GVSHP, Neighbors, and Business Leaders Picket Hotel Gansevoort to Call for Removal of Giant Billboards
 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. [Below, restauranteur Keith McNally and Andrew Berman speak to the press during the protest against billboards being erected outside the Hotel Gansevoort.]
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. 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.
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