Letter to Bon-Joon Koo, Chairman of LG Electronics - Immediately Modify Its Plan & Reduce the Height of Tallest Building

Letter

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

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