Trashing Gansevoort Market
Please come to Community Board #2’s monthly meeting this Thurs., Jan. 22 between 6 and 6:30 pm to testify AGAINST the variance proposed for an extra-large, 215 ft. tall high-rise with extra-large big-box retail space at 437-443 West 13th Street (at Washington Street). The development will have a 215 ft. tall windowless blank wall facing north, looming over the Gansevoort Market Historic District. For the architect’s images of the proposed development, see http://gvshp.org/documents/437W13revised.pdf. Community Board #2’s Zoning Committee voted to APPROVE the developer’s variance requests (with some reduction in the additional bulk request), so it is ESPECIALLY important that we have a large turnout on Thursday to show opposition. APPROVAL OF THESE VARIANCES WILL NOT ONLY LEAD TO A MUCH LARGER BUILDING WITH MUCH BIGGER RETAIL SPACE THAN NORMALLY ALLOWED IN THIS AREA, BUT COULD EASILY SET PRECEDENTS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS AS WELL. The Community Board’s final decision is considered by the Board of Standards and Appeals (which decides the variances) to represent the views of the broader community, so it is critical that we push to have our concerns heard and reflected. HOW TO HELP:
- Come to Community Board #2’s full board meeting this Thursday Jan. 22 between 6 and 6:30 pm at St. Vincent’s Cronin Auditorium, 170 W. 12th Street (6th/7th Ave.), 10th fl., to sign up to testify during the public session. The earlier you sign up the earlier you SHOULD be called to speak (it is possible you may not be called to speak until after 6:30 pm).
- You will probably be given a maximum of 2 minutes to speak, so keep it brief (longer comments can be submitted in writing). Focus on your concerns about the inappropriateness of the proposed development, its impact on the surrounding neighborhood, and why allowing the developer to build larger and with much bigger retail space than normally allowed is NOT appropriate. Feel free to use elements of GVSHP’s testimony to the CB 2 Zoning Committee, or the points in this e-mail.
- We will also provide stickers for you to wear so that the Community Board can see that you are there to oppose.
- If you cannot come to the meeting on the 22nd, you can e-mail comments to Community Board #2 at [email protected], but PLEASE try to come if at all possible.
BACKGROUND —
- 437 West 13th Street is a low-rise Art Deco Meat market building which was in GVSHP’s proposed Gansevoort Market Historic District and which was originally included by the City in the proposed Gansevoort Market Historic District (inclusion in the historic district would have prevented demolition). But the building was removed from the proposed landmark district after heavy lobbying by the owner/developer.
- 437-443 West 13th Street ARE included in the Gansevoort Market State and National Register Historic Districts, and are considered important, ‘contributing‘ pieces of this district. This affords the developer tax breaks and grant opportunities for keeping and re-using the buildings, but these incentives are voluntary.
- The developer originally proposed a 67% increase in the allowable size of the building, and after strong objections from GVSHP reduced the increase they are asking for to 55%. GVSHP objects to ANY increase in size above the generous as-of-right allowance under the zoning. The Community Board’s Zoning Committee voted to support a 27% increase in size of the development.
- The developer is also seeking a variance allowing a 3-story retail space at the base of the building, MUCH larger than what the zoning allows in this neighborhood. We fear that this will help shift the neighborhood from an area of small stores/restaurants/galleries to one of large mall-like stores.