Washington, D.C. – June 24, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Charles B. Rangel, who represents Upper Manhattan and the Bronx, released the following statement after LG Electronics USA announced, after almost a year of negotiations, that it has reached agreement on a new design that will create a world-class, sustainably designed building to the benefit of LG, the town of Englewood Cliffs and the state of New Jersey, while protecting the iconic vistas and integrity of the Palisades Park, a National Natural and Historic Landmark.
Congressman Rangel, a decorated Korean War veteran and honorary Chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Korea, proactively engaged in the discussions through meetings, phone calls, and letters to LG executives as well as community stakeholders:
“I am grateful to LG and President Cho for agreeing to a favorable design that would preserve the treasured view cherished by communities along the Hudson River. As a longtime friend of Korea, I am proud that LG has shown genuine concern for its neighbors and have built good will that is higher than the world’s tallest tower.
Let me also give special thanks to Steve Simon, Laurance Rockefeller, Helen Morik, Becky Carel and the Coalition advocates and elected officials to Protect the Palisades for their unwavering commitment and dedication to preserving one of our Nation’s wonderful attractions and national parks. This is a great victory for everyone who worked so hard on this issue.”
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LG’s new building design, reflecting compromises by all the parties, calls for a five-story north wing just shy of 70 feet in height and a three-story south wing, protecting the scenic views of the Palisades. LG will implement landscape, lighting and other design features to further reduce visual impacts, while retaining the scale of the complex as home for LG’s growing U.S. business.
The plan maintains the LG complex’s design that aspires for LEED Platinum certification and includes protecting woodlands and six wetlands on the 27-acre site in Englewood Cliffs. The new 360,000-square-foot corporate campus at 111 Sylvan Ave. will allow LG to double its local employment to more than 1,000 by 2019, while creating thousands of much-needed New Jersey construction jobs in the shorter term.
As part of the settlement, the conservation groups agreed to withdraw their pending legal appeal regarding zoning approvals in Englewood Cliffs and pledged to work with LG to secure necessary municipal approvals so the project can move forward as expeditiously as possible.
