City Rejects Zoning Challenge For Tallest UWS Development

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — A zoning challenge backed by Upper West Side preservationists and politicians that sought to block the neighborhood's tallest planned development was rejected by the city, officials said.

The ciy Department of Buildings ruled against a challenge to Extell Development's planned 775 foot-tall tower at 50 W. 66th Street on Nov. 21, a department spokesperson said.

"We carefully reviewed the community challenge, but determined that the arguments therein were not valid," DOB spokesman Andrew Rudansky said in a statement.

City Councilwoman Helen Rosenthal said Thursday that she will "continue to fight" the West 66th Street development and pursue a citywide solution to end loopholes that allow developers to build taller structures than the city's zoning rules intend.

"We will not stop pressing this administration to close zoning loopholes that have helped lead to projects like 50 W. 66th Street and 200 Amsterdam," Rosenthal said in an emailed statement.

The zoning challenge was filed in Sept. by preservation group Landmark West! and planning consultants at George M. Janes & Associates. The challenge argued that a 161-foot-tall mechanical void in the planned skyscraper is larger than needed for its mechanical use, according to the report.

The void essentially acts as a pair of stilts in order to extend the overall height of the building and allow developers to build pricier apartments at higher elevations, the challenge argued.

The challenge had the support of Rosenthal, Borough President Gale Brewer, State Senator Brad Hoylman and Assembly Member Dick Gottfried, who sent a letter voicing their concerns with Extell's development to Department of Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler in September.

"The proposed development simply does not conform with the zoning regulations of the Special

Lincoln Square District, which include rules essentially limiting buildings to around 30 stories in
height by controlling their floor area and footprint," the politicians wrote in their letter.

Extell Development and architecture firm Snøhetta revealed the planned tower in November of 2017. The West 66th Street building will be more than 100 feet taller than 200 Amsterdam Avenue — another building that Upper West Side groups have challenged.

The Snøhetta-designed building contains three district sections: a mixed-use base, a body tower and a "crown" at the top of the building. Each is designed to reflect the character and style of the surrounding area, the design firm said in a press release.

Rendering by Binyan Studios Courtesy Snøhetta