Upcoming hearing on NYU mega-dorm; Suit challenges transfer that made dorm 65% larger
The legal challenge by neighbors to the air rights transfer for the planned 262 ft. tall NYU mega-dorm at 120 East 12th Street will be heard at the Board of Standards and Appeals on Tuesday, April 17th, at approximately 10:30 A.M. ANYONE WHO CARES ABOUT OVERDEVELOPMENT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND ENFORCEMENT OF ZONING PROTECTIONS IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THIS HEARING AND WRITE TO THE BSA ABOUT THIS CRITICAL, PRECEDENT-SETTING CASE.
A 26-story dorm is being built at 120 East 12th Street for NYU. The developer of the dorm purchased air rights from the neighboring Post Office with the intention of increasing the size of the planned development by about 65%. While air rights transfers from neighboring properties are legal under New York City zoning regulations, this case is special. The air rights come from the Post Office, a federal agency which is NOT subject to NYC zoning regulations or NYC law. Therefore GVSHP and neighbors argue the air rights transfer should NOT be authorized by the City, because the City has no power to enforce its terms. The Post Office could “sell” their air rights and then build on their site again in the future using the air rights they have supposedly sold off, and the City would have no power to stop them. The Post Office, NYU, and the developer would profit, but neighbors would have no recourse against this kind of “super”-over-development in their neighborhood.
HOW TO HELP:
- SEND A LETTER TO THE BOARD OF STANDARDS AND APPEALS (BSA) NOW URGING THEM TO REJECT THE AIR RIGHTS TRANSFER—CLICK HERE for a sample letter you can use.
- COME TO THE BSA HEARING APRIL 17th — you can show your opposition and testify against the air rights transfer if you wish. Go to the BSA at 40 Rector Street (btw. Washington and West Streets), 6th floor hearing room, on Tuesday, April 17th at 10:30 A.M. (time approx.; updates to follow). Bring photo ID to enter.
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