Studio City New York LLC principal Lee Tomlinson and marketing and sales head Richard Benowitz say they hope to break ground by the end of the year on the $375-million film/television production studio complex, provided they are able to secure an anchor tenant for the project and prelease a significant portion of its 400,000 sf of office space. The 92,000-sf parcel of city-owned land on 11th Avenue between 44th and 45th streets is under contract, air rights from a neighboring school have been signed over and all the necessary approvals are in place. "The Community Board and [city councilmember] Christine Quinn have been fully supportive," says Tomlinson. "We came through with flying colors."
But at least two former members of Community Board Four's Land Use Committee, which advises the board on development in that part of Clinton, say the Studio City project faced stiff opposition from the start. Clinton Coalition president John Fisher and neighborhood resident Bruce Levine were both on the committee when it reviewed the Studio City proposal in late 2000. They say the committee voted to reject the development unless it was significantly scaled back. "There was substantial community concern for reducing the size and scope of the project," says Fisher. "We didn't want to stop them completely. We don't have a problem with a film studio in the neighborhood, but it was too large."
Levine, who says he subsequently resigned from CB4 over this and other similar incidents, says the developer indicated that it would withdraw proposed incentives for PS/IS 51 if the board rejected its plan. According to the proposal, the 100-year-old school building, which is located adjacent to the Studio City site, is to receive funding for a new gymnasium, air conditioning, new windows and additional classroom space. "Studio City railroaded [the project] through Community Board Four," Levine tells GlobeSt.com. "The Board was sold a bill of goods that this was the best we could get. We were told Studio City would walk; that they would go Downtown and get approval from the City Planning Department anyway and that the school would get nothing."
CB4 district manager Anthony Borelli concedes there was community opposition to Studio City, but says the project's favorable citywide buzz meant it was likely to get built whether or not it received board approval, which is strictly advisory and not binding. "The community always thought it was too tall and too bulky, primarily due to the fact that it will be adjacent to a public elementary school," Borelli tells GlobeSt.com. "There were very local concerns about the impact a building this size would have on the neighborhood. The board debated back and forth on the size of the building and on how the board could be the most effective in shaping this project. Ultimately, they realized the project was receiving favorable attention. The board as a whole thought it was in its best interest to say 'yes if.'" A "yes if" vote indicates the board approves a project conditional upon specific alterations to the original proposal--in this case, amenities for the neighboring school building.
Borelli says the developers refused to consider downsizing the design. "They said 'no, we need all the space.' We said 'OK, I guess you're not budging on that one.'" However, in its resolution to then-city planning commissioner Joseph B. Rose, the board managed to make a tepid reference to the project's size. "The project's height of 266 feet is outside of the existing character of the surrounding building types, some of which range from 150 ft-200 ft. The board remains extremely concerned about the impact that a building of this project's height will have on future zoning or development actions," the resolution reads.
Contentious or not, the project, if it is completed, will be impressive. The complex will house 140,000 sf of film and television space in seven studios, post-production facilities, a five-star restaurant, spa, luxury apartments and retail shops, as well as the 400,000-sf office component.
"This will be the first major [New York City] film and television studio and office complex built vertically from the ground up," says Lee. "Our intention is to be the East Coast Center for content creation by movie, television and commercial producers. All of the businesses in the production industry and the companies that support them can meet in one building. They can go from concept all the way through to editing and back-end work without leaving the building."
Studio City will lease its production space primarily on a per-project basis and hopes to secure long-term leases for the offices. Financing is being arranged by Lehman Brothers, with Studio City putting up $45 million in equity.
The 15-story property, designed by locally based Meridian Design Associates, will also include a one-acre outdoor "rooftop backlot" on the ninth floor that will be used for exterior shooting and as event space. Penthouse talent suites on the 15th floor are designed to recall the bungalows found on movie studio lots.
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