AM New York Article on June 1 Town Meeting

PWV Acquisition LLC intends to develop a strip of high-end retail stores on Columbus Avenue, in front of the three Park West Village buildings it owns. It also plans to build a 29-story tower with market-rate rentals at the same spot. The high rise would occupy space now set aside for trees, benches and parking.

"The people who moved to Park West Village came because it was an oasis of trees and open spaces," said Lois Hoffmann, president of the Park West Village Tenants Association, who was one of the organizers of a town hall meeting last night to discuss the development. She added that tenants have been left in the dark about the development plans.

In a statement, PWV Acquisition LLC said it is meeting with elected officials, tenants and the community about the development.

"We look forward to a continuing dialogue about this new, mixed-use development," the statement said. "We expect to bring much needed new retail to serve this community."

Kathleen Cudahy, a spokeswoman for the property owners, said the high rise would be centered in the middle of the block, to maximize the amount of sunlight the three buildings would receive. She also said the luxury tower and the nearest building would be 200 feet apart, allowing for open space.

Tenants said the future development has already wreaked havoc on the community. The site of the planned commercial space was formerly occupied by local merchants who were given notice to vacate last fall.

In early May, tenants protested the loss of neighborhood stores when the last of the shopowners, a C-Town grocery mart, shut down.