The review of the mechanical space of the Upper West Side tower of Extell will continue after the decision of the Standards and Calling Council



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The BSA has reviewed a City Club and Landmark West appeal for approvals approved by the City's Buildings Department in April. Both groups added that the developer had taken advantage of the project's divided zoning lots to build beyond what was permitted.

The board of directors voted both these challenges Tuesday, confirming the approval of the permits of the Department of Buildings.

But the examination of the mechanical floors of the building seems to have to go on forever. The Bureau of Standards and Appeals also decided on Tuesday to split in two a separate part of Landmark West's challenge to the tower. While the initial challenge was on the height of the mechanical floors, the board has now decided to check separately whether Extell "properly occupies" the mechanical floor area with the equipment needed for the operation of the housing tower.

The BSA will undertake a study similar to the one it did for the development of the Sky House Condominium in NoMad, said Board Chair Margery Perlmutter, reviewing the mechanical drawings for each floor.

"The question for us is," said Perlmutter, "that when you look at the planning of each mechanical floor, does the amount of mechanical equipment indicated on the drawing correspond to the amount you would associate with a building of this type?" cut?"

The use of mechanical soil in the tower by Extell has been cited as an example of the so-called mechanical vacuum flaw, which allows developers to add height to a building without the extra area matching the limits zoning. City Council approved legislation in May to fill this gap. The law – passed after Extell received approvals and started construction – limits mechanical floors to a height of 25 feet. All that matters is the zoning area of ​​the building.

Extell's original plans provided a mechanical space of 160 feet on the 18th floor of the building. At the request of the New York Department of Buildings and Fire Department, the developer submitted this spring modified plans that slightly reduce the technical space and spread it over four separate floors, no more than 64 feet in height . The developer has also added elevator stops in mechanical floors.

After the city's buildings department approved the revised plans, the City Club filed a lawsuit.

"There is no man-made equipment yet" that would need a lot of space in the tower, said a City Club lawyer in the lawsuit, that one Supreme Court Justice finally dismissed, claiming that the dispute was to be heard. by the city BSA.

A building department lawyer told the commission that he had examined the equipment on each floor and found it appropriate.

The Buildings Department is required to submit the necessary floor plans for the BSA review by October 16th. After a six-week comment period for Landmark West and Extell, the BSA will hold a hearing on December 17.

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