CPC Reviews Kips Bay Life Sciences Lab Proposal

As part of the public review process, the City Planning Commission (CPC) has evaluated an application proposing a 13-story, life sciences laboratory building, at 455 First Avenue in Manhattan's Kips Bay neighborhood. Submitted by developer, Taconic Partners, and its life science subsidiary, Elevate Research Properties, alongside the New York City Economic Development Corporation, the application (filed under the name "455 First Avenue Associates LLC") requests a zoning map amendment, a zoning text amendment, and a special permit for height and setback waivers in order to facilitate the project.

Known as "Innovation East", the development will be specially designed to accommodate life sciences projects at all stages of growth. It will provide incubation space for start-ups, graduation space for life sciences businesses, space for established research and development firms, and anchor space for NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Plans also call for ground-floor retail, and a multi-purpose programming space, which building tenants can use for internal meetings as well as life sciences-related events that are open to the public.

Designed by Ennead Architects, the structure will stand 270 feet tall and total 443,680 square feet altogether.

The project site spans

square feet. The new building will replace a 14-story office building on the property, which used to contain the City’s Public Health Laboratory prior to its relocation. If Innovation East is approved, the old building will have to be completely demolished in order to make room for the new development.

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