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General Seminary trustees to consider new seven-floor building
Ward B. Ewing, GTS dean, announced in an April 3 news release that the trustees' executive committee will strongly recommend that the full board approve the plan at its meeting May 14-15.
GTS had previously proposed a 15-floor building for the Ninth Avenue site. In February GTS asked the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission to put the seminary's application for this building on hold while the seminary explored alternatives.
The proposed building along Ninth Avenue will not require the seminary to seek a waiver of the 75-foot height limitation in the Chelsea neighborhood's zoning regulations. Previous versions of the proposal would have required that waiver and the previous proposals face neighborhood opposition.
The proposed replacement for Sherrill Hall, the existing building, will house the seminary's library as well as income-producing residential space, the news release said. Revenue from the Ninth Avenue project will pay for the construction of a new administration building on 20th Street, but will not generate any income for the seminary's $21 million plan to preserve the rest of its property.
"The reason we sought a higher building was simply to fund the preservation of Chelsea Square," Ewing said. "The smaller building on Ninth Avenue will not provide any income for preservation and this is a very serious concern for us, as it should be for all those who care about Chelsea. We need to accept the reality, however, that support for a 15-story building was not forthcoming from elected officials and the Community Board. Although the Ninth Avenue project will fund construction of a new administration building on 20th Street, we will continue to be challenged by the overarching need for funds to preserve the rest of our historic property."
(New York City has 59 administrative districts each with a community board, which are local representative bodies that serve as advocates for residents and neighborhoods.)
Ewing said in the April 3 news release that the decision to recommend the new proposal was based on the reality that costs of future construction would have continued to spiral upward throughout an extended approval process, and also because the need to replace the deteriorating Ninth Avenue building had become absolutely critical. Without the need for the height waiver, the process of approval is expected to be considerably shorter.
"Continuing a protracted approval process was not in the best interest of anyone," he explained. "Throughout our 185-year history we have been a responsible partner in the development and preservation of the Chelsea district. We look forward to continuing to work with the community and city government as we move through the landmarks review process."
"As always, GTS will keep the community apprised of our progress," said Maureen Burnley, executive vice president of the New York-based architectural firm the Polshek Partnership, said in the GTS news release. Her firm is working with the Brodsky Organization, a New York-based real estate developer and manager, which is GTS's partner in both projects. Beyer Blinder Belle will continue to serve as architects of the GTS administration building on 20th Street.
"The increased challenges of preserving our rapidly deteriorating historical buildings with significantly diminished revenues will test the commitment of all parties involved," she said.
GTS will begin a program of temporary stabilization, including more netting and scaffolding, until sufficient sources of revenue can be identified to implement the full $21 million preservation plan, Burnley said.
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