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January 23, 2018  |  By dev_admin In Turtle Bay News

TBA Supports ERFA in Fight to Stop Mega-Tower on East 58th Street

ERFA-Supertall-Building

Image from ERFA website.

By Lee Frankel

The fate of the mega-tower currently being built at 430 East 58th Street is unclear. The story presents a tangled web of issues that typify community opposition to Big Real Estate, with the involvement of the city’s bureaucracy. The moral: prepare for a long, hard fight, expect the unexpected, and don’t give up.

In early December, the East River 50s Alliance (ERFA) announced success in rezoning the Sutton area to exclude out-of-scale development. Despite a Stop Work Order (SWO) from the Department of Buildings (DOB),

Gamma Real Estate, continued constructing a super-tall building based on the original plans, which are not compliant with the new law.

Rather than submit new plans as required, Gamma has appealed to the city’s Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) holding that it began work on the foundation prior to the new law, and so the project should be grandfathered – allowed to be built according to the original plans. Among the considerations is the extent of progress on the foundation at the time the new law was adopted on November 30, 2017, an issue that ERFA believes will be central to the BSA’s finding.

In a further twist, ERFA discovered that, despite the zoning change, the DOB has partially rescinded its SWO and has given Gamma permission to perform additional work on the 58th Street building’s foundation. In response to questions, DOB explained to Council Member Ben Kallos that the additional work was authorized in order to stabilize the buildings next to the construction site, but that the new foundation work was unlikely to help Gamma with its BSA appeal.

The story will not end anytime soon. Gamma’s BSA appeal has just begun and has a long way to go. In evaluating requests for grandfathering, the BSA generally requires a great deal of information to be provided by the applicant and conducts public hearings before making a decision.

Community opponents, however, will not be backing down. ERFA, supported by Council Member Ben Kallos of Manhattan’s 4th Council District, Community Board 8, Sutton Area Community and the Turtle Bay Association are will work to stop Gamma and achieve a building compliant with the new zoning and with the community’s desire for a livable and pleasant neighborhood.

In an update on December 31, ERFA President Alan Kersh stated that “ERFA will be a very strong voice for this neighborhood in opposition to BSA approval of Gamma’s request.”

Look for continuing coverage of this story on the TBA’s website and in future issues of the Turtle Bay News. Readers can find further details at erfa.nyc.

This article is based upon reports by Alan Kersh, President of ERFA.

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We really did have a great time cleaning up Peter We really did have a great time cleaning up Peter Detmold Park a couple weeks ago - and here are some photos to prove it! 

Thanks again to our amazing volunteers - including Tricia Shimamura, Manhattan Boro Commissioner of NYC Parks & Recreation, as well as State Representative Alex Bores, and NYC City Council candidates Faith Bondy and Virginia Maloney.

We're having two more sessions on Friday, May 30 and Friday, June 13 from 11am - 1pm - join us! RSVP to office@turtlebay-nyc.org appreciated

Photo credit:  Jon Scarlett
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#turtlebay#turtlebaynyc#nycneighborhood#itsmyparknyc#beekmanplace#peterdetmoldpark
We're organizing two more sessions at Peter Detmol We're organizing two more sessions at Peter Detmold Park - come join us while we continue our beautification of this neighborhood park! We'll be there on Friday, May 30th from 11am - 1pm, and Friday, June 13th from 11am - 1pm. 

As before, all supplies are provided. RSVPs to office@turtlebay-nyc.org appreciated so we know how many supplies to have on hand! 
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#turtlebay#turtlebaynyc#nycneighborhood#itsmyparknyc#beekmanplace#peterdetmoldpark
What a day at Peter Detmold Park last Saturday!! 2 What a day at Peter Detmold Park last Saturday!! 29 volunteers + lots of hard work + 25 garbage bags full of leaves, ivy, branches & more = a beautifully improved park. Check out these before and after images!

We’ll be coming back again on Friday, May 30 and Friday, June 13 - both from 11-1. Join us!!
Our annual Turtle Bay Fair is less than a month aw Our annual Turtle Bay Fair is less than a month away! Join us on Saturday, June 14 from 10am - 6pm on Lexington Avenue from 42nd to 54th Street. Arts & crafts, food, gifts, entertainment and more! And don't miss the TBA table for raffle tickets, membership info, and our exclusive Turtle Bay tote bags featuring artwork by @steveq212nyc ! Keep an eye on our stories in the upcoming weeks for more info on the raffle prizes from our awesome Turtle Bay area businesses! 
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#turtlebay#turtlebaynyc#turtlebaytote#steveq#nycneighborhoods#nycstreetfair
Join us! This Saturday, May 17 for our "It's My Pa Join us! This Saturday, May 17 for our "It's My Park" Day at Peter Detmold Park. We'll be there from 10 am to 1 pm - come for an hour, or for the whole time! All supplies are provided. 

RSVPs to office@turtlebay-nyc.org appreciated so we know how many supplies to have on hand! 
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#turtlebay#turtlebaynyc#nycneighborhood#itsmyparknyc#beekmanplace#peterdetmoldpark
Happy Mother's Day from the Turtle Bay Association Happy Mother's Day from the Turtle Bay Association!

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