DON’T TURN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD INTO SILICON ALLEY!
Rally + Demonstration Wed. 11/15
5:30pm at 3rd Avenue & St. Marks Place
A $150 mil. deal has just been signed for a “boutique office building” to rise at 3rd Avenue and St. Mark’s Place. Three tech-related office developments are planned on Broadway between 11th and 13th Streets, 300 feet tall or higher. Huge luxury condo high-rises and tech offices are moving in on University Place. And three modest walk-up apartment buildings with scores of long term and affordable housing units were demolished on 11th Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues to make way for a 313-room hotel with multiple bars. And more is coming!
(top l. to bottom r.) Low-rise buildings on St. Marks & 3rd Avenue to be replaced by boutique office bldg..; one office plan for 799 B’way & 11th St.; original plan for office tower at 827-831 B’way; High-rise condo rising at Univ. Pl. & 12th S.; Office and condo tower rising at B’way and 12th St.; Five walk-up apartment bldgs.. demolished to make way for 13-story, 313 room hotel on E. 11th St.
Why is this happening? Because this area is lacking in good zoning or landmark protections that allow this kind of demolition and inappropriate development, and the tech industry sees this neighborhood as the hot new area for expansion, extending “Silicon Alley” down from Union Square and up from Astor Place. And now the Mayor and developers want approvals from the City Council for a huge new “Tech Hub” on 14th Street that will accelerate all these trends.
We’re demanding zoning and landmark protections that would preserve historic buildings, keep new development in scale, protect the residential character of this area, and promote affordable housing. But the Mayor OPPOSES this plan – read our op-ed in the Gotham Gazette here.
Read GVSHP Exec. Dir. Andrew Berman’s op-ed on the Mayor’s opposition to preserving neighborhood character and affordable housing.
We need to send a message to the Mayor that our neighborhood needs these protections – ESPECIALLY IF HE WANTS APPROVALS FOR A TECH HUB ON 14TH STREET!
Join us for the rally
next Wednesday at 5:30pm
St. Marks Place & 3rd Avenue.
Download a flyer here.
We have a very important ally in this effort. On Tuesday, Carlina Rivera won election for the City Council seat covering this area. Her outgoing predecessor, Rosie Mendez, pledged ONLY to approve the Mayor’s Tech Hub plan in the City Council IF these neighborhood protections came along with it. Carlina Rivera, who will assume that seat in January, made the same pledge during the campaign. Because of the Mayor’s adamant opposition to protecting our neighborhood, this is the ONLY way we will get zoning or landmark protections our neighborhood needs.
Thank Councilmember-elect Carlina Rivera for pledging to stand firm with the community and ONLY approving the Tech Hub plan IF protections for the surrounding community come along with it, and let her know you will support her in that fight!
Find out more at vparchive.gvshp.org/savemyneighborhood, and please share this message!
Next: 11/17/17
Previous: 11/7/17
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