Friday, June 14, 2013

Garodnick Sides (Once Again) with Big Real Estate and Mayor Bloomberg


If there's anything that midtown Manhattan doesn't need, it's more development of massively high buildings that block out more sun and sky, create a visual blight, and bring in even more people pouring into already crowded streets.  But as we know, Manhattan is prime real estate, with big money being the major player.  So it's no surprise that our councilman, Dan Garodnick, who has been accepting bucket loads of donations from real estate, would support the further development of midtown Manhattan.

In his latest newsletter....  And, sorry, for interrupting, but the quality and size of the "newsletter" is a complete contradiction and affront to Garodnick's former concern, a few years ago, about going "green" in the production of his newsletters.  The newsletter is of heavy glossy stock, in full color and newspaper long.  Your government at work, with your money....  Anyway, getting back to the disturbing content of the newsletter, all rendered in a pseudo-pleasant "I'm concerned" style, it zeroes in on the development of the East Side of midtown Manhattan from, roughly, 39 Street up to 57 Street, between Fifth and Third Avenues, with a small extension into Second Ave.

In his "Dear Neighbor" opening, Garodnick agrees with Mayor Bloomberg that this area needs to be rezoned.  (I wonder why, if not for the development of higher buildings.)  Garodnick moans over the fact that "there has been limited development in this area" and that "only two new office buildings" have been constructed in the area in the last ten years.  Oh, but don't think he's not concerned:  "While unlocking development potential in this neighborhood is important, we must ensure that it is done thoughtfully and with an eye toward protecting the area's rich history and the environment."

It appears that, concerns notwithstanding, Garodnick will be voting near the end of this year for the Mayor's rezoning proposal which will be, according to the newsletter, "increasing the permitted density of commercial development on many blocks of East Midtown."  And it make me sick to my stomach to see "air rights" mentioned in the proposal as something to be joyfully used rather than revoked.  Air rights are why we see ugly tall spires sticking up in neighborhoods with moderate building size.

You can still make your voice heard (as if that's going to change the big money that's already ruling the game) by calling Garodnick's office at 212-818-0580 and telling his people that you are not in favor of the Mayor's proposed rezoning of East Midtown and/or by filling out the form on the back of his glossy newsletter, if you receive in the mail.

Enough already with destroying Manhattan for Big Business and rich foreigners! 

Now how's about some affordable middle-class housing in Manhattan?

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm all for building taller buildings but I'd rather see it go towards residential then commercial. Isn't there a glut of office space in Manhattan already?

Anonymous said...

I'm not exactly sure where you get the impression from the newsletter you posted that "Garodnick will be voting near the end of this year for the Mayor's rezoning proposal."

First of all, community board members and elected officials including Gardonick have been trashing the way that Bloomberg has been trying to rush the public approval process for the East Midtown East rezoning plan through and how vague the plan is about pedestrian/infrastructure improvements. The plan isn't vague at all about what developers are getting and developers are drooling.

Even steadfast opponents of Bloomberg's plan acknowledge his and Garodnick's concern that East Midtown buildings are getting "older and less competetive" than London and Tokyo who've been busy upgrading their central business districts. One of those opponents is architect Robert AM Stern who thinks a "judicious pruning" of the area around Grand Central is necessary as long as, in Stern's words, we're not "blindly targeting what is oldest for replacement" and as long as we're trying to preserve/develop first.

Bloomberg unveiled his plan in April. That started a six-month review process. Community Boards 5 and 6 have 60 days to review the plan, then it goes to the borough pres and the City Planning Commission, and finally the City Council for a final vote just before the Nov elections.

Garodnick indicates he's still listening and has asked for our thoughts on the rezoning plan in his newsletter. Here are mine: Don't approve the mayor's unpopular plan (NYers oppose it 51% to 35%) right before the end of his unpopular 3rd term, right before a new mayor is elected. Especially when we're talking about such a critical part of the city. We've got time to do it right.

Stuy Town Reporter said...

>>I'm not exactly sure where you get the impression from the newsletter you posted that "Garodnick will be voting near the end of this year for the Mayor's rezoning proposal."<<

If the vote does arrive near the end of the year, Garodnick will vote for the proposal. My prediction.

Anonymous said...

I will vote for anybody ANYBODY who reverse all the crap that Bloomberg and bloody fool Sadik-Khan have done to this city. I'll vote for Canibal Cop, Charles Manson, ANYBODY who will undo the shit that this effete, elite, waddling, pandering little meglomaniac has done. I despise this despotic little asshole. I'll vote for Hannibal Lechter if he will undo all of Bloomberg's retooling of New York City!
OK, I know those people aren't running, but you get the message!

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, community boards don't have the power to overrule the salivating real estate moguls. They will not be denied--unless there's a massive uprising. Check out what's happening with the Seward Park development area and the plan to put luxury housing on public housing space. Who do you think is going to win that one? My bet is on big real estate. Ditto for the Madison Square Garden–Penn Station debacle. Sometimes I wonder how we can delude ourselves that we're living in a democracy when the people regularly get trampled on.

Anonymous said...

So, you're basically condemning Gardonick without a trial (SEE YOUR HEADLINE). Prediction or not, and it wasn't until after the fact (when you were called on it) that you call it a prediction. If a politician were to be so patently political, you'd scream your head off about how unfair that is. Guess what? It is! Yellow journalism by ay other name would be just as yellow. I'm certain, since I'm being critical of your posting and opinion, that you won't let my comment through. My prediction.

Stuy Town Reporter said...

YOUR prediction was wrong, it seems.

Anonymous said...

Thanks again, Dan!

Anonymous said...

8:14 pm, we are not living in a democracy. We are living in a fascist oligarchy. Let us not kid ourselves that we are living in anything even close to a democracy.

Anonymous said...

Do you work in midtown by any chance? I do, and anyone there can tell you the buildings there are a mess and the area does need redev. if its going to stay competitive. Gardnick has been doing a ton to get the community boards heard. This is a stuytown blog, so maybe focus on issues sround there instead of just looking for anything you can hit your coucilmember on.

Stuy Town Reporter said...

>>Do you work in midtown by any chance? I do, and anyone there can tell you the buildings there are a mess and the area does need redev. if its going to stay competitive. Gardnick has been doing a ton to get the community boards heard. This is a stuytown blog, so maybe focus on issues sround there instead of just looking for anything you can hit your coucilmember on.<<

I don't have to work in that area to know what it looks like. I do tour Manhattan with some frequency. And, yes, this is a Stuy Town blog, but it is also my blog, and I can write on anything I believe is pertinent or not pertinent. This is pertinent, as it deals with the general issue of what our politicians and big real estate concerns are turning this city into, and Stuy Town is a part of the city, and Garodnick is our councilman.

Anonymous said...

I remember when Dan as one of his first actions as he helped to lead a protest at Tudor City Park against the big developer Solo. Solo wanted to build a tower so large it would shut all the light of out Tudor City Park.

Although a sunny day, we all brought umbrellas to the protest and opened them all at once to demonstrate the "shadow" that would have been cast if the tower was built.

I think you are being to harsh on Dan. My read of his newsletter is he is taking a balanced approach.

Anonymous said...

Garodnick is Big RE's brown-eyed boy. They LOVE him! He never misses an opportunity to kiss their ass and do their bidding while pretending to be pro-tenant and pro-middle class at the same time.
I wish the TA hadn't invested so much trust and praise in him and had stuck to fighting for rent stabilization and the QOL here.

Stuy Town Reporter said...

>>I think you are being to harsh on Dan.<<

Perhaps. But tell me, 1) Is he accepting donations from real estate? 2) Has he ever stood up to Bloomberg, not in simply disagreeing with the mayor, but in forcefully coming out against one of the mayor's pro-real estate proposals? 3) Did he not "fold" on the issue of the commercialization of Stuy Town after giving a pretty good opposition (in a letter) against it? 4) Is he for turning the Pennsylvania Hotel into a mammoth high-rise office building that will, in effect, congest even more that area of an already unbreathable midtown and destroy forever the postcard view of Manhattan? 5) Has he accepted donations from the very same real estate company that wants to build this high-rise?

Lo Rhent said...

"I do tour Manhattan with some frequency. And, yes, this is a Stuy Town blog, but it is also my blog, and I can write on anything I believe is pertinent or not pertinent."

You rock Mister STR! We no listen to haters here! They go post on mommies board on FB.

Anonymous said...

I'm with STR on this one. I would never vote for Dan Garodnick. I only hope that someone runs against him so I can not only not vote for Garodnick I can actually vote against him.

Anonymous said...

Community Boards 5 and 6 reject the East Midtown rezoning proposal: http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130618/midtown/east-midtown-rezoning-proposal-rejected-by-community-boards

Anonymous said...

What's the big deal with Manhattan? It's dirty, overcrowded, under-served when it comes to public transport (which is very expensive anyway) and is crime-ridden. Why does everybody want to come here? I can't wait to get out!

Anonymous said...

Community board 6 is a total waste. They are responsible for the loss of dozens of parking spots in the neighborhood just now for the bikes and the loss of more than 50 parking spots along AVE C when they tried to turn Ave C into a super highway for buses which also went across 20th street until a child was hit by a bus. Everyone with a brain knew this would happen except the geniuses at CB6. Just about a year ago a woman was punched into a coma and now has brain damage all because there aren't enough parking spaces around here and these Mensa candidates take out more spots. Now the head of CB6 was just elected to the TA. I don't think it's possible to dumb down the TA but this person will give it a shot.