Dear friend,
I have some important updates regarding the effort to preserve the Provincetown Playhouse and Apartments at 133-139 MacDougal Street:
1) Well over a hundred people showed up for last week's public hearing, the majority of whom expressed disapproval of NYU's current plan (to preserve the four interior walls and entry facade of the Provincetown Playhouse theater and integrating them into a new building, but demolishing the remaining 93% of the historic building -- see www.gvshp.org/PTown.htm). The meeting was preceded by a press conference in front of the Playhouse calling upon NYU to not only make firm commitments to save the theater, but the remainder of the building as well. We were honored to be joined by noted playwrights Bill C. Davis and Richard Vetere, writer/producer Tom Fontana, and Actor/writer John Leguizamo, as well as writer Yvette Eastman, widow of Max Eastman, one of the founders of the Provincetown Players. See pictures at www.gvshp.org/PTownMay08.htm. GVSHP submitted a detailed history of the building at 133-139 MacDougal Street and why it should be saved, as well as a set of issues regarding NYU's plans which we urged be addressed (see www.gvshp.org/documents/PTownInfo.pdf). Thank you to EVERYONE who participated and helped organize the turnout.
2) Please see the coverage of the hearing in the Villager at http://www.thevillager.com/villager_266/dramacarries.html and below.
3) Community Board #2's Institutions Committee has not yet voted on NYU's plan, but from their discussion after the hearing it seems a slight majority are inclined to SUPPORT NYU's demolition plans. The committee will meet again to come to a formal position and draft a letter outlining their position (date TBD); this will then have to be approved by the full Community Board. NYU has said they will give strong weight to the recommendations of the Community Board in deciding what to do.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:
Send a letter to the editor to the Villager RIGHT AWAY expressing why you think it is so important that the entire building at 133-139 MacDougal Street be saved and why NYU needs to make stronger commitments re: the preservation of the theater space and use. Letter should go to news@thevillager.com and lincoln@thevillager.com and include your name and phone number for verification. Villager editor Lincoln Anderson can be called at 646-452-2464 to confirm receipt of the letter and intent to print it.
TESTIFY AT COMMUNITY BOARD #2's FULL BOARD MEETING ON THURSDAY, JUNE 19 btw. 6 and 7 pm at the NYU Silver Bldg., 32 Waverly Place, rm. 703. The Community Board will be making their final decision that day and their decision will likely determine what NYU's plan is. If you can come and testify, please let me know.
Several of you have asked for contact information for local elected officials to urge them to support preservation of the entire building at 133-139 MacDougal Street, which follows; letters, e-mails, or phone calls to elected officials can be very helpful to the cause -- NONE HAVE AS YET COME OUT IN FAVOR OF CHANGES TO THE NYU PLAN:
Borough President Scott Stringer, 1 Centre Street 19th floor, NY NY 10007 bp@manhattanbp.org; skhan@manhattanbp.org 212-669-8300
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, 224 West 30th Street Suite 1206, NY NY 10001 go to www.council.nyc.gov/d3/html/members/home.shtml; gelam@council.nyc.gov; kate.seely-kirk@council.nyc.ny.us (212) 564-7757
State Senator Tom Duane 322 8th Avenue, Suite 1700, NY NY 10001 duane@senate.state.ny.us; laura@tomduane.com; crystal@tomduane.com; (212) 633-8052
Assemblymember Deborah Glick 853 Broadway, rm. 2120, NY NY 10003 glickd@assembly.state.ny.us; bordenm@assembly.state.ny.us; (212) 674-5153
I hope you can attend the CB hearing on the 19th and speak, and send a letter to the editor of the Village right away. Contacting elected officials would also be greatly appreciated and greatly help.
Andrew Berman, Executive Director
Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, go to www.gvshp.org/membership.htm
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment