Thursday, March 10, 2005
Community Boards 5 and 6 met in January
LOOKING AHEAD by Wally Dobelis
This write-up will give you the details of the first-of-the year full board meetings of our Community Boards 5 and 6, under the leadership of their new chairs, David Diamond and Carol Schachter. The report deals only with the issues affecting our direct area, approximately south of 34th Street. The basic sources are the Minutes, which are published roughly a month late, after they have been reviewed and adopted by the next monthly Full Meeting.
CB5's first monthly Full Board Meeting took place on the 11 of January, at the FIT, 227 W. 27 Street, Building "A" 8th Floor, at 6 PM. It was an easy meeting, with no heavy issues noted, except for the 55th Street community complaints in the Public Session, about the negative impact of the new enlarged MOMA structure, and the diesel fumes of its idling delivery trucks. Assembly member Dick Gottfried's representative spoke of his opposition to the West Side Stadium, Congress member Carolyn Maloney's - of her activities on the East Side Access Ventilation project.
In the Public Session, Committee on Consents and Variances recommended approval of Les Halles' at 411 PAS (28th Street) request for the installation of a sidewalk café of eight tables and 16 chairs. Likewise, Earth Day New York's request for an Earth Day Expo on Vanderbilt Avenue, between 42 & 44th Streets on April 22-23 (Fri-Sat).
The committee also approved Philippines Independence Day celebration on Madison Avenue between 23 and 28th Streets, along the east side of Madison Square Park, an event that has been successfully held in the same area for 15 years. The date is Sunday, June 5, and there will be a limited area of sidewalk vendor tables, and music. This was a joint consent, with the Parks Committee.
The Landmarks Committee approved storefront changes to the individually landmarked Everett Building, on Northwest corner of PAS and 17th Street. This involves four bay windows, replacing the four plywood transoms behind the awnings with mullioned frosted glass, and the old awnings with new, landmarks-appropriate canvas (black and white striped awnings were deemed too strident). The 16-story structure, dubbed a Chicago style commercial building, was designed by Goldwin Starrett and Van Vleck and built in 1908. [The Landmarks Preservation Commission on January 25 sent the plans back to the drawing board,]
The Transportation Committee approved the NYCDoT request to install bicycle racks on sidewalks. Those in the neighborhood are: 27-33 W 23rd street (5-6th Avenues); 10 E. 21st Street (Broadway-5th Ave); 11 E. 26th Street (5-6th Aves); 31 W. 27th Street (Broadway-6th Ave).
The next CP5 monthly meeting is on Thursday, March 10, at which the minutes for the February meeting will be approved and released for publication.
CB6, responsible for the East Side, 14th to 59 Streets, east of Lex, had its Full Board January 12 Meeting at the NYU Medical Center, 550 First Avenue
In the Public Session, Sen. Liz Krueger appeared in person, to report on the status of the Senate's position on government reform, which covers a broad range of legislative and budgetary reform issues, such as instituting a nonpartisan budget process (sure, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus), requiring members to be physically present in order to vote, allowing bills and resolutions to be open for sponsorship by any member, requiring consent by three-fifths majority to limit or end debate on a bill. We wish you luck, Liz.
Assembly member Jonathan Bing also appeared in person to report that the legislature's last year's report on legislative reform, recommending more openness and accountability to the public, has been partly ruled on by the State Assembly. He also stated that some changes have been made to the Rockefeller Drug Law, addressing the first time non-violent offenders who have received unfairly long sentences.
Representatives of Sen. Thomas Duane and A/M Dick Gottfried reported on their activities in opposing the West Side Stadium (as did Sen. Krueger); Cg/M Carolyn Maloney - on the passing of the 9/1 Recommendations Implementation Act; C/M Margarita Lopez - on the tsunami relief, C/M Eva Moskowitz - on her Heat and Hot Water Act (holding landlords accountable).
In the Business Section of the meeting, District Manager Toni Carlina reported on discussions with the Baruch people about creating a campus look (trees are it); with DOT and others about the impact of the renovation of Gramercy Park Hotel, including the removal of an old oak willow and its replacement by a young one. The hotel has also given the Dept of Parks and Recreation $20,000 for 40 street trees, the use of which in this district cannot be guaranteed. CB6 has a traffic detour plan for this emergency. [In case you missed out on the news, Ian Schrager now owns the property, is gutting it and building 30 luxury ($3.75-20M) apartments and 180 hotel rooms. The west annex will be raised up.]
In the various committee reports, Parks, Landmarks and Cultural Affairs reported progress in the Robert Moses Park mitigation and replacement - this pertains to the new United Nations office building. Housing and Homeless Committee updated the status of the Homeless Service Center on East 30th Street, the former Bellevue Psychiatric Building. Human Services Committee had an update on the 23rd Street VA closing and CARES Commission issue.
The Transportation Committee reported no objections to the request from the Players Club on East 20th Street to extend their front no-parking zone. Business and Governmental Affairs Committee supported the applications of five bars and restaurants for on-premises liquor licenses, all well north of our area.
Next CB6 Full Board meeting is on Wednesday March 9, 7PM, NYU 550 1st Ave, Classroom B.
This write-up will give you the details of the first-of-the year full board meetings of our Community Boards 5 and 6, under the leadership of their new chairs, David Diamond and Carol Schachter. The report deals only with the issues affecting our direct area, approximately south of 34th Street. The basic sources are the Minutes, which are published roughly a month late, after they have been reviewed and adopted by the next monthly Full Meeting.
CB5's first monthly Full Board Meeting took place on the 11 of January, at the FIT, 227 W. 27 Street, Building "A" 8th Floor, at 6 PM. It was an easy meeting, with no heavy issues noted, except for the 55th Street community complaints in the Public Session, about the negative impact of the new enlarged MOMA structure, and the diesel fumes of its idling delivery trucks. Assembly member Dick Gottfried's representative spoke of his opposition to the West Side Stadium, Congress member Carolyn Maloney's - of her activities on the East Side Access Ventilation project.
In the Public Session, Committee on Consents and Variances recommended approval of Les Halles' at 411 PAS (28th Street) request for the installation of a sidewalk café of eight tables and 16 chairs. Likewise, Earth Day New York's request for an Earth Day Expo on Vanderbilt Avenue, between 42 & 44th Streets on April 22-23 (Fri-Sat).
The committee also approved Philippines Independence Day celebration on Madison Avenue between 23 and 28th Streets, along the east side of Madison Square Park, an event that has been successfully held in the same area for 15 years. The date is Sunday, June 5, and there will be a limited area of sidewalk vendor tables, and music. This was a joint consent, with the Parks Committee.
The Landmarks Committee approved storefront changes to the individually landmarked Everett Building, on Northwest corner of PAS and 17th Street. This involves four bay windows, replacing the four plywood transoms behind the awnings with mullioned frosted glass, and the old awnings with new, landmarks-appropriate canvas (black and white striped awnings were deemed too strident). The 16-story structure, dubbed a Chicago style commercial building, was designed by Goldwin Starrett and Van Vleck and built in 1908. [The Landmarks Preservation Commission on January 25 sent the plans back to the drawing board,]
The Transportation Committee approved the NYCDoT request to install bicycle racks on sidewalks. Those in the neighborhood are: 27-33 W 23rd street (5-6th Avenues); 10 E. 21st Street (Broadway-5th Ave); 11 E. 26th Street (5-6th Aves); 31 W. 27th Street (Broadway-6th Ave).
The next CP5 monthly meeting is on Thursday, March 10, at which the minutes for the February meeting will be approved and released for publication.
CB6, responsible for the East Side, 14th to 59 Streets, east of Lex, had its Full Board January 12 Meeting at the NYU Medical Center, 550 First Avenue
In the Public Session, Sen. Liz Krueger appeared in person, to report on the status of the Senate's position on government reform, which covers a broad range of legislative and budgetary reform issues, such as instituting a nonpartisan budget process (sure, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus), requiring members to be physically present in order to vote, allowing bills and resolutions to be open for sponsorship by any member, requiring consent by three-fifths majority to limit or end debate on a bill. We wish you luck, Liz.
Assembly member Jonathan Bing also appeared in person to report that the legislature's last year's report on legislative reform, recommending more openness and accountability to the public, has been partly ruled on by the State Assembly. He also stated that some changes have been made to the Rockefeller Drug Law, addressing the first time non-violent offenders who have received unfairly long sentences.
Representatives of Sen. Thomas Duane and A/M Dick Gottfried reported on their activities in opposing the West Side Stadium (as did Sen. Krueger); Cg/M Carolyn Maloney - on the passing of the 9/1 Recommendations Implementation Act; C/M Margarita Lopez - on the tsunami relief, C/M Eva Moskowitz - on her Heat and Hot Water Act (holding landlords accountable).
In the Business Section of the meeting, District Manager Toni Carlina reported on discussions with the Baruch people about creating a campus look (trees are it); with DOT and others about the impact of the renovation of Gramercy Park Hotel, including the removal of an old oak willow and its replacement by a young one. The hotel has also given the Dept of Parks and Recreation $20,000 for 40 street trees, the use of which in this district cannot be guaranteed. CB6 has a traffic detour plan for this emergency. [In case you missed out on the news, Ian Schrager now owns the property, is gutting it and building 30 luxury ($3.75-20M) apartments and 180 hotel rooms. The west annex will be raised up.]
In the various committee reports, Parks, Landmarks and Cultural Affairs reported progress in the Robert Moses Park mitigation and replacement - this pertains to the new United Nations office building. Housing and Homeless Committee updated the status of the Homeless Service Center on East 30th Street, the former Bellevue Psychiatric Building. Human Services Committee had an update on the 23rd Street VA closing and CARES Commission issue.
The Transportation Committee reported no objections to the request from the Players Club on East 20th Street to extend their front no-parking zone. Business and Governmental Affairs Committee supported the applications of five bars and restaurants for on-premises liquor licenses, all well north of our area.
Next CB6 Full Board meeting is on Wednesday March 9, 7PM, NYU 550 1st Ave, Classroom B.
# posted by Wally Dobelis @ 3:13 PM 
