Volume One, Issue 23, March 2 - March 8, 2007
The Buzz
G.T.S. DELAY TACTICS:
Last Friday, the General Theological Seminary canceled its Tuesday hearing with the Landmarks Preservation Commission to decide the fate of its hotly debated Ninth Avenue tower proposal. The Seminary decided to postpone the hearing at the end of last week, because it is trying to develop its affordable housing proposal before going in front of Landmarks, according to Maureen Burnley, G.T.S.’s executive vice president for finance and operations. “We expect to get on their docket by the end of March and no later than April,” she said. Nearby residents were surprised. “I wish they’d have let us know before we incurred the time and expense of sending out 800–900 letters announcing the hearing,” said Bob Trentlyon, founder of Save the Chelsea Historic District, a group of area residents opposed to G.T.S.’s plan. “It was inconvenient to say the least.” Landmarks holds two hearings a month; the next available dates are March 6, March 20 and April 3.
LOEHMANN’S SKIRTS TRANS ISSUE:
After the paper closed last week, Loehmann’s Public Affairs Representative Fred Forcellati finally returned Chelsea Now’s call about their settlement with Jane Garra, a transgender woman who had been denied access to the store’s fitting rooms and restrooms. At first, he would only say that Loehmann’s was pleased that the situation had been resolved, and that the store wasn’t planning any special training to teach their employees about transgender issues. But when asked if he agreed with transgender advocates like Pauline Park, director of the New York Association of Gender Rights Advocacy (NYAGRA), who say the Bloomberg administration isn’t doing enough to educate employers, he burst out: “Yes, it would be great if the city had a guideline for us on this.” If Loehmann’s didn’t know about the city’s human rights law, which was changed in 2002 to explicitly protect transgenders, it might be a shock to Avery Melman of the Commission on Human Rights, who has spent a fair amount of time and money developing crystal clear guides for just such an occasion.
REAL ESTATE BROUHAHA:
C.B. 5’s Land Use and Zoning Committee meeting was raucous on Wednesday night. First, what co-chair Miele Rockefeller had thought would be a technical decision on air-rights transfers, from the Hirschfield and other theaters to a 56-story building on 45th Street and Seventh Avenue, was held up when board members Kevin Finnegan and Joyce Matz protested that the developer, the Extel Corporation, had neither a proposed design nor a commitment for the building’s purpose. “I think it’s insulting,” said Finnegan. An even bigger brouhaha followed when Brian Dinnerstein and others from the Department of City Planning presented zoning changes under consideration for the Garment District. The meeting was packed with garment-industry entrepeneurs, including Paul Cavazza of Create A Marker, Inc., Samantha Cortez of Fashion Design Concepts, and Helen Uffner, who were furious at the department’s plan to allow hotels, bars and more office space into the area, where they can’t find affordable space. Interestingly, when the department treated C.B. 4’s Land Use Committee last month to the same preview of their plans, it was all very casual and informal, said district manager Bob Benfatto, who added that the committee thought the plan looked okay. Even the plan to allow more bars and clubs seemed doable, said Benfatto: “After all, they’re close to Times Square.” That, of course, is exactly what the factory owners were protesting: “They want to bring 42nd Street down here, including 42nd Street prices!” said Cortez.
Wigged out over Trump:
A demonstration against the 45-story Trump Soho condo-hotel is planned for Sun., March 4, at 1 p.m. at the project’s site, Spring and Varrick Sts.
