Penthouse Owner's Desperate 'Hail Mary' Sails Way out of Bounds

Please cut & paste & send the message below to BSA prior to March 20, 2009 by Regular Mail; Fax: 212.788.8769 (attention Mr. Ron Rizzotti) or Email: http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mailbsa.html

Ms. Meenakshi Srinivasan
Chair, NYC BSA
40 Rector Street, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10006-1705

Attention: Mr. Ron Rizzotti

Re: Calendar Number 162-08-BZ - 150 East 93rd Street - Manhattan

Dear Madame Chair,

Since last July, applicant has testified as to the dimensions of his proposed vertical addition for which he seeks a Special Permit. Now, after realizing he can not prove his proposed addition would not have a negative impact on the character of the neighborhood and may impact the environment, applicant claims to have made a calculation error in the hopes this new measurement will free him from the rigorous scrutiny attendant to a Special Permit review.

Applicant's argument that BSA only consider the impacts of 54.8 sq ft, the measurement he now claims is unlawful, is without merit. This measurement does not exist independent of the whole and can not be parsed out for the purpose of review. As a matter of law, the impacts of the whole proposed vertical addition must be thoroughly reviewed.

Please deny this Special Permit.

Sincerely,

(please be sure to add your name & address)

Carnegie Hill Says NO to Baker's Dozen !

Please cut & paste & send the message below to BSA prior to the January 27, 2009 Public Hearing by Regular Mail or Email: http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mailbsa.html with a copy to: 93rdst.beautification@gmail.com.


Ms. Meenakshi Srinivisaan
Chair, NYC Board of Standards & Appeals
40 Rector Street, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10006

Re: BSA Calendar # 162-08-BZ: 150 East 93 Street, Manhattan NYC

Dear Madame Chair,

I strongly object to the proposal to construct a Penthouse on top of the Penthouse which already sits on top of the roof at 150 East 93rd Street in Carnegie Hill NYC for the following reasons:

1.) the proposal threatens the historic character of this storied NYC neighborhood so rich in cultural and architectural history; 2.) the proposed addition literally faces the Carnegie Hill Historic District and thus threatens the historic integrity and property value of the CHHD; 3.) the proposal is completely out of scale & context with this historic block of 19th century houses & gardens which includes the beloved childhood home of the Marx Brothers; 4.) the proposed penthouse would completely overshadow the collection of four-story 19th century townhouses & gardens which 150E93 abuts and which is the indisputable Rosetta Stone to any credible development history of Carnegie Hill having been built prior to the Lexington Avenue extension and being older than any of the brownstones already in the CHHD; 5.) the proposal would constitute a precedent-setting breach of the historic skyline on this ancient block; 6.) the proposed project would impact the environment, including the flora & fauna resident to the collection of gardens 150E93 abuts, and the penthouse owner has failed to comply with the applicable environmental laws which require an EIS; 7.) the penthouse owner has failed to provide a structural engineering report to determine whether 150E93 could even support another floor which would, in fact, constitute the 13th story on an eleven story building in Carnegie Hill.

For all of the foregoing reasons, the applicant's request for a Special Permit must be denied.

Respectfully submitted,

(Please add your name & address)