An old idea has new life in the de Blasio Administration—less restrictive air rights regulations for landmarks like St. Patrick's Cathedral.
"The Archdiocese of New York has been working with Central Synagogue and St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church for new rules that would allow the two churches and the synagogue—all designated city landmarks—to sell their unused air rights to developers who have properties that aren’t adjacent and may be many blocks away," reports Josh Barbanel.
The rule would be a huge boon to St. Patrick's Cathedral, which, surrounded by tall buildings, is prevented by current air rights regulations from selling its estimated one million square feet of air rights.
According to Barbanel, City Planning Director Carl Wiesbrod recently announced to an "the beginning of a broad review of air rights." The article includes a helpful infographic illustrating how air rights work.
Readers unable to circumvent the Wall Street Journal paywall can find follow up reporting in the New York Business Journal or The Real Deal.
FULL STORY: Up in the Air: Development Rights of New York City Landmarks [paywall]
Property Owners Jostle for Deals After Midtown East Rezoning
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Fits and Starts for New York City's Special Districts
There has been a lot of breaking news originating from both the Garment District and the Theater District in New York City this week.
$100 Million in Air Rights Sold by New York's Pier 40
The kind of air rights deal only possible in New York City will offer benefits for both parties and, hopefully, the public.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
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Planning for Universal Design
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research