Park West Village Resident Files Suit Against NYC Department of Buildings

After vocally opposing the continued construction of Columbus Village—a commercial and residential development being built amid the affordable housing complex, Park West Village—PWV resident Paul Bunten filed a lawsuit Friday that would force the developer to comply with land regulations.

Columbus Village, which is currently being constructed along both sides of Columbus Avenue between 97th and 100th Streets, would include over 320,000 feet of retail space and five residential towers, some as tall as 29 stories. Many PWV residents and other community members feel the construction is both unattractive and detrimental to the neighborhood.

Bunten’s lawsuit was filed against the New York City Department of Buildings. According to a press release circulated by Bunten’s attorney Jack Lester, the lawsuit seeks to compel the DOB to enforce city zoning terms “so that the citizens of the community can participate in a public review process to protect the character of their community and their environmental rights.”

“The DOB’s gross dereliction of its administrative obligations is allowing the developer to proceed under a cloak of secrecy and causing harm to the community,” Lester stated in the press release.

In the announcement of the lawsuit, sent to Upper West Side and PWV residents, Bunten said, “With the encouragement of the Department of Buildings, the developers have been acting as if city zoning laws, state statutes, and federal legislation don’t apply to them, and have felt free to ignore community concerns about disproportionate scale, environmental impact and construction safety.”

Bunten later added, “This lawsuit intends to ensure the full public participation of all community stakeholders—owners, tenants, and businesses—in the planning process for our community.”

The DOB could not be reached, as it was closed for the weekend.

An informational meeting for the community is set to take place tonight at 7:30 at the Second Presbyterian Church, located on 96th Street.

lydia.wileden@columbiaspectator.com