§ 93-751 General requirements for the Western Open Space
ZR § 93-751
A publicly accessible open space, (henceforth referred to as the “Western Open Space”), shall be provided in Subdistrict F. Such a space shall be open to the sky, except that amenities that are provided in accordance with this Section and Section 93-77 (Design Criteria for Public Access Areas in Subdistrict F) shall be permitted to cover a portion of the Western Open Space.
(a)General purposeThe Western Open Space is intended to serve the following purposes:
(1)to provide a major open space that joins the northern portion of the High Line open space network on its west to the open space networks leading to the Hudson Park and Boulevard on its east;
(2)to provide a large open lawn area overlooking the Hudson River for public use and enjoyment; and
(3)to provide transition areas that offer shade, supplemental space between the open lawn and surrounding building and connections between surrounding publicly accessible open spaces.
(b)Location and minimum dimensionsThe Western Open Space shall be located east of the High Line, and encompass the area between Sites 1 and 5 as shown on Map 3 (Subdistrict F: Public Access Area Plan) in Appendix B. The Western Open Space shall have a minimum easterly boundary of 225 feet, as measured from the easterly street line of Twelfth Avenue.
(c)Core elementsThe Western Open Space shall provide the following core elements:
(i)a continuous lawn area shall be provided over a minimum of 75 percent of the required one acre. Such area shall have a maximum slope of three degrees and unobstructed visual access toward the Hudson River; and
(ii)a transitional lawn area may be provided for a maximum of 25 percent of the required one acre of lawn area. Such area need not be continuous, and shall have a maximum slope of 15 degrees. Trees and other plantings shall be permitted in such area.
(d)TransparencyFor portions of buildings on Site 1 and Site 5 fronting upon the Western Open Space, a minimum of 50 percent of the surface area of the ground floor street wall fronting upon the open space shall be treated with clear, untinted transparent material.
(e)Permitted encroachments from private streets and pedestrian waysThe Connector and the terminus of the West 32nd Street Extension shall be permitted to encroach upon the supplemental area of the Western Open Space, provided that the site and landscape plans incorporating the private street or pedestrian way are approved in conjunction with the Western Open Space, pursuant to Section 93-78 (Site and Landscape Plans for Public Access Areas in Subdistrict F).
