Hell's Kitchen and Chelsea Community Board Blasts Port Authority Over Design Competition

Community Board 4 in Hell's Kitchen and Chelsea voted unanimously to approve a letter to be sent to Port Authority urging it to suspend the international design competition for a new, larger bus terminal. The strongly worded letter says that while the new bus terminal would be an improvement for New Jersey commuters, it would mean the destruction of the lives of many Hell's Kitchen residents:

At the public session New Jersey Senator Loretta Weinberg in a series of plaintive anecdotes claimed that a new bus terminal was a “quality of life” issue for New Jersey commuters. For the people of Hell’s Kitchen it is a life issue. Demolishing homes, local small businesses, and community institutions for the comfort and convenience of commuters passing through can no longer serve as justification for the destruction of an inner city neighborhood.

The letter comes on the heels of a press conference several local politicians held July 21 calling for a halt to the design competition and a "comprehensive" public review of the new terminal. Members of the community voiced disdain at the meeting for how Port Authority seemed to "brush off" their demands after the press conference. Rep. Jerry Nadler, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, state Sen. Brad Hoylman and Councilman Corey Johnson held the press conference.

Community members are concerned about the current pollution Port Authority causes, and they are worried that a redevelopment of the terminal could result in more polluted air near their homes. Political representatives have said Port Authority hasn't consulted with the community nearly enough in this redevelopment project.

"There hasn't been any true public process to this," a spokesperson for Johnson said Wednesday night.

The community board meeting attracted approximately 100 people, and around a dozen members of the public spoke. It took place on the High Line underneath an overpass, a beautiful backdrop many speakers and attendees were extremely proud of.

Other prominent issues discussed were a noticeable increase in homelessness in the district and their monopolizing the new WiFi kiosks, congestion due to construction of Select Bus Service on 23rd Street between Ninth and 10th avenues, and ferry service for west side stops during the infamous L train shutdown.

Images by Sarah Kaufman/Patch