Northside Urban Renwal Project

Peter and I obtainted a copy of the "Bedford Ave-North 3rd Street Urban Renewal Project" published by HPD back in October 1985. It's a bit confusing, but it's a brief and interesting read. It gives you a sense of how different the Northside's concerns were two decades ago. For instance, HPD writes that the majority of housing is moderately priced with “a substantial number of housing units for low income families both privately and publicly supported." Also, they describe the neighborhood’s transportation as “good” and educational facilities as “plentiful”--two features that the neighborhood currently needs improved.

The point of this exercise was to see how the Urban Renewal Project might have an effect on Quadriad's project. Although the land that Quadriad owns was never acquired by HPD (or so we think), all of their land is within the Urban Renewal area and is thus greatly effected by some of its guidelines and objectives. Anyway, there were two specific questions that I had while reading this. Hopefully NAG will ask them to someone from HPD or Housing Partnership, but for now they'll just be posted (I've also posted a map above the questions to help explain):


1. What’s going on with Lot 35 of Block 2351? The lot is in the urban renewal area and is listed as a property acquired by HPD. From the Land Use map that HPD provides, it appears to be a sliver of land in between what is currently lot 28 and lot 40. Yet, neither DOB nor Sanborn maps list this lot. Why was this originally acquired as an HPD-owned urban renewal site, if its location and size are somewhat odd? What purpose did it serve before it merged with neighboring lots and its existing structure was demoed? Is it possible that this site is still HPD controlled or owned in someway? If not, how did HPD lose ownership/control of this property? Especially if the land use provisions and building requirements are to remain in effect for 40 years (till 2025). Wouldn’t that somehow dictate ownership too?

here's a close up of the block (lot #35 is highlighted in orange)


2. As seen in the map above, the south two-thirds of the block are “Q” parcels. This means that they are in the Urban Renewal Area but were not acquire by HPD. Nonetheless, HPD designated that “Q” parcels must be kept at a high level of maintenance and meet the rehabilitation standards set forth in “Property Rehabilitation Guidelines” (these guidelines are pretty much in concurrence with city wide standards, but also include strong recommendations for residential property.) Also, in Section D, under subheading #3, titled “The Limitation on New Construction on Not to be Acquired Properties,” it says:

“If any structure designated Q is demolished, no new construction is to take place on the site without the prior approval of HPD.”

The site (lots 1, 40, and 28) is currently a vacant lot. The buildings were demolished in August 2005 and the owner of the site, Quadriad Realty, has plans to construct new residential structures. Since the Urban Renewal Plan lasts for 40 years, doesn’t Quadriad have to seek approval from HPD before new construction can take place? Can HPD negotiate a certain project agreement with Quadriad before giving them approval? Is there anyway Quadriad could bypass HPD?