TESTIMONY
Rachel Suna, Vice President of Silvercup Studios on Support for the 'City of Yes' Zoning Text Amendments to Generate Jobs in the Film and Television Industry
5:06:54
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128 sec
Rachel Suna testifies in support of the proposed 'City of Yes' zoning text amendments, which she believes will generate hundreds if not thousands of jobs in New York City's film and television industry by allowing more sound stages and support spaces to be built.
- The amendments would allow sound stages in already zoned industrial and commercial districts, meeting the size and height requirements needed by content creators and streaming services.
- Owners would still need to go through an application and approval process with the Department of City Planning to ensure sites won't negatively impact their districts.
- The changes simplify city resolutions, allow businesses to locate in more commercial areas, and provide avenues to mixed-use neighborhoods without rezoning.
- Suna sees these forward-thinking amendments as enabling the city's future growth and prosperity.
Rachel Suna
5:06:54
Good afternoon.
5:06:54
My name is Rachel Singer, and I am a vice president of Silvercrest Studios.
5:06:58
I wanna thank the counsel for the opportunity to testify today.
5:07:02
The following is my testimony and support of the city of yes for economic opportunity tax amendments.
5:07:08
I wanna commend the mayor in New York Department of City Planning for taking the initiative to create the innovative framework for the city of yes zoning tax amendment changes.
5:07:17
The zoning tax changes, which are contemplated, will help to create more housing, more jobs, and an overall better, as well as nimbler, New York.
5:07:26
Positioned to tackle the challenges we face today as well as those that will arise in the future.
5:07:30
As one of New York City's largest providers of film and television studios, we are excited to that there are a few proposed text changes which will undoubtedly generate 100, if not 1000 of jobs within our industry by allowing for the creation of more sound stages and associated support spaces.
5:07:46
The anticipated changes to the zoning text will allow sound stages to be built in already zoned industrial and commercial districts by allowing these new economy spaces to be the kinds of buildings they need to be to meet the height and size requirements of content creators, allowing the booming world of streaming services and and scripted series to do more business in New York.
5:08:11
Please note that none of these changes would be automatic.
5:08:14
Owners would still need to go through an application and approval process with New York City Department of City Planning who will ensure that the sites in question will not negatively impact the m districts in which they reside.
5:08:25
These text amendments would simply make this process more navigable the industry.
5:08:30
Overall, the city of economic opportunity simplifies its own resolution to treat similar uses the same.
5:08:37
Allows businesses to locate in more commercial districts and provides avenues to mixed use neighborhoods.
5:08:42
These proposed tax amendments bring businesses closer to consumers, makes rules clearer for businesses citywide, all without truly doing a rezoning in the city.
5:08:51
These are simply amendments to existing zoning techs that does not rezone neighborhoods.
5:08:56
This is the kind of forward thinking that our will enable our city to grow and prosper in the future in years ahead.
5:09:01
Thank you.
