MeatBoard to Bring 'Warmth' and 'Light' to Gansevoort

Monday, February 12, 2007, by Joey

The controversy surrounding the Hotel Gansevoort's new 75-foot addition to the Meatpacking District's skyline may have reached its peak yesterday. The billboard (a billboard!) received both major media coverage and a protest in its name. Josh Barbanel reports in the Times that the Buildings Department has already rejected many of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation's arguments concerning the illegality of the billboard, but they're taking some time to investigate a few of the other claims. To rally support, the GVSHP had a little gathering at the hotel site yesterday afternoon. As for Team Gansevoort, Barbanel reports:

Elon Kenchington, the chief operating officer of the Gansevoort Hotel Group, would not discuss the revenue from the billboards. But he said they were angled to minimize the impact on nearby residential buildings and would add warmth and light to what is “pretty much a dead area.” He said that the hotel had signed a long-term contract with an outdoor advertising company, which is putting up the billboards, but that the hotel would retain the right to reject ads it found unsuitable.

What a coincidence: we've been saying that area's been dead for years!
· Two Billboards Are Rising in the Meatpacking District [Big Deal/NYT]
· Meatpacking Now Slightly More Hideous [Curbed]

Filed under Architecture, City Life, Manhattan: Chelsea, Advertecture, Hotel Gansevoort

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Comments (15 extant)

I would like to know why this is getting any attention?

They are in a zone which allows outdoor signs and a permit has been granted for their plans.

So, I would like to give a BIG kudos to the D.O.B. and would like any whiners out there to keep quiet and go back to their humdrum lives.

By J at February 12, 2007 11:09 AM

how depressing that the comments board on architecture/real estate website has to be screened for malicious comments...

By malicious what? at February 12, 2007 1:40 PM

have to say. really is so gay that you screen all the message board postings now. Curbed is now no different than arriving at Bungalow 8 not knowing who Armin is. Come on guys. Go easy.

By Man at February 12, 2007 3:56 PM

Why is this topic getting attention, Mr. Hotel Gansevoort? Because, quite simply, the billboard is gigantic and ugly. You may only work for the Hotel Gansevoort or own it, but other people live in the blocks around it. And they're tired of the ugliness. That's why a few dozen people protested outside the hotel on Sunday, and why they'll do it again next weekend. And also why they're going to boycott whichever company is blind enough to advertise on that billboard. It has just begun.

By Insult to Injury at February 12, 2007 4:29 PM

The neighborhood is a destination for many b/c of its old-time character, low lying dimension... and yes, that's why the restaurants and swanky shops have moved in (it sure wasnt for low cost Real Estate!! --- that left the WVillage 2 decades back)--- billboards DONT exist now south of 14th and these are particularly intrusive and close to street level. There are 2 historic districts abutting the Hotel. Neighbors not against the hotel or the retailers... we support them, we shop and eat there. We bring our guests here.Its about
keeping something nice, well, nice.

By live and enjoy this hood at February 12, 2007 5:51 PM

Oh you guys just wait til you get the shitastic American Apparel porno cameltoe shots 20 storys high!!! Enjoy....

By patty cake at February 12, 2007 8:22 PM

Do you think the protests are going to do anything?

Not a chance!!

So, you think your protests are going to hurt the sales of the alcohol, fashion comapnies & etc that pay to be on this structure? You people are sorely mistaken.

The company who owns this billboard has MAJOR connections in this city and this billboard will remain.

This is a light in the dark for the outdoor advertising industry!!

I love capitalism!!

By J at February 13, 2007 11:14 AM

J - Which company owns the billboard?

By Insult to Injury at February 13, 2007 9:53 PM

Not saying what company. Sorry!

You will all find out, I am sure, in the coming weeks.

By J at February 14, 2007 12:24 AM

10.

yet another travesty for the west village. the meatpacking district has gone from cool,different and edgy just 6 years ago to hideous, glitzy and lame. this billboard is just another nail in the coffin. the only people that go there are the same people who love las vegas and the cheese of miami beach.

By gabriel at February 16, 2007 12:52 AM

11.

I hope that the same people who are picketing a sign also occasionally go out to picket, say, the Iraq War. Come on people, let's get our priorities straight.

By davidc at February 23, 2007 12:07 PM

12.

The biggest joke is the protesters including the resinents across the street don't have a problem or are ignorant that the 3 signs on the wall of 649 Hudson Street are illegal. Where is the DOB? Where is Landmarks? Fight the illegal stuff and leave the law abiding guys alone!!!!

By Dick at February 23, 2007 3:48 PM

13.

The biggest joke is the protesters including the residents across the street don't have a problem or are ignorant that the 3 signs on the wall of 649 Hudson Street are illegal. Where is the DOB? Where is Landmarks? Fight the illegal stuff and leave the law abiding guys alone!!!!

By Dick at February 23, 2007 3:49 PM

14.

this is great stuff, van wagner communications, filed properly for this permitted sign, is doing the right thing by everyone and is major sponsor of the city and there is no reason anyone should be shitting on them. Good for them for pulling this off! I am sure there must have many players trying to get in with the Hotel.

By Downtown Larry at February 24, 2007 2:18 PM

15.

This outcry by the neighborhood is fantastic. The meatpacking district used to be a great neighborhood with tons of character. Now it has just been converted into yet another toilet for the Euro-trash of the word to swim in and spend their money so everyone knows how rich they are all while the moronic, "sex in the city" americans who have no personality of their own try to emulate them.

This building belongs in Miami, not NYC or especially the meatpacking district. All of this development is stripping NYC of all of its character. The meatpacking district has been lost forever and the LES and East Village are being destroyed rapidly.

By Matthew at March 5, 2007 11:03 AM