This evening Community Board 3 voted unanimously to endorse a set of planning guidelines for the redevelopment of the Seward Park Urban Renewal Area, effectively putting an end to the Lower East Side’s longest and most bitter grudge match.
It was a dramatic evening, full of heartfelt speeches from both supporters and opponents of the proposal to build low, middle and market rate housing (and retail) on the 7 acre site. We’ll have a complete report in the morning. Here’s reaction tonight from Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer:
Tonight, Community Board 3 unanimously supported guidelines for the development of the Seward Park Urban Renewal Area (SPURA). Now the Lower East Side community, for the first time, has a chance to endorse a SPURA plan with a foundation of community consensus. Under the leadership of Chair Dominic Pisciotta and Committee Chair David McWater, the members of the Board have achieved something remarkable – they have put aside decades of disagreements and created a roadmap for how SPURA development can meet community needs. This process represents the best in community planning, and I look forward to working with local stakeholders as the process continues.
