PRESERVATION UPDATE
from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
March 18, 2009
Supporters of the City Council’s Intro. 623, which would for the first time allow billboards on sidewalk sheds (scaffoldings), continue to argue for the the bill’s passage, claiming that tough economic times call for measures like this which will generate revenue for the City through a licensing fee mechanism. What this argument neglects to mention is that the proliferation of sidewalk sheds which the bill encourages will also have a devastating impact upon small businesses, which are particularly vulnerable in the current economic climate. An op-ed by GVSHP was recently published in The Villager newspaper and Chelsea Now to argue this point. The damage such a measure could do to small businesses, as well as the recent downturn in the market for billboards in New York, belies supporters’ claims that Intro. 623 will actually help the cash-strapped city.
In spite of this, a majority of members of the City Council are currently sponsors of Intro. 623, and a vote on the bill could come any day.
HOW TO HELP
To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, CLICK HERE.
PRESERVATION UPDATE
from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
February 19, 2009
www.gvshp.org
Click map to enlarge.
GVSHP has expressed serious concerns about Intro. 623, a City Council bill which would for the first time ever legalize billboards on sidewalk sheds (scaffolds) in parts of the city, including our neighborhoods. Proponents of the bill have argued that it would exempt residential and historic neighborhoods.
To shed light on this issue, GVSHP has performed an analysis of which areas would be covered by the provisions of Intro. 623, i.e. where it would allow billboards to cover sidewalk sheds (see red areas in map at left). As you can see, much of our area is NOT exempted from the bill's effects. We argue the bill would dramatically increase the presence and duration of both advertising and sidewalk sheds in our neighborhood.
HOW TO HELP
from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
February 5, 2009
To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, CLICK HERE.
PRESERVATION UPDATE
from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
December 8, 2008
Illegal Billboard Update
GVSHP continues to fight against the proliferation of illegal billboards throughout Greenwich Village. Recently, a number of billboards targeted by GVSHP have been removed, including those located at 91 East 7th Street (at 1st Avenue), which GVSHP had been actively pushing for removal of since March 2007. As of November 2008, the billboard is finally gone and the owner has been fined by the Environmental Control Board for his illegal activities.
Additionally, GVSHP successfully argued for the city to act swiftly to remove billboards at the following locations: 127-135 Fourth Avenue (East 9th/10th Street), 145 Fourth Avenue, 807 Washington Street at Gansevoort Street, and 55 Bleecker Street at Lafayette.
Despite this progress, there are still many illegal billboards throughout our neighborhoods which GVSHP continues to work to get removed.
If you see a billboard that you believe is illegal, report it to 311. Give as much information as possible (including a specific address) to 311 and get a complaint number. Let us know your complaint number and we will follow-up with city officials and keep on top of the illegal billboard you have reported. Pictures are particularly helpful in the process and can really speed things up so, if possible, please send us a picture of the billboard along with your complaint number and the street address.
To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, CLICK HERE.
from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
November 19, 2007
GANSEVOORT MARKET UPDATE
Billboards – Two Down, Many to Go
To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, CLICK HERE.
from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
October 12, 2007
MEATPACKING DISTRICT BILLBOARD DISAPPROVED
GVSHP continues to fight illegal billboards throughout Greenwich Village, the East Village, NoHo, the Meatpacking District, and Hudson Square (see www.gvshp.org/documents/DOBBillboardLetterOct2007.pdf and below). In one small victory, this Tuesday the Landmarks Preservation Commission agreed with GVSHP and denied a request by the owner of an illegal billboard at 675 Hudson Street in the Meatpacking District to legalize the billboard (the "Little Flatiron Building" -- see www.gvshp.org/675HudsonBillboard.htm). While the LPC denied the request to legalize the south-facing billboard, the Department of Buildings granted permission for the north-facing billboard on the building before landmark designation took effect in 2003. However, GVSHP has discovered that the even the north-facing billboard violates zoning regulations, and has urged the Department of Buildings to revoke its permits and force its removal.
To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, CLICK HERE.
PRESERVATION UPDATE
from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
October 4, 2007
Please see Metro NY's story on GVSHP's work around, and frustration with, the proliferation of illegal billboards in the Meatpacking District -- see www.gvshp.org/documents/MetroNY10-04-07.pdf or http://ny.metro.us/metro/local/article/A_miniTimes_Square/10216.html. Please also see www.gvshp.org/documents/DOBBillboardLetterOct2007.pdf for GVSHP's recent letter to the Department of Buildings tracking illegal billboards in our neighborhood and urging swifter enforcement action be taken.
To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, CLICK HERE.
from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
August 27, 2007
END-of-SUMMER PROGRESS REPORT ON:
ILLEGAL BILLBOARDS
As part of our ongoing efforts to identify and remove illegal billboards, GVSHP recently targeted one such sign in NoHo at 441 Lafayette Street (see www.gvshp.org/documents/images/441LafayetteStreet.JPG), reporting it to the city and requesting that violations be issued. Violations were soon issued, and we are pleased to report that the sign has now been removed.
To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, CLICK HERE.
PRESERVATION NEWS
from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
May 22, 2007
BILLBOARD BATTLES CONTINUE IN MEATPACKING DISTRICT AND EAST VILLAGE
Billboard Battles in Meatpacking District and East Village Continue: GVSHP continues to monitor illegal billboards in our neighborhood and advocate for their removal. Last week the Hotel Gansevoort erected the second of their two giant advertising signs on Hudson Street even though they did not have permission from the City to do so, and even though they had received violations from the City for similar actions in the past. GVSHP immediately reported this to the City, and through Speaker Quinn's office has requested a meeting with the Department of Buildings to discuss several outstanding concerns regarding the legality of the billboards to which the City has not yet responded. Some nearby good news, however, is that following our efforts, three 3-story high illegal billboards have finally been removed from 30 Gansevoort Street (CLICK HERE for more information), directly behind the Hotel Gansevoort.
In the East Village, while GVSHP has gotten the City to issue violations against several illegal billboards, many owners have simply ignored the violations or removed the billboards temporarily only to put them up again days later. GVSHP has been closely monitoring these signs and reporting such repeat violations to the City, in order to get the signs removed (CLICK HERE for more information).
HOW TO HELP:
To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, CLICK HERE.
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PRESERVATION ALERT
from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
April 20, 2007
"SHAME ON THE HOTEL GANSEVOORT" CAMPAIGN BEGINS
"SHAME ON THE HOTEL GANSEVOORT" CAMPAIGN BEGINS: GVSHP continues to work with a coalition of West Village and Meatpacking District merchants, as well as residents and elected officials, in our fight to get the Hotel Gansevoort to remove their 8-story high billboards from Hudson Street. The latest weapon: a "Shame on the Hotel Gansevoort" poster campaign launched yesterday, spearheaded by Pastis-owner Keith McNally. These posters, being distributed to merchants and residents throughout the Meatpacking District and surrounding neighborhood, urge customers and passersby to tell the Hotel Gansevoort to take down the billboards or risk losing their patronage.
PLEASE SUPPORT THOSE BUSINESSES WHICH SUPPORT THIS CAMPAIGN! The Hotel Gansevoort has been unable to erect one of its two billboards because we were able to show the City that it violated zoning regulations by facing Hudson Street at less than the legally-required 90 degree angle. We have called upon the Hotel Gansevoort to take down the billboards rather than trying to correct them. We also continue to pursue additional bases upon which we believe the signs violate zoning requirements in order to force their removal (CLICK HERE for letter).
HOW TO HELP:
To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, CLICK HERE.
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PRESERVATION ALERT
from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
April 13, 2007
GVSHP BATTLES EAST VILLAGE BILLBOARD PROLIFERATION
GVSHP BATTLES EAST VILLAGE BILLBOARD PROLIFERATION: Illegal billboards have been proliferating in the East Village, and GVSHP has been leading the charge to get rid of them. GVSHP recently surveyed the entire East Village to identify all illegal billboards and report them to the City and seek their removal. GVSHP particularly targeted two 4-story high billboards on 7th Street and Avenue B overlooking Tompkins Square Park, resulting in several violations by the City. CLICK HERE for letter to city.
HOW TO HELP:
To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, CLICK HERE.
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BREAKING NEWS
from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
March 23, 2007
CITY AGREES THAT HOTEL GANSEVOORT BILLBOARDS ARE IN VIOLATION OF ZONING REGULATIONS
*Choice Now Up to Hotel Owner to Alter Signs or Remove Them
*City Still Examining Additional GVSHP Claims of Violations
*Violations Served Against Several Other Billboards in Area
CITY FINDS HOTEL GANSEVOORT BILLBOARDS IN VIOLATION: After months of effort by GVSHP, local merchants, community groups, and elected officials, the City notified GVSHP that they agreed with our contention that the Hotel Gansevoort's billboards were in violation of zoning regulations by virtue of facing Hudson Street at less than the required 90 degree angle. Hotel Gansevoort owner Michael Achenbaum now has the choice of attempting to alter the signs to meet the requirements, or removing them. GVSHP has reached out to Mr. Achenbaum to urge him to use this as an opportunity to remove the signs, particularly given his prior statements that he recognized that erecting these billboards was a mistake, and if given the opportunity to go back and remove them, he would. Now he has a chance to do so.
While the City has ruled in favor of GVSHP's contention that the signs violate the zoning requirement that they face Hudson Street at a greater than 90 degree angle, they still have not yet made a final determination regarding GVSHP's other two contentions regarding the signs violating zoning rules. If the City were to agree with GVSHP's other two contentions, it would be virtually impossible for at least one of the signs to remain at this location, at least in its current form. For more information, CLICK HERE and HERE.
GVSHP was joined by scores of protestors on Wednesday night outside the Hotel Gansevoort calling for the billboards to be taken down (CLICK HERE); this was the third protest GVSHP has held outside the Hotel. More than a dozen area restaurants, including Pastis, Balthazar, Morandi, 5 Ninth, Cafe Cluny, the Inn at Little West 12th Street, Spice Market, the Waverly Inn, the Spotted Pig, Lotus, and Restaurant Florent have maintained a boycott of the Hotel over their decision to keep the signs up.
The City also notified us that they have begun to serve violations against several other illegal billboards in the vicinity which GVSHP reported to them; one has already been removed.
HOW TO HELP:
To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, CLICK HERE.
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PRESERVATION ALERT
from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
March 5, 2007
CITY TAKES ACTION AGAINST ILLEGAL BILLBOARDS IN MEATPACKING DISTRICT TARGETED BY GVSHP
*Four Billboards Cited by City, Hotel Gansevoort Billboards Still Under Investigation
PROGRESS ON ILLEGAL MEATPACKING DISTRICT BILLBOARDS: Good news -- the City has finally begun to take enforcement action against illegal billboards in the Meatpacking District targeted and reported by GVSHP. GVSHP has been fighting the proliferation of illegal billboards in the Meatpacking District and elsewhere in our neighborhood for years (CLICK HERE and HERE for more information), and after a long moratorium on action by the City our efforts seem to finally be bearing fruit. At our urging, the Department of Buildings (DOB) has taken action against billboards at 22 Little West 12th Street (a billboard which DOB originally ruled legal, but based upon information provided by GVSHP has now found to be improperly permitted), 30 Gansevoort Street, 350 West 14th Street, and 807 Washington Street. Additionally, DOB will be taking action against the illegal south-facing billboard at 675 Hudson Street (CLICK HERE for pictures of some of the billboards). This is significant progress, though there is still much more to be done. Additionally, DOB has told GVSHP that as of today they are STILL investigating our contentions regarding the potential illegality of the Hotel Gansevoort's mega-billboards on Hudson Street and have not yet come to a conclusion. Regardless of whether or not the billboards turn out to be legal, GVSHP continues to work with a coalition of neighborhood and business leaders and elected officials to try to convince the Hotel Gansevoort and Van Wagner sign company to remove the billboards. Several restaurants have recently joined Pastis and 5 Ninth in refusing to accept reservations from the Hotel until they take down the billboards. GVSHP and State Senator Tom Duane have written to Van Wagner to urge that they remove the billboards, and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn has recently joined GVSHP, Duane, and Assemblymember Deborah Glick in doing the same to the Hotel.
To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, CLICK HERE.
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GVSHP, neighbors, and local business owners picketed outside the Hotel Gansevoort to call for the removal of the 8-story high billboards on February 22nd.
Protesters call for the removal of an 8-story framework for illuminated billboards outside the Hotel Gansevoort.
Restauranteur Keith McNally and Andrew Berman speak to the press during the protest against billboards being erected outside the Hotel Gansevoort.
from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
February 23, 2007
GVSHP, NEIGHBORS, & BUSINESS LEADERS PICKET HOTEL GANSEVOORT TO CALL FOR REMOVAL OF GIANT BILLBOARDS
* City Still Reviewing Signs' Legality
*Duane and Glick Urge Hotel to Take Billboards Down
* GVSHP Calls On Billboard Company To Drop Signs
Hotel Picket: GVSHP, neighbors and business leaders picketed outside the Hotel Gansevoort yesterday, again calling upon the Hotel to take down the 8-story high billboards they erected on Hudson Street (see photos above). Among the local business leaders picketing were Keith McNally, owner of Pastis restaurant located directly across from the Hotel; McNally and the owner of nearby 5 Ninth Restaurant are refusing to accept reservations from the Hotel Gansevoort until they remove the billboards. Yesterday's picket drew the attention of AM New York , the New York Sun, NY 1, Channel 2, Channel 5, WNYC, NPR, and the Villager.
Status of the Billboards: Based upon objections raised by GVSHP, the Department of Buildings is auditing the permits for the billboards in question and has issued the Hotel a "10-Day Notice," requiring them to provide proof that the billboards meet zoning requirements or lose their permits. As of now we understand that the audit has not yet concluded.
Elected Officials Protest: State Senator Tom Duane has written to the Hotel Gansevoort urging them to remove the billboards, and to the Department of Buildings urging them to take action against all illegal billboards in the area and to investigate GVSHP's claims regarding conflicts between the billboards and zoning regulations for the site; Assemblymember Deborah Glick has written to the Hotel Gansevoort urging that they remove the billboards (CLICK HERE for letters). Senator Duane's office also participated in both yesterday's and last week's protests outside the Hotel Gansevoort.
Calling on Billboard Company: In addition to the Hotel Gansevoort itself, GVSHP has written to Van Wagner, the operator of the giant billboards, and urged them to reconsider their decision to have these billboards at this location.
HOW TO HELP:
To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, CLICK HERE.
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PRESERVATION ALERT
from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
February 12, 2007
HUNDREDS TURN OUT TO PROTEST HOTEL GANSEVOORT'S
8-STORY HIGH BILLBOARDS
*Owners Dig in their Heels on $1 Mil./Yr. Sign
*Strategy Meeting to Plan Next Steps this Wednesday at 5 pm
Billboard Protest: About 200 people -- including residents and business owners in the West Village/Meatpacking District and representatives of State Senator Tom Duane -- participated in a noisy demonstration yesterday organized by GVSHP to protest two huge new billboards erected by the Hotel Gansevoort on Hudson Street (See below for photos of the demonstration and more information on the billboards). GVSHP and demonstrators began on Hudson Street and marched to the front entrance of the Hotel, handing flyers to hotel guests and other Meat Market vistors urging them to tell the hotel to take down the billboards. The well-attended demonstration garnered attention and coverage from the New York Times, the New York Post, NY 1, New York Metro, Channels 5, 7, and 9, the Villager, and Curbed.
Status of the Billboards: The Department of Buildings continues to review information we have submitted pertaining to the billboards but unfortunately has not yet found the billboards to be in violation of zoning regulations. Hotel Gansevoort President Michael Achenbaum responded to GVSHP's letter urging him to take down the billboards by "declin(ing) your request for us to remove the signage" (CLICK HERE for letter) while Hotel Gansevoort CEO Elon Kenchington was quoted in the New York Times as saying that the billboards would bring 'warmth and light' to what is "pretty much a dead area."
Next Steps: GVSHP and neighbors have vowed to keep fighting to see this sign removed. We will have an emergency strategy meeting to decide next steps this Wednesday at 5 pm, location TBD. If you are interested in attending, please send an e-mail to RSVP and to get location. In addition to continuing to lobby the Department of Buildings and the Hotel Gansevoort, we will let you know soon about next steps to keep the pressure on.
HOW TO HELP:
To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, CLICK HERE.
GVSHP executive director Andrew Berman (left) and hundreds of demonstrators (right) rallied on Hudson Street to call for the removal of the Hotel Gansevoort's billboards.
Large billboard framework (left) and demonstrators in front of the Hotel Gansevoort (right).
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release Contact: Andrew Berman
February 11, 2007 917-533-1767
VILLAGERS PROTEST GIANT BILLBOARDS BEING ERECTED
BY HOTEL GANSEVOORT,
NEIGHBORS URGE HOTEL TO RESPECT NEIGHBORHOOD AND REMOVE SIGNS, AND URGE CITY TO REVOKE PERMTS
Patrons Asked to Tell Hotel to Take Down Billboards
Greenwich Village – The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation was joined today by hundreds of angry neighborhood residents to protest the erection of two giant billboards on Hudson Street by the Hotel Gansevoort, on the border of the Meatpacking District and Greenwich Village. The signs are 670 and 1200 sq. ft., and reach 75 feet or nearly 8 stories in height. The billboards frames have been erected but the advertising signs have not yet appeared. In response to several possible violations of signage regulations raised by GVSHP, the legality of the signs is currently under review by the City. Advertising billboards are not allowed in most of the Meatpacking District, and GVSHP has urged the City to force the removal of the illegal signs. Van Wagner, the sign company which will rent the billboards for the Hotel Gansevoort, has said that the signs will fetch more than $1,000,000 a year for the hotel.
“These mega-billboards make about as much sense here as a cobblestoned street would in Las Vegas. They will turn a beautiful historic neighborhood into something that looks like a freeway off-ramp. We call upon the Hotel Gansevoort to think about something – anything – other than the $1 million a year they will make off these signs, come to their senses, and take them down,” said Andrew Berman, Executive Director for the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation. “The Hotel Gansevoort profits in every way it can from this neighborhood – from its name to the views it enjoys over our low-rise buildings, which remain thanks to the landmark protections we fought for. Their eight-story high billboards, however, will destroy everything that remains wonderful about these neighborhoods, and turn them into backdrops for their crass self-promotion and profit,” he added.
Protestors distributed flyers to hotel patrons and other Meat Market visitors and asked them to tell the hotel to take down the billboards.
For more information and pictures of these and other illegal billboards in the Meatpacking District, see below.
-end-
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PRESERVATION ALERT
from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
February 8, 2007
BATTLE AGAINST GIANT BILLBOARDS GOING UP IN
MEATPACKING DISTRICT CONTINUES
*City Still Examining Legality of Signs -- GVSHP Continues to Push for Revocation
*Demonstration Planned for this Sunday, Feb. 11 at 11 am
City Still Examining Legality of Signs: GVSHP received a response from the Department of Buildings yesterday saying that they are STILL examining the legality of two enormous billboards planned for Hudson Street in the Village/Meatpacking District which GVSHP brought to their attention in mid-January (CLICK HERE for letter). In their letter, DOB stated that they are continuing to request additional information from the applicant, though as of yet they have not found a basis for finding the signs in violation. DOB did, however, commit to take action against several other illegal billboards in the area GVSHP had reported to them (see DOB letter HERE). GVSHP immediately sent a response to DOB raising additional issues and requesting a re-examination of the Hotel Gansevoort billboards in light of new questions we have raised. Because of the grossly inappropriate nature of the planned billboards, which will be 1200 and 672 square feet and rise to a height of 75 feet, GVSHP is examining every possible aspect of zoning and buildings regulations to try to see the permits for these signs revoked (CLICK HERE for pictures). Today, GVSHP also sent a letter to the owners and operators of the Hotel Gansevoort, urging them to drop their plan to install these giant billboards.
Demonstration Planned for this Sunday, February 11th, at 11 am Against Hotel Gansevoort Billboards: GVSHP and other opponents of these giant ads will be holding a demonstration calling upon the Hotel Gansevoort to drop their plans for the billboards and calling upon the City to ensure that if these billboards are illegal that they are removed. A large turnout will help send a strong message to the Hotel and to the City that these billboards are totally inappropriate and will destroy the character of this neighborhood. Please come, spread the word, and bring your own signs!
HOW TO HELP:
To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, CLICK HERE.
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Fighting Illegal Billboards in Our Neighborhood
GVSHP has been fighting the rapid proliferation of illegal billboards throughout the Village, the East Village, Noho, Hudson Square, and the Meatpacking District. If you see what you believe is an illegal billboard in our neighborhoods, please report it and the address to 311, get a compliant number, and then report it to us as well. If you can send us a picture of the billboard at gvshp@gvshp.org, that helps a great deal. GVSHP recently reported more than a dozen illegal billboards to the City (CLICK HERE) and demanded swift enforcement action.
One of many challenges facing the Meatpacking District since GVSHP secured landmark status for most of the neighborhood in 2003 is illegal billboards. With the exception of a few which preceded landmark designation, no billboard in the Gansevoort Market Historic District (which covers roughly the eastern 3/4 of the neighborhood) is legal, since they have not received LPC approval. Even many billboards in the non-landmarked western 1/4 of the neighborhood are not legal due to zoning and buildings regulations.
GVSHP regularly monitors this neighborhood for such violations and has sent a comprehensive survey to the City and asked for vigorous enforcement against such illegal encroachments (CLICK HERE and HERE for letters to the City). Without these illegal billboards reported to the City and demands for a strong response, the Meatpacking District, with its increasing crowds and open spaces between buildings, could become a new mini-Times Square, and we are working hard to prevent this.
New illegal billboard structure going up at Hotel Gansevoort which GVSHP reported to the City and is fighting to stop -- 1/30/07
From left to right: 30 Gansevoort Street and 7 Ninth Avenue
From left to right: 22-26 Little West 12th Street and 675 Hudson Street
From left to right: 350 West 14th Street and 447 West 14th Street
