The first hearing of the legal challenge against the city's approval of the Trump SoHo 'Condo-Hotel' now under construction at Spring and Varick Streets, will take place on Wednesday, February 27th at 10 am This is a CRITICALLY IMPORTANT HEARING, and I strongly urge you to attend and support the effort to overturn approval of this 'condo-hotel' project.
While the City has done everything in its power to stall this challenge, filed by our friends at the SoHo Alliance, it is now finally getting its day in court. As you know, GVSHP, the SoHo Alliance, and a host of organizations from across the city have fought this project from the very beginning, contending that the 'condo-hotel' use violates zoning restrictions for this and other neighborhoods (unfortunately the size and height of the building are legal under the current zoning -- a situation we are also trying to change, through separate means.
Success in this legal challenge has the potential not only to affect this project, but to prevent similar projects from getting built in areas with similar zoning. This is the first 'condo-hotel' the city has ever allowed in zoning districts that prohibit residences or residential hotels, and so allowing the project to go forward -- or stopping it -- will set a far-reaching precedent. Areas with similar zoning that will be affected by the outcome of this case include the Far West Village below Morton Street, the Meatpacking District, and much of Hudson Square, SoHo, NoHo, Tribeca, the Flatiron, West Chelsea, western Hell's Kitchen, and areas of Brooklyn and Queens.
Here's what you can do to support this effort and FIGHT THE TRUMP PROJECT:
* Send a letter to the BSA supporting the appeal and urging that the city's approval of the Trump project be overturned.
* Come to the hearing on the 27th at 10 am to show support, and use the letter as the basis for your own testimony at the hearing on the 27th. Bring 10 copies with you to submit, and limit your testimony to three minutes (the maximum allowed).
* Spread the word! Pass this along to friends and neighbors, or post in your building
Please try to stick to the talking points in the sample letter; raising other issues (such as traffic, height of the building, construction safety, etc.), which are not under the jurisdiction of the BSA, will not help the cause.
To find out the latest news or more information about the Trump fight, see updates below, or call us at 212/475-9585.
We hope to see you on the 27th.
