Residents Voice Concerns Over Retail Center Ruling
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A shopping plaza along Manhattan's East Side is pitting some residents against a major retailer over a proposed delivery truck route. NY1's Rebecca Spitz filed the following report.Some big names are about to set up shop at the new East River Plaza retail center including Marshalls, Target, Best Buy and Costco.
But what's good news to some has others worried. Costco is asking the city to let trucks haul in merchandise overnight.
"I love the fact that Costco is coming into the area and giving jobs, it's a great deal, however, at what expense?" said Anthony Galindez, a neighborhood resident.
Galindez lives on Pleasant Avenue between 116th and 117th streets, right around the corner from the East River Plaza and right along the proposed delivery truck route.
On Tuesday night, he and other opponents went to a community board meeting, hoping to convince the board to vote down the plan. Members later voted 29-to-10 in Costco's favor.
"This is not about one person, this is about the community and Costco is going to create a lot of jobs for the community," said CB11 Board Member Frank Brija.
Developer Tiago Holdings says Costco will provide 400 new jobs. As for the overnight delivery issue, the developer is offering double-paned windows and air conditioners to nearby tenants who are worried about their health. But residents say it's not enough.
"We are losing a very vital part of our quality of life and that is to have the ability to have an open window and not have diesel particulates come in," said Tony Donovan, a neighborhood resident.
Other residents fear overnight truck deliveries will interfere with a good night's sleep, adding the board's decision to back a modification for Costco is just the beginning.
"For me, they have become the authoritative example, will everybody else follow suit? All the other merchants that are coming in?" said Viveca Diaz, a neighborhood resident.
"We have restricted the special permit to be specific to an area that only Costco will be occupying. The other tenants do not have the capability in the permit to deliver within the hours of 12 a.m. and 5 a.m.," said Community Board Chairman Robert Rodriguez
Now that the community board has voted, the issue will now go to the city's planning department. East River Plaza is set to open in November.