AIA backs Hudson Yards proposal

Real Estate Weekly, Oct 6, 2004

The AIA New York Chapter, the founding Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, representing 3,500 architects, professional affiliates, and public members, has reviewed and and announced its support for the proposed zoning text and the plans for development of Hudson Yards.

The area west of Eighth Avenue in the 30's represents perhaps the most underutilized area in Manhattan and offers opportunities for the entire region, City, and adjacent communities, according to the AIA.

"We would like to commend the Department of City Planning for looking beyond zoning to integrate mass transportation, open space and public investment into one plan," said the Chapter in a prepared statement.

"It must be pointed out that this total plan is not being reviewed in its entirety--before you are the proposed zoning changes, but other land use and development issues will not be reviewed by the Commission. However, for us to comment on the zoning text we need to review these other parts of the plan."

The current plan along with the associated zoning text needs to integrate the following positive goals, according to the AIA: expansion of midtown Manhattan, the city's premier commercial center; xxpansion of the Convention Center; connections to mass transportation systems including an extended number 7 line, regional rail and ferry service; creation of open space and connections to the Hudson River Park, with provisions for parking--particularly the introduction of the European model of building parking under urban open space; creation of a "24/ 7" community with significant residential development; and plans for a multi-purpose facility that will double as convention space and stadium.

The Chapter's report concludes: expansion of the Javits Center is much needed, but as currently envisioned creates a nine-block wall between the city and the river, even further restricting access to Hudson River Park and the Ferry Terminal; residential Development: We would encourage even more flexibility on this issue; required Retail: Location of required retail development in the plan also has been somewhat modified in the revised text, in that one-sided retail on the side streets has been reduced to 50%.

We feel that this requirement should be made optional, and more emphasis should be placed on mandatory retail on both sides of east west through cross streets such as 34th Street and whatever street will connect through the Convention Center to the ferry terminal; massing Controls: Each of the sub-districts has a finely grained set of bulk regulations with some design flexibility. Adding or substituting performance-based regulations such as those used in the Midtown Special District would allow for more creativity and variety in the streetscape and should be considered by the Commission; and ninth Avenue and Organic Growth: Ninth Avenue has been essentially preserved in its current density and bulk. We understand the concerns of the neighborhood and community; however, the density of the zoning in this area may need to be reconsidered as larger scale development occurs on all sides.