Representatives from the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum made a presentation to CB4 encouraging residents to take advantage of free programming.
BY EILEEN STUKANE | The Community Board 4 (CB4) full board meeting on Wed., Feb. 4, in Roosevelt Hos-pital illustrated the spectrum of quality of life in the CB4 district of Chelsea/Hell’s Kitchen. On one end of the spectrum, the community learned the benefits of residing near the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum on Pier 86, while on the other end heard about an incoming adult business and the problem with late night bars.
“We’re not just a big aircraft carrier that’s for international visitors,” explained Susan Marenoff-Zausner, president of the Intrepid Museum, as she addressed the crowd, “We’re using our unique assets to produce programming that benefits our community.” Of the Intrepid Museum’s one million visitors a year, 200,000 of them are children. Recognizing its connection to children, the Intrepid is underwriting a number of educational programs in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM subjects), and history, for Title I underserved (K–12) city schools.
Ms. Marenoff-Zausner described how the Intrepid Museum is reaching out to the CB4 community with special free (with registration) programs for children ages 5–17 with developmental and learning disabilities, children ages 5–18 with autism, and individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Information about these programs, their schedules, and the registration process can be found online at intrepidmuseum.org/access, by sending an email to access@intrepidmuseum.org, or by calling 646-381-5182. In relation to the autism program, she said, “We dim lights, lower sounds, and are very careful to be as inclusive and engaging with families as we possibly can. Working with these families has helped us extend ourselves to those with other disabilities.”
Other members of the Intrepid team spoke about additional no-cost community offerings. Lynda Kennedy, vice president of education, talked about the Intrepid’s desire to partner with more than the five neighborhood schools with which it is currently involved. In particular, the Intrepid conducts a free afterschool program sponsored by the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, in Chelsea’s PS33. Another free program is the Leadership Institute for Today and Tomorrow (LIFTT) for all 11th grade NYC public high school students. LIFTT meets every weekend during the school year and provides mentoring in college readiness and personal leadership. Applications for next year’s LIFTT will be available by March 2015 online: intrepidmuseum.org. For info, contact Caitlin Ballingall at cballingall@intrepidmuseum.org.
Girls in eighth and ninth grades who are interested in the STEM fields can apply for a special free summer camp in the museum called GOALS (Greater Opportunities Advancing Leadership and Science) for Girls Summer Intensive. The deadline for applications is March 16. For info, contact Shay Saleem at goalsforgirls@intrepidmuseum.org.
Luke Sacks, assistant vice president of public relations, provided information on Kids Week, Intrepid’s annual six days of activities and programs exploring “Flight” for public school children on winter break. With the price of admission ($17 for ages 7 to 17), daily workshops and shows are free. For info, visit intrepidmuseum.org/kidsweek2015.
Throughout the year there are also free (with registration) Astronomy Nights, some designated for adults age 21 and over, while others are for all ages. On April 24, the anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope, there will be an adult astronomy night when locals can bring their telescopes to the Intrepid. In addition, free (with registration) hour-long Saturday Family Programs are scheduled throughout the year. Sacks announced that there would be many free activities, such as movie screenings on the flight deck, taking place throughout the summer. The pier is open to the public daily during museum hours, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. (6 p.m. in summer). For more info, visit intrepidmuseum.org.
SAFETY MEASURES FOR TALL OFFICE BUILDINGS
Ezra Moser of NYC’s Department of City Planning (DCP) presented a new safety provision, a citywide Stairwells Text Amendment to the city’s Building Code, which would require all new non-residential buildings greater than 420 feet high to meet certain safety measures for evacuation in an emergency. The DCP is required to make a presentation to all community boards that are affected, and CB4 is. These new measures emerge from extensive study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, as a result of the tragedy at the World Trade Center on 9/11 (the board would later vote its approval for the proposed text amendment).
Moser explained that new tall non-residential buildings would be required to incorporate one of the following options: construct all passenger elevators as “occupant self-evacuation” (meaning that they would be connected to emergency standby power, have emergency communications, and special lobby dimensions to accommodate occupants and wheelchairs), or increase the required width of emergency exit stairways by 25 percent and construct “occupant self-evacuation” elevators (but the standby power only has to accommodate a limited number of elevators) or construct one additional emergency exit stairway than would be required. Depending on the chosen option, a building over 420 feet would increase approximately one-half to three-quarters of an additional story.
SEX SHOPS TO SANDWICH SALVATION ARMY
As members of the community stepped up to the central microphone to speak about issues of concern, perceived quality of life threats rose up as a theme.
Pamela Wolff, of the Chelsea West 200 Block Association, alerted CB4 to the sex shops proliferating on Eighth Ave. Rawhide bar — which she referred to as “a relatively benign presence for decades” on the corner of Eighth Ave. and W. 21st St. — departed in 2013, due to a rent increase. The owner of The Blue Store, two doors down, recently put in a winning bid for the Rawhide location, and has indicated that this new adult business (currently under construction) will cater to a diversity of genders and sexual preferences, distinguishing itself from The Blue Store’s gay-centric clientele. “Now the Salvation Army will be bracketed by two of these places,” said Wolff, “and there’s a third [Rainbow Station] directly across the street.”
A new adult business moving into the space formerly occupied by Rawhide bar (W. 21st St. & Eighth Ave.) has some residents concerned about the proliferation of sex shops — which will leave the Salvation Army store sandwiched by two such establishments.
Online advertising by The Blue Store and others like it, Wolff maintains, draw customers from far away to the neighborhood. She worries that an elementary school, PS11 (on W. 21st St. btw. Eighth & Ninth Aves.) is too close to the adult shops and their increased clientele. She is planning to approach the Council of Chelsea Block Associations with a recent survey of neighbors and will eventually meet with the CB4 Quality of Life Committee.
BOARD SHAMED FOR REFUSAL TO FRY CRISPIN’S
Antony Richards, a resident of 458 W. 52nd St., presented the board with photos showing that Crispin’s, an Italian restaurant at 764 10th Ave., had taken its separate storage room around the corner at W. 52nd St., to create a 30-capacity wine bar adjacent to his apartment. He described how the owner of Crispin’s had disregarded the rules of his building permit and changed the egress, installed open French windows rather than the required fixed windows, and installed a forbidden doorway storm guard, “which they quickly took down when they realized I took a photo of it,” he said. What was a service entrance to a storage room on a residential side street was now a hub with noisy people gathering on the sidewalk. Richards implored the board not to authorize Crispin’s, due to the owner’s disregard of building permit stipulations.
Frank Holozubiec, co-chair of CB4’s Business Licenses and Permits Committee, moderated a lengthy session that centered on approval of Crispin’s wine bar and a second Hell’s Kitchen location for Mr. Biggs Bar & Grill. On its website, CB4’s policy regarding the concentration and location of alcohol-serving establishments states, “MCB4 will give the concerns of immediately-affected residents strong consideration.” Holozubiec emphasized that since Crispin’s was applying for a wine/beer license, not a full liquor license, the 500-foot rule did not apply.
Board member J.D. Noland argued that a 30-capacity wine bar on a side street in the Special Clinton District was destroying residential quality of life. A Spanish-speaking board member was needed to communicate with a representative of Crispin’s who was present and who promised to keep doors and windows closed and to soundproof the premises. The fact that Crispin’s had already ignored building permit stipulations was not addressed and the board voted to approve. Richards, who opposed Crispin’s expansion next to his residence, angrily exited after calling the board “shameful.”
The NYC Dept. of City Planning’s Ezra Moser (at podium) explains a text amendment designed to improve stairwell safety in nonresidential buildings over 420 feet.
SECOND MR. BIGGS SHOT DOWN, DESPITE SUPPORT
Over two dozen people came to support or oppose a second Mr. Biggs in Hell’s Kitchen — a proposed 220-capacity cabaret of two floors, with two dance floors and two DJs, closing at 4 a.m., on 797 Eighth Ave. (btw. W. 48th & 49th Sts.). The prospective owner, Scott Sternick, also operates the original Mr. Biggs Bar & Grill, 596 10th Ave. (at W. 43rd St.) and Mickey Spillane’s, 350 W. 49th St. (at Ninth Ave.). Some said it was better to have Mr. Biggs than the two-story Vishara Video porn shop. Others praised the owner as a good operator. Applause erupted so many times CB4 chair Christine Berthet had to remind everyone that applause was not part of the public session. Those who opposed the new venue — based on a 4 a.m. closing and the State Liquor Authority (SLA) 500-foot rule stating that no liquor license can be granted within 500 feet of three or more existing licenses — were fewer in number.
Holozubiec reported that for the proposed Mr. Biggs on Eighth Ave., owner Sternick would not compromise on the 4 a.m. closing and the establishment did fall into the 500-foot rule. Concern by residents was more weighted against Mr. Biggs in committee — but at this meeting, there were board members who endorsed the public praise of Sternick.
CB4 member Peter Diaz, however, who lives in the Eighth Ave. neighborhood, spoke about how residents are already dealing with safety issues regarding the early-morning street fights from the bars Social, Latitude and Copacabana. Considering quality of life this time, the board voted 19 to 15 to deny a liquor license for Mr. Biggs in its letter to the SLA. As Sternick rose to exit, approximately 25 others — several who spoke in the public session — joined him and the room was suddenly filled with empty chairs. In this instance the clearly organized effort to gain approval for Mr. Biggs had failed and quality of life had triumphed — the opposite of the Crispin’s vote. The proliferation of drinking establishments in the district is a conundrum for CB4, which went on to approve a public parking garage at 551 W. 21st St. and other items on the agenda.
REPORTS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS
Councilmember Corey Johnson announced that Participatory Budget (PB) meetings had resulted in a selection of projects that could benefit from the $1 million available from NYC’s capital budget. These projects, which will eventually be voted on by district residents, will be on display at the PB Expo, March 19, 6:30 p.m., Heiskell Library, 40 W. 20th St.
Representing Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Diana Howard reported that over 700 applications for Community Boards had been received, and 30 were from teens.
Also, applications for capital grants to city agencies, nonprofits, cultural institutions, and public schools for fiscal year 2016 are due on Feb. 26. For information: manhattanbp.nyc.gov/html/budget/capital-grants.shtml.
NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer will be celebrating Lunar New Year, Feb. 24, 6–8 p.m., at Surrogate’s Courthouse (31 Chambers St.).
Assemblymember Richard Gott-fried’s liaison Eli Strauss reminded that Feb. 15th is the deadline to sign up for health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act. For help, call Gottfried’s district office: 212-807-7900. Gottfried has also introduced two new bills: one to create licensed midwife birth centers, another to allow legal representatives or estates of nursing home residents to sue for abuse or injury.
Newsletters from elected officials are available on the CB4 home page online: nyc.gov/mcb4.
