City Council Committee Approves Tech Hub Without Full Neighborhood Protections

NEW YORK CITY—On Thursday, the city council’s zoning subcommittee voted to approve rezoning the site at 124 E. 14th St., to allow the 21-story Union Square tech hub. Pressure was on councilmember Carlina Rivera who represents the area where the structure would be built, and the surrounding East Village residential neighborhood.

Other council members will likely defer to her vote when the proposal goes before the full city council next week because the rezoning concerns her district.

Rivera had previously said that like her predecessor, former councilmember Rosie Mendez, she would vote for the tech hub rezoning only if development restrictions were added. Large numbers of community members showed up at all of the public meetings throughout the ULURP (Uniform Land Use Review Procedure) process to request protection for the East Village and Greenwich Village. They say without zoning and landmark protections, the tech hub will bring about out-of-character, out-of-scale commercial developments, tech office buildings and high-rise condominiums, harming the historic character and human scale of the Village.

But REBNY president John H. Banks endorsed the vote saying it would help create jobs and affordable housing. “Council speaker Johnson and councilmembers Salamanca, Moya, Rivera and Rodriguez, along with members of the subcommittee should be commended for focusing on what is in the city’s best, long-term interest,” he says.

Andrew Berman, executive director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation expressed deep disappointment with the committee’s approving the rezoning without the full protections that had been discussed. “Councilmember Rivera publicly pledged during her campaign that she would not vote for the tech hub without the comprehensive neighborhood protections what have been under discussion for more than two years. This falls short of that pledge she made to her constituents,” he adds.

New York City Economic Development Corp. and developer RAL Cos. plan to demolish the 12-story, city-owned structure at 124 E. 14th St. RAL will build a 258,000 square-foot office and retail tower on the land rented from the city for 99 years. The non-profit Civic Hall will rent six floors, and run a digital training center and flexible co-working spaces. RAL will lease the other floors at market rate.

Community Board 3 had proposed a resolution in support of the tech hub. Working with GVSHP, it added language requesting rezoning the Third and Fourth Avenue corridors, adding building height limitations and affordable housing, and excluding certain use groups such as hotels and big box stores.

But Berman says the mayor has refused to include language limiting development.

The developers and many community members emphasize the tech hub will provide needed training and jobs to people without access to these types of educational opportunities.

This week, Microsoft announced a $100,000 grant to Civic Hall for the planning and development of the Tech Training Center. James Patchett, president and CEO, NYCEDC, says Microsoft’s support will help diversify this fast-growing industry to ensure greater participation in the 21st century economy.

Community Board 3 chair Alysha Lewis-Coleman praised the tech hub and the Microsoft grant for helping to create a business incubator and community programs.

Joshua Wein, financial director of RAL development services also emphasizes the positive impact the tech training center will have on the city and the Union Square area, with its outreach to students, teachers, immigrants and those with barriers to digital training.

In an issued statement, RAL praised the committee vote as an important step forward. The company says it’s dedicated to developing a model for inclusive community and economic impact, supporting local entrepreneurs and industries.

RAL’s statement concludes: “We look forward to continuing our dialog with the community and local officials, working together to make sure the Tech Training Center responds to the community’s needs and becomes a vibrant addition to the iconic Union Square area in Lower Manhattan.”

At the vote, Rivera said she planned to continue negotiations with the mayor’s office to reach a deal that would satisfy all affected communities.