R8

Apartment houses in R8 districts can range from mid-rise, eight- to 10-story buildings to much taller, narrower buildings set back from the street on large zoning lots. It is the highest density residential district in the Bronx, mapped in the vicinity of the Grand Concourse. R8 districts are also widely mapped in Manhattan neighborhoods, such as Washington Heights. New buildings in R8 districts may be developed under either **height factor** regulations or the optional **Quality Housing** regulations that reflect the traditional neighborhood streetscape.

Height Factor Regulations

The floor area ratio (FAR) for height factor development in R8 districts ranges from 0.94 to 6.02; the open space ratio (OSR) ranges from 5.9 to 11.9. A taller building may be obtained by providing more open space. In the diagram, for example, 64% of the **zoning lot** with the 17-story building is required to be open space (6.02 FAR × 10.7 OSR). Thus, the maximum FAR is achievable only where the zoning lot is large enough to accommodate a practical building footprint as well as the required amount of open space. The building must be set within a **sky exposure plane** which, in R8 districts, begins at a height of 85 feet or nine stories, whichever is less, above the front **lot line** and then slopes inward over the zoning lot.

Parking is required for only 40% of dwell-
ing units since these districts are easily
accessed by mass transit. It is waived if
15 or fewer parking spaces are required
or if the zoning lot is 10,000 square feet
or less.

Cadman Plaza

<table>
  <caption>R8 Height Factor Regulations</caption>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th scope="col">R8</th>
      <th scope="col">FAR<br>(range)</th>
      <th scope="col">OSR<br>(range)</th>
      <th scope="col">Building Height</th>
      <th scope="col">Required Parking<sup>1</sup><br>(min)</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td></td>
      <td>0.94-6.02</td>
      <td>5.9-11.9</td>
      <td>Governed by sky exposure planes</td>
      <td>40%</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

¹ 20% if zoning lot is between 10,001 and 15,000 square feet; waived if zoning lot is 10,000 square feet or less, or if 15 or fewer spaces required