View Larger Image

The contextual Quality Housing regulations, mandatory in R9A districts, typically result in high lot coverage, 14- to 15-story buildings set at or near the street line. Typical R9A buildings can be found in higher density Manhattan neighborhoods such as Chelsea and Tribeca. Often mapped as C1-8A or C2-7A commercial districts, which have an R9A ­ residential district equivalent, these districts usually have apartments above one or two floors of retail and office uses.

The maximum floor area ratio (FAR) in R9A districts is 7.52, the same as in R9 districts. On wide streets, the base height is 60 to102 feet with a maximum building height of 145 feet. On narrow streets, the base height is 60 to 95 feet with a maximum building height of 135 feet. The street wall of a new building on a wide street must extend along the entire width of the zoning lot and at least 70% of the street wall must be within eight feet of the street line.

The area between a building’s street wall and the street line must be planted and the building must have interior amenities for residents pursuant to the Quality Housing Program.

Off-street parking is not required for any development in the Manhattan Core or in Long Island City in Queens. Elsewhere, parking is required for 40% of dwelling units.