Testifying Before the BSA Regarding 515 East 5th Street

On May 12, I submitted testimony before the New York City Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) on landlord Ben Shaoul's request for a zoning variance for the illegal 6th and 7th floor additions on 515 East 5th Street. Given that the landlord has yet to comply with a number of BSA directives on this and other items, I argued that the BSA ought to either deny the variance request or at the very least reopen the item and table it until the landlord is in compliance. I am grateful to the BSA for their decision to reopen this calendar item, and I will continue to work with Council Member Rosie Mendez, tenants, the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, and the East Village Community Coalition to ensure Ben Shaoul is not rewarded for his continued egregious behavior. Please see my testimony below.