Abingdon Sq. activists retain an attorney

Lawyer Jack Lester, whose specialty is representing community groups in quality of life lawsuits, has been retained by a new group, Friends of Old Abingdon Sq., for a possible lawsuit to block the planned renovation of the historic triangular park at the intersection of Hudson St., W. 12th St. and Eighth Ave. “We’re not at this moment planning a lawsuit,” Lester said. “But we’ll see how things develop. I first want to get a sense from the community what their goals and objectives are and then we’ll talk to the Parks Department and go from there.” The Friends of Old Abingdon Sq. group, which includes Jessie McNab, Betty Rinckwitiz, James Brennan, John Silver, Bill Cornwell, Tom Doyle, Peter Falk and Catherine Revland, recently sent a letter to the Parks Department expressing their concern about aspects of the project and its impact on the park’s historic nature and other features.