City Council Committee Approves Tech Hub
Without Comprehensive
Neighborhood Protections Councilmember Carlina Rivera
Promised to Condition Her Support
on Such Protections, But Broke Pledge
Today the City Council’s Zoning Subcommittee and Land Use Committees voted to approve the Mayor’s proposed upzoning of a publicly-owned site at 120 East 14th Street (4th Avenue) to accommodate a planned 23-story “Tech Hub,” without the neighborhood protections which by far the majority of those who testified at the Council called for.
Particularly disappointingly, Councilmember Carlina Rivera, who represents the area, voted for the rezoning, even though she publicly pledged when she ran for City Council last year that she would condition her vote for the Tech Hub on the Mayor providing such protections, as her predecessor Rosie Mendez had.
GVSHP and many of our allies have urged the Council to vote against the proposed rezoning unless the Mayor agreed to substantive protections for the surrounding neighborhoods as a component of the plan. Such zoning or landmark protections are necessary to ensure that out-of-character and out-of-scale commercial development are not further catalyzed in the surrounding communities by the Tech Hub, as has already been occurring since the announcement of the proposal.
The proposed rezoning for the Tech Hub still requires City Council approval. The full Council will vote on the rezoning on August 8th.
TO HELP:
Call Councilmember Rivera
at 212-677-1077
or 212-788-7366
