City plans rezoning of retail spaces on commercial avenues of Upper West Side

The New York City Department of City Planning has proposed new retail zoning regulations for the retail avenues on the Upper West Side to try to keep small "mom and pop stores" in the area and discourage the continued invasion of large bank branches and drug stores.

The regulations would affect 73 blocks between 72nd and 110th streets on the west side of Broadway and 74th and 110th streets on the east side of Broadway, both sides of Columbus Avenue between 72nd and 87th Streets, and the west side of Amsterdam Avenue between 75th and 110th Street on the west side excluding the blocks between 100th and 101st streets and 102nd and 103rd streets, and, on the east side, between 73rd and 87th streets and 105th and 109th streets.

The goals of the rezoning is to encourage diverse retail and service opportunities, preserve and enhance the small stores character of Amsterdam and Columbus avenues, and promote an active streetscape and attractive environment for pedestrians.

The proposal would limit the frontage of most retail and commercial establishments along Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues, and limit the frontage of banks and residential lobbies along those avenues and Broadway. Banks would be limited to 25 foot frontage in all buildings on these avenues and residential lobbies would be limited to 25 feet in new buildings on Broadway and 15 feet in new buildings.

On Amsterdam and Columbus Avenue, the maximum general establishment frontage would be 40 feet with exceptions for supermarkets, schools, house of worship and lots with less of 30 feet of commercial depth.

It would also apply transparency requirements on the ground floor to enhance the pedestrian environment.

The planning department maintains that the rezoning responds to "concerns voiced by members of the UWS community regarding negative changes in neighborhood

character."

The proposal allows for the City Planning commission to authorize exceptions to its new frontage rules if "a high ground floor vacancy rate exists within a reasonable distance of the proposed use, and such high vacancy is a consequence of adverse market conditions."

The proposal was certified into the city's Urban Land Use Review Process (ULURP) January 3 and a community board vote must be held by March 12.