Land Use Application at 730 Broadway (Waverly Place)
The following application has broad potential implications for development in our neighborhoods and is making its way through the public review process, starting with review by Community Board #2.
730 Broadway (Waverly Place): NYU is seeking a zoning variance to turn most of this building into labs and academic space (application HERE). The special zoning for NoHo and SoHo prohibit these uses, and keeps NYU from expanding in these areas. The proposed new labs will also require adding a 4-story mechanical addition atop the building, located in the NoHo Historic District. In NYU's 2031 expansion plan, the university failed to reveal that it would seek zoning variances or a 4-story addition on this site. NYU also claimed that its planned new construction on Bleecker and Mercer Streets would house new physics labs, which it now appears would go in this building. Several NYU faculty testified against this variance at the CB 2 Land Use Committee. GVSHP opposes this variance, and the Board’s Land Use Committee also voted to recommend denial.
This item will be heard and voted on by the full Community Board Thursday night beginning at 6 pm (details HERE), with further public hearings by the City in the new year (dates TBD) before final decisions are made.
Next: 01/07/13
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