| Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation

Demand neighborhood zoning protections as part of any Tech Hub approvals.

Recipients

Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer
Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer
Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer

Message

Make protections for the University Place, Broadway, 3rd & 4th Ave corridors a condition of approvals for the Tech Hub

Dear [Decision Maker],

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As you have acknowledged, the current zoning for the University Place/Broadway/3rd/4th Avenue corridors allows inappropriate and undesirable development in this area, such as 300+ ft tall condo towers and office buildings replacing low-rise or historic buildings, and 300+ room hotels that replace scores of walk up apartments, also housed in historic structures. While your support for zoning changes proposed by GVSHP that would protect this neighborhood from inappropriate development is appreciated, a vote in favor of the Tech Hub without such protections means making this bad situation much, much worse without offering any mitigations.

It's very clear that the expanding tech industry is fueling much of the development in this area.  The 14th Street Tech Hub will bring 'Silicon Alley' into this area and irreversibly transform what has been a low-to-mid-rise mixed-use but predominantly residential area into a sea of large-scale tech office buildings, hotels, and luxury condos. The experience of San Francisco, Seattle, Cambridge, and other cities shows that an expanding tech industry without appropriate mitigations leads to overwhelming change and displacement.

Community Boards 2 & 3 have both endorsed these zoning protections.  You will soon be issuing your own recommendations regarding the Tech Hub.  I URGE YOU IN THE STRONGEST OF TERMS TO CONDITION ANY APPROVAL OF THE 14TH STREET TECH HUB UPON THE CITY ALSO PROVIDING THE PROPOSED ZONING PROTECTIONS FOR THE UNIVERSITY PLACE, BROADWAY, 3RD AND 4TH AVENUE CORRIDORS. Don't let Greenwich Village and the East Village become an extension of Midtown South and Silicon Alley.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]

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