Vote On Controversial Union Square Hotel Plan Coming Next Week

UNION SQUARE, MANHATTAN — The next-to-final vote on a controversial plan to make sure newly-built hotels fit in with the neighborhood will come next week, along with a final push from activists to stop the proposal.

The city's Planning Commission is set to vote on their plan, which would require hotels built in a section below Union Square get a special permit from the city, during their meeting on Wednesday, March 4. The vote will be the final step before the plan heads to City Council for final approval.

Activists who argue the plan would actually speed up the development of large office towers are flagging vote in their final push to stop the plan, though they say it will likely be approved by the commission, since it is a Department of City Planning plan.

The advocates, who blasted the plan at the commission's hearing, contend that it could actually speed up overdevelopment in the area because it doesn't include protections for historic, small-scale buildings that are at risk of being torn down.

All three community boards impacted by the plan and the Manhattan Borough President's Office have voted against the proposal.

City planners argue that requiring the extra step of special permits for hotels would prevent out-of-place hotel developments.

The city's proposal would extend an existing district that requires hotels get special permits several blocks south, creating a subsection from East 14th Street down to East 9th and 10th streets between Third and Fifth avenues.

The commission's vote will take place at their March 4 meeting, which starts at 10 a.m. in the 120 Broadway building hearing room. The meeting can be live-streamed on the commission website here.