Touring the streets surrounding Tompkins Square Park through historic photos from Urban Archives, we look at moments in time where the actions of neighbors, activists and local organizations helped change the course of history. Learn how constant advocacy through zoning, historic districts and landmarking efforts helps ensure the survival of small businesses, spaces of community, and architectural identity in the East Village.
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!
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.
Mayor Bill de Blasio, Town Hall, October 12, 2017:
I understand now that there’s been, for over a decade-and-a-half, a controversy and a problem over the CHARAS building, and that the decision made a long time ago by the Giuliani administration was a mistake. For the Giuliani administration to put that building into private hands failed miserably, and we’ve seen the negative effect that that has had on the community. So I’m announcing tonight, the City’s interest in reacquiring that building. We are ready to right the wrongs of the past, and we will work with Council Member Mendez and her successor to get that done.
A thrill went through the Town Hall crowd that heard these words, and nothing can diminish the value of the Mayor’s public recognition of the truth.
The East Village Community Coalition looks forward to working with the Mayor’s office, Council Member Mendez and her successor, Community Board 3, CHARAS, GVSHP, our coalition partners and our neighbors to see this cherished landmark returned to true community use.
I understand now that there’s been, for over a decade-and-a-half, a controversy and a problem over the CHARAS building, and that the decision made a long time ago by the Giuliani administration was a mistake. For the Giuliani administration to put that building into private hands failed miserably, and we’ve seen the negative effect that that has had on the community. So I’m announcing tonight, the City’s interest in reacquiring that building. We are ready to right the wrongs of the past, and we will work with Council Member Mendez and her successor to get that done.
A thrill went through the Town Hall crowd that heard these words, and nothing can diminish the value of the Mayor’s public recognition of the truth.
The East Village Community Coalition looks forward to working with the Mayor’s office, Council Member Mendez and her successor, Community Board 3, CHARAS, GVSHP, our coalition partners and our neighbors to see this cherished landmark returned to true community use.
For two decades, Old P.S. 64 has lain fallow and allowed to deteriorate, when it could have been serving our community.
We all agree it’s time for change! So let’s get serious and ask the Mayor again to restore our treasure and return it to community use. Start by signing THIS petition.
Read carefully when asked to sign a petition, because there are two! THIS is the one you want to sign to support the return of Old P.S. 64 as a true community facility!
Mayor De Blasio, give us back our community center!
Stay tuned for news about opportunities to help showcase the rich history of old P.S. 64 and celebrate what it could be today!
Join elected officials, community organizations and activists to ask Mayor de Blasio to be our Valentine and give us back our Community Center former CHARAS El Bohio, P.S. 64 at 605 East 9th Street!
Artists, dancers, actors, musicians, residents, community not-for-profit orgs. & service providers. Come as your favorite cultural or community resource, or come as you are!
What can you do?
Come to the Rally and Press Conference about saving Old P.S. 64/Charas-El Bohio on Tuesday, 2/14, 2pm — Steps of City Hall
💌 RSVP, invite your friends, like and share the Facebook invite to the Rally
Come to MORUS for Sign Painting
Sunday, February 12th from 3:30pm to 7:30pm
Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space, 155 Avenue C
💌 RSVP, invite your friends, like and share the Facebook invite to the Rally
Print out the Valentine’s Rally flyer and distribute to friends, neighbors, local businesses.
💌 Ask your favorite businesses to post it in their window.
Write Mayor de Blasio! 💌 Urge him to reverse the Department of Buildings’ ruling and not allow a phony “dorm for hire” to go into old P.S. 64.
Brief history:
In 2005 community members, organizations and elected officials joined to get Old P.S. 64 landmarked and the City limits uses here to “community facilities.” As the developer tried repeatedly to get around the the usage restriction by making it a “dorm for hire,” so our community allies asked the City to tighten up the dorm rules.
The developer owner is trying yet again to sneak around these tighter rules and has hired the same lobbyist involved in the scandalous lifting of the deed restriction for the nearby Rivington House! And what’s worse is now it’s the DoB breaking it’s own rules! That has terrible implications, not just for our beloved CHARAS El Bohio, but for endangered, culturally significant buildings across the City.
💌Mayor de Blasio, have a heart and put a stop to this!💌
Read more on recent happenings at The Villager and at GVSHP or find a full history here.
Tuesday Jan. 24th at 1pm – Testify at the BSA Hearing!
The developers of 432 E.14th Street have applied to The Board of Standards and Appeals for variance to build higher than our zoning allows — 50% (four floors) higher!
Left: Former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office. Center: Height allowed (8 stories). Right: Height requested 12 stories).
Compare the heights above. Compliance is 8 stories. Proposed is 12. Like the EVCC, our colleagues in preservation, Community Board 3, and many residents, we believe you will agree that this building is oversized and way out of scale. We worked hard to get special zoning put in place — to prevent exactly this. We need your voice. Tell the BSA we stand behind our zoning.
Testify at the BSA Hearing on January 24th
BSA hearing room, 22 Reade Street, Spector Hall at 1pm
We believe the developers claims “hardship” because of “unique circumstances” are bogus. Do not let them get away with cramming an oversized building into a space where it doesn’t belong just because it is on 14th Street. The back of the building goes through to 13th Street and will be very visible, have widespread effects and sets a bad precedent. We must stand up to this encroachment and uphold our zoning.
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WHAT CAN YOU DO?
EMAIL THE BOARD OF STANDARDS AND APPEALS via this form. URGE THEM TO REJECT THE VARIANCE!
TESTIFY AT THE BSA HEARING – January 24th at 1pm – BSA hearing room, 22 Reade Street, Spector Hall.
FORWARD BY EMAIL or PRINT OUT this flyer and post it in your lobby or community center, distribute to friends, neighbors, local businesses.
Join neighbors, community organizations and elected officials for an update on recent developments at Old P.S. 64/CHARAS. A Community Meeting will be held at Loisaida, Inc, 710 East 9th Street on Wednesday, January 18th at 6:30pm. You cans also help by emailing the mayor and inviting others! See links below.
2005: Old P.S. 64 Landmark Status Confirmed 2016: Old P.S. 64 Threatened Again
Stand with your neighbors and community partners, again, to ask the City to return Old P.S. 64 / Charas / El Bohio to the East Village as a community and cultural resource.
What is the urgency right now? The developer has obtained work permits for a portion of the building which goes against the DoB’s own regulations on partial leasing. Since DoB has refused to rescind the permits we need to take it to the mayor. What can you do now.
Email or print this flyer and invite every community member to join us on Jan 18th to urge Mayor DeBlasio to have the DoB to rescind these improper permits immediately, before Old PS 64 is damaged beyond repair.
In 2005 community members, organizations and elected officials joined to get Old P.S. 64 landmarked and the City limits uses here to “community facilities.”
Old P.S. 64 has sat vacant and fallow since the developer has tried repeatedly to tear the building down has removed its valuable architectural features, and get around the the usage restriction by making “dorm for hire.”
The EVCC, GVSHP and our community allies asked the City to tighten up the dorm rules to prevent developers from slipping in “dorms for hire” and other uses disguised as legitimate dormitories.
The developer owner is seeking to get around these tighter rules that we fought for. He has hired the same lobbyist involved in the scandalous lifting of the deed restriction for the nearby Rivington House.
Come to the community meeting about saving Old P.S. 64/Charas-El Bohio on Wednesday, January 18, 2017- 6:30 p.m. at Loisaida, Inc., 710 East 9th Street (SW corner at Ave. C) – flyer here.
Print out this flyer and distribute to friends, neighbors, local businesses.
Write Mayor de Blasio! Urge him to reverse the Department of Buildings’ ruling and not allow a phony “dorm for hire” to go into old P.S. 64
