GVSHP has led the opposition to the variances being sought for a glass tower development at 437 West 13th Street, which would allow the building to be 55% larger than allowed by zoning, and have triple the allowable retail space. The Board of Standards and Appeals, which decides variances, has expressed a great deal of skepticism about the developer’s claim of ‘economic hardship,’ which must be proven in order to get the variances. At a recent hearing the developer trimmed the requested bulk variance from 55% to 42%, lowering the proposed height of the building from 215 ft. to 201 ft. While this is a good indication of the resistance this application is facing, GVSHP remains opposed to any variance to allow an increase in the allowable size of the development, or to increase the allowable retail space, which would significantly impact neighborhood character and traffic.
