Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises meeting
March 4, 2026, 11:00 AM
The subcommittee held hearings on six land use applications: three related items for 20 Berry Street in Brooklyn (a rezoning and special permit by Mihata Corp.), a text amendment at 1325 Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan, and two items for the Allen Street Mall Demapping in Manhattan submitted by the Department of Parks and Recreation.
What was discussed
- Chair Louis opens the zoning hearing and explains the testimony rules Council Member Farah N. Louis gaveled in the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises, noted the Hamilton Avenue residential rezoning was laid over to a future date, and laid out the hybrid in-person/remote testimony procedures before opening hearings on the three land use items.
- Applicant presents the 1325 Avenue of the Americas galleria cafe text amendment Neil Weisbard (Seyfarth Shaw, zoning counsel) and Travis Terry (public affairs advisor) presented on behalf of Le Grande Boucherie, explaining that a text amendment is needed because open-air cafes are currently barred from covered through-block gallerias like the 6½ Avenue passageway. They said the
- Would the restaurant post signage so the public knows the galleria restrooms are accessible? Chair Louis and Council Member Elsie Encarnación pressed the applicant on public access after Community Board 5 and the Borough President asked for restroom signage. Travis Terry said the applicant declined to add signage, citing staff safety and operational concerns, though restrooms remain
- NYC Parks presents the Allen Street Mall demapping and wide-street text amendment Antonios Michelakis, Director of Parklands for NYC Parks, presented two ULURP applications: demapping a 9,300-square-foot portion of the Allen Street median between Delancey and Rivington as right-of-way and mapping it as parkland so Parks alone oversees a future concession, and a companion text
- What outreach has Parks done and will a future concessionaire fix the ADA and pavement problems? Chair Louis and Council Member Christopher Marte questioned Parks on community outreach and the concession plan. Alexander Han, Parks Chief of Concessions, said Parks had done years of outreach, issued a pre-pandemic RFP that failed to attract interest because DOT owned the site, and would seek a
- Applicant presents the 20 Berry Street industrial rezoning in Williamsburg Howard Goldman (zoning counsel) and architect Jay Valgora of Studio B presented the 20 Berry Street proposal, a zoning map amendment, text amendment and special permit to build a mixed commercial and light-manufacturing building opposite McCarren Park. Valgora described a smaller-scale, subdividable
- How will the required industrial space actually get leased given the soft market? Chair Louis and Council Member Lincoln Restler questioned the team on tenanting the mandated industrial space, labor, and safety. Jay Valgora said the smaller, subdividable footprint and infrastructure worked out with Evergreen make it easier to lease than larger nearby projects, and Howard Goldman
Agenda
6 items
- LU 0038-2026 Application number C 240271 ZMK (20 Berry Street) submitted by Mihata Corp., pursuant to Sections 197-c and 201 of the New York City Charter for an amendment of the Zoning Map, Section Nos. 12c and 13a, changing from an M1-1 District to an M1-2 District, Borough of Brooklyn, Community District 1 Hearing Held by Committee
- LU 0039-2026 Application number N 240272 ZRK (20 Berry Street) submitted by Mihata Corp., pursuant to Section 201 of the New York City Charter, for an amendment of the Zoning Resolution of the City of New York, adding an Industrial Business Incentive Area to Article VII, Chapter 4 (Special Permits by the City Hearing Held by Committee
- LU 0040-2026 Application number C 240273 ZSK (20 Berry Street) submitted by Mihata Corp., pursuant to Sections 197-c and 201 of the New York City Charter for the grant of a special permit pursuant to Section 74-94 of the Zoning Resolution to allow an increase in the maximum permitted floor area in accordance Hearing Held by Committee
- LU 0041-2026 Application number N 240303 ZRM (1325 Avenue of the Americas – Text Amendment) submitted by La Grande Boucherie LLC, pursuant to Section 201 of the New York City Charter, for an amendment of the Zoning Resolution of the City of New York, amending bulk provisions of Article VIII, Chapter 1 (Special Hearing Held by Committee
- LU 0042-2026 Application No. C 250306 MMM (Allen Street Mall Demapping) submitted by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation pursuant to Sections 197-c and 199 of the New York City Charter and Section 5-430 et seq. of the New York City Administrative Code for an amendment to the City Map involving Hearing Held by Committee
- LU 0043-2026 Application number N 250307 ZRM (Allen Street Mall Demapping) submitted by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, pursuant to Section 201 of the New York City Charter, for an amendment of the Zoning Resolution of the City of New York, amending Section 12-10 (DEFINITIONS), Borough of Hearing Held by Committee