Manhattan Floor Area Ratio

The floor area ratio is the principal bulk regulation controlling the size of buildings.

Manhattan floor area ratio.

One key measure of structural density is the floor area ratio far which is the ratio of total usable floor space to the size of the plot. In manhattan we identified the area north of grand central station. Most cities use floor area ratio far as part of their zoning regulations. What does far signify.

The floor area ratios are set forth by nyc planning in the zoning resolution zoning code. Let s learn the concept of building coverage ratio or floor area ratio to understand how. A two story building on the same lot where each floor was 500 square feet. Manhattan core the manhattan core extends from the southern tip of manhattan at the battery to west 110th street on the west side and east 96th street on the east side.

For example a 10 story building constructed on the entire lot would have a far of 10 as would a 20 story building on half the lot. What is floor area ratio calculation formula. In medium and high density commercial districts plazas pedestrian amenities and by special permit subway improvements can generate an increase in the maximum commercial far. Far is the ratio of total building floor area to the area of its zoning lot.

Far is the reason why buildings with the same size lot but in different zoning districts can be drastically different in size. R8b contextual districts usually present the same unified blocks of brownstone rowhouses as r5b and r6b districts but the higher floor area ratio far of 4 0 creates a taller building that is commonly found on the narrow side streets of the upper west side and the upper east side in manhattan. A floor area bonus for public plazas subway station improvements or theater rehabilitation is available in some subdistricts. The mandatoryquality housing bulk regulations encourage new six story apartment buildings.

The preservation subdistrict is not eligible for any floor area bonuses and its base floor area ratio far is lower than elsewhere in the special district in order to limit development on certain side streets. The floor area ratio is the deciding factor in finding out the maximum buildable floor area. Both new york city and london use far but they measure it in different. Floor area ratio the ratio of the total building floor area to the lot area is a common measurement system used to regulated the density of buildings.

The floor area ratio far in r7a districts is 4 0.