Download PDF version HERE
Excerpted from the 12/22/20 Resolution:
- The city’s current proposed rezoning in its current form needs to be rejected in order to: “ensure the protection and preservation of the natural, cultural and historic qualities of Governors Island, guarantee public access to this magnificent island, promote the quality of public education, and enhance the ability of the public to enjoy Governors Island and the surrounding waterways, thereby increasing the quality of life in the surrounding community, the City, the State and the United States.”
- Currently, Governors Island has a village-type, modest urban density. In terms of mass and height, the proposed development is substantially larger than the existing development on the Island. A majority of public comments indicate that it is the existing density and scale that gives Governors Island its identity as an island refuge in its highly urbanized context within the city
- [The current TGI proposal] is nearly three times larger than what was considered as part of the 2013 FSGEIS […]the public’s understanding for the development program was based on those earlier models and the drastic increase in scale of development is unacceptable
- The Trust must prioritize phasing development to allow for leasing the existing millions of square feet already existing on the Island prior to the construction of new buildings
- CB1 asks that the Trust identify and consider what the State and Federal government each provide currently to the Island and how this might be increased under the new administration to provide additional support to the Island
- The Trust asserts that the proposed level of development is required in order to make the Island financially self-sustaining. However, there is no mandate in the Deed that notes the Trust must become financially self-sustaining
- Financial and other modeling done in connection with this proposed project were conducted using assumptions on pre-pandemic conditions. […]the community does not have confidence that this proposal will develop as expected. Many have expressed fear over an undesirable result, such as more privatization on Island
- In July 1997, […] CB1 wished that Governors Island be kept as a park land with active, open recreational space. Further, that “one thing that Community Board 1 does not want to see happen is for Governors Island to be converted into some kind of private or semi private area that would prohibit residents and workers and tourists from coming onto the Island. That would include residential communities or campuses.”
Full original meeting PDF here(GI rezoning starts on page 17):
https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/manhattancb1/downloads/pdf/resolutions/20-12-22%20(2).pdf