Potential Expansion of the Special West Chelsea District Study - DCP

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Potential Expansion of the Special West Chelsea District Study

As part of a commitment made by Deputy Mayor Robert Steel to City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Manhattan Community Board 4 on October 25, 2012, the Department of City Planning has prepared a study to consider the potential expansion of the Special West Chelsea District. This report includes an analysis of existing conditions and draft recommendations, and will further inform consultation with the local community, elected officials, and private stakeholders on the potential for rezoning the study area.

The study area comprises eight blocks in West Chelsea in Manhattan Community District 4. The streets and buildings in the study area are varied in form, character and use. The study area includes the south side of West 15th Street between Ninth and Tenth avenues, West 15th to 17th streets, between Tenth and Eleventh avenues, and West 24th to 30th streets between Eleventh and Twelfth avenues.

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The purpose of this study is to:

Reinforce the goals of the Special West Chelsea District, a zoning special district adopted in 2005;

Understand recent trends in and the evolving character of West Chelsea, and assess their compatibility with the goals of the special district;

Ensure that the land use regulations that govern the blocks adjacent to the special district are compatible with existing conditions and reflect appropriate land use policy for the future; and

Support the continued growth of West Chelsea as a mixed use district that contains residential, commercial, office and gallery uses, and space for critical citywide infrastructure and services.

Following a thorough analysis of the study area, the Department of City Planning recommends:

Extending the Special West Chelsea District to include the south side of West 15th Street between Ninth and Tenth avenues. This segment of West 15th Street would remain in the M1-5 zoning district, but inclusion in the special district would establish height and street wall controls consistent with surrounding streets.

Developing frameworks, through consultation with property owners, the community, and other stakeholders to set a context for the future zoning and development of blocks bounded by West 24th and West 25th streets between Eleventh and Twelfth avenues, and West 29th and West 30th streets between Eleventh and Twelfth avenues.