Concern over potential air-rights transfer for new office building on St. Mark's Place and 3rd Avenue

Concern over potential air-rights transfer for new office building on St. Mark’s Place and 3rd Avenue
As I first reported, reps for Real Estate Equities Corporation (REEC) will appear before CB3’s Landmarks Committee tomorrow night at 6:30 (Feb. 13) to discuss transferring the air rights from the landmarked — and under-renovation — Hamilton-Holly House across the street at 4 St. Mark’s Place.With these air rights and approved zoning variance, the Morris Adjimi-designed building REEC planned for the northeast corner of St. Mark’s Place and Third Avenue would rise to 10 stories — twice the size of the original plans. (This link will take you to the PDF on the CB3 website with details on the proposal.)Meanwhile, the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation expressed its objections to the transfer and additional height of the building. According to a new post on the GVSHP website:The planned 10-story, 175 ft. tall office tower is part of the growing wave of office development we are seeing in this area along 3rd and 4th Avenues and University Place and Broadway, spurred on by the growth of the expanding tech industry’s “Silicon Alley,” and the recent approval by the City Council of the Mayor’s Tech Hub just a few blocks away on 14th Street.The transfer of the air rights to increase the size of the planned tower … is subject to the approval of various city agencies. We feel strongly that the city should not abet oversized and inappropriate office development in this area. The planned office tower displaces several long-time local businesses, as well as a nearly 200-year-old house.Tomorrow’s meeting is the beginning of the review process, which requires an application to the LPC followed by an application to the City Planning Commission for the special permit. The CB3 Landmarks Committee meeting is open to the public (and is open to public comment). The meeting is at the JASA Green Residence, 200 E. Fifth St. at the Bowery. The links below have more history about what has transpired on this corner…Previously on EV Grieve:Exclusive: After 40 years, punk rock mainstay Trash and Vaudeville is leaving St. Mark’s Place4 St. Mark’s Place is for saleMore residential units and a 5th-floor addition in the works for landmarked 4 St. Mark’s PlaceYou’ll be back: Look at the renovated Hamilton-Holly House on St. Mark’s PlaceThe Shake Shack effect? McDonald’s on 3rd Avenue at St. Mark’s Place has closed after 20 yearsReport: NE corner of St. Mark’s Place and 3rd Avenue will yield to a 7-story office buildingDemolition permits filed for northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark’s PlaceEnd is nearing for the businesses on the northeast corner of 3rd Avenue and St. Mark’s PlaceThe Continental gets a 3-month reprieve New building plans revealed for 3rd Avenue and St. Mark’s PlaceDevelopers of 3 St. Mark’s Place are looking to double the size of their proposed office building at 3rd Avenue to 10 floors with air-rights deal