The Municipal Art Society of New York

PlaNYC 2.0 Top Priority: Phasing Out Dirty Heating Oils
On Earth Day last month, the city announced 132 new initiatives as part of PlaNYC 2.0, including one to phase out two grades of building heating oil, Nos. 6 and 4. Both of these oils have been proven to cause a significant amount of air pollution in the city. One percent of the buildings that currently use those grades of oil are responsible for more than 85 percent of the city’s building soot pollution.

NYU Expansion Plan Needs State Historic Preservation Office Approval
New York University has another agency to satisfy in order to get its expansion plans approved: the State Historic Preservation Office. NYU’s plans include the construction of two new buildings in Washington Square Village, which is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic places.

The Garment District: New York’s Next Meatpacking District?
DNAinfo reports the Fashion Center Business Improvement District (BID) is looking to mirror the success of the Meatpacking District by attracting restaurants and bars to revitalize the Garment District at night. The BID sent out letters to restaurant and bar operators promoting the area’s location.

Looking to Make the East River Waterfront Accessible
Currently, the FDR Drive and the United Nations block off access to the waterfront between 38th and 60th Streets. As part of the Vision 2020 plan, the city is looking to open that stretch of waterfront. The Economic Development Corporation is asking for proposals for a feasibility study of the area, in order to figure out what could be built, and what the costs would be. The city is also considering allowing the U.N. to build on a portion of a local playground in exchange for a public esplanade.