Studios Plan To Build Apartments
BY RICHARD GENTILVISO

A property on the west side of 35th Street between 34th and 35th Avenues is slated for development into a seven-story residential building, although the site is now zoned for manufacturing use.

Currently owned by Kaufman Astoria Studios, 34-22 35th St., including Block 642 and Lots 36, 42 and 44, is expected to be certified for rezoning from an M1-5 district to a C4-2A district by the Department of City Planning in late July, said Vinicio Donato, chairperson of Community Board 1 at its June meeting. The rezoning will "facilitate development of a seven-story residential building with commercial use on the ground floor", according to the board.

John Carusone, chair of the board's zoning committee, said the committee met on June 15 concerning the proposed building. As of right, the site can be developed to a maximum floor-area ratio (FAR) of 5 and a height of 85 feet, but with rezoning, the proposed building would have less bulk (3 FAR) and height (70 feet).

(FAR is the maximum floor area allowable for each lot, excluding cellar space, floor space in open balconies and elevator or stair-bulkheads.)

In addition, the plan proposes 100 percent underground parking, although the zoning only requires 50 percent parking. "It's a nicely designed building," said Carusone.

However, board member George Stamatiades said the offer of 100 percent parking is not guaranteed. "They can give the 100 percent [parking] if they so desire," said Donato, saying the information was preliminary to a full consideration of the builder's proposal by the board in September.

Although it is not clear whether the residential units will be condominiums or rentals, Donato said it was his understanding that Kaufman Astoria Studios wants to put the residential units at the disposal of producers working on movie projects at the studio.

The proposal also continues a trend toward the redevelopment of former manufacturing sites into residential developments in Astoria and Long Island City. In these transformations, zoning is critical. A site zoned "M" for manufacturing could not be used in a residential development unless it was either rezoned or granted a variance.

In March, the first new edition of the Zoning Handbook in 16 years was released. It lays out all the important differences in the city's Zoning Resolution, which is the governing document for land use in New York City. The first handbook was printed in 1973. The last time it was updated was in 1990 during the administration of Mayor David Dinkins. The handbook has a citywide map of zoning districts and an illustrated glossary of terms. Its stated purpose is to help community groups to understand the increasing number of new development projects and rezoning proposals that come before them.

In each of the zoning districts, residential, commercial and manufacturing, the handbook describes the dimensions of new buildings permitted by zoning. The 139-page book costs $24 and is available from the Department of City Planning. For information go to www.nyc.gov/planning.

In other business, an application to renew the license for Lefkos Pyrgos, an unenclosed sidewalk cafe with 12 tables and 24 seats at 22-85 31st St, was approved.