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Read the press release here.

St. Vincent's Development Plan Undergoes Major Changes

By Andrea Swalec | March 14, 2012 4:40pm | Updated on March 14, 2012 5:49pm
Rudin Management released this bird's eye view of the completed development on Oct. 3, 2011.
Rudin Management released this bird's eye view of the completed development on Oct. 3, 2011.
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Rudin Management

MANHATTAN — Rudin Management and the City Council agreed on serious modifications to the developer's plans for the former St. Vincent's Hospital site on Wednesday.

The Council's land-use committee voted in favor of modifications to Rudin's plans to reduce the number of condo units from 450 to 350 and deed the St. Vincent's Triangle to the city, according to a statement issued by the Council. The Council also said it will purchase and build a public school in the state-owned building at 75 Morton St.

"[The] agreement reached today between the City Council, Rudin Development and the Bloomberg Administration will bring much needed educational capacity to the West Village," boost the creation of open space and preserve historic buildings, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said in the statement. 

Rudin also agreed to give $1 million to support arts programming at local schools and $1 million to MFY Legal Services to support their work on affordable housing, according to a statement by Rudin CEO and vice chairman Bill Rudin.

"We are … proud to have been able to augment our commitment to education in the area," the statement said. "What started with helping to bring a new elementary school to the neighborhood will now also include funding for much-needed arts programs at P.S. 41, P.S. 3 and the Foundling School." 

Rudin's plan for luxury housing and retail space has been heavily criticized by locals for not including affordable housing and increasing the density of Greenwich Village without arranging for increased services, such as schools.

Brad Hoylman, the chair of Community Board 2 — which has vocally opposed the Rudin project — praised the compromise. 

“I commend Speaker Quinn for her efforts in making the St. Vincent’s redevelopment package one that addresses significant needs in our area as outlined in Community Board 2's resolution," he said in a statement. 

“It is a great result and we appreciate the Speaker and her entire negotiating team for their steadfast support of our community.”

Backers of the AIDS Memorial Park, whose star-studded panel of judges chose a winner in January, said they will continue to work with the community to create the memorial. 

"We are very pleased with the agreement announced today," co-founders of the AIDS Memorial Park Coalition Christopher Tepper and Paul Kelterborn said in a statement. 

"In just one year, our grassroots effort has grown from an important idea to a coalition of thousands of individuals and organizations, whose involvement has elevated the civic discussion about recognizing and honoring the history of the AIDS crisis." 

The rezoning application will be reviewed a second time by the City Planning Commission and then be reviewed by the full City Council. A decision will likely be made by the end March, a City Council spokesman said. 

The Department of Education did not immediately respond to a request for more information on the new school, which locals urged the city to build in the former home of the state Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, The Villager reported.