The Municipal Art Society of New York

After a concerted effort among our friends and neighbors in Brooklyn and the maritime community, demolition of a Civil War-era building on the working waterfront in Red Hook, Brooklyn, has been halted. The resulting city and state fines could come to $183,000. Plans to use much of the historic site as a parking lot are still on the drawing board. These two pictures of the 1866 pump house on Beard Street were taken less than a week apart. The pump house was built to serve the dry dock, also pictured, which is still in use today. The fate of the dry dock is still uncertain. Continue Reading>>

The Municipal Art Society’s Law Committee has completed a comprehensive study on the New York Board of Standards of Appeals, its variance process, and how the process could be improved. Zoning variances have been the concern of many communities in New York City, especially in manufacturing areas. The study considers the number of variances in manufacturing areas, most of which are for residential conversions. The committee also looked at court cases dealing with the BSA and the interaction between the BSA and City Planning. You can download the report, the executive summary, an appendix of illustrations, draft resolution, and a draft legislative proposal for immediate BSA reform. The Society also recommends that further reform be studied by a Joint Mayoral-City Council BSA Commission and has drafted a commission proposal.