Another look at the incoming tech hub

Quick update on progress at the tech hub (aka Zero Irving) on 14th Street between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue.

Late last week workers started on the deck for the third level of what will be a 21-floor building...



Workers also completed installation of the sidewalk bridge along 14th Street to move pedestrians inside the building footprint ...



One full lane of 14th Street has now been blocked off outside the site for construction work. In July 2018, during a televised hearing, the reps for the developer promised that all demolition and construction work would be done within the bounds of the property. That obviously isn't happening.

The building, developed jointly by the city’s Economic Development Corp. and RAL Development Services, will feature 14 floors of market-rate office space as well as "a technology training center and incubator, co-working spaces, state-of-the-art event space, and street level food hall on the seven floors beneath," per the Zero Irving announcement issued last October.

The project, 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 — led by local Councilmember Carlina Rivera — in August 2018. A rezoning was required to build the the structure, which is larger than what current commercial zoning allows.

The approval came despite the pleas of some residents, activists, small-business owners and community groups who had long expressed concern that the rezoning necessary for the project would spur out-of-scale development on surrounding blocks.

The new building, on the former site of a P.C. Richard & Son, has a completion date for the spring of 2021, per the renderings onsite.

Previously on EV Grieve:
First sign of the tech hub — aka Zero Irving — above ground on 14th Street

First sign of the tech hub — aka Zero Irving — above ground on 14th Street

Foundation work started last August here on 14th Street at Irving Place ... at the future home of the recently rebranded tech hub.

As you can see, the structure — now known as Zero Irving — is rising above the street level ...



The building, developed jointly by the city’s Economic Development Corp. and RAL Development Services, will top out at 21 floors... featuring Civic Hall, which will offer digital skills for low-income residents, as well as market-rate retail, office space and a food hall.

RAL announced the rebranding back in October. In the news release, the developers describe this as being "in the epicenter of Midtown South."

"This is exactly what we said about this plan, and what we feared — it’s intended to transform our neighborhoods into Midtown South," Andrew Berman, executive director of Village Preservation, told Curbed in a statement back in October. "The zero in 'ZERO IRVING' represents what neighbors and the public got out of this deal, while those who donated generously to the Mayor reap 100 percent of the benefits."



In recent weeks, several EVG readers have noted that the active work site — which sees a steady stream of concrete trucks running in and out of the site — has encroached further onto 14th Street...





In July 2018, during a televised hearing, the reps for the developer promised that all demolition and construction work would be done within the bounds of the property.

The project, 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 — led by local Councilmember Carlina Rivera — in August 2018. A rezoning was required to build the the structure, which is larger than what current commercial zoning allows.

The approval came despite the pleas of some residents, activists, small-business owners and community groups who had long expressed concern that the rezoning necessary for the project would spur out-of-scale development on surrounding blocks.

These concerns have not abated.

Back in the fall, the city released its plan to add a requirement that new hotels in Greenwich Village and the East Village south of Union Square must receive a special permit from the City Planning Commission and City Council in order to be built. Critics of the plan reportedly contend that this may instead speed up the development of office buildings in the neighborhood. The City Planning Commission is expected to sign off on the plan in the weeks ahead before it moves to City Council.

The new building, on the former site of a P.C. Richard & Son, has a completion date for the spring of 2021, per the renderings onsite.

P.C. Richard is gone on 14th Street; preservationists want answers about tech-hub commitments

The former P.C. Richard and Son complex on 14th Street at Irving Place has been KO'd ...



Workers have mostly cleared the site for the eventual construction of the 22-story Union Square Tech Training Center (aka tech hub). Foundation work is expected soon.

While there's noticeable progress on this new-building front, the Village Preservation is left wondering what happened to the commitments that were made last summer as part of the tech hub approval "that have been broken or not been met."

The group recently sent a letter (copy here) to Mayor de Blasio and local City Councilmember Carlina Rivera.

Per that letter: "It is deeply disturbing to see that a full year after the approval, while the developer has moved full steam ahead with their project, there has been no movement whatsoever on any of these incredibly modest protections which were promised."

Here's more via the Village Preservation website:

On the occasion of a year having passed since the City Planning Commission approved the upzoning for the 14th Street Tech Hub, we pointed out that the sole zoning protection for the impacted neighborhood promised by Councilmember Rivera and the City – the imposition of a requirement of a special permit for new hotels in the 3rd and 4th Avenue corridors — has not been implemented or even drafted, nor had a promised “tenant protection campaign” for area residents which was to include “community-wide forums” and “door-knocking campaigns.”

The group also took issue with the blocking of pedestrian and vehicular traffic outside the site.

We further pointed out that the developer explicitly committed that all demolition and construction work would be done within the bounds of the property and that neither the sidewalk on 14th Street nor the roadbed would be encroached upon.

Instead, with City permission, the developer has encroached upon the sidewalk and two of three lanes of eastbound traffic, forcing pedestrians waiting for the bus to stand in the street, and completely blocking the single remaining lane of eastbound traffic when MTA buses stop to pick up and let off passengers in front of the tech hub site (where a bus stop is located).

Curbed has more on the story here, including comments from Rivera's office and the Department of City Planning, who says "it is working to address neighborhood concerns raised by the Council member and is combing through what a special hotel permit would entail for the area."

A spokesperson for de Blasio told Gothamist last week that the administration was "actively working to address the concerns respect to future development as well as preservation of existing housing in the Union Square South area."

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.

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.

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

The disappearing former P.C. Richard on 14th Street

Pinch and Steven have been keeping tabs on the demolition progress at the former P.C. Richard and Son complex on 14th Street at Irving Place...





Pinch was going to sift through the rubble to find a VCR or Commodore 128.

Anyway, as you likely know, workers are clearing the site for the eventual construction of the 22-story Union Square Tech Training Center (aka tech hub). Read all about that here and here. And here too.

Future tech hub demo watch

EVG regular Pinch passes along word that the former PC Richard & Son on 14th Street appears to be fully gutted ...



Per the 14th @ Irving website, here's what to expect on site this week:

[T]he team is anticipated to continue with selective hand demolition on the interior and exterior of the building ... the demolition team will start major hand demolition of the building from the east and west elevation working toward the middle of the building. This will include concrete chopping and torching the metal decks.

As you know, this is the future site of the 22-story Union Square Tech Training Center (aka tech hub) here at Irving Place. Our previous post has the back story.

City Council's lone public hearing on the 14th Street tech hub is tomorrow

Tomorrow morning at 9:30, City Council is holding its only public hearing on the rezoning for Mayor de Blasio's proposed 14th Street Tech Hub.

The upzoning is necessary to allow for a 21-floor building — called the Union Square Tech Training Center — to rise on the current site of the former PC Richard complex on 14th Street at Irving Place.

The approval process tour — the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) — has already received endorsements from the City Planning Commission, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and Community Board 3, who included an amendment in their resolution calling for zoning protection. (Note: Brewer’s recommendation also comes with a set of conditions. Read her report here.)

As previously reported, that zoning protection is the key for some concerned area residents and preservationists, who fear overdevelopment south of Union Square along Broadway, University Place and Fourth Avenue.

District 2 City Council member Carlina Rivera said during her election campaign last year that she'd sign off on the project only if the city agrees to downzone the surrounding area. As Crain's noted: "Because the council traditionally defers to the wishes of local members, her vote is crucial."

And more from Crain's, in an article published Friday:

"[Rivera] has been negotiating with the mayor's office throughout the process," a spokesman said. "She's going to be working on securing zoning protections that preserve affordable housing and the character of the neighborhood."

And...

"Our conversation with council member Rivera has been productive," an EDC spokesman said in a statement. "We look forward to continuing to gather feedback from her, community stakeholders, and the City Council subcommittee as we present on this important project that seeks to diversify the city's tech sector."

Plans for the 240,000-square-foot Tech Training Center include educational facilities, market-rate office space and a food hall. Read more about the project via the city's Economic Development Corporation here.

Meanwhile, the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation makes their case for zoning protections 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

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