DEMOLITION AND DEVELOPMENT PLANS
SPEED UP IN SOUTH VILLAGE
AS CITY COUNCIL MOVES CLOSER TO
REZONING DECISION
Following last week’s approval by the City Planning Commission of the proposed Hudson Square rezoning, demolition and development plans in the adjacent South Village are speeding up. This will likely accelerate if the City Council approves the Hudson Square rezoning WITHOUT long-promised landmark protections for the South Village. GVSHP and allied groups have urged her Speaker Quinn and fellow Councilmembers NOT TO do so.
Here is the status of just a few of the planned developments in the South Village:
 Children’s Aid Society, 209-221 Sullivan Street (West 3rd/Bleecker) — Plans have been filed to demolish the three story building at 209 Sullivan Street and replace it with a 7-story residential building. Interior work has begun on the 1891 Calvert Vaux-designed building at 221 Sullivan Street, but the ultimate plans for the building are not clear. The developer has previously indicated this building will be integrated into the new development, but without landmark protections this is not guaranteed. Zoning could allow a 16-story building on the former campus. Rumors have circulated that NYU will be involved in the new development, but thus far there are no indications this is so.
 73 Sullivan (Spring/Broome) — Permits have been filed to demolish this one-story building surrounded by early 19th century rowhouses and low-rise tenements. Construction permits have not been filed yet, so we do not know what is planned, but under existing zoning an 8 to 14 story building is possible on this site.
 178 Bleecker Street (MacDougal/Sullivan)
This 1861 rowhouse was demolished in 2009, shattering the harmonious row of houses topped by artists’ studios covering this entire blockfront for more than 150 years. GVSHP has argued that zoning rules should limit new development on the site to no more than 60 feet in height, roughly the height of its neighbors, but the City has been unwilling to agree. Development plans remain unclear as the owner has filed plans for both a 6 and a 9 story building on the site. Activity on the site in recent weeks indicates work may proceed soon.
 78 Sullivan Street (Sixth Avenue/Broome) — Developers have filed plans to construct an 18-story hotel on this site, facing an almost entirely intact 19th century streetscape across narrow Sullivan Street. While there have been no signs of activity on the site for some time, this could change at any time, and current zoning and lack of landmark protections could allow the planned development.
180 Sixth Avenue (Vandam Street) — Plans have advanced for a 14-story residential high-rise on this site, formerly occupied by several low-rise 19th century structures which were demolished, utilizing air rights from the site to the south.
 186 Spring Street — After the City refused to landmark this nearly 200 year old house (part of an intact row of three), the developer quickly razed it to the ground. Work on the eight story building slated to replace 186 and neighboring 182 Spring Street have been delayed due to a stop work order for illegal work.
The City Council’s public hearing on the proposed Hudson Square Rezoning is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, February 12th. This will be our FINAL CHANCE to speak up on the impact the rezoning will have on the South Village. Please circle the date on your calendar, and we will let you know when the date, time, and location of the hearing have been set.
You can also read The Villager newspaper’s editorial “Landmark, Then Rezone” HERE.
Next: 02/04/13
Previous: 01/23/13
|
