For the past few years, Community Board 3 has been increasingly concerned about the retail diversity of the neighborhood. Residents frequently complain about the high number of new bars and restaurants compared with other retail businesses, especially service providers (like butcher shops, tailors, etc.).
After several months of debate, CB3 has come up with a letter to neighborhood property owners — asking for their support in creating a more varied mix of businesses in their buildings. Here’s the text of the letter from CB3 Chair Dominic Pisciotta:
The Community Board is the structure for community participation in planning and decision making for our community. Community Board 3 looks at the community as a whole to plan for its economic benefit.
Residents and business owners in CB 3 are working together to ensure the economic vitality of our neighborhood. We believe it is important to involve property owners in this planning as well. Among our chief concerns are maintaining economic diversity and serving local retail needs. Our community has a high demand for more daytime retail business such as grocers, butchers, shoe stores, stationery stores and other businesses that serve our local residents. Research and public input have indicated that our current condition of too many bars and eating/drinking businesses works against promoting a diverse economy.
We want to ensure that you as property owners are aware of these community needs and priorities and that you relay them to your prospective commercial tenants. It is important for new prospective businesses to understand community priorities and plans before finalizing leases and investing money. In this effort, we welcome your participation in our planning and outreach. Please consider the following factors before signing a lease with your next retail tenant:
>Business owners who live and participate in the neighborhood are considered more community‐ friendly than absentee owners.
>Businesses should have diverse price points for our diverse community.
>Businesses open during the day and that attract daytime street traffic are a current priority.
>Businesses that offer a product or service other than eating and drinking are a current priority.
Some areas in our neighborhood have been overwhelmed with bars and restaurants. Our community does not have the infrastructure to be an entertainment zone. CB3 recommendations to approve liquor licenses will reflect this. It is important and fair for potential businesses to be aware of these priorities and areas. The areas that CB 3 believes are oversaturated with eating/drinking establishments can be found on the CB3 website. Click on Liquor License Information and the CB 3 Restrictions on Liquor Licenses in Certain Areas.
We invite your suggestions and participation in creating an economically vibrant community that will better serve the needs of our residents. The schedule for CB 3 meetings, which are always open to the public, can be found on our website at www.cb3manhattan.org. You can also sign up on the website to receive monthly agendas by email.
