Pier 40/St. John's Mega-Development Plan Moving Ahead WITHOUT Neighborhood Protections; Hearing May 24th

The City is moving ahead with a proposal to upzone and allow a massive development on the 3-block St. John’s Terminal site (Houston and West Streets) WITHOUT any provisions for landmark or zoning protections for vulnerable nearby areas like the South Village, or any limits on future air rights transfers from Pier 40 that would continue to allow increased development in our neighborhood.

GVSHP and many in the community have called upon the City to pair any development plan for this site with long-called-for landmark or zoning protections for the nearby South Village, and to account for and restrict future air rights transfers from Pier 40.  The proposed 2 million square foot, five building development (six times the size of the nearby Trump SoHo) will be 70% larger than what current zoning for the site allows, and will utilize a transfer of “air rights” from the Hudson River Park made possible by the State Legislature in 2013.  Without the limits we are calling for, this approval will continue to increase development pressure upon the unprotected residential South Village neighborhood south of Houston Street, and would continue to allow for future air rights transfers enabling more oversized waterfront developments in the future.

How To Help:

• Write to City and State Officials TODAY opposing the plan UNLESS protections for the neighboring South Village and limits on future air rights transfers are included > >
• Testify at the Community Board #2 Public Hearing and urge them to OPPOSE the plan UNLESS protections for the neighboring South Village and limits on future air rights transfers are included – Tuesday, May 24 at 6:30 pm at the Scholastic Auditorium, basement of 557 Broadway (south of Prince St.)