At its full board meeting last Thursday night, Community Board 2 voted unanimously to oppose the massive development planned for Gansevoort Street. This follows upon the CB 2 Landmarks Committee hearing on October 15 at which over 100 people attended to show their opposition to the project, and not a single person expressed support.
The CB 2 resolution spells out in detail the reasons that this proposal would have a disastrous impact on the character of the Gansevoort Market Historic District, and should be read in full. Here are some highlights:
The proposed project alters the very essence and distinct characteristics that deemed this district historic and worth preserving by designation. It alters the mass, scale and architectural details that are particular to this street and that represent the meatpacking district so well that it graces the cover of the LPC’s report…
The demolition of some buildings and the gigantic enlargement of the other buildings is overwhelming – not deferential and subservient in its impact on the historic architecture of the row, the streetscape, and the views from elsewhere in the district and beyond.
Taken together, Buildings 60-68 and 70-74 overwhelm the row; completely erasing any feeling of the important low rise, horizontal unity and the architectural treatment of the two lower stories of both buildings…
The proposal raises the profile of the new buildings to elevations (98 feet, 120 feet, 52’-5” feet including mechanicals) which obliterate any reference to the designated row as it now exists, almost perfectly preserved for 75 years…
There is nearly universal opposition from the community with statements against the application from Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation and from an ad hoc committee – “Save Gansevoort”, individual members of the community who attended the meeting, and written statements from members of the community and docents for the High Line – together registering approximately 400 oppositions to the application.
The full text of the resolution can be read here.
The Community Board resolution is purely advisory; the actual decision will be made by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. The LPC hearing will be on November 10th at 1 Centre Street (at Chambers Street), 9th Floor. It will take place during the day; the time will be released a few days in advance. We need you to be there and make your opinions heard!