Important CB9 meeting to follow.

More information at:Harlem Bespoke/PS186

Click link to see information on adaptive re-use of C.B.J. Snyder school PS 109 in East Harlem.

PS109_factsheet

The petition is now closed and was sent with the cover letter (see below) to the following public officials.

Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of NYC
Matthew Wambua, Office of Economic Developm.
Lolita Jackson, Community Liaison of the Mayor
Seth Pinsky, NYC Economic Development Corp.
Ms. Lynch, NYC Economic Development Corp.
Tom G. Lunke, Harlem CDC
Amanda Burden, Department of City Planning NYC
Edith Hsu-Chen, Department of City Planning NYC
Adam Wolff, Department of City Planning NYC
Edwin Marshall, Department of City Planning NYC
Melissa Cerezo, Department of City Planning NYC
Robert Tierney, Landmarks Preservation Com.
Christine C. Quinn, City Council Speaker
Charles B. Rangel, Congressman
Bill De Blasio, Public Advocate
John C. Liu, NY City Comptroller
Bill Perkins, NYS Senator
Eric Schneiderman, Senator
Herman D. Farrell Jr., State Assemblyman
Keith L. T. Wright, Assemblyman
Daniel J. O’Donnell, Assemblyman
Inez Dickens, City Council Member
Robert Jackson, NYC Council Member
Scott Stringer, Manhattan Borough President
Shanifah Rieara, Manh. Borough Pres. Office
Patricia A. Jones, Community Board 9
Christa Geisecke, Community Board 9
Yvonne Stennett, Community Board 9
Walter South, Community Board 9

_________________________________________________________

Coverletter:
April 2010

To our Representatives:

We are petitioning you to save PS 186 from demolition.

The attached petition is signed by over 300 community residents of West Harlem, many more have attended numerous meetings and have tirelessly spoken up on behalf of saving this building.

Several CB9M Committees–Land Use, Zoning & Housing, Historic Preservation, and Arts & Culture have passed resolutions with an overwhelming majority in favor of saving the building. Although passed in Committee, these resolutions never made it to the full board for a vote.
Further, our petition has the support of many neighborhood organizations that have been fighting to save and renovate the building for many years and represent hundreds of people living in this community.

If rehabilitated for adaptive re-use PS 186 will present a grand anchor for 145th Street in West Harlem.

Much needed commercial revitalization of this area in Hamilton Heights, can be accommodated within this existing, beautiful and strong structure. The open courtyards will bustle with life once landscaped and filled with cafes and restaurants. Commercial enterprises will generate jobs and opportunities for the community.

As a cultural and historical asset PS186, designed by famed architect C.B.J. Schneider, is visited by tour groups now and will be even more of an attraction once it is restored as gem of the neighborhood. Neighbors who have seen the building deteriorate will again be proud and pass their memories on as part of the legacy of this neighborhood.

To reuse a building in an adaptive way is the right thing to do: it will be more cost effective than demolishing this solid structure, it will be green and sustainable. Any replacement will be of lesser quality than a building built 100 years ago and will diminish the character of this block.

To demolish this building will be an irreversible decision and a grave mistake.

Please be known to future generations for your efforts and success of saving PS186.

We, the Community of Hamilton Heights, and beyond.

Harlem Bespoke
Historic Districts Council
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