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NOHO NEWS
Volume III, No. 1
June 2007
(Click on any underlined
text to
see announcement or
link to further information)
This is an archive page. The current issue
of the NoHo News is
here
.gif)
Alerts for:
NoHo Manhattan
Bond Street may soon be
renamed “Condo Row.”
NYU growth is on the charts:
More students, more buildings
The Villager - New York,NY,USA
Zella Jones, chairperson of the Noho Neighborhood
Association, who is also on the task force, was
guardedly optimistic. "I challenge anyone to recall
a time ...
News Corp. plans to develop
outdoor group
Crain's New York Business - New York,NY,USA
In March, a New
York State Supreme Court judge gave the
go-ahead to Manhattan-based OTR Media Group to
pursue an antitrust lawsuit against Cemusa,
...
For the Classic Loft, Try
Noho
...
have made their presence felt, especially on Bond
Street). For more information, visit
Noho Manhattan,
a Website run by loyal locals, or stop in at open
houses this weekend. You'll find a list after the
jump. --S. Jhoanna Robledo
...
Daily Intelligencer - New York Magazine - http://nymag.com/daily/intel/
Zagat
Releases 2007/2008 NYC Nightlife Survey
Earthtimes.org - USA
NEW YORK, June
13 -- Zagat Survey, has announced the results of its
recently completed survey of 1265 bars, lounges, clubs and
pubs in the Big Apple.
...
See all
stories on this topic
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tID bITS
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The Bowery
- the 3rd & 4th Avenues Subcommittee has been
added to the CB#3 schedule for June and rezoning the Bowery is on the
agenda. We are not clear what the Bowery Re-zoning entails
specifically, though GVSHP offered the following in their latest
newsletter”
We have also begun to work with local community groups on
examining the terribly inadequate zoning for the Bowery, where
shockingly out-of-scale new developments like a 23-story hotel at 5th
Street are going up. See
www.gvshp.org/EVcorridor.htm
.Steven Herrick, Anna Sarwyn of Save the East Village and David Mulkins,
of the East 5th St. Block Association are interested in this proposal.
The NoHo NA has not weighed in on the subject since none of the
proposals preserves underlying M1-5b zoning.
Affordable Housing:
. Sunday morning, June 17, 11:15am, New York Society for Ethical
Culture, 2 West 64 Street. Shaun Donovan, Commissioner of the New York
City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD),will
discuss the shift in New York City's housing policies from a focus on
abandonment to a focus on affordability. Commissioner Donovan is
leading HPD in implementing the city's ten-year, $7.5 billion New
Housing Marketplace Plan, which will provide 165,000 affordable homes
for 500,000 New Yorkers.
Mulberry
St. Library:
“My family took me to the new Mulbery Library today it is GREAT,
GREAT....I know its below Houston but it’s still great and it has a
community room for meetings,” says Stan Ries, NoHo NA Steering
Committee.
Amato Opera -
Summer Season, Falstaff. This is a treasure, don't miss it or fail
to support this precious organization.
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Bowery and Lafayette
Corridor Liquor License Locations.
Download
Full Map
SLA
Task Force Report, Dec 06
NoHo Artist Annie Shaver-Crandell
has
written a loving piece on Keith's final resting in
the Villager.
 Annie
celebrated new work at a show at the Paula
Barr Chelsea Gallery, 508-526 West 26th St., thru
June 10th. |
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Getting Around...
CB#2
Hearing: NYC Transit presentation on the Bleecker/Broadway/Lafayette
Stations,
on June 12th,
at 6:30 PM,
LBGT Community Services Center, 208 W. 13th St., bet. 7th
& Greenwich Aves.
Broadway below Houston to Vesey St.:
One lane of vehicular traffic (private cars, trucks and taxis) will be
eliminated to accommodate a dedicated Bus lane on the western lane with
five “bus bulbs” created to expedite stopping for passengers.
New Bike Lane on Bleecker and Prince St:
CB#2 passed a resolution approving of the temporary installation of an
east-traveling bike lane on Bleecker St., with elimination of parking on
the north side of Bleecker in NoHo, and the possibility of a
west-traveling bike lane on Prince St. (subject to considering an
alternative on Broome St.). A variety of additional suggestions were
also attached to the Resolution which included further investigation and
study of lights and turning lanes at the dead end on Bowery.
 Houston St. Construction
-
Construction on the Houston St. road bed is now in full Phase II,
meaning it is entering the NoHo portion of Houston St. Most of the
roadbed work will be done from 7 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday. But
NoHo can expect regular water, power and telephone line interruptions
(unintentionally).
All known
service interruptions will be posted on area buildings. Anyone who is
or knows someone, disabled should notify
Karen Flores (212-337-3594),
the Community Construction Liaison, so she can take special measures to
protect their needs and safety during construction. To subscribe to a
daily community construction update go to
www.houston.outreachny.com . (Photo: Adam Woodward).
The
construction has created a tidal wave of RATS. Action has been taken to
get the Office of Emergency Management involved with extermination! A
budget is available for extra Traffic Control Coverage - we are working
on getting it assigned for nights and weekends.
Southern
NoHo Gets No Honking Signs
-
Thanks to our esteemed Councilman, and hearty endorsement from Brad
Hoylman and the Traffic and Transportation Committee at CB#2, Bleecker
from Broadway to Bowery now has No Honking signs. That's the good
news. The not so good news is that getting anyone to enforce them will
take another major effort. Any volunteers?
What's
Going Up....
Download the NYU Properties
Map |
NYU Plans --
We have been working closely with NYU, The
Borough President's office, Councilman Gerson and others to develop
a constructive dialogue regarding NYU expansion and cooperative
efforts regarding general quality of life concerns. There have been
three Task Force meetings so far this year which have been
instrumental in finally getting a serious NYU Planning Team in place
which has been charged with working with this Task Force and
individually with neighborhood organizations in planning the future
development of NYU.
You can read the minutes of the
March 29th meeting here.
For NoHo all discussions are in the capable hands of the NoHo NA
Subcommittee on NYU Development (specifically the 383 Lafayette
site). At present the only expressed intent
is to investigate the development of a Tisch School Performing Arts
Center. All aspects, including uses, landmarks, bulk will be
discussed and shared with the NoHo NA Membership. |
|
NYU Planning Open House on Thursday, June 28th, 2007:
President John Sexton invites you to be part of NYU’s strategic
planning initiative to address the University’s
academic needs and physical development over the next few
decades. Come and meet the team who will
be working on the plan. Let them hear your thoughts about the
neighborhood in which you live, work, and
go to school and how NYU can have a positive impact on its
future.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Open House Hours: 3:00pm–8:00pm
Hemmerdinger Hall
100 Washington Square East
Food and refreshments will be served. |
Now, here's the background of the NYU Planning Team which
consists of four firms:
SMWM has completed planning studies for Harvard University,
Brown University, and the University of San Francisco, all of which
are concentrated in dense, urban settings. In 1997, they worked with
a team of designers and engineers to develop design guidelines for
Mission Bay in San Francisco, home to the new UCSF campus. SMWM,
with offices in San Francisco and New York, is currently working in
four of New York's five boroughs, as well as Boston and Washington,
DC, on projects ranging from master plans for waterfronts and
brownfield sites to design guidelines for historic districts. They
are currently designing projects for the University of California,
Berkeley, and Stanford University, as well as the new Conservatory
of Music for Bard College, their 5th building for the College.
Grimshaw
was founded in London in 1980. The practice now
operates worldwide and established a permanent office in New York in
2001. It has been the recipient of over 100 design awards
internationally. Grimshaw's portfolio is characterized by
environmental responsiveness, structural legibility, innovation, and
a rigorous approach to detailing. Grimshaw buildings are designed to
have spatial and organizational clarity, to reflect the activities
within them, and to be flexible enough to respond to changing needs.
Toshiko Mori Architect is known for their influential and
innovative work as well as their sensitive approach to historical
context. Recent projects include The Darwin Martin House Visitor
Center in Buffalo, and additions to houses designed by Marcel Breuer
and Paul Rudolph. TMA is designing a lab facility for the Center of
Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems at Syracuse
University, currently featured in the Cooper Hewitt Museum's Design
Triennial. A 2005 recipient of the Medal of Honor from the New York
City chapter of the American Institute of Architects, Toshiko Mori
was profiled in The New York Times in for her work in reframing
historical context by regenerating modernist buildings with
innovative interventions.
Olin Partnership, the internationally-acclaimed landscape
architecture and urban design studio, creates sustainable landscapes
that succeed as both social and environmental systems. Based in
Philadelphia, Olin Partnership has designed projects for numerous
educational institutions, including Harvard, Yale, and Duke, the
University of Pennsylvania, and the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology Campus Framework Plan. In addition to educational
institutions, Olin Partnership's design expertise encompasses
cultural institutions, mixed-use developments, civic spaces and
public parks, including redesigns of New York's beloved Bryant Park
and Columbus Circle.
.
8-10
Bond St.
-A community meeting was held in may with the
attorney and architects for this site. The BSA application for a
seven story high end residential building with retail on the first
floor has not yet been scheduled. Watch the Zoning Committee
Calendar (go to "Calendar" at the
CB#2 Website) You can see the proposed building at
www.TRAStudios.com
(be warned, their flash site takes forever to load -- even with
high-speed access) click on projects. There was a meeting on June
27, 2006 to discuss this and two other BSA applications that propose to
develop residential and retail. The issues are design and what kind
of retail we, as a community, want to allow. Our current M1-5b
zoning restricts a number of categories (but unfortunately does
allow more bars...and billboards!).
22
Bond St/23 Great Jones St.
(Block 530, Lot 19) -- this through lot,
currently a two-story building is rumored to be an as-of-right 14
story hotel. DOB job filings however indicate that it is to be a
nine-story building with hotel use from the fourth to the ninth
floors. Job Description: Vertical extension to existing 2 story
building ( cellar, 1st & 2nd). Add 3rd thru 9th floors to be used as
hotel suites. Change of use on 2nd floor to Joint Living & work
quarter. Obtain new CO. According to DOB records the plan was
disapproved in February.. You have all probably noted, however,
that the cellar on the Great Jones St side has been excavated and
re-shored.
When
and if we discover anything more on this we will post it.
After months of hiding behind a big white shroud the new
residential condo at
25 Bond in NoHo at last reveals its handsome face. "Eight
stories of hefty rough-cut Jerusalem limestone partnered with
details of dark bronzed steel. It's been designed by architect
George Schieferdecker of
BKSK Architects
as six stories of four bold asymmetrically arranged sections with
recessed windows down below and a couple of stories of contrasting
steel crowning the top. The building runs for a full 100 feet along
Bond Street across from Ian Schrager / Herzog and de
Meuron's
all glass
palace at
40 Bond,"
as quoted from
Wired New York
Before it is completed, however, there will be a full 100 running
feet of granite sidewalk, artist- etched and continuing into the
main lobby. There is no doubt that Goldman Properties has taken
contextual to heart and new heights.
32-40 Bond St.:
Construction is moving rapidly. Want to see the plans? Visit 285
Lafayette Street. Ian Schrager has devoted a whole store-front to
this development. Or you can visit
40bond.com ! OR you can read an extensive review at
Triple Mint !!
"40 Bond will have 27 loft style apartments. Five townhouses will
have their own separate entrances and private rear gardens. A
triplex penthouse will top the 11-story condo. Units will have dual
gas and wood-burning fireplaces custom designed by Herzog & de
Meuron. Floors will be wide-plank oak, and ceiling heights will be
over 11 feet. Floor to ceiling windows will be fully-operable.
Fixtures will include lighting by Jasper Morrison and kitchen
appliances from Miele. A long list of amenities includes concierge
services provided by the staff at the Gramercy Park Hotel on 24-hour
call."
(Photo:
http://www.curbed.com/archives/2007/01/10/curbedwire_more_glass_more_gas.php)
46-48 Bond St.:
New Special permit application to build 11 stories
residential/retail. The developer, Don Capocia (principal/Owner
Great Jones Lumber) engaged a second architect who, at least for the
BSA hearings, designed a building more contributing to the
architecture of this street. The latest renderings, however, look
pretty much like the original Upper-East Side look-alike. Though
originally proposed as rental units, we learn from Curbed coverage
that 14 condo units will be sold starting at $2,000,000.
Architect Deborah Berke, (this is her first residential condo
project) explains: The façade of 48 Bond is an elegant
composition of slabs of granite and sheets of glass. The scale of
the material is unusually large, contributing to its abstract and
bold quality. The stone and glass play off each other and accentuate
their contrasting textures.
http://www.curbed.com/archives/2007/01/17/development_du_jour_48_bond.php
 Water
Tunnel Construction -
This project which began last year will be here for awhile. We
understand that the major blasting has subsided. For those who
fear for the safety of The Merchant's House and Skidmore House,
the Borough President's office is actively engaged in
monitoring, with the ever watchful eye of Pi Gardner, Exec.
Director of the Merchants House.
When it is finished, we expect that this will become a park.
The DEP has, however, transferred the air rights back to the
owners of the property -- the Goldman Family -- who have in turn
leased this property and the Skidmore House and the parking lot
to Atlantic Development for 70 years. See the Skidmore House
entry for more. (Photo: Adam Woodward). Senator Tom Duane
has convened several meetings, with CB#2 member Toby Bergman
present, along with Pi Gardner of the Merchants House, Stan Ries
and Zella Jones of the NoHo NA, John Fout of Councilmember
Mendez staff and Gregory Bender of Assemblymember Deborah
Glick's staff to get the particulars on where this park stands
in present plans.
372 Lafayette St. - A revision on a Landmarks application of
last year and also a future BSA application. Originally planned
as a five story office/retail building built of shipping
containers, the new application will be for residential with
groundfloor retail. Although the novel shipping container
construction is 25% (at least) cheaper to build, they will be
asking for a BSA hardship because they won't make enough if the
building is for small office space!
See CityRealty.com coverage.
363 Lafayette @ Great Jones- (SE Corner - former Jones Diner) -
The Attorney and the applicant made a presentation to NoHo in
May, 2006. Though a confusing design (at best), the proposed
six-story building will preserve many of the lot line windows in
contiguous buildings. The applicant will be seeking a variance
for residential and groundfloor retail and may be amenable to a
restriction on bars or restaurants. The 20 Bond St. Co-Op is
still negotiating with the developer for a more compatible
design. The billboard recently erected inside the fencing at
this location is being investigated by the Borough President's
office. It is likely that it falls just under the limit in size
for a billboard in this neighborhood -- but certainly initiates
a new trend in lot use and how to insult a neighborhood while
construction plans are finalized !
Parking
Lot & Skidmore House
at
East 4th and Bowery-
There was a hearing at CB#2 Landmarks Committee,
Tuesday, January 2, 2006. You can read excellent background in
The Villager
or at
Curbed
At the Landmarks Committee hearing the new plans were
presented: 150' height (not including mechanicals) on a 12,000
sq. ft Footprint; 10,050 sq. ft. ground floor retail; 80:20
market rate to affordable housing. Atlantic Development has
been granted a change of use for the Skidmore House by the
Landmarks Commission as part of a 74-711 application, which, in
essence asks for size and use changes on the non historic
parcels in exchange for restoring the Skidmore House (which was
previously ordered by the Court as a result of the Goldman's
neglect). There have been several meetings, one in the
Borough President's office, updating the current status of this
site. At present we have not seen a ULURP proposal which
we anticipate soon.
The Bowery Hotel -- it may have five liquor-serving establishments, but there is no
mistaking the sophistication of their initial target market in
the decor, or in the cozy niches they've created emanating from
the Lobby. And, if you aren't quite ready for that much
class, Vanity Fair thinks you are...Check it out here.
Of course they have also given the area East of NoHo a new name
-- BoHo. PULEEZE !
There is a liquor license application in front of CB#3 this
month (June) for the restaurant at the corner of Third St and
Bowery -- it is to be a Trattoria, but with two sides on
streetfront there is plenty of oportunity for this to become an
extension of The Bowery Bar across the street (whose owner is
tied to the Bowery Hotel investors). Covenants anyone !
Or perhaps you would prefer to wax nostalgic, in which case
The Gothamist recently ran an interesting piece on
the Bowery and its transformation as well:
With the
Bowery Hotel now open, Gothamist thought it was worth taking one
final look at the Bowery of the 1970s and '80s through the lens
of Luc Sante, author of Low Life: Lures and Snares of Old New
York. Click here for full article.
East
Houston and Mulberry
--
Eleven stories
with an "undulating" fascade.
Isn't this the Little Italy Special District?
You better keep checking
Curbed on this one:
Preservation...
1-4 East 4th St., 306 Bowery and Skidmore House --
See above.
640 Broadway - (Broadway & Bleecker)
Cage and Stairwell Removal.
This item has thrice been to CB#2 and rejected. Evidently that's
not enough. We understand that Harriet Fields, Exec. Dir. of the
NoHo NY BID has engaged an attorney.
Designating NoHo III
a Landmark
District - No news is
no news ! But rumor has it that NoHoIII may, actually be
considered for the 2007/2008 Landmarks Calendar.
See the Article in the New
York Sun.
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 have been
circulating a petition for signatures that will be used to invoke
500 ft rule hearings when new or additional licenses are sought at
CB#2 (or CB#3). Do feel free to
request a copy to sign.
CB#2
Calendar:
License density within 500 ft
of 1 Bleecker St. |
#1 Bleecker St., Street and Cellar levels proposing a Pizza/Trattoria restaurant with a full liquor license. Originally heard
in May, the CB#2 Business Committee referred this to the NoHo NA to
negotiate with the applicants. This application would be the third
full liquor license in the same building, and the ninth within 150
ft. Though the community opposes any license, the negotiating
session suggested the ONLY potential compromise, should this site
even meet DOH and DOB requirements and even be able to obtain a
Public Assembly permit, would require a covenant for a Restaurant
Wine only, and no Sidewalk Café for the duration of the 12 year
lease. The second hearing, scheduled for June, has been postponed
ftill July. More than 170 signatures and 80 letters have been
collected opposing this license. The membership of the NoHo NA
has rejected the potential compromise of a wine only license based
on the current density of establishments on this strip (17 within
500 ft.).
This
application has been postponed until the July CB#2 Calendar. |
45 Bleecker Theater
- This application which originally
appeared in May for a full liquor license, a cabaret and a
restaurant has also been the remanded to local negotiation by CB#2.
At this point, the applicant has agreed to a wine & beer license,
only, limited hours, no restaurant, though a snack concession for
patrons is preferred. There are, as well, a number of safety,
landmarks and DOB permit issues still to be resolved.
Neighbors are opposed to the serving of food - contributing to
rodent and sanitation issues in this location. More than 170
signatures opposing additional licenses on the Lafayette St corridor
have also been collected, though the neighborhood does favor Theater
activity. This application has been WITHDRAWN.
CB#3
Calendar:
License Density within 500 ft
of Bowery Hotel at 3rd St and Bowery |
SLA & Economic Development Committee, Monday, June 18 - 6:30pm
-- JASA/Green Residence - 200 East 5th Street , (btwn Bowery & 2nd
Ave), #2. Request for City Council legislation to differentiate
between bars and restaurants when issuing sidewalk café licenses.
There is a sidewalk café application for Bowery F&B, 4 E 3rd St (Bowery
Hotel).
UPDATE:
The CB#3
Tuesday, June 26, 2007 Full Board
Meeting, PS 20, 166 Essex Street, (btwn E Houston & Stanton
Sts) at 6:30pm. Application Denied. Next Public
Hearing at Dept of Consumer Affairs - TBD. |
Villager Article Summarizes the Campaign to Reduce License Density
--
The
Villager's annual roundup of issues affecting lower Manhattan covers
a lot of ground.
See it all by clicking here. Or go direct to the summary of the
Liquor License Density progress report
here.
Avalon Christy Place
-- though across the street from NoHo we understand that two
restaurants will be applying for liquor licenses on the groundfloor
of the site at the northeast corner of Bowery and Houston. One of
these will be owned by famed Chef Daniel Beloud, with whom we have
had conversations regarding neighborhood compatability, for which
they are quite sensitive.
Politics...
The SoHo Journal
Politics Blog
covers the issues behind the issues. Beware!
NoHo
ART & Culture..
Current Shows
 |
Amato Opera, Falstaff, May
26 thru June 24th
http://www.amato.org/
Evenings at 7:30,
Matinees at 2:30 p.m.
All Seats Reserved
Admission: $35.00
Senior Citizens, Children,
Full-time Students (ID required): $28.00
|
Recent Shows
Annie
Shaver-Crandell at
Paula Barr Chelsea Gallery,
508-526 West
26th St., Suite 9G.
Until June 10th from
Noon to 6 p.m. |
 |
Luigi Cazzaniga,
Michael Conors Gallery,
39 Great Jones St.,
May 24 to June 10
Don't forget to
visit NoHo Arts & Culture
listing over 60 artists and art-supporting institutions in our
neighborhood.
NoHo NA -
Become a Member of
the Neighborhood Association
AND vote on NoHo Issues
Click Above
for Membership Form; Return Electronically to
Membership
If you have
additional suggestions, are an artist living in NoHo, have any professional photography of our neighborhood, or
slides of your artwork, please forward them.
Don't forget to use the
Activist
Links
page
You can
also visit NoHo at i-neighborhoods.org - look for NoHo Mnhattan.
I-neighbors is run by a team of faculty and students at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). I-neighbors was
designed to encourage neighborhood participation and to help people form
local social ties.
Managing Editor
Zella Jones
Citizen
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