On April 11th Brama.com broke the story of the proposed demapping of Taras Shevchenko Place in New York City (see 'Demapping' Taras Shevchenko Place in New York City: The demise of a Ukrainian community?). Since then the Ukrainian community of New York has been in a state of dismay and confusion trying to piece together the facts and issues involved in this case. The story is complicated and filled with technical processes and many participants who are entangled in this affair. It is difficult to present this issue in clear and concise terms. Nevertheless, in a series of reports scheduled to be presented over the near term, Brama.com will attempt to provide you with all of the information that has surfaced over the last thirty-six days in a clear and organized manner - What happened? When did it happen? What's being done about it now?

Before proceeding into the details of the story, it is important to note that two committees have recently been formed to stop the "demapping" of Taras Shevchenko Place, an action that was initiated by The Cooper Union. Demapping, according to a representative at the Manhattan Community Board #3 is the term used for removal of all references to the name from official maps. As it states on the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) #010429 MMM application submitted by The Cooper Union to the Department of City Planning, Taras Shevchenko Place would be, simply put, eliminated.

On Monday, April 16, at a meeting called by Mr. Myroslaw Shmigel, head of the NYC branch Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), the Shevchenko Preservation Committee was established. Present at the meeting and signing on to its mission were umbrella organizations such as the UCCA, Ukrainian-American Coordinating Council (UACC), as well as the Ukrainian National Women's League of America (UNWLA), The Ukrainian Museum, and others including St. George Church. The Committee unanimously voted that evening to stand united against the demapping proposal - to speak with one voice against Cooper Union's plan. It recognized that all construction that the Cooper Union wished to implement as part of current its large scale development plan hinged on the demapping of one little street - Taras Shevchenko Place.

Keeping in mind that this was not an issue limited to the Ukrainian community, the Shevchenko Preservation Committee met with other concerned neighborhood groups such as block associations, merchant associations, preservation groups, etc., and together with them formed a second ad hoc committee called the Coalition to Save the East Village. Many of the active members of the local neighborhood associations had been closely following the Cooper Union development plans, and were very forthcoming with information they had accumulated. Local community groups share an interest with Ukrainians to preserve Taras Shevchenko Place (TSP), more for its value as a thoroughfare and the parking spaces that it provides, both of which are also important issues for area Ukrainians.

Together the two groups have been working intensively on fact-finding missions trying to unravel the myriad of details surrounding the demapping of TSP and the Cooper Union development plans. In this short period of time, just over one month, members of the Committee have attended many meetings and raised questions with Community Board #3, the Housing Committee, the Department of City Planning, and The Cooper Union. They have pooled documentation, enlisted the aid of knowledgeable professionals, and they have worked tirelessly to inform the public about this controversial and very complex topic. Representatives from both organizations will be distributing information and collecting petition signatures at the Ukrainian Festival this weekend. They invite all those interested in saving Taras Shevchenko Place to learn more about the issue, and to come and enjoy the festival (announcement below).

TO BE CONTINUED

The Shevchenko Preservation Committee and the Coalition to Save the East Village will be on hand at the St. George East 7th Street Ukrainian Festival this Saturday and Sunday, the 20th and 21st of May, starting at 11 AM to answer your questions. You may contact the Committee at this address:

Shevchenko Preservation Committee
c/o Ukrainian National Home
140-142 Second Ave.
New York, NY 10003
SPC@brama.com