UWS Rezoning Plan Rings Up Praise, Criticism
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A community board's rezoning proposal to prevent over-commercialization on the Upper West Side is drawing some criticism, and the stage is getting set for major public debate. NY1's Real Estate reporter filed the following report. The Upper West Side is a bustling community with thriving retail. Community Board 7 and elected officials say they have proposed a controversial rezoning plan to preserve that vibrant streetscape.
"We are concerned that retail opportunities are being gobbled up on the Upper West Side by stores taking up more than one storefront, and expanding and expanding to a point where it forecloses the opportunity for multiple retail establishments on a block and for small business to complete," says Community Board 7 Chair Mark Diller.
The plan would limit store frontage to 40 feet wide along sections of the Columbus and Amsterdam corridors and limit banks to 25 feet on Columbus, Amsterdam and Broadway.
Supermarkets and houses of worship are exempt and the plan grandfathers in current businesses.
Diller says this plan will preserve the neighborhood’s character and help small businesses by preventing mega-retailers from snapping up all the vacant retail space in one swoop, and it will give residents options and access to essential retail services.
While its intentions are good, the plan has many opponents. President Steven Spinola of the Real Estate Board of New York fears this could hurt the city’s economy, hurt the neighborhood and hinder small businesses that are doing well.
"If a store is doing well here on the West Side and it wants to expand, these rules are going to make it almost impossible for it to take the store next to it," says Spinola. "So this doesn’t encourage stores to want to stay here and it doesn’t encourage the new retailers that people in this community want to see."
Spinola adds this will also impact many residential buildings that count on those retail rents for revenue.
While the plan limits frontage on the street level, it does not apply to the second floor.
Diller says this could help boost property values for second-floor retail, but some say it could also pose security risks and inconvenience issues.
It will soon be the public’s turn to weigh in, as the community board will hold a public hearing on January 18. NY1 will continue to follow this story.