There will be Blood: an Update
New York Blood Center project approved by City Council, in spite of local council member’s opposition.
Today, the City Council approved the New York Blood Center project by a vote of 43 to 5, in defiance of the local councilmember’s opposition.
Rendering/DBOX/ENNEAD ARCHITECTS
The New York Blood Center, located at 310 East 67th Street in Manhattan, seeks to replace its existing three-story building with a 233 foot tower that would house the Blood Center, as well as lease spaces to life science companies.
In a deal that was struck with the City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, Manhattan Borough President Gail Brewer, Council Members Francisco Moya, Rafael Salamanca, and Keith Powers, the tower’s height was reduced by approximately 100 feet (from 334 feet to the current 233 feet), and the Blood Center will donate $2 Million to the Julia Richman Educational Complex, $3.6 Million to St. Catherine’s Park, and $500,000 to community-based organizations dedicated to sickle cell research projects and patient awareness campaigns. In addition, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation will allocate an additional $7 Million for St. Catherine’s Park.
Now that the City Council has approved the project, Mayor de Blasio has 5 days to approve or veto the project; however, the Mayor’s approval is not a requirement. Under ULURP, a project at this stage is deemed approved after five days without any mayoral action.
To learn more about the New York Blood Center Project, and for a discussion on the impact City Council’s approval may have on member deference (a policy where council members defer to the opinion of the local councilmember on a land use project located in the local councilmember’s district), click here!
Sources:
Kaufman, M. (November 23, 2021). City Council votes to approve New York Blood Center rezoning. Crains. https://www.crainsnewyork.com/health-care/city-council-votes-approve-new-york-blood-center-rezoning.
