Further study needed before as-of-right residential conversions in West Village. The Planning Commission voted on June 4, 2008 to significantly reduce the area subject to the private rezoning application of KMG Greenwich LLC for Hudson Square in Manhattan. The vote followed a contentious public hearing before the Commission, where residents and elected officials called the rezoning piecemeal, and warned that it would result in a loss of needed businesses and jobs. 5 CityLand 56 (May 15, 2008).

The Commission removed three full blocks and five lots from the already small five-and-one- half block rezoning proposal. Unchanged by the modification was the rezoning of the lots owned by KMG. The rezoning will facilitate KMG’s plan to convert the vacant building at 627 Greenwich Street to 41 units of housing and to build a 20- unit residential building at 623 Greenwich Street, replacing an atgrade parking lot.

In its approval, the Commission agreed with KMG that the northern portion of Hudson Square had undergone a transformation from light industrial to residential use aided in part by BSA variances. The Commission expressed concern, however, over the fact that the rezoning would allow as-of-right conversion of six office buildings not owned by KMG. The Commission then stated that changes to the supply of Class B and C office buildings since 2003 required the City to undertake further study before it could approve a rezoning that allowed the as-of-right conversion of these buildings.

With the modification, the area now subject to the rezoning fronts Greenwich Street and is roughly bounded by Morton Street on the north, Washington Street on the west, Hudson Street to the east and Leroy Street on the west. If approved by the Council, an M1- 5/R7X zoning would replace the existing M1-5 zoning.

The Council’s Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises heard the Hudson Square proposal, but laid over the vote.

ULURP Process:
Lead Agency: CPC,Neg.Dec.
Comm.Bd.: MN 2,No, 28-1-2
Boro.Pres.:No
CPC: App’d, 12-0-0
Council: Pending

CPC: Hudson Square North Rezoning (C 070575 ZMM – map amendment) (June 4, 2008).