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Consents & Variances

Newsstand application # 1438940, NEC Broadway and West 35th Street

At the regularly scheduled monthly meeting of Community Board Five on Thursday, September 13, 2012, the Board passed the following resolution by a vote of 35 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining.

WHEREAS, The applicant seeks a permit to install and operate a newsstand on n/e/c Broadway and West 35thStreet; and

WHEREAS, A newsstand application for this exact location was denied in October of 2010; and

WHEREAS, The proposed location is directly in front of a bank and does not leave the required 15 foot clearance for that bank entrance; and

WHEREAS, The bank manager has expressed specific concerns about safety issues caused by blocking of sight lines into and out of the bank; and

WHEREAS, The proposed site is over a retail vault; and

WHEREAS, The proposed site is heavily congested with pedestrian traffic; and

WHEREAS, This area around Macy's is particularly congested during times when special events are held in and around neighboring Herald Square; and

WHEREAS, The proposed newsstand would negatively impact pedestrian traffic by creating further congestion, thus creating an unsafe condition; and

WHEREAS, several members of the local business community were present to protest this proposed newsstand at this location; and

WHEREAS, The 34th Street Partnership expressed their strong opposition to the newsstand under the same grounds set forth above and to further oppose the application based on the adverse impact the newsstand would have on retail tenants; and

WHEREAS, The area is already adequately served by existing newsstands and news vendors in the area, including a newsstand directly across the street at the NWC of Broadway and West 35th Street; therefore be it

RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends denial of the application to install a newsstand on n/e/c Broadway and West 35th Street; and be it further

RESOLVED, Community Board Five urges DOT to proceed with pedestrian counts at this location during rush hour (1 PM- 2 PM) on a weekday.

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