REMARKS
Council Member Rivera's remarks on Innovation East and Jacob Day residence landmark designation
0:13:28
ยท
3 min
Council Member Carlina Rivera expresses support for two items in her district: the Innovation East project at 455 First Avenue in Kips Bay and the landmark designation of the Jacob Day residence at 50 West Thirteenth Street in Greenwich Village. She details the benefits and community improvements associated with the Innovation East project and highlights the historical significance of the Jacob Day residence.
- Innovation East will create a state-of-the-art life sciences and biotech lab, contributing to a life sciences corridor on First Avenue
- The project includes commitments for workforce development, community space, public realm improvements, and support for local parks and education
- The Jacob Day residence has significant historical importance as a center of Black civic life and later as a cultural hub
Carlina Rivera
0:13:28
Thank you, chair Salamanca, for the opportunity to say a few words in support of two items in my district.
0:13:35
We'll be voting on today Innovation East at 455 First Avenue in Kips Bay and the Jacob Day residence at 50 West Thirteenth Street in Greenwich Village.
0:13:44
Innovation East will transform an underutilized city owned building into a state of the art life sciences and biotech labs.
0:13:53
This project is a vital piece in creating a life sciences corridor on First Avenue, making the Kipps Bay neighborhood a world class destination for life sciences and the health care industry.
0:14:04
Innovation East will build on the investments in life sciences that have been made in the area while providing additional benefits to the local community.
0:14:12
Working with EDC, I'm very thankful to them and the development team.
0:14:16
I've secured commitments to partner with local nonprofit organizations like the Lower East Side Employment Network to provide educational and workforce development opportunities to local residents and public high school students.
0:14:27
The building will contain a multipurpose community space that will hold public facing workforce development and science education programs, and will offer free meeting space to community board six and other local civic organizations.
0:14:40
The development team and EDC are also committing to public realm improvements that will enhance enhance the pedestrian experience and safety around the building on the 20 Seventh Street pedestrian walkway and Mount Carmel Place.
0:14:52
On First Avenue, the developers will seek a retail tenant that will serve the community and enliven the streetscape.
0:14:58
Bellevue South Park, 1 of the few green spaces in Community District 6, will receive new lighting this summer.
0:15:04
Development team will contribute $250,000 over ten years in supplemental improved maintenance in the park and support a local organization.
0:15:12
And to better serve local families, new pre k seats will be added to the area.
0:15:18
And we have a new steam center coming to the brand new high school and the pedestrian bridge at East 20 Fifth Street that really is a welcomed addition to Kipps Bay and much needed.
0:15:28
With more infrastructure and drop job creation comes the need for those public health investments that we heard from council member powers and, of course, for more housing, something that we have been saying for years.
0:15:41
Especially more affordable housing to meet the demand from workers and protect residents from raising rents.
0:15:46
The city's commitment to working with community board six in my office to create a district wide housing plan and identify locations for affordable housing in the area is a good step in that direction.
0:15:57
And I look forward to our ongoing efforts to create more homes in the neighborhood.
0:16:01
I'm grateful to EDC, the development team, and community board six for working to ensure public benefits through this project that will serve the community and provide economic opportunities.
0:16:11
I'm supporting this project.
0:16:12
I hope my colleagues will support it in voting I as well.
0:16:16
We're also voting on a landmark designation for the Jacob Day residence at 50 West 13 Street in Greenwich Village.
0:16:22
Dating to the mid nineteenth century, the building was home to Jacob Day, a prominent African American businessman and civil rights leader, and hosted trailblazers like Sarah Smith Tompkins Garnett, the first African American woman principal of a New York City public school.
0:16:36
The building has significant historical impact as a center of black civic life, including the founding of the Abyssinian Baptist Church and the Equal Suffrage League.
0:16:45
In the twentieth century, it became a cultural hub hosting the Afro American Folkloric Troupe and later the thirteenth Street Repertory Theater.
0:16:54
I'm excited to support this project and, of course, encourage my colleagues to vote aye.
0:16:59
Thank you to EDC, the land use team, of course, my own team, Katie Loeb, Eddie Amador, among others, and thank you, chair Salamanca, for the opportunity to make remarks.