Dear Councilmembers-

We, the undersigned, ask you to please vote NO on zoning variances for the Crescent Hotel at 500 Piety Street in Bywater (Zoning Docket 83/24).

This zoning request would effectively negate the Riverfront Design Overlay that was negotiated between developers and residents in 2019, studied and approved by City Planning and voted on by the City Council.

The Riverfront Design Overlay requires new buildings on the riverside of Chartres Street in Bywater to have a maximum of three stories on Chartres Street, with any higher floors to be setback.

These “stepbacks” allow light and air into the residential areas of Bywater and reduce the visual impact of large buildings in the one- and two-story historic neighborhood.

The “stepbacks” keep new buildings consistent with two historic buildings on Chartres Street, Turn Services and the Rice Mill Lofts, which both have three stories on Chartres Street with the upper floors set back.

The proposed hotel would be a five-story tower with a rooftop party deck looking directly down on Bywater. Please respect the Bywater National Register Historic District and Bywater residents by denying the developers the height and design waivers they are seeking.