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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Paul Devlin, Co-Chair of Hell's Kitchen Land Use Committee from Manhattan Community Board 4
1:15:03
·
100 sec
Paul Devlin, representing Manhattan Community Board 4, urged for a denial of the Western Rail Yards modification proposal due to concerns about reduced housing units and unmitigated adverse impacts. He emphasized the need for collaboration to find a better solution for the site.
- Highlighted issues include shadows, transportation, air quality, and construction noise
- Suggested that the current proposal is rushed to meet a June deadline for casino application
- Called for withdrawing the current application to allow more time for community input and planning
Paul Devlin
1:15:03
Good morning good morning chairman Riley and council member Bosher.
1:15:07
I appreciate the opportunity to speak today.
1:15:09
I am Paul Devlin, the co chair of Hell's Kitchen Land Use from Community Board four.
1:15:13
We wrote a letter in January 2025 urging a complete denial of this application driven by the reduction in housing units of 5,700 units of the 2,009 plan to the 1,500, now 4,000 housing plans.
1:15:28
But the reason we wanted to deny this and work together to find a solution is because of the unmitigated adverse impacts.
1:15:35
As you've heard today, we have problems with shadows and transportation.
1:15:39
What we did not talk about today was air quality and construction noise.
1:15:43
Those unmitigated adverse impacts can be mitigated if we don't move forward with the current plan.
1:15:49
I agree with council member Bautcher that this is a prime opportunity and a chance for us to do something that build builds the city forward, brings us union jobs, brings us housing, brings us all sorts of benefits.
1:16:00
And I agree with council member Bautcher that this process of this proposal that's brought forward to us three days ago should have started years ago.
1:16:08
We have an opportunity to work together to find a solution for this site and to work with the developer.
1:16:14
But the fact of the matter is that there is a June deadline for casino application, and a casino will not fit on the current 02/2009 site plan.
1:16:22
So they're pushing forward this plan so they can submit the application in June of twenty twenty five.
1:16:27
If mister Blau was correct in saying that this has nothing to do with the casino, then I'd be happy to withdraw this application today and continue to work with the community board, the elected officials, and the community to build a project on this prime land that would work for us all.
1:16:43
Thank you.