MAYOR RELEASES ‘TECH HUB’ APPLICATION WITHOUT NEIGHBORHOOD ZONING PROTECTIONS;
Write the Mayor and City Officials,
Come to Community Board Hearing
Next Wed., Feb 7. At 6:30
Today the Mayor filed his rezoning application to allow development of a large ‘Tech Hub’ at 124 E. 14th Street (east of 4th Ave.), on the current site of a P.C. Richards Store. As expected, the Mayor’s plan does NOT include necessary mitigations and protections for the surrounding predominantly residential neighborhood. Without these, the Tech Hub will accelerate the transformation of the area between Union Square and Astor Place, along University Place, Broadway, and 3rd and 4th Avenues, into an extension of ‘Silicon Alley,’ with more of the tech office high-rises, luxury condo-towers, and huge hotels we are seeing developed in this area.
(l. to r.) One version of 300 or more ft. tall office tower contemplated for 799 B’way (at 11th Street); 311-room hotel under construction on E. 11th St. btw. 3rd & 4th Aves, with multiple bars, replacing nearly one hundred units of housing; and a 285 ft. tall condo tower nearing completion at University Pl. & 12th St. This kind of development is allowed under existing zoning and will accelerate with approval of the Tech Hub if neighborhood protections are not provided.
Our only chance of getting these protections and saving this part of the Village and East Village from irreversible change with a sea of high-rise office, condo, and hotel development is if the City Council stands up to the Mayor, and insists that such protections be provided as a condition for his Tech Hub receiving approval.
The Mayor opposes protections for the surrounding area and thinks high-rise and large-scale commercial development in this area is a good idea
The Borough President says she supports protections for the surrounding neighborhood but would vote for the Tech Hub whether or not it included such protections
Councilmember Carlina Rivera has pledged to work with GVSHP and neighbors to ensure that in order for the Tech Hub to get the needed approval of her and the City Council, neighborhood protections must be included
Please also attend and speak (optional) at a critical Community Board #3 public hearing on the plan next Wednesday, February 7 at 6:30pm at the Henry Street Settlement, 301 Henry Street (btw. Grand & Montgomery Streets). Click here for a flyer.
TELL COMMUNITY BOARD #3 AND ELECTED OFFICIALS TO STAND WITH THE COMMUNITY AND DEMAND THAT THE TECH HUB BE ACCOMPANIED BY PROTECTIONS FOR THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD.
The Mayor claims the Tech Hub will benefit all New Yorkers. But not only will our neighborhoods be hurt if protections are not provided, the plan is vague at best in offering any benefits to community groups, small businesses, and average New Yorkers.
These next few weeks will be critical in determining the fate of our neighborhoods. Join us in this fight or risk losing the character of our neighborhood forever.
For more information, see vparchive.gvshp.org/savemyneighborhood.
