The City Council will be holding its only hearing on Aurora Capital’s application to amend the Gansevoort restrictive declaration this coming Wednesday. The application will be heard by the Council’s zoning sub-committee:

Wednesday, February 12, 10:00 AM
City Council Chambers
City Hall (2nd Floor)
(Note that this in the actual City Hall – the classic little building in City Hall Park – not the Municipal Building at 1 Centre Street. Entrance is on the east side of Broadway across from Warren Street.)

This hearing will be an opportunity for the City Council zoning subcommittee to consider the deal laid out in the recent Community Board 2 resolution. This deal allows for office use on the Gansevoort block in return for a package of community protections and benefits. The terms were negotiated by Council Speaker Corey Johnson’s office, Community Board 2, and Save Gansevoort.

The deal contains the following protections for the community: Aurora has agreed to prohibit all music and amplified sound on the rooftop and terrace exteriors of the block, has agreed that there will be no future increases in height of any of the existing buildings, and has agreed to allow no more than 3 full liquor licenses (none of which could be in spaces adjacent to the exterior roofs/terraces) and 4 wine and beer licenses (all of which would be ancillary to some other use such as retail or office space).

In addition, Aurora has agreed to the provide the following spaces for non-profit organizations:

1. There will be a 1775 sq/ft space in the basement of 68 Gansevoort Street for the use of a non-profit community arts organization (likely theater/dance rehearsal space). This space will be rent-free.

2. There will be approximately 2000 sq/ft of space for a community arts organization at 7-11 Weehawken Street. The rent will be $25 sq/ft, with a 10% rent increase every 5 years.

3. There will be an additional 2000 sq/ft of space on the same terms for a non-profit community service organization also at 7-11 Weehawken St. The community organization would have the right to opt for an annuity or lump sum payment in lieu of taking the space.

4. No more than 50% of the total square footage of the three spaces listed above can be below grade.

We believe this deal is fair, and are grateful to Community Board 2 and to Corey Johnson’s office for all of the work they did to bring about this outcome.

More details about the community protections can be found here.  The Community Board 2 resolution passed on December 19, 2019 is here.