From the Merchant’s Museum:

“In 2014, the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved a plan for construction of an eight-story hotel next door to the Merchant’s House Museum, at 27 East 4th Street. The 1832 Merchant’s House is a city, state, and federal landmark. In New York City, it is one of only 117 buildings (and one of only six residences) that is both an exterior and an interior landmark. Remarkably, landmark status does not guarantee protection from adjacent construction.

We’ve just learned the City Planning Commission has received the developer’s application for the special permits they need to begin construction.

Why Say NO!

• The proposed hotel, at 100 feet tall, is in violation of the City’s Zoning Resolution.The developer’s application for a zoning text amendment – “spot zoning” – in effect would rewrite the law for a series of waivers that benefit the developer alone.
• At eight stories, the proposed hotel towers over the 4 ½ story Merchant’s House(completely blocking sunlight to the rear garden) and is grossly incompatible with the surrounding buildings in the Noho Historic District.
• If the Planning Commission approves the application, the developer would be able to proceed – and the museum’s fragile, 186-year-old building would suffer catastrophic structural damage and likely collapse during construction.

The Merchant’s House is New York City’s only family home preserved intact, inside and out, from the 19th century. It is a vital – and irreplaceable – New York City cultural institution, open to the public since 1936.

If the Merchant’s House – Manhattan’s first designated landmark in 1965 – can’t be protected, NO New York City landmark will be safe from out-of-control private development.

How You Can Help

• WRITE the City Planning Commissionurging them to REJECT the developer’s application.
  Visit gvshp.org/mhm for an easy online form.
• ATTEND the Community Board 2 Public Hearing.
  Wednesday, April 11, 6:30 p.m.
  NYU Silver Building, 32 Waverly Place, Room 520
• SIGN our petition —If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by and ask at the admissions desk. Online petition coming soon. If you are an East 4th Street resident, or nearby neighbor, we need your contact info! Email us at nyc1832@merchantshouse.org.

DONATE to the MHM Legal Fund”

Council Member Margaret Chin’s Letter of Support:

Jobs at Parks

Park’s is hiring! …. solar engineers, media education experts, project development coordinators for @freshkillspark and @greenthumbgrows, and more!

Parks needs motivated and passionate individuals who are ready to reinvent the cityscape. We are looking for dedicated team players to help design and build green spaces, maintain and run our properties, keep our parks safe, and bring our public lands to life with programs and events.

NYC Parks is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Full–Time Jobs

 Fuller Listings Here.

Audubon For the Birds! Education Program Intern (NYC local candidate)

In keeping with the Year of the Dog:

Citywide Forum on Dogs

Saturday, April 14, from 10am-1pm

It will be located across town at Tony Dapolito Recreation Center at 1 Clarkson Street.

For more information: nycparksdogforumm.splashthat.com

Who: NYC Parks and representatives from volunteer dog groups across the City

• Learn more about dogs in parks
• Come hear more about the current state of Park’s dog runs
• Learn community engagement strategies for your local park
• Share your opinions about a range of topics important to City dog owners.

The program will begin at 10am and is expected to last until 1pm.

Light refreshments will be served.

This event is dog-free

#IWillMarch on Saturday, March 24 because all across the country, including right here at home, young people are rising up for gun reform and school safety, and I am proud to stand in solidarity with these fearless leaders. While officials in Washington shamelessly reject anything close to gun control, these brave students are stepping up in the fight to protect us all from gun violence.

To every student who has told their story, took to the streets, demanded action and made their voice heard, the world is listening and your power is growing.

Details:

Saturday, March 24

10 AM

March begins on Central Park West,

West 72nd Street

Link to march

From Anthony Rueter our GreenThumb Outreach Coordinator!

Allen/Pike Mall photo by Justin Ladda

“Happy (almost) spring!  It’s that time of year when we’re all busy gearing up for the growing season and planning events, open hours, and more!  GreenThumb’s GrowTogether conference is almost here, in a new lower Manhattan and Staten Island friendly location at Borough of Manhattan Community College, and tickets are selling super quickly so make sure to buy your ticket ASAP!

News:

The LUNGS (Loisada United Neighborhood Gardens) Spring Awakening Earth Day parade is coming up quickly!  On Earth Day, Sunday April 22^nd, 2018 gardeners and community members will march from El Sol Brillante to El Jardin del Paraiso, stopping at 27 community gardens along the route ending with a celebration of educational workshops, music, and food.  Join us for a planning meeting TONIGHT, March 15^th at 7pm at 428 East 10^th Street otherwise we’ll see you at the parade and celebration on Earth Day!

Welcome Sage’s Garden to the NYC Parks and GreenThumb family, officially!  I’m excited and proud to announce a new addition to the GreenThumb garden family.  Sage’s Garden’s mission is to honor the legacy of Sage Payton, a community member who passed away and used to maintain the lot at 281 East 4^th Street that has become this garden.  The gardeners want to restore and improve the space in his honor!  I’m really impressed and excited by all the work these gardeners have already done building strong group structure, rules, and bylaws, and now they get to dive into the (more fun) physical work!

The Spring Supply Distribution is approaching! On Saturday April 14^th, from 10:00am-1:00pm at Green Oasis Community Garden in lower Manhattan …we will be distributing spring supplies!  The list of supplies is still being finalized [Anthony will] email it out.  RSVP is required to pick up so please be sure to RSVP at the link…Coordinate with garden members so that there is only one RSVP per garden!

As we get ready for the 2019 relicensing of all GreenThumb community gardens, we’d like to inform you that GreenThumb will be requiring all community garden groups under Parks jurisdiction to submit copies of their bylaws to their Outreach Coordinators as a prerequisite to being licensed.  Read more here for what we want to see in bylaws, links to our super helpful bylaws worksheet, and check the program guide for upcoming workshops on the topic!

Prevent heavy metals from entering your food by adhering to the GreenThumb requirement of growing food crops in containers or raised beds lined with landscaping fabric and filled with clean topsoil and compost.  Read more about our recommendations here!

Highlighted Upcoming Events

Click the link to register for each workshop and find out more details.  There are even more workshops in the program guide & on our website!  Download the spring program guide here.

TONIGHT!! Microbes and Fungi: The Life of the Soil Party

Tuesday, March 20^th, 2018

5:30pm-7:00pm

GreenThumb Office, Manhattan

34^th Annual GreenThumb GrowTogether Conference

Saturday March 31^st, 2018

8:30am-4:00pm

Borough of Manhattan Community College

Tickets are only $5 at the link and will be $10 at the door so secure your ticket today!  Tickets are selling fast!

Fruit Tree Care

Saturday, April 7^th, 2018

11:00am-1:00pm

Jardin la Roca, Bronx

Happy Hydrating with your Hydrant

Tuesday, April 10^th, 2018

5:30pm-7:00pm

6BC Botanical Garden, Manhattan

More upcoming events here!”

Looking forward to seeing this vital community park’s reopening with all intended “amenities” and new and improved spaces.

Makes our life go better to notice what we can do to make a difference on someone else’s.