Mitsui Fudosan and SJP Properties – 200 Amsterdam

Achieved significant victory in a high-profile, multi-year dispute over the approximately $1 billion dollar development at 200 Amsterdam—an important ruling for both Herrick clients and developers throughout New York City. Herrick represented Mitsui Fudosan and SJP Properties as co-counsel in the zoning litigation involving their development of the luxury high rise building when a neighborhood coalition of Upper West Side residents and politicians challenged the Department of Building's approval of the project and two approvals by the NYC Board of Standards and Appeals. The community groups argued that the developers created an illegal zoning lot - which was an unusual shape and utilized partial tax lots. In 2020, even though a N.Y.S. trial judge previously denied an injunction and held that the opponents failed to show a likelihood of success, the judge thereafter ordered that our clients deconstruct several floors of the already built same 52-story building. In March 2021, the N.Y.S. Appellate Division unanimously reversed and ruled in favor of the developers, finding that the building permit was lawful and that the trial court should have deferred to the N.Y.C. Board of Appeals. Opponents sought leave to appeal to the N.Y. Court of Appeals. In September 2021, the N.Y. Court of Appeals denied the opposition group’s motion for leave to appeal.