NEW YORK—The Chelsea Market expansion has cleared one bureaucratic hurdle after Community Board 4 ratified the recommendation that was made by its committee following a lengthy, often spirited, debate on Wednesday night. The market is an enclosed food court, shopping mall, office building, and television production facility located in Chelsea.
Residents of Chelsea, most of which opposed the expansion, and business owners from Chelsea Market, who unanimously supported the expansion, packed the Fulton Center auditorium for the final public hearing.
Many of the residents claimed the area is developed enough, citing excess traffic—both car and pedestrian—and noise due to the Chelsea Market and High Line. Some residents argued the expansion would destroy the historic area.
Most business owners testified that their partnership with Jamestown Properties, the developer for Chelsea Market, was a success, with many adding employees and expanding space.
One meeting attendee noted Wednesday’s meeting was the first time a large number of expansion supporters showed up to testify.
The recommendation passed 26–14 with several conditions attached, largely due to the board’s intense negotiations over the months of discussion with Jamestown Properties.
Affordable housing was added as a condition of support at a committee hearing last week. The board recommended 27 percent of the square foot of the expansion, slightly over 80,000 square feet, be put in the neighborhood, although no details, such as location or planned date of completion, were committed.
The recommendation will head to Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer’s desk before heading to the Department of City Planning and ultimately the City Council.
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