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Volume 2, Number 20 | The Weekly Newspaper of Chelsea | February 15 - 21, 2008
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The Buzz
WINNING THE FIGHT FOR LIGHT AND AIR Less than a week after Cheslea Now editorialized against a proposal by the American Institute of Architects to amend the city’s Zoning Text, word comes down that the AIA officially scrapped its bid seeking further design capabilities in areas currently mandated to remain untouched for free flow of light and air. Simeon Bankoff, executive director of the Historic Districts Council, excitedly e-mailed Wednesday to thank all who worked at opposing the plan for its lack of public review. According to a letter from the AIA to the Department of City Planning on Tuesday, the organization dropped its application “to allow for more time for public discussion of the portions of the Zoning Resolution which limit the ability of architects to create good design.” Critics of the plan, however, saw the “good design” effort as an attempt to maximize buildable space to further homogenize citywide design and choke out necessary light and air. The lack of broader public vetting further infuriated opponents—who counted, among others, future mayoral candidate and current City Council Zoning Committee chairperson Tony Avella among their ranks. “As word got out, opposition increased exponentially,” Avella told Chelsea Now. “It’s obviously a victory for every neighborhood that’s fighting against overdevelopment.” Even members of Community Board 4, who acknowledged they agreed with some of the proposed amendments, indicated the withdrawal might be for the best. “It was pretty fast on its feet,” said Board 4 district manager Robert Benfatto, adding he wasn’t surprised by the AIA pulling out. “I don’t think it’s a bad thing to have further review.” Benfatto noted, however, that the AIA would probably bring forward another proposal in the future. Bankoff sounded similarly expectant: “We look forward to working with the Department of City Planning and other interested parties should they chooses to revisit this issue.”
Koch kibitzing: Although Barack Obama has really been knocking Hillary Clinton for a loop lately, former Mayor Ed Koch still feels his candidate can right her campaign. “I’m for Hillary from now until the very last day,” Koch told Chelsea Now last week. “I’m hopeful that she will overcome this patch — I think of it as just a patch — that’s causing her agita undoubtedly at the moment, and that she will prevail. No campaign goes perfectly smoothly — and he’s been doing better than expected.” Then Koch surprised us by saying, “I still think the ticket will be Hillary-Barack.” Koch explained that the two leading candidates are going to have to unite the Democratic votership to defeat Republican John McCain, whom Koch called “a very strong candidate.” What if the ticket were Obama-Clinton, rather than the other way around? “No — the age factor,” Koch said. “He can wait [for another run at president]. She’s past childbearing age. She’s too old.” Plus, Hillary has always hungered for the presidency — “I think probably since she first met Bill,” Koch said — so she won’t accept vice president. But is it over for Hillary if she doesn’t win Ohio and Texas on March 4, as Clinton strategist James Carville recently stated? “I was shocked when he said that,” Koch admitted, adding that Carville’s saying so has now made it true. The former mayor added he might consider supporting Mike Bloomberg if he tosses his hat into the ring, but that likelihood is seeming less and less likely, according to Koch. “I think that’s over,” Hizzoner said of a potential Bloomberg bid. Pundits think Bloomberg’s reluctance comes from the strength of Obama and his chance at being the country’s first black president. “He’s not going to stand in the way of Obama,” Koch agreed. Koch doesn’t foresee Ralph Nader making a late entry into the race, either: “He’s lost his credibility, running too many times.” Koch predicted McCain’s vice president will not be Mike Huckabee. “Nobody who doesn’t believe in evolution can be president or vice president,” Koch scoffed, noting he thinks McCain’s choice for V.P. will be Governor Charlie Crist of Florida.
APPLE’S BATHROOM BOON Patrons at the city’s newest and largest Apple Store on W. 14th St. finally have a place to wash up before handling all that expensive merchandise, as a tipster to Chelsea Now reported that the Meatpacking District location has installed a bathroom at the site since opening back in December. Westbeth resident Toni Dalton first stated that the facility opened inside the three-story space, and a call to the store confirmed that the new washroom opened on the top floor just last month. Dalton complained previously that the mod showroom once inhabited by Western Beef and now flooded with Apple fans lacked a requisite relief station, and the she was even once told to head north to the Chelsea Market when she inquired about a commode. Dalton added she didn’t bother checking out the new facility, as she didn’t feel like schlepping up to the third floor and “just wanted to get out of there.”
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