The fight over the multiple futuristic 3-story-tall LinkNYC 5G towers planned for our community is heating up again.

Last July, the city-wide review that was supposed to evaluate the towers’ impacts on neighboring historic districts was “paused” by the FCC because of the chaotic way it was being conducted by the applicant (a company currently named Boldyn Networks, previously known as CityBridge and ZenFi). That review, called a Section 106 review, has now restarted.

An application was recently filed for 445 West Street (southeast corner of Bethune Street and West Street), and we have received notices that applications will be filed soon for 100 Horatio Street (southwest corner of Horatio and Washington streets), 100 Jane Street (actually at the northwest corner of West 12th and Washington streets), and 771 Greenwich Street (southeast corner of Greenwich and Bethune streets). Applications for a tower near Jane and Greenwich streets and another tower near Gansevoort and West streets are also in the works. All of these locations are either within or directly adjacent to historic districts.

Save Gansevoort has been designated a “consulting party” to these reviews, and we have already filed a comment objecting to the proposed tower at 445 West Street. This tower is immediately adjacent to Westbeth, and violates a clause in Boldyn’s contract with New York CIty that states towers cannot be placed next to individual landmarks such as Westbeth.

It’s now possible for the general public to comment as well by sending an email to:
citybridgelink5g@ebiconsulting.com The deadline for submitting comments on the tower at 445 West Street is November 26th. Comments must relate only to the impacts of the proposed tower on the historic buildings and districts; it you raise any concerns unrelated to historic preservation your comment may be ignored or discarded. In the subject header, include “Section 106 review of tower at 445 West Street.”

In your message, make two points;

1. The proposed tower at 445 West Street directly adjoins Westbeth, an individual landmark. This tower would violate Boldyn’s contract with New York City, which prohibits LinkNYC 5G towers adjacent to individual landmarks.
2. This prohibition recognizes that these futuristic 3-story-tall 5G towers are incompatible with landmarked properties and would have negative impacts on such properties. Because of their size and design these towers will inevitably have a negative impact on designated historic districts, and should not be allowed within or adjoining such districts.

We’ll post more information as soon as proposals are officially submitted for the other 5G towers proposed for our area.