UPPER EAST SIDE — A developer of a 521-foot-tall luxury condo tower was slapped with a stop work order last month for violating zoning rules.
DDG, the developer of 180 E. 88th St., shaved off a 4-foot-wide portion of the L-shaped lot nearest East 88th Street so it could claim the building doesn't front the side street and therefore doesn't have to comply with the rules that would've restricted its height, officials said.
► READ: Developer Hit With Stop Work Order For Manipulating Zoning Code: Officials
Initial renderings for the new luxury condo tower show a 50-story skyscraper with private terraces, vaulted archways, a wine room, children’s playroom, a game room and basketball court. But DDG will have to go back to the drawing board to rework its plans to comply with the law.
We asked readers what the city should do to make sure developers don't overbuild, and here's what they had to say on Neighborhood Square:
► "I'm waiting with trepidation for the forest of pencil buildings that will go up on 2nd Ave. when the subway is finally finished here. A lot of the walk-ups already look like they're being emptied out. Our politicians should be doing something now to ensure that our already over-dense neighborhood is not completely overrun," one reader said.
► "All that's going to happen is that the developer will file amended plans showing exactly what he has done and what he wants to do. Those plans will then be approved post haste so the developer won't lose any more profit. Gain for the community = ZERO," another wrote.
► "Convert all vacant lots to parks and gardens — city or private individuals to buy those to use as parks and gardens for people to enjoy!!! By the way corrupt corporate smugglers (foreign and/or domestic) will dominate city again — what with two bedrooms going for $3M now. The higher the skyscraper, the higher the price. Where will ordinary people live?" a commenter said.
► "They should stop allowing self-certification. They should inspect during construction. They should require new buildings to be demolished when they violate the code and they should fine the owner, contractor and architect and institute a moratorium on all applications , directly or indirectly, from those developers, contractors and architects for a minimum of 5 years. I am currently looking at a building that supposed to be 18 stories high. It is now at least 22 stories high. How does that happen?" another said.
► "Maybe they shouldn't automatically approve plans that architects pinkie-swear are legal?" a reader said.
► "Ummmm, maybe they should check the plans BEFORE they start building?" another suggested.
