SCHUMER: LG ELECTRONICS MUST STOP PLAN FOR NEW HEADQUARTER TOWER IN ITS TRACKS – AT 143 FEET TALL, BUILDING WILL SEVERELY DAMAGE ICONIC LANDSCAPE ALONG HUDSON RIVER PALISADES, EVEN THOUGH BUILDING ALTERNATIVES EXIST
Palisades’ Tree-Lined Roadway Is A Scenic View for Hundreds of Thousands in Yonkers & Westchester, But Borough of Englewood Cliffs in NJ Recently Revised Zoning to Allow LG to Build New High-Rise Office Building—New Headquarters Will Disrupt Natural Beauty and Unique Scenic Vistas At This National Natural Landmark
Schumer Goes Straight to the Top & Urges LG Top Exec. to Immediately Modify Its Plan & Reduce the Height of Tallest Building, Before it is Too Late; New Plan Should Not Be Visible Above Palisades’ Tree Line
Earlier this week, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer urged a top executive of LG Electronics to modify the company’s plan for a new North American headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, which will seriously damage the iconic landscape of the Palisades – a national natural landmark and historic site – that hundreds of thousands of residents in Yonkers and greater Westchester, as well as thousands of tourists, enjoy. Specifically, Schumer is demanding that LG reduce the height of the tallest building, before construction progresses further, so it does not show above the tree line of the Hudson River Palisades. LG's plan includes a 143-foot high building that would rise 70 feet over the tree line in an area that has been preserved in its natural state, by both New York and New Jersey, for generations. Schumer today urged LG to redesign the building and consider a plan that would build out horizontally, keeping the same planned square footage while not interfering with the treasured landscape and unique vista.
“After more than a century of both New York and New Jersey working to preserve the unparalleled natural beauty of the Palisades, one company should not be permitted to sweep in and taint that iconic landscape, particularly when an alternative building plan exists. LG’s planned tower will severely detract from the Palisades’ sky line and may set a precedent for future high-rise office buildings to be built and destroy this iconic vista. We should work together to ensure that the rare and magnificent vista of the Hudson River Palisades is preserved for all those who live here and pass through,” said Schumer. “I am strongly urging top executives at LG to modify their plan and build a site that will not interfere with the majestic beauty that both New Jersey and New York residents love.”
LG Electronics plans to build a new North American headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, NJ. As part of the plan, one of the office buildings will be 143 feet tall and will therefore severely mar the largely unbroken natural sweep of the Palisades north of the George Washington Bridge.
“I am all for building, development and job creation, but the type of building should be appropriate for the area it is in. And, sadly, this LG tower would stick out like a sore thumb in one of the rarest places of all – a sweep of natural beauty in the midst of the most densely packed urban area in America,” said Schumer.
This area along the Hudson River was designated by the U.S. government as both a National Natural Landmark and a National Historic Site, a rare duel honor. For years, companies and office buildings in the area adhered to zoning limits that maintained its iconic landscape. Recently, the Borough of Englewood Cliffs revised its zoning ordinance, which would allow LG Electronics and other companies to construct an office building high above the tree line of the Hudson River Palisades.
Schumer urged LG Electronics to reconsider its plan by redesigning the building so it does not rise above the tree line. Schumer explained that the current plan would do irreparable damage to this iconic landscape, and encouraged the firm to achieve its desired size by building horizontally instead.
A copy of Schumer’s letter appears below:
Dear Vice Chairman Koo:
I write to urge LG to modify its plan for a new North American headquarters in Englewood Cliff by reducing the height of the tallest of the buildings so it does not show above the tree line of the Hudson River Palisades.
As you undoubtedly know, the plan includes a 143-foot high building that would severely mar the largely unbroken natural sweep of the Palisades north of the George Washington Bridge. As planned, a large part of that building would be clearly visible above the tree line and ridgeline in an area that, thanks to more than 100 years of conservation efforts, has been maintained in its natural state largely unmarked by man-made structures. The LG building would do irreparable damage to this iconic landscape, which stretches north along the Hudson River for 16 miles and has been designated by the United States government as both a National Natural Landmark and a National Historic Site. I fear that the building would also set a precedent by departing from the zoning that has kept development low-rise for the past 80 years.
It is not necessary that this happen. LG has ample space on its 27 acre site to build a headquarters of equal square footage employing an equal number of people that does not rise above the treeline. Redesigning the building so that it does not rise above the tree line, your company will generate a great deal of good will that I believe would redound very much to its benefit.
With respect, I ask you to modify the design of your new North American headquarters and thereby ensure that the Palisades remain unmarred.
Sincerely,
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer