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We’re not sure why — there are no outstanding violations — but, except for a couple of sheets of plywood, there’s been almost no progress on 377 Franklin Avenue over the past three months. Last time this building came up, one commenter suggested that the building might have violated certain zoning laws about lot lines and window placement. “There’s a requirement set by NYC Zoning that says there’s a minimum distance between a lot line and a legally required window in a residential building in an R-6 zone when the building has more than 3 dwelling units, and is higher than 32 ft,” the commenter wrote. “This distance must be 30 ft. This building only provides about 20.” Can anyone add to this analysis or offer any other theories for the stoppage?
Franklin Ave Rising: 377’s Gone Yellow [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark DOB
More Development Action on Franklin Avenue [Brownstoner]


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. “Zoning laws are the primary reason for the lack of affordable housing in New York City.”

    More words of wisdom from our resident jester.

    I agree CPC has a few gears to fix, but Libertarians like Mr. E. would have all of the Borro mowed down for mega-story luxury housing. Love to know what Eryximachus pulls in each month, must be much more than I with all this shilling for new luxury condos he does daily.

    Back on topic, I have not heard any DOB ruling on lot-line windows, except that can be made “illegal” lickety-split my new adjacent developments. I certainly would love to see a 30′ law, I’d be able to have the windows of an adjacent new property bricked in before I could spell D…O…B. No more luxury over-look of my private backyard garden!

  2. I don’t see this building as part of the solution. Building up to and over the lot edge just continues the “cramped” feel you complain about.

  3. Legalism is certainly the sickness of the modern age. Once, men followed leaders and the laws because they were daring, charismatic, or perhaps even just.

    Today, laws are just nonsense. Either the extreme detail obfuscates the purpose of law itself, or the abuse of language makes the law entirely incomprehensible.

    The zoning code of New York City exists not to build a better city, but to force it to remain stagnate. Let’s face it. Most voters don’t want to share their city, and only when a new Tammany Hall mobilizes the masses to open the floodgates of development just as happened a century ago – those without means will be crammed into tiny, wretched apartments.

    Zoning laws are the primary reason for the lack of affordable housing in New York City. Never forget it!

    http://post.economics.harvard.edu/hier/2002papers/HIER1948.pdf