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!March 13, 2015

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Chair Carl Weisbrod

Department of City Planning
22 Reade Street
New York, NY 10007
Commissioner Vicki Been
Housing Preservation and Development
100 Gold Street
New York, NY 10038

Dear Chair Weisbrod and Commissioner Been,

We are writing in regards to the application, under consideration by the City Planning Commission, submitted by Extell/Collegiate School to modify the Riverside South Large Scale General Development
(LSGD) special permit and accompanying Restrictive Declaration which would facilitate, on Parcel K2, a
640-seat private school, to be operated by the Collegiate School (collectively, the Proposed Modification).
The Proposed Modification is necessary because the existing approved plan for this site under the LSGD
dictates a mix of residential, including an affordable housing component, commercial and parking uses.
Further, we understand the Commission is treating the Proposed Modification as a "minor modification"
which does not require review under Section 197-c of the City Charter and, consequently, is not subject to
formal public review which would require, among other things, formal referral to the Community Board
and Borough President, public hearings, and approval by the Council. Regardless of whether or not this is
technically a minor modification - the Administration chose to move forward with little transparency
and little community input.
As filed, and as referred to Community Board 7 in 2014, there was a Proposed Modification to seek certain relief from design criteria for the proposed school building. Months later this modification was raised
again to include approval to relocate the 55 affordable units required for Parcel K2 pursuant to the 1992
LSGD approvals elsewhere off-site, outside of the LSGD, (possibly to a City-owned site on West 108th
Street), still within Community District 7.
In an "emergency meeting" convened by Community Board 7, this new plan was presented by Collegiate, HPD, and DCP. Our understanding is that Collegiate will make a one-time payment of $50 million
to the City to relieve themselves of the obligation of the affordable units required on Parcel K2.
It is clear from the discussion at this meeting that the community is committed to on-site affordable housing. With guidance from the Community Board and based on the original Restrictive Declaration intent,
we strongly urge the Administration to identify ways to keep the affordable housing on-site. One suggestion is for Collegiate to build these units above their school - much like the residential units which will be
built above the public school, across the street at Riverside Center.

At a follow up meeting between Councilwoman Helen Rosenthal and Chair Weisbrod, she reiterated the
communitys very strong desire to keep affordable units on-site and that negotiations of any off-site option for the affordable units must yield significantly more than the 55 units currently required on Parcel
K2. It is our understanding that HPD has identified city-owned property but that property requires a full
community review of a ULURP and there are no guaranteed outcomes.
It was also requested that there be a postponement of the decision until the Community Board has adequate time to review and provide input. It is our understanding that DCP does now plan to postpone a vote
on the applicant's minor modification to give time for both DCP and HPD to present to Community Board
7 one more time. Thank you for agreeing to do so.
We would also like a letter from the Administration guaranteeing that the affordable housing that was negotiated for Riverside Center will be built only at Riverside Center. Please identify the exact number of
units as well as the AMI and number of bedrooms for each unit, for each of the five buildings.
Again, we are extremely disappointed by the lack of transparency and community involvement during the
past nine months of negotiations between DCP and the applicant. We have only just become aware of
these details over the past week. This negotiation must move forward in an open and transparent manner
and we look forward to working with you and the community on this issue.

Sincerely,

Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer

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cc:

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NY State Senator Adriano Espaillat

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NY City Councilmember Helen Rosenthal

Jerrold Nadler, US Congressman

Linda Rosenthal, NY State Assemblymember
Elizabeth Caputo, Community Board 7 Chair