http://www.planNYC.org/ PlanNYC | New York City Planning Information Portal en-us ja3n@earthlink.net http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=107#2383 The General Theological Seminary abandoned its plans to build a 15-story residential tower in the Chelsea neighborhood after the proposal was vehemently and overwhelmingly opposed by both the local community board and area public officials. The Seminary has advanced a new proposal, one that calls for a seven-story tower on Ninth Avenue that complies with the 75-foot height limit imposed by the historic district. While the community and public officials have demonstrated approval in advance of the modified tower, some at the seminary are concerned that it will be unable to afford the $21 million cost of preserving the historic seminary campus. Some Chelsea residents have considered providing matching funds from the community for the cost of preservation. 2007-04-06 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=107#2354 Historical preservationists and other public officials are claiming victory after the board of the General Theological Seminary in Chelsea decided to forego its plan to build a 151-foot-high glass tower between Ninth and Tenth Avenues to defray nearly $21 million of restoration costs. The seminary's leadership decided to nix the plan because of the strong wall of resistance constructed by neighborhood preservationists, who objected to the tower's incongruence with the scale of the historical neighborhood. The seminary, which was fighting a 75-foot-tall cap on buildings in the district, would have had to seek approval both the Landmarks Preservation Commission and the City Planning Commission for the proposed tower. Sources say that General Theological Seminary will introduce a "compromise plan" to its board next month. 2007-04-03 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=107#2071 The General Theological Seminary in Chelsea has been petitioning its local community board for a long time to consider approving a 15-story brick-and-glass residential tower on Ninth Avenue near 20th Street. Despite the fact that the tower is incongruent with the district's height requirement, the Seminary insists that the project is necessary for its future growth and its current maintenance. The Seminary has even appealed to its history of including the Gay and Lesbian communities as well as serving the poor and homeless populations. Despite these good deeds, the community board is still opposed to the project for the effect it will have on the historical nature of the neighborhood. 2007-02-18 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=107#2014 Manhattan Community Board 4 rejected a plan by the Chelsea Theological Seminary to build a tower in the historical district in an effort to raise funds for building maintenance. The Board cited the tower's incongruence with the traditional scale of the neighborhood as a reason. The plan will next go to the Landmark Preservation Council. 2007-02-09 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=107#1976 The Landmarks Task Force Committee of Community Board 4, as well as the Chelsea Preservation and Planning Committee, have rejected a proposal by the General Theological Seminary to build a 15-story, brick-and-glass luxury residential project on Ninth Avenue. The seminary had attempted to improve its proposal by intending to generate $15 million to preserve aging buildings on its walled campus between Ninth and Tenth avenues. The committees cited height, scale, and design in their rejection, while the seminary insists that the project is crucial to their livelihood in Chelsea. The proposal will be put to a full vote of the community board on February 7. Critics oppose the project's incongruence to the historical neighborhood, while proponents point to the project's promise of affordable housing. 2007-02-02 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=107#1923 At last night’s Community Board 4 meeting, over 250 Chelsea residents continued to fight the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church’s plan to build a 15 story apartment complex on their campus despite a recent redesign. Community residents insist that the design is still too large and too contemporary to inhabit Chelsea's historic district. The Seminary insists that the development is the sole way to stem is finance crisis and continue its operations in Chelsea. 2007-01-23 00:00:00