On December 7, 2020, DID membership approved a Resolution to Pause and Revise the City’s Plan for SoHo/NoHo.
The following letter was included with the resolution:
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Hon. Bill de Blasio |
Hon. Gale Brewer |
Hon. Carlina Rivera |
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Hon. Corey Johnson |
Hon. Margaret Chin |
Dear Mayor de Blasio, Borough President Brewer, and Council Members Chin and Rivera,
Enclosed please find a Resolution approved by Downtown Independent Democrats General Membership on December 7, 2020:
Resolution to Pause and Revise the City’s Plan for SoHo/NoHo
The City’s current plan creates significant value for current property owners, and incentivizes office development and big-box retail instead of adaptive reuse, new affordable housing and the preservation of the significant stock of affordable housing.
DID urges the City to complete promised studies and additional analysis after the pandemic state of emergency has lifted and to develop a plan that:
- Maintains the integrity of the impacted Historic Districts,
- Guarantees greater opportunities for affordable housing,
- Addresses displacement,
- Includes zoning that allows office to residential conversion and does not incentivize office and dormitory over residential use or big-box retail over small business,
- Defines clear “mechanisms” to legalize existing residential occupancies incorporating public review and input, and,
- Presents an economic analysis of the upzoning and how the Plan will impact transferable development rights.
Sincerely,
Richard Corman
President, Downtown Independent Democrats
Enclosure
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cc: Hon. Chuck Schumer, U.S. Senator |
Hon. Brad Hoylman, NY State Senator |