This November, there will be five ballot questions for New York City residents to vote on that change the City’s charter (constitution) and determine how decisions are made locally. They cover a broad range of topics, many outside the mission of Village Preservation. But almost all relate to limiting or eliminating when and how the public has input on permitting and decision-making processes, and eliminating entities other than the Mayor or Mayoral agencies — such as the City Council — from the decision-making or review process. 

One question that is germane to our work is Ballot Question 3, for which we are URGING A “NO” VOTE. It covers multiple unrelated areas, one of which is allowing the City to sell air rights from City-owned landmarks without having to go through a public review and approval process that for decades has required the input of the City Council. We believe the existing checks and balances for important decisions such as these make for better outcomes, and help ensure a wide range of public concerns are considered when such possibilities arise. 

Collectively, City-owned landmarks contain millions of square feet of development rights, the sale and use of which should be carefully considered in consultation with affected communities. This is more important than ever, now that new city rules (changed by last year’s Charter Revision ballot questions) allow air rights from landmarks to be transferred and used within a broader geography (roughly one to two blocks) from the landmarked site. Individual City-owned landmarks within our neighborhoods include The Public Theatre, the Merchant’s House Museum, 34½ East 12th Street (the Police Athletic League Building), Fire Engine Co. No. 33 at 44 Great Jones Street, and the Tompkins Square Branch of the NewYork Public Library, among other locations, all of which could end up having their air rights transferred to increase development in surrounding blocks with limited public review or input. 

Voting Dates: Early voting begins October this Saturday, October 24 and runs until Sunday, November 1. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.