Recent comments in /f/nyc

ctindel t1_je8dk62 wrote

Reply to comment by WorthPrudent3028 in Can New York Fix Its Housing Crisis? It Depends on the Suburbs by thenewyorktimes

Yeah that kind of upzone just isn't worth tearing down a house and building another small house for. Just remove the height limit entirely. If I could tear down my 2-family and replace it with a 12 story apartment building I would. The current owner doesn't even have to move, they could just keep a 2-story unit for themselves and rent the other 10 floors out.

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WorthPrudent3028 t1_je8dj87 wrote

Reply to comment by -blourng- in Can New York Fix Its Housing Crisis? It Depends on the Suburbs by thenewyorktimes

It doesn't have an upside. There shouldn't be a single plot in NYC outside of SI that is zoned single family only. But I have noticed that subway stops in a lot of mid and lower density areas have new construction around them. It's mostly the standard issue 4 to 6 story cookie cutter "luxury" apartment buildings, but it's something. Even though I don't know why someone would want a balcony where they can step out directly onto elevated subway tracks.

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notreallyswiss t1_je8c8xk wrote

Reply to comment by MirthandMystery in Some Guy Bought the Flatiron Building and Didn’t Pay for It by Keikobad

I mean similar things (at an admittedly smaller, but by no means minuscule price tag) are currently happening with the Jacob Riis Bathhouses. Some investors are eager for historic renovation tax right offs. And some people just have a vision for reimagining a cool building. One big difference is that the developers will only be able to lease the Boathouse from the National Park Service and someone would have to outright buy the Flatiron:

The development team behind renovations planned for the historic Jacob Riis Park bathhouse, following the extensive damages it suffered during Superstorm Sandy, has landed $47.5 million in financing to move ahead with the project. CBSK Developers, Brooklyn Bazaar and Aulder Capital closed on the money, split between a $32.5 million construction loan from Procida and a $15 million historic tax credit equity investment from Foss & Co. Work on the Rockaway Beach project began last month, and the developers expect to complete it by the summer of 2024. The bathhouse dates back to 1932 but had been underutilized for almost 50 years. It was hit hard during Superstorm Sandy, which destroyed its doors and window coverings and knocked down its courtyard wall. Jacob Riis Park became part of the National Park Service in 1972, and the federal agency selected events and concession company Brooklyn Bazaar to renovate the bathhouse following an RFP process. Brooklyn Bazaar and development partner CBSK inked a 60-year lease for the bathhouse with the National Park Service in October. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $65 million, and the developers will put up the remaining $17.5 million themselves. The overhaul is starting with a renovation of the building's facade, windows and turrets. The developers will also add a rooftop restaurant, a beachfront bar, ground-floor eateries and retailers selling beach supplies to the structure. The project will bring 28 hotel rooms to the bathhouse as well, along with a catering hall, event spaces, and a new pool and lounge areas to its outdoor courtyard. The renovations will preserve the famous Byzantine, Moorish and Moderne influences in the bathhouse's architecture. "The building has been an iconic landmark on the Queens waterfront for decades, and our restoration plan for the bathhouse will transform it into a modern beachfront hub complete with a full range of amenities for the public," CBSK Principal Scott Shnay said in a statement.

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UpperLowerEastSide t1_je8bvfr wrote

Reply to comment by isitaparkingspot in Can New York Fix Its Housing Crisis? It Depends on the Suburbs by thenewyorktimes

There's research that shows that TOD leads to lower vehicle miles travelled. Which makes sense as walkable communities lead to less car usage needed. Congestion nevertheless could be an issue but at this point congestion is significantly lower of an issue than the housing crisis and can be addressed quicker by more bus service.

I would argue that both The City and Long Island need to effectively incentivize affordable development. Long Island is much, much worse than NYC at affordable housing; with Long Island having one of the lowest construction rates of any American suburb it's turning most of the island into luxury inventory.

Plus, Long Island has enough strip malls and parking lot for housing to be built without needing to tear down single family homes. Long Island residents are also significantly more well to do than the Harlem and Bed Stuy residents currently being displaced en mass.

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WorthPrudent3028 t1_je8b26j wrote

Reply to comment by -blourng- in Can New York Fix Its Housing Crisis? It Depends on the Suburbs by thenewyorktimes

A lot of upzoned neighborhoods take forever to redevelop. A street of attached single family homes by me was upzoned over a decade ago. Exactly one new building was built. One of the problems is that you can't force long time homeowners to move. The other is that you can't stop purchasers from simply living in the single family home they overpaid for. Even then, that upzone was only to 3 family. At 6 or more, keeping the single family home makes less financial sense even for people who are willing to overpay.

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