Community group argued that proposed homeless shelter did not qualify as a hotel under the zoning resolution. Buildings in 2010 issued the Bowery Residents’ Committee a permit to convert a twelve-story factory building at 127 West 25th Street in Chelsea to a homeless shelter and offices. BRC planned to create a 32-bed chemical dependency crisis center, a 96-bed reception center for the homeless, a 200-bed homeless shelter, and two outpatient counseling programs serving up to 100 individuals. The site is zoned for manufacturing and, prior to applying for the permit, BRC received confirmation from Buildings that the homeless shelter would be considered an as-of-right transient hotel use.

A group of local residents and business owners, known as the Chelsea Flatiron Coalition, opposed the shelter. The Coalition sued to stop the project, but a lower court stayed the litigation until the Coalition had exhausted its administrative remedies by challenging Buildings’ permit approval at BSA. (more…)