Community Meeting on Preserving & Protecting University Place/Broadway Corridors
 Please join GVSHP for a public meeting we're hosting on Thursday, December 4th at 6pm at the Baha'i Center, 53 East 11th Street (east of University Place) about preserving the scale and character of the University Place and Broadway corridors, and protecting them from overdevelopment.
Plans have recently been announced to replace Bowlmor Lanes at University Place and 12th Street with a 23-story, 308 ft. tall residential tower -- one of the tallest buildings ever constructed in the Village (NYU's controversial "mega-dorm" erected a few years ago on 12th Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues is, by contrast, about 250 ft. tall). Sadly, this speaks to the almost total lack of landmark or zoning protections for the University Place and Broadway corridors (see MAP), where the zoning allows and encourages residential, hotel, and dorm towers even taller than the one planned for the Bowlmor site.
GVSHP has been in conversation with local elected officials and community leaders about potentially proposing and pursuing zoning changes for the area and an expansion of historic district and landmark protections. Zoning changes could reinforce the residential character of the neighborhood and limit the height, size, and scale of new development. Expanded landmark and historic district protections could help preserve existing historic buildings while requiring public hearings and approval by the Landmarks Preservation Commission for the design of any proposed changes, additions, demolition, or new construction within a designated area -- protections which most of the rest of the Village currently enjoys (see MAP). The meeting on December 4th will allow for further conversation about what such proposals might look like, what they would do, and what would be involved in pursuing them.
Anyone in interested in the future of the University Place/Broadway corridors is strongly urged to attend, to find out more and provide feedback. A flyer which you can share can be found HERE.
Next: 12/02/14
Previous: 11/04/14 |
