Dear friend,
There are a few key upcoming meetings regarding NYU's plans for the Provincetown Playhouse and Apartments, 133-139 MacDougal Street which I want to inform/remind you of:
1) Please come to the Community Board #2 public session on Thursday, June 19, from 6 to 7 pm and sign up to speak in favor of preserving the ENTIRE Provincetown Playhouse and Apartments at 133-139 MacDougal Street, and for NYU to make concrete commitments to preserve the theater use and space within the building (for talking points/further information, see www.gvshp.org/documents/PTownInfo.pdf and below). The meeting is at the NYU Silver Building, 32 Waverly Place (at Wash. Sq. E.), rm. 703. Community Board #2 will vote that night on whether or not to approve the NYU plan. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND.
2) On Monday, June 16 at 6:30 pm the Community Board #2 Institutions Committee will meet to decide whether to support the current NYU proposal for demolition of most of the Provincetown Playhouse and Apartments at 133-139 MacDougal Street (see www.gvshp.org/PTown.htm -- this is the position which the full Board will vote whether or not to adopt on the 19th). The public will not be allowed to speak on this subject, which will be discussed after a long presentation/discussion on other NYU development issues. In spite of the strong turnout at the public hearing on May 28th, the committee appeared to be leaning towards SUPPORTING the current NYU plan. While less important than speaking at the hearing on the 19th, it will be helpful if the Committee knows that supporters of preserving the building and the theater are there to listen to their discussion and decision. The meeting is at the NYU Silver Building, 32 Waverly Place (at Wash. Sq. E.), rm. 703. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND.
The Community Board's position on the NYU plan will likely strongly influence what NYU does. If we want to have an impact on the outcome, it is vitally important that the Community Board hears from us. For more information, see www.gvshp.org/PTown.htm and www.gvshp.org/documents/SextonRevisedPlanLtr05-19-08.pdf.
Andrew Berman, Executive Director
Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
212/475-9585 x38
232 East 11th Street
New York, NY 10003
To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, go to www.gvshp.org/membership.htm
Dear Readers I will post the talking points on the comment section
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TALKING POINTS TO COMMUNITY BOARD #2 ON PRESERVING 133-139 MACDOUGAL STREET AND THE PROVINCETOWN PLAYHOUSE
Entire building is of incredible historic significance; scholars and historians have called it "the cornerstone of bohemia," "the heart of cultural life of the Village," and "the center of much of the resurgence and renaissance associated with Greenwich Village"
The best way to ensure the preservation of the theater is to preserve the building it is in
The history of the entire building and the Provincetown Playhouse are completely interwoven -- you can't separate one from the other
NYU must make concrete written commitments about both physically preserving the theater and ensuring that it will be used as a working theater in perpetuity -- they have tried to turn it into classroom space before
NYU promised to "prioritize re-use before new development" as part of its 25-year plan -- if they are not going to "re-use" rather than tear down this historic building, then what does that pledge mean?
NYU promised to support designation of the proposed South Village Historic District, which honors the Village's bohemian, cultural, and theater history, of which 133-139 MacDougal Street, the Provincetown Playhouse and Apartments, is a major part. Demolishing the building would belie that pledge.
The building is perfectly usable for NYU as is -- it currently houses a theater, offices, and apartments, all of which NYU needs; the new building would only give them 17,000 more sq. ft.-- 0.3% of the 6 million square feet they say they need to add in the next 25 years.
NYU says they plan to add between 3 and 3.6 million sq. ft of space in the Village in the next 25 years -- the equivalent of all their new buildings built in the neighborhood in the last 43 years. We need to push them to lower that number, and to seek space OUTSIDE the neighborhood, as they also pledged as part of their 25-year plan. Insisting that they preserve rather than tear down this building will be an important way of pushing them to seek these alternative locations as they promised.
TALKING POINTS TO COMMUNITY BOARD #2 ON PRESERVING 133-139 MACDOUGAL STREET AND THE PROVINCETOWN PLAYHOUSE
Entire building is of incredible historic significance; scholars and historians have called it "the cornerstone of bohemia," "the heart of cultural life of the Village," and "the center of much of the resurgence and renaissance associated with Greenwich Village"
The best way to ensure the preservation of the theater is to preserve the building it is in
The history of the entire building and the Provincetown Playhouse are completely interwoven -- you can't separate one from the other
NYU must make concrete written commitments about both physically preserving the theater and ensuring that it will be used as a working theater in perpetuity -- they have tried to turn it into classroom space before
NYU promised to "prioritize re-use before new development" as part of its 25-year plan -- if they are not going to "re-use" rather than tear down this historic building, then what does that pledge mean?
NYU promised to support designation of the proposed South Village Historic District, which honors the Village's bohemian, cultural, and theater history, of which 133-139 MacDougal Street, the Provincetown Playhouse and Apartments, is a major part. Demolishing the building would belie that pledge.
The building is perfectly usable for NYU as is -- it currently houses a theater, offices, and apartments, all of which NYU needs; the new building would only give them 17,000 more sq. ft.-- 0.3% of the 6 million square feet they say they need to add in the next 25 years.
NYU says they plan to add between 3 and 3.6 million sq. ft of space in the Village in the next 25 years -- the equivalent of all their new buildings built in the neighborhood in the last 43 years. We need to push them to lower that number, and to seek space OUTSIDE the neighborhood, as they also pledged as part of their 25-year plan. Insisting that they preserve rather than tear down this building will be an important way of pushing them to seek these alternative locations as they promised.
Andrew Berman needs to start doing press releases, and use professional PR help which he has not done. The day the NY State Preservation Officer declared the Provincetown Playhouse eligible for the National Register there needed to be real press on that fact. He has let NYU have control of all the press, except for his comments. They put out the Press releases. They wrote letters to all the theatre unions, etc.
I refered him to professional press and PR people who would help. He hasn't contacted them. It is very late. He also has not wanted to contact the theatre community - even when I told him John Connelly, President of Equity was not even responding to his long time friends and colleagues. He most likely would have responded to Andrew as he is leading the protest.
Urge him to do real press releases, and seek professional help. It is late. I expect the wrecking ball to be there in the Fall.
There also needs to be a rally by the theatre community and others on a Monday so those performing on Broadway and elsewhere can attend. He is not doing this as far as I know.
I appreciate his newsletter, and good letters he writes but time is fading to turn this around. It would help to have some real protests at John Sexton's office with Press Coverage, and I have other ideas - but it seems like someone else will have to plan these.
I am concentrating on the Board of Trustees, and donors who have given over 100 million to NYU. I urge others to do the same.
Gail Cohen
g7coh@aol.com
Gail: Thank you for coming to my blog and commenting. I forwarded your posting to Andrew.
Andrew is very courageous and he exposed the illegal air sale by the USPS which I believe puts our community at risk for environmental and other concerns and the State of New York never was contacted to examine if this was in the best interest of the community which it was not.
You are correct about NYU and their public relations team but it is even more disturbing than high priced hired hands. NYU has the mot powerful connections and the deepest pockets.
I agree with all your points and I know the theatre community is very angry with NYU.
If you noted when The Villager celebrated it's anniversary they had John Sexton in their double page pat on the back and The New York Times did a front page puff piece on socialite Amanda Burden, mega millionaire, city planner could end up being NYU's personal city planner -- it feels that way already and activist up in Columbia and through out Harlem agree she serves the mega rich developers and that includes NYU and Columbia U.
NYU is the no. 1 real estate magnate and not for profit. They should have a cap and at the point pay real estate taxes. They should not be able to use the historic Washington Square Arch as their logo because they tear down our historic buildings.
We need the media to cover this issue but the scary reality is NYU practically owns the newspapers and I stopped attending Community Board 3 when they shushed me when I answered Christine Shakespeare when she attempted to demonize Andrew Berman for singling poor NYU out and she asked "why"" so I answered because you are the only not for profit org. that has built a river of mega dorms from 14th St down 3rd Avenue.
David "conflict of interest because of his bars" and Susan who doesn't appear to see a conflict of interest as far I know Stetzer shushed me on behalf of the largest real estate owner in the East Village and NYC.
So my point is any of us that speak up are courageous and I confronted the mayor on the steps of City Hall and on the John Gambling show and the mayor made it clear he is far more the mayor of NYU than than the mayor for the people of NYC.
Still I agree more should be done.
I will tell you first hand it is exhausting and NYU's has so many ways to buy favors it makes it hard just to live.
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