Two summers ago as I wandered after my charge in the Clement Clarke Moore Park, affectionately known as the “Seal Park” by the local parents due to the two seal statues that spout water for the children to cool-off in during the summer months, I noticed a gray haired man approaching individuals and inquiring whether they were residents of Chelsea. He asked them to sign a petition to stop the General Theological Seminary (GTS) from building a structure that did not fit the criteria of the historical district and would change the skyline of the neighborhood.
In October 2006, GTS unveiled a revised design of its controversial 17-story tower at Chelsea’s monthly community meeting reported in the October 20 – 26, 2006 issue of the Chelsea Now. Although the revised plan previews a slimmer, shorter tower with less glass and more brick material befitting the historical design of the neighborhood, the community board still withholds its approval. The community’s opposition to the plan despite the good deeds performed by GTS in the neighborhood is expressed by David Ferguson in Talking Point in last week’s edition of Chelsea Now.
Why did the community say they approved the plan?
This is exactly what happened to Baruch — the building was supposed to be 17 floors but because of complaints from the neighboring building that it would block their views, the contractors stopped construction at 14 floors.
I never said the board approved the plan.
The Chelsea residents’ concerns are more than valid. Whenever something of this magnitude comes into a community, the character of the community is in danger of being drastically altered. Hopefully, GTS and Chelsea residents can come to some sort of compromise.
Most developers state that their intention is to help the neighborhood when they build these monstrosities right next to your house or little apartment complex. A neighborhood is not being helped if it becomes congested with traffic and overcrowded with people because quite possibly twice as many people live there now. In my personal opinion, this brings down the neighborhood not only in value but also in terms of personal enjoyment.