Posted on April 19, 2018 at 5:14 pm.
Written by brinda
Join us to hear Cooper Square Committee's information on the Commercial Lease Assistance Program and the City Council's Planning for Retail Diversity Report
CB 3 Economic Development Committee
6:30 pm WED 4/25
Houston Street Center 473 Bowery
Despite the changes we see every day, our neighborhood is still a very special place!
Please help preserve what we have.
The City Council's report expresses support for initiatives for which we have long advocated, and references EVCC's
Preserving Local, Independent Retail:
Recommendations for Formula Retail Zoning in the East Village
Several urban planning advocates have expressed strong support for implementing some form of formula retail use restrictions in New York City.
At a joint hearing of the Committees on Small Business and Zoning and Franchises, the East Village Community Coalition presented its report"Preserving Local, Independent Retail: Recommendations for Formula Retail Zoning," which calls for creation of a special permit for opening formula retail within an East Village Special Purpose District.
The report has the support of the Center for an Urban Future and the Greenwich Village Historical Society.
More Small Business Momentum
Mayor de Blasio announced he is "very interested in fighting for a vacancy fee or a vacancy tax that would penalize landlords who leave their storefronts vacant for long periods of time . . ." on WNYC as reported in The Post.
Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez reintroduced the long pending Small Business Jobs Survival Act (SBJSA).
Council Members Rafael Espinal, Jr., Margaret Chin, Carlina Rivera, and Costa Constantinides are sponsors.
Help ensure these vital initiatives reach fruition as soon as possible and with all their strength intact.
Support the Small Business Jobs Survival Act:
send GVSHP's letter today!
Thanks for all you do.
Posted on April 3, 2018 at 5:03 pm.
Please comment on LPC Rules Changes!
There is still time to comment on LPC rules changes.
Public notice and the opportunity to comment are essential to good government.
Sign on to GVSHP's letter today!
Neighbors, elected officials, Community Boards and preservationists turned out in force to voice concerns about the proposed set of changes to Landmarks Preservation Commission rules.
With no public notice of applications or decisions made, and no opportunity to review or challenge applications, these will be presented as facts to LPC Staff, who are pressed to operate beyond capacity by the sheer volume of applications in today's fast-paced market. Much to neighbors' dismay, distressed historic family homes are being bought up and renovated for quick profit.
Rear yard and rooftop additions are of particular concern. Our shared courtyards were designed to bring light and air into our apartments. The trend toward converting this essential space into rooftop decks and rear balconies, to be used by a few, negatively impacts everyone else's quality of life. Preservation is not just about how buildings look from the street: it's about how buildings function, and what they were designed to do. Decisions that affect the public should include public input!
Read the Historic District Council's comprehensive comments and testimony here.
Read CB 3 Executive Committee's resolution here.
Hear continued discussion at CB 3 Landmarks Committee meeting
Tuesday April 10 6:30p
New York State Budget Keeps the Height Cap
For the second time in two years, the State legislature sought to lift a half-century old limit on the size of residential buildings.
STATE SENATOR BRAD HOYLMAN issued a statement on the dangerous proposal to ELIMINATE HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS ON RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN NEW YORK CITY:
"I am outraged that Senate Republicans proposed needlessly eliminating height restrictions by repealing the maximum Floor Area Ratio for residential buildings in New York City . . . This repeal would be one of the most dramatic changes in zoning law in the past 50 years, and it is unconscionable to try and push it through with no debate. I opposed this last year and will continue to fight tooth and nail to prevent this irresponsible proposal from becoming a reality."
The NYS budget that passed last week will keep our height restrictions in place for now, but these ideas have a tendency to resurface when an opportunity appears. We will remain vigilant.