Zoning to Scale: Considering Neighborhood Character
Tuesday, February 28, at 6:30 pm
At the Museum of the City of New York
Conceived by Department of City Planning in the 1980s, contextual zoning allows the City to regulate the height, bulk, setback, and street frontage of new buildings as a way to preserve neighborhood character. How effective has contextual zoning been in encouraging residential and commercial development that fits in with the scale and character of existing buildings? Are there ways this tool can be improved to adapt to the city’s current housing needs and inherent development pressures? Join us to discuss the impact of contextual zoning on some of New York’s most iconic neighborhoods. This program delves into the themes of our exhibition Mastering the Metropolis: New York and Zoning and is presented in collaboration with The Municipal Art Society.
Simeon Bankoff, Executive Director, Historic Districts Council
Richard Barth, Executive Vice President for Land Use and Housing Strategies, Capalino+Company
Melinda Katz, Queens Borough President
Marcie Kesner, Planning and Development Specialist, Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
Ron Shiffman, Professor Emeritus, Pratt Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment and former NYC Planning Commissioner (1990-1996)
