[Rendering of Civic Hall on 14th Street]
Back in February, Mayor de Blasio unveiled the city's plans for the site that P.C. Richard (and Son!) has leased the past 20-plus years at 124 E. 14th St. at Irving Place... the rendering above shows the proposed 20-floor Civic Hall — "a tech-focused work and event space" — anchoring the space. The Hall will "provide space for tech worker training, education, start-ups and convening."
Aside from Civic Hall, there are several mega projects in the works south of here along Broadway (see what's coming to the former Blatt Billiards here) and University Place (see what's coming to the former Bowlmor Lanes site here).
The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP) has been campaigning to cap building heights in the corridor between University Place and Broadway. They have an ally now in City Councilmember Rosie Mendez. Here's what she had to say about the situation to DNAinfo:
"For years, I have advocated and requested a contextual rezoning of University Place. This proposed PC Richards Silicon Alley tech hub will impact residents in the area residing in the adjacent buildings, which are currently under great pressure by developers.
"I would consider supporting the Tech Hub if, and only if, we can amend the zoning resolution to provide protections and relief to the surrounding community."
Tomorrow afternoon at 3, the GVSHP is hosting a rally and press conference on 11th Street and Broadway to discuss the proposed tech hub and zoning south of Union Square...
The tech-hub project still needs to navigate the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure process, which will require City Council approval. As DNAinfo pointed out, the council generally defers to the local council member, meaning Mendez potentially has veto power over the Civic Hall project. (In the event this carries past her term, GVSHP Executive Director Andrew Berman said that he has already reached out to the candidates running for the Mendez Council seat.)
A spokesperson for the mayor's office expressed disappointment in the preservationists' mission to leverage a zoning change.
Per DNAinfo:
"Its purpose is to provide a gateway for real New Yorkers — kids from our high schools, public housing and immigrant communities — to get training and a good paying job in tech. It is disappointing certain groups would use that project as a pawn to change unrelated zoning blocks away.”
Previously on EV Grieve:
Behold Civic Hall, the high-tech future of Union Square — and NYC (30 comments)
Everyone in the neighborhood with a brain wants this Tech Hub. Have no idea why anyone would oppose this. Let the free market work and stop fighting against development!!
ReplyDeleteLooks like the city is well on its way to become the new Atlanta.
ReplyDeleteanonymous
ReplyDeletei guess everyone is your name because everyone does not want the hub
Huh? The following have nothing to do with the Free Market:
ReplyDelete(1) Zoning
(2) A publicly subsidized (or publicly funded) Tech Hub
(3) ULURP (which deals with city land)
Rosie Mendez is right (although whether she is effectual is another matter): A Tech Hub would be good, but we don't need another Death Star.
As for unreasoning worship of the Free Market, I commend to your attention a Wall Street Journal headline from few years ago:
If the free market can't solve it, maybe it's not a problem
I'm divided about this. I don't want downtown (other than FiDi) turning into midtown, but tech companies bring good jobs and NY does have to compete with the West Coast. For some reason, tech companies are quirky and don't prefer typical business districts (i.e., midtown and fidi) like financials and corporates. It would be good for the city and a lot of people, even if not ideal for the area. Sometimes you just have to tell NIMBYs to F Off.
ReplyDeleteTell Mayor DeBlasio? Seriously. He is the worst one of all. Better to talk to the Attorney General and start an investigation on who really wants to remove the height restrictions.
ReplyDelete"Let the free market work "
ReplyDeleteOh yes, the 421-A tax exemption program is SO free market.
REBNY troll alert here, nothing to see, move along.
If you think the housing situation in the East Village is bad now, wait until hundreds or even thousands of high-paid tech people are working in the area and want housing convenient to work.
ReplyDeleteWhat specifically is being protested? Did deblasio change zoning for the area or is he planning to?
ReplyDeleteI hope that the negative views being put forward by "preservationists" may well be to assert a bargaining chip in the design and amenities of buildings that will be converted or new buildings. There is a feeling that the "character" of this part of the border area "EV /Greenwich Village" is being compromised. Many of these same people were virulently opposed to the changes in the Union Square area a decade or more ago. A city is a living organism and the efforts of the little boy with his finger in the dike won't significantly the development. How much did well meaning people change the NYU master plan? Very little. The developments being opposed are not part of a master plan, but rather a series of plans (co-ops on University Place between 12th and 13th Streets). And, as always there is the nostalgia that if only we can prevent these developments we will somehow save the EV for "affordable housing." Nothing could be further from the truth--affordable house (whatever that really means) will never return to what is ingrained in people's memories (1 week's salary for rent or maintenance). But keep on being snide about 51 Astor Place, keep on being snide about young people coming into jobs in this neighborhood. It won't change a thing. This morning I walked along Fourth Avenue and from 12th Street to 14th Street, on both sides of the avenue, I was struck by the number of "fast" or convenient food places. The sheer number must mean that the businesses along Union Square and on the side streets are bringing people into the neighborhood--and--that means jobs which is good for everyone.
ReplyDeleteBravo 12:21! Bravo.
ReplyDelete@anon 12:21
ReplyDeleteYou think a lot of fast food joints are a great addition to the neighborhood and bring jobs? You sound like someone who has lived in the city for maybe 6 months. Do you think those storefronts were vacant for 300 years before the combined Taco Bell/Pizza Hut moved in? The one thing that is not needed in manhattan is any incentive for businesses to move in; there is already ludicrous demand for retail storefronts and office space. This isn't Peoria. Also, why are you even posting if the little boy with his finger in the dyke isn't going to stop anything? Sounds more like you've imbibed from the fountainhead too much and are worried the little people are going to prevent neoliberal subsidization of private business by city coffers in buildings totally out of character with the rest of the neighborhood. You want our tax dollars to pay for a tech hub? Then you can keep the building a reasonable height.
Notice how the East Village is a sitting duck for this "tech hub" crap? Why??? Why don't they put a "tech hub" on Rivington Street, or South St. Seaport, or Bushwick?
ReplyDeleteThis neighborhood is already rotten with entitled techies who have more money than common sense or respect for others.
Send the brilliant minds somewhere else; maybe they can "elevate" another neighborhood that is more in need of snotty frat bros than we are. I believe we are over-supplied with those in the East Village already.
And what does anyone think more overpaid tech-heads will do to the pressures on rents here? Drive them up, up, up. NYC needs to find a place that needs "gentrifying" and put the tech heads and their glossy offices THERE.
Is there a reason this "tech hub" can't be built near City Hall, on or near where J&R used to be? All the advantages of being near the seat of city government AND the financial wizards who are funding tech! And none of the unnecessary destruction of our area!
ReplyDeleteGetting the paddlers off the south-side strip of 14th between Broadway and University would be a major improvement and enhance pedestrian traffic--street is always choked.
ReplyDeleteTech companies are absolutely, positively fucking worthless flavor of the month, planned obsolesence, what new useless gadget can I buy/app can I download this season garbage. These nerds drive up rents and have no regard or care for what's around them. They literally add nothing to the city save more dollars onto rent.
ReplyDeleteThe main retail component of this space will be a food court, the developer and EDC compared it to smorgasburg, little stalls with supposedly unique items. So EDC and the developers have no interest in contributing to the local economy and supporting existing local businesses who are struggling. Instead the want to create an insular community of techies. This whole concept is bad for the community and the positive components of it, like the training center will be far outweighed by the negative so . . .
ReplyDeleteI'm all for the jobs creation the hub may generate. The upscale housing though along University and Broadway is another story. This is not for workers, just the 1%. I'd like to see some zoning protections in these areas before its too late. The condo coming to Bowlmor will be a pricy beast.
ReplyDeletePaddlers on the strip? Sounds like someone's a little over-heated.
ReplyDeleteIt's true the sidewalk is too crowded. We should remove *all* the so-called "pedestrians" (who are just a bunch of scummy creeps without cars), and put in another lane of traffic.
If we can't be like a suburban office park, what kind of city are we?
JB @1:51: I've noticed on EV Grieve that whenever someone wants to attack someone's position the fall back is always "you aren't here long enough to know anything." Well, dear heart, I have been in the EV for 40+ years. The little strip of small food places are small chains, Dos Toros, for example. I am just tired of everyone believing that if we stop change--you supply whatever you think change means--that somehow rents will go down to what they once were. They are not. Affordable housing is a myth. There is no such thing in New York City anymore (again my definition of affordable housing is one week's salary for rent/maintenance). What do you think the East Village should be a hub for? What small businesses are you going to support? More bagel shops, more coffee shops?
ReplyDeleteThe building is like welfare for technies -- and explains why it is not in DeBlasio's backyard.
ReplyDeleteBut Red Hook makes better sense, espcially now with DeBlasio's $2.50 ferry and a trolley line, coming soon. (Technies love ferries and trolleys.)
fast food establishments all over the east and west village cater to students, tourists, and drunks
ReplyDeleteNYC is becoming homogenized neighborhood by neighborhood. High income, low diversity. Not good for any city. The plan for a tech strip is ill conceived and is short sited.
ReplyDelete@anon 5:06
ReplyDeleteI find it curious that you point out dos toros, which has been in existence for maybe five years, as one of your beloved small fast food joints. It's not even on 14th street. I don't get your point. All "change" is good, and can't be altered or augmented at all? There's a difference between organic gentrification and hypergentrification, which is subsidized by the government, and involves things like alterations to zoning and using tax funds to build facilities for already thriving industries. I guess you don't believe in democracy? The people should have no say in their neighborhood, only real estate developers? I simply don't understand your argument. Might was well put a highway through Washington square park, right? Change! I guess Jane Jacobs was a sinner and Robert Moses was a saint in your world. We are arguing about a very specific proposal, pointing out specific aspects of it which are out of step with the neighborhood, and your argument is just some generic point about "change". Please explain why locating this eyesore where it is proposed is a good thing.
Tech hub will be smack between two high rise NYU dorms built since 2000 and backed up against what I believe is the only new-build affordable housing in the neighborhood constructed same period on 13th Street. NYT piece below sheds some interesting light. To be clear I think tech hub in the PC Richards space is a welcome development that could attract new retail to neighborhood vacant spaces (if only one could be a bookstore!) BUT proliferation of new condos on University needs to be checked. I wish more attention had been paid when Duane Reade was allowed to expand their 10thStreet/Third Avenue space into adjacent spaces but they are at the base of a 60-year-old co-op so I'm not sure any checks would have been possible. Seems also like change is coming to the east side of Broadway from 8th Street down to 4th Street...let's have some details on that area.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/13/realestate/on-14th-street-less-grit-more-glamour.html