FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday May 30, 2021
CONTACT:
Roger Manning, Metro Area Governors Island Coalition (M.A.G.I.C.)
governorsislandcoalition[AT]gmail.com | (email to request phone number)
https://govislandcoalition.org
Governors Island, the facts – City Council lets NYC down – Chin and and Rosenthal dismiss the public
On May 27th 2021 the New York City Council approved a rezoning that will bring in high-density high-rise development to the southern area of Governors Island which currently serves as a unique bucolic green oasis belonging to all New Yorkers. While GI is a citywide resource, it is located in District 1 – that of outgoing Council Member Margaret Chin. The Council Member negotiated a severely inadequate set of modifications to the proposal which now circles back to its source, the Mayor, for approval.
Phone conversations between M.A.G.I.C. and various Council Member offices earlier in the week revealed a consistent lack of familiarity with the Governors Island rezoning plan details and Governors Island in general.
The approved proposal:
– Is fiscally and environmentally irresponsible.
– Allows building heights 3x higher than Outlook Hill on the South Island.
– Allows 3.7M sq ft of development and 200 parking spaces on a small traffic-free oasis.
Vote details: https://govislandcoalition.org/news/may-27-2021-city-council-sells-out-governors-island
A Before and After Gallery: https://govislandcoalition.org/galleries/before-and-after-gallery
Deconstructing remarks from Council Member Chin and Council Member Rosenthal made during Wednesday’s session serve to illustrate the Council’s shortcomings.
Full transcriptions below the comments (from https://livestream.com/accounts/17376047/events/9081844/videos/221656462)
From Council Member Chin remarks at 24:50:
” GI is a treasure for the city not… even though it’s located in my district. Everyone enjoys it. And it’s a gem.”
— TRUE. And it is extremely disingenuous to lay claim to that while selling Governors Island out to overdevelopment.
“And one of this rezoning we were able to do is that we protected um, the parklands and expanded open space.”
— FALSE. As Community Board 1 points out, the South Island’s current ‘open space subarea’ is not legally designated parkland and lacks related protections. And “Open space” is not just pedestrian access and areas boxed in by 10 – 22 story buildings and non-public areas as the Trust and the Council Member are selling it.
“And I’ve heard, you know, from constituents, from stakeholders, the community board, the borough president – um, they want to be able to preserve this beautiful Space.”
— But the Council Member has effectively sold it out to developers. Both the Borough President and Community Board 1 recommended a “NO with conditions” on the proposal and Chin’s modified 225ft(plus) height is double their recommendations. Any new construction should be kept to a minimum and not exceed the four-story height of buildings in the historic district. Also, Community Board 1 has repeatedly requested a formal parkland designation for the open space subarea of the southern island. Without it a future anchor tenant could apply to expand there.
“But GI also, was also meant to be mixed use so that it can uh help sustain itself.”
— TRUE – and it’s already mixed, even though The Trust left several of the current uses off their plan. Mixed use or not, high rise, high density development is completely unnecessary and ruinous of the island’s bucolic environment. It’s only purpose is to attract big developers.
“It takes a lot of resources and money to restore all those historic buildings on the island that provide a lot of great diverse cultural programs, um for the city.”
— This repzoning won’t pay for the Island’s needs – at least not until 2050 according to the Trust for Governors Island’s own speculative projections. Meanwhile it’ll cost taxpayers billions. Community Board 1 has repeatedly raised flags about the Trust’s lack of transparency because they have not opened their books when asked to explain their projections and thus deemed the Trust’s financial analysis insufficient. A City Planning commissioner said approval would be akin to the city giving the Trust a blank check for an unspecified project.
“But also we have a wonderful Harbor School that has a real diverse population of high school students coming from all boroughs. And they will have an opportunity to expand the school. And the school, the new expansion will have a gym, and guess what? A pool! I mean, the kids need to learn how to swim if they want to go diving, you know – for oysters, and fixing up our harbor. “
— Irrelevant regarding the upzoning – aside from the huge shadows new high rises will cast upon the school. The Harbor School buildings are outside of the “development zones.”
“And – on the island we have composting! – where we support – this is… um, so these are all the things that Earth Matter, they’ll be able to stay there and expand.”
— FALSE. Their lease has been extended for 5 years – construction probably wouldn’t start in that area before then anyway. Then what? They’ll be shunted aside and squeezed into the take-it-or-leave-it one acre that the Trust has been planning to assign them to? And what about GrowNYC? Billion Oyster Project?
“And I really urge my colleagues to take the time to visit the island and see how much open and green space there are.”
— Implying that there’s so much “open and green space” on GI that it’s fine to box it all with dense development. In any case, anyone who has yet to spend time on Governors Island shouldn’t be voting on it’s future.
“And you can just walk around the island and look at the waterfront, look at the Statue of Liberty “
— TRUE – there’s no other place with a wide open view like GI – but the development will block much of that.
“and really help us make sure GI will be sustainable for the future generation. So I really urge my colleagues to support. Thank you.”
— This upzoning won’t pay for the Island’s needs etc …
From Council Member Chin remarks at 40:22
“There’s still lots of questions, open space park space there. There’s a beautiful new park with a three feet, you know … three story slide. I really encourage my colleagues to go there and take a look and see how much open space there is.”
— Again Implying that there’s so much “open and green space” on GI that it’s fine to box it in with overdevelopment.”
“But we need, you know, sustainability for that island. And that’s why there has to be some development there.
— Making Governors Island “sustainable” – as in “financially sustainable” – in other words, “tough luck for the environment, and the community.” This upzoning goes way beyond “some” development and won’t pay for the Island’s needs. The costs will be picked up by the taxpayers until at least 2050 according to The Trust’s own projections. This rezoning changes the land use from public recreation and enjoyment and small green non profit ventures to authorizing hotel, office and research for a narrow clientele of people. There are no partners and no existing need for this overdevelopment.Development 3 times the height of the South Island’s Overlook Hill is wrong here. Any new construction should be kept to a minimum and not exceed the four-story height of buildings in the historic district.
“And there will be more towards educational, climate change… And, it’ll be …it’s positive.”
— Any discussion regarding a climate research center here is irrelevant. This is a proposal to upzone the south island, period. There’s nothing legally requiring a climate center tenant and the proposed blanket C4-1 zoning potentially subjects all areas in the south island to eventual development. In fact, Governors Island is already productive as a climate hub, thanks to the work of Earth Matter, GrowNYC, Billion Oyster Project, the Harbor School, NYC Audubon, Waterfront Alliance, and others. The development sites are situated in a floodplain. Building a campus of new buildings in a floodplain counters the very nature of climate change action.
“I know there’s some advocates out there criticizing, oh, “you’re destroying open space, it’s not open space.” Go out there and visit the island. Ok. Because the island is open for everyone.”
— “Some”? There are thousands. And M.A.G.I.C. members have spent infinitely more time on Governors Island than Council Member Chin or apparently any other City Council Member – therefore our passion to protect the place. We recently gave a walking tour for which no Council Members made time for. Our team includes a key GI historian. And “Open space” is not just pedestrian access and areas boxed in by 10 – 22 story buildings and non-public areas as the Trust and the Council Member are selling it.
“And the Harbor School – look at the diverse population of the Harbor School. And the future of our kids who will have great jobs, and good paying jobs. And see how enthusiastic they are in doing composting with Earth Matter on Governors Island. So come out and visit.”
— Irrelevant regarding the upzoning and certainly doesn’t justify selling out this public resource.
From Council Member Rosenthal’s remarks at 1:00:48
“But I do just want to say on GI um, you know my office did also receive quite a bit of email, um about it. But what’s so admirable about Margaret Chin is she listened … she, she has the capacity to sort of cut out the noise “
— “Noise”? Is that how the Council Member views input from the actual public? That would include thousands of GI visitors, creators, environmentalists and the over 70 groups listed here: https://govislandcoalition.org/governors-island-community-sign-on-statement/#signees
“and listen to the people who will be directly affected by this rezoning.”
— Referring to the groups given space on the island who don’t feel to be in a position to speak against their landlord’s plan. The Council Member excludes the reported million annual visitors to Governors Island – of which the overwhelming majority have not been informed about the proposed rezoning. Almost none of the visitors M.A.G.I.C. spoke with while canvasing on the island during May 2021 knew of the rezoning and nearly all were appalled.
“She satisfied the needs of the Harbor School.”
— Irrelevant regarding the upzoning – aside from the huge shadows new high rise development will cast upon the school. The Harbor School buildings are outside of the “development zones.”
“She satisfied the needs of the, um Governors Island alliance.”
— Which needs? Btw, that group hasn’t been called that since 2016. The Friends of Governors Island is currently dominated by real estate and development firms.
See:
https://govislandcoalition.org/governors-island-boards-members-and-backgrounds
And:
https://govislandcoalition.org/news/m-a-g-i-c-4-20-21-gotham-gazette-op-ed-with-friends-like-that
” … and yes, there is going to be some development on the island.”
— “Some”?? There will be unnecessary 225-plus-foot-high structures built on top of urban farmland and looming over parkland, a historic district, and a school on a small, currently bucolic island.
“But I just want to make clear how cynical it would be of me – representing Central Park and Riverside Park – parks who can fund-raise on their own, um, to pass judgment on GI which has tried for so long to raise money and just can’t. And so what Margaret did is listen and to, uh make sure this rezoning went through. And I just want to reiterate how much I admire her for doing that. And thank you for that.”
— This upzoning won’t pay for the Island’s needs – at least not until 2050 according to the Trust for Governors Island’s (TGI) own speculative projections. Meanwhile it’ll cost taxpayers billions.Community Board 1 says the Trust’s financial analysis is insufficient. A City Planning commissioner said approval would be akin to the city giving the Trust a blank check for an unspecified project.
More info at: https://govislandcoalition.org
A M.A.G.I.C. alternative plan: https://govislandcoalition.org/a-magic-plan
Full transcriptions from https://livestream.com/accounts/17376047/events/9081844/videos/221656462
Council Member Chin @ 1 24:50:
“I wanted to speak on the Governors Island rezoning. And I first of all wanted to really thank my colleagues um, my speaker um, for really pushing this forward and supporting it. And my colleague Council Member Moya for holding the subcommittee hearings for so many many hours. You know, every time my district has a rezoning, ah it comes to his committee and all the committee members and also the land use chair Council Member Salamanca. Um, GI is a treasure for the city not… even though it’s located in my district. Everyone enjoys it. And it’s a gem. And one of this rezoning we were able to do is that we protected um, the parklands and expanded open space. And I’ve heard, you know, from constituents, from stakeholders, the community board, the borough president – um, they want to be able to preserve this beautiful Space. But GI also, was also meant to be mixed use so that it can uh help sustain itself. It takes a lot of resources and money to restore all those historic buildings on the island that provide a lot of great diverse cultural programs um for the city. But also we have a wonderful Harbor School that has a real diverse population of high school students coming from all boroughs. And they will have an opportunity to expand the school. And the school, the new expansion will have a gym, and guess what? A pool! I mean, the kids need to learn how to swim if they want to go diving, you know – for oysters, and fixing up our harbor. And – on the island we have composting! – where we support – this is… um, so these are all the things that Earth Matter, they’ll be able to stay there and expand. Um, and all the wonderful things that’s there and expanding ferry service. And I really urge my colleagues to take the time to visit the island and see how much open and green space there are. And you can just walk around the island and look at the waterfront, look at the Statue of Liberty and really help us make sure GI will be sustainable for the future generation. So I really urge my colleagues to support. Thank you.”
Council Member Chin @ 40:22
“I didn’t get a chance to thank our fantastic land use staff – – Raju Mann, Angelina Martinez-Rubio, and Chelsea Kelley. I mean we work on months … and my land use director Anthony Drummond. I mean it takes months and months and months of discussion and negotiation with the GI team. Um, also with the mayor’s office – I want to thank Sean Fitzpatrick. It takes a lot of work to come to this resolution, um, on what’s best for GI going forward. There’s still lots of questions, open space park space there. There’s a beautiful new park with a three feet, you know … three story slide. I really encourage my colleagues to go there and take a look and see how much open space there is. But we need, you know, sustainability for that island. And that’s why there has to be some development there. And there will be more towards educational, climate change… And, it’ll be …it’s positive. I know there’s some advocates out there criticizing, oh, “you’re destroying open space, it’s not open space.” Go out there and visit the island. Ok. Because the island is open for everyone. And the Harbor School – look at the diverse population of the Harbor School. And the future of our kids who will have great jobs, and good paying jobs. And see how enthusiastic they are in doing composting with Earth Matter on Governors Island. So come out and visit.”
Council Member Rosenthal @ 1:00:48
“But I do just want to say on GI um, you know my office did also receive quite a bit of email, um about it. But what’s so admirable about Margaret Chin is she listened … she, she has the capacity to sort of cut out the noise and listen to the people who will be directly affected by this rezoning. She satisfied the needs of the Harbor School. She satisfied the needs of the, um Governors Island alliance. You know I … and yes, there is going to be some development on the island. I don’t think ah, and I support my colleague Council Member Chin 100% and I’m voting yes on that resolution. But I just want to make clear how cynical it would be of me – representing Central Park and Riverside Park – parks who can fund-raise on their own, um, to pass judgment on GI which has tried for so long to raise money and just can’t. And so what Margaret did is listen and to, uh make sure this rezoning went through. And I just want to reiterate how much I admire her for doing that. And thank you for that.
#GovernorsIsland #TreesNotTowers #DefendGI #Pagganck #LessIsMore #OpenSpace #MargaretChin #HelenRosenthal