First City Hearing on Air Rights Transfer for St. Mark’s Place Tech Office Tower Next Wed., March 4, approx. 11am

Join us on Wednesday, March 4 for the City Planning Commission public hearing on the application to transfer air rights to allow a planned office tower at 3 St. Mark’s Place to grow 20% larger than zoning allows.  We oppose the plan because we do not want to see an even larger tech-related office tower rising at the “gateway to the East Village.” This project has already resulted in the demolition of a nearly 200 year old house containing residential units. The replacement of low-rise, historic, and often residential buildings in this area south of Union Square by high-rise office towers is part of the city’s plan for this area in the wake of the approval last year of the Mayor’s 14th Street “Tech Hub.”

While we have gotten the local Community Board to unanimously reject this application twice, if approved by the City Planning Commission and the City Council, the air rights transfer will be granted.  Ultimately we expect this to come down to Councilmember Carlina Rivera; she has not yet stated a position on the application. TO HELP:

Come to the City Planning Commission public hearing in the basement concourse of 120 Broadway (betw. Cedar & Pine Streets; when you enter the building from Broadway, take the stairs on the left down) next Wednesday, March 4.  Arrive at approx. 11 am (this is the last item on the agenda, so the exact time this will begin is unclear — check our twitter feed at www.twitter.com/gvshp for day-of updates on timing).  You can come to testify (use the sample letter here as the basis for your 3 min. max. testimony) or just hold up a sign we’ll provide and show support.