Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
UWS Community Board Wants Fashion Week Out, Out, Out
By
Garth Johnston
Published Jun 6, 2012
Modified Jun 6, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Geoffrey Croft/A Walk In The Park
By
Garth Johnston
Published Jun 6, 2012
Modified Jun 6, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Anna Wintour better watch out, the locals are getting restless! Since the last Fashion Week came to a close neighbors near Lincoln Center have been quite vocal about their displeasure with the way the semiannual event treats Damrosch Park, the space behind Lincoln Center where FW moved after leaving Bryant Park in 2010. Yesterday they upped the ante. DNAinfo reports that last night Community Board 7 voted 33-4 to "push Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Parks Department to find a new permanent site for Fashion Week and to consult the board on any future agreements with Lincoln Center about its use."
The core of the neighbor's issue is the way the park appears during the all-to-brief times when the Fashion Week tents and other events aren't up, which, according to CB7 member Elizabeth Starkey "looks like after a bomb hit." Making matters worse is the fact that the 56 trees in the park which the Parks Department tore down in 2010 are still gone, making it an unpleasant place if you want a bit of shade.
Of course, the Community Board's vote doesn't really have much weight here, but pressure never hurt anyone. The 2.44-acre green space was leased to Lincoln Center in 2010 under a 10-year contract which allows them to sublease it for private events. And the terms for those events, despite being on public property, are not easy to come by. But, for a sense of the money: according to Geoffrey Croft of NYC Park Advocates, Fashion Week alone will pay $17.2 million over five years to use the park.
"There is absolutely no reason whatsoever that the city should have entered this agreement to manage this park," Croft says. "According to the City Charter, parks should be managed by the Parks Department." Regarding yesterday's vote he added, "We're very happy that the CB finally took this action. It was a long time coming and we hope that now the city finds an appropriate place to have these commercial events."
Considering the fact that Fashion Week alone is estimated to bring in $865 million in economic activity a year, we highly doubt it'll be going anywhere anytime soon. But at least neighbors are letting their feelings be known and letting some steam out?
The mayors office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Community Board's resolution.
Tagged
community board 7
fashion week
lincoln center
manhattan
Upper West Side
Garth Johnston
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.
Before they attempt to fend off LeBron James and the 76ers on Tuesday, the Knicks will have a chance to show off their winning mentality through their tunnel fits.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 12:43 p.m. ET
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Arts & Entertainment
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
By
Hannah Frishberg
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .