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Transportation & Environment
Application by Xavier Mission for a Block Party on West 16th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues on June 17, 2023
At the regularly scheduled monthly Community Board Five meeting on Thursday, June 08, 2023, the following resolution passed with a vote of 31 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining:
WHEREAS, The Xavier Mission (the “Applicant”), founded in 1983, is an organization providing basic services as well as opportunities for empowerment and self-sufficiency to New Yorkers in need; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant offers services and programs that include a food pantry, clothing, financial assistance, lunch service every Sunday, and Life Skills Empowerment Programs; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant seeks a permit to hold a Block Party on West 16th St between 5th and 6th Avenues to celebrate its 40th Anniversary and the Church of St. Francis Xavier’s 30th anniversary of its LGBTQ ministry; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant’s headquarters is located at 55 West 15th Street; and
WHEREAS, The proposed event is a one-time event to be held on Saturday, June 17, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant requests a street closure for West 16th St between 5th and 6th Avenues on Saturday, June 17, 2023, to allow adequate time to set up and breakdown the event; and
WHEREAS, Setup will be at 9:00 a.m. and breakdown at 4:30 p.m.; and
WHEREAS, The proposed event will offer a DJ playing music, carnival games, a bounce house, a 15-foot tent, and potentially but unlikely a small stage; and
WHEREAS, The estimated attendance at this event will be 500 to 999 throughout the day; and
WHEREAS, The event will be a family friendly event with a focus on children, families, and members of the community; and
WHEREAS, The event will contain branding and advertising for the Applicant and its 40th Anniversary; and
WHEREAS, The event will have on-site security for the length of the event; and
WHEREAS, The event will include solicitation of funds in service to the Applicant’s mission, and the Applicant is securing a Solicitation Permit from HRA; and
WHEREAS, The event will include amplified sound, and the Applicant has secured a sound permit from NYPD, as well as a generator permit from FDNY; and
WHEREAS, No outside vendors will sell or operate within the Block Party, except those employed by the Applicant for the operation of the facilities such as the bounce house; and
WHEREAS, The event is materially similar to previous celebrations held by the Applicant in 2018 and 2013; and
WHEREAS, Block Party applications are required to be submitted 60 days prior to an event to allow for community review; and
WHEREAS, Emergency vehicles will have access via the mandated 15-foot fire lane, and MTA Access-A-Ride services should be informed to allow for continued and proper access to local residents as needed; and
WHEREAS, Numerous members of the community and those who have benefited from the Applicant’s services have thanked and expressed support for both the well-run operations of the Applicant, and came out to support the specific application; and
WHEREAS, Certain local elected officials have also expressed support for the application; and
WHEREAS, As the proposed event will be open to the public and is classified officially as a Block Party, this public event will not violate Community Board Five’s existing moratorium on new Street Fairs;
WHEREAS, Community Board Five is a strong supporter of the Applicant’s mission, and is very appreciative of all the work they have done over the years to benefit the district of Community Board Five and New York City community; therefore be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends approval of the Applicant’s application for a permit to hold a Block Party on West 16th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues on Saturday, June 17, 2023.