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Consents & Variances
Newsstand Application #1356693, NEC 7th Avenue and West 55th Street.
WHEREAS, The applicant is proposing a newsstand on the northeast (NEC) corner of 7th Avenue and West 55th Street; and
WHEREAS, CB5 takes its role seriously, and the applicant failed to appear at a regularly scheduled meeting and failed to address questions and concerns CB5 had about the application; and
WHEREAS, The proposed newsstand would have a negative impact on pedestrian traffic, which is already very heavy, and add to congestion and create an unsafe condition for pedestrians; and
WHEREAS, Safety is a crucial concern for Community Board Five, with 2,000 pedestrians having been killed in motor vehicle accidents on the streets of New York City in the past 12 years and on average about 35 pedestrians being struck by motor vehicles in NYC everyday; and
WHEREAS, There is a subway entrance about 50 ft. from the proposed site; and
WHEREAS, Community Board 5 recognizes that the newsstand applicants are usually individuals and small business owners (often minorities or recent immigrants) 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 the NEC 7th Avenue and West 55th Street; and be it further
RESOLVED, That Community Board Five urges DOT to proceed with the pedestrian count at the location at rush hour (5 PM- 6 PM) on a weekday; and be it further
RESOLVED, That in recognizing that the cost of applying for a newsstand is very high for the applicant, including the cost of hiring professionals to assist with the application, Community Board Five requests that DCA refund the application fee for applications that are denied.
The above resolution passed by a vote of 26 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining.