A Manhattan judge pressed pause on a controversial waterfront project Wednesday, saying a proposal for four towers along a section of land in the Two Bridges neighborhood may need to be revised to conform to the neighborhood’s character.
Judge Arthur Engoron gave lawyers for the developers until Aug. 2 to come up with a convincing argument to continue going forward on a project that has drawn the wrath of political activists including Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer. He acknowledged that a history exists in the city of similar developments altering the composition of various neighborhoods.
Critics of a plan to build a 60-story tower, a 63-story tower, a 70-story tower and an 80-story tower that would dislodge residents in a senior housing unit say the project violates zoning laws and will cause mass displacement and construction-related health issues. They went to court to stop it.
“Today shows the strength of community in the face of wealthy developers and a corrupt mayor,” said Vanessa Thill, an artist involved with the Coalition to Protect Chinatown and the Lower East Side. “Years of community outreach, education, and organizing, and months of research and coalition building went into preparation for this momentous day. The Lower East Side Organized Neighbors succeeded in securing an injunction against the Two Bridges megatowers, and presenting a robust and compelling argument in court.”
According to lawyers for the plaintiffs, special district laws set up in the 1970s forbid modifications to large-scale residential districts that would significantly impact light, air, density, privacy, the character of the neighborhood or the quality of life for its community members.
“I’ve been fighting for a simple right for years: the right for New Yorkers to have a say in how their neighborhoods are developed,” Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer tweeted before an afternoon court hearing on the project.
“While I’m disappointed we had to go to court over four proposed Two Bridges towers, I’m confident we’ll force these projects to undergo public review,” Brewer wrote.
Rachel Moston, a lawyer for the city, said the public process has been “extensive and robust,” prompting laughter and groans from people representing Chinatown and the Lower East Side.
“The buildings are big, nobody’s disputing that,” Moston said. “The buildings are extremely permissible under the zoning that exists.”
A spokesman for the developers said the projects will include nearly 700 units of permanently affordable housing, $40 million in upgrades to the East Broadway subway station, $12.5 million in essential repairs to the Two Bridges Houses NYCHA complex and $15 million in upgrades to three public parks in the neighborhood.
“These projects were approved after extensive community consultation, public review and environmental analysis, and are in compliance with the underlying zoning that’s been in place for more than 30 years.” the spokesman said. “The judge’s decision to extend the TRO for two months does not impact the projects because construction was not planned to start imminently.”
