High Line BID Alternatives: Community Representation Beyond the BID

While not directly served by a municipally-approved Business Improvement District (BID), the communities along the High Line are not without representation. Property and business owners in Chelsea, Greenwich Village, and the Meatpacking District have organized various citizens groups, many aimed to preserve the historic buildings and advocate on behalf of local merchants. While many support the High Line development and welcome the subsequent commercial revitalization, these organizations also work to retain and preserve affordability and diversity of the existing business owners, a balance that is difficult to maintain as development increases.

Source: http://gis.nyc.gov/doitt/nycitymap/ with author additions

, established in 2010, works to manage the neighborhood's public plazas and provide programming to "promote and enliven" the neighborhood and serves as "a collective voice for businesses regarding area changes, relationships with governmental agencies and other community groups". (Meatpacking District Initiative)

The Meatpacking District Improvement Association

The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation founded in 1980 to "preserve the architectural heritage and cultural history of Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo" has influenced development and zoning along the High Line. In 2000, GVSHP founded its “Save Gansevoort Market” project, a coalition of residents, preservationists, merchants, community leaders and elected officials fighting to preserve the integrity of the historic meat packing district and secure landmark status for the area. In 2003, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission and the City Council voted to approve the proposed Gansevoort Market historic district. The designation was the first expansion of historic district protections in Greenwich Village since 1969. (Greenwich Village society for Historic Preservation)

"Today, the Gansevoort Market Historic District is a vibrant neighborhood that has greatly increased in popularity in the last several years, attracting high-end retail stores, restaurants, offices, clubs, galleries, and apartments. In 2001, there were still an estimated 25-30 meatpacking companies remaining in the area (of some 200 at the peak of the industry here). The historic district, despite recent changes, retains a strong and integral sense of place as a market district, due to its distinctive streetscapes, metal canopies, notable buildings, both purpose-built and those adapted over the years for market use, and its unusual street pattern with its Belgian block paving." (Shockley, Jay)

Save Chelsea is a community-based organization established to "protect the residential character of Chelsea and the quality of life for all residents"..."concerned with preserving the integrity of Chelsea’s Historic Districts and buildings and maintaining as varied a mix as possible of economic, social, and generational populations". (Save Chelsea)

"Save Chelsea is strongly opposed to Jamestown Chelsea Market, L.P. (“Jamestown”) being allowed to violate the integrity of the Special West Chelsea Zoning District (“SWCZD” or “District”) so it can build an additional 359,000 square feet of rentable space over the buildings on Block 713 Lot 1, popularly known as Chelsea Market and Buddakan Restaurant (“Chelsea Market”)...
Save Chelsea is not opposed to development in this area. Development cannot only be good for the neighborhood — it is definitely good for the city’s tax base. And Save Chelsea has supported the High Line from the beginning. But benefiting the High Line should not become a means of buying an exemption from applicable zoning regulations." (Doyel & Hoy)

GVSHP and a coalition of local groups continue to fight a plan to allow a significant upzoning of the Chelsea Market complex to facilitate large additions at the 9th and 10th Avenue ends, including a hotel. 
Source: GVSHP

Sources:

Meatpacking District Initiative http://www.meatpacking-district.com/membership/faq
Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP) "Gansevoort Market"
Shockley, Jay. New  York City Landmarks Preservation Commission "Gansevoort Market Historic District Designation Report" 2003
Save Chelsea http://savechelseahistoricdistrict.blogspot.com/

Bagli, Charles V. New York Times "Plan to Build Up Chelsea Market Has Some Up in Arms' May 4 2011

Lesley Doyel & Justin Hoy, Co Presidents, Save Chelsea
Chelsea Now "Save Chelsea strongly opposes Jamestown proposal" April 20, 2011