Community Board 1 has rejected the city’s plans for the land it owns on Site 5C behind P.S. 234, saying that the development would overburden Tribeca and the surrounding neighborhoods.
In a resolution passed last week, the community board highlighted its long-standing concerns about the site, bordered by Greenwich, West, Chambers, and Murray Sts. Current plans call for a residential tower of 360 feet, or 36 stories, to be built for about 460 apartments.
Community members say that a development of this size would put undue pressure on the area, increasing traffic along the already clogged artery of Chambers St., delaying the delivery of critical goods and services, and adding more students to already overcrowded local classrooms. In addition, the large complex would cast shadows over Washington Market Park and the P.S. 234 schoolyard during prime usage hours, the resolution said.
In its resolution, C.B. 1 called upon the city, elected officials, and the developer, Scott Resnick, to reduce the bulk of the building to a maximum of a 7.5 floor-area-ratio, and a height of 25 floors. It also asked the city and the developer to investigate the possibility of opening a new entrance to the Chambers St. subway station and other ways to alleviate the overcrowding that a smaller building would still present.
