ALERT: Trump Condo Hotels, Historic Fire Patrols & Big Glass Buildings
From GVSHP www.gvshp.org
Trump Condo-Hotel Decision Expected Soon:
A decision from the City on whether or not to allow ‘condo-hotels’ in manufacturing zones, such as the proposal by Donald Trump and partners for a 45-story ‘condo-hotel’ at Spring and Varick Streets, is expected soon. The decision will determine whether or not neighborhoods throughout Lower Manhattan and much of the five boroughs will be opened up to a new breed of high-rise development which will change neighborhood character, force out existing jobs and businesses, and undermine commitments by the City to communities regarding housing and manufacturing development and preservation. A growing coalition of elected officials, Community Boards, and business and community groups from across the City have come out against this plan (see www.gvshp.org/documents/Trumplet.pdf ). Special thanks to Assemblymember Glick, Congressman Nadler, and State Senator Duane for writing their fellow elected officials across the City urging them to stand with us.
But after a series of meetings GVSHP had with city agencies about the proposal, the City does not appear to fully grasp the negative impacts allowing such developments would have, nor to recognize how profoundly this decision could affect the landscape of neighborhoods across the City (see letter at www.gvshp.org/documents/Trump10-11-06.pdf ). In the final days before a decision is made, GVSHP is waging a no-holds-barred campaign across the city to make communities aware of the impact this plan would have on them, and to mobilize them in opposition.
HOW TO HELP:
WRITE TO THE CITY NOW, EVEN IF YOU HAVE ALREADY, urging them NOT to allow condo-hotels in manufacturing zones. Go to www.gvshp.org/trumplet.htm for a sample letter you can use.
SPREAD THE WORD IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD! GVSHP has special flyers for the West Village, SoHo, NoHo, Hudson Square, Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen, and Williamsburg/Greenpoint you can print out, distribute, and e-mail to alert your neighbors to the particular danger in your neighborhood. Go to www.gvshp.org/trump.htm#flyers and click on the flyer or name for your neighborhood. If you would like a special flyer for your neighborhood that is not posted, just e-mail us to ask!
Fighting to Save Historic Fire Patrol on West 3rd Street:
GVSHP has asked the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission to landmark the New York Board of Fire Underwriters Fire Patrol House #2 at 84 West 3rd Street in the South Village (see www.gvshp.org/documents/Firepatrollet.pdf ). The Fire Patrol, which is not the NY Fire Department, is an incredibly historic 200 year old institution with roots going back to Benjamin Franklin, and which predates the establishment of municipal fire departments. Nearly every city in the United States once had one, but New York City has the only such remaining patrol, and only three patrol houses remain in New York.
GVSHP became aware that the West 3rd Street fire patrol house was endangered this summer due to plans by the Board of Fire Underwriters to shutter the institution. It seems the Board is interested in cashing on these three remaining lucrative pieces of real estate, and thus intends to sell off the houses for development. GVSHP not only asked the City to consider landmark designation of the handsome West 3rd Street building, but brought the danger to the Chelsea fire patrol house at 240 west 30th Street to the attention of the local community board, which has joined us in advocating for its preservation (see www.gvshp.org/documents/FirePatrolHouse.pdf ).
The Board has announced its intention to end funding for the fire patrols on October 15th and shut their doors, after which point presumably the buildings will be sold off. Thus time is of the essence if we are to get the City to save these wonderful historic structures.
HOW TO HELP:
WRITE TO THE CITY NOW URGING THEM TO LANDMARK FIRE PATROL HOUSE #2 IN GREENWICH VILLAGE. Go to www.gvshp.org/firepatrollet.htm for a sample letter you can use.
Variance Hearing for 122 Greenwich Avenue Set for October 17th:
The developers of 122 Greenwich Avenue, the undulating glass apartment building planned for the corner of Greenwich Avenue, 13th Street, and 8th Avenue (see www.gvshp.org/122GrAv.htm ), will appear before the Board of Standards and Appeals on October 17th to request a variance to allow them to make the planned development slightly larger and taller than the zoning for the site allows. GVSHP opposed the design for the building as woefully inappropriate for the Greenwich Village Historic District (see www.gvshp.org/122GrAvtestber.htm ), and has opposed the variance as an inappropriate increase in the size and height of an unwanted design, lacking in any rationale or justification.
HOW TO HELP:
WRITE TO THE BOARD OF STANDARDS AND APPEALS URGING THEM TO REJECT THE VARIANCE; go to www.gvshp.org/GrAveapplet.htm for sample letters you can use.
TESTIFY AT THE BSA HEARING ON OCTOBER 17. The hearing is at the BSA hearing room, 40 Rector Street (btw. West and Washington Streets), 6th fl. Because the item is #21 out of 22 on the agenda, the hearing time is only estimated at 3 pm or later. Use the sample letters at www.gvshp.org/GrAveapplet.htm as sample testimony. If you plan to attend, please e-mail us to let us know.