 "Photo: ARIEL ROSNER/WSN")
Last Friday, a state Supreme Court justice dismissed a lawsuit brought by community groups and residents against Hudson 12th Development LLC and the city over NYU's purchase of air rights for its new dorm on 12th Street. Hudson purchased air rights from the Cooper Station Post Office to develop at its desired height at the site and the suit claimed the air rights transfer was invalid because the post office is a federal building.
"This is all about their effort to prevent more NYU students from coming into the neighborhood," he said. "We think they are dead wrong."
Kevin Finnegan, the plaintiffs' lawyer, did not return phone calls by press time.
Andrew Berman, executive director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation and a vocal opponent of NYU's development, is not named in the suit but is involved in the case. He said the plaintiffs may appeal.
"The judge ruled that he did not feel that he had grounds to stop the project at this time because an administrative review was still pending, and that process which may well lead to the results we are all seeking is still underway," Berman said.
Many community members have spoken out against the dorm's location, height and the number of students, totalling 700, who will live there. The St. Ann's Committee and the Greenwich Village historical society are both vocal opponents. The dorm is constructed at the site of the historic St. Ann's Church, which is more than 150 years old.
Designed as a replacement for Water Street residence hall, the new dorm is projected to open in fall 2009.
NYU spokesman John Beckman said although community members say the building will be the tallest in the East Village, it will not be an unusual sight in the steadily developing neighborhood, pointing to several neighborhing buildings, all of which are nearly 200 feet tall.
Satnick said the developer anticipates that additional permits to continue construction will be granted by the city in coming weeks.
In response to the ruling, Community Board 3 voted last night to pass a resolution condemning the university's handling of its proposed 26-story residence hall on East 12th Street.
David Satnick, the lawyer representing Hudson, said there were loopholes in the plaintiffs' argument and he was pleased with the outcome. He said the lawuit goes beyond the dorm construction and height.
Be the first to comment on this article!