WEST 158TH STREET
Several years before the Upper Riverside Residents Alliance formed, three of its current directors – Vivian Ducat, Josette Bailey, and Matthew Spady – asked the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) to extend the Audubon Park Historic District (designated in 2009) to include the twelve row houses on West 158th Street.
WHAT IS HAPPENING
According to the YIMBY report of 11/15/21, permits were filed to demolish six historic townhouses and erect a 17-story mixed-use development numbered
638 West 158th Street.
This tower not only represents the loss of precious historic fabric but also sets a dangerous precedent for our neighborhood.
APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN FILED TO DEMOLISH THESE THREE ROW HOUSES
In 2021 the URRA included West 158th Street's row houses in a sweeping proposal to the Landmarks Preservation Commission requesting an extended Audubon Park Historic District that would double the current designation's size.
View slide presentation to learn more.
DEVELOPMENTS ON
WEST 158TH STREET
According to the DoB website, Javier Martinez (developer) has filed applications to demolish three of the row houses: 636, 638 and 640
West 158th Street.
A 197-foot tower would be a knife in the heart of our neighborhood.
Other towers will follow, ending our affordable community as we know it.
Please download, print and share this URRA FLYER concerning current events that will have a devastating impact on West 158th Street and the future of Audubon Park Historic District.
More information about this issue is on our West 158th Street page.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Send a letter or email to
a local leader or elected official to express your concerns.
​
Here we provide a sample letter that you may download and personalize.
​
Please put "638 West 158th Street" in
the subject line and kindly cc us, too, at info@saveriverside.org
WHAT YOU CAN DO IF YOU LIVE IN AN AFFECTED CO-OP OR CONDO
Write to members of the Board in your own building.
​
Tell your Board to create a Legal Action Fund to address this threat.
​
Ask your Board to coordinate with the Boards of neighboring buildings to be proactive in challenging this development.
​
Please put "638 West 158th Street" in
the subject line and kindly cc us, too, at info@saveriverside.org
ADDRESS YOUR LETTER(S) TO:
​
The Honorable Eric Adams
Mayor
City Hall
New York, NY 10007
The Honorable Jumaane Williams
Public Advocate
1 Centre Street
Municipal Building, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10007
​
The Honorable Mark Levine
Manhattan Borough President
500 West 141st Street
New York, NY 10031
​
The Honorable Charles E. Schumer
Senator
780 Third Avenue, Suite 2301
New York, NY 10017
The Honorable Adriano Espaillat
Congress Member
163 West 125th Street, Suite 508
New York, NY 10027
The Honorable Robert Jackson
State Senator
5030 Broadway, Suite 701
New York, NY 10034
​
​
The Honorable Alfred Taylor
Assembly Member
Assembly District 71
2541-55 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd.
New York, NY 10039
​
Eleazar Bueno
Community Board 12
Chair
Manhattan Community Board 12
530 West 166th Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10032
​
Sean Abreu
City Council 7
Melanie E. La Rocca
Commissioner, Department of Buildings
https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/home/mail/html/maildob.html
​
Wayne Benjamin
Community Board 12
Land Use Committee
Manhattan Community Board 12
530 West 166th Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10032
​
SAVE RIVERSIDE
P.O. Box 321709
556 West 158th Street
New York, NY 10032
​
A REMINDER THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN ON ANY BLOCK HERE IN NORTHERN MANHATTAN.
The noisy and dusty work of excavating the deep foundations has begun on West 153rd Street.
​
This is a case study of what happens when the involvement of the community is delayed and the people most affected by this kind of development are not kept informed.
THIS IS HAPPENING
AT 620 WEST 153RD STREET
RECENT NEWS
​
Isaac Chetrit Closes on Hamilton Heights Development Site for $29M – Commercial Observer
​
PREVIOUS COVERAGE
​
https://therealdeal.com/2018/02/27/anbau-plans-two-condo-buildings-in-hamilton-heights/
https://www.buzzbuzzhome.com/us/620-west-153rd-street
http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/614-618-W-153rd-St-New-York-NY/4532102/
THIS VIDEO WAS FILMED FROM THE 152ND STREET SIDE OF THE CONSTRUCTION SITE, LOOKING TOWARDS TRINITY CEMETERY, WHICH CAN BE SEEN IN THE BACKGROUND. DECEMBER 1, 2021, 2:15PM.
WE ASK FOR YOUR PATIENCE
AS MORE RESOURCES ARE ASSEMBLED.
THANK YOU.