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.
Save Third & Fourth Avenues in the East Village!
Join GVSHP and neighbors at the Community Board 3 Land Use Committee Meeting Wednesday, September 13 6:30pm
GVSHP will be presenting its proposal for rezoning the 3rd and 4thAvenue corridors to prevent oversized commercial development in this area, such as the 300 room, 13-story hotel under construction at 112-120 East 11th Street, at this upcoming Community Board 3 Land Use Committee meeting. GVSHP is proposing and seeking zoning protections for the area between 5th and 3rd Avenues, Union Square and Astor Place,which is unique within the Village and East Village for its lack of adequate zoning and landmark protections. Community Board 3 ONLYcovers the area east of 4th Avenue, so Wednesday’s meeting is solely focused on 3rd and 4th Avenues.
(Community Board 2 covers west of 4th Avenue, and is already STRONGLY on record in support of our proposed zoning protections for Broadway and University Place.)
If you oppose overdevelopment in this area, it is vital that you attend. This is not a public hearing, but residents of Community Board 3 may speak in support of zoning protections for Third and Fourth Avenues. Thank you, and see you there!
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!
Today the developers of 432 E.14th Street, withdrew their revised application. After strong community opposition, the BSA rejected the initial application was for variance to build 50% (four floors) higher than our zoning allows. The revised application still requested an additional floor, but with your support
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, ommunity 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 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.
************
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
