If you haven’t heard yet, Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen is in danger.
Real danger.
Plans are afoot to rezone Eighth Avenue to allow massive
skyscrapers on the west side of the street, invading the
neighborhood and side streets. Other proposals involve expanding
the Javits Center up to 42nd Street, building a new Yankee
Stadium in southern Hell’s Kitchen, redeveloping the Coliseum
and rezoning the area between 10th and 12th Avenues, which could
allow a Trump-like Riverside South.
Progress is fine, but it needs to be rational and it needs to
involve the Clinton community---not be imposed. Many community
residents have recently come together to form the "Clinton
Special District Coalition" to organize the community and to
work with politicians and the Community Board.
Earlier this fall, a single-room-occupancy hotel at 300
West 48th Street was partially demolished, illegally and
is a triple-whammy for the neighborhood.
NYC Local Law 19 requires a "certificate of no harassment"
whenever SRO buildings are altered or demolished. We’re losing
SROs all over the place, and they’re an important part if this
neighborhood’s housing. The partially demolished SRO is also in
the Special Clinton District and the owner had not obtained the
certificate of no harassment---which is required for ALL buildings
in the district. But most telling, this SRO is on Eighth Avenue,
where developers are lining up and salivating over how to tear
down what they consider a "perimeter" and "expendable"
neighborhood.
So you thought the assault on the rent laws was over. Think
again. You know who -- the boogey-men -- your landlords -- can come
after you in a variety of ways. If they can’t completely get rid
of tenant protections, they can pay politicians to zone you out
of existence. Round Two -- except here we don’t have Joe Bruno or
George Pataki.
For more information, go to Hell's Kitchen Online
