Observer » Manhattan Community Board

NYU: We Will Build Plant Under Mercer Street

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 12:15:00 -0400

New York University announced on Wednesday that it will pursue construction of a new $110 million co-generation power plant under Mercer Street, between West 3rd and 4th streets. The construction will last around two years.

"The decision comes after months of conversation and negotiations between NYU and members of the local community, including Councilman Alan Gerson [and] Community Board 2," NYU administrators said in a release.

While the decision is sure to please most of the larger Village community--no construction under Gould Plaza means that the classrooms below will largely remain intact and the some 600 students who use the rooms weekly will not be sent scattering around the area--the businesses and residents along that particular block of Mercer Street will surely be a little agitated: Namely, the residents of 250 Mercer (the Mercer Street Block Association) and the owner of Think Coffee, Jason Scherr. As The Observer reported earlier this month, they have been extremely vocal in their opposition to the proposed "Mercer Street Option."

Full release after the jump.

- David Foxley

NYU Announces Site for New Co-Generation Plant

Mercer Street Option Selected Following Input from Local Community

New York University today announced the location of the new co-generation power plant will be under Mercer Street between West 3rd Street and West 4th Street. The decision comes after months of conversation and negotiations between NYU and members of the local community, including Councilman Alan Gerson, Community Board 2.

The upgrade and capacity expansion of NYU's 30-year old co-generation plant will allow the University to significantly reduce pollutants and emissions in the area. It will also significantly increase efficiency and allow NYU to take an additional 23 buildings off of the over-taxed power grid, bringing the total amount of buildings powered by co-generation to 30.

"We are extremely pleased that we were able to work with the community to come to a decision on this," said Dr. Alicia D. Hurley, NYU Associate Vice President for Government and Community Affairs. "This is a really good project that is beneficial not only to NYU, but the local community and even the world, and it was important to us that the community be a part of the conversation."

The new co-generation, or Combined Heat and Power (CHP), technologies support the generation of heat and power from the same fuel source that uses thermal energy for heating and cooling. The benefits to NYU's installation of this new equipment include significant reductions in emissions, increased energy efficiency, and decreased reliance on the already-taxed power grid.

The project will take approximately two years to construct and the approved siting of the plant on Mercer Street will allow all of the equipment to be placed below ground. At the end of the project, NYU will build a vibrant, green public space above the site. The University will launch the process of the re-designed space in the next few months and will rely heavily on community input in that process.

"All of the scientific evidence points to the fact that we are facing a global crisis and it is incumbent upon universities and other large institutions to emerge as leaders in committing to the reduction of our environmental footprint," continued Dr. Hurley. "This project allows us, in one fell swoop, to dramatically reduce pollution and emissions and our hope is that this will start our conversation with the community to explore other ways to be an environmentally sound community."

The project is the mainspring of NYU's "Green Action Plan," which was announced by Michael Alfano, NYU's executive vice president, in October with the goal of improving NYU's environmental footprint and saving energy. At that time, the University announced the purchase of 118,000,000 KWh of wind energy, the largest of any university in the U.S. or any institution in New York City. In January, the United States Environmental Protection Agency announced the nation's top 25 "Green Power Purchasers" and NYU ranked number thirteen and first among the nation's universities.

NYU and the community had considered the option of putting the co-generation plant partially under Gould Plaza and partially under Mercer Street, but came to a consensus that Mercer Street would be the most beneficial and least disruptive to the wider community. After multiple months of meetings and discussions, Manhattan Community Board 2 voted unanimously (with seven abstentions) in favor of locating the project under the Mercer Plaza.

The NY Historical Society’s ‘Trojan Horse’ vs. Mass Emailing

Wed, 07 Feb 2007 13:17:35 -0400

Whenever an email comes our way with the title THE NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S TROJAN HORSE: JUST SAY "NO!", our interest is officially perked. Apparently, Landmark West is launching a letter-writting campaign to "save our skyline (SOS)" from the looming tower atop the NY Historical Society. Here's their alarmed message in full:

In our last email, we reported on the New-York Historical Society's weak attempt to hide the 280-foot elephant in the room at a so-called "Town Hall" meeting held on January 31. Despite an earlier email dispatch from the Historical Society claiming "that proceeds from the residential portion of our construction program would be used to help fund the Society's internal growth plans," they adamantly refused to discuss their plans for a luxury apartment building looming up over its Landmark building on Central Park West between 76th and 77th Streets.

On Thursday, February 8, at 7:00 PM (Fourth Universalist Society, Central Park West & 76th Street), the Historical Society will ask Community Board 7's Parks & Preservation Committee to consider (and possibly vote on) proposed facade alterations only. Your presence on Feb. 8 is ABSOLUTELY VITAL! The 400+ crowd at last week's meeting sent the clear message that the public is not fooled by the Historical Society's Trojan Horse. Approval of the facade changes would immediately set the stage for the luxury high-rise. Join your fellow New Yorkers in just saying "No!"

Email campaign: Do like Bill Moyers, and tell it like it is...

See after the jump for "it."

- Max Abelson

Between now and Thursday, please email a version of the message below to the following key decisionmakers. They need to hear from YOU! (Please make sure to cc. landmarkwest@landmarkwest.org. Thanks!)

Hon. Shelly Fine, Chair, Manhattan Community Board 7, mail@cb7.org
Hon. Robert Tierney, Chair, NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission, comments@lpc.nyc.gov
Hon. Scott Stringer, Manhattan Borough President, bp@manhattanbp.org
Hon. Thomas K. Duane, NYS Senator, duane@senate.state.ny.us
Hon. Linda B. Rosenthal, NYS Assembly Member, RosentL@ assembly.state.ny.us
Hon. Gale A. Brewer, NYC Council Member, gale.brewer@council.nyc.gov

Sample Letter:
Dear [See below]:
I am writing to register my strong opposition to the the New-York Historical Society's plans to alter permanently the unique skyline of Central Park West between West 76th and 77th Streets, the crossroads of some of our city's most beautiful and historic treasures.

The Society wants to alter the facade of its Landmark building and then to erect a luxury tower that would loom over the building, the American Museum of Natural History, Central Park and Central Park West at one of its most strategic and picturesque intersections. Sadly, the Society's representatives have not been forthcoming with the community. To the contrary, they are attempting to keep the public in the dark about the tower until it is too late to challenge the specific plans. This is most unfortunate for a non-profit, taxpayer-supported public institution. Their project affects not only the people in the immediate vicinity who will be negatively impacted by the despoiling of the environment, but all of us in the City.

At a recent meeting of neighbors to discuss this issue with Society representatives--over 400 people attended--it became apparent that the Society's strategy is to "divide and conquer". The $15 million facade alteration project is a Trojan Horse that would immediately set the stage for the luxury high-rise.The Society's claims that these projects are "separate" is disingenuous; one leads directly to the other--that was obvious at the meeting.

As a New Yorker [and a resident of the neighborhood the Society wants to change], I am appalled as well as saddened by this offense against the public. The only "Triple Crown" Landmark in our city (protected as an Individual Landmark and as part of the Central Park West - West 76th Street Historic District and the Upper West Side/Central Park West Historic District), the New-York Historical Society is the anchor of a unique architectural, historical and cultural ensemble. Immediately surrounding this site are the American Museum of Natural History (an Individual Landmark), Central Park (a Scenic Landmark) and the many contributing buildings in the historic districts. Any changes must be considered carefully and with full transparency.

But this is not our only concern. To consider New York's landmarks and historic districts as "development opportunities" is a travesty against our obligation to preserve the best of the City for generations to come. Approval of a tower to loom over the Historical Society would send a clear green-light signal to private and institutional developers eager to exploit other historic properties throughout the city.

I am adding my voice to the resounding "NO" that the New-York Historical Society and the policy-makers of our city cannot ignore.

Sincerely,
xxxx