CB2 Land Use Committee presses EDC for Gansevoort Square site-control plan, discusses interim uses and broader vision

The Community Board 2 Land use and Housing Committee discussed site-control and interim-activation plans for Gansevoort Square at its May 14 meeting after the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) asked for the boardto comment on a site-control and security plan. The EDC did not deliver the draft in time for the meeting; committee members said EDC had originally set a May 1 deadline that did not align with CB2 schedules. The meatpacking facility occupants are expected to vacate around July 1, and EDC has estimated an approximately 18-month interval between vacancy and development groundbreaking.

Why it matters: the committee said the site will be fenced and secured during a long vacancy and that choices about fencing, lighting, security and interim programming will affect pedestrian access, public safety, neighborhood cleanliness, pest risk and the look and feel of the waterfront for up to a year or more. Committee members pressed EDC for the draft site-control plan and discussed what the committee could reasonably ask for given the city—s authority.

Key points and discussion:

- Missing EDC draft: Committee Chair Yoo Jin Yu said the board requested a draft site-control and security plan but EDC did not provide a document for review; Frederica Siegel and other members urged the committee to continue requesting EDCto share what it showed to the local BID (business improvement district) and to the meatpacking co-op. Frederica Siegel said, "I don't think that we should be so quick to be generating our own comments when we could just continue to ask them to provide us with their document." The committee agreed to keep asking for the EDC draft and to circulate any materials when received.

- Vacate date and duration: Presenters and members repeated EDCestimated a July 1 vacate and roughly an 18-month interval before construction starts. The committee noted that the vacancy period could be longer and that interim measures should anticipate multiple seasons.

- Security, fencing and maintenance: EDC reportedly plans to use plywood panels on three sides of the site (rather than chain-link). Committee members said plywood can limit interim uses and becomes a surface for posters and graffiti; others pointed out plywood can be easier to clean. Members recommended clearly specifying maintenance levels, daily/periodic cleaning, graffiti removal, and pest control (exterminator services), citing the building prior food use and organic materials inside the structure.

- Pedestrian access and setbacks: Members suggested setting fencing back from the sidewalk where feasible to avoid extremely narrow sidewalks and dark corridors and to reduce safety and visibility problems. One member proposed a 10-foot setback where property lines permit, plus planted planters or portable street landscaping.

- Activations and allowable uses: Committee members clarified that interim activation refers to programming on exterior, on-site space (not reuse of the building interior, which would require major remediation and code upgrades). They noted the Zoning rules may limit some uses (EDC had described food-related markets and a flower market as possibilities). The BID was described as the likely manager for activation; commercial sponsorship and advertising were discussed as possible revenue sources to help fund BID management, but several committee members expressed reservations about heavy commercialization of the plywood.

- Role of local stakeholders: Members stressed the BID's role. Frederica Siegel and others said the BID already patrols and cleans much of the area and that a partnership between EDC, BID, the Whitney Museum and the High Line would be important. Pete Davies, a public commenter, criticized EDCengagement, saying, "they love to keep us busy. They love to wear us down." Committee members said they had received presentations from the BID and had biweekly calls with EDC and planned to continue informal channels while requesting formal documentation.

- Visual treatments and art: Several members expressed preference for noncommercial art installations or curated murals (Whitney/High Line partnerships discussed) over advertising, and recommended measures to discourage wheatpasting and poster raking (security patrols, surface treatments and prompt removal); one member suggested using woven plastic screening on chain-link where chain-link is chosen.

Committee outcome and next steps: Members did not adopt a formal resolution at the meeting. The committee agreed to continue pressing EDC for the draft site-control and security plan, to circulate any materials received to the committee, and to compile the suggestions discussed (setbacks, lighting, pest control, BID management, pedestrian access and limited, curated activations) to return to EDC at the next meeting. Several members asked staff to assemble photos, site maps and property-line notes to inform further comment.