Riverside South Planning Corporation

 

School Space

School Space Extell proposes locating the school space on Parcels L/M/N. A similar promise was made in the 1992 agreements and never became a reality. We advocate that the City Planning Commission should not approve this application with another empty promise to the community – the commitment to build school space and operate a school should be based on an enforceable agreement and the developer should be required to meet the terms of the agreement before he receives his temporary certificate of occupancy. Further, putting the school on Parcels L/M/N could mean that the new school space might not be available until 2018 or later. In its study of the need for school space, Extell should recognize that the new school space is needed now, and should evaluate locating the school space in the buildings on Parcels J or K. Extell is proposing a 97,000 gross square feet offsetting increase in the Zoning Square Feet authorized in the Special Permit. This offset should only be provided if Extell provides the space free of cost to the Department of Education, and only if the school actually operates.

Affordable Housing

We defer to Community Board 7 on the desirability of Affordable Housing and support their request that at least 20% of the housing should be Affordable.