Workers started prepping the former P.C. Richard & Son two-story compound on 14th Street at Irving Place yesterday for demolition (thanks for the photo Pinch!) ... clearing the site for the eventual construction of the 22-story Union Square Tech Training Center (aka tech hub).
The project is being developed jointly by the city’s Economic Development Corp. and RAL. The Union Square Tech Training Center includes Civic Hall, which will offer digital skills for low-income residents, as well as market-rate retail, office space and a food hall.
[Image via Davis Brody Bond]
The hub, championed by Mayor de Blasio and initially announced in early 2017, passed through the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Process earlier in 2018, capped off by a unanimous City Council vote in August. A rezoning was required to build the the structure, which is larger than what current commercial zoning allows.
The 14th @ Irving website lists a grand opening in the fourth quarter of 2020, though that timeline is already slightly off schedule — construction was expected to start in the first quarter of this year.
The Village Preservation (GVSHP) recently called for a probe of the "sweetheart deal" that RAL Development Services, the developer of the tech hub, received here.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Behold Civic Hall, the high-tech future of Union Square — and NYC
Speaking out against a 'Silicon Alley' in this neighborhood
P.C. Richard puts up the moving signs on 14th Street; more Tech Hub debate to come
Preservationists: City schedules next public hearing on tech hub without any public notice
City Council's lone public hearing on the 14th Street tech hub is tomorrow
City Council unanimously approves tech hub; some disappointment in lack of zoning protections
The conversation continues on the now-approved tech hub for 14th Street
Report: Preservationists want probe of the tech hub deal on 14th Street
I'm sure all the scaffolding, cranes, dumpsters and heavy equipment won't interfere with transit across 14th St. during the L train work. /sarcasm
ReplyDeleteNot to mention that entire block is one long bus stop.
Lol Deblasio builds a wall on 14th ala Trump. Someone asked about the L Train shutdown and 14th and the developer said they would be able to do all work within the building footprint, lol, just another of many lies from RAL and the Mayor.
ReplyDelete