Lower East Side Gallery Sues to Block Ian Schrager & Ruby Schron Real Estate Development

The Sperone Westwater Gallery has gone to court to block a proposed 25-story hotel and condominium project developed by Ian Schrager and Ruben Schron. The showroom claims that the new building will be twice as tall as any other building in the neighborhood and block sunlight into the gallery.

In a complaint filed Jan. 10 in New York State Supreme Court, the gallery argues that the city’s Board of Standards and Appeals should have ordered an environmental review before approving the plan, reports The Real Deal. Upon completion, the 146-unit mixed-use tower will be 289 feet high and have 195,000 square feet of space. Lawyers claim it will cast shadows across the adjacent Sarah Delano Roosevelt Park and the nearby Liz Christy Community Garden.

A court hearing is scheduled for Feb. 8.