Letters to the Editor

Volume 2, Number 10 | The Weekly Newspaper of Chelsea | December 14 - 20, 2007

"Support businesses and organizations that support Chelsea Now"

Impact will be historic

To The Editor:
I write to express my concerns about the recently announced plans by St. Vincent’s Hospital and the Rudin family to demolish and redevelop eight sites in the Greenwich Village Historic District.

I am very concerned about the size and height of the new proposed hospital building. At more than 300 feet in height and nearly a half million square feet, this would be by far the largest building built since the designation of the Greenwich Village Historic District and one of the tallest ever in all of Greenwich Village.

I am very concerned about the size and height of the proposed new apartment block on the east side of Seventh Ave. Both buildings will be substantially bigger and taller than St. Vincent’s Coleman building, a substantially out-of-context building already.

I am very concerned that the plan includes demolition of every one of the hospital’s current buildings, including those which are as much as 85 years old. Historic districts are supposed to protect all but the newest or most out-of-context or architecturally undistinguished buildings from demolition, which is not the case for several of the hospital’s buildings. Those buildings could easily be preserved and reused.

While I am glad that St. Vincent’s has said they will work with the community to create a more appropriate and useable green space on the “triangle” site (bounded by Greenwich and Seventh Aves. and 12th St.), I believe it is imperative that the hospital commit to a definite plan for the renovation of this site with the community before it goes through the approval process for the remainder of the plan.
Laurie Graff

Fires back for McKenna’s

To The Editor:
Re “C.B. 2 shoots down McKenna’s request for support” (news article, Nov. 23):

I am appalled by the stupidity that Community Board 2 showed by trying to deny the transfer of the liquor license of McKenna’s Pub. I have known Brian and his ongoing dedication to the community for over seven years. If only one in a thousand people that live in the Village gave as much dedication, time and money to improve the welfare of the Village as he has, the Village would be a far better place to live.

Yes, in the past there were incidents that occurred near or in the bar, but how can any establishment be blamed for what goes on beyond its control?

After those unfortunate incidents occurred, Brian saw that adjustments needed to be made to his restaurant and he made them. One in particular was the elimination of a pool table after he realized it was drawing a clientele that was neither beneficial to his business nor to the surrounding community as it was changing over the years. The smoking ban brought other conflicts that affected all bars in New York, not only McKenna’s. He tried to adjust to that ban by using the available space at hand and was crucified for trying to balance between customer and community. Unfortunately, it appears the loudmouths rule the board.

There seems to be a surplus of craggy old hags, both male and female, that have infiltrated Community Board 2, and the only change they want is to return to the “good old days” when Jane Jacobs walked the streets proclaiming a brave new world. She left the city and moved north. Perhaps three-quarters of C.B. 2 should do the same. Hopefully, their move would allow for some intelligent change in the community.

As a postscript, I’m glad to see that the State Liquor Authority had the intelligence to see beyond the petty crap that blocked the vision of C.B. 2 and saw fit to transfer the license. Thanks to the S.L.A., McKenna’s Pub is now open and doing a successful business across the street from its previous venue.
Lou Scrima

Pigeon-feeding ban is cold

To The Editor:
Re “Feeding-ban bill has pigeons on a wing and a prayer” (news article, Dec. 7):

In light of Councilman Simcha Felder’s proposal to ban feeding pigeons, it’s worth remembering that it isn’t the pigeons’ fault that they’re here and they’re hungry. People brought pigeons to New York, set them free, and they have now added to the growing population of our urban wildlife.

Suddenly cutting off food for these animals that have grown to depend on human handouts is just as cruel as suddenly not feeding your dog and expecting him to somehow find his dinner on his own. Felder’s ban will leave pigeons to slowly starve to death in the coldest part of winter.

PETA supports humane ways of reducing the pigeon population, such as lacing pigeon food with OvoControl, a highly effective oral contraceptive that thins the number of birds by reducing their fertility.
Laura Brown
Brown is special projects liaison, Domestic Animal and Wildlife Rescue and Information Department, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

Not at ‘Nighthawks’ site

To The Editor:
Re “M.T.A. tower and street-bed site options fan fears” (news article, Nov. 30):

Site P1, the so-called “tile-ringed parking lot,” is important for another reason. If I’m not mistaken, it was the location of the now-famous diner in Edward Hopper’s painting “Nighthawks” — the painting that’s been re-created with Elvis, Marilyn Monroe and James Dean. The background is Greenwich Ave., Site P1. Enough said.
Joanne Milazzo