Briefly Noted: Court Date Set for Save Gansevoort Lawsuit

Readers of WestView News are by now aware that the neighborhood group, Save Gansevoort, has been working for more than a year to challenge a developer’s plans to drastically alter the south side of Gansevoort Street between Washington and Greenwich Streets. This is part of the Gansevoort Market Historic District designated by the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) in 2003. Plans call for replacing the low-rise buildings on the western half of Gansevoort Street with massive structures of greatly increased height. They would block out light and destroy the integrity of the historic marketplace.

In October 2016, Save Gansevoort filed a lawsuit against the developer and the LPC, essentially for not following its own guidelines. For details visit: savegansevoort.org/the-wrong-plan-in-the-wrong-place/october-2016-save-gansevoorts-lawsuit-to-stop-the-massive-gansevoort-development/.

On February 9th, Save Gansevoort won an important legal victory when the judge granted a preliminary injunction that prevents the developer from doing any work on the exteriors of 60-68 and 70-74 Gansevoort Street until the court reaches a decision on the case. Preliminary injunctions are generally difficult to obtain and Save Gansevoort regards this as a hopeful sign as it prepares to follow through on this case. The hearing date has been set for March 8th at 2:15pm, at 60 Centre Street, Room 345. Save Gansevoort urges members of the public to attend. The organization is also asking for contributions from West Village neighbors to help with legal expenses. To donate visit: savegansevoort.org/donate/.

—Martica Sawin

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