to coordinate and clarify development policy, especially during periods of rapid growth. Mass transit helps to focus two prime areas of urban integration business and housing. This "focus" is vital to making an urbanized earth a viable solution to the global challenge. Below, three ideas about "promises" are used to begin this exploration. One involves urban density, another suggests a design approach to equity and social justice and the third offers advanced forms of multi-sector knowledge capital. It is thought in this exploration that whether facilitated or forced, it may be possible to survive a mass reduction in globally dangerous consumption, it will be absolutely impossible to eliminate the human desire for trade. The demand to change what is traded may be the core economic issue, but the need to do so is ultimately a commuity design problem.

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The Promise of Density

Urban business sectors benefit from increasing levels trade when stimulated by ease of movement and fast communication systems. On the other hand, this activity is greatly reduced most successful residential communities using strict controls. These measures help New York City to re-invent itself by focusing on the tension caused by these two uses. Living and working become a kind of multi-layered space in the city due, in large part to a strict adherence to zoning regulation. These and other development “codes” provide objective measures of dimension, proportion, and performance for continuous evaluation and succeeding adaptations to change. These rules regulate the adaptive reuse of buildings and guide the replication of several relatively fixed building types to produce an efficient mechanism for growth at low risk.

The promise of urban density begins with the mathematical and functional certainty of the city-grid. It is a symbol of the infinite, a set of lines or pathways moving outward into space and around the globe. The negative effect is urban sprawl – a paucity of centeredness promoted by these low-risk growth patterns. Within this framework, New York City has remained an island geographically and politically. In this sense, NYC symbolizes a "circle". It is limited. These limitations are many but they also yield opportunities to solve serious problems with a modest but continuously impressive degree of success. Managing the stress and risk linked to these restraints produce vibrant multiple uses of the urban space.

New York offers a dynamic mix of affordable and means tested housing units in proximity to unregulated apartments. It has converted its industrial waterfront into a new public realm yet retaining (hopefully) its core industrial capacity to design and manufacture locally consumed products. Density guarantees an acclimatizing response to change.

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The Promise to Eliminate Disadvantage

When examining the question of equity or fairness we define issues such as residential segregation using rent and acquisition cost and we evaluate differences in these costs by the constructs of race and class to measure social disadvantage. The former (residential segregation) accelerates real estate values by isolating competitive interests and various forms of exclusion (social disadvantage) serve to manage or disguise this behavior. For the most part, these actions help maintain advantages by distributing privileges. These distribution activities are common among all economic classes; however, when used spatially the data describes a broad range of comparative economic disadvantages established between groups as a land use question.

The image of hub and wheel dominates as a symbol of urbanism. It is an easily recognized pattern within cities and conurbations such as New York, London, and Tokyo. The settlement of multiple “hubs” and outland support areas are in a continuous state of decay and renewal. In the buildings and neighborhoods formed, multiple sets of questions about the design of these places and the experience of living in them are prolific. A nearly universal example would be the spatial relationship between a felony assault and walking through a housing complex. Queries that seek a relationship in these experiences (causal or otherwise) hope to improve urban life by improving its space. Using the example of the mass transit system as a catalyst for stimulating urban change will help illustrate this point.

The mass transportation system provides a useful metaphor of the catalyst. We all ride in the same rod-shaped cars of the NYC subway system. The number that defines the percentage of “choice riders” in the system at any point in time regardless of economic status is a key unknown. What conditions and purposes make it the first choice for travel? Would understanding this in detail help improve and expand investment in public transit at lower risk? Unlike the intellectual and social advocacy provided by the business and housing development community, mass transit professionals have been unable to posit the case for more broadly based sources of revenue. Clearly, the cost of public transit and its importance in the region is a responsibility that goes well beyond the economic capacity of its ridership. Is the missing element from the transportation community the lack of a public advocacy policy and a progressive approach to change? Is not the advancement of stronger public transit policy serve to reduce per capita carbon output, or the elimination social disadvantage by removing isolation?

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The Promise of Multi-Sector Knowledge Capital

The public transportation has yet developed a response to social change that is equivalent to that of the business development community or the affordable housing development agencies. With all three frameworks in play, we could see a higher level of coordination and the capacity to model development solutions prior to implementation. New evidence-driven algorithms that produce financial, geographic, and architectural imaging are readily available. This technology also supports the continued expansion of connected data base systems to monitor real time conditions. The promise of combined data that links housing, business, and transportation not only helps to form new questions, but they are more likely to be the right ones at the right time.

Recent offerings in upper Manhattan for example suggest enormous economic windfalls to land owners that are adjacent to major mass transit resources. These windfalls would be in trade for density bonuses that make room for a full range of mixed-use affordable housing/business development options.

Given current market conditions, development pressure in upper Manhattan could produce something like a “deal or no deal” policy. This policy would support a multiple layering of dense uses and purposes along the major transit corridors, but it would not support these changes without a reciprocal development solution that would prevent displacement throughout the rest of the community.

Urban places defined as immigrant barrios or racial ghettos have spatially defined dimensions for comparison. For example, moving from Manhattan’s Upper East Side uptown to Harlem, and Harlem uptown to Washington Heights reveals frightening differences of income and social class in terms of race, ethnic background, and national origin. Nevertheless, a transit system provides for movement from one to the other with great ease. These adjacencies are possible regardless of household income when the opportunity includes free movement throughout in a city that offers a life of dignity and purpose.

This unique New York City combination is a product of planning and urban design. It exhibits the possibility of an urbanized earth that is both environmentally and socially adaptable to the global challenge and that it is possible to implement environmental and economic reforms concurrently. The integration of prime land uses as a multi-sector investment represents the dual capability of renewing the human place as well as, the human spirit. The urbanized earth is a place where every resident can find low cost access to employment, affordable training, and housing that includes levels of basic community support for personal enrichment sufficient to end all of the pathological aspects of poverty and environmental degradation. The promise of a well-integrated system of movement, opportunity for business growth and affordable housing offers nothing less than a vitally civil society on a much greener and ecologically diverse earth.

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SUGGEST BOOKS AND REPORTS

Aside from an occasional rant, a strong, vital argument for more progress in producing an equitable public transportation system is: Highway Robbery:Transportation Racism and New Routes to Equity Use either link to read a major portion of the book now by Bullard Johnson and Torres, 2000.

The State of World Population 2007: Unleashing the Potential of Urban Growth website or here to download a pdf of the report

BUY
Highway Robbery from Amazon Now

VIEW A RELEVANT VIDEO
A world of 100 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJHJH3C23-8

Description of Images

• Cellular Image of London Developed by spatial syntax institute at the London University
• Mass Transit system of NYC illustrates geographic distorion of the HUB and spoke of urban develoment
• Image of Inwood Manhattan, a snapshot of the "deal or no deal" land use development policy emphasizing areas recommended for high density develoment in context. Also points out the "waterfront contradiction" if waterborne transit is not present.

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Urban/Community Design

APA Metro Urban Design Committee

Expanding Legal Services in Upper Manhattan to Serve Tenants

With the support of CUNY's Community Legal Resource Network, Columbia University and others, New York State Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat (D-72nd District) have developed plans for the expansion of legal services to advocate for residents in CD12.

This is action is partly in response to an alleged scheme to defraud investors in Washington Heights & Inwood by real estate developers arrested and charged with a scheme to defraud investors. The charges focus on buildings owned by the Kingsland Group. Overall, the rising cost of housing in comparison to wages continues to press heavily on the economic well-being of Washington Heights and Inwood.

The legal services planned are part of a yearlong campaign initiated by Assemblyman Espaillat and Nos Quedamos/Project Remain in coordination with the City University of New York (CUNY), the City University of New York School of Law and the Community Legal Resource Network (CLRN) and Columbia University.

The resulting policy recommendations call for free housing legal services Nos Quedamos. Services will be housed in the district office of Assemblyman Espaillat, 210 Sherman Avenue, New York, New York 10034, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Tenants interested in making an appointment to speak with an Attorney must call:(212) 544-2278.

According to the Mortgage Fraud Blog (click here) The properties listed in the complaint associated with the Kingsland Group are: 2301-2303 2nd Ave 249 E. 118th Street 528 W. 152nd Street 531 W. 179th Street 283 Audubon Ave503-505 W. 176th St70-72 Pinehurst Ave. 2180-82 Amsterdam Ave507 W.184th St559 W. 183rd St704 W. 180th Street 234-236 E. l l 8t h Street 463, W. 15th Street 465, W. 15th Street 467 W. 15th Street 510-516 W. 184th St 500 W. 190th Street 516-520 W. 18Eth Street 515 W. 184th Street 520-524 W. 184th Street

For FBI PDF Press Release of 07/30 by Michael J. GarciaUnited States Attorney - Southern District of New York go to this link U. S. ARRESTS TWO DEVELOPERS IN $27 MILLION FRAUD SCHEME

What Makes CD12 Unique?

Special Purpose District Zoning codifies incentives for development with the preservation of highly valued or unique elements that enhance urban living. For example, the scenic view easement is a zoning designation that protects NYC’s extraordinary view corridors across great distances of the urban landscape. Huge sections of Washington Heights and Inwood look outward across the Hudson or into the Bronx that should be highly valued. If tall buildings are built, a portion of this view “windfall” should go to adjacent property owners with the inclusion of affordable housing. This is not a new idea, it is why Grand Central Terminal remains and the buildings around it are much taller. What is the difference between this "solution", and one that "exacts" the cash value of a view of the Hudson in trade for stabilized affordable housing?

If and when things like this happen, "Who Cuts the Deal?"

Setting a successful climate for zoning change negotiations comes in one of two forms, 1) the Community Benefits Agreement, also definable in some instances as a Good Neighbor Agreement or development disposition agreement with a single site and developer, and 2) the Memorandum of Understanding. Both require corporate entities as signatories to an economic formula based on sharing or dividing a set of anticipated resources and revenues. The product of the formula is at its best when it is economically self-renewing and includes an immediate “payout” often in the form of a tangible capital improvement. A pre-defined set of services, as well as, a general outline of the baseline responsibilities of signatories produces minimum and maximum “upset” figures.

Washington Heights and Inwood should start talking about the kind of corporate entity required to conduct negotiations coupled with the quality of governance needed.

Public Partnership: Add TIF to Inclusionary Zoning

Programs such as tax increment financing (TIF) pledges the increase in real property taxes to pay the costs of associated public investment. For example, if a housing development project will generate $10 million in additional tax each year, that $10 million is pledged for the same period required to cover a $100 million bond to secure a housing trust fund for a community district. In other words, zoning changes the taxable basis and it can be altered as an incentive to act, with resources prevent, or mitigate damage.

Looking for ideas on how this could happen?

This is an "either/or" condition for all Manhattan real estate. Either it is full market rate, leading to tax increment bond financing for local housing affordability programs, or it is fully stabilized with a permanent stock of affordable housing providing a minumum of 20% of units or with bonus floor area more based on local need and AMI.

Set Achievement Goals for Zoning and/or Special Districts

The charge is not to make a compelling argument for the use of special districts in isolation but to focus on what CB12 wants to achieve - and where - by way of the creation of special zoning districts.

Community Design CD12-Plan: What is this?

Community Design CD12-Zoning and Special District Blog

Comment on Special District Language

Review of Special Districts (need to add Hudson Yards)

Following is a review of SD language. The view expressed in the Department of City Planning's recently published Zoning Handbook, is that the advent of contextual zoning has reducee the demand for special district formation (e.g. Clinton type protection is between the lines of this policy) and thereby raises the bar for the status of “special” in the zoning text. Our closest special district player is made special by the alleged need to build 7-story deep bathtub in Manhattanville andthen go up 10 to 15 stories to serve Columbia’ interest in a 21st c. campus. It is not likely that CD 12 will need to protect itself (as in Clinton) or promote this form of specialness, as in our own “blue zone” approach. To give it a try the following is offered as a method for discover language or precedents that may prove helpful in determining a course of action on this theme.

Prior to the passage of contextual zoning, the most widely used affirmative zoning technique was special district zoning. This technique permits areas with unique characteristics to flourish rather than be overwhelmed by standard development. Over the years, the City Planning Commission has codified a large number of special zoning districts to achieve specific planning and urban design objectives for limited, well defined areas. Each district stipulates requirements and/or provides zoning incentives for developers who provide the specific urban qualities the Commission looks to promote in that area. It has proven itself to be a lawful way of using private capital to carry out public policy, but not without its challenges.

Special Atlantic Avenue District (Brooklyn)

The Special Atlantic Avenue District was created to preserve the scale and character of Atlantic Avenue, including certain architectural features of the buildings. The special district provides flexibility in arranging building bulk, mandates street-level commercial uses and establishes design guidelines for renovation and new construction. Demolition of buildings is prohibited in the district except in the case of unsafe buildings, or to make way for a new development for which a building permit and financial commitments have been secured. To improve the visual character of the avenue, special sign regulations are imposed for commercial establishments.

Special Battery Park City District (Manhattan)

The Special Battery Park City District was created to govern extensive residential and commercial development in an area close to the business core of Lower Manhattan in accordance with a master plan for Battery Park City.

The centerpiece of the master plan is the office complex. To the north and south of this complex are two large residential neighborhoods with street-level retail uses. One major element of the plan is a continuous esplanade providing public access to the Hudson River waterfront. The district contains special design controls with respect to floor area ratio, required building walls and permissible building height.

Special Bay Ridge District (Brooklyn)

The Special Bay Ridge District was established to protect the existing scale and character of the Bay Ridge community. The special district distinguishes the scale of development in the midblock from that on the avenue frontage. The midblock street zone encourages two- and three-family homes with a maximum height of three stories. The Avenue Zone encourages the rehabilitation of existing structures and limits new development to a six- to eight-story maximum. Special setbacks, curb cuts, open space, tree planting and ground floor commercial requirements have been included to preserve the character of the existing street wall both along the avenues and side streets.

Special City Island District (the Bronx)

The Special City Island District was adopted to preserve the nautical uses and low-rise residential character of City Island. The special district regulations restrict the size and illumination of business signs, limit building heights to three- to five-stories and ensure adequate parking. The only commercial and manufacturing uses permitted are those which reflect the nautical flavor of the island or serve the retail needs of the residents.

Special Clinton District (Manhattan)

The Special Clinton District in Manhattan was created to preserve and strengthen the residential character of the community, maintain the mixture of income groups present in the area and ensure that Clinton is not adversely affected by new development.

Special Coney Island Mixed Use District (Brooklyn)

The Special Coney Island Mixed Use District was established to stabilize residential development while protecting the area's industrial base. The district allows limited new residential infill and requires special permits for large new industrial developments. Existing residential buildings are allowed enlargements, alterations and repairs, and construction of new residential buildings is allowed if the buildings are next to an existing residential or community facility use. New manufacturing is limited to certain light industries compatible with residential uses.

Special Franklin Street Mixed Use District (Brooklyn)

The Special Franklin Street Mixed Use District was established to achieve a balance between residential and industrial uses by remapping the area from an M1-1 district to an R6 (M1-1) district. The district allows residential and community facility uses according to R6 district regulations. All existing industrial uses may expand by 3,000 square feet, or 50 percent, whichever is less. A larger expansion may be granted by special permit from the City Planning Commission.

A new use group, Use Group M, has been established which allows light industries and commercial uses in Use Groups 6, 7, 9 and 11 to occupy vacant storefronts.

Special Fulton Mall District (Brooklyn)

The Special Fulton Mall District in Downtown Brooklyn was established to create an attractive shopping environment as part of a city street mall plan. Special retail use, sign, facade and circulation improvement regulations are provided. A special assessment district has been created, through state legislation, to maintain the mall.

Vehicular traffic (except buses) is prohibited within the mall. Major public amenities required within the district include: improved transit access, street furniture, street lighting, tree planting and special treatment of the sidewalks and roadbeds.

Special Garment Center District (Manhattan)

The Special Garment Center District was created to maintain the viability of apparel production in selected midblocks in the city's Garment Center by creating a Preservation Area within which the conversion of manufacturing space to office use is restricted. Conversion to office use in the Preservation Area is permitted only by certification of the City Planning Commission that an equal amount of comparable floor area has been preserved for specified manufacturing uses. The legality of this special district is currently being litigated.

Special Grand Concourse District (the Bronx)

The Special Grand Concourse District was created to protect the distinctive art deco composition and scale of the Grand Concourse by establishing bulk and design regulations and limiting commercial uses to designated locations that will not conflict with the boulevard's traditional residential character. The district consists of a Residential Preservation Area and three commercial sub-areas. New construction must conform to R8X (Alternate 1) guidelines.

Special Greenwich Street Development District (Manhattan)

The Special Greenwich Street Development District was established to foster and promote the orderly expansion of commercial development in an area of Lower Manhattan adjacent to Battery Park City and the World Trade Center.

This district attempts to implement an integrated plan for improved pedestrian and vehicular circulation and to encourage development of a variety of retail and service establishments to meet the needs of the area's working population. This is accomplished through a series of pedestrian circulation improvements and certain lot improvements in the district for which floor area bonuses are offered.

Some unique features of this district are its provisions for involving both the developer and appropriate public agencies in the construction of certain pedestrian circulation improvements.

Special Hillsides Preservation District (Staten Island)

The purpose of the Special Hillsides Preservation District is to preserve the hilly terrain and unique natural features of Staten Island by reducing hillside erosion, landslides and excessive storm water runoff. The primary concept for regulating development under this special district is the slope coverage approach: as the development site becomes steeper, the permitted building coverage decreases, but the permissible floor area on the site remains the same.

Special Hunters Point Mixed Use District (Queens)

The Special Hunters Point Mixed Use District was created to permit limited as-of-right status for the enlargement/alteration of existing residential buildings and for new infill residential construction. All residential and community facility uses are subject to R5 district regulations. In some cases, a special permit is required for certain residential and community facility uses. New manufacturing and commercial uses, or enlargement of existing buildings containing such uses, are allowed as-of-right as long as these developments or enlargements contain no residential uses and do not cause significant adverse environmental impacts. Such new developments or enlargements must meet M1 district performance standards.

The Special Court Square Subdistrict has been created within this special district to encourage high density commercial development in an area well-served by the subway system.
Special Jacob K. Javits Convention Center District (Manhattan)

The Special Jacob K. Javits Convention Center District was established to enhance the pedestrian configuration and appearance of the area surrounding the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. It is intended to promote new development compatible with the Convention Center by mandating street walls, and streetscape improvements which supplement the underlying zoning district regulations.

Pedestrian circulation improvements consist of landscaped sidewalk widenings and through-block walkways, street trees and retail frontage along Eleventh Avenue. Height and setback regulations govern all new buildings along Eleventh Avenue, the streets surrounding the Convention Center Plaza, and the through block walkways. Mandated street wall setbacks and sky exposure planes regulate the distribution of building bulk to define the public spaces on which they front and frame the edges of the Plaza.

Special Limited Commercial District (Manhattan)

The Special Limited Commercial District attempts to preserve the character of commercial areas within historic districts by restricting commercial uses to those uses compatible with the historic district, and by mandating that all commercial uses be in completely enclosed buildings. In addition, limitations are also set for the size and illumination of signs within the special district. One such special district has been mapped in Greenwich Village.

Special Lincoln Square District (Manhattan)

The Special Lincoln Square District was established to enhance the character of the area surrounding Lincoln Square as an international center for the performing arts. The district mandates the height of building walls along certain streets and the placement of arcades and types of commercial use at street level as a means of guiding the orderly redevelopment of the Lincoln Square area. The district accomplishes its objectives by offering special floor area bonuses by special permit from the City Planning Commission for new development that includes the following public amenities: mandatory arcades, subsurface concourse connections to subways or subway improvements, and lower-income housing as set forth in the provisions of Inclusionary Housing.

Special Little Italy District (Manhattan)

The Special Little Italy District was established to preserve and enhance the historic and commercial character of this community. Special use regulations protect the retail area along Mulberry Street. Other regulations encourage residential rehabilitation and new development on a scale consistent with existing buildings, discourage the demolition of noteworthy buildings, and increase the number of street trees in the area.

Special Lower Manhattan Mixed Use District

The Special Lower Manhattan Mixed Use District was enacted to permit limited residential development in an otherwise industrial 62-block area in Manhattan south of Canal Street. That portion of the district which is mapped as an overlay on existing manufacturing zones permits certain older manufacturing buildings to be converted to loft dwellings and joint living-work quarters for artists. Where the district is mapped as an overlay on existing commercial zones, new contextual residential development is also permitted. At the same time, retention of the underlying zoning protects the economic vitality of this area.

Special Madison Avenue Preservation District (Manhattan)

The Special Madison Avenue Preservation District is intended to preserve and reinforce the unique character of Madison Avenue and the surrounding area (from 61st to 96th streets). Bulk and street wall height provisions limit the height of new development to the scale of existing buildings, require a continuous building facade along Madison Avenue, mandate continuous ground floor development of selected list of appropriate shops, and require the provision of usable recreation space at rooftop levels. Within this district the maximum permissible floor are ratio is 10.0. Since building height is limited, greater building coverage is allowed.

Special Manhattan Bridge District

The Special Manhattan Bridge District was established to preserve the residential character of this Lower Manhattan community, to minimize residential relocation on development sites and to provide for selective demolition and rehabilitation of existing buildings. A special floor area bonus is allowed for the provision of new community facility space and/or dwelling units for low- and moderate-income families. Within this district it is possible to transfer development rights from a site containing existing buildings to a new development. The district mandates that street trees be planted in connection with a new development. Unless renewed, this district was designed to "lapse" September 1, 1991. Have to update this, any of you all have a line on this...

Special Manhattan Landing Development District

The Special Manhattan Landing Development District guides off-shore development from Battery Park to the Manhattan Bridge along the East River. This district is under review.

Special Midtown District (Manhattan)

The Special Midtown District was established to guide all development within the midtown central business district. The special district includes three areas of special concern that are subject to additional regulations. These sub-districts are: the Theatre Subdistrict, the Preservation Subdistrict and the Fifth Avenue Subdistrict.

The Special Midtown District has a base FAR of 15.0 along avenue frontages and an FAR of 12.0 in the mid-blocks. The base FAR in the Preservation Subdistrict is 8.0 in order to restrict development on the side streets surrounding the Museum of Modern Art. The base FAR of the Theatre Subdistrict core (on Broadway and Seventh Avenue frontages around Times Square) is set at 14.0 FAR, the FAR in the mid-blocks between Sixth and Seventh Avenues is set at 12.0 and the FAR in the mid-blocks between Broadway and Eighth Avenue is 10.0.

The core of the Theatre Subdistrict has the highest concentration of legitimate theaters and entertainment-related uses. The Theatre Subdistrict requires a City Planning Commission special permit for demolition of any of the 44 legitimate theaters that are not designated landmarks.

The Theatre Subdistrict has special use and signage requirements (in keeping with the character of the area). A flexible development rights transfer provision has been established for the preservation of landmark theaters. In the Theatre Subdistrict, a new building above a certain size must reserve at least five percent of its floor space (not FAR) for entertainment and theater-related uses. Areas located outside the Preservation Subdistrict and the Theatre Subdistrict are eligible for an as-of-right FAR bonus for urban plazas, through-block galleries and theater retention. The only bonus available in the Theatre Subdistrict core is the City Planning Commission special permit bonus for rehabilitation of listed theaters. The Preservation Subdistrict is not eligible for any floor area bonus. Other remaining areas can receive a floor area bonus for subway station improvements and for rehabilitation of theaters.

Certain urban design features, such as continuity of street wall and retail uses, off-street relocation of existing subway stairs, and provision of on-site pedestrian circulation spaces are mandated. The special district also includes certain use and signage controls for the Fifth Avenue and Theatre Sub-districts. Special daylight evaluation criteria are included to ensure the availability of light and air on midtown streets. The Special Midtown District represents a shift away from discretionary zoning to more predictable, as-of-right development.

Special Natural Area District (the Bronx, Queens, Staten Island)

The purpose of the Special Natural Area District is to preserve unique natural characteristics, such as aquatic, biologic, geologic and topographic features having ecological and conservation values, by reviewing all new developments and site alterations on primarily vacant land. Natural features are protected by limiting modifications in topography, by preserving tree, plant and marine life, and natural water courses, and by requiring clustered development to maximize the preservation of natural features.

Under the regulations of the special district, the City Planning Commission must certify that all new development in mapped natural area districts meets applicable preservation standards.
Special natural area districts have been mapped in the Greenbelt and Von Briesen Park areas of Staten Island, in Riverdale and in Fort Totten. These areas are endowed with steep slopes, rock outcrops, creeks, and a variety of botanic environments.

Special Northside Mixed Use District (Brooklyn)

This mixed use district is designed to meet the needs of a neighborhood where housing and industry co-exist. The City Planning Commission selectively mapped mixed use areas -- R(M) when the area is primarily residential and M(R) when it is industrial -- to allow controlled residential or light manufacturing expansion where such uses can grow and function without conflict. This and the Coney Island district were the forerunners of MX (I know I worked on them).

R(M) and M(R) districts combine the regulations for R6 and M1 areas. In an M(R) district, manufacturing uses are permitted to develop in the same manner as in any other M1 district. Existing residences may be enlarged and new residential construction is permitted as-of-right on blocks that are already primarily residential. New residential construction is permitted on certain other sites after approval of a special permit by the City Planning Commission.

In an R(M) district, residential uses are permitted to develop in the same manner as in any other R6 district. Limited expansion of selected light industries that do not conflict with residential uses is permitted. Other industries become non-conforming and are allowed to remain but not to expand. New industrial development requires a special permit from the Commission.

Special Ocean Parkway District (Brooklyn)

The purpose of the Special Ocean Parkway District is to strengthen the existing character and quality of the community and to enhance the scenic landmark designation of Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn. All new community facility developments or enlargements are limited, except by special permission, to the residential bulk regulations of the underlying districts. All developments with frontage on Ocean Parkway are required to provide a 30-foot unobstructed front yard, subject to limitations on paving and landscaping, thereby preserving the character envisioned by the original designer of the parkway. Accessory off-street parking for all new developments must be completely enclosed and all new developments along Ocean Parkway are required to provide street trees. Isn't that special...

Special Park Improvement District (Manhattan)

The Special Park Improvement District was created to preserve the character and architectural quality of Fifth and Park Avenues. It limits the height of new buildings to 210 feet or 19 stories, whichever is less, and mandates street wall continuity.

Special Planned Community Preservation District (the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens)

The Special Planned Community Preservation District designation protects the unique character of well-planned communities that have been developed as a unit. Those communities characteristically have large landscaped open spaces and a superior relationship of buildings, open spaces, commercial uses, and pedestrian and vehicular circulation. In many cases, they have been threatened by development pressures. No demolition, new development, enlargement or alteration of landscaping or topography is permitted within the district except by special permit of the City Planning Commission. Preservation districts have been mapped in Sunnyside Gardens, Fresh Meadows, Parkchester and Harlem River Houses.

Special Scenic View District (Brooklyn)

The Special Scenic View District is intended to prevent obstruction of outstanding scenic views as seen from a public park, esplanade or mapped public place. No buildings or structures are allowed to penetrate a scenic view plane except by special permit of the City Planning Commission. To protect the waterfront view of the Lower Manhattan skyline, Governors Island, the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge, a special scenic view district has been mapped for the area west of the Brooklyn Heights Esplanade.

Special Sheepshead Bay District (Brooklyn)

The Special Sheepshead Bay District was devised to encourage development that will strengthen and protect the neighborhood's unique waterfront recreation and commercial character. In the area immediately north of the fishing fleet wharves, commercial uses are restricted to uses that support waterfront and tourist-related activities.

All new development along Emmons Avenue must provide widened sidewalks, street trees, and plazas which may contain sitting areas, landscaping, kiosks and cafes. Floor area bonuses are provided for plazas, arcades, usable residential open space and additional accessory commercial parking. Special density and height limits have been established. This district is under review.

Special South Richmond Development District (Staten Island)

The Special South Richmond Development District was established to guide development of predominantly vacant land in the southern half of Staten Island. The special district maintains the densities established by the underlying zones and ensures that new development is compatible with existing communities.

To maintain the existing community character, the district mandates tree preservation, planting requirements, controls on changes to the topography, height limits, and setback and curb cut restrictions along railroads and certain roads. It restricts construction within designated open space (a defined network of open space set aside for preservation in its natural state). To preserve designated open space without penalizing the owners of such space, owners are permitted to transfer development rights from the designated open space to the balance of their property. A topographic survey and a report on the availability of public services must be submitted by the developer as a prerequisite to any application for development. A performance bond must also be provided to assure continued maintenance and improvement of public open space.

Special South Street Seaport District (Manhattan)

The purpose of the Special South Street Seaport District is to facilitate the preservation and restoration of the seaport's historic buildings in accordance with an approved development plan. The low scale of the seaport is retained by transferring development rights above the low buildings to specified neighboring locations for commercial development.

Special Transit Land Use District (Manhattan)
The Special Transit Land Use District relates development along Second Avenue to a future subway line. The special district requires builders of developments adjoining subway stations to reserve space in their projects, by providing an easement, for public access to the subway or other subway-related use. The resulting new subway entrances and mezzanines would be airy, attractive and functional instead of sidewalk obstructions that impede pedestrian circulation. The district is mapped at locations between Chatham Square and East 126th Street

Special Union Square District (Manhattan)

The Special Union Square District was established to revitalize the area around Union Square by encouraging mixed use development. Its urban design provisions are designed to provide compatibility between new development, existing buildings and Union Square Park. The district mandates ground floor retail uses, off-street relocation of subway stairs and the continuity of street walls. Special streetscape and signage controls enhance the physical appearance of the district Within this district a floor area ratio bonus for subway improvements is available by special permit of the City Planning Commission.

Special United Nations Development District (Manhattan)

The Special United Nations Development District attempts to guide the development of the midtown area adjacent to the United Nations. A major feature of the district regulations is a unified design concept. The basic floor area ratio for the district was increased from 10.0 to 15.0 to promote special public amenities needed in the area and to implement the development plan.