It’s a buy product
Panel OKs more retail, less parking for E. Harlem towers
BUILD it and they will shop.
An East Harlem community board voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a zoning variance that will allot more retail space and less parking to what could become Harlem’s tallest buildings.
“We think the trade-off between parking and retail is beneficial to the neighborhood,” said George Sarkissian, district manager of Community Board 11, of the massive mixed-use project at 1800 Park Ave. at E. 125th St.
The additional retail, which will be expanded to include 63,200 square-feet of ground floor and second-story space, will slash available parking to just 123 spots for 682 residential units at the 32-story complex, community board members said. Originally, 304 spaces were slated for residents at the two buildings.
Under an original plan, the second floor would have been used as a parking garage for residents of the buildings.
When they’re completed in 2017, the two buildings will stand as Harlem’s tallest structures, officials said.
Whatever fears arise from the limited parking, community leaders cheered the potential for neighborhood employment.
“Those additional jobs are important to a community that is struggling with 17% unemployment,” Sarkissian said.
The existing zoning had mandated that building developer Continuum Co. provide parking spaces for 40% of all residential units. That means the developer would have made parking available in underground space and on the second floor. mfeeney@nydailynews.com