Opposition Grows To Trump's 45-Story “Trojan Horse” Hotel
 M1 Zones Under Attack from Trump Plan
Trump ‘Condo-Hotel’ Opposition Grows: More than 125 people turned out last night to show opposition to Donald Trump’s proposed 45-story ‘condo-hotel’ at Spring and Varick Streets at a public hearing requested by GVSHP at Community Board #2’s Zoning Committee. At the hearing, GVSHP submitted evidence substantiating why Trump’s scheme would be an illegal circumvention of the law, and how it would not only strip away zoning protections against new residential development in its immediate vicinity, but would open the door to similar illegal development in manufacturing zones throughout our neighborhoods (such as the Meatpacking District, SoHo, NoHo, and the Far West Village south of Morton Street) and throughout the City (See M1 Map for more information). GVSHP also presented a growing list of elected officials and neighborhood and business groups from across the city who have joined in urging the City NOT to grant Trump permits for his development, calling it a violation of the law. Supporters include ity Council Zoning Subcommittee Chair Tony Avella of Queens, State Senator Tom Duane, the Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation, the NY Industrial Retention Network, the Pratt Center for Community Development, and many others.
Thus far, the City has refrained from issuing permits to Trump, noting that the presence of kitchenettes in his plans indicates residential use, which is illegal in this manufacturing zone. This is a positive sign, but GVSHP has urged the City NOT to issue permits for the development EVEN IF THE KITHCENETTES ARE REMOVED. GVSHP has contended that the very concept of the “condo-hotel” is a violation of the zoning and should not be allowed. After initially approving a similar building in 2003 which also violated the zoning, GVSHP and a similar citywide coalition was able to get the City to reject those permits and stop that project.
However, in an effort not to simply allow a 45-story development that is a legal hotel, GVSHP also asked the Community Board to carefully examine all other elements of Trump’s plans to see if there were any other violations of the law. GVSHP also asked the Community Board to consider proposing zoning changes for the area, as the current zoning does allow high-rise commercial developments with almost no height restrictions.
The Community Board’s Zoning Committee passed a unanimous resolution calling upon the City to reject Trump’s permit applications based upon their zoning violations, and communicating to the City the community’s opposition to the project. The hearing generated considerable favorable media coverage about the controversy, including on NY 1, in Metro NY, and in the NY Observer.
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