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Columbus Avenue Businesses Fight Anti-Big Box Rezoning Plan
By
John Del Signore
Published Feb 8, 2012
Modified Feb 8, 2012
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By
John Del Signore
Published Feb 8, 2012
Modified Feb 8, 2012
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The city's proposal to rezone part of the Upper West Side to discourage big box chain stores and banks from proliferating will have "unanticipated consequence," according to the Columbus Avenue Business Improvement District. BID Executive Director Barbara Adler tells us the city's plan "is a solution looking for a problem. We have no problem on Columbus now. Columbus has been able to weather all markets for many years, it's in the historic district, it's different from Broadway and Amsterdam, and we feel tampering with our storefronts and telling property owners what they can or can't do would be huge mistake. "
The proposal comes as more Upper West Side residents (and residents of other neighborhoods) have felt the erosion of New York's unique commercial character, as ubiquitous banks and chain pharmacies sprout up on seemingly every block. The area to be rezoned currently has no fewer than 29 banks, and a plethora of generic chain retail outlets. Under the new zoning, the ground-floor width of all new stores would be limited to 40 feet, while banks would be limited to 25 feet wide. Food stores like Trader Joe's would be exempt from the rezoning, which has the support of the local City Council representatives and the mayor.
But Adler worries that small food markets, such as the several Korean grocers on Columbus, would not be able to expand, because the limit is 40 feet per store. "I think the whole thing developed because people felt banks were taking over the neighborhood," says Adler. "And there was a proliferation of banks in the neighborhood. But our big bank on Columbus and 76th just announced it was leaving. And another Chase on Broadway is moving out. So we feel the bank problem was yesterday's problem and it's already righting itself. A decade ago they gobbled up all the corners in the city and they're already regretting that."
When it comes to rezoning Broadway and Amsterdam, the Columbus BID is more open. "The provisions might make a lot of sense for Broadway and Amsterdam," says Adler. "But Columbus is one of the most successful retail strips in the country. It has very low vacancy rates. We feel Broadway and Amsterdam could learn a lot from Columbus." Reached for comment, Broadway and Amsterdam replied, "Let those prissy Columbus snobs come rip our chains from our cold dead hands."
Tagged
banks
retail
rezoning
Shopping
Upper West Side
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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