H. REPORTS BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN Washington Street Urban Renewal Area (Cal. Nos. 3 and 4 ) [A proposed 400-unit limited-profit project in the Washington Street Urban Renewal Area to be known as World Plaza, and a related zoning change. The eight-story building would be constructed at North Moore and Greenwich Streets with accessory parking for 120 cars in a garage on West Street. This is an "Operation Breakthrough" systems housing project. Operation Breakthrough is a special Federal subsidy program for factory-built housing. Modules are assembled into apartment buildings on site.] No. 3 CPD 1 (CP-22361) IN THE MATTER OF a City-aided Limited-Profit rental housing projeCt, pursuant to Article 2 of the Private Housing Finance Law of the State of New York, to be known as World Plaza and to be developed on a part of the area bounded by Hubert Street, Greenwich, North Moore and West Streets (Site 1) within the Washington Street Urban Renewal Area, Borough of Manhattan. This project wasas submitted by the Housing and Development Administration on May 17, 1973 and was referred by the Board of Estimate on May 24, 1973 (Cal. No. 310). (On May 30, 1973, Cal. No. 31, the Commission scheduled June 13, 1973 for a hearing; on June 13, 1973, Cal. No. 22, the hearing was closed.) On motion, the following favorable report was adopted, receiving five affirmative votes, Gerald R. Coleman, Commissioner, voting "No.": (Dissenting statement of Commissioner Coleman and con- curring statement of Vice Chairman Gallent attached.) June 15, 1973 The proposed project would provide 401 apartments in one 18 story structure on part of Site 1 of the Washington Street Urban Renewal Area. The proposed development site is 104,270 square feet (2.39 acres) in area. The apartment distribution for World Plaza is to be as follows: Type of Apartment Number of Apartments 0 bedroom 100 1 bedroom 180 2 bedrooms 121* Total 401 *Includes 1 superintendent's apartment. The project is to provide 120 indoor parking spaces in a three story garage. The roof of the garage is to be designed as a play area. An Amended Urban Renewal Plan (CP-22300) for the Washington Street Urban Renewal Area, which provided for the residential development of Site 1, was approved by the City Planning Commission on April 4, 1973 and by the Board of Estimate on May 24, 1973 (Calendar No. 3). A zoning change from M2-4 and Ml-5 to C6-4 is necessary to permit residential development on the site. The zoning change (CP-22303) was the subject of a City Planning Commission hearing on June 13, 1973. The proposed rental housing project is to be developed with interest reduction subsidies under FHA Section 236 "Operation Breakthrough" program. The average rental per room per month under the FHA 236 program is estimated at $49.14 exclusive of utilities. In a letter dated June 11, 1973, the Housing and Development Administration requested a minor change in the Washington Street Urban Renewal Plan. The minor change would divide the existing residential Site 1 into 3 parcels (la, lb and lc) and provide controls as follows: Maximum Commercial/ Use Maximum Floor Area Retail Floor Area Parcel 1A, 1C Resid. 373,000 square feet Parcel 1B Resid. 526,250 16,000 square feet The pedestrian easement on the adjacent sites is continued into Site lA by a proposed overpass (Site 1C). The City Planning Commission has agreed to consider the minor change concurrently with the World Plaza development, which is to be located on Site 1A. COMMUNITY FACILITIES Transportation The Canal Street Station of the IRT No. I Subway is located within 5 blocks of the proposed development at Canal and Varick Streets. The Canal Street Station for the BMT and IND A, AA, CC, and E Subway lines is within 6 blocks of the project at Canal and Thompson Streets. Education Elementary school students living in the proposed project may attend the 294 seat school in the Washington Plaza Towers project, currently under construction on Site 3 within the Washington Street Urban Renewal Area. There is sufficient capacity at the intermediate level within the school district to accommodate students living in the proposed project. Health and Hospitals Beekman Downtown Hospital containing 302 beds is located within 1 mile of the proposed project at 170 William Street. 2. CP-22361 Parks and Recreation Open space areas are to be provided within the Washington Street Urban Renewal Area. City Hall Park located at Broadway and Chambers Street is approximately 1/2 mile away from the project site. Shopping Local shopping is to be provided within the Washington Street Urban Renewal Area. PUBLIC HEARING On May 30, 1973 the City Planning Commission scheduled a combined PUBLIC HEARING on the World Plaza Project and the related zoning change (CP-22303). On June 13. 1973 the hearing was duly held. Two members of the Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades (District Council 19) appeared in opposition to the kind of construction to be used for the project. CP-22361 3. Consideration This project is one of five "Operation Breakthrough" projects being considered by the Commission. Operation Breakthrough is a special FHA 236 program for which interest subsidy funds are available for innova- tive housing construction methods. This allocation of funds is not charged against the FHA 236 funds already assigned to the City and becomes an additional moderate-income resource. The method of construction contemplated involves use of factory- built modules which are assembled on the site. This is the first time that this type of construction has been attempted on a large scale in New York City. The use of an off-site prefabrication system should enable housing to be constructed faster than conventional techniques. Although the projected cost for this project does not show any savings over conventionally built housing, the Housing and Development Administration indicates that costs should come down as the volume increases. These new techniques should expedite housing development and, we are hopeful, may ultimately lead to some savings. The Commission urges that every effort be made by the Housing and Development Administration to see that a high standard of building and site design is maintained and that a monotonous, repetitive design is avoided. We also urge that a high quality landscape site plan be developed which not only meets but exceeds the Minimum Design Requirements of the Housing and Development Administration. 4. CP-22361 APPROVAL The City of New York, through its Board of Estimate and City Planning Commission has enacted, or will enact, regulations or appropriate restrictions protecting the project against future uses likely to depreciate unduly the value of the project. The City Planning Commission hereby approves, pursuant to Article 2 of the New York State Private Housing Finance Law, the Plan for the City- Aided Limited-Profit housing project to be known as World Plaza, to be developed on Site 1 of the Washington Street Urban Renewal Area, Borough of Manhattan, on the site hereinbefore described. JOHN E. ZUCCOTTI, Chairman; MARTIN GALLENT, Vice-Chairman; (Concurring statement attached) GORDON J. DAVIS, SYLVIA DEUTSCH, JAQUELIN T. ROBERTSON, Commissioners. GERALD R. COLEMAN, Commissioner, voting '"No. 7 (Dissenting statement attached) LK:mb 5. CP-22361 CONCURRING. STATEMENT OF VICE-CHAIRMAN GALLENT (CP-22361) June 15, 1973 . I was very pleased to learn of the Housing and Development Administration's new position to establish an improved environmental standard for the development of open space in their future projects. Starting with the Shelly El CANCI sites, the standards mandate an expenditure of at least $4 per square foot of open space of which at least $1 per square foot is to be allocated for the planting of trees and shrubbery. As part of the standards it should be noted that street trees may be planted by the Department of Parks in the case of urban renewal areas and in all other instances will be planted by the project. In addition, the guidelines establish a minimum tree size (3-inch calipher) which would be suitable for landscaping purposes. These figures represent the minimum investment necessary to enhance the quality of open-space surrounding the project. HDA has recognized the necessity of such amenities and their impact upon the individual tenants, the surrounding community and the entire character of the development. This innovative step, however, must not obscure the need for. ____ _ o special consideration of those sites which are complex r unusual in - - - . nature and would, therefore, require additional site expenditures. Monies must also be made available for those projects which require further landscaping features by virtue of their density, and I would hope that these newly established guidelines will serve as the foundation for future efforts by HDA in this area. DISSENTING STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER GERALD R. COLEMAN (CP- 22361, CP-22303 - CP- 22359, CP-21885 CP- 22362, CP- 21679 - CP-22358 - CP- 22363) June 15, 1973 We have a package of 5 housing developments before us. They total approximately 1600 apartments. The projects average a cost of about $47,500 per apartment on City-owned land, at a rent range which runs from 0 bedroom in one project at $112.50 per month to a 4-bedroom apartment in another one of the projects at a rental of $332.50 per month. These rents are achieved after the City of New York gives tax exemption using the 10% shelter rent formula; a subsidy which averages for the five developments at about $2700 per year per apartment. In addition, the Federal Government will reduce the mortgage interest to the housing companies from 7% to 1%, a reduction which will provide an average subsidy of about $2500 a year per apartment.