Important Hearings at CB#2 LANDMARKS - Public Theater's Plaza Proposal Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director,  Andrew D. Hamingson, Executive Director and Polshek Partners presented a Landmarks application to alter the entrance and signage at the Public Theater.  Seemingly simple, the new management team, and lauded institutional architect firm, evidently made their rounds of pre-hearing presentations to electeds in early October.  The first we learned of the application was around Nov. 1st with the CB#2 hearing scheduled three days hence.  In a nutshell this proposal is designed to give maximum attention to The Public Theater in the landscape of Astor Place:  a 30' plaza extending into the Lafayette St roadbed, an 18' by 75' stoop with stairs on three sides and six billboards permanently set into the sidewalk of 10' height and 4' width.  Additional to these features are inset sidewalk lighting along the curb, building lighting to enhance the architecture of the three buildings that make up The Public and more prominent banners.  The CB#2 Landmarks committee approved the plan on Monday Nov. 3rd, which we feel needs reconsideration for the precedents it sets for future modifications on the other large individual landmarks along Lafayette Street, if not in other historic districts throughout the City.  We do not have a drawing to share with you, but believe us - it is terrifically out of scale.  There will be a Public Hearing at the Landmarks Preservation Commission on Nov. 13th, Conference Room at 1 Centre Street, 9th Floor.  This item is 9th on the agenda and is expected to be heard at 11:00 am.  Interested NoHo property owners and residents are urged to attend - and to speak on this application. CB#2's Full Board will vote on the Landmark Committee's resolution on Nov. 20th. There will be future hearings regarding the permissibility of the sidewalk extension and the extra-gigantic stoop and the permanent sidewalk billboards. TRAFFIC & TRANSPORTATION Shirley Secunda, Chair-*Note Change of day and time* Thurs. 11/6 @ 7:00 PM –NYU Silver Building, 32 Waverly Pl. Room 408 (I.D. Required) Item 1.*      Update by MTA NYC Transit: Bleecker Street Subway Station Rehabilitation Project. This is an informational hearing, and largely an improvement, but as always the devil is in the details.  If you have an interest in this station, you should attend.   SIDEWALKS, PUBLIC FACILITIES & PUBLIC ACCESS Zella Jones, Chair-*Note change of time* Mon., 11/10 @ 7:00 PM– NYU Silver Building, 32 Waverly Pl. Room 805 (I.D. Required) Last Item:  App. to Department of Consumer Affairs for Newsstand at:   Northeast corner Astor Place & 4th Place, DCA# 1301906.  WITHDRAWN SLA LICENSING Raymond Lee, Chair-*Note Change of day*, Thurs., 11/13 @6:30 PM-NYU Silver Building, 32 Waverly Pl. Room 703 (I.D. Required) In addition to the regular hearing for OP Licenses, we have asked the SLA Committee to call the Beer & Wine and the following renewals to hearing. New Full License Applications V Bar, 2 LLC, 334-336 Bowery, NYC 10012 This new application is in the heart of our most dense strip of licenced establishments.  It should be denied.  It will take a letter writing or petition drive to do it AND massive attendance at this hearing.  The applicant could ask for a beer & wine license instead (which does not fall under the 500 ft. rule).  In this case NoHo should insist on a hold-over in order to negotiate a covenant covering hours of operation, security, garbage, prohibiting a sidewalk cafe. E-mail lee@cb2manhattan.org , jones@cb2manhattan.org .  A petition will be circulated covering objection to any further OP licenses for this area of NoHo.  Sign that as well. Play Earth, Inc., 57 Great Jones St., NYC 10012-(cont’d.) We approached the attorney for this Japanese applicant last month.  They were to get back to the neighborhood regarding their plans.  They have not.  This location was the former Hiddae.  Because it formerly had a license (though we do not believe it was prior to 1996) there may be grounds to grant one.  At the least there should be a covenant between the owner and contiguous property owners before another license is granted. E-mail lee@cb2manhattan.org , jones@cb2manhattan.org .  A petition will be circulated covering objection to any further OP licenses for this area of NoHo.  Sign that as well. New Beer and/or Wine License: 26 Bond St.Retail, LLC, 26 Bond St., NYC 10012 We have suspected this would be coming.  While there is no way to avoid a beer & wine license, there is every reason to insist on a covenant with the Bond St. Neighbors.  E-mail lee@cb2manhattan.org , jones@cb2manhattan.org .  A petition will be circulated covering objection to any further OP licenses for this area of NoHo.  Sign that as well. Renewal - Great Jones Café, 54 Great Jones St. (on-premise) To the best of our knowledge this long-time NoHo business has been a good neighbor and no trouble.  Write if you have another opinion. E-mail lee@cb2manhattan.org , jones@cb2manhattan.org   Renewal - Crime Scene Pub, 310 Bowery, (on-premise) - This one needs particular attention.  It should NOT be a renewal but a new application since the ownership and method of operation have completely changed.  It is now run by the former owners of Mannahatta.  Their license expired some time ago.  Their velvet rope and frequent private parties are most disruptive.  Their Public Assembly permit is not sufficient for the number of clients they attract.  We have made frequent inquiries at the SLA regarding the lack of license enforcement.  Massive attendance is advised for this application, as well.   Property Matters

Houston St. Construction  - Construction on the Houston St. road bed is nearing the end of its long encampment in the neighborhood.  It is expected that the roadbed, median planters, crosswalks will be completed in time for the "Holiday Embargo" which begins Nov 20th through to New Year. In the meantime work is frantic, inconvenient in the extreme...and often dangerous to all of us.  Charle Cafiero is the neighborhood watchdog on this issue and in constant touch with the Councilman's office as well as with Karen Flores -- mostly to get traffic enforcement during the more dangerous maneuvers. Should you have any problems or dangerous conditions to report, feel free to call Karen Flores (212-337-3594), the Community Construction Liaison.  To subscribe to a daily community construction update go to www.houston.outreachny.com . (Photo:  Adam Woodward).    NoHo wins inclusion of the White House in the now approved NoHo Historic District Extension !  Though the negotiations were intense, to put it mildly, and included a very long list of powerful friends, whatever happens with the White House (338 Bowery) will remain contextual with the district.  Hurrah! Amato Opera - The long-cherished Amato Opera building has been sold by the family that has kept this institution alive for many years.  The family is looking for another location that could continue hosting their truly unique opera productions. NoHo/Bowery Partnership – The Exploratory Committee is reviewing a plan to initiate the nonprofit street cleaning service on Bleecker and Bond Sts., east of the NoHo BID area to the Bowery and along Bowery to Great Jones. Tax deductible donations will be sought for this service that will be provided from 8 am to 4 pm Monday thru Sunday.   Inquiries 23 Great Jones St - Yes, it will be a 13-story as of right hotel !  See details below. 41-43 Bond St demolition is completed. Plans for the new building have been submitted and approved at both CB#2 Landmarks and LPC.  A BSA Variance application for residential use was heard at CB#2 Zoning Committee and passed without community objection.   53-55 Bond St – We understand the owner of these lots intends to develop.  These parcels are NOT included in the NoHo III Designation.   More property development news below.....   ADD ME TO THE NOHO E-MAIL LIST -  - Totally free, confidential and helpful if you have an interest in the neighborhood.

OTHER HEADLINES

402-408 Lafayette St Proposed Hotel

There's a new Blog in Town -- www.streetsblog.org .  Stay up to date on what's happening on bike lanes, street closures and general traffic control.

Keeping the Mixed Use Nature of NoHo.  With all our new high-end condos and rare authentic AIR lofts, the nightlife industry is very hot to join us in even greater numbers.  Most residents and property owners feel we have done more than our fair share in absorbing over-density of liquor licensed establishments, especially when it directly affects our now rather expensive NoHo investments. Bowery and Lafayette Corridor Liquor License Locations.  Download Full Map
Evolution
The Lost Tree - Guess it's part of life, but we were very sorry to lose the beloved Chinese Empress tree that lived in the rear yards between 23 Bleecker and 41 Bond St. The tree surgeons said it could not be saved because with that type of tree - Paulownia tomentosa (also known as the Empress Tree, Princess Tree or Foxglove Tree; pao tong 泡桐 in Chinese; kiri 桐 in Japanese), trimming or limb removals  usually kill the tree. It seems that in the recent past limbs were removed and disease had already spread.  So to those of us who so welcomed the part of spring that brought the Empress to her full majesty....a memory.  And to those of you who didn't have the pleasure...a vision.

NoHo Residents Investigating Formation of a Non-Profit NoHo/Bowery Partnership.  Ongoing Update.  An exploratory committee has been formed of residents, property and business owners in NoHo, to introduce NoHo to the Association of Community Employment Programs for the Homeless (A.C.E.) and their local initiatives, the SoHo Partnership and the TriBeCa Partnership.

• As NoHo evolves toward a more vibrant live/work and arts based community the Committee has two concerns:
  That the effort we put into to keeping our neighborhood contextual and vibrant can be apparent on well-kept streets and sidewalks.
• That we do not forget our long established reputation for supporting programs that improve the prospects for those less fortunate.

With that in mind, they are working toward a collaboration with A.C.E. in forming a not-for-profit, the NoHo/Bowery Partnership, that would, by donations, provide street cleaning and other sidewalk maintenance services seven days a week from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, 362 days a year. The initial sweep areas would include Bleecker, Bond Streets east of Lafayette and The Bowery, and both sides, from Houston to Great Jones St. A  NoHo/Bowery Partnership would be under the A.C.E. umbrella and managed by their experienced staff. 

The area West of the the East side of Lafayette St. is maintained by the NoHo BID.
 

More Property Background...
regularly updated details on Properties in Development in NoHo

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8-10 Bond St.  The application for an as-of-right hotel at this location which was heard at CB#2 Manhattan's Zoning Committee in October is still on hold.  The design was reviewed at the Landmarks Preservation Committee Jan 8 and again in March 08.  You can read Bradley Hope's October article in the NY Sun: NY Sun - NoHo Spotlighted in the Trend for Entertainment Hotels .  UPDATE:  New hotel group interested in developing, is seeking additional investors.  See listing.  See property owner's lease terms.

 

22 Bond St/23 Great Jones St. (Block 530, Lot 19) -- this through lot, currently a two-story building has filed applications for a residential hotel since 1999.  The latest filing (June 2008) indicates that the lot has been split with air rights for the Bond St side going to Great Jones St....this increasing the height to 184' and 13 stories.  What is troubling, however, is that while this is an as-of-right project meaning no public review, it is still within the new NoHo District and seems to have circumvented any review by the Landmarks Preservation Commission as regards contextuality/design. 

 

We have been in touch with our elected officials, the Historic Districts Counsel and with LPC on this issue and will report any hopeful progress.

 

 

41-43 Bond St. - Phase Two will be a review of plans for the new building, which is designed in 20th Century manufacturing style to compliment other landmarked buildings on the block.  These plans have been by CB#2 Landmarks and the full Board.  The Zoning Committee will hear their Board of Standards and Appeals application for a change of use to residential probably this fall.  

Photo of Jan 9:  Scaffolding covered in blue netting to contain dust belongs to 41-43 Bond St.  East of that, at 45 Bond, illegal scaffolding and construction to build a 3-story addition

 

45 Bond St. - Just in time!  Two new stories  - NO make that THREE STORIES -- NO, maybe FOUR stories - added just before NoHo III.  A bit aesthetically challenged, and still claiming to be a commercial office building, Mr. Weiss has somehow eluded LPC and DOB and the Loft Board's scrutiny.....now isn't that amazing!  We are still hoping that Landmarks will at least attempt to weigh in on aesthetics now that the street is landmarked!

 

 

 

Edison Parking to Develop Five Lots at Lafayette and Great Jones.  On Dec. 21st. over 30 NoHo residents and property owners met with Jerry Gottesman, Owner, Edison Properties.  Mr. Gottesman, who also owns Manhattan Mini Storage and the Hippodrome, as well as the just developed Ludlow, purchased the adjacent 30 Great Jones St. property in September and quickly began its demolition.  Since then Edison advocated for the Landmarking of the NoHo Extension, has postponed any further planning for this site. More meetings are anticipated between Edison and NoHo property owners. 

 

 

 

Day Life/Nightlife ...

The Lafayette St and Bowery corridors are oversaturated with Liquor Licenses.  In addition to the potential for negatively affecting quality of life for the many residents, it also affects the competitive health of licensed establishments and businesses that have shown compatibility with our neighborhood.  We continue to advocate for the neighborhood on these applications and have thus far prevailed in a number of covenants attached to SLA applications signed by interested NoHo residents and property owners.

SLA Task Force Report, Dec 06

Padavan Law/500 ft Rule Explained

Getting Around...

 

The SoHo Journal Politics Blog covers the issues behind the issues. Beware!

 

Don't forget to visit NoHo Arts & Culture listing over 60 artists and art-supporting institutions in our neighborhood.