Horatio Street Blog » Zoning

BSA HEARING: NYU-Mega Dorm Air Rights – Critical Precedent-Setting Case re: Overdevelopment & Enforcement of Zoning

Horatio Street Blogger — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 19:26:31 +0000

120 East 12th street is a bit beyond our normal purview here at the HS blog, but this case could set important precedents regarding Zoning Enforcement and Overdevelopment. As usual, Andrew Berman of GVSHP is on the ball tracking story and letting us know how to help:

“A 26-story dorm is being built at 120 East 12th Street for NYU. The developer of the dorm purchased air rights from the neighboring Post Office with the intention of increasing the size of the planned development by about 65%. While air rights transfers from neighboring properties are legal under New York City zoning regulations, this case is special. The air rights come from the Post Office, a federal agency which is NOT subject to NYC zoning regulations or NYC law. Therefore GVSHP and neighbors argue the air rights transfer should NOT be authorized by the City, because the City has no power to enforce its terms. The Post Office could “sell” their air rights and then build on their site again in the future using the air rights they have supposedly sold off, and the City would have no power to stop them. The Post Office, NYU, and the developer would profit, but neighbors would have no recourse against this kind of “super”-over-development in their neighborhood.

HEARING ON NYU-MEGA DORM AIR RIGHTS APRIL 17: The legal challenge by neighbors to the air rights transfer for the planned 262 ft. tall NYU mega-dorm at 120 East 12th Street will be heard at the Board of Standards and Appeals on Tuesday, April 17th, at approximately 10:30 am. ANYONE WHO CARES ABOUT OVERDEVELOPMENT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND ENFORCEMENT OF ZONING PROTECTIONS IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THIS HEARING AND WRITE TO THE BSA ABOUT THIS CRITICAL, PRECEDENT-SETTING CASE.See www.gvshp.org/NYUdorm.htm for more background and information.”

Via GVSHP

GVSHP – Looking Back Over 2005

Horatio Street Blogger — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 17:17:00 +0000

GVSHP has a lot to be proud of in terms of achievements in 2005, and they’ve done a lot for our fair neighborhood, a lot of it with your help! They’ve sent out a letter thanking all of your for your work on their behalf, and for anyone who wishes they could have done more, or wants to send them a thank you back – they are happily accepting donations here.

Here’s a blurb about their 2005 accomplishments:

We brought the long-held dream of preserving the Greenwich Village waterfront one giant step closer to reality, securing the first-ever downzoning of the Far West Village, and securing a commitment by the City to extend landmark district protections to the area for the first time ever! We got landmark status for two more federal-era (1790-1835) houses, helped beat back a plan for a giant ‘trojan’ dorm in the East Village, and exposed plans by the Post Office to sell off their air rights for high-rise development throughout Manhattan without going through appropriate historic preservation review. And our educational programs for children and adults continued to expand their breadth and range, reaching more people and covering more topics than ever before.

Thank you Greenwich Village Society for Historical Preservation for everything you’ve done to help us preserve our neighborhood!

oh, cute free t-shirt bribe to help the hi-line (hello, win-win)

Horatio Street Blogger — Sat, 11 Jun 2005 21:03:00 +0000

Free (utterly adorable, limited-edition)FHL T-shirts for those who attend the June 15 City Council hearing where the High Line project will face its most important public hearing to date. Just by showing up, you will play an essential role in the creation of a great new public open space that will benefit New York City for generations to come.

Wednesday, June 15, 9:30am
Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises, City Hall
(Subway: C, E, to Chambers/WTC; 1,2, to Park Place; 6, N, R to Bkln Bridge/City Hall)

Wanna learn more? Friends of the Highline website

Wanna help more? Sign up to speak.

Wanna do it the armchair activist way? Send a letter.

Berman’s Editorial printed – Far West Village one-step closer to safety?

Horatio Street Blogger — Mon, 06 Jun 2005 21:42:00 +0000

Read Berman’s editorial. The man covers it all.

Far West Village Downzoning – Urgent Alert!

Horatio Street Blogger — Fri, 03 Jun 2005 20:48:00 +0000

GVSHP has sent out an URGENT!! ALERT!! regarding the Far West Village Downzoning Meeting:

LOCATION SET FOR FAR WEST VILLAGE DOWNZONING MEETING ON JUNE 9, BUT GVSHP FEARS CITY MAY BE HEDGING ON COMMITMENT TO PROTECT NEIGHBORHOOD

The first public briefing on the City’s plan to downzone the Far West Village has been set for Thursday, June 9, at 6:30 pm, at the NYU Silver Bldg., 32 Waverly Place (east of Washington Square), Rm. 703. GVSHP STRONGLY URGES YOU TO ATTEND THIS HEARING.

GVSHP IS VERY CONCERNED THAT THE CITY MAY BE HEDGING ON ITS COMMITMENT TO TRULY PROTECT THE FAR WEST VILLAGE THROUGH DOWNZONING AND LANDMARKING MEASURES. In spite of public promises by Mayor Bloomberg, City Planning Chair Amanda Burden, and Landmarks Preservation Commission Chair Robert Tierney, recent information indicates that the City’s downzoning and landmarking plans may have large gaps and carve-outs for developers (see Villarger Article 1 and Villager Article 2).

Let the City know that we expect COMPREHENSIVE DOWNZONING AND LANDMARKING PROTECTIONS for the Far West Village, TRULY PROTECTING THE HISTORY, SCALE, AND CHARACTER OF THIS ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT AWAY — AND THAT WE’LL SETTLE FOR NOTHING LESS!

For more info (and a cute printable flyer), click here.