Union Square Project in Doubt After Groups Sue City

By BENJAMIN SARLIN, Special to the Sun
April 23, 2008

With residents and community groups suing the city to prevent construction, plans to include a restaurant in a renovated pavilion in Union Square Park could be scuttled.

On Monday, a state judge issued a temporary restraining order requiring the city to halt construction in the park for one week. The plaintiffs in the case are arguing that the Parks Department's $21 million renovation must be approved by the state Legislature under laws requiring permission from Albany to reassign public parkland for non-park uses. An anonymous donor has pledged $7 million toward the park renovations, and opponents of the plan have pressed the city to disclose the person's name, as a donation from a restaurateur could present a conflict of interest.

Planners have discussed turning part of the historic pavilion at the north end of Union Square Park into a seasonal restaurant after renovations are completed, but critics say it should be kept as a play area for children, pointing to the dozens of restaurants in the area.

"Taking away thousands of square feet of potential playground and play space -- it's obscene, especially given the community," the president of NYC Park Advocates, Geoffrey Croft, said. "Residential permits are skyrocketing. It's exploding over there."

An attorney for the city's Law Department, Ramin Pejan, said in a statement that the city was disappointed with the judge's decision to stop work at the site.

"The city is confident in its legal position and the merits of this project, which include a redesigned and dramatically expanded playground and a rehabilitated historic pavilion and plaza that was supported by the Community Board and approved by the Art Commission," Mr. Pejan said.