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Consents & Variances
Newsstand Application #1346346, NEC West 54th Street and 7th Avenue (843 7th Avenue)
WHEREAS, The applicant seeks a permit to install and operate a 6' x 12" newsstand at 843 7th Avenue (on the N/E/C OF West 54th St. & 7th Ave), and
WHEREAS, The proposed newsstand would be located in the Central Park-Theater district corridor, an area that registers a heavy pedestrian flow, reaching critical level at rush hour; and
WHEREAS, The proposed newsstand would have a negative impact on pedestrian traffic, adding to congestion and creating an unsafe condition; and
WHEREAS, The neighborhood is adequately served by the existing newsstand and newspaper stores in the vicinity, including a newspaper and gift store, The Smoke Scene, at 785 Seventh Avenue between 54th and 55th Street, in close proximity to the proposed location of the newsstand; and
WHEREAS , The Wellington Hotel, corner 55th Street and Seventh Avenue, the Sheraton Hotel, corner 53rd Street and Seventh Avenue, and the Park Central Hotel across the Avenue all have Newsstand -Gift Shops; and
WHEREAS, 2,000 pedestrians have been killed in motor vehicle collisions on the streets of New York City in the past 12 years and each day approximately 35 pedestrians are struck by autos in NYC. Safety is a crucial concern for Community Board Five; and
WHEREAS, The newsstand would negatively impact on the surrounding area creating physical and visual clutter; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five is gravely concerned by the increase of applications for newsstands within its district, and strongly urges Department of Consumer Affairs, Department of Transportation and the Design Commission to work with CB5 and other interested parties to establish a master plan for new newsstand locations, and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five recognizes that applications for newsstands are usually presented by small business, minority owners and urges the Department of Small Business Services to assist applicants in the cumbersome application process, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends denial of the application to install a newsstand at 843 7th Avenue, on the N/E/C of West 54th Street and 7th Avenue), and be it further
RESOLVED, That Community Board Five urges DOT to proceed with the pedestrian count at the location at the rush hour of 5pm on a weekday, and be it further
RESOLVED, That in recognizing that the cost for applications for a newsstand is very high to small business owners and operators, Community Board Five requests that DCA refunds the application fee for applications that are denied.
The above resolution passed by a vote of 36 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining.