After Community Board Vote, Chelsea Market Plan Goes to Borough President
Last week, in spite of the overwhelming public sentiment expressed at the hearing, Community Board#4 defeated a resolution supported by GVSHP, our allies in Chelsea, and citywide historic preservation organizations denying the upzoning of Chelsea Market to allow the construction of large hotel and office towers atop the historic complex. Instead, a majority of the board (with significant dissent) voted to disapprove the current plan, but to approve it IF a contribution was made to an affordable housing fund, and urged that the proposed hotel tower be converted to an office tower and other minor changes made. Both local and citywide affordable housing advocates testified AGAINST that resolution and in favor of the outright rejection we also supported.
The proposal now goes to the Borough President for his recommendation. The Borough President and the Community Board’s votes are advisory; the plan must be approved by the City Planning Commission and the City Council, whose votes will follow, in order to move ahead.
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Read more about Chelsea Market and the effort to preserve it HERE.
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