Letters to the Editor
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‘Chelsea Opponents Stymie Seminary Development Plan’
I think that most Chelsea residents and opponents of the General Theological Seminary’s tower bloc plan are more than willing to work with the seminary to find funding for the restoration of its historic buildings [New York, “Chelsea Opponents Stymie Seminary Development Plan,” April 3, 2007]. But instead of pointing the finger of blame at preservationists and their neighbors, GTS should examine its own actions.
Many years of voluntary neglect and deferred maintenance led to the buildings’ current condition. The spiraling of costs during the year and a half of this protracted battle could have been avoided if GTS had simply listened to the community and limited the size of its proposed development to what the local zoning allows.
GTS needs to take responsibility for its situation, recognize the landmarks and zoning restrictions under which it has to operate, and work with a willing community to move its plan forward. Ultimately that will best serve both GTS and the broader Chelsea community.
ANDREW BERMAN
New York, N.Y.
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