Developer Withdraws Controversial Hamilton Heights Rezoning

HARLEM, NY — A developer on Thursday withdrew its proposal to rezone a Hamilton Heights block to construct a new 17-story apartment tower, ending a monthslong battle over a project that stoked strong opposition in the neighborhood.

The plans called for a 170-foot-tall tower on the corner of West 142nd Street and Riverside Drive — a site currently home to a vacant lot and three now-empty rowhouses that would be torn down to make way for the new project.

But neighbors objected to the demolition of the picturesque rowhouses at 635-639 West 142nd St. — especially when former residents claimed at an April community board meeting that the developers, Soma 142 LLC, had used intimidation tactics to drive them out of their homes.

The rezoning had reached the final stage of the city's monthlong public review process known as ULURP, and was set to go before a City Council committee on Friday.

"We seek to withdraw the referenced application effective immediately," an attorney for the developer wrote in a letter to the City Planning Commission on Thursday, which was obtained by Patch.

City Councilmember Mark Levine, who represents Hamilton Heights, said in an email Thursday that Soma was withdrawing the project after he decided to oppose it.

"West Harlem’s historic character is absolutely essential to its identity," Levine said in the email to constituents. "The demolition of three 100-year old row houses on 142nd St., as proposed in this project, would be a serious blow to the historic fabric of our neighborhood."

Much of the opposition also centered around the precedent that would be set changing the block's zoning code. West Harlem had only recently been rezoned in 2012 as part of an effort to limit the size of new developments, and residents said the bid to "upzone" the block to a higher-density scheme than the pre-2012 code would have defeated the purpose of the community-led rezoning.

Levine had not previously taken a formal position on the project, though he criticized its height and questioned its affordability at the April meeting.

Now, the fate of the block is unclear. This spring, developers unveiled a "no-action" scenario for if their rezoning was not approved, in which they would still demolish the rowhouses but construct a more modest six-story, 23-unit building in their place.

Whether that project will move forward remains to be seen. An attorney for Soma did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday about the firm's plans.

Affordable apartments touted

Developers, meanwhile, stressed that the project would add 20 affordable apartments, along with 61 market-rate units, in a neighborhood that has gained relatively little housing in recent years. They also defended the project's proposed 175-foot height, noting it sits across from buildings that rise above 140 feet and behind a 120-foot tower.

But that did little to placate neighbors. At the April meeting, a man named Anderson who said he spoke for residents of the neighboring building at 644 Riverside Dr., evoked violent images in condemning the proposal.

"This request to rezone from an R6A to an R9A district will put a knee on the neck of this already beautiful and diverse community and suffocate residents," he said.

Liz Waytkus, who lived for five years in the rowhouse at 639 West 142nd St., said she had enjoyed the "sense of community" on the block before her building was sold to Soma in 2016. After that, she said, the owners forced her to leave and refused to grant her a lease extension to find a new home.

Board members, meanwhile, questioned how much affordable housing would really be added, pointing out that the existing rowhouses contain 21 total apartments, including several that are rent-stabilized.

"There's no net increase, necessarily, in affordable housing units," said Signe Mortensen, who chairs Community Board 9's housing, land use and zoning committee.

Besides the community board, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer had also formally opposed the development.

Previous coverage:

• Harlem Board Blasts Developer Over Hamilton Heights Rezoning
• Developer Seeks Hamilton Heights Rezoning For Apartment Tower