As seen in the Washington Square News.
In a meeting that drew more than 150 people, including 30 NYU student protesters, Manhattan’s Community Board 2 voted by a vast majority Thursday night to proceed with the renovation of Washington Square Park.
Only four of the nearly 50 board members opposed the renovation, set to begin immediately after NYU’s graduation ceremony in May.
Protesters jeered, hissed and shouted on mention of the plans, which entail installing a perimeter fence up to four feet high that can be locked at night, relocating the fountain by more than 20 feet to line up with Washington Square Arch, moving both dog runs, restructuring pathways and removing the performance area below the fountain.
The proposed plans will be carried out in two phases, the first starting this summer with a renovation of the northwestern corner of the park, including the fountain. The second phase will cover the rest of the park and will begin upon completion of phase one. Each phase is scheduled to last a year to a year and a half.
About $7 million has been raised for the project, including a $1 million donation from NYU and $2.5 million from the Tisch family, but costs are expected to reach $16 million, said George Vellonakis, architect of the new Washington Square Park design.
The Open Washington Square Park Coalition, a local group of community members dedicated to fighting renovation efforts, joined NYU students from the Earth Matters! club to distribute flyers and green ribbons of solidarity to the crowd.
Before the meeting’s call to order at NYU’s Kaufman Management Center, the coalition silenced the audience and stood up to take an informal public vote of the resolution, using the green ribbons as votes. Of the public who took part, 72 hands opposed the resolution, and 3 supported it.
“This is not a democracy. We’re making it one,” shouted coalition coordinator Jonathan Greenberg, 46, who lives near the park.
Coalition members were scattered about the room during the meeting, holding signs reading, “Rejuvenate, Don’t Excavate!” and “Sale! Bolt Cutters $12.99 (While They Last) – 15% NYU Student Discount.”
Protesters said the park needed basic renovations, such as cleaning up public bathrooms and making play areas safer for children, but that closing off sections of the park for extensive redesign was unnecessary.
Some community members disagreed, arguing that the park was beyond cosmetic repair and it was necessary for the resolution to be passed. Vellonakis said that the goals of the plan included making the park more handicap accessible and opening up more lawn areas to the public.
“If we miss this opportunity, we will lose the park we love,” said Tobi Bergman, a former member of Community Board 2 and former Central Park chief of operations. “When the construction fences come down, the park will spring back to life.”
Park aesthetics are essential to the area, community members said.
“I know that square as my front yard, not my backyard, and I like a beautiful front yard,” said Luther Harris, a 30-year resident of Washington Square. “We need something nice to look at through the arch besides the Kimmel Center.”
Community Board Chair Jim Smith opened the meeting to the public for comments before voting, but restricted speaking privileges to representatives supporting either side of the issue, chosen from public-speaker cards distributed before the start of the meeting.
After comments from community members, council member Alan J. Gerson addressed the crowd, warning of the loss of funds if the resolution wasn’t passed.
“The city council cannot legislate a design,” Gerson said. “All we can do under the charter is give money or take it away.”
Protesters left gradually after the close of public comment, leaving only a few present for the Community Board vote.
“After the Parks Commission voted it through, it was from my understanding that the vote would give the general counsel the ‘political cover’ to vote it through,” Tisch freshman Lisa Fries said. “So we figured it was a done deal really.”
Coalition members plan to hold a public rally in the park on May 1st to protest the renovation plans.
“It’s just disappointing,” Fries said. “It seems like this whole plan is unnecessary and quite frankly a waste of money.”
Community leaders and local entertainers are expected to attend the event, to be held at noon.
“That money could be used to renovate the park rather than change some of its features that have existed for a very long time,” Fries said. “Hopefully we can get enough support to stop this.”
Board OKs park rehab plans
As seen in the Washington Square News.
In a meeting that drew more than 150 people, including 30 NYU student protesters, Manhattan’s Community Board 2 voted by a vast majority Thursday night to proceed with the renovation of Washington Square Park.
Only four of the nearly 50 board members opposed the renovation, set to begin immediately after NYU’s graduation ceremony in May.
Protesters jeered, hissed and shouted on mention of the plans, which entail installing a perimeter fence up to four feet high that can be locked at night, relocating the fountain by more than 20 feet to line up with Washington Square Arch, moving both dog runs, restructuring pathways and removing the performance area below the fountain.
The proposed plans will be carried out in two phases, the first starting this summer with a renovation of the northwestern corner of the park, including the fountain. The second phase will cover the rest of the park and will begin upon completion of phase one. Each phase is scheduled to last a year to a year and a half.
About $7 million has been raised for the project, including a $1 million donation from NYU and $2.5 million from the Tisch family, but costs are expected to reach $16 million, said George Vellonakis, architect of the new Washington Square Park design.
The Open Washington Square Park Coalition, a local group of community members dedicated to fighting renovation efforts, joined NYU students from the Earth Matters! club to distribute flyers and green ribbons of solidarity to the crowd.
Before the meeting’s call to order at NYU’s Kaufman Management Center, the coalition silenced the audience and stood up to take an informal public vote of the resolution, using the green ribbons as votes. Of the public who took part, 72 hands opposed the resolution, and 3 supported it.
“This is not a democracy. We’re making it one,” shouted coalition coordinator Jonathan Greenberg, 46, who lives near the park.
Coalition members were scattered about the room during the meeting, holding signs reading, “Rejuvenate, Don’t Excavate!” and “Sale! Bolt Cutters $12.99 (While They Last) – 15% NYU Student Discount.”
Protesters said the park needed basic renovations, such as cleaning up public bathrooms and making play areas safer for children, but that closing off sections of the park for extensive redesign was unnecessary.
Some community members disagreed, arguing that the park was beyond cosmetic repair and it was necessary for the resolution to be passed. Vellonakis said that the goals of the plan included making the park more handicap accessible and opening up more lawn areas to the public.
“If we miss this opportunity, we will lose the park we love,” said Tobi Bergman, a former member of Community Board 2 and former Central Park chief of operations. “When the construction fences come down, the park will spring back to life.”
Park aesthetics are essential to the area, community members said.
“I know that square as my front yard, not my backyard, and I like a beautiful front yard,” said Luther Harris, a 30-year resident of Washington Square. “We need something nice to look at through the arch besides the Kimmel Center.”
Community Board Chair Jim Smith opened the meeting to the public for comments before voting, but restricted speaking privileges to representatives supporting either side of the issue, chosen from public-speaker cards distributed before the start of the meeting.
After comments from community members, council member Alan J. Gerson addressed the crowd, warning of the loss of funds if the resolution wasn’t passed.
“The city council cannot legislate a design,” Gerson said. “All we can do under the charter is give money or take it away.”
Protesters left gradually after the close of public comment, leaving only a few present for the Community Board vote.
“After the Parks Commission voted it through, it was from my understanding that the vote would give the general counsel the ‘political cover’ to vote it through,” Tisch freshman Lisa Fries said. “So we figured it was a done deal really.”
Coalition members plan to hold a public rally in the park on May 1st to protest the renovation plans.
“It’s just disappointing,” Fries said. “It seems like this whole plan is unnecessary and quite frankly a waste of money.”
Community leaders and local entertainers are expected to attend the event, to be held at noon.
“That money could be used to renovate the park rather than change some of its features that have existed for a very long time,” Fries said. “Hopefully we can get enough support to stop this.”