TUESDAY: CONTROVERSIAL SYNAGOGUE PROJECT AND MORE ON COMMUNITY BOARD AGENDA

A synagogue’s proposal to build a new common house and condos at 8 West 70th Street is back on the community board agenda on Tuesday night, and once again generating controversy.

Congregation Shearith Israel has been looking to build on the lot for decades but has been stymied by community opposition, among other issues. It’s likely to generate more debate on Tuesday night at Community Board’s full-board meeting at 6 at Fordham (113 West 60th Street). It’s not exactly clear if the board will even vote — a community board committee gave the project a mixed review at a meeting in July, and a city board has asked more questions of the synagogue — but opponents want the process halted.

Landmark West wrote in an email appeal to supporters that “Given the significant deficiencies of the application, we’ve called on CB7 to defer any further discussion – or better yet, turn this application down flat – until Shearith Israel delivers the information that should be required of any applicant seeking special dispensation to build beyond what zoning and other rules allow.”

The synagogue application will be discussed at a “pre-meeting” at 6 p.m.

The full community board agenda and meeting time and place are below (note the community board is also attaching links to plans for changes to historic properties, which is really helpful).

Tuesday, September 6, 2016 6:30 PM
Fordham University
113 West 60th Street (Columbus Avenue)

Approval of minutes from previous full board meeting

Chair’s Report, Elizabeth Caputo

Nominations of Board Officers for 2016-2017, Howard Yaruss, Chair, Elections Committee

Community Session
We welcome all members of our community (residents, businesses, CBOs) who would like to speak on issues of interest to them.  Members of the community are granted one minute for remarks, and we will also accept a written copy for the record.

Manhattan Borough President’s Report, Diana Howard

Reports by Elected Officials (3 Minutes)

Business Session
LAND USE COMMITTEE
Richard Asche and Page Cowley, Co-Chairpersons
Resolution Re:
1.    75 West End Avenue, New York Sports Club (West 62nd – 63rd Streets.) Application #149-95-BZ to the Board of Standards and Appeals by TSI West End, LLC to extend the term of the previously granted special permit allowing the operation of a physical culture establishment (PCE) at the above subject premises. The extension will be for an additional ten year term from the expiration of the previous grant on July 30, 2016.

LAND USE COMMITTEE
Richard Asche and Page Cowley, Co-Chairpersons
Joint with the HOUSING COMMITTEE, Nick Prigo and Polly Spain, Co-Chairpersons
Resolution Re:
2.  Riverside Center.  Applications by The General Investment & Development Companies (GID) to the NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development for Affordable Housing plans for:

• 30 Riverside Boulevard (West 61st Street), Building #1
• 10 Riverside Boulevard (West 59th Street), Building #3
• 633-647 West 59th Street (Freedom Place), Building #4.

LAND USE COMMITTEE
Richard Asche and Page Cowley, Co-Chairpersons
Resolution Re:
3.    8 West 70th Street, Congregation Shearith Israel (Central Park West). Application #74-07-BZ to the Board of Standards and Appeals by Congregation Shearith Israel for an extension of time to complete construction and for a minor amendment to plans.  The amendment reflects changes to interior layouts to comply with building code and accommodate HVAC systems.

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
Catherine DeLazzero and Madge Rosenberg, Co-Chairpersons
INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND TASK FORCE
Catherine DeLazzero, Coordinator
Resolution Re:
4.    Bloomingdale Playground. Department of Parks & Recreation’s proposed renovation of Bloomingdale Playground, Amsterdam Avenue and West 104th Street.

PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
Jay Adolf and Gabrielle Palitz, Co-Chairpersons
Resolutions Re:
5.  Window replacements and terrace door replacements:  See plans

• 262 Central Park West (West 86th – 87th Streets.) Application #18-7160 to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for window replacements
• 299 Riverside Drive (West 102nd Street.) Application to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for a through wall AC and window replacement.
• 22 West 96th Street (Central Park West.) Application #19-0009 to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for window replacement
• 340 Riverside Drive (West 106th Street.) Application to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for window replacement.
• 213-215 West 79th Street (Broadway – Amsterdam Avenue.)  Application to the Landmarks Preservation Commission to replace two pairs of second story terrace doors in kind at street facade.

6.  Various small projects: See plans

• 1 Riverside Drive (West 72nd Street.) Application #18-2950 to the Landmarks Preservation Commission to add exterior canopies/awnings above windows and the main entrance.
• 122 West 69th Street, Christ and St. Stephen’s Church (Broadway – Columbus Avenue.) Application to the Landmarks Preservation Commission to add gates at the entry points to the garden, rebuild the columns at the main entry, add a pedestrian path, and replace signage.
• 313 Columbus Avenue, Corks on Columbus (West 75th Street.) Application to the Landmarks Preservation Commission to legalize signage.
• 121 West 81st Street (Columbus Avenue.) Application to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for a bulkhead and 3rd floor windows.

7.    48-50 West 69th Street (Columbus Avenue.) Application to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for alterations to areaway and entry, rear yard and rooftop additions, and excavation.
See Plans
8.    164 West 74th Street (Amsterdam Avenue.) Application to the Landmarks Preservation Commission to remove steps at the building entry and modify the doors to be ADA-compliant, restore the facade, install new windows, infill portions of the light-wells, expand the penthouse, and reconstruct the rear elevation.  See Plans
9.    236 West 101st Street (Broadway- West End Avenue.) Application #18-7577 to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for a penthouse and bulkhead addition and a rear extension. See Plans

BUSINESS & CONSUMER ISSUES COMMITTEE
Michele Parker and George Zeppenfeldt-Cestero, Co-Chairpersons
Resolutions Re:
10.    Applications to the SLA for two-year liquor licenses:

• 924 Amsterdam Avenue (West 105th -106th Streets) Amsterdam Ranchito Corp. d/b/a New Ranchito.
• 1012-1018 Amsterdam Avenue (West 110th Street) Madrel LLC, d/b/a To Be Determined.

11.    Unenclosed Sidewalk Café Renewals:

• 483 Amsterdam Avenue (West 83rd Street.) Renewal application #2007741-DCA to the Department of Consumer Affairs by Nicky Meatballs, Inc., d/b/a Polpette, for a four-year consent to operate an unenclosed sidewalk café with 6 tables and 15 seats.
• 936 Amsterdam Avenue (West 106th Street.) Renewal application DCA# 6816-2016-ASWC to the Department of Consumer Affairs by Amsterdam GS Corporation, d/b/a The Ellington, for a four-year consent to operate an unenclosed sidewalk café with 27 tables and 58 seats.

New Unenclosed Sidewalk Café:
12.    286 Columbus Avenue (West 73rd – 74th Street.) New Application #7798-2016-ASWC to the Department of Consumer Affairs by Guyers, Inc, d/b/a Guyers, for a four-year consent to operate an unenclosed sidewalk café with 10 tables and 20 seats.
13.    Sidewalk Cafe disapprovals for failure to attend committee meeting:

• 625 Columbus Avenue (West 90th Street.) Application to the SLA for a two-year liquor license by Fatmir Caushi, d/b/a To Be Determined.
• 489 Columbus Avenue (West 83rd Street.) Class Change and Alteration application to existing Wine & Beer license Shree Laxmi Indian Cuisine, d/b/a Savoury Indian Cuisine.
• 2636 Broadway (West 100th Street.) New application under change of ownership ULURP# N160153ECM/ DCA# 15235-2015-ASWC to the Department of Consumer Affairs by Spectrum Restaurant, LLC, d/b/a Manhattan Valley, for a four-year consent to operate an enclosed sidewalk café with 8 tables and 20 seats.