New York Zoning

Zoning shapes the city. Zoning determines the size and use of buildings, where they are located and, in large measure, the densities of the city’s diverse neighborhoods. Along with the city's power to budget, tax, and condemn property, zoning is a key tool for carrying out planning policy. New York City has been a pioneer in the field of zoning policy since it enacted the nation's first comprehensive Zoning Resolution in 1916.

drawing by Hugh Ferris


The recent zoning changes to the Chelsea district in NYC creates unique opportunities for development compared to New York’s history, as they change the use destination and increase floor area and bulk in one of the most popular districts of Manhattan. On June 23, 2005, the City Council approved the Department of City Planning’s proposals for zoning text and map amendments affecting the West Chelsea area in Community District 4 Manhattan. The area is bounded generally by Tenth and Eleventh Avenues from West 30th Street south to West 16th Street. The proposal creates the Special West Chelsea District to provide opportunities for new residential and commercial development, facilitate the reuse of the High Line elevated rail line as a unique linear open space, and enhance the neighborhood’s thriving art gallery district.

The handout covers all major issues related to zoning districts and laws. Read through the history of zoning development and get familiar with the regulations pertaining to the site C6-4 area, with emphasis on residential zoning, large scale developments and tower regulations. Major focus is on the Special West Chelsea district. Follow up on the city council decisions as they adopted the West Chelsea/ High Line proposal with regard to recent modifications of the FAR and bulk amendments. Be aware of the direction towards a mixed use are that includes also lower income classes and makes that applicable with the Modified Inclusionary Housing program (MIHB). Important amendments are referred to via the High Line Transfer Corridor, High Line Improvement Bonus and the IHB, both regulating maximum FAR's and permittable building heights. Get familair also with the High Line adjacency controls since those are applicable in the most interesting spot along tenth avenue and will form one of the highlights along the High Line.

Develop your site massing and tower bulk in to steps. Review on sept 29 and october 10.
Text handout NYC zoning