A great deal of advocacy work and correspondence with the City has led us to this point. After several years, in 2009 GVSHP was finally able to get the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) to begin to initiate a Demolition by Neglect lawsuit against the owner, which would force the owner to repair the building. Later that year, after an unsuccessful attempt by the City to enter the building for an interior inspection, DOB issued an Emergency Declaration that forced the owners to clean out the interior.  

This latest news is a step in the right direction, though there is still much work to be done. Stabilization of the building is just the first step in the restoration process. We have been told by the City that once the building is stabilized, the owner will be working with the LPC and DOB on further restoration. GVSHP will continue to stay on top of the situation and advocate for the expeditious return of this historic building to its former glory.

Further good news — a large video game billboard in the East Village, which had replaced a long-standing community mural, at Avenue A and East 12th Street, has now been removed. GVSHP and the East Village Community Coalition had long called upon the city to take action against the billboard which violated zoning regulations and, which some argued, violated an agreement to maintain the community mural for 10 years. Following complaints about the billboard from GVSHP and many others, and a great deal of attention from blog EV Grieve, the City inspected the site, issued several violations, and scheduled hearings on the violations. The sign was finally removed in late March. 

GVSHP regularly pursues enforcement of rules regarding the placement of billboards or other violations of buildings, zoning, or landmarks regulations. All too often these regulations are laxly enforced or not enforced at all, and often require dogged pursuit of city agencies to get action. 

If you see what you believe is an illegal billboard or other buildings, zoning, or landmarks violation, call 311, and contact GVSHP with the address, information about the violation, and ideally a picture. If we confirm that it is to our understanding in violation of these rules, we will help pursue getting the city to inspect the site and enforce the law. For more information, CLICK HERE.

Community Board #2’s Arts and Institutions Committee will hold a public hearing on the NYU 2031 Plan on Monday, April 19th at 6:30 pm at P.S. 41, 116 West 11th Street (6th/7th Avenues). This will be an opportunity to learn more about NYU’s 20-year expansion plan and to provide feedback to both the university and the Community Board.  NYU’s Open House where they will, for the first time, make a public presentation of their 2031 Plan, will take place on Wednesday, April 14th from 5:30 to 8 pm at the NYU Kimmel Center, Washington Square South and LaGuardia Place.

NYU’s expansion plan includes the addition of 3 million square feet of space to the Village and immediate surrounding area over the next 20 years — roughly double their rate of growth over the last several decades and the equivalent of seventeen more of their recently completed 26-story dorms on East 12th Street (now the tallest building in the East Village), or four and a half of the Jacob Javits Convention Center (learn more HERE).

Many of NYU’s development plans in the Village and surrounding area cannot proceed without public approvals by entities including the City Council, the City Planning Commission, the Landmarks Preservation Commission, and the Borough President. Most would require lifting existing zoning restrictions. This gives the public an opportunity to have an impact upon any of NYU’s plans and a say in whether or not they should be approved.