Important Community Board Hearings on Citywide Rezoning Plan Nov.4 & Nov. 18
Public hearings will be held on the Mayor’s plan to loosen height restrictions and allow for larger and taller development in our neighborhoods on Wednesday, November 4 for Community Board #2 (Greenwich Village, NoHo, SoHo) and Wednesday November 18 for Community Board #3 (East Village, Lower East Side). We urge you to attend to find out more and let your local Community Board and elected officials know that you oppose this proposal to weaken hard-fought-for neighborhood zoning protections. 
The plan (called ‘Zoning for Quality and Affordability') would:
- Increase by 25 feet or up to 31% the allowable height of “80/20” residential developments (80% luxury, 20% affordable) along avenues in the East Village and in the rezoning we are seeking for the University Place and Broadway corridors. The City claims that increasing the allowable height will result in more developers choosing to include 20% affordable housing, but there is no evidence to support this claim, and we believe such a change will result in little or no additional affordable housing built, but will make such developments significantly taller.
- Increase by 5-10 feet the height limits for market-rate developments we fought for and secured in the Far West Village, East Village (here and here), and parts of 14th Street, as well as ones we are seeking in the South Village and University Place/Broadway corridors. We believe this should be eliminated entirely.
- Throughout most of Greenwich Village, increase by up to 20 feet the height limits for new residential developments which existing zoning provides incentives for developers to abide by.
- Allow construction in rear yards under conditions where it is currently prohibited.
- Eliminate “sliver law” restrictions on overly tall, skinny developments if they set aside a fraction of their units for affordable or senior housing.
- Grant substantial bonuses in height and size for new luxury, market-rate developments for including just a small fraction of units set aside as “senior affordable housing.”
This plan would have a profound effect upon our neighborhoods, encouraging more out-of-scale new development.
HOW TO HELP:
- Write to City officials NOW expressing your opposition to the plan > >
- Attend the Community Board #2 public hearing this Wednesday, November 4 at 6:30 pm at the NYU Silver Building, 32 Waverly Place (Washington Sq. E.), rm. 206
- Attend the Community Board #3 public hearing on Wednesday November 18 at 6:30 pm at Project Renewal Kenton Hall, 333 Bowery (2nd/3rd St.)
Next: 11/09/15
Previous: 10/23/15
|
