State-controlled WTC Board overrides zoning rules to build larger tower
Sanctions 25 percent of units in the tower as affordable housing. Local activists call for 100 percent affordable, officials say it costs $900M.
This article was originally published on by THE CITY.
The state-controlled board in charge of the World Trade Center site on Tuesday approved an override of city zoning rules in order to build a tower bigger than local regulations allow, including a proposed 1,200 apartments.
But as it formally embarks on a public review process for 5WTC, the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation’s board of directors is sticking with an earlier commitment it made to set aside 25% of apartments as affordable — despite demands from local activists and candidates for Congress to make the project 100% affordable.