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NOHO NEWS
Volume III, No. 2
July 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.”
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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. To review what the Bowery Initiative
entails specifically, 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
.
CB#3 Subcommittee to the 197 Plan Task Force =
Monday, July 16 - 6:30pm -- University
Settlement, Speyer Hall - 184 Eldridge Street (btwn Rivington &
Delancey Sts) Second topic includes discussion of Bowery between
1st St and 7th St rezoning
Save the Bowery Petition to City Council to move an
agenda for protection and re-zoning
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Bowery and Lafayette
Corridor Liquor License Locations.
Download
Full Map
SLA
Task Force Report, Dec 06
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Getting Around...
 Houston St. Construction
-
Construction on the Houston St. road bed is now in full Phase II,
meaning it is in 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 weekend night work also regularly.
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).
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 download the June
PowerPoint presentation.
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. |
.
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.:
The Graffiti Gates have arrived --See Curbed.com coverage. 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/2007_07_40b.jpg )
41-43
Bond St.
-
Self-storage king Adam Gordon plans to break
ground on a nine-story condominium at 41-43 Bond Street later this year.
Mr. Gordon’s Adam Gordon Holdings closed on the buildings located at
that address in June for $7.7 million, according to city records.
“I
decided to go forward with the project because I really think that the
cast-iron and terra cotta architecture and cobblestone streets make Bond
Street unique,” Mr. Gordon told The
Observer.
41-43
Bond Street is not the only property on the block that Mr. Gordon snatched
up recently. He also bought the Bouwerie Lane Theater at 54 Bond
Street. He intends to make the landmarked building his home after he
unloads his current spread at 92 Jane Street, which is on the market for
$14.9 million.
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 opportunity for this to become an
extension of The Bowery Bar across the street (whose owner is
tied to the Bowery Hotel investors). Covenants anyone !
See also Nightlife.
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.
NoHo III
- With the purchase of 41-43 Bond St. (see above) and its
planned demolition to become a nine-story condo, it is a travesty
that the Landmarks Preservation Commission has NOT announced the
calendaring of NoHo III on the 2007/2008 agenda. We urge you to
write Councilman Gerson to push further on this agenda.
Address: 51 Chambers St., Suite 429, New York, NY 10007
Phone: (212) 788-7722
Fax: (212) 788-7727
Email Address:
gerson@council.nyc.ny.us
See
also 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.
License density within 500 ft
of 1 Bleecker St. |
A new application for
312 Bowery
was listed on this months CB#2 Business Committee calendar.
The applicant did withdrew from this months hearing. The NoHo NA will be opposing
any liquor licensed business at this location
since it has more than 23 licensed establishments within 500 Ft.
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 will be
heard at this months CB#2 Business Committee meeting on Tuesday,
July 10th. |
CB#3
Calendar:
License Density within 500 ft
of Bowery Hotel at 3rd St and Bowery |
The sidewalk café application for
Bowery F&B, 4 E 3rd St (Bowery Hotel)
was denied at the CB#3 Full Board Meeting. Another Public
Hearing at the Dept of Consumer Affairs will be scheduled
where additional public comment will be taken.
An application for
Bowery Restaurant LLC,
Daniel Boulud - Dinex Corp) to be located at 1 Chrystie
Place (next to the Liz Christie Garden) will be heard at
CB#3 on Monday, July 16 .JASA/Green Residence - 200 East
5th Street (btwn Bowery & 2nd Ave). After many
months of conversations, introductions to community
residents and the Liz Christie Garden and negotiations, this
applicant will agree to a Restaurant Only license, will
close at 1:00 a.m. Monday thru Thursday and 2 a.m. Friday
and Saturday, and will make any future plans for a sidewalk
cafe contingent on Community approval. NoHo will endorse
this application - with covenant, attached to license -
hoping that the reputation of this famous restaurateur and
the precedent of the covenant and community cooperation will
affect future restaurant applications at the Avalon Christie
Complex whose ULURP was dependent upon ground floor
commercial revenue.
And then all the details
via Curbed:
BREAKING Exclusive: Daniel Boulud Planning DBGB for the
Bowery [~E~]
·
Boulud on Bowery #01: $29 Hamburgers Coming Soon [~E~]
·
Boulud on Bowery #02: The Floor Plan Revealed!
[~E~]
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Politics...
The SoHo Journal
Politics Blog
covers the issues behind the issues. Beware!
NoHo
Arts
This month we bring you
an announcement from the Bond Street Theater Folks.
Do check the blog and the photography on Flickr.
Dear friends of Bond Street Theatre --
We are back from three months of Artistic-Educational-Humanitarian
projects in India and Afghanistan
!!
As a quick update before our newsletter comes out, here are links
to pictures and stories
from the tour...
The India part of the project was an amazing three-country
collaboration between Bond Street Theatre, Exile Theatre of Afghanistan,
Purvabhyas Theatre of Delhi, Banglanatak in Kolkata, UNICEF, Gandhi
Smriti in Delhi, puppeteer-paper theatre artist Jenny Romaine (Great
Small Works), Gatividhi Theatre in Bihar, Koshish Theatre in Hyderabad,
Spandan Theatre in Bandel, Nandikar Theatre of Kolkata, and many other
Indian artists and organizations that serve the public good.
In Afghanistan, thanks to the Riverside Church Sharing Fund and
TCG-ITI, we collaborated with our friends, Exile Theatre of Kabul, and
worked with the Aschiana Center
for Street-Working Children in Mazar-i-Sharif and Kabul, and met
with artists from Foundation for Culture and Civil Society in Kabul and
Mediothek Girl's Theatre in Kunduz.
From Feb-May 2007, our three-country team created and performed an
entertaining (and educational) street show, "The Kite's
Tale," led training workshops for local artists
working for social change, trained teachers and trainers, and taught
workshops for street-working children, rural women, vocational students,
teens, adults, actors and non-actors.
Here is a link to the Bond Street Blog for an account of the trip
(edited by Sage Clemenco):
www.bondstreetblog.blogspot.com
Here is the link to some great photos from India and Afghanistan on
Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8531076@N05/sets/
We hope you enjoy them!
Best ---
Meghan Frank, Joanna Sherman and Michael McGuigan of Bond Street Theatre
Don't forget to
visit NoHo Arts & Culture
listing over 60 artists and art-supporting institutions in our
neighborhood.
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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